Priest - de Ulloa Residence, London, Wednesday Evening

[bitten_notshy]

Jack had stayed at the library late after hsi first day of classes. He wasn't studying -- it was all material he'd covered at the age of 12. He was, however, trying to ingratiate himself with his fellow students. They were such an interesting group, and Jack asked so many interesting questions about their lives that no one noticed he hardy talked about his own.

Home at last, he found a note from Sebastien indicating he'd be out working, then cooked himself a light dinner. Then he went up to his room and took out his phone. There were a few people back in Fandom he needed to check in with.

He dialed.

[OOC: If you want him to have called you, he did!]

Comments

[icecoldfrost]

"I didn't do it, darling, and you can't prove I did." Caller ID was fantastic, in Emma's personal opinion. "What mischief are you up to, Mr. Priest?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Getting proof that you did it," Jack said wryly. "But I'm giving you a warning, so you have time to hide the evidence."

[icecoldfrost]

"It's quite kind of you to warn me first," she laughed. "Do you really think you can find the evidence if I know you're looking for it?"

[bitten_notshy]

"It's a race between us, isn't it?" Jack asked. "Though you have the advantage. Unless I already found it and I'm just calling to toy with you."

Apparently, in his imagination Jack was a superviallain.

[icecoldfrost]

That's okay, in her imagination, Emma was queen of the universe.

"You could be," she admitted, relaxing into the banter. It was safe and familiar, and Emma needed that right now. "Would you be that cruel? To me?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I can be very cruel when I want to be," Jack answered precisely. "But to you -- no. Not today. I miss you too much at the moment."

Which was a rather stunning declaration of need, from Jack, and he wouldn't have spoken it if he hadn't been certain Emma would take it as banter.

[glacial_queen]

"Jack!" Karla cried in delight snatching up her phone as soon as she saw who was calling. "Kiss kiss! It's so good to hear from you!"

It was all she could do not to ask if he was coming to visit again soon.

"Have you called to liven up my day with scads of scandalous gossip? Feel free to make something up."

[icecoldfrost]

"You want something, don't you?" Emma sighed, shaking her head and hiding her smile, even if she logically knew he couldn't see it through the phone. "You always lay on the flattery when you want something. I'm on to you, you know."

[bitten_notshy]

"I don't!" Jack protested thickly. "Just -- a flirtation. Some talk. I'm not about to ask to descend on you for the weekend."

A pause. "Do you want me to want something?"

[bitten_notshy]

"There's a young lady in one of my classes who really is a lady," Jack offered. "Titled and everything. There were tabloid photographers hanging about for a glimpse of her."

One photographer. Who may have just been a tourist.

[glacial_queen]

"Does she act like an aristo?" Karla asked. "You know, all froufy and putting on airs and things?"

If asked, Karla would happily tell people that she was too busy being a witch to be a proper lady. She would also tell people who didn't ask. And occasionally inform random strangers just to be clear.

"Did she do anything for the photographers to take pictures of?"

[icecoldfrost]

Oh. Emma knew that tone; Jack was being sincere.

"You always want something," she replied, keeping her tone light. "Even if it's simply a chocolate bar or some conversation because you're bored. It's part of what makes you interesting, trying to figure out what your tricky mind is after this time."

"Besides, you know you aren't allowed to descend on me for the weekend, because you're an impoverished student who needs to do his homework and save his pennies so that all your work is done and you can give me my dance at Homecoming. You promised."

A beat. "Did you want me to want you to want something?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Not that I noticed," Jack said. "She was overdressed, but it's the first week of classes. But she did get into the back of a car when she left -- the photographer seemed interested in that."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Think I should try to make friends?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I remember. Do I need to eat my vegetables and keep my room tidy as well?" Jack asked archly.

Then, relenting: "I want you to want me." He was, it seemed, in that kind of a mood.

[glacial_queen]

"Of course!" Karla said, chuckling. "She'll be charmed by your courtly manners and you can get all sorts of fun contacts. Besides, haven't you always wanted to unleash your friends from Fandom on the unsuspecting aristocracy?"

'Always' as in 'since last year.'

[bitten_notshy]

Jack had to think about that peculiarly horrible idea for several moments. "Good lord, I have to convince these people I'm normal."

[glacial_queen]

"I make an excellent juxtaposition for that," Karla said, audibly snickering.

[bitten_notshy]

"... you'd get into the most terrible trouble," Jack mused. "And you never got to meet Sebastien, did you? He wasn't feeling very social during graduation."

[icecoldfrost]

"You're my friend, Jack, of course I want you around," she said, going for the safest answer first. "Who else is going to spoil me rotten?"

"Anything else...I think I made myself clear. More than a few times, as a matter of fact." Rather vocally, too, although remembering that did make Emma blush, and she was quite glad Jack couldn't see it.

His ego was bad enough as it was.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack considered that for a long moment. Then he got up to close the door to his chamber, heart thudding away.

"Close your door," he said. "Triela isn't in, is she?"

[glacial_queen]

"It would be fu~un," Karla wheedled. "You know, up until the trouble happened."

Think of how much trouble they could get into, Jaaaaaaack.

"And, no, I never did. Of course, I wasn't feeling very social at graduation, either."

[icecoldfrost]

"Nooooo..." Emma gave the phone a strange look, as if trying to read Jack's mind through the connection, but she flipped the lock on the door anyway. "Why?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Because I want us to have a conversation that I don't fancy a third party intruding on uninvited," Jack answered conversationally. "I'm taking off my shirt, by the way."

Hopefully she'd pick up on where he was going from there.

[bitten_notshy]

"Anytime you want a weekend off the island, you're welcome to impose on me," Jack decided. "Well. You and Warren, if you'd like."

[glacial_queen]

The way Karla perked up was almost audible over the phone. "I'll let him know! I'm sure he'd love to visit you with me."

Well, Warren would probably like to visit England, anyway. She wasn't sure how well he knew Jack.

"Though even if he doesn't, I'd still like to come and visit you." She sounded wistful. "I miss you, you know."