Ungulate Yoga, Tuesday, period 1

[betterthanaplan]

"Um," Duke said.

The moose stared at him. And chewed.

"Are you our ungulate for today, or am I in trouble?"

The moose stared. And chewed.

". . . Okay, I'm just going to teach class now."

Stare. Chew.

"Right, so." Duke faced the students. But kept his eyes on the moose. "Today we're doing some relaxing yoga. So grab some cushions and bolsters and prepare to destress."

The moose stared.

And chewed.

Comments

Re: Talk to Duke

[solarhippie]

"It's... it's not just me, right?" Karolina hazarded in a hushed tone, approaching Duke at one point during the class. "Isn't that the office moose?"

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"It is not just you," Duke confirmed. "I mean, I'm not all up on the latest moose identifying techniques, but I'm pretty sure that's the moose from the office, yeah."

Re: Talk to Duke

[solarhippie]

"I feel like I'm about to get a bunch of unnecessary paperwork dropped in my lap."

This was, historically, a legitimate fear for the guidance counselor at this school to have.

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"I'm pretty sure I'm about to get assigned another absurd class to teach," Duke said. Still side-eyeing the moose.

One did not simply look away from the moose.

Re: Talk to Duke

[solarhippie]

Karolina was having kind of the same issue, yeah.

"But, hey," she said, quirking a small smile at him. Totally about to change the topic, and not entirely just so the moose didn't catch them talking about its administrative track record. "Uh, wasn't that your girlfriend I spied in class last week?"

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"That was Octavia, yes," Duke said, nodding. And eyeing the moose. "She came back last week. Just got -- dropped back off by the multiverse."

Re: Talk to Duke

[solarhippie]

Karolina's smile widened just a little. "And, how are you doing?"

Whether she meant just him, or him and Octavia both, was up to him.

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"It's --" Duke started. Then didn't know what to say. "We're . . . surviving."

Re: Talk to Duke

[solarhippie]

Yeah, that dimmed Karolina's smile down real fast. But she gave a little nod.

(With another glance at the moose. A very quick one, though!)

"I'm sure there's, like, an adjustment period. Especially if, um... you were right about where she was."

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"I was," Duke said. "For, uh. Seven years on her end."

Re: Talk to Duke

[solarhippie]

Karolina's eyebrows went way up. Almost comically so.

"Oh wow," she said. "Okay. That's -- yeah, that's definitely going to need an adjustment period."

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah, right?" Duke shook his head. "Who even knows what actually happened to her during all that. She's told me some of it, but -- yeah, I don't know if I'll ever get the whole story."

Re: Talk to Duke

[solarhippie]

"You just said it's only been like a week, you have to give her time," Karolina replied gently. "But, yeah. It's possible she'll want to keep it to herself --"

Even Karolina herself hadn't told anyone all the details of her visit to her parents' home world.

"-- and you'll just have to... support her the best that you can, if it's what she needs."

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"That's what I'm trying to do, yeah." Duke flashed her a small, weak smile. This wasn't really the time or place to get too into his worries about Octavia. "It's just, I don't know. Frustrating."

Re: Talk to Duke

[solarhippie]

"I bet," Karolina replied, knowing it didn't cover the half of it. "But, you know, my door's always open if you wanna vent."

A beat.

"Or if she does."

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"You know, I suggested that to her, actually." Duke smiled faintly and shook his head. "Not sure how likely she is to take you up on it, but hey. At least she knows it's an option."