[So, Katherine and Ben head back to the school. They're met down at the door by Rica, who seems happy now that she is fed.] [Start] * Ben gets out of the taxi, and holds the door open for Katherine. 'Ah, Rica. Still stuck with me, after all?' * Rica smiles. "Well, we wouldn't have the school without the parents, after all." 'Well, I'd like to introduce you to my wife. We thought she'd have to stay in London all day, but she managed to get her business done early and here she is.' * Rica nods and looks over at the car to see this girl. (Ben's married to a woman, not a girl. :P) * Katherine climbs out of the taxi and smiles at Rica, looking directly at the woman instead of by her. "Hello." She holds her hand out to her. "Kitty Ward. You're a teacher here?" * Rica seems slightly surprised by the direct look, but makes eye contact and shakes hands. "I am. Your child would have my class in introductory field magic in her first year if she came here." (Rica's surprised because she knows of Katherine's odd mannerisms? :P) (Rica's surprised by the forcefulness of a Kitty. :P) * Katherine smiles. "Really? Wonderful. I had to see this place; it sounds fantastic." 'I told her all about what you showed me this afternoon while we ate,' Ben says with all honesty. (Except about eating.) * Rica nods. "So, do you want the walk around as well, or perhaps you'd like to see one of our houses at night and the social life?" 'Kitty?' * Katherine brightens at the idea. "I'd love that. If you don't mind, that is." 'House social life it is, then.' * Rica smiles. "Any preference between the three?" She thinks for a moment. "Do you know the difference, Benji?" 'Drakes are the reliable ones, Lions are the troublemakers,' Ben grins at Rica as he says that, 'And Unicorns are the smart ones.' * Katherine looks over to Ben. He's been here before, after all. * Rica snerks. "I should never have let you talk to Dustin." 'Nice young chap.' * Ben says 'chap' with an overly affected manner, clearly trying too hard to fit into his surroundings. Dustin? 'Rica let me talk to one of the students here. A boy named Dustin, a year or two older than Penny.' * Rica leads you in at this point. The general light levels are a bit lower, not dark but more atmospheric. A few of the oldest of the students can be seen here and there, talking with one another or walking purposefully. Oh? That's nice. 'Yes. That was after Emily cracked up.' To Rica, he adds, 'Kitty was very sorry to have missed that. She wants more excitement in her life.' He grins. * Katherine huffs. "Really, Benji. You didn't need to tell her that." Well, life even here isn't normally *that* exciting. 'Sorry,' Ben says, but he sounds more lovingly tolerant than apologetic. So Kitty, did you have any questions? * Katherine tags along almost absently, as she's rather absorbed in looking around. "Well, I'm concerned about the living quarters, but I think we're going to cover that soon." 'So, Kitty, which house did you want to see?' [As you get to the stairway, Tony, the Unicorn Ben had earlier seen with Isaac, walks up and waits as the stair turns. He nods to Rica.] Hello Tony. 'Did you get anywhere with your flying lessons?' * Katherine looks over at Tony curiously. * Tony looks at Ben oddly for a moment trying to place him; he then just gives up. "Oh, Isaac seems to be getting more confidence, but I haven't had luck doing anything more than helping him get practice." He sounds slightly disappointed by that failure, as if his pride is a tad wounded. Flying? [The stairway comes. Rica and Tony start up.] * Katherine keeps tagging along. Like a lost pup- er, Kitty. * Ben steps up alongside her, holding out an arm in case she wants to grab it to maintain her balance. We've got broomsticks. It's mostly a mental, not a physical exercise, at least getting started. The practices help him keep physically used to it, but... * Katherine starts up and stumbles a bit with surprise as one of the staircases above her moves. She actually does end up grabbing Benji's arm. And she looks rather embarrassed about it, too. * Rica pats Tony on the back. "Good of you to try." * Ben, perhaps surprisingly, does not look condescending or amused. He simply makes sure she's steady, and waits for her to let go. 