Sleepover (private for Manda and myself)

Leandra settled down into a couch, her ice cream just plain chocolate with some whipped cream on the top. She was dressed differently than usual, not the standard Roman uniform, but a pair of khaki trousers and a short with a pattern of browns and greens that accented her caramel colored skin.

"It was fine, if I ever take you to Alabama, the same thing is going to happen. My dad and grandad insist on food, food for everyone, food for everything. Food and fellowship are synonyms." Leandra replied smiling. It was nice to get away from the barracks for a night or two, and the Scipios were always most hospitable. And you could not say no to being fed, a lot. Mr. Scipio fussed at Leandra for not having enough meat on her bones as well, so she usually ended up with more food.

Leandra stretched for a second, then gave her friend a mischievous look. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something now that there aren't any prying ears anywhere. I hear that you and Wade are speaking again. Spill." Wade, the pompous arrogant son of an even more pompous swamp rat. Tiberia may have forgiven the guy, but Leandra still found him rather distasteful. Of course, that could also be because of how biased she was with Tiberia.

Leandra also knew that Tiberia had been seen talking to him again, but she hadn't mentioned it yet. The younger girl wanted the juicy details, and to know whether she was going to have to go push Wade into the Little Tiber or not. Could the guy swim? She might have to tie him up first. If he hurt Tibby again, well, she had seen enough mafia movies to know how to totally go all Mac the Knife on him.

"What about hating him because he's a douche?" Leandra asked, raising her eyebrow. "He thinks he's the pantheon's gift to mankind, but then tries to act all humble, humble-bragging about how awesome he is, sticking out his chest like a puffed-up canary with the ego the size of an albatross." She aggressively stabbed her spoon into the ice-cream pulling out a larger bite. "And he doesn't appreciate sarcasm. That right there should tell you he's been dropped on his head a few dozen times."

Leandra took her bite of ice-cream but still had this kind of sour look on her face discussing Wade. Match-maker match-maker, go jump off a bridge.

The younger Roman shrugged a little. "Just because he isn't useless doesn't mean I have to like him. Sarcasm is one of my many endearing qualities, and he has no appreciation for it. It's like looking at a Picasso and saying it's junk because it's not realistic. Personally, I like a little imagination in my art." She took another bite of the ice cream and thought for a few seconds. She watched Tiberia's body language. "Seriously, though, nothing going on? Because he's not a good fit for you. And he does love to play match-maker."

Leandra blushed hard and threw a pillow at Tibby. "You're trying to change the subject!" She said defensively. To be honest, Leandra hadn't updated Tibby on anything about her crush on Romulus, because she hadn't spoken to him since she had developed it. Although she did spy him walking around the camp in those tight shirts he preferred. Humina humina.

"It's pretty much the same. I, um, haven't had a chance to talk to him." Well, no, she could have talked to him. On more than one occasion. She was just a little terrified of the prospect of talking to him and totally letting onto the fact that she had the world's biggest crush on him. World's most unobtainable man. She had a better shot of attracting Pluto.

Leandra closed her eyes for a second, then looked up at the ceiling. "That's part of why I haven't talked to him, Tib. Better to not give him a chance to read me. Him knowing won't make it any better. Like we discussed last time, there is a 100% certainty he is not interested in me. And yet..."

The girl sighed and looked at her friend, setting her bowl of ice cream down and wrapping her arms around herself. "Logic has very little to do with emotions. And I could all but swear if it weren't for the fact that I'm a hormonal teen that Wade's daddy had been around messing with people. I feel butterflies every time I think about Romulus. And seeing him walk around camp in those teasingly tight shirts? I get bad thoughts about, well, nevermind." Leandra once again turned crimson, her face felt hot enough to fry an egg.

Where was a bottomless pit like Tartarus to climb into when you needed it? Leandra gave Tibby a 'Just shoot me' Look at the checking out comment. She wasn't exactly stalking him. Just being observant. Very observant. Of his running. And his sword fighting.

Could you die from blushing too hard? Leandra briefly imagined all the blood vessels in her face suddenly exploding from the pressure of blushing so hard. She looked away for a second. "I have not been checking him out. What kind of girl do you think I am? You can't help but notice his butt when he runs."

It was true on that part. His jeans and armor showed off his glorious rump like it was modelling itself. 'Look at me, Magnificent Gluteals, most amazing buttocks south of Olympus! Able to compete with many godly butts, and some gods are butts entirely.' And his arms, his well-toned arms, with the veins she could totally start an IV on. And his pecs. She sighed, then realized what she did. Crap! Where was that endless pit again?

Leandra shifted uncomfortably on the couch. It wasn't that the couch was uncomfortable at all, though. "Tib, of course you haven't seen this side of me before. I was a child! I, uh, still kinda am. I mean, I'm definitely not old enough to frick-frack or get married. My mother would kill me. Both of my mothers. And probably your mother for good measure. But I am old enough to know about it and think about it. I'm not totally innocent."

She shifted again. She wanted to get the conversation off of her and Romulus. "And Wade isn't the only one you've been eyeballin'. I saw you staring at the Greek moron, Derrek, at the Valentine party. And it was more than 'does he have a sword in there'. Or, maybe that's exactly what it was."

Leandra was not sure if she should be relieved that Decimus was gone or horrified that he had been listening. How long? Would he tell Romulus? Oh dear. Oh dear. "He likes to live dangerously, listening to girls talk in private. Although apparently he is mortified by Darren's butt."

Leandra thought about it for a second, then laughed. "I wonder if he is more mortified at the thought of you checking out people's butts or that you like a Greek's butt better than a Roman',s. Can you imagine how scandalized your family would be? 'Nos pudet ad tuam voluntatem hominis Graecum natibus.'"

"I am quite capable of skinning your brother, but you could definitely help hold him down at least. And I know how to clean up blood stains rather well. Kaeso can pass on the family lineage. Decimus is definitely expendable." Leandra said, falling back into the comfort of sarcasm and dark humor. It was definitely a defense mechanism at times.

Leandra laughed as she blocked the second pillow with the first one. "Call me old-fashioned if you will, but you know as well as I do that most family names pass down through a male heir. You aren't likely to find a good Roman husband who will take the name Scipio when they have their own name to pass on." She said. "Oink oink. The patriarch isn't going to get dismantled in a day."

"That's just even more reason Kaeso will pass on the family name." Leandra had hopes for Tibby finding somepony she was happy for the rest of her life, but the question was valid. Life as a demigod was dangerous, more so before retiring from the Legion. She could die any day. Or she could attract the attention of a Celestia and never find a truer love again. Mars most likely, with her good discipline and soldiering. Still, Leandra hoped to see her married some day.