001. a room of her own // open post.

[takeitinstride]

Take a prompt, take some time, drop in whenever you like.

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Waking the Dead 2.0 : 31 Aug 2063 | "someone had to draw a line"

[larue]

[ There's a part of him that's surprised that the Kaiser is up and about in Ateneo. He's equal parts glad to see her walking, and worried that she might be pushing herself too much because he still recalls how tired she'd looked the other day at the Great Hall. He relaxes a little though, when he spots Lorenzo nearby, and quietly makes his way to his seat.

He spends the entire class focused on absorbing everything she's teaching them; makes notes when necessary, refers to his readings when he should, and participates as per normal.

It's when the class wraps up that he makes his way over to her, bag slung on one shoulder and tablet tucked away. ]

Welcome back, Ma'am Lia. [ He hadn't expected to see you here, but he's not hiding the fact that he's glad you taught today. ]

[takeitinstride]

[She can feel Lorenzo's eyes on her back as Josh approaches her, but gives no indication of it whatsoever. Her Dragon is merely worried, and maybe he has a good reason to be.

Just maybe. The faster she can go back to doing familiar things, the better for her sanity.]

Thank you. [Sending Josh an appraising look, then going back to fixing her things.] I am going to Gabriel's birthday party later. You will be there, right?

[larue]

Yes, ma'am. [ His hand absently adjusts the straps of his shoulder at that. ] Wouldn't miss it for anything.

[ It's Gabriel. It's only right. ]

Do... do you need help with those?

[ Concern from this one. He also slides a deferential nod towards Lorenzo before he's looking back to the Kaiser again. ]

[takeitinstride]

[She didn't, actually, but she knows your type. Hence, she smiles and steps back.]

No, but I would appreciate a little help anyway.

[Lorenzo, in the meantime, is nodding back, yawning, and promptly disappearing into a shadow. It seems as though he's content to leave Josh to take care of her for now.]

[larue]

[ He's taking Lorenzo's departure as a good sign and turns to help Lia with her things. ]

How are you feeling?

[ Yes, that's coming out soft and a little shy. He's genuinely concerned. He respects you a great deal. Hearing about you collapsing in the aftermath of Amadeus' attack on Falner got his protective hackles up. You're the Kaiser, after all. ]

[takeitinstride]

Better than expected. I hope, of course, to recover much faster than I already am, though.

[And it frustrates her that she isn't, that she has to be so human and therefore fragile at a time like this.

You probably won't notice, though. She's rather good at keeping her cards close to her chest.]

[larue]

[ It's reassuring to hear that then. You're a formidable woman and if his memory serves him right, one of the strongest mages in the Fifth World right alongside Tohru Fukuzawa. Hearing that the strain of ensuring the safety of all the civilians in Falner had not sat well with him. He's glad that the people he cares about are safe, but knowing that the health of someone he respects a great deal has been compromised by some shithead who was once a Malice King is one more item on the growing checklist of why Amadeus has got to be put down.

But anyway. ]

That's good to hear, ma'am. [ There's a momentary pause as it occurs to him to offer something -- but he shelves that thought and cants his head slightly to the door. ] I'll walk you to your car. Unless you have to drop by somewhere first?

[ He'll be happy to accompany you if that happens to be the case. ]

[takeitinstride]

[Making a thoughtful noise at that.]

I do not have a car, actually. Lorenzo and I were going to port back.

[The other King, though, has left her to her own devices since it seems as though you're around to keep her company.]

[larue]

Oh... [ UM. WELP?

It's that odd moment where he wishes he had a car of his own.

Focus, LaRue. You're in the presence of your superior. ]

I'd like to walk with you, if that's alright.

[takeitinstride]

That is fine. Although...

[ Tilting her head in his direction. ]

Do you have a car?

[larue]

[ This is the look of an incredibly sheepish War Puppy Hound, Kaiser. ]

No, ma'am.

