Outside 18 Apocalypse Avenue, Saturday morning

[idontlooktired]

Harriet was sitting on the deck, drinking her tea and watching Mustang (the cat) hunt something brown and skittery.

Make that somethings brown and skittery, she mentally corrected, as several more of them landed on the deck, then scattered as Mustang pounced.

Her nose wrinkled in distaste as she realised what they looked like. Cockroaches. Only

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[on_her_korhal]

A dark figure (in more ways than one; she'd pulled on the coat and was obviously glowering) stalked her way up to 18 Apocalypse, her eyes automatically searching for the door or--

Well, that made things easier. Kerrigan walked up to the deck, making a good effort to push down on her urge to glare at whatever came in sight next. "Harriet?"

[idontlooktired]

"Good morning." The sight of Kerrigan triggered conflicting impulses in Harriet. One to worry, because she was looking distinctly less than happy; the other to amusement.

As a loud crunch came from under her chair, Mustang having caught at least one of his prey, amusement won out. "I am a human from earth, you know," she said with a wry smile.

[on_her_korhal]

"I know," she muttered. Creepy... things... skittered away from her feet as she walked the last few feet, as if they were making a wide berth. If Kerrigan did notice, she was in no mood to mention it.

[idontlooktired]

"Come and sit down," Harriet said, not in any way an order, simply an invitation, "and I'll make you some tea." Mustang peered out at Kerrigan from under Harriet's chair, ears flat and a leg hanging out of his mouth. "Then you can tell me what has that dark cloud hanging over you today."

[on_her_korhal]

She'd been planning on that one anyway. Gingerly, Kerrigan sat down, her wings pulling closer to help accommodate. She shot Mustang a distinct kind of look, the one that clearly communicated that they still shared an owner-cat bond and he'd better tread carefully.

Being a cat, he probably didn't notice. "I wanted to ask you for a favor, if that's alright."

[idontlooktired]

Mustang started washing a paw, one ear cocked in her direction.

"Of course it's all right," Harriet said as she disappeared into the kitchen, coming back out with a cup of tea which she set in front of Kerrigan. "What is it?"

[on_her_korhal]

"...So I have this wedding to go to," she muttered, staring into her tea, "It's not on the island, and while I'd like to go, I'm--" Oh, this was stupid. "--not completely comfortable with going on my own."

Chalk that one up in the 'things she wouldn't admit to anyone else' category.

[idontlooktired]

Harriet sipped her tea, considering Kerrigan over the brim. After a long moment, she nodded. "I'd be happy to accompany you to a wedding," she said simply, touched despite herself that Kerrigan had admitted her discomfort, and worried about what could happen to her out in the world. UNIT had done its fair share of locking up the unusual in its time, and she knew there were far worse organisation that that.

[on_her_korhal]

"Okay," Kerrigan said, with a hesitant nod. "Thanks." She took a careful sip of her tea. "It's on the 16th." And that was enough about that particular subject. For now, anyway. "And do you have any tips for dealing with idiot teenagers?"

[idontlooktired]

"You're welcome." She sipped her tea again. "If they're students I have to caution you against sealing them up in a well or tricking them into foreign military service," she said, entirely straightfaced. "It wouldn't be good if they went missing while I'm responsible for them."

[on_her_korhal]

She snorted a laugh. "I figured if I'd stick them to a wall again, I'd have you to answer to," Kerrigan confided, "But the thought has started to cross my mind."

[idontlooktired]

"I'm Vice Principal now," Harriet pointed out. "I can be more flexible on the wall sticking now than I could as Dean. Whom are you wanting to stick and for what would they be stuck?"

[on_her_korhal]

"Lee Adama has gotten his ass kicked twice over the course of seven days," she said, sipping her tea and trying not to roll her eyes, "Because he's a moron. On the other hand, there's River, who I've told explicitly not to touch the guy, because she's being an idiot about... some teen drama or another. It's like sticking two rabid dumb cats in a bag."

[idontlooktired]

"Oh dear," she sighed. "Everything is life or death with teenagers." She put her tea down, steepling her fingers. "River can't be allowed to simply get away with that with no recompense, but I'm content to leave it to you, if you're willing. I don't think detention will have much of an impression on her. Lee..." the corner of her mouth quirked, "Lee you can stick to a wall."

[on_her_korhal]

"I'm figuring the River thing out." That came out a little protective, but honestly, it was River; she felt she was entitled. "Sticking Lee to a wall might help him out with his little self-pity issue. Blah blah 'everyone blames me and it's not all my fault!' blah."

[idontlooktired]

Harriet quirked an eyebrow at her. "He's a teenager remember, an unfortunate biological event which he can't help," she reminded Kerrigan gently. "Some sympathy wouldn't hurt."