Library [25/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was late, and he bolted into the library from the stable, robes flying and dusty. He skittered to a stop behind the counter, got everything ready, then opened the library.

That done, he settled behind the counter and started checking in books. Why yes, he was trying to pretend he'd been completely on time.

Comments

First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

There seemed to be a mess under the counter, so Karal was kneeling on the floor, trying to get everything tidy.

He might not be visible to anyone coming into the library, but he was there.

Re: First Period [23/01]

[solo_sword]

It was the second time in a week Jaina was in the library, and one day maybe she'd actually look at the books or something. Not seeing him at first but aware of his presence, she greeted the air with, "I know you're here..."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal straightened up enough to see over the top of the counter. "Jaina!" He got to his feet and beamed at her. "I am here, see?"

Re: First Period [23/01]

[solo_sword]

"Clearly," she grinned. "I haven't seen you in a while, so I wanted to come by and check up on how things are going."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"They're going relatively well," he admitted, trying very hard not to avoid her eyes or blush, because he remembered the last time they'd spoken. "Did you come through the weekend all right?"

Re: First Period [23/01]

[solo_sword]

"No, I was my whorish double, but I've almost apologized for everything, so I think I'm okay," she said. Okay, maybe she was still riding the good mood high. "How about you?"

Yes, having talked some to Inara, she was checking up.

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He sighed. "Wishing the weirdness had skipped me this time," he admitted. "It wasn't any fun at all."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[solo_sword]

"I heard about some of it," she admitted. "Sorry."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He winced and looked away. "Of course you would have," he said quietly. "There's nothing to be sorry for."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[solo_sword]

"I can be sorry for all the not-fun involved," she said. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He glanced back. "I am. Inara forgave me, and Gavin's not angry, so I'm okay," he assured her.

Re: First Period [23/01]

[solo_sword]

"Okay. Just don't dwell too much on it. It'll pass," she said with a tiny smile. "How are you otherwise?"

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I know." The look he gave her was grateful, though, because however much he knew it hadn't been him, the memories did not sit well. "Other than that, I'm good," he said decisively. "I think Altra must have been something very embarrassing. He refuses to talk about it."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Someone slipped into the library, mostly to return a couple of books. Except...

"Hello?"

It was said softly.

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal came out from behind the counter, stretching a little. "Liir, hello!" he called, and smiled a welcome.

Re: First Period [23/01]

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked rather spooked, mostly because he was expecting to get yelled at. For what, he couldn't say.

"Hello."

The floor tiles were interesting today.

"How're you?"

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm well," he said slowly, watching Liir with some concern. "Which I think maybe you're not."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He shrugged. While he was unique in any number of ways, from the argumentative acute angles of his features to his strange green eyes, he was, in other ways, a Teenager.

"It's not a concern."

He decided to move on.

"I've been using the tea set."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal folded his arms and looked at Liir sternly. Well, as sternly a she could, which admittedly wasn't very and was made from equal parts concern. "I'm very pleased you're using the tea set," he said, "but it is a concern to me. Is there anything I can do?"

Re: First Period [23/01]

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

It was a gamble to ask, but he desperately wanted to know. He tried to frame it in his mind, how it might come out, before he finally just came out with it.

"Do you know if Andrew is doing well? He was... upset. Er. The other day."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal shook his head. "I haven't talked with him since Monday," he replied. And given what they'd talked about, it was with a sinking feeling that he asked, "Liir? Did something happen?"

Re: First Period [23/01]

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"He decided he didn't want something serious," he said evenly enough. As with the day it'd happened, those green green eyes were doing their best impersonation of a mirror.

"I said or did something and his hands started to shake. I was obviously hurting him, so I left as soon as I could.

"Teddy got me down yesterday afternoon."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Got you down?" he asked even as he was processing that. Oh, Sunlord.

Re: First Period [23/01]

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He nodded.

Then one hand patted the broom.

"I didn't want to land for a little while. That's all."

Re: First Period [23/01]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal sighed quietly. "I can understand that." There were times at the Cloister he'd ridden Trenor out and thought of never coming back. "I'm sure you didn't do anything wrong, though."