Third Floor Common Room, Wednesday Afternoon

[bitchprince]

After spending the past few days in a place that made his bones - if he was going to be sentimental - thrum with a distinct sense of belonging, where the trees were just the right shade of green (again in this hypothetical state of sentimentality) and people seemed to genuinely get any number of things that were rarely gotten around here (even if he had been told, several times, that he was 'a bit posh, aren't you', to the point of annoyance, including one or two spots of combining that word with some rather unflattering language) Fandom seemed a little... stark.

Too restless to hole up in his room, Arthur eventually gave in to the idea that maybe the common room would be slightly less depressing. It was an idea he was swiftly abandoning as he poked at a can of orange juice and eyed the Teevee remote.

Nope. Still not tempted. There was that.

[[ open, durr ]]

Comments

[future_sandworm]

That argument could just as well work in the opposite direction. What kind of person liked rain? "And were there trouble?"

Was he also going to remember dunking Leto? Because Leto had no particular wish to remeber that.

[bitchprince]

Actually, Arthur would enjoy remembering that ın excrutiating detail. "Not this time, thankfully. What about yourself? Enjoyed the weekend and the week since?"

And what kind of imbecile thought sand was a good thing?

[future_sandworm]

"Oh, it was interesting enough," Leto replied with half a smile.

Don't mention the dunk tank.

[bitchprince]

"Did you entertain yourself at the carnival?" He was more interested in Morgana right now, thanks.

[future_sandworm]

As Arthur hadn't brought up the dunk tank, Leto suspected what he might be asking about. The smile widened a little. "I did. That was the purpose of it, after all."

[bitchprince]

"Mm." Arthur's lips managed a goodly smile there. "I am glad to hear that. However, there is one matter about it I wanted to discuss with you."

[future_sandworm]

"Oh?" Leto said neutrally, picking up a dried fig and putting it in his mouth.

[bitchprince]

"Leto, I know my father's ward is a beautiful young," shrew, "woman, and obviously a man of your level of desperation would find it hard to resist her wiles, especially when she offers them up so freely on this particular occasion. While I understand how difficult it is for you to keep your hands to yourself, and the fact that I know her to have the ability and temperament to emasculate you with your own crysknife if you try anything she doesn't like, I feel it is only prudent to tell you that if I ever catch you laying a hand on her again I will personally nail your balls to the castle's tallest tower."

It took many years of training to be able to say something like that at as pleasant a tone as Arthur was using, nevermind while maintaining a smile. Leto should be impressed, really.

[future_sandworm]

It was rather impressive, actually, not that Leto would tell him that.

Leto smiled back. "I see. But if, as you say, you have such faith in her ability to defend herself against unwanted attention, I take it you have little respect for her own choices of how to entertain herself."

See? He could be perfectly calm and polite too.

[bitchprince]

"She doesn't know you," he said, pleasantly, "And is, in her own frustrating way, an innocent. I have no interest in debating this with you."

[future_sandworm]

"And I have no interest in an involvement with your sister," Leto replied. "And I doubt she has any interest in me, so you worry needlessly." He paused for a moment. "And as you know I don't take kindly to being threatened. Is that all?"

One day he was going to point out to Ghanima how lucky she was that he didn't interfere in whatever way she chose to amuse herself, although he guessed what kind of response he would get.

[bitchprince]

"If what you say is true, you have absolutely no need to feel threatened," Arthur pointed out, lightly. "But yes, I believe it is. How were the reserves?"

Polite topic switch there, Arthur.

[future_sandworm]

If Morgana did express an interest he might reconsider, but Leto doubted that would happen. "Being threatened and feeling threatened are two different things, Arthur," he pointed out, then added: "Zack brought refreshments and suggested a game of tying people's legs together."

[bitchprince]

Arthur let that first statement tail off into obscurity. Leto could argue semantics whatever he liked - that was part of what made him such a smug tosser. "...Zack did what?"

[future_sandworm]

"Exactly what I said," Leto replied. "Why?"

[bitchprince]

"...What was that supposed to accomplish?"

[future_sandworm]

"Cooperation and lack of starving, I assume," Leto replied.

[bitchprince]

Arthur rubbed his forehead. "I am going to kill him," he decided. "How well did it go over?"

[future_sandworm]

"Well enough," Leto replied. "I seriously advice against killing Zack." Especially now since there was less sword innuendo anyway.

[bitchprince]

"It will only be a mild killing," Arthur assured him, "Just stringing him up by the dorm grounds should suffice."

[future_sandworm]

"I'm sure he'd still be bouncing," Leto said, "But really, it seems unnecessary."

[bitchprince]

"If we weren't there, he'd ensure the reserves became a mockery," Arthur groused.

This was ruling out a reference to Leto's general uselessness, since he'd already made his main point on that.

[future_sandworm]

"If it makes you feel better I'll promise to arrange someting myself the next time you're away," Leto replied.

[bitchprince]

"Marginally, but yes."

[future_sandworm]

Leto laughed. "I appreciate your confidence in me, as usual."