Room 324, Saturday Afternoon

[vanillajello]

Kate had had a lot of fun at the dance. A lot of fun, and a lot of spiked punch.

It was no surprise, really, that today was not the best day Kate had ever had.

She had woken up feeling intensely hungover. She didn’t have any painkillers, so – in a very, very dumb move – she had decided to bravely face the carnival without them.

It didn’t exactly work out, and she’d eventually been forced to get pills from town. She’d returned to the carnival for a while after that, but it hadn’t taken her long to figure out that she just couldn’t do it. Getting lost in the house of mirrors and subsequently wanting to cry were pretty good signs of that. She’d headed back to the dorms.

The lights were out, the door was closed, and Kate was lying on her bed, slowly starting to feel like a human being again.


[ooc: Post is open, door is closed.]

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[future_sandworm]

There was a light knock on the door. "Kate?"

[vanillajello]

"Come in," Kate called out. Hey, she could raise her voice without wincing! But couldn't bother getting up.

[future_sandworm]

He opened the door quietly, then closed it behind him. Leto had needed to change into some dry clothes after the dunk tank experience.

Taking a seat on the edge of her bed, he asked: "How are you doing?"

[vanillajello]

"Well, I don't feel like killing myself anymore," she replied, reaching for his hand.

[future_sandworm]

"I'm glad to hear that," he smiled. "Do you need water?"

[vanillajello]

"I could do with some water, yeah," she nodded with a tired smile.

[future_sandworm]

He rose, and returned form the bathroom with a glass of water. "Will you remember to be careful with the punch in the future," he teased.

[vanillajello]

Kate pushed herself up to sitting and took the glass. "After this? ...Probably not. But right now I'd totally be willing to claim I'll never drink alcohol again."

[future_sandworm]

"You know I'm not going to trust such a statement," he said, smirking, while pulling a strand of her hair away from her face.

[vanillajello]

"Yeah, I know," she replied, sipping the water. "I wouldn't either. But this was the first time I've been seriously drunk since the last night at the cabins."

[future_sandworm]

"About time then?" he replied, almost cheerfully.

[vanillajello]

"Apparently I thought so, last night," she said with a wry smile. "Can't see why, anymore. But I guess I needed this."

[future_sandworm]

"The effects of the drug? Yes, it can be a good way to release emotion. The Fremen are aware of that." He stroked her hair.

[vanillajello]

"It's double effective, too: when you're drunk, you don't care about the crap in your head, and when you're hungover, you can't care." It was sort of a joke, really, but she was still lacking the energy to properly grin.

[future_sandworm]

"True," he said. "And I'm sure there must be others feeling as bad as you today."

[vanillajello]

"There fucking better be," she said, reaching to put the glass down on her nightstand. "It wouldn't be fair if there weren't."

[future_sandworm]

"It seems like the spiking of the punch is the closest this place gets to a spice orgy, but a little less entertaining," Leto said with a laugh.

[vanillajello]

"...Okay, now I'm intrigued, but hesitate to ask," Kate said, one eybrow raised. She leaned back down, head on her pillow.

[future_sandworm]

"Why?" He locked his fingers with hers.

[vanillajello]

She pondered for a second or two, then flashed him a light grin. "No, wait, I don't hesitate. Spice orgy?"

[future_sandworm]

"It's a religious ritual," he said. "A Reverend Mother changes the Water of Life from a young sandworm from a poison into a drug. Inhibitions are lowered, it can make telepathic and prescient abilities a little more accessible. Most of all, it offers the tribe release from some of their pent-up emotions." This was perfectly natural to him, and he showed no sign of embarrassment when talking about it.

[vanillajello]

And Kate had an open mind. One that was a little disoriented from the morning's pain and current drugs, but still open. She had high standards when it came to judging things as messed up.

"Huh. Interesting." And she did mean that.

[future_sandworm]

That was one of the more open-minded reactions Leto had had when mentioning this. "It gives less hangover, though." Not that he had ever entered a true spice trance - that was too risky for a Pre-Born.

[vanillajello]

"I like the sound of that," Kate said with a sigh, rubbing her forehead with the back of her hand.

[future_sandworm]

"I should let you get some rest," he said.

[vanillajello]

"I like that you're here," she said, "but yeah. I should probably sleep. Like, until tomorrow."

[future_sandworm]

"If you make some space, I can rest here for a while," he offered.

[vanillajello]

"I'd like that." She shifted closer to the wall, leaving plenty of space for him.

[future_sandworm]

He stretched out next to Kate, on his side, and let one arm slip around her.

[vanillajello]

Kate scooted a little closer to him, laying her hand on his arm and closing her eyes. "Thank you," she said, quietly.