The Perk, Tuesday morning

[future_sandworm]

He had been adventuorus today and ordered one of the strange varieties of coffee offered at the Perk. It was... interesting. And very frothy and sweet. What was it with people here and the taste of sugar?

Still, even beverages were worthy some kind of research, he supposed.

Leto leaned back in his chair, throwing a glance out the window, content to watch the people walk past.

[expecting one, but open]

Comments

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

The sugar crash, when it came, had been epic. Not having classes today meant Dinah had slept in for once, and then wandered into town prior to heading for the Boards. She headed for the Perk, looking to caffienate herself into wakefulness, and paused outside for a second when she saw Leto there, and debated. Pointless to avoid him, really, she'd be seeing him at the Reserves in the afternoon anyway.

So she went to the counter and ordered a mocha, then wandered over to his table, raising an eyebrow. "This seat taken?"

[future_sandworm]

He had seen her arrive, and looked up, smiling. "No. Please, sit down, Dinah." Yes, he was aware she would feel awkward, but there was no need to make it worse. "How are you?" The question was asked with a raised eyebrow, and his voice had turned a little more serious. Should she want to talk about the events in the common room, hopefully that would be an invitation to do so, and should she prefer to ignore it, that was an option too.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I'm good," which was true, if not as simple as it sounded. She took a sip of her mocha and yawned a little. "Little tired today. Ran around the island with Zack yesterday." Dinah's mouth tipped upward in a rueful smile. "Almost literally. We had a lot of sugar." She perched her chin on her hand. "You?" Ease into it. No rush.

[future_sandworm]

"You and Zack ran around the island after consuming large amounts of sugar?" Oh, he just had to smile at that, because the picture of it...

"I am good, too," he replied. "I expect this week will be quiet, compared to an alligator invasion."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"There were cookies, and Mountain Dew which has a ton of caffiene, and he got me Pixie Stix candy which is pure colored sugar and very very yummy." Dinah grinned, and shrugged. "We kind of had to run after that, or explode." She nodded at the comment on the alligators, then checked, "You didn't get hurt at all, right?" She knew she'd heard if it had been serious, but hey. "Arthur didn't get hurt. For once. Woo!"

[future_sandworm]

"No, I did not get hurt." Leto smiled. "And yes, Arthur managed to avoid it too, for once. I didn't comment on it, however." And the smile turned into a grin.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Smart." And there was an opening right there, but how much did she not want to start a fight between the two of them? "I saw Fiona at the salle yesterday too." Better. And glance down at the coffee. "She stopped by on Sunday to see me. Asked me what was up with Saturday. I filled her in."

[future_sandworm]

"And what did you say?" Because Dinah could have explained it in different ways. He kept his voice gentle, though, not wanting to make her feel as if he was questioning her. "I haven't spoken to Fiona since Saturday, but I told her it was your story to tell."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Kept it simple. We made out, you offered, I refused, we're still friends, it was a while ago." Dinah shrugged, the possible flippancy of her words contradicted by the quiet tone. "I told her I wasn't mad at her or anything. She was worried about that." She looked up from her drink. "I'm not mad at you either, for the record. Just in case it looked like I was."

[future_sandworm]

Her description was accurate, but it made the corner of his mouth curl a little. "I didn't think you were," Leto replied. Or rather, he had hoped she wasn't.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

At the hint of a smile, Dinah rolled her eyes. "Well, how would you explain it?" She frowned in thought. "How are you going to explain it? Fiona's going to ask you for details too." And the thought made her stomach clench a little, the two of them discussing her, but, well. It would probably just be what she'd said. She glanced out the window so she wouldn't have to look at his face when he answered

[future_sandworm]

"Ask me for details? About what?" No, he hadn't expected that, as Dinah had clearly told Fiona. "You told her."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Boys. Sheesh. "She'll want your side of it. And why you didn't mention it to her," Dinah said patiently. "I know the idea never crossed your mind," because he just didn't think she was important? Or still that privacy, like not mentioning he was having sex with Arthur? "But if you're dating the friend of someone you... kinda-sorta dated, usually it's a good idea to let her know. Saves on embarrassment and awkwardness, if nothing else." She paused. "Which, well. I guess I could've told Fiona too. But I didn't want to bias her one way or the other, if nothing was happening."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack was walking by, idly reviewing the Scottish play in his head in preparation for the rehearsal later that day. He detoured into the coffee shop for a cup of chai -- after one free sample, he'd gotten rather hooked on the stuff.

"Good morning, Leto."

[future_sandworm]

"Good morning," Leto returned, and gestured at the chair opposite him. "Please, sit down if you like."

[bitten_notshy]

"I wouldn't mind that," Jack said, taking the offered seat. "I have a few hours before my flying class, anyhow. Do you have plans for the day?"

[future_sandworm]

"Arthur and I run the reserve on Tuesday afternoons," Leto replied cheerfully. "Until then, nothing." He looked at Jack. "Flying? Do they have flying vessels in your time?" He asked out of curiosity, not sure exactly at which point in history they appeared here.

[bitten_notshy]

"I went to that last week," Jack said. "I'm not sure I have time for that and the play, though." And he wasn't really a soldier, anyhow.

He shrugged, fidgeting a little with his cup of tea. "They have zeppelins crossing the Atlantic. They're new to the last few years, and people tell me they fell out of style quickly. None of the" -- he waved a hand dismissively -- "airplanes or swoop bikes or spaceships or any of that. Class is bringing me up to date, at least for Master Skywalker's world."

[future_sandworm]

"You're in the play?" Leto asked. "I was in the previous one. I never expected to be in a play, and I quite enjoyed it, but now, with the reserve, there isn't enough time." He leaned one elbow on the table, stirring the frothy milk of his coffee. "It seems like space travel functions differently in different universes. We have it, but the navigation between stars is complicated."

[bitten_notshy]

"I'm in the play," Jack confirmed. "I've never acted before, but it seemed like something to try. I got a larger part than I expected, too. One of the king's sons."

There was some amusement in Jack at that, given it was so precisely what he wasn't.

"I can't imagine navigating star to star. The distances are immense, aren't they?"


[Fleeing for a bit!]

[future_sandworm]

Leto noticed the amusement, and gave Jack a look and a raised eyebrow, but he didn't ask. Then he continued: "Where I come from space-folding is used to cross those distances. Fold the time-space and it takes just the blink of an eye." He smiled at Jack. "Calculating the course is another matter, though."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack smirked over the raised eyebrow, and decided he didn't mind sharing given no one in Fandom had yet seemed to care, and he was very far from home. "It's not much of a joke -- I'm rather the opposite of a noble by birth, and my guardian's gone to some trouble so my manners will pass for those of a gentleman," he said. "Being cast as a prince in the play is a bit close to life, just with different diction."

He frowned, that bit of business taken care of. "Space-time can fold?"

[future_sandworm]

"When I was in the play I got the part of a common soldier," Leto replied, amused. "But then, isn't the point of acting to be someone you're not?"

He nodded. "Space-time can fold. But it is risky without a Navigator."

[bitten_notshy]

"It is. I'm grateful I wasn't cast as a woman on that point," Jack said. (He was slight. It could happen.) "You lead the reserves, though -- there must be something of the soldier in you."

[future_sandworm]

"I know how to lead," Leto replied. "But then, perhaps we all carry our opposites within as well." He smiled at Jack. "And at times the part you play in public is as fictional as the one on stage."