Can I lay my head on your shoulder?

[cuddlefishpeixes]

WHO: Feferi and Iroh
TONE: Sad. 38(
RATING: G-PG
WHEN: The evening of the 15th, after Feferi and Eridan had their talk in the Astronomy Tower
WHERE: Iroh's office
WHAT: Feferi and Eridan's conversation probably could have gone better. Feferi doesn't know who to turn to - she really doesn't want to be around anyone her own age right now, so she goes to her Head of House for advice.
STATUS: Ongoing!

[She scrubs her eyes with the sleeves of her robes, standing in front of her Head of House's office, trying to not look like a crybaby before she reaches up and knocks on the thick (new) wooden door.]

Professor?

Comments

[cuddlefishpeixes]

_{[As soon as Professor Iroh opens the door, Feferi freezes up.]}

I-I'm sorry, I just...I didn't want to go back to my dormitory yet, and I...

_{[She sniffles and wipes her nose on her sleeve.]}

Can I come in?

[jasmineofthewest]

Oh, of course! My apologies, I've forgotten my manners. Come in!

[He moves aside and ushers her in.]

Would you like some tea? Or would you prefer hot chocolate, perhaps?

[cuddlefishpeixes]

Thank you, Professor.

[She steps inside.]

Um, hot chocolate would be nice.

[She manages a little smile. She's really not the sunny Hufflepuff he knew from class.]

[jasmineofthewest]

[Iroh definitely senses there's something wrong, but he's not going to push the issue until she is supplied with hot chocolate and dessert! So he sets off to work making the hot chocolate, as well as a pot of tea for himself. He also levitates tin of cake which is already over half gone, over to the table while he works.]

Make yourself at home! This will only take a few minutes.

[cuddlefishpeixes]

[Feferi sits down in one of the chairs in front of the desk, sighing like sitting down in the comfortable chair was a huge relief. She looks around the office. She'd been in here a couple of times before, usually for help with homework, but not since it was rebuilt! She watches him float the cake over to the table, and shifts a little in her seat, then watches him make the beverages.]

Thanks again, Professor...

[jasmineofthewest]

It's my pleasure!

[He finishes up a few minutes later, and a tray of tea and hot chocolate levitating beside him as he walks over to the desk and sits down across from Feferi.]

I would say to be careful because it's hot, but it's actually a magic cup! You can just tell it to cool off and it will.

[As charmed by Iroh, patent pending.]

[cuddlefishpeixes]

[She watches him levitate the tray with the understanding of a child who has been surrounded by magic her whole life, and the wonder of a child still a little too young to be so dextrous with it. She takes the cup into her hands, smiling into it at the warmth. Perhaps it was also her mood a little, but the castle seemed colder that night. The cup cools down to a level that was manageable to hold and just let it warm her hands for a few minutes. She takes a grateful, sip, closing her eyes as the hot chocolate warms her from the inside out.]

...

[She doesn't look up from the cup. He would ask why she had been crying any minute now, but she petulantly stays quiet and waits for him to be the one to ask. She'd spill everything eventually, she just...didn't think she could start.]

[jasmineofthewest]

[Iroh is quiet for a while as well, taking the time to put the perfect amount of sugar and cream into his tea. He is also intentionally making himself busy so that should Feferi want to talk, she can prepare herself instead of it being thrust upon her so hastily.

He coughs slightly, as a sign to show she can speak at moment. When she doesn't, he frowns slightly, and looks at her. He sees that she's just staring at her cup. Normally he wouldn't be so rude as to initiate something, but she shows no signs of wanting to be the one to start it.

Before doing anything, he reaches over and cuts a rather ample piece for Feferi and sticks it on a plate, nudging it in her direction.]

This cake is quite tasty. I received it as a gift from one of my acquaintances! It's chocolate, and I always find chocolate a great cure for a case of the blues.

[A pause.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[cuddlefishpeixes]

[She looks up when he speaks, and sees the piece of cake. With a small smile, she sets down the cup and shifts forward in the chair so that she can pick up the fork and take a dainty little bite of cake. When he pauses, she looks up at meets his eyes, and then her shoulders slump.]

I just...I just talked to my friend Eridan. We've been friends since we were little, but lately it's just felt like...like he's suffocating me.

[A pause. Another bite of cake. The chocolate does kind of help, and the cake is delicious. Feferi is a sucker for desserts.]

I told him I think we should make other friends, but... I just don't know if I did the right thing...

[jasmineofthewest]

Oh, dear...

[Iroh frowns, and begins cutting his own piece of cake. Because if he's going to help with this kind of thing, he needs a belly full of sugar.]

If you don't mind my prying, how is it that he's been suffocating you?

[cuddlefishpeixes]

_{[She sips her hot chocolate nervously, biding her time trying to twist it to make sure that Eridan doesn't get into trouble because of what she says.]}

He's been my best friend...my first friend, too. But we're in different houses, and...ever since we came to school, it just feels like he's been trying to control who I make friends with...

_{[She starts to get a little sassy here]}

When really, that's none of his business! He can make all the pureblood connections he wants, I just want to make friends!

_{[She deflates again.]}

I know what I did is what I need, it's just...I feel selfish...

[jasmineofthewest]

Ohshoheshapurebluhd-

[Oops, he got ahead of himself and ended up talking through the cake in his mouth, give him a moment to swallow.]

My apologies. So he's the type of Pureblood who only wants to associate with other Purebloods, then? What a shame...

You know, more people should be like you. You're setting a wonderful example for everyone, and you should be proud! It's really not selfish at all for wanting to distance yourself from that, believe me. I cut ties with my family because of this kind of thing, so I know exactly how you feel.

[cuddlefishpeixes]

_{[Despite herself, she actually giggles a little at that. Her face quickly falls, though, when he continues.]}

It's...it's not his fault...

_{[She pulls up short when he says he did the same.]}

You...you do?

I just...I know he's not ever going to be happy like that. But I've spent so long trying to make him see that, and I'm just...

I'm tired, Professor.

[jasmineofthewest]

[Iroh nods, knowing how she feels more than she could probably ever realize.]

I truly know the feeling. But there are some people who just won't listen, no matter how hard you try. You can't spend your life trying in the hopes one day you'll succeed; sometimes letting go is simply the only healthy option.