The Queen's Chambers, Sidra, Glacia, Sunday Afternoon (Fandom Time)

[glacial_queen]

It had been a long and miserable two weeks. Just ask anyone who had had the misfortune of dealing with their Queen. Karla was a terrible patient; somehow managing to be a tyrant even when she was coughing so hard she could barely speak. It was a good thing her nasty chest cold had also kept her asleep a great deal, or it was possible she would have been overthrown by her own Court.

Now, however, she was on the mend. Which, on the positive side, meant she was feeling almost human again--and behaving that way. On the negative side, it also meant she was bored out of her mind. Morton and Julian had finally made good their escape after their third straight hour of playing cradle, her lunch lay untouched because she was tired of soup and toast, and the next person who came in to make her take another foul-tasting brew was going to get kicked in the face.

There was clearly only one thing to do. Call people and whine about how bored she was. Also, check up on anyone who had gotten tangled up in the latest bout of Fandom crazy, but mostly the whining and bored thing

Let's see. Who to call first?

[Open for phone calls, visitors, and them what live here. If you think Karla would have called you, she did!]

Comments

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled. "Well, it would be more comfortable with a nice set of trousers. I take it Jono is the 'knobby-kneed mutant' you mentioned, and that he can hear you?"

Because he doubted she'd have nearly as much fun saying that otherwise.

[glacial_queen]

"Got it in one," Karla said, giving Jono a merry grin. "He came bearing steak and potatoes to convince me not to murder him for not being here when his Queen was in danger."

She snorted. "I'm shocked--shocked--that he thought I could be bribed with so little."

[sharp_as_knives]

"So am I," Hannibal answered. "He should at least have come to me for the cooking. I would have added dessert." Because Hannibal knew his audience. "You were in danger, though; is everything all right?"

[glacial_queen]

"Did you hear that, Jono?" Karla asked him. "Hannibal would have brought dessert."

His reply was succinct and sardonic and involved a gesture rather than words.

"I don't know all the ways you lot changed on the island, but our excitement centered around Warren and Raven going evil and fighting over who would get to have me as I played the pregnant waif in the middle." Her lip curled at that. Being helpless was never going to be something she was okay with.

[sharp_as_knives]

"That doesn't sound at all pleasant." Hannibal grimaced. Helpless definitely wasn't something he cared for. "You sound as if you're handling it admirably; how are they?"

[glacial_queen]

"I haven't seen much of Raven," Karla admitted. "She kind of fled Sidra. Umm, would you mind talking to her if you see her? I think she could use someone to talk to who wasn't involved."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course," Hannibal answered. "I'll be sure to keep an eye out for her, and make myself available. To anyone who needs an ear," he added. "I'm very good at not judging and at keeping confidences," he promised.

[glacial_queen]

"Is that a suggestion I should avail myself upon your services, too?" Karla asked, sounding amused. "I'm okay, I think--really okay, not just saying that. But then, I wasn't slightly insane and very murderous. If the offer remains open, I will pass it along to Warren as well."

She was tempted to tell him that she was also good at keeping confidences, such as the one she had learned from Audric, but thought that she would be better off not saying anything at all. After all, hinting she had a confidence to keep was the first step to betraying it.

"I hope that other people are taking advantage of having a good friend in proximity," she added, giving Jono a hard glare.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal appreciated her discretion; he hoped that what she'd learned from Audric stood as testament to his own discretion and lack of judgment on people he liked.

"The offer is available to any of you," Hannibal answered. "Whether for advice and insight, or simply someone to listen." Coping well didn't mean you might not want to rant to an uninvolved party from time to time. "And if you're speaking to Jono again," he said, amused, "we haven't spoken much about our experiences, but we did share music and good conversation yesterday evening."

[glacial_queen]

...Mostly it just stood as a testament that he ate people. But, you know, details. She was still mulling that over.

"Glad to hear it," she said, mollified. "Jono uses music to express what he can't a lot of the time anyway. Oh, hush, yes you do. Stop eavesdropping on my conversation with Hannibal."

She was having trouble continuing to call him Dr. Lecter. Having a child with someone would do that to you.

"It probably wouldn't hurt to have someone to talk to in that capacity," she mused. "At least to have someone to whine about Court stuff to who isn't directly involved in it. I'll take it under advisement. And will certainly poke Warren about it. Though, since turnabout is fair play, how did you fare?"

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal didn't mind at all; formality did seem rather pointless, given Audric.

"Not terribly," he answered. "For some time, I was a female version of myself.
Then I was a version that grew up completely in an orphanage, and one that grew up with my family in Paris. An intriguing glimpse at several 'what if's. I have a new appreciation for many things now."

He smiled, which she could probably hear in his voice. "No trauma, if perhaps just a touch of wistfulness for one or two things."

[glacial_queen]

"I bet you were a stunning lady," Karla said. His fine bones would almost certainly have carried over, as would his manner of carrying himself. Those would serve him equally well in either gender.

"Glad to hear you escaped unscathed. Was this your first longterm bout of Fandom whimsy? They're common at various points in the year."

[Apologies for the break! Remicaid & crazy over here.]

[sharp_as_knives]

"I believe I have pictures," Hannibal offered. "That was during our vacation to Bali. I shall have to find them, though." He chuckled. "They can't be less dignified than this horrid thing."

He pondered her question. "This is the longest-lasting one, although there was a bit of trouble towards the end of last year. I suppose it depends upon what you mean by 'long-term'."


[No worries! *HUGS*]

[glacial_queen]

"Anything longer than a weekend is usually a sign of something major happening," Karla said with a long-suffering sigh. "And the big ones usually happen a few times a year. It's like...Fandom needs to get something out of its system every three or four months."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I won't even attempt to psychoanalyze an island," Hannibal said, deadpan.

...mostly he wouldn't. But he was beginning to think somebody ought to.