[ Yeah, he's already wishing that he thought this over better. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ Smiling a little now, a little amused at the expression on your face. She's about to make another suggestion when Lorenzo's sending a thought her way. ]

Ah. Let's go to the parking lot. Lorenzo was helpful enough to get transport for us.

[larue]

[ That's a bit of a surprise -- though he belatedly thinks that maybe it shouldn't be.

He'll nod and fall into step with you then; he'll also hold the door open for you. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ She's quiet as the two of you walk along, but midway to the parking lot she's lifting her hand as if she's ready to catch something falling out of the sky --

-- and what she does end up "catching" is a set of car keys that lands in her palm after materializing out of thin air.

Time to get ready to drive, then. ]

[larue]

[ Sometimes... he thinks it must be ridiculously cool to be a mage.

Not that he wants to be one. He's pretty happy just being himself. ]

Where would you like me to put your things, ma'am?

[ He'll follow your lead because he has no clue what car you'll be using. ]

[takeitinstride]

On the backseat.

[ She's slowing down a little once you've both reached the car that Lorenzo has secured for his girl, and looking just a bit put out. Just a bit.

Driving could be fun under any other circumstance but this one, really. ]

[larue]

[ He's noting the look on your face, Kaiser and blinking quietly as he approaches the backseat door. ]

Is... something wrong, ma'am?

[ The car looks... like a car. So he's kind of wondering what it is that's got you looking that way. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ And she's going to be honest, since you asked. No need to pretend, really. ]

I'm not looking forward to driving, honestly.

[ What she won't admit to is how tired she actually feels. ]

[larue]

[ Oh. Right. You're not feeling well just yet and driving is tiring all on it's own.

( He is resisting the urge to facepalm. )

He's shifting his hold on your things so that he can tuck them under his arm. ]

I could drive for you, ma'am, if you're comfortable with that. [ A beat. ] Brianna taught me a while back.

[ If that sounds a little bit like 'I promise I know how', it's because most of his practice had been using Rhiannon cars. He's confident in his road skills, he just honestly wishes he had a car of his own to hone it all the more. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ Catching that, but expertly hiding her amusement.

You're really cute. She is sure people have told you this before, or have at least thought about it. ]

Thank you for the offer. I think I will gladly take you up on it today.

[larue]

[ Okay, breathe. Nice save, LaRue. ]

It's an honor, ma'am.

[ It really is. He respects you very much and admires the way you run Netsach and look out for your own. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ Smiling a little more at that, then moving towards the passenger seat.

She's going to mention this to Hikaru when she has an opportunity to. He really chose well when he decided to fall in love with you. ]

Have you managed to get a gift for your mentor?

[larue]

[ And he's nodding in response as he rounds over to the other side. ]

I did. I found it last night. [ He hesitates just a little bit because he feels a bit shy over the fact. ] Hikaru helped me pick it out.

[ And 'it' happens to be a gorgeous antique fountain pen from one of the shops at the Fort.

He'd taken one look at it and even if he'd insisted on checking out other things, he knew it would be perfect for Gabriel. ]

[takeitinstride]

I'm not too surprised to hear that. Hikaru's rather thoughtful.

[ Understatement of the century, that, and she knows it. Which might be why she phrased it that way.

Handing the keys over to you once you're both settled. Mmm, it is nice to just sink into a car seat and have no expectations whatsoever... ]

[larue]

Yeah, [ that's coming out softly. ] He is.

[ Taking those keys now because it helps him keep from lifting his hand to rub at his eyebrow -- a nervous tic, that.

( Okay, LaRue. It would be nice if you stopped being awkward right about now. )

He does all the usual checks, makes all the necessary adjustments to the side and rear view mirrors before he starts the engine and maneuvers that car out of park. Focusing on the car settles him back into his own skin; this is something within his range of control, something that isn't quite as natural as breathing -- but he'll get there. ]