(Untitled)

[highking]

Peter's been feeling at loose ends lately. Faintly grumpy loose ends, at that, and that brings him back into the bar

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[all_in_plato]

"Peter!" says Professor Kirke, beaming at the younger man. "Your brother and sister told me you were here."

[all_in_plato]

"I imagine the principles must have been much the same, even if the specifics differ. If you provided the boy with a foundation on which his later learning could be built, you have done well."

Kirke looks thoughtfully at Peter. "Your stay, here or at the House of Arch, seems to have disturbed your work at university, and you seem to need some occupation for your time. Have you thought of continuing your own studies at all?"

[highking]

The question catches him offguard; early on, he had considered it, but there had been so many distracting factors. He hadn't thought of it at all, lately.

"You know, I really hadn't. That all seems--"

Well. "--almost like another life, now. Seeing you here... it's really very odd, to be honest. Like seeing Caspian was."

[all_in_plato]

Professor Kirke had not expected that answer. He thinks it through in silence, and when he speaks again, his face is very grave.

"Peter, is 'Do you expect to go home again' one of the questions that I should not ask?"

[highking]

Peter's face is--is possibly beyond the words I have to describe it.

"I have every hope and expectation of going home one day, Professor," he says, struggling to keep the thickness from his voice.

One day soon, he's been thinking lately.

[all_in_plato]

A faint suspicion is rising in Kirke's mind now, but he pushes it aside as something not his business.

He asks Peter gently, "Is there any way I can help you, in the mean time?"

[highking]

"Some books, perhaps?" Peter says, composing himself. "You know the sort of things I like."

[all_in_plato]

"Of course," answers Kirke. "I am afraid I cannot predict when and how I come here, but I will keep some books around me for you and the others so they are ready, the next time."