Second Floor Common Room, Wesnesday Afternoon

[whenshewasnice]

The bad thing about being a person who liked her solitude and didn't go out of her way to talk to people was that there could be an island whim going on where you had no choice but to tell the truth, and yet you managed to stay unaware of this way into the afternoon.

That was the situation Natalie was in right now. Which would probably explain why and how she was actually in an okay mood for once. Like maybe things were finally starting to look up for her. She had a batch of muffins in the oven and everything. It felt like a normal day and while she wasn't exactly whistling as she worked or anything else Disney like that, she was still feeling... fine.

Which in itself was weird, and probably wouldn't last with island interference. But it was there.

[ooc: It's Truth Day and this is a common room, how could it not be open?]

Comments

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Might be why I don't have any," Cade mused. "Huh."

[whenshewasnice]

"Bet you're the tpe who thinks letting people close will only hurt you in the end, anyway."

She'd met many people who were that type.

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Haven't had any experience that goes the other way," Cade replied.

[whenshewasnice]

"Well, you're not far off," she said, dryly. "Friends will hurt you. Or you might care about them more than they care about you. But it doesn't mean they're not worth your time."

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Well, back home I have one guy who's kind of a friend, but I've hidden my entire background from him because he hates Jedi," Cade overshared.

He pulled the pillow back over his head. "I karking hate today."

[whenshewasnice]

"You don't often tell the truth, do you?"

That was barely even a question.

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Not when I can avoid it," Cade replied.

[whenshewasnice]

"Why?"

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Because who I was would get me killed at home and who karking knows what people here might do with it. The timelines are completely karking screwed when it comes to my galaxy and this school," Cade complained.

[whenshewasnice]

"I don't think anyone here would kill you, at least," Natalie pointed out. "Sucks about the timelines, though."

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"You have no idea," Cade moaned from where he was trying to burying himself under the pillow. "I met my grandparents last weekend. They were my age."

[whenshewasnice]

Well. That was... pretty new.

"Really?" Natalie asked, wandering closer with two muffins. "Which ones?"

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Ever heard of Andrew Wiggin?"

Dodge, Cade, dodge.

[whenshewasnice]

"Yeah, I took his workshop last summer."

Waaait.

"... Peter's brother is your grandfather?"

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

The pillow nodded.

[whenshewasnice]

"That makes you part Wiggin, then," Natalie remarked, reaching out to give the pillow a nudge with her free hand. "Guess you've earned your muffin. And equal parts of my envy and sympathy."

Thanks, island.

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Envy?" Cade repeated, moving the pillow from his head.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie held a muffin out for him. "It's complicated," she said. "As most things to do with Wiggins tend to be."

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"I only really know Peter through reputation," Cade said. "He was long dead before I was born."

And talking to him here was...not a thing Cade did.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie shrugged a shoulder. "I only really know Ender through reputation. Which in this case is mostly what Peter says. Which is not a whole lot."

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"That is a family trait," Cade said a little dryly.

[whenshewasnice]

"They're very intelligent people," she said, mildly. The island coul control her words but not her tone. Not entirely. "That comes with knowing what to hide and how to present yourself."

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade nodded. "Until today blows it out the airlock."

[whenshewasnice]

"Pretty much." She shrugged again. "Peter's probably hiding out in his room or something. It seems like the smart thing to be doing."

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but he doesn't get free muffins," Cade pointed out.