cafeteria | mid afternoon | wednesday | 25 november

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Apparently, there was a holiday tomorrow. From what Jonas had gathered from the books he'd read, it revolved around a lot of food, togetherness and was descended from a shared meal by two very different groups long ago.

Needless to say, Jonas had never celebrated Thanksgiving in the Community. Besides ceremonies for Days of Birth, nothing had really been celebrated so Jonas found these specially singled out days as half a curiosity and half enjoyment.

And, while today wasn't the holiday, Jonas found himself in the cafeteria, idly picking at his food (mashed potatoes had a very strange texture) and paging through a book on various holidays. Christmas would, undoubtedly, be the next thing he looked up that. That holiday just seemed...complicated.

[open, sure!]

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[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Yes, it is. I don't recall any space travel when I left so I have to assume it's somewhere on Earth," Jonas said almost absently since, even with his progressing time on the island, things like that still nearly sent him speechless. "Twenty thousand years? I'm assuming that your adjustment was rather difficult when arriving here. I can't even imagine."

[future_sandworm]

"But I needed no space travel to get here," Leto pointed out. "The portals are quite impressive. And I have to say the adjustment wasn't too difficult, but my sister is a teacher here."

And Ghanima's presence made a considerable difference.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"I'm still getting used to the methods of transportation," he admitted. "We only used bicycles in the Community. There were airplanes but they were for special uses."

Special uses being locating someone who'd escaped from the Community without permission.

"I've had trouble with my adjustment," he continued, "but I can see how having the presence of a sibling might help. What does she teach?"

[future_sandworm]

"We have 'thopters for flying," Leto said. "But I prefer riding a sandworm. And Ghanima teaches religion this term."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm in her class," Jonas said, easily recalling that. He didn't expect to forget normal everyday things but it was nice when he had the proof. "She's a very thorough teacher. I could only imagine to know as much as she does one day."

[future_sandworm]

"My sister is both wise and knowledgeable," Leto said, the pride he felt for his sister clear enough. "Do you have any close family?"

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"A brother," he nodded. "His name is Gabriel and he's three. He came for Parent's Weekend and I try to visit as often as I can. He's very fond of ice cream."

[future_sandworm]

"And your parents?" Leto asked, smiling.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"They're not around anymore," he said as casually as he could manage. "I haven't seen them in many months and I don't see that changing anytime soon."

[future_sandworm]

Leto could see that there was more to that, but he didn't ask further. After a nod, he continued: "And I am lucky to have my stepmother here too. She owns a hat shop."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Grinning, Jonas said, "That sounds like it would be a comforting support system for anyone who arrived here, let alone someone from so far in the future. Were you close back on your home planet?"

[future_sandworm]

"Yes. Irulan were responsible for our upbringing after our parents died," Leto replied.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"How did you all come to be here?" Jonas asked. "Coincidence?"

[future_sandworm]

"Is there such a thing as coincidence?" He paused. "Perhaps I planned it, in the future."

If he lived, he would be Emperor, after all.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Jonas furrowed his brow, slowly thinking through that before shaking his head, giving up. He decided that he'd start thinking about higher level things like other planets, time travel and things like that later.

"Would you have planned something like this if you could?" Jonas wondered. "Most of your family in one place, I mean."

[future_sandworm]

"Why not?" Leto replied lightly. "I would make adjusting much easier, after all."

Also, before coming to Fandom, he had never been without Ghanima.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"It would," he agreed with a nod. "I was just curious. For instance, I probably wouldn't want my family to arrive here. It would mean things were...bad back home. But, I suppose planning something like that would depend on where one comes from."

[future_sandworm]

"Would it have to mean that?" Leto asked. "I'm assuming things aren't too bad at home, and that my sister and my stepmother are here because they wanted a change of scenery."

He had a feeling he would sense if something had gone quite wrong at home.

[and now I have to go!]

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"For me, it probably would," he said sadly, averting his eyes for a minute. "I suppose there's always a possibility that things could change but I don't see it happening. So, if my parents arrived here, I'd be worried."

[See you later!]