(Untitled)

[highking]

Tomorrow is Sunday. Tonight is Peter's last night 'alive.'

From his windblown hair, it's pretty clear that he can now cross off One last ride on Duncan from his list of things to do. And from the cup of tea, it's clear that he is still, in fact, himself.

Comments

[dear_of_heart]

There is nothing particularly noticeable about the young woman with a book in hand sitting not far away, gaze wandering about the room (her hair is starting to fall out of the neat bun it is done up in and there is some chalk dust smeared across her cheek, but she's not yet noticed either).

But he catches her gaze for at least several moments--whether it is the windblown aspect of his hair, or his cup of tea, he is at least more interesting than the teaching theories Cora can't find it in herself to concentrate on.

[highking]

He notices her looks--and the chalk dust makes him smile. He waves. "Hullo."

[dear_of_heart]

"Hello," she smiles in return, closing the book so as to wave back. "I'm sorry for staring, it's just rather hard to concentrate at the moment."

[highking]

"Indeed," he laughs. "It's not quite the place for quiet studies, is it?"

[dear_of_heart]

"I suppose not, but it shows up rarely enough that I'd feel guilty not taking the chance to come in," her smile widens into a grin at his laugh. "I don't think I've seen you in before? But as I said--it's a rare occurence that I am, so."

She shrugs amiably.

[highking]

"I've been here some time," he says ruefully, "but I shouldn't be surprised that you haven't. I'm Peter."

[dear_of_heart]

"I'm Cora, from Chipstede--though I doubt you've heard of it," Cora replies cheerfully, tucking a piece of escaping hair behind her ear. "Have you been negligent in your socializing?"

It's teasing and light, though she reserves the right to be concerned.

[highking]

"A touch," he laughs. "And no, I'm afraid I don't. Is that in England?"

[dear_of_heart]

"It's absurdly small," she says with a laugh of her own. "No--it's between Beruna and Beaversdam, in Narnia. Not many people have heard of those, either, here."

[highking]

Peter laughs. And laughs. "A Narnian. Now that is a wonder. How very odd. I'm terribly pleased to meet you indeed, Cora."

[dear_of_heart]

Cora is a bit surprised (not a bad sort of surprise, just that she's never become used to meeting people who know of Narnia, especially not if they're dressed like they are from Earth). "You as well, Peter. Do you hail from there yourself, or have you only heard of it from others?"

You would think that since she considers Edmund to be one of her very good friends that she would make the connection between a man named Peter and Narnia much quicker. She still has to reconcile King Edmund the Just to the friendly art-and-math teacher occasionally, and she finds it hard to do, so perhaps it isn't that surprising at all. And this man is nice, but he doesn't seem terribly Magnificient.

[highking]

"I've been there," he says, smiling as if at a private joke. "A time or two."

[dear_of_heart]

Cora is slow, occasionally, but not dull.

"--Oh," she says, a little quieter and solemner (he's a king, if a very nice one), but no less friendly. "You're Edmund Pevensie's brother Peter, then?"