Dite's Decadent Delights, Saturday Evening

[spin_kick_snap]

After hanging out with Raven for a few hours that afternoon, Kathy headed into town to get a little more work done at Dite's. She wasn't sure she was actually accomplishing very much, but it at least felt like she was making progress on something and that felt almost as good as her evenings in the warehouse. She'd gone back the night before and it had been just as good as the first time, finally feeling truly alive as she'd dodged and punched and kicked.

Her face had avoided getting any new bruises--and the ones from Wednesday were carefully covered by makeup any time she left her room--but a couple of the body shots she'd taken had her moving a little more carefully than usual. Still, every flare of pain when she moved too fast or bent too far was another note in the sensory orchestra that reminded her that she was still a living girl who dreamed about being a zombie and not a zombie dreaming about being alive. That distinction was important.

She fired off a few texts to Anders in case he was feeling chatty and then set about opening the delivery boxes and getting inventory up on the shelves. In the background, her computer played the Raptor News Network theme. Ever since Dante had told her that Bob Barbas was a demon, she'd been watching his show to get an idea of what he was like.

So far, all she'd gotten was that he would fit right in with Trump and his cronies. Which said a lot about the current administration, didn't it?

[For one, please!]

Comments

[not_every_mage]

I'm bored. Have you heard from Dante yet?

Anders had been pacing the dorm halls, convincing himself not to make too big a deal of any of this. It wasn't easy.

[spin_kick_snap]

Dante? Kathy texted back. No, why. Where is he? Limbo City?

She didn't even know why she was asking. Where else would Dante go that would have Anders so concerned?

[not_every_mage]

Yeah, Anders returned. Vergil had a job for him. Didn't mean to be telling secrets.

He wouldn't have brought it up, if he'd known Kathy didn't know. This was awkward.

[spin_kick_snap]

Going after Barbas? It wasn't so much a secret as Kathy just hadn't known it was so soon. I'm at Dite's. Wanna come hang out? Easier to wait together than by yourself.

[not_every_mage]

That's the one, Anders agreed. And I'll be there in a few. Anything I should bring?

[spin_kick_snap]

I've only got candy here, so if you wanna grab something to eat maybe? She looked around the store, trying to put a few things together. I have my laptop here. Maybe we could watch a movie? There's this weird couch shaped like a pair of lips in the back room I can drag out so we can be comfortable.

And, of course, included a picture of the couch so Anders could appreciate what a fine bit of craftsmanship it was.

[not_every_mage]

That is the perfect sex shop couch, Anders returned, with admiration. I like the way you think. I'll be there in 15. Are tacos OK?

He was already on his way out the dorm door as he typed the last sentence.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy agonized over her answer for longer than was strictly necessary. Tacos came with ground beef and she still hadn't been able to bring herself to eat meat. Well, not eat it and keep it down, anyway. And if she played it cool, either she'd end up throwing up, which was a terrible plan, or Anders would spot her trying to remove all the hamburger and would want to know why she was doing that and why she hadn't just told him to begin with and--

She was over complicating things again. And that always got her into trouble.

Sure, she texted back. Could you make mine the tofu ones they have. Been looking forward to trying those.

There. See? No reason to freak out, Kathy, god.

Just a warning, anything we drink will have to be out of cups like these, she added with another nsfw picture. We're classy as balls here at Dite's.

[not_every_mage]

No problem. Anders thought it was a little unusual Kathy asked for tofu, but not unusual enough to ask her about. Maybe it was a Korean thing.

Anyhow, he was more interested in that cup photo.

How classy are balls, anyhow? I always wonder that.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy sank back onto the couch when she got Anders' easy response and groaned. She really did make everything ten times harder than it needed to be. At least this time, she'd managed to avoid turning a nothing into something major. Now to just...keep doing that.

Depends on the balls, she sent back once she was no longer facepalming. Maintenance and upkeep are key to classiness.

Beat.

And now I'm picturing balls with a bow tie, thanks for that.

[not_every_mage]

Why stop there? Anders returned -- and even if Kathy wasn't enjoying herself, he sure was. They need more. A cape and a hat with a feather in it. Feathers are very important for classy balls.

By the time he hit send, he was in line at the taco place.

[spin_kick_snap]

No, no discussing testicular couture was much more fun than thinking about all the ways she was an idiot to the people who were close to her.

Do bow ties and caps go together? I think you're describing, like, swashbuckler balls. That's not classy, that's adventurous!

[not_every_mage]

What's a ball without a few buckled swashes? Anders returned, laughing out loud and earning a few uneasy looks from his fellow patrons. And do you want guac?

[spin_kick_snap]

Always. I love guac more than I love most people. She kicked the last, unopened box out of the way and spread out over the couch to relax while she waited for him to arrive. I hear that if your balls are buckling swashes for more than four hours at a time, you should see your local healer. That true?

[not_every_mage]

It depends, Anders typed back. I believe in letting my patients buckle as many swashes as they want, until their Jolly Roger isn't so Jolly.

He paid for the tacos and headed back into the night.

[spin_kick_snap]

And no one's going to complain about a jolly rodgering, Kathy texted back, keeping an eye on the time. She was looking forward to seeing Anders, so sue her. "And if buckles are involved, so much the better?"

[not_every_mage]

"You can roger my buckles any time," Anders said, as he opened the door and walked in, fragrant bag of Mexican food in one hand and goofy smile on his face. For a moment, things almost felt normal. "I'm not sure how to work the swashes in. You might need to check with Isabel about that."

[spin_kick_snap]

"It'll probably involve sex-spiders," Kathy said, pushing herself up so she wasn't just draped across the couch. "Hey there." She gave him a big grin, probably goofier than she might have liked it to be. "Dinner smells amazing, thanks."

[not_every_mage]

"I figured we couldn't live on candy alone,"Anders said, and he couldn't help but return that grin. "Even if you just made me think about sex spiders. I might have to keep the guacamole for that."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Noooo!" Kathy wailed, reaching out a beseeching hand--not to him but towards the bag with the guacamole in it. "I'll be good, I swear."

[not_every_mage]

"Well, that'll be a first," Anders joked, holding the bag just out of reach as he stepped toward the couch. "No sex-spiders while we're eating? Promise?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Hey, they weren't my sex spiders!" Kathy protested. "That was one hundred percent Isabella. Dante told me about it and I was horrified. As is right and proper."

Kathy's take on sex-snakes was 'just say no. Forever.'

"And hey! I've been plenty good, lots of times." That had been meant to be playful. It kind of came out...dirty.

[not_every_mage]

It did, which was why Anders hesitated unwrapping the food and looked up at her to see if she'd meant it the way he heard it.

"I'm not sure there's a way to answer that, that won't sound filthy," he told her. "So I'll just nod and look very dignified and serious. See?"

He gave her a dignified, serious, and completely smug look.


[OOC: Night!]

[spin_kick_snap]

"You are the very picture of dignity," Kathy assured him. "I don't think I've ever seen you more serious. I'm in awe and very impressed and totally not about to make a bid for the guacamole now."

And then she was trying to snatch the bags out of his hand. And if that just so happened to tug him down onto the couch with her...oops?

[not_every_mage]

"Wench," Anders said between gasps of laughter as he tried to keep the guacamole out of Kathy's reach. "I should've known you only wanted me here for the avocado."