'Well, you're not the first to fail at that, I hear. Perhaps that... Isaac?... just doesn't have it in him.' * Tony shrugs. "Well, he actually has been making some progress. I guess Dustin or Mallory actually got him to open up some. I never could. But he's a Unicorn and we stick together, so I try to help when he doesn't have a friend available." 'Good boy.' Ben nods approvingly. * Katherine lets him do that, then does let go. She points up and asks him quietly, not interrupting the wizards' conversation, "Do they do that much?" 'Do what?' The stairs. They moved. 'Yes. I can't say I see the point of it, myself.' * Katherine nods. Okay, so she isn't seeing things. 'You get used to it... Sort of.' * Katherine turns her attention to Tony at that. "Unicorn sounds like a nice enough house. Do you like it there?" (Poor Benji and Kitty. So in over their heads in this world of wacky magical stuff.) (I know. It's crazy.) [You get to the top of the stair and wait there, as this is where you'll be splitting with Tony.] (Or following him?) I do like it. It's a great house to learn in. We've got some of the best budding minds of wizardry but it's really more about attitude and the desire for knowledge than anything else." * Rica seems bemused. * Ben seems amused too. 'And you were saying about Dustin...?' he says to Rica in a slightly teasing tone. * Katherine nods. "That sounds like a good one to start with." She looks to Rica. "Is that all right?" Smile. * Rica shrugs and grins. "Well, all three houses are quite fine; we've got no loser fourth house here. I have my own biases of course." She then nods to Katie. [The five of you start on the journey to Unicorn house. The pictures on the wall include some great minds in magical theory and practice, often in their libraries. But a few are included of the more imaginative literary realms: Alice in Wonderland, Xanadu, and the like.] * Ben frowns slightly for a split second at the picture of Shangri La. Then the expression passes. * Katherine walks along. She's clueless. Clueless! And looking at pictures, and the decorations, and probably wondering about the point behind moving staircases. * Ben grins. 'Like the art, Kitty?' I love the one with the parrot riding the unicycle. With the little pink umbrella. It's so cute. * Katherine blinks. "Is there some magical way to prevent vandalism here, or are all the kids just well-behaved?" Well, the portraits would tend to fight back. Although ::She gestures to Shangri La.:: Some might just put you to sleep. Admittedly, we aren't the house for lots of parties or horse play, and I do occasionally envy Lion's camaraderie, but we've got a lot of introverts anyways. 'Well, that's important. Studying is what you're here for. Though you should make time for a little fun, while you're young.' He glances over at Katherine as he says that, and smiles just a bit. * Katherine smiles. "Definitely. It's good that you're helping your friend." She gets distracted by a picture with the Cheshire Cat smiling down at Alice. [Tony skips ahead slightly to get to the Unicorn tapestry and whispers "Knowledge." under his breadth. Katie can hear him; Ben needs a roll if he cares.] (Failed, but Ben knows.) [The cat disappears while Katie watches. She'd also swear Alice shrank slightly.] * Katherine lets out a faint eep and steps away from the picture. Then she hurries after the rest of the group. * Ben looks around at the eep, concern showing. 'Are you okay, honey?' * Katherine smiles nervously. "Yes, but- the cat in the picture disappeared." [Rica seems fairly blase, but she gives Tony his space as the door to Unicorn house swings open.] 'It's just like a television,' Ben says soothingly. He reaches out and pats her hand. * Ben looks up to get a good view of the Unicorn common room. [As you get in it's fairly active, in a sedate way. Several of the students, more of the boys than girls, smile at Tony when he enters, although he doesn't get more then a nod from Maris when he enters. She is incidentally with a study group at one of the tables.] (Tony's gay.) (More of the girls than boys.) (No retconning it now. :P) (Okay, lots of boys and girls, then. :P) (Tony's gay, Greg. Just admit it.) (He's got a crush on Isaac.) ( I may be gay, but I have taste.) * Katherine nods, more or less placated, and walks on into the common room. She gets a good look around. No recognition crosses her face when she sees or hears Maris. [The room isn't much different from what Katherine remembers: lots of books, some shelved. There's principally unicorns here, although there's the occasional Drake and Lion studying.] [The only other one you recognize from the briefing is Jessica Winslow, who is hanging rather close to Maris.] 