The Perk, Monday morning

[glacial_queen]

After getting Hannibal's message about having a new child show up on the island, Karla had wasted no time chartering a portal to get to Fandom. Portalocity, however, had managed to waste plenty of her time, accidentally sending her through a portal with both a half-day layover and the wrong destination. While the dimension of blue had a very lovely

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[future_sandworm]

Of course Leto would stop by. Not only would be never want to miss a chance to see Karla, and now he had a girl in hos who definitely wanted to meet her too.

"Mother!" Helena called, waving. Leto looked at her, amused, before tidning his gaze to Karla and grinned.

[glacial_queen]

Karla had one major rule when dealing with alternate children: they were to never, ever feel unloved or unwelcome, no matter how surprised she was to see them and who their alternate parent might be. So her arms were spread for a big hug before she even properly registered who was following the little girl in.

"Hello, darling, come and greet me properly," she said, then turned a smile towards Leto. "I'm so sorry to be late. Transportation was ridiculous."

This pairing, at least, she could understand easily enough.

[future_sandworm]

So could Leto. He wrapped an arm around Karla's shoulders to give her a hug.

"I arrived yesterday myself. Hannibal was kind enough to look after Helena."

"The cats wouldn't play with me," the girl informed her mother.

[glacial_queen]

"We'll have to give them something nice as a thank you." Karla leaned up to offer Leto the kiss of greeting while wrapping the little girl--Helena--in a tight hug. "Did you chase them?" she asked with the full knowledge of motherhood and cat-companionship behind her.

[iceandsand]

"They run very fast," Helena informed her. That told Karla everything, didn't it?

[future_sandworm]

"They run for a reason, Helena," Leto said with a laugh, then looked at Karla. "It is good to see you. Any other visitors this time?"

[glacial_queen]

It did.

"Then that's probably why they didn't want to play," Karla reminded, situating Helena in her lap properly. "Do you get to play with the Arcerians back home?"

They enjoyed playing chase. Usually by being the ones who did the chasing.

[iceandsand]

"Yes, but they're not as fun."

Because they won.

[future_sandworm]

"It's unfair to chase smaller creatures, Helena," Leto said, although not sounding particularly serious.

[glacial_queen]

They had both Craft and physicality on their side, little one. There was a reason the Arcerian cats were the preeminent predators in Kaeleer.

"So, tell me about yourself, darling," Karla said, signaling the barista to bring over some beverages for Leto and Helena--though the child was not to get a coffee. Mother Night, no. "You're my only one this weekend, so you get me all to yourself." She glanced at Leto. "Others for you?"

[iceandsand]

Helena shrugged a little , as if there wasn't much to tell. "You live in Glacia, father lives on Arrakis. I move between you. You're just not good at living in the same place."

[future_sandworm]

"I have a son with Sparkle. Elias," Leto told Karla, then looked at Helena again. "We're not? I assume it's difficult ruling a realm from a different one."

[glacial_queen]

Karla looked back at Leto and shrugged. "Plus Glacia is cold and snowy and Arrakis is all heat and sand, yes? So maybe we have difficulty making the adjustment to the climate?"

This was what she loved about these weekends. Not just the children but the snapshots into lives she might have led.

[iceandsand]

"You do visit," Helena said. "Although not if it's raining in Glacia. Can I have hot chocolate?"

[future_sandworm]

Which told Leto he had changed in the same way as in this universe.

"We just had breakfast at Hannibal's."

[glacial_queen]

"Aww, but a little bit of cocoa won't hurt her," Kathy chided, giving Leto a wink. "And it'll give her something to drink while we talk. Though now I'm sad I missed breakfast. Was it good?"

Of course it was good, it was Hannibal's.

"Tell me everything, darling."