xp_logs | Saturday evening, music room

Set before this post of Madelyn’s

Terry is practicing her harp in the music room when Kurt wanders by. She asks about Alison then does her best to encourage the sailing of the good ship, SS German Donuts.

Kurt, on his way outside for some fresh air, happened to pass the slightly-open door of the music room. Hearing the sound of harp music from the inside, he paused and put his head curiously around the door, then smiled. "Oh. Hello, Terry."

Terry flattened her hands against the harp strings, stilling them before looking up at her visitor. “Hello, Kurt.” Her voice was still slightly raspy though it was impossible to tell how her bruises were healing under her turtleneck. “What brings you down here?”

"I was just heading outside, and I heard your music", he told her, coming all the way into the room. "You are very good with the harp."

“Thank you. It’s the best I can do right now since the docs won’t let me sing.” She smiled and gestured towards the piano bench, “Sit?”

He smiled back and sat down. "How long have you been playing? And how long until you can sing again?"

Terry shrugged, “Years. I think Uncle Tom thought it would be a good way to keep me out of trouble.” She grimaced at the second question, “They say it will be another week before I can start normal voice work. No powers work for longer than that.”

“A week is not so long", he told her gently. "And you would not want to damage your throat such that you could never sing or use your powers again."

She frowned, “I know. I already got a lecture on how I could ruin my voice forever. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She stroked at the harp thoughtfully, “At least I have this to practice.”

Kurt smiled. "That should tide you over, in the interim. Do you enjoy the harp?"

“Of course, I like music.” Her face fell. “Alison was going to let me play Faith.” She gave Kurt a hopeful look, “Do you know if she’s all right? Clarice doesn’t say much.”

Kurt shrugged sadly. "She is... getting better. I cannot really say much more than that. Confidentiality, you understand."

Terry nodded, looking crestfallen. “That’s all anyone will say. It isn’t comforting.” She chafed at her arms through her shirt. “Will we be able to visit her soon?”

"I do not know", he answered honestly. "You would do better asking the medical staff, on that score."

Terry nodded. “I didn’t want to bother them. I just wanted to…but it’s not really important.”

"I am sure they will make a public announcement when she is allowed visitors", he pointed out. "And you will be more than welcome to go down there when that happens."

“I’m not a very patient person.” She cracked a smile at that.

He smiled back. "Sometimes, though, all there is to do is wait. I can ask Dr. Bartlet to make sure you are notified when Alison is fit for visitors?"

She nodded enthusiastically. “Would you? That would be brilliant.” Terry tilted her head to the side, “You spend a lot of time with Dr. Bartlet.” Terry may not have been among the mansions more obvious gossips but she certainly did enough listening to pick up undertones.

Kurt gave her a slightly suspicious look, but smiled. "Yes, she is a good friend."

“Clarice thinks she works too hard,” Terry said innocently, “and that she needs someone to make her take breaks.”

"Clarice is not wrong", Kurt answered lightly. "I do what I can."

Terry nodded. “Maybe getting her out of the way of temptation is the best? If she’s not in the mansion she can’t be working too hard?” Terry shrugged. “Everyone here is addicted to work, I think.”

He laughed. "This is quite possible. She still owes me a dinner, so I will claim that sometime soon."

She beamed at him approvingly, “That will be good. Maybe dancing too? She looked like she had fun at the ball.”

A shadow crossed his face - his dancing outings usually featured Alison - but he answered simply, "Perhaps."

Terry bent over her harp for a moment, hiding her chagrin. She knew that he usually went dancing with Alison—there wasn’t much that she didn’t know about her music teacher. How could she have been so stupid? “Or maybe you can see a movie or something.” She was babbling, damn.

He gave her a reassuring smile. "It is all right, Terry. A movie sounds like a good idea."

She kept her head down a bit longer to be sure she wasn’t blushing then looked back at him. “Something funny.”

"Do you have any recommendations?"

“Shaun of the Dead if you can still find it.” Terry grinned. “Nothing like a good zombie film. Or there’s always the Incredibles. Might do good to see real superheroes in action.”

Kurt laughed. "That sounds amusing. I will suggest it to her, and see what she says."

“Soon, I think. Before she goes completely mad and we have to lock her up in a room with a pile of donuts.”

He grinned. "Things should improve now that Dr. McCoy is back. At the very least, she has someone who can relieve her."

“And thanks to you, she’ll have someone who will make her let him.” Terry laughed, softly because real laughter still hurt. “It’s an important job, making sure the docs don’t go mad. That’s a privilege only the rest of the mansion gets.”

"The medical assistants play their part", he told her cheerfully. "Clarice, especially, seems to have made it her mission."

“Sometimes the assistants need to be reminded too. It’s astonishing how often I don’t see my roommate.” Terry shook her head, still grinning. “I’m still waiting for her to snap as well. I’ve this fear that I’ll wake up one morning and there will be glitter everywhere and Clarice sitting in the middle of the floor giggling uncontrollably with a blank look in her eyes.”

Kurt nodded. "That could be your job - keep an eye on Clarice. With all the recent crises, she has perhaps been working too hard."

“I’ll stick close to her and you’ll stick close to Dr. Bartlet. Deal?” She extended her hand towards him.

He grinned and shook her hand. "Deal."

Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Visions of the Grail, Hollinea