Log: Kurt and Sarah, Friday afternoon, May 31st (backdated)

[x-network.livejournal.com]

Kurt chats with a cranky Sarah following her lesson, finding out what's bothering her in the process and offering to help her with it.


While she was far from a master fencer, Sarah had been taking lessons from Kurt for quite some time now and had learned a lot from his tutelage. So she knew what she was doing was completely wrong and not at all the proper way to fence, but she didn't care. Sarah was slicing at the practice dummy, whacking it sideways as if she were using a sword and not the épée in her hand. Every now and then she'd poke poke poke the dummy with her practice weapon's rounded end but inevitably she'd start slashing and swinging at it, grunting with each hard blow. It didn't do much for her fencing skills but it was somewhat satisfactory with respect to letting out steam at least.

Kurt was watching this display from the doorway with raised eyebrows - and with growing concern. "...Sarah? I think you have killed it now."

Taking one more swing at the target to make sure, Sarah lowered her weapon and turned to face Kurt. She wiped the sweat off her brow and let out a big sigh. "I know, I know, I'm doing it wrong. I didn't mean to, it just kinda happened."

"That is the least of my concerns", he told her, moving further into the room. "Practising properly can wait... are you all right?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine," she quickly replied, starting to wave her hand before realizing it was the one holding the fencing sword and stopping. "I mean, I, uh. I guess I'm a little bit off today, but it'll be ok." Sarah shrugged, not exactly emphasizing her statements.

"It is not compulsory to be fine all the time", Kurt said gently. "And I think we both know why many of us might not be, around now."

Sarah nodded without actually saying the 'G' word aloud. "Yeah, I know, it's just..." It was hard to put into words, really, so she just shrugged again. "It's hard. And... it's hard without Layla around too."

"Ah." He looked at her with compassion. "She will not be gone so long, but I know, that does not help much when she is not here now, and phone calls are not quite the same."

"They really aren't. I mean, there's Skype too, but that's not the same either. Not like in person. It's..." Sarah sighed, not able to fully express things in words. "It's frustrating, damn it. I mean, darn it," she quickly corrected. "I know, you're right, it's stupid. There's nothing I can do about it, anyway, and I'm a big girl, I shouldn't be getting on like this." Nevertheless she frowned and kicked her shoe at the edge of a nearby gym mat.

"Sarah, Sarah." Kurt walked over and set a hand on her shoulder. "I did not say it was stupid. Big girls are allowed emotions too, and I am sorry you are unhappy... I wonder, would you like to visit Layla in Attilan for a little while? It could be arranged."

"You didn't, but that's how it feels. How I feel about it, anyway." She perked up a little at the mention of visiting Attilan. "Wait, what? Seriously? That's a thing that could happen?" The thought had crossed Sarah's mind but she didn't think it was something that could really happen, at least not easily.

"Of course it could", Kurt said, a little surprised. "We have strong links with the founders of that school and the rest of the royal family. I think all we would have to do is ask and explain to get their permission."

Between her return to school and working with XFI, there hadn't really been any time for travel, and it hadn't been more than a passing fancy at best. Now, however, with Kurt telling her it should be possible and with more free time on her hands - allowing for her bosses to give her a bit of time off, that was - visiting her girlfriend was a reality. While it was far from an answer to all of her problems, it was good news to say the least.

"Oh wow, I... I would really, really like that, sir!" Sarah couldn't fight the impulse to not hug Kurt, so she did, albeit quickly and carefully, since she still had the épée in her hand after all.

He laughed and hugged her back before she let go, then smiled warmly. "You know we want all our students and alumni to be well and happy, and if arranging such a simple thing would help even partly... we will make it happen."

"I know it wouldn't fix everything, of course, but... yeah, no, it'd be awesome anyway." She smiled as she took a step back. "I would really, really appreciate it if you could help me out with that." It'd been too long since she'd seen Layla in person, and with the impossible to ignore one year anniversary of Genosha it would be more important than ever to have some time with her.

"Consider it done, then. It is good to see you smile, after how you were when I came in."

Sarah grinned back at him. "It's all thanks to you, so thank you, very much." Biting her lip, she frowned again. "Though now I need to figure out what to pack, and maybe I should get a little gift for Layla, but what? And I have to call home, and oh! I have to tell Jess, and..." The list went on and on, unfortunately for Kurt.

He listened patiently, laughing to himself. "Perhaps I should let you get on with your preparations, then, while I take care of my part of it."

"Hmm? Oh, yes, sorry." Sarah apologized, proffering Kurt a lopsided grin. "Got a little carried away with myself there, but at least now I've got something to preoccupy myself with, right?"

"Also a good thing", he agreed cheerfully. "Keeping busy and having something to look forward to can only help you with the rest of it."

"I sure hope so. Thanks again, sir!" She returned the épée to Kurt before heading back to her room, now with a trip to plan.