three ♓ voice;

[quasistellar]

[You may want to cover your ears for this one, folks. Professor Constance Peixes is angry. She is very angry. She hasn't sent a Howler, but this might as well be one going out to the entire faculty and student body.]

I am absolutely appalled at the degree of inappropriate subject matter that our students are currently discussing in their journals. You should all be ashamed of yourselves, and particularly so for discussing it with incoming first-years. Mr. Makara and Mr. Kishitani, you both have a month's detention, beginning on the first day of fall term. Mr. Makara, for writing the entry in question, and Mr. Kishitani, for encouraging the discussion, particularly among the younger students.

What in Merlin's name were you thinking? This isn't a 'friendly discussion about biology', this was getting students to discuss matters of a highly personal and private nature! And at the ages of eleven, twelve, and thirteen!

AND MY DAUGHTER AMONG THOSE STUDENTS!

You continued arguing about it being perfectly all right to discuss touching oneself after some of the younger girls said they weren't comfortable with it! They were right to think that their mothers wouldn't want to see them in the middle of a discussion like that, because they don't!

To the rest of you: I highly recommend you think before you write a journal entry discussing a topic of a sexual nature, and frankly, I discourage you from doing so.

Comments

[wwistful]

I suppose it does.

[He fidgets at the mention of Sybille.] I suppose it was. Or it is. I'm not sure of anythin' anymore.

You're both just..[Beautiful, amazing, good for me in your own ways.] an' I'm..[An idiot.] I wouldn't want to lead either a you on when I don't know what it is I want.

[He runs a hand through his hair, knowing he's saying the exact opposite of what he feels. Is it wrong to want two people at once? Maybe not. It certainly would be wrong to make a choice when he doesn't know. And of course, there's his priority sitting up stairs in his room.]

I shouldn't be gettin' into anythin', not with Eridan around. [He buries his face in his hands, hunching over.] Why does bein' a parent have to be so hard? I haven't even had sex in ten years, let alone...[Grunt.] Pretend I didn't say that.

[quasistellar]

It always seemed like there was -

[And there's the word 'is', and she goes quiet, turning away.]

- is?

[Constance sighs, while asking herself a question: What were you expecting? You can't just expect to waltz in here saying that and have it not be complicated.]

I - I didn't realize.

[She takes a moment to down the rest of her glass.

...and I probably shouldn't be getting into anything myself, with the girls. Between them, settling in, semester starting...I've gone and made this a mess. I'm sorry, I didn't...

Longer than that here. Between work and everything else going on.]

[wwistful]

It's. Complicated. An' I wouldn't apologise, because I highly doubt anythin' will come of it.

[He shifts a little closer, placing a hand on her thigh and giving it a comforting squeeze.]

I'm only sorry you had to be involved.

[quasistellar]

Everything's complicated, and I just made it all worse.

[Constance Peixes is not one to cry. And she refuses to do that here. But she swallows hard, blinking a time or two.]

...sorry I had to be involved? What's all that supposed to mean?

There's a reason I don't do this stuff. It's always complicated.

[wwistful]

Because if I had it my way, it wouldn't be complicated.

If i had it my way, I would kiss you right now without ever havin' to worry about what will come of it. Because you deserve that.

You deserve someone better than me.

[quasistellar]

[There's a long silence.]

If I had it mine, then - bloody hell, I don't need to finish that sentence. I think you know where it ends.

But things are always complicated. The moment I'm involved, they're complicated. It's why I threw myself into work. The stars are less complex, easier to understand. You can chart them, figure up the places they'll be, all of it. But you can't chart a person.

I'm sitting here talking nonsense. I - I should go. The girls, Eridan. They'll be needing us. Thanks, for the drink.

[She shifts away, putting the glass down and moving to stand up.]

[wwistful]

That may be so, but life is always goin' to be complicated, isn't it? It's what makes it interestin'. [He sounded sure of himself, but he falters a little toward the end. He smiles sheepishly up at her.

He stands a short moment after she does, unsure of whether she wants to be near him right now. He wants to put an arm around her and comfort her, but he senses it would only worsen the situation.]

Not nonsense, it's never nonsense, love. It's been a pleasure talkin' to you. It always is.

[quasistellar]

Interesting. That's one way to put it.

[For all that she'd opened up, made herself vulnerable, she's starting to shut it down. It was stupid, the way she'd been acting, Constance tells herself.

And then she hears the word 'love', in reference to herself, and something snaps. She grabs Murdoc by his shirt collar, looking right into his eyes for a moment before she kisses him. It's quick, almost angry, and she doesn't let it linger.

Constance steps back, letting him go, then puts her hand on her hip.]

Good night, Murdoc.

[And then she's Apparating out, just as quick as she came in.]

[wwistful]

[He nods slowly, not liking the sudden awkward shift in mood.

Obviously he doesn't get a chance to react, but he sees that look in her eye. He's not sure if she's going to slap him across the face or--

Oh.

OH.

His eyes widen, too stunned to kiss back and left very little time to do anything about it. He nods again as she pulls away, trying to word a response. Anything. Come on.]

Very.

Very good. [Fuck.

Welp. There she goes.]