'So, Tony, why don't you show us around?' [Snippet of the study group conversation:] Which demonstrates magic is largely considered neither of this plane nor any other, which is the key differentiation between extraplanar powers. ::nods:: And different from Undead abilities. Although they can... [There's a few groans.] Get new stories already, Jessica. * Jessica looks hurt. "I'm trying!" * Maris rolls her eyes. * Tony nods. "So, this is our common room. We also have space to chat in the dorm sections, but those aren't coed. In fact, as a male student, I'd need Rica's permission to enter." 'What do you think?' Ben asks Katherine. 'They don't look too different from the kids at Penny's school, do they?' * Katherine shakes her head. "No, they don't. And they're very studious. It looks like a good environment." * Rica grins. "Try not to do anything untoward while you're there." She walks over to the girls' side and mutters an incantation. Really, now. * Ben nods. 'You should see Drake House as well. I thought that looked like an excellent environment.' 'No offense, Tony.' Ben grins. 'This looks very nice, too.' The Drake house? * Katherine smiles. "Well, if you say so. I think we should stop at each of them. I wouldn't want to limit her options." 'But you have to admit that it's best to look into all the options. Seek knowledge, right?' * Katherine nods. [The Drake student grins.] * Tony smiles. "Well, if you put it that way." * Tony leads you up the guys side first. * Katherine follows the nice (gay) Unicorn boy. * Ben follows Katherine. We bunk four to a room, have separate bathroom and showers with all the amenities. Some of the kids even have electric tooth brushes and the like. 'Why would that be unusual?' [He shows you a fairly orderly room at random. This one has a magically animated band poster and a big pile of dirty clothes in a hamper.] 'Is this your room?' Well, many of the students think the magical life should be low technology. More of a personal style thing than anything else. And yes, this is mine. That's curious. I hope Penny doesn't pick up that habit. * Ben snickers. 'Penny's too fond of her cell phone to give it up.' * Ben nods, and looks around. He notes the band poster. It's a boy band, isn't it? [More pop-rock.] * Rica glances in. "My, a Lifeblood poster, how edgy." She's got a slight note of sarcasm. I'm actually fond of the Muties. They just don't have any arcane posters. 'You wouldn't accept a non-magical one?' * Tony then leads you to the bathrooms, nice quality installations, nicer than most colleges. It would just look weak by comparison to Robert's. * Ben shakes his head as he whispers (but a normal whisper, not a subvocal secret whisper) to Katherine, 'This modern music... It's not like the stuff in our day. That was music.' * Katherine rolls her eyes in an exaggerated fashion. "Really, Benji," she whispers back, chidingly. * Katherine notes the clothes. She looks to Tony as she keeps walking along. "Where are the laundry facilities?" Most students actually handle it by magic, but there's some on the ground floor for clothes that aren't well suited for that or those that just prefer the old fashioned way. [Once you actually get to the bathroom and stand around for a bit, a Unicorn rushes in, heads to a urinal, and then just stands around looking awkward for a moment as he notices the tour.] * Katherine blinks, then has the decency to look embarrassed and step out. * Ben turns to look at Katherine. Then at Tony. Then at Katherine. Then at the soon-to-be-peeing kid. Then at Tony. Then at Katherine. * Ben goes after Katherine. Use a stall, dummy. [You gather again back in the hallway.] (Sadly, that urinal was Greg's crucial clue to the crimes, and we're missing it. It's a whole Chamber of Secrets deal.) 'Well, I have to admit, Rica, that your school can't be accused of hiding anything from touring parents.' * Rica looks a bit smug. "It's easy to be open about academics and dorm life. We have nothing to hide and much to be proud of." She emphasizes academics and dorm life. Well, to be honest, they always have better food on parents' weekend. And most of the rooms are messier. So, want to see the girl's side now? About the same, or so I'm told. 