#rivervale_lodge

Tentatively. "I liked those, too."

"And I always saved wings for you in the gross-stuff drawer."

On the BOTTOM of the ancient 1970s Harvest-gold fridge.

"They age better in the open air." He grouses, an old, rehashed 'argument'. "I know, the drawer keeps the smell down. One of these days I'm gonna take that box of baking soda that's been soaking up the stinks and trade it with the one in the baking cupboard. See if Sylvi notices."

"Hey! I'm the one that bakes!"

A snigger.

She shakes out her hands, releasing some of the pent-up jangly energy.

"I, uh." He fidgets a bit. "I met someone." He says, a bruise-ish color rising on his cheeks.

Bluescreen.

"What?"

"I don't know how long it will take Anne Marie to figure things out. I wanted you to hear it first. From me."

"I thought... I thought you were ace?"

A small frown. "That doesn't mean I can't... have someone, you know? It's not..." Grey rising to purple. "Physical..."

"I... I guess not. Sure." She shrinks inwards a bit. "And I didn't Oath. It just.. we never really... we didn't work that out, so I wasn't..."

"It's not like I went looking for someone." He says, softly. "It doesn't change what you mean to me. I thought... it felt pretty clear. That you weren't interested in me, as... you know. A romantic partner."

"I.. no, no, of course. I don't... I don't do romance, you're right." She catches her elbow with the opposite hand. "You're happy?"

He looks unconvinced, but... a slow nod. "I... think so. It's... new. Weird, you know?" Symon, uncharacteristically looking... vulnerable?

"Yeah..."

"I... uh. I keep thinking I should introduce her to the family... but I'm kinda... well. Anne Marie can be a lot, and DAD is... well, my appa doesn't really seem friendly if you don't know him... and then there's DIRK... and I worry, what if my family doesn't like her?" A look to Dagmar. "That includes you, you know."

"It's good. Good, you found someone. Good you're happy." With someone else.

"Is... is she mortal? Fae?"

"Fae.. she recently transferred in, mid term." A pause. "Would you... if she came by... like, coffee, or something? I'd like Cairrean to meet you."

Brittle smile. "Sure."

"Sorry, Didn't mean to spring that on you. Just... didn't want you to hear from someone else... you know."

She nods.

"I'm glad you told me. That's.. well, I mean, that's a good reason to be busy, right?"

"Only the last couple weeks. Before that... that was just me being..." A vague gesture. "A shitbird."

"Mmph."

"You checked back in with Tove yet? I just told her you were busy. No lies."

"I figured whatever you were doing, that was true. Your own business."

"I, uh, haven't been back home yet."

"Thanks for covering for me."

"You'd do the same for me." He says, simply.

"I just needed... space. After.. when I lose it, everything is..." She swallows a gulp of air, and nods. "Course I would. Always."

"Always." He says, and means it.

She nods. "I'm probably obligated to say, if this Cairrean hurts you, I will stomp her."

A wince, but a small smile. "Noted."

"Dagmar smash?" An attempt at a joke.

"Dagmar - smash!" "I think Sylvi will disown you if you try the purple ripped shorts look, though."

He attempts back, trying to clear a little of the awkward tension from the air.

Lovecraft stretched up, and scratches her claws languidly down one side of a wooden rack.

"Lovey, no. The chief will get pissed if you scratch that up." He whispers admonishingly at the cat.

"Cats will do what they do."

"Probably better to praise her for it."

He considers.. "Awwww, whoosagood kittums, sweetie pie, baby paws?"

A disgusted look, and the shadowcat aims a scratch at SYMON, then slips out the door. They can guard against listeners by THEMSELVES, she seems to say with disdainful flick of her tail.

"Ow!" The scratch is shallow, barely breaking the skin, and he smirks ruefully. "Deserved that."

"You need peroxide for that?"

"No, I've been punished enough." Wry. "It'll heal quick. Just chimerical, after all. If she meant it, I'd be bleeding."

"Anne Marie does want you to come to dinner, you know. She likes good eaters. And then she fusses at me less."

"Well, I'm going to have to eat at home tonight, for sure, cause Tove'll fuss."

"Tomorrow?"

"Sure. That will give mom time to pick up ingredients for yukgaejang."