The Estate, Sidra, Glacia, Thursday (Fandom Time)

[glacial_queen]

Winsol had been going on now for several days. The family had just decamped from SaDiablo Hall in Dhemlan back home to Glacia to continue the festivities in their own home. There would be several more days of formal events, but this evening was just for family and close friends (specifically friends close enough to be family). The children were tumbling around like puppies, a mix of Earth and Kaeleeran carols were playing from floating music spheres scattered throughout the suite, fires crackled in the large hearths, and food and punch and hot spiced rum were piled high on the sideboards throughout. "Happy Winsol!" Karla said, holding up her cup in a toast.

"Happy Winsol!" the room chorused back to her.

[Open to residents of Glacia, dear friends, and anyone who thinks they'd have gotten an invite]

Comments

[weldedtomyspine]

Something that looked sort of like panic flashed through Jaime's eyes, but he managed to suppress pretty quickly and offer Karla a "casual" smile. "Hey, can't I just be happy to be visiting some of my favorite people?"

You know, given the total lack of any friction between the two of them in the past.

[glacial_queen]

Hey! Now that Jaime had stopped breaking her friends' hearts, Karla was much less inclined to kick him.

"You could be," Karla said slowly. And then after a brief pause to let Jaime feel a moment's burgeoning hope that he'd gotten away with it, she said, "But we both know that's not what it is."

[weldedtomyspine]

"Hey! I really am excited to see everyone!"

Nice recover, Jaime. It was probably going to totally convince her!

[glacial_queen]

Oh, totes.

"Mmmhmm," she said, stubbornly unconvinced. "And yet that's not where the smile is coming from."

[weldedtomyspine]

"Says you." Yes. Said Karla.

"I mean, what else could it be?"

[glacial_queen]

"I don't know," Karla said. "Maybe I should ask Momoko. Or Khaji-Da."

[weldedtomyspine]

"Pffft. As if they'd tell you anything different."

Right. Momoko would spill her guts for a cookie, and Khaji'Da could provide a detailed report on just about anything on request.

[glacial_queen]

*Khaji-darling,* Karla sent along a psychic link, making sure to rope Jaime into the conversation because she was the literal worst, *do you have a moment to chat?*

[weldedtomyspine]

*Greetings, Black-Widow/Healer/Queen Karla.* Khaji'Da had always been very precise with names and titles.

Jaime, meanwhile, had his eyes going wide and was flailing his hands as if that would stop either of them.

*I have ample time for discussion.*

[glacial_queen]

*Wonderful!* The grin she was directing at Jaime was best described as 'shit-eating. *I do so adore our little chats.*'

[weldedtomyspine]

While Khaji'Da did listen to Jaime, it wasn't like Jaime the Scarab's boss or anything. So Jaime didn't even bother. He just raised his hand and planted his face in his palm as he overheard the answer.

*That is gratifying. I tend to find them quite stimulating myself.*

[glacial_queen]

You could have prevented this, Jaime. You had no one to blame except yourself.

*I assume you've heard what Jaime and I have been discussing--or, rather, what I've been trying to discuss and what Jaime's been pretending not to understand. Would you shed some light on this, darling?*

[weldedtomyspine]

*Oh. I believe that this is one of those topics that humans refer to as "delicate".* Khaji'Da's tone didn't really change, but it was still somehow clear that this was further evidence that humans were weird.

*Which is odd. Most such topics are relatively common experiences for humans, after all. In this particular instance--*

"Oh, look at that!" Jaime interjected, sounding a bit panicked, and held up his wrist as if looking at his watch. Except that he didn't wear a watch. "Look at the time!"

[glacial_queen]

"You're not even wearing a watch," Karla pointed out. "And where do you have to be anyway, Jaime? Besides, you're being rude. Khaji'Da and I are talking. Unless you had something you wanted to share?"

Give it up, Jaime. Either you'd tell her or someone else would. WHich would be less embarrassing for you?

[weldedtomyspine]

None of the above! Jaime preferred none of the above, Karla!

*I believe that Jaime would prefer you cease this line of questioning.* Again, Khaji'Da's tone didn't change, but it amusement was very clearly communicated anyway.

*He is experiencing increased blood-flow to surface blood vessels,* blushing, *and accelerated heartrate.*

[glacial_queen]

*Is there someone else I could ask, Khaji'Darling?* Karla sent, all sweet innocence. *So poor Jaime can stop playing </>Fifty Shades of Scarlet?*

[weldedtomyspine]

*If my suspicion is correct, then you should be able to discover what you want from the other participate, Akatsutsumi Momoko.*

Jaime facepalmed. Because 'participant'? Really?

[glacial_queen]

*The other...? Oh. I SEE.* There was nothing remotely nice about Karla's smile. It was full of pointy little teeth and directed at Jaime. *I'm sure I can, Khaji-darling, thank you. You were most helpful.*

And keeping up a light chatter in the back of her mind where she asked Khaji'Da if he'd discovered anything fascinating, Karla closed Jaime out of the mental loop and said, "So. Anything you wanna tell me now, dearest Jaime?"

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime looked a little panicked. "I don't see why whether Momoko and I--" he caught himself just in time. "Uh... whether we do... things... is any of your business..."

That closed out pretty weakly, Jaime. No fire at all.

[glacial_queen]

"It depends on how you look at things," Karla said, using her 'being reasonable at unreasonable males' voice. "I assure you, I have no intention getting involved in whatever you two get up to--" and enjoy that horrifying and/or delightful (or both!) mental image there, Jaime "--but friends share things. Like gossip, information, and tips to make things even better the next time."

She gave him a coy look from under her lashes. "For the both of you."

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime aimed a Look at Karla. "What makes you think we need any advise from you?" Besides the obvious fact that Jaime was totally clueless.

[glacial_queen]

"Because sex is a skill," Karla pointed out bluntly. "And, as a Healer and Black Widow, I was taught about it long before I was even allowed to start doing it."

[weldedtomyspine]

"Who said anything about sex?" Jaime said, voice far to squeaky to be remotely convincing.

[glacial_queen]

"Your inability to lie at all?" Karla suggested. "What else would have you so flaily and defensive that Momoko would be a 'participant' in?"

[weldedtomyspine]

"It could be anything!"

No, Jaime. No it couldn't.