'Well, on to the girls' side, I guess. Though perhaps we can skip the john this time?' Yes, let's. * Tony leads you down to the girls' area, which is lower on the tower. He gets a few looks, largely bemused, from the various girls who see him pass. He knocks on one door and a Unicorn about his age opens up. Hey Tony. Launching the world's tamest raid? * Katherine blinks. "Raid?" * Tony chuckles. He then looks to Ben. * Senior looks to Kitty. "Just a joke, something I've heard happens occasionally in colleges that don't have magical separation of the sexes." She sounds like she doesn't entirely approve of the concept. * Ben raises an eyebrow at Katherine. 'You remember...?' * Katherine not so subtly nudges Ben in the stomach with her elbow to shut him up. * Ben grins. * The girl looks vaguely disturbed. They're old people and they did stuff, eww. (We were young once! Yeesh.) * Katherine coughs into her other hand. "Uh. Magical separation?" she asks the girl. Boys can't come in the girls' sections and vice versa. I assume Tony got special dispensation. * Katherine blinks. "Oh. You mean barriers or something, then." * Sara nods. "Quite effective ones, too." 'So, Tony, what can you tell me about your fellow Unicorns?' Well, there's Maris of course. She was leading the study group. She may have a paper published before she leaves here. Sara here is our social leader and quite an expert in hexes.... * Tony babbles on about other students for a while, not too much of note. "Isaac, well he's not a flyer, but he does have some special abilities. And he has friends in different houses; some people are more of the mostly your house with a few exceptions group; some just don't care. * Rica chuckles. [Sara's room is incidentally fairly nice, few extra pillows, curtains. There's a bean bag on the floor with an open book by it.] 'Whose room is this?' * Katherine looks in. Myself, Julia, Edith, and Ritija. (None noteworthy.) (Damn. I had Ritija pegged as the thief.) (Really? I was sure it was Edith.) 'Do you get along with your roommates?' Julia snores. Ritija likes things a bit too quiet to my taste, but it could be worse; she's not Maris or something. 'Maris?' Maris? (They say in unison. AGH.) * Ben chuckles. 'You can tell we've been married for seventeen years.' 'We finish each other's sentences all the time.' * Katherine smiles at that. * Sara seems thrown off by the creepy old people. "Well, she does study or drill constantly. I figure that'd be tiresome to work around. Although, come to think of it, her roommates don't actually complain much." She tries to think about it for a moment. 'Her roommates?' Nicole, Shannon, and Lashanna. She probably just does work elsewhere. She seems to like studying in the woods some. 'The woods? Sounds nice. You like nature, honey. Would you like to take a look around there later?' * Sara blurts out, apparently still unnerved by Katherine's display earlier. "Heh, yeah, studying." 'Cause, I mean, that's what people do in the woods. * Katherine nods. "If it's all right." She blinks at Sara. * Rica eyes Sara for a moment. * Ben grins at Sara. 'I think she's got a boyfriend,' he says lightly. * Sara looks briefly at Tony to inform him that he will die for bringing these people to embarrass her. (It can't be Tony, though, 'cause he's gay. :P ) * Tony tries to take charge. "Well, I'm sure Rica could show you the woods later. So, uh, anything else you'd like to see?" * Katherine smiles sympathetically at Sara. "Not that there's anything wrong with that." She shakes her head, then looks to Ben. 'I didn't say there was,' Ben says innocently. "Thank you." Her voice gets slightly icey. "Oh, and Tony, do take care. Wouldn't want you getting sick again." 'Sick?' Ben looks at Rica. 'Is there a lot of illness at this school?' * Tony gives his winningest smile to Sara and mutters. "I'll pay you back, lunch or something." No, Tony just caught a nasty bug off campus two weeks ago? Spent several days in the infirmary. 'Really?' * Katherine frowns a little. Three weeks, and magic is good for relieving symptoms, but sometimes it's still better to let the immune system do most of the heavy lifting. * Katherine nods. "Yeah. I'm sorry to hear that, Tony." 'Nothing mystical?' * Rica shakes her head. "We can defend against that quite well." 