Room 308, Friday Morning

[bitten_notshy]

Jack hadn't really slept after getting back from his date with Emma. He'd taken a token nap, but in the end the excitement got to him. By seven, he was dressed and his possessions had been boxed neatly. (He had no idea how he'd acquired so many things in just over a year, but he had.)

He had a few hours before his portal left, so he rested on his bare mattress, reading the book Ms. Cabot had given him as a way of focusing his mind away from his nerves. He'd have Sebastien in his new world; nothing could go too far wrong.

The door to the room was open.

[OOC: Last post in Fandom! If you think he would have told you when he was leaving, he did.]

Comments

[bitten_notshy]

"It's all right," Jack said. "I spirited her away pretty early in the night. I'm glad you stopped by, though."

He eyed her carefully. Was she going to cry? He wasn't sure he could handle that.

[glacial_queen]

Karla was not going to cry. In his room anyway. Where he could see. "You didn't really think I'd let you go without one last goodbye, did you? Not on your life, Mr. Priest."

[bitten_notshy]

"Then it's a good thing you caught me, isn't it?" Jack said. "I have to say, I'm a bit jealous of you -- you have three more years in this place. I felt as if I barely scratched the surface in one."

[glacial_queen]

"I'm glad for them," Karla admitted. "Though I'd trade one if it meant you could have it," she added impulsively. "I know you have to go and that you have good reasons to, but...I wish you could stay. I'm dreadfully selfish and bad with goodbyes."

[bitten_notshy]

"We could not say goodbye," Jack offered, "since this isn't the end. We could say 'see you later' instead. I'm sure I'll be back on the island before you have time to miss me -- and you're welcome as a guest anytime."

[glacial_queen]

"See you later might be better," Karla said, nodding. "And are you sure you really want to inflict me on your classmates at school?" She gave him a wan smile. "Is your Sebastian going to be with you? Somehow?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I'm sure my classmates will already find me odd, so having you visit won't make much of a difference," Jack said, not unkindly. "And yes, I talked him into it. I think he's worried I won't make it on my own."

As Jack was worried Sebastien wouldn't make it on his own, this was entirely suitable.

[glacial_queen]

"I'm glad," Karla said sincerely. While it was true she shipped Emma and Jack like a fan-girl, she thought she had a decent grasp on the reality of the situation and far preferred Jack to have someone familiar, known, and cared for around rather than consigning himself to loneliness out of attachment. "And you know full well you'll have three-quarters of your classmates charmed and eating from your palm by the end of the first week."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack couldn't stop his smile at the prediction.

"One doesn't like to plan on that," he said. "I'd get complacent. But I can hope."

[glacial_queen]

"Jack, I know you and I still sometimes fall for the curls and cherub grin," Karla said, sighing. "Those poor students at your university won't have a chance."

She shook her head, smiling a little, and said, "You will write, won't you? Or phone, maybe?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Absolutely," Jack said, sincere. "I don't just let go of people, Karla. You're stuck with me, like it or not. And you'll write to me?"

[glacial_queen]

"Most definitely," Karla promised. "I don't have enough friends to just let them go without a care. And besides, who else can you trust to keep you informed of all the mischief Emma and I are getting up to?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack snorted lightly. "I certainly don't trust Emma to keep me up to date. Not unless she wants me here to fuss over her every other week."

[glacial_queen]

"And since she has no problems using the threat of fussing on me, I don't see how I'm obliged to play any differently," Karla said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Fair is fair, after all."

[bitten_notshy]

"Fair's definitely fair," Jack agreed, and reached for a hug. "I'll miss you, Karla."

[glacial_queen]

"I'll miss you too, Jack," Karla said, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She was totally not sniffling, dammit. "So damn much. You tell Sebastian that he'd better watch out because as soon as I'm old enough, I'm so going to try to poach you for my Court. Because you're not just Court--you're family."

A bit muddled there, but Karla wasn't trying to win any eloquence awards today.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack's eyes were going moist, even as he tried to blink it back. He mentally kicked himself for being such an idiot. "You can try," he said. "I should warn you, I'm a rather demanding employee, even for family."

[glacial_queen]

"Pish-tosh," Karla said, surreptitiously rubbing at her eyes before letting go of the hug. "You can't possibly be any worse than Emma and I'm going to kidnap her, too."

She gave him a wobbly smile. "I won't even make you wear that kind of Ring. Promise."

[bitten_notshy]

He smiled back, weakly. "You might even be able to talk me into it, if anyone could."

[glacial_queen]

"I promise to only use my powers for good," Karla said. "...And funny."

That part was important!

[bitten_notshy]

"So if I hear quacking and reach up to suddenly find a duck on my head, that'd be you?" Jack teased.

It didn't make much sense, but it kept him from going all wibbly.

[glacial_queen]

"Unless you only think you hear quacking," Karla replied solemnly. "Then it's Emma. So before you go blaming, make sure to ask someone if there really is a duck on your head."

Absurd, yes, but keeping them from tears was only for the good.

[bitten_notshy]

"I'll take a representative survey," Jack said, equally solemn. "Just in case Emma's bewitched the people closest to me, too."

[glacial_queen]

"Wise male," Karla nodded approvingly. "Though there's always the chance we've joined forces and there's an illusory duck only some people can see, too. Then you're just doomed."

It's possible that didn't even make sense.

[bitten_notshy]

"Doomed by a duck," Jack said gravely, as if it made perfect sense. "You've cursed me, Karla. It's almost time for my portal -- do you want to walk me to the causeway so we can look for evil water fowl?"