in the library, 2003

[mycursedface]

Medusa had spent the morning sparring with Stheno (Euryale had run off to town). Hard and fast and nasty and, in the end, Medusa had snapped her sister's wrist. Stheno had kicked her into a wall; the Gorgon girls had always played rough.

Which is why it's a good thing that they can fix each other.

So, when Medusa walks into the library (a large cavern under the earth, floor to nearly ceiling bookcases with laders with wheels that roll across the shelves, and there are tall, narrow windows to catch the breeze and light), her curls are damp from a shower and she's rolling her shoulder back. Magical healing or no, you do feel sore.

"Lucifer?"

Today her nosering (India left a lasting impression, and it's a look that suits her) is a nosestud, a little golden spider with a ruby on its back , and her walk is marked by the chiming of the tiny bells around her right ankle. Not that it's easy to see said bells, given that Medusa's taste in skirts tends towards flowing things long enough to reach the tops of her feet.

Comments

[necessary_child]

Sam's sat on a table, legs crossed and apparently absorbed in the very large book in his lap. He's surrounded on the table by haphazard and very precarious-looking piles of other books, and the nearby chairs are likewise filled. Some of them are books Sam's read, some are books he remembers reading once, and some are books he's never seen before in his life.

Which are which? Even Sam may well have forgotten, by now.

But suffice to say, he's happy.

[mycursedface]

It gets a smile and the Gorgon walks over to his table. Still smiling, fond and amused, she says,

"Hey."

[necessary_child]

Sam looks up, a little startled; for once in his life, he hadn't heard an approacher.

But it's Meda, so she gets an answering smile, easy and bright enough.

"Hey, Beautiful."

Sam has books. He's very happy about this!

[mycursedface]

She laughs softly, clear and pretty as the bells around her ankle.

"Enjoying yourself?"

[necessary_child]

"Yep," he says simply. "What've you been up to?"

[mycursedface]

"Beating up Stheno and getting my arse handed to me in return." Her tone is rueful. And amused.

[necessary_child]

"Aww." Sam shifts over, magically moving a pile of books to the floor to provide room for Medusa to sit.

"Still. It's a very nice arse, at least."

[mycursedface]

"You're biased," Medusa points out, swinging herself up onto the table. The taller than normal table, so when the girls sit on them, their wings have enough room. (It can be strange, for people shaped as humans to live in a house where all the furniture was designed for wings in mind.)

She balances on the edge, wings hanging over the edge and her hands lightly clasping her legs.

"But thank you."

[necessary_child]

"Being biased doesn't mean I'm not right," Sam replies, reaching out to play with a curl of her hair.

"You're welcome, nonetheless."

[mycursedface]

He gets a snake following his hand. It may even butt his fingers with her own head.

"You could join us, one day. If you feel up to it."

[necessary_child]

Sam laughs a little, fascinated, tracing his finger gently down the snake's back instead.

"I get my arse handed to me on a plate often enough outside, thanks."

[mycursedface]

That? Feels good. Which is why the snake arches her back against his finger. Medusa, for her part, is certainly not breathing a little shakily from the sensation. Oh, no.

"Aw, be good for your ego."

[necessary_child]

He laughs again, watching her curiously and still carefully stroking the snake.

"I don't need bruises and broken bones for that."

[mycursedface]

"We'd heal you."

[necessary_child]

Sam laughs again.

"'s not the point. I don't particularly care about being hurt, not any more, but I don't go out of my way to find pain."

[mycursedface]

"Ah well. We're rough things, I guess."

[necessary_child]

"I'd be cruelly used, I have no doubt." Sam hangs his head woefully. "Cruel, you are to me. It's tragic, really."

[mycursedface]

She raises her eyebrows.

And looks at the books.

Pointedly.

[necessary_child]

:D?

Goes Sam's face.

[mycursedface]

Idiot goes her expression, even as she leans across the book to kiss him softly.

[necessary_child]

Well, the kissing is the thing that matters, right?

Which is why Sam forgets the books to kiss her back, slow and lingeringly.

[mycursedface]

She was going to tell him something. Something important. She really, really was.

Not that she can remember, though.

[necessary_child]

Sam doesn't seem to mind waiting around for her to remember. Which is why, when they break, he just tugs her closer, arm around her as much as he can, given her wings.

[mycursedface]

Voice just a little bit dreamy,

"How do you do that, Luce?"

[necessary_child]

"Hmm?"