xp_logs | Topaz and Amanda (Backdated)

Amanda returns Topaz's lost book. (Backdated to December 10th)

By now, Amanda was well used to dropping by the student suites to catch up with "her" kids. She knocked on the door of Topaz's (and Sue's and Molly's) suite briskly, Topaz's book tucked safely under her arm. "Ding-dong, Avon calling!" she sang out with a grin.

Topaz was in the process of putting the last of the suite back together (she hadn't quite managed to finish before running off to check other parts of the mansion) when Amanda knocked. A small smirk pulled at her lips as she went to open the door. "Isn't that make-up?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at the blonde. "You might be in the wrong place. Or at least talkin' the wrong person."

"Who else is missing a book and writes in Hindi?" Amanda replied, glad to see Topaz at least smirking. A sense of humour did much to get you through any amount of shite. She held out the book. "Here y'go. And I wouldn't say no to a cuppa. 'S as cold as charity out there."

She'd recognized the Hindi, then. "Yeah, wasn't really lookin' forward to goin' back out there to get this," Topaz said as she took her journal back, smile faltering just a bit. Not that she really thought Amanda would read it. She didn't think Amanda would anyways. "I just put some water on, actually. Here." She stepped aside to let her teacher in. "Ah..." She grabbed the blankets off the couch, tossing them back into her room. "Sorry. Bit of a mess."

"You've seen my place, right?" Amanda's keen eyes had caught the slight faltering, and she had a pretty good idea of the cause. "Yeah, I found it with some spell books. I flipped it open to the first page to work out where it was supposed to go, but when I realised it was yours, I stopped there." She grinned. "Your secret crush is safe from me."

"Fair point." She went to check the water, not missing Amanda's attempts to assure her - without actually saying it - that she hadn't read anything. At her last words, Topaz snorted. "I think the entire world would drop dead of shock if that information ever got out."

"'S not someone horrible, like that Beiber kid, is it? 'Cause I might just have to disown you if it was," Amanda replied in kind, dropping onto the couch while Topaz was busy in the kitchenette.

"Who - no." It took Topaz a moment to connect that one. "Celebrities are overrated." The teapot started whistling, and she switched the stove off quickly, going to the cabinet. "Anyways you're stuck with me. Sorry to inform you."

"Oh, bother. How will I cope?" deadpanned the blonde, eyes twinkling with suppressed mirth. "Actually, I meant to ask you - you got holiday plans already, maybe with one of the kids? 'Cause I was thinking about doing something at my place with the family and hangers-on, and you'd be welcome."

"Dunno, no one's ever tried to cope before," Topaz tossed back with a bit of a smirk. "Plans? Ah...don't think so." She hadn't really thought about it. Her automatic response to Amanda's invitation was I don't want to invade. But she'd offered, right? And anyways actually spending Christmas with people... "That'd be great," she said as she carried two mugs over, handing one to Amanda. "If you don't mind."

"If I minded," said Amanda with a nod as she accepted her tea. "I wouldn't have asked, would I?"