Weeping Angel A4, Friday After Classes

[vanillajello]

Kate was fighting a losing battle.

Namely, one of trying to stuff all her surprise luggage under her bed. There were just too many. They would never fit. But she just had to try. Not like she wanted them just laying around, when they had labels like Too much responsibility, Pushed around by skeevy guys and Heart bruised by Southern idiot.

And of course, that one fucking luggage set with the label Crazy mother issues.

Eventually though, she just gave up, letting a few of the bags that wouldn't fit just stay in sight. She was just going to flop down on the bed and be thankful that at least she'd been able to push that one black leather bag (which for some reason looked like an old-fashioned doctor's bag, and which had the words That one awful Saturday labelled on it) as far back under the bed as it would go.

Fucking Fandom.

[ooc: Open for cabinmates/visitors! I'll be around for a couple of hours now, and then again later in my evening.]

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[therewaslife]

Bod's day, so far, had consisted of reading in his alcove and wondering about the smaller, heavy bags that had appeared on and around his bed. He hadn't paid much mind to them at first (though the labels were a little troubling and he'd turned them all face down so no one else could see them) but, when they started to actually intrude on his thoughts, he'd had to get out of there.

Of course, he was going to make a stop here, wondering if she was getting similarly bogged down in bags. It'd been a week or so since he'd seen her and not stopping in when he could seemed remiss.

"Kate?" he called quietly (in case she was asleep) and waited for an answer.

[I'm about to jump into training for a few hours but come on, I had to ping in!]

[vanillajello]

Kate was definitely awake. Awake, and whiny.

"Pleeease don't tell me you've got any more bags for me."

Actually, a few more had appeared on the floor since she'd stopped fighting with them, but she didn't know that. Yet.

[therewaslife]

Bod looked down at the area around his feet, checking for any bags and feeling a bit relieved to see that none of his bags had followed him. He'd probably take that relief back at some point.

"I don't have any bags," he told her after a moment. "It's just me. Should I come back?"

[vanillajello]

Kate sighed, pushing herself up on one arm and rubbing at her eyes. "No, come in. And... Try not to trip on anything."

Like that small but heavy bag that just said Gene. Or the backpack on which the label had been smeared with green slime.

[therewaslife]

Bod paused at that, giving himself some time to wonder how many bags she had before he slipped inside, taking her advice and being careful not to trip.

"Hullo," he said lightly, moving around the bags and keeping his eyes off any of the labels for the moment. "Bad day?"

[vanillajello]

There were about... five, six? bags on the floor, and many peeking out from under the bed. This probably shouldn't surprise anyone.

"Fandom is being an ass," Kate said, and made a face. "But, at least nothing's tried to bite me yet, so I've had worse."

[therewaslife]

"I think someone once told me that the island doesn't always play nice," he said, chancing a small smile as he made his way towards her. "Are you all right?"

Lack of biting or not, she had sounded frustrated when he'd arrived and she was making faces now. Hence, the question.

[vanillajello]

"As all right as someone with physical evidence of her issues can be," Kate replied, managing a wry sort of lopsided smile.

She held out a hand for him and shifted a bit to make more room on the bed. "That's one smart someone you've been listening to, by the way."

[therewaslife]

"Funny, I think so too," he said, taking that offered hand and sliding into the space she'd made for him. "I'm sure this someone already knows she's smart and already knows I listen to her though. She should, at least."

He let his eyes fall on a few of the bags, curious despite himself but making sure he didn't ask. "I don't think anyone's going to escape today without an assortment of these."

[vanillajello]

One of the ones closest to the bed said An extra in my own life. Another one, Evil in an evil Fandom.

And there was that handbag that had shown up during class, which simply said Alice.

Kate laced her fingers with his, giving the bags an idle glance herself. Couldn't really bring herself to care which ones he saw. She'd made sure the darkest secrets were buried under the bed.

"Mm. They better not. Might have to beat them over the head with one if they do."

[therewaslife]

"And then I think you'd end up with another bag talking about your tendency to aggression," he said, giving her hand a squeeze. "That one might be something to be proud of after an incident like that."

Bod spared a moment or two to wonder if the baggage would follow him to her alcove. He almost waited for it to happen. "I'm sure some of mine will join yours to keep it company."

Apparently, saying it made it happen because a small duffle emblazoned with the word SCARLETT appeared in his lap. Of course. With a laugh that disguised nervous surprise, Bod held it up and said, "See? Company." And then tossed it down near his feet.

[vanillajello]

Kate gave the duffel a look when he held it up. She didn't bother hiding her curiousity, but she didn't ask. Not when her baggage was all around them like that. Questions could invite questions, and she'd rather not.

"And that," she said lightly instead, "is why we don't say things like that when the island is doing its thing."

[therewaslife]

"I think it would have happened even if I hadn't said anything," he decided, giving the bag a long look before shaking his head and shaking that feeling off.

"I don't think the island discriminates between someone inviting its ire and someone ignoring it."

[vanillajello]

"I don't know, sometimes I feel like it gets personal." She shrugged, and tried another one of those faint smiles. "But I'm more than a little self-centered, or so I've heard. How was your week?"

[therewaslife]

"All right, I suppose," Bod answered, nodding. He wasn't quite sure how things were going to turn out but he'd survived. "One of the new students thinks I have deer eyes. And decided that me disagreeing with her was her cue to want to beat me up."

[vanillajello]

"... What?"

Kate couldn't quite decide whether that amused her or not. Either way, she raised an eyebrow. "Who was that?"

[therewaslife]

"I don't know, she never told me her name," Bod said, shrugging. "I asked a few times but she was more interested in telling me I had big, stupid eyes. And that, apparently, made me a deer. Somehow."

[vanillajello]

"You do kind of give off a slight 'deer in headlights' vibe, sometimes," Kate teased lightly, nudging his shoulder with hers. "But there's nothing stupid about it."

[therewaslife]

"I don't even really understand what that means," said Bod, shaking his head. "I've never seen a deer in any headlights. I didn't think I was that confused, though."

[vanillajello]

"Maybe she just had her own perspective on things," Kate shrugged. "Or there's some kind of cultural difference thing happening. Or she wanted to annoy you. Who knows."

[therewaslife]

"I'm thinking it was the latter," Bod decided after a moment. "She's also certain that I'm spastic and have a stick....somewhere."

Bod didn't really want to repeat that. He didn't think it was true either.

[vanillajello]

Kate snickered. She could fill that sentence in just fine on her own.

"You don't," she said. "You'd be less fun if you did."

[therewaslife]

"Well, I suppose that just means you have to deal with my apparent deer eyes," he said and shook his head. "I'm sure if I see her again, she'll label another part of my body."

[vanillajello]

"Maybe she'll attack your nose next," Kate mused.

Fandom interjected by dropping a handbag next to her. No love = no jealousy = no pain, it read.

Kate flung it on the other side of the alcove, making a face again. "Stupid island."

[therewaslife]

"What could she possibly attack my nose about?" he wondered, leaning back just a touch a the flinging. He didn't need an injury via the physical manifestation of her issues.