Room 324, Monday After Classes

[vanillajello]

Apparently, going to high school classes was hard work.

Or Kate and her kids shared a gene for being lazy.

Either way, after Japanese Etiquette and Tradition, they'd headed back to Kate's room. Now, Dani was sprawled on the floor with a stack of his mother's kid-friendliest manga, and Vivienne had claimed the laptop for important research. Or so she said.

And Kate was keeping up a conversation, being all sneaky about finding out more about the way things worked were the kids were from. Not really asking questions, but kind of nudging the kids towards the subjects she was curious about.

She was pretty sure that Vivienne was on to her, and that Dani was barely listening. But, whatever. They had a big bag of candy. All was good.

[ooc: Open door, open post! Can't we keep the kids forever?]

Comments

[therewaslife]

"It's not unfair," Bod argued, shaking his head. "You just don't want me to blame you. I think you're doomed to that no matter what."

Yes, and he already seems to think I'm stealing affections what with the label he's given me. Bod blushed a bit but since he was writing, it wa harder to see. I'd rather avoid duels.

[vanillajello]

"Of course I don't want you to blame me!" Kate said. "I'm not crazy, after all."

She didn't see Vivienne looking dubious at that statement; she was looking down and writing.

I think he's jealous. Lambert genes in action.

After pausing to think, she added, Yes, don't duel him. He takes karate, he would take you down.

[therewaslife]

"So, what would you do if I did blame you if things went a little weird?" he wondered, smirking at her.

He wouldn't but you can let him think that. There are things about me that you don't know, remember, he wrote easily. I don't see the reason for the jealousy, though.

[vanillajello]

You're a threat. Or he's a brat. One of those.

"I would ignore you, and tell everyone it wasn't my fault," she decided, while she wrote. "I've been here longer. I bet more people would believe me."

[therewaslife]

Yes, but do you really want to ignore me? Bringing in the current conversation into their written one seemed like it wasn't against the rules. I hope you don't want to ignore me.

"You're using seniority?" he asked, amused. "That's a very maternal thing to do."

Very maternal, he added with his pen. You might have to prove that you're still the Kate I knew before all this.

Teasing was fun in written form.

[vanillajello]

"If using seniority is maternal," she wondered, "then what does it say about you that you were so quick to point out you're younger than me, earlier?"

In writing, she added, You're not making any sense.

"Besides, I don't really think I have a maternal bone in my body."

I'd be more than happy to prove it to you once this is all over.

"I'm just good at adapting to situations."

[therewaslife]

"I didn't use the fact that I'm younger than you as anything more than a factual piece of information," Bod reminded her. "You used the fact that you're older as a way to prove that you'd be right."

I'm making plenty of sense, he wrote, smiling down at the paper. And how would you prove it to me?

"You're adjusting well," he said honestly, looking at both of the kids in the rooms. "And quickly. I don't think I'd do as well as you in a similar circumstance."

[vanillajello]

"I think you would because you'd have to," Kate said. "But anyway, haven't I been telling you how awesome I am since the day we met? This is just a part of that."

I could let you check for yourself?

If she could've figured out how to draw a smirky face, she would've.

[therewaslife]

"And I've been telling you that, while I think you think you're right, I like to judge those things for myself," answered Bod, snickering. "You have been telling me but I like to make my own judgments."

He didn't write anything right away, thinking over his answer. Why the question mark? he finally wrote. Unsure of how you'd prove it or unsure if that's what you want. You really should be more assured and specific if you're going to prove anything to me.

[vanillajello]

"Are you actually ever going to make any of these judgments of yours?" Kate wondered. "How long will it take for you to believe that I'm simply amazing?"

On the paper, her response was simple: she crossed out the question mark.

[therewaslife]

"Eventually," said Bod, shrugging a shoulder. "I like to take my time and make the right choice when I'm able. How long are you willing to give me?"

I'm still curious as to how, he scribbled quickly. Proving your the same Kate as before could simply mean coming to my room at some point later in the week and calling me names. It's a broad statement.

[vanillajello]

Kate let the question sit there for a moment, choosing to write instead: I'm not sure I should even have to prove anything.

"Hmmm." She pursed her lips. "Enough, I guess."

More than enough, probably, she wrote.

[therewaslife]

"Your patience is appreciated," Bod said, smiling again at the rather absurd conversation. "When I make my choice, you'll be the first to know."

So, what happens if I want to see you anyhow after this is all over? Bod wondered. Without you having to prove anything. Would that be all right?

[vanillajello]

"That will be much appreciated, too," she replied, while she wrote, No.

Then, Yes.

I don't know.

And finally, Maybe.

And then she crossed them out one by one – I don't know, Maybe, No – and then circled Yes.

[therewaslife]

Bod laughed at the written answer and, because of that, forgot to say something aloud to keep up the poorly disguised charade.

You should come by sometime this week, he wrote, smiling down at the paper. We did have an abbreviated morning after prom. And you were sleeping soundly. We should try it again.

And he got all of that out, despite it not being dirty, without blushing. It wasn't everyday he asked someone anything like this, written or not.

[vanillajello]

Kate smirked at the paper, and just quickly drew an arrow pointing at the circled word.

[therewaslife]

I don't have classes from Wednesday on, he scribbled, half smiling at the way she answered. What about you?

[vanillajello]

Last class on Wednesday, she wrote. Play rehearsal Thursday evening. Other than that, nothing.

Vivienne was still watching them. Or Kate, more to the point. Whereas Dani... had no clue they weren't talking anymore.

[therewaslife]

Bod glanced up idly, trying to give some indication that he wasn't doing anything that he wasn't supposed to be doing in front of children. He sort of succeeded.

So, either Wednesday, he wrote after some thought, or Friday. I wouldn't want to interrupt your play rehearsals.

Classes? He'd interrupt those.

[vanillajello]

Our director's all MIA at the moment," she scribbled idly, pondering the options.

In the end she decided on, Friday. Works out better.

[therewaslife]

Friday, he wrote, drawing another happy face next to it. Come by sometime that morning and I'll leave the door open. Jacob's still out of town. I'll know it's you.

[vanillajello]

Guess we have a deal, then, Kate wrote before glancing over at him and smirking.

The glance and the smirk got Vivienne to pipe up: "What are you writing?"

[therewaslife]

Bod managed to sneak in another smiley face before looking up at the question. "Words," Bod responded without thinking though it was actually a halfway decent vague answer to give to a child.

[vanillajello]

"Of course words," Vivienne said. "Otherwise it wouldn't be writing."

Kate couldn't help snickering a bit. "It's just boring grown-up stuff," she told the girl.

"What, like taxes and stuff?" Dani asked, dubiously.

[therewaslife]

"Yes," Bod said, taking that and going with it. "It's just taxes and things such as that. Nothing really interesting at all."