The Deck, Tuesday Morning

[not_every_mage]

Even after sleeping on it, Anders didn't feel much better about what had happened in Edge. They'd put so much work into the water filtration system -- only to see it wrecked in what was most likely a matter of hours. And even though they'd fixed the immediate issues, he knew nothing would stop the same people from coming back and keeping water away from the thirsty. Again.

It made a man angry, was all.

Kittens, on the other hand, made a man happy. And if Anders couldn't stop brooding, he could at least get out of his room. Carrying Lachlan in one oversized pocket, he took his breakfast onto the porch and set the cat down. The tuxedo kitten snapped at shadows and tried to catch every insect that happened by -- mostly unsuccessfully -- while Anders sipped at his tea.

[OOC: Open deck, open post!]

Comments

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

Nathan's afternoon, evening and night had been spent in the preserve so he was just now making it back to the dorms.

But, he was going to make an immediate detour to both remain outside a little longer and to see Anders since he had something to share with him and just seeing him was motivation enough.

"Morning," he greeted quietly.

[not_every_mage]

"Hi there," Anders agreed, equally quiet but with a smile. "You're out early."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Or out late," he joked, stepping up onto the deck. "I slept in the preserve so I'm just coming back. Couldn't stay out there any longer without food, you know."

[not_every_mage]

"You aren't foraging for berries and tree bark?" Anders joked in return, then gestured at his muffin. "You can have some of mine, if you like. Or there's a box of them upstairs."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Tree bark isn't very good, if you can believe it," Nathan joked, taking a seat. "What kind of muffin is it?"

[not_every_mage]

"There go my dinner plans," Anders said, picking at the muffin a little as if checking for an answer. "I think it's blueberry. Or at least, they're blue and they're berries. Fruits here still confuse me."

Especially super-complicated ones like blueberries, yes.

"It's good, either way."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Maybe in a bit, I'll have a piece," Nathan decided, stretching his legs out. "What's brought you out so early in the morning?"

[not_every_mage]

"Didn't sleep well," Anders admitted. "You know how sometimes you wake up thinking about something, and you can't stop, so there's no way to fall asleep again? I figured Lachlan might as well get a little sun if I was going to be up anyhow."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Is everything all right?" Nathan asked, frowning. "Is it Karl?"

[not_every_mage]

"Oh, no, he's fine as far as I know," Anders rushed to reassure him. "As fine as a prisoner can be, anyhow."

That was a rather major caveat, but it was the best he could do.

"It's just that class yesterday bothered me. We spent over a month building water processing equipment in Edge and someone stole it over break. Wrecked it. Nothing left at all." He sighed. "Sometimes it's hard not to hate people."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Nathan frowned and wrung his hands together a bit. "Do you guys have any idea who it might have been or was it just stupid bloody vandalism? Is there no chance of getting it back?"

[not_every_mage]

"Stupid bloody vandalism," Anders confirmed. "They probably took the metal to sell, so I suppose it did them some good. Just not anyone else."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Honestly, it might have been almost anyone. There are too many people with too little there."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry," Nathan said, shaking his head. "I wish there was more I could do than just say those words. What happens for you and Edge now?"

[doesnotkneel]

"Oi, Lachlan, mind the shoes," Edward called - largely because he'd just stepped outside and now there was a kitten on his feet. He was smiling, though, as was his usual habit.

[not_every_mage]

"Kill his shoes, Lachlan," Anders advised teasingly, then smiled over at Edward. "Hello there. You're looking well."

Lachlan batted at Edward's shoelaces for a moment more.

[doesnotkneel]

Edward grinned, dropping to his knees to pat the little cat on the head. "It's a fine day, or at least it seems to be so far," he said. "How's your day turning out?"

[not_every_mage]

"No complaints so far," Anders told him. "And I don't have anything in particular to do today, so there's every reason to think things will stay that way."

Lachlan sniffed Edward suspiciously for a moment before submitting to the petting.

[doesnotkneel]

Edward scritched Lachlan merrily behind the ears. "I wouldn't be so quick with that sort of thing on this island," he said, though he sounded unconcerned about that. "You say that, and suddenly fish start raining down on us."

[not_every_mage]

"Well, that'd make Lachlan happy," Anders observed. "Though I'd hate to see him lose a fight to a fish. That would wreck his dignity."

[doesnotkneel]

"Ah, I don't know, he looks like the sort who could use a couple of good, hard lessons about life," Edward joked. "What with having you doting on him all the time."

[not_every_mage]

"What's the point of having a pet if you don't spoil it shamelessly?" Anders shrugged. "Life'll knock him around without me helping. It usually does."

[doesnotkneel]

Edward looked up and pulled a face. "That's enough gloom for me this morning, I believe," he said.

[not_every_mage]

"It's only true," Anders protested. "Sorry. Shall we talk about sunlight and butterflies now?"

Lachlan nudged at Edward's hand, urging the petting to continue.

[doesnotkneel]

Edward's scritching traveled to just under Lachlan's chin. "We could," he agreed, "Seems uplifting enough. Talk away."

[not_every_mage]

"I can't --" Anders said, then laughed at the challenge. "All right. Sunshine is lovely and makes the day warm, and we should enjoy it while we have it because soon it will get cold. For the rest of us, that is. Possibly not for Edward, since that's gloomy. And butterflies are pretty. I like the yellow kind. Lachlan's never killed one, though he's dearly wanted to. Oh, wait, that's gloomy too."

He raised one eyebrow at Edward. "Better?"