The Library - Monday

[notaweenie.livejournal.com]

Today Barry's bad mood was practically gone today. In fact he was almost even cheerful. Cheerful enough that he was even being cordial to the etiquette section of books.

Of course in Barry's world being cordial meant telling the books to "suck it" instead of "fuck off."

[Open!]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

"I didn't know that was a section," Kathy said, coming into the library on light feet. "And I'm not sure that's where the SAT study prep materials are anyway." She dimpled at him. "Hi, Barry. Long time, no see."

[notaweenie.livejournal.com]

"Hey Kathy," Barry said looking up from one of the books he was putting away. "Where you've been hiding yourself?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Who says I'm the one that's been hiding?" she teased. "But, yeah, you're not entirely wrong. I went home to LA for break and since I came back, I've been in hard study mode. I've got to take my SATs soon and schedule my AP exams and all that."

But rather than heading into the stacks like she'd intended, Kathy wandered over to Barry to chat with him. It had been too long. "I'd ask you the same question, but the answer is almost certainly your lab."

[notaweenie.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, there's been a couple of things occupying my time," Barry admitted. "Plus Elsa and I had an argument over spring break that we patched up over the weekend. I wasn't feeling very social as a result."

[spin_kick_snap]

"You did?" Worry flashed over Kathy's face, followed by relief. "I'm glad to hear you guys made up. Nothing too serious, I hope?"

She wasn't going to pry, but if Barry wanted to talk, she was always willing to listen. And if he didn't...

"What've you been up to? Anything you can talk about?"

[notaweenie.livejournal.com]

"Well it was serious. Still is serious," Barry said with a shrug. "We're just trying to figure out what happens after graduation or when she goes back to Arendelle."

[spin_kick_snap]

Back to Arendelle where she'd be Queen and Barry would...well, that was probably the crux of the argument, wasn't it?

Would Elsa have to make a political marriage? Barry brought a lot with him, but not exactly alliances or wealth or power--at least not that most of Arendelle would understand.

"But now it's a discussion, not a fight?" she asked, tentative. "Have either of you talked to anyone else? I mean, like, the faculty or alumni or something? This can't be the first time that someone with a throne to go back to fell for someone who didn't have blood that exact shade of blue."

[notaweenie.livejournal.com]

"It's a discussion," Barry agreed. "And no, I haven't fucking talked to anyone about this. At this point I don't want to push it either. We're just taking a 'let's see what happens' approach and just realizing that there are things that will happen that we can't control and we each have responsibilities. For her, the responsibility is an entire kingdom and I can't stay in the way of that. And I know that and I can't get shitty about it."

[spin_kick_snap]

"It might be something for Elsa to consider, if nothing else," Kathy offered. "So she knows that there are people who've gone through this, too. They may have insights that she finds helpful."

But that was all Kathy was going to say. It wasn't a subject she could offer much insight for, after all.

"How goes the science? Make any paradigm-shifting breakthroughs?"