The Perk, Sunday morning

[future_sandworm]

It was a good thing that no one have come to visit him, even without the timeline dangers. Leto didn't want to think about introducing aunt Alia to this place and having her talk to his teachers. Even Stilgar or Harah would have been a little difficult, and he could imagine endless tirades from Harah about wasting water.

He had ordered a coffee and

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[vanillajello]

It was a habit of Kate's, coming to the Perk after restless nights, so it wasn't really surprising she found herself coming here this particular morning. She'd been reminding herself that this was the last day of the ordeal the whole way over. She could do this, she could keep it together. She could act like nothing was wrong.

...She got little marshmallows in her hot chocolate without even asking. If the waitstaff here of all places took pity on her just because of the way she looked, she knew she'd have to focus on seeming upbeat even more.

[future_sandworm]

Leto watched her from the table while she ordered, noting her state of mind. Then he called her name and gestured for her to take a seat if she wanted to.

[vanillajello]

Kate turned around at the sound of her name and, spotting him, made her way over to the table and sat down.

"Hi," she said with the most convincing smile she could muster. It felt important, to try to keep a happy face straight from the morning, even with people she knew could read her better than that.

[future_sandworm]

"Good morning," he replied, more amused at her attempt than anything else. "Bad night?"

[vanillajello]

"You could say that," she replied, keeping her tone light. "Or you could say I had a nightmare, and then went to bed."

[future_sandworm]

"Do you want to talk about it?" he offered, sipping his coffee.

[vanillajello]

"Not really. That would make it really hard to stay upbeat." Because she was doing such an amazing job with that already. "All breakdowns can-- no, have to wait until Mom and Moosh are off the island."

[future_sandworm]

"You don't have to endure their presence much longer," he told her, smiling a little. "Has your mother... stayed herself?"

[vanillajello]

"I had to handwavily hunt down Alice yesterday," she replied, fake cheer chipping away even worse. "That would be the nightmare."

[future_sandworm]

"I see." There was a brief pause. "Who did she talk to?"

[vanillajello]

"Chef Tatou," she said, and made a face. "I don't even want to know what she told her. I'm not sure whether she got to anyone else before we found her."

[future_sandworm]

"And now?" Leto asked.

[vanillajello]

She shrugged her shoulders. "Haven't heard anything from Moosh, so I'm guessing she's herself again. She usually is, after she wakes up."

[future_sandworm]

He nodded. "So you can still hope for a quiet day today," he said. "How is Marshall taking things?"

[biab]

[vanillajello]

"Some guy told him about Fandom," she replied, still not quite sure how she felt about that. "Or you know, some of the weird stuff. He seems to be pretty okay with it. But of course, he only knows a little."

[future_sandworm]

"Exactly what?" Leto asked, taking another sip from his cup. "And who did he meet?"