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

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

What, those two being sensible? Pffttt.

"Well, it's not like we have any other immediate life plans to change," Dinah said philosophically. "Priestly's still in school in New Gotham, and I'm trying to stay afloat as a P.I. Neither of us can afford our own place yet, so we both have roomies. And... we just don't want to mess it up. We've been friends too long for that." She smiled a little. "And you and Alice? Or you and anyone else?"

[future_sandworm]

"It's a strange balance between changing a relationship and not wanting to ruin what was before," Leto noted.

He looked at Alice across the room, who by the looks of it was confusing some servant. She wore his mother's water rings braided into her hair. "When Alice first came to Arrakis she wasn't ready to be a mother or to be the concubine to an emperor. Somehow we managed to create a life together despite that. It might not have been at the pace we would have chosen had we been able to, but it worked. As for others..." Dinah should know him by now.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah shook her head on a small laugh, knowing how that went. "I'm glad she's settled in now. And that you guys are happy. No big troubles in the Empire?" She wrinkled her nose. "You should know that you make all my life's ambitions look small, you and Karla. Ruling countries and worlds and empires. Meanwhile, I find people and kick ass for fun and defense of drunk people and idiots." And innocent tourists, who were often both.

[future_sandworm]

"Nothing I can't handle," Leto said with a grin. "And why would an ambition be smalled judged by that?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Enh. I dunno." She was just... happy, right now. Shouldn't she be planning something? Moving toward something? Accomplishing something? It was unnerving, to finally be where she'd planned to be ages ago. "Not sure. It's not like I want fame and fortune or anything. Or power. Just-- am I a grownup, if I'm not changing the world?" She grinned at him. "And yes, I know how silly that sounds."

[future_sandworm]

"I didn't ask because I wanted you to feel silly," Leto said. "You look happy."

He smiled and squeezed her hand.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah squeezed his back, smile softening a bit. "I am. I'm kinda afraid to jinx it." She shrugged her shoulders, smile not dimming. "But I guess sometimes you just get lucky." She snickered. "Or get made Emperor of Everything."

[future_sandworm]

"Am I to interpret that as being made Emperor is lucky or unlucky," Leto said with a laugh, not bothered either way.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Better you than me, pall. That's how you interpret it."

[future_sandworm]

"I suppose I can't see you enjoying it much," he said, now grinning. "Which, as I said before, doesn't mean you lack ambition. Finding people and kicking ass isn't for everybody either."

He was interrupted by Hania who made some kind of attack jump, at which Leto scooped her up in his arms. "Do you remember Dinah?" he asked her. Hania peered at Dinah, considering her reply.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Hi hon," Dinah said, smiling, but not reaching out yet. Let the kid make up her own mind. "You were a lot littler the last time I saw you. I think we maybe played some chase games, though."

[future_sandworm]

"I must have been very little," Hania decided, an arm around her father's neck.

"Dinah is my friend from when I went to school," Leto said, shifting his arms to make holding her more comfortable. "She came to your naming ceremony too."

He looked at Dinah. "And as you've noticed, Hania has grown." He smirked at Hania rolling her eyes.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Well, kids do that," Dinah said, smirking back at Leto, then grinning at Hania. "Your daddy and I were in plays together, and some clubs, as well as classes. He said you were having fun here with the other kids? Have you met any of the big tigers yet?"

[future_sandworm]

"You never said you were in plays," Hania said to Leto, who clearly shouldn't have left out this important piece of information. She wiggled to get down to the floor, because she was really too old to be carried by her father.

"What kind of plays?" she asked Dinah.