3rd Floor Common Room, Wednesday Morning

[not_every_mage]

Kathy was back from the dead.

Kathy was back from the dead, and that made everything else in Anders' life seem ... a little bit mundane. Not bad, mind you, but it was a tiny bit odd to be on the dorm couch nibbling on toaster waffles and watching a marathon of a reality show about a British nanny when somebody on the island had beaten death itself.

On the other hand, what was he supposed to do? Stalking Kathy was hardly an option. So he'd sit here with his waffles and the brats on TV and pretend he knew how he felt about any of this.

[OOC: Open like a common room.]

Comments

[not_every_mage]

"Not to mention my little vacation in the Circle," Anders added. "You're right. I feel the same, but maybe..."

[rebelseekspizza]

"It's just fucking complicated," Dante said. "I don't like it."

[not_every_mage]

"I like having her back," Anders said, trying on the thought. "It'd just be nice if it stopped feeling so complicated."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Probably not gonna stop until it's been complicated for a while," Dante said.

He eyed the television.

"Maybe we should all just go out and get drunk."

Stellar idea.

[not_every_mage]

"You have had worse ideas," Anders said thoughtfully. "Take her into Baltimore, maybe have a hotel set up for after so we don't need to rickshaw drunk?"

Dante was such a good influence on Anders' decision-making processes.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Not like we got a lot to lose at this point," Dante offered. "'m still working out if I'm still pissed."

Not that he'd say as much to Kathy, but him and Anders were in this together.

[not_every_mage]

Anders frowned and said, "I don't think I am. I don't trust her the way I did before, but I'm not angry."

[rebelseekspizza]

"I yelled at her," Dante said, after a pause. "Last weekend. A lot."

[not_every_mage]

Anders paused, turning down the volume on the TV. "What did you say to her?"

[rebelseekspizza]

"Just... 'm pissed," Dante said slowly. "Because she screwed you over. ... 'cause she turned on me."

[not_every_mage]

"I didn't even get around to telling her what had happened to me," Anders admitted. "I was too busy telling her she got her family killed."

And Raven, but that particular point hadn't aged very well.

"I don't think she meant to turn on you, though," he added, with a little frown. "I think she just couldn't see anything except the chance to be a hero. It was stupid, not malicious. Whatever difference that makes."

[rebelseekspizza]

"I know," Dante said.

He went silent for a few moments, then added, tentatively, "I told her. About what happened to you. Sorry. I was pissed."

[not_every_mage]

"Well, I suppose that's one awkward conversation I don't have to have," Anders said, after a fumbled beat in which surprise flashed through his eyes.

He didn't mind Kathy knowing. But he hadn't considered that she might already know.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Yeah, you're welcome," Dante said, in a tone that suggested that statement was meant more an apology than anything else. "She just kept going on about what she felt 'you needed to hear'."

[not_every_mage]

"What did she think I needed to hear?" Anders wondered. "I'm not sure she got around to saying it to me, whatever it was."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Not sure she knew either," Dante said. "A lot of 'I'm sorry's, I guess?"

[not_every_mage]

"She did get around to that," Anders said. "There was just a lot of screaming and being defensive first."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Went that well, huh."

[not_every_mage]

"Not the most fun I've ever had," Anders understated. "And then on Sunday it was just awkward. Maybe next time I'll see her it'll be less --"

he gestured vaguely. Less 'strange and crazy and painful and thrilling,' maybe.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Maybe," Dante said. He sighed, sinking back on the sofa. "I'm still thinking booze would be a good idea. Maybe stop her talking a million miles an hour."

[not_every_mage]

"Give us something to talk about besides the mess," Anders said, turning toward Dante. "I like it. Should we try for the weekend?"

[rebelseekspizza]

"Sure," Dante said. "But somewhere on Fandom, maybe, so we can take off if it gets fucking awkward."

[not_every_mage]

"Probably a better idea than being stranded in Baltimore," Anders acknowledged. "I'll give her a call."

[rebelseekspizza]

"All right," Dante said.

And then he paused - rather loudly - as he suddenly realised the implications of Kathy having a phone again.

"Fuck."

[not_every_mage]

"Fuck, what?" Anders asked. "Remember a hot date this weekend?"