Arms Hotel 324 , Saturday Evening.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma was already packed up to go to the cabins again; really, it was easy, when you didn't have a roommate and could just throw things around to find what you wanted. But her room was full of boxes, for the cabin and for moving out in a few weeks, and that was simply too depressing.

But it was far too chilly to be emo on the roof tonight, which meant Jack would simply have to tolerate her ordering all the roomservice for dinner.

"What do you want?"

[[For he that lives there!]]

Comments

[bitten_notshy]

"That vegetarian pasta you got the last time and extra garlic bread," Jack requested, a bit lazily, as he reached to run a hand down her back. "And then I'll likely eat some of your leftovers."

[icecoldfrost]

"I swear, you have two hollow legs to fit all that food in," she sighed, relaying the order and adding on her own request for ravioli and the chef's choice of wine and hanging up. "I think it's a boy thing."

[bitten_notshy]

"Because you've never seen Karla do the same and worse?" Jack teased. "You don't exactly subsist on salad and spring water when it comes to that, either. Growing telepath."

[icecoldfrost]

"Karla's not even human, she's a Karla," Emma quipped, shooting him a mischievous glance. "I think the Blood must be part cow, and all have multiple stomachs."

[bitten_notshy]

"Part bull, in terms of stubbornness," Jack returned, with a fleeting smile. "Did she tell you about how she's going home to try not to get killed?"

And save lives. Details.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma gave him a tight smile and offered her right hand, where the ring she'd demanded of Karla rested on her index finger. "The moment she's in over her head - and I give her three more days before that happens - we will know about it."

[bitten_notshy]

"Would that Sebastien's ring were as useful," Jack said sarcastically, as he traced a finger over the delicate band. "I just hate that she thinks it's her job. You can't fix every wrong in the world; sometimes the best thing is staying alive."

[icecoldfrost]

"She's protecting what she sees as hers," Emma pointed out. "This isn't fixing every wrong, but if she doesn't help these people, she won't have a kingdom to rule, I suppose."

She wasn't going to comment on Sebastien's ring. As far as Emma was concerned, it was perhaps best that Jack couldn't go chasing after his vampire with it.

[bitten_notshy]

"And I'm fairly certain dead people don't make very good Queens," Jack pointed out in return. "Would you let me go back to stop the Holocaust?"

[icecoldfrost]

"That depends. Do you have very cranky people backing you up and gleeful about causing havoc?" she asked. "I mean, I'm fairly sure I could give Hitler a brain aneurism while he's still a painter, and you won't lecture me about meddling and politics and such."

[bitten_notshy]

"Well, now you have me wondering if Portalocity would sell us tickets to go do that, which may derail my point," Jack admitted. "Though it doesn't sound like she wants to just assassinate Hobart and get out."

[icecoldfrost]

"I offered," Emma admitted. "Or I could have put him in an eternal coma. But there's politics and power vacuums and repercussions to consider."

"To be perfectly honest, it took all my willpower not to shake her and say to hell with the rest of the territories. They can look after themselves."

[bitten_notshy]

"Always bloody politics," Jack said, closing his eyes. "My fear is that there's no real way for someone to hide in that world, if I understand the psychic scent business correctly. Strong as she is, she's a nice plump sitting duck. Her best hope is that no one will bother making a serious attempt to go after her."

[icecoldfrost]

"I wanted her to dye her hair so that it wasn't so pretty, make it a slightly dingy-er blonde, but she wouldn't do it," Emma complained, falling backwards on to his bed. "She did agree to keep it covered, however."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack slumped down next to her.

"Perhaps that's something, then," he said, reaching for her be-ringed hand. "What will happen to this if she's in trouble? Will it glow, or sound a siren?"

[icecoldfrost]

"No idea, and I can't say I'm looking forward to finding out," Emma sighed, letting him take her hand. "But at least I don't need to fret twenty-four hours a day that she's not coming back."

"At least she took Warren with her, I believe."

[bitten_notshy]

"She told me she didn't think Warren and Raven would let her go alone," Jack nodded. "I also made her promise not to go to any mysterious meetings in dark alleys. She's as safe as she can get, I suppose."

[icecoldfrost]

"Is this where I joke that our little Karla is all grown up?" Emma joked weakly. "Because I don't know if I quite believe it, even if she isn't a skinny little waif in Morton's cast-offs anymore."

[bitten_notshy]

"She's older than you were when I met you, isn't she?" Jack asked. "We're all getting older. It's quite sentimental if you think about it."

[icecoldfrost]

"I refuse to believe she's an adult," Emma said firmly, shaking her head. "It's just not possible."

There was, however, a slight smile on her lips. "How old was I when we met? Oh lord, sixteen feels like a lifetime ago."

[bitten_notshy]

"I think so. Meanwhile, I was seventeen and quite certain I'd be back with Sebastien the second I turned eighteen," Jack mused. "Life has a way of changing our plans, doesn't it?"

[icecoldfrost]

"I was half-starved, hated everyone, and was convinced I'd be out by fall and back with Hank," Emma agreed. "I still hate everyone, but two out of three isn't bad, is it?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Me included?" Jack asked, smiling. "Because you don't normally act much like you hate me."

[icecoldfrost]

"You are tolerable," she replied, waving a hand dismissively. "There's a tricksy brain in your head, and you have a habit of outrageous flattery. It's the herds of lemmings that I loathe, and I don't see that changing any time soon."

[bitten_notshy]

"You'd tolerate the lemmings too, if they flattered you," Jack said, not really believing it. "Oh -- speaking of old times, I had dinner with Ronan Nolan earlier this week. He's working for the clinic these days."

[icecoldfrost]

"I knew I sensed his thoughts in the flotsam," Emma said. "Everyone's mind is different, of course, but his lights up beautifully. It's the magic, I suppose."

[bitten_notshy]

"But if it were just the magic, wouldn't every wizard on the island glow?" Jack wondered. "I know it's not easy, but I would love to hear what you hear, just for a day."