'Where'd you catch it? Just in town?' * Tony nods. "Yeah, think it was when I caught a movie, opening of Empire Lost (a vehicle for the lead guitarist of Life Blood), how I remember the date." * Tony leads you back towards the common hall. * Katherine tags along! I would have thought being bed ridden alone for a few days would have made it memorable. * Ben follows after. Well, I'm not the best at dates normally. ( 'Is it dinner, movie, then sex, or sex, movie, dinner, or movie, sex, dinner? Let me check my notes.') (Most likely his notes read 'sex, sex, sex'.) (Not sex during the movie. I kick his butt out of there. Sorry, usher instincts.) (I had to kick people out of residence common rooms who were having sex when I was a residence security guy.) (Just because it's 4 am, doesn't mean it's allowed.) (Some of that went on at Ellicott. Elevators too supposedly.) (It's FUN. You walk in, shine a light on the couple so everyone can see, and then say, "No sex in the theater.") (By fun, I mean disgusting, but hey.) And frankly that weekend and Monday I'd just as soon forget. 'What happened? I was in bed, then I was in bed more. Wasn't quite with it enough to even get much reading. 'Just watched television? Of do you have that here?' [They arrive again in the main room.] Yeah, some, and got visited by everybody, which made it pass better. ::He smiles.:: * Katherine smiles, too. "That's good. Company always makes time go by faster." * Maris glances up as she notes the conversation. "Sorry again I didn't make it until that Monday, Tony. I keep thinking I could have at least charmed some books to make them easier to read." * Tony smiles about it. "Don't worry about it. You told me about the new book you got that Saturday. I feel honored you made it on Monday." 'Hello,' Ben says to Maris. 'You seem to be studying hard.' * Maris looks around. "Actually, just finishing up. Same time next week everyone." Jessica looks like she's about to ask something but Maris interrupts her as she leans back slightly in her chair... (And falls over!) And no Jessica, you don't need the extra help. You're bright; just apply yourself a bit more." Well, if I think of some interesting question, could I ask you guys about it? I suppose. ::she lightens up:: I'll just expect you'll check the library first. 'Could Kitty and I talk with you girls a few moments? We're thinking of sending our daughter here, and I thought you could tell us what it's like for girls here.' * Katherine nods at Ben's prompting. * Jessica looks relieved and starts to stand up, but sits back down, putting off going to Lion house now that she's got a question. Sure. [The other girls nod as well.] * Ben looks around at the huge group: Rica, Tony, Maris, Jessica, and all the onlooking girls. 'Perhaps not... at the centre of attention like this?' He looks at Kitty, as if expecting her to be shy. * Katherine bites her lip. "Well, if you don't mind... I mean, I would like to just talk to one or two of you. See how things are without group pressure." [A bunch nod and scatter. Rica goes off to talk to some of the other students.] Well, it's been my pleasure to give you the tour, and hope you do end up sending your daughter here. * Tony then preps to go with to his room. * Katherine smiles at Tony. "Thanks." 'Thank you, Tony.' * Ben shakes Tony's hand. * Tony shakes his hand as well. "Nice meeting you." (DNA sample acquired. :) ) [He smiles to Kitty. "And you." And then heads off.] [Jessica and Maris wait attentively.] * Katherine looks around, then smiles sheepishly and turns to Maris. "Ah, if you don't mind. Can we talk somewhere else?" ('That men's toilet looked nice. Let's go back there.') * Jessica lights up. This is vaguely adventure like. (Old people! Cool!) Oh, sure, I guess. You could come back to my room, I suppose. * Katherine smiles. "Thank you." She looks to Benji. "Girl stuff, you know." 'Why don't you take Kitty back to your room, and Jessica can show me hers. With Rica accompanying me and Jessica, of course,' Ben says, the last added after a slight beat, with the distinct impression that he suddenly realized he sounded creepy asking to be alone in the girl's room with her. Or we could go to one of the nice sitting areas on the ramparts. Whatever. Either works. Your room's fine, really. * Jessica looks vaguely giddy at the prospect. Maris is still slouching a bit. (Ben spreads joy.) * Maris stands and leads Kitty. "It's slightly messy, I apologize, I just got a new storage chest." * Katherine tags along. "Really? What happened to your old one?" * Maris glowers for a moment but manages to control it. "The lock broke.") Ah, that's too bad. * Katherine brightens a bit. "Well, it is an excuse to get a new piece of furniture." [Katherine continues in the log "Girl Stuff, You Know".] [Nobody is paying too much attention to Ben at the moment, aside from some glances as his presence is unusual.] 'So, Jessica, how did you come to end up here?' * Jessica looked like she was going to go hang out with Maris and then realizes that she's going to be separated and looks slightly less giddy. "Oh, well I heard about it and Mom thought it would be a good way to spend my energy." (She's NOT telling Ben the adventure story?) 'You needed an outlet, huh?' Well, that's what Mom thought. After I went on a cruise and to see Dirk and experience unusual cultures, there was a bit of excitement and they thought 'a more academic environment would better suit my love of the mystical.' And I got a private concert party too! * Ben blinks. 'I'm sorry, I must have missed something. What happened?' (You see, one time at band camp...) Well, there were vampires there, and people get all excited about them. I mean, sure, I thought they were particularly cool for like a day or two, but I see now they're not as fascinating as everyone thinks. Magic, wizards and witches, that's cool! [People seem to be giving Jessica extra distance. They've heard this one before.] 'Vampires?' Yeah. There's actually lots of type. Most aren't as sexy as you'd think, you see. ::You think she's about to go into a lecture on them.:: * Ben will actually listen to at least a bit of it. Some are, of course. I mean Dirk explained that he was there for a concert, but there were others of the attractive sort, Ricies you know, and some that are basically little better than blood suckers. Others jump a lot; I think they're really zombies trying to move up in the world, but if that's what the Chinese call them, it's okay, I guess... ( 'Killed that type, killed that type, killed that type, wounded that type, killed that type, she's making that one up, killed that type...') * Ben nods. 'You sure know a lot about them.' * Jessica smiles and then frowns for a moment. "I'm not boring you, am I? Well, you wanted to know about the school, and I know a good bit about us too." She smiles again. 'No, you're not boring me. You sound like you've led a fascinating life. Are you having adventures like that here too?' Well, we get to do all sorts of great things! I mean, it isn't quite everything I expected, but... There's lots of interesting people and chances to sneak around and play with new spells and try to trick the pictures. [Ben notes Jessica seems highly enthused to talk about the subject, although there's a definite note of disappointment regarding her expectations.] * Ben grins. 'You sound like you were expecting more, though. After vampires, even this is a letdown?' Well, not everyone gets into it. I mean, Mallory and Dustin spar, and that's cool. And considering how Luther's constantly on his tail, he's probably tried a thing or two, but I was hoping I'd be defeating evil wizards or something. Jarrett just makes jokes about it, Mallory is always so serious, and Maris keeps telling me that these aren't books and I should go make my own life. 'Well, just because it's not a book, that doesn't mean you can't have anything exciting happen. Is it really so dull around here?' * Jessica shakes her head. "No, I just keep think there's more going on and I want to play." 'More going on? Why do you say that?' Well, I know Mallory's troubled, but he doesn't talk about it much. Jarrett lets him vent steam and all, but Maris keeps worrying that he gets too caught up in it. She says there's real bad things out there, but he should be older and more experienced before going out there and acting. 'What do you think?' Well, we're young, but we've got to be willing to seize life and not wait 'till the world thinks you're ready. I know if Mallory asked me to help with something, I'd be by his side. Maris just thinks she's an adult already sometimes; not as bad as Dustin, of course, but she underestimates the rest of us. 'Do you think Maris is off doing that grown-up stuff now?' 'Maybe she really means what she says, after all.' Ben's voice is just skeptical enough that you can catch it. * Jessica gets a thoughtful and then pouty look on her face. "I'll be she is. She does like to do go out to the woods." She then frowns. "Although she is really nice and helpful, she's probably right that I could be more if I tried." 'The woods?' Ben says. 'What's there?' * Jessica smiles. "They're kinda magical, but mostly it's just a place to get away. ::She grins slightly.:: And fool around some, although the unicorn tends to make sure nothing much happens in that case. Mostly it's just where teachers aren't." 'Maris doesn't seem the type to be going there to make out,' Ben says with a grin. * Jessica shakes her head. "She and Jarrett don't really have that vibe, and that'd be the natural thing." But it's fun. The animals tend to keep a close eye on us, and there's the occasional scare, although I tried petting the wyvern once and he let me, so I think they try to act less tame than they are. * Ben can't help his slight laugh, but he makes it a cough. 'The natural thing?' (She HAS read too much HP.) 'Why not her and Mallory? Or her and Dustin? Don't they get along?' You know, nice balance between serious and fun, opposites attract, Hermione and Ron, all that." Well, she gets along with Mallory, but they seem to be just friends. As for Dustin, well, he's too much of a brat; to be expected really. Although she seems to think she can redeem him or something. 'How so? Does she spend a lot of time with him?' Well, not lots, that'd be weird, but more than you'd think. I haven't actually hung around them much when they're together; she tends to find something for me to do. Probably because I'm willing to stand up to Dustin so he's not a big fan of me. ::She sounds quite proud.:: 'She doesn't want you around when she's with Dustin?' Ben smiles, not his Benji grin, but more than his normal slight smile. He wants to look quietly amused at the follies of children in love. * Jessica looks at him oddly. "Eww... That can't be it." 'Well, you tell me, then.' Ben grins at her now. 'What were they up to?' Maybe she was telling him to lay off Mallory or something. * Ben raises an eyebrow. 'It didn't sound like you said they were fighting,' he points out. ( 'Look, I know canon leans against it, but there's plenty of Hermione/Draco fic on the 'Net. Granted, there's more Draco/Harry...') (There's a lot of Hermione/Draco fic out there. It's perfectly reasonable.) (I said there was.) (I know. I pressed enter anyway. Don't mind me and the mindlink.) But come on, Draco's so lame. I mean villains can be sexy and all, but he's a twerp! He's just scary cause his dad's powerful and rich. That's hardly rugged antihero material. 'I think Kitty would disagree. She had a thing for him, back in the day. The movie version, I mean.' * Jessica looks at Ben oddly. "Well, maybe the first one or two, at best. But I suppose some girls have foolish crushes. Maris doesn't seem the type though. And he is a total loser. I mean, he should really be in Hufflepuff or something." 'Well, if it's not a crush, maybe they're just friends.' ( 'Weren't you supposed to ask me about the school or something? So your daughter can come here?' 'Ah, screw Penny. I want gossip about kids I don't know.') (Fortunately, Jessica actually thinks that her circle of acquaintances are interesting main characters...) * Jessica nods. "Maybe." 'Ha,' Ben says, literally. 'You don't sound convinced. So, tell me, what'd you see them do that makes it so hard to believe they could be friends?' Well I know she and Mallory are friends, and Dustin likes ragging on him, saying 'he's one of us mortals too', asking how his head fits through doors, that sort of thing. I mean, his parents are dead; that's just wrong. * Ben nods. 'That's not very nice.' 'Does Dustin say those things to Maris?' * Jessica looks thoughtful. "Well, he teases her sometimes, but not that much really." * Ben nods, as if daring Jessica to refute him. * Jessica hmps. She doesn't add anything. 'The thing about good stories,' Ben says with a wink, 'is that they always have twists you don't expect.' Draco's still a loser. 'Fair enough. But what about, say, Spike on Buffy?' He's way hotter. I mean, he even has the blond hair thing going, but he has a real edge. People say less so in the later seasons but I still think he was hot. But he's a man; Draco's just a boy who does schoolyard stuff. 'Fair enough. But what if this is... like a crossover. A crossover that's a bit like Harry Potter and a bit like Buffy...' Hermoine and Spike? Well, huh, maybe. ::The fanfic wheels behind her eyes start turning.:: (My work here is done!) * Ben nods, watching her, seeing if she takes the ball and runs with it. Although Willow and Spike never.... But then Willow kind of got dumb once she got magic, aside from the occasional hacking job. And definite Xander and Ron parallels, maybe they could team up. (She runs with it right into fantasyland...) * Jessica then nods. "Okay, I could see it. Now that you're arguing logically about it." (This girl is so sad. The saddest part: I speak her language.) ( One of us!) 'So, does the evidence support the... Hermione/Spike theory?' Well, I guess it might. Man, Mallory would be pissed. 'Go on...' Well, they'd presumably be secretive about it. I mean, gah, and we haven't been breaking into musical numbers so if they were smart, they could keep it that way. Although the teachers would know unless they took some precautions when they snuck off. * Jessica's tone offers no consideration of the possibilities that the teachers might not care about literature breaking hookups. 'They're probably hushing it up. You know.' * Jessica shakes her head. "Luther is real proud of Dustin but he's not a big fan of Maris. He'd probably use it to embarrass her if he knew." * Jessica thinks about it. "Not probably: definitely." 'Well, maybe you should look into why Luther is hiding it. He may be up to something.' Ben's voice is very serious. 'But first, I just want to make sure that the evidence is solid. So, back to Spike and Hermione, you think that's definitely a possibility?' * Jessica nods. "It fits the evidence well. I was just blind to it because I was working in the wrong genre." 'Don't blame yourself. Anyone could have made that mistake.' (If, you know, you're INSANE.) 'So, what's the evidence?' * Jessica nods. "Well, there's the teasing and wanting to be alone. Maris sometimes just isn't anywhere I can find, even when the Mallory and Jarrett are around. And Dustin and Mallory clash a lot, but I don't think I've noticed any encounters while that was happening." * Ben nods. 'Have you seen Dustin sneak out to the woods too?' And he doesn't really let anyone pick on her. Although... He doesn't tend to go for group stuff much, anyways. But he's told people to back down. I figured he just couldn't deny her ability or something. * Jessica ponders. 'You thought he was in awe of her power? He say stuff like that?' I don't actually know, I haven't been following... Well, he's not a friend of mine, you know. And no, she's just really good. 'Of course she is. I bet she's impressing Kitty right now.' Ben grins. * Jessica nods. 'You sure do have some interesting friends.' * Jessica looks proud. "Thank you." 'And I'm sure you'll find out who you are soon.' Ben grins. * Katherine enters the common room. She's looking pretty chipper as she walks over to the pair. "Enjoy your chat?" What do you mean... oh. ::She tilts her head to the side. She may be broken.:: * Ben stands up and walks over to Katherine, kissing her in greeting. [Several of the Unicorns did not need to see that.] * Katherine isn't the least bit surprised, giving Ben a peck back. And those Unicorns can shove off. ( AAaaugugauuh!!! ::falls over twitching::) ( Kill him for me!) (Hahaha!) (Ben beat Taki there!) (* Tim is a bit too occupied not losing his lunch to obey his mom's order.) (Tim's got a problem with 30 somethings kissing?) (No, Tim's got problem with Ben and Katherine; the two of them together just makes it worse.) (Just wait until he actually proposes.) (* Taki shakes Tim. "Get with it. Come on, kill, you know you want to.") ( He sets grenades off in his hands! Give me a bunker-buster missile or three and I might hurt him!) 'Jessica and I had a very nice talk, honey. How was yours?' It went fine. Maris is a very sweet girl. * Jessica still has her head tilted to the side. * Rica joins up with the two. "So, want to go to another house or what?" * Ben looks at Katherine. 'I think I've seen enough here. Have you, dear?' * Katherine nods. "Yes." She smiles. "It's a lovely house. Should we try Drake next?" 'That sounds lovely. Rica?' * Rica leads the way. "Certainly, should be amusing." [Break!]