The Mainland or Thereabouts, Wednesday Evening

[vanillajello]

Kate hadn't gone back to the cabins after work. She hadn't even gone to Caritas to see whether Nathan was working his shift. No, she'd portalled out to their original flavor mainland and come here, to the spot with the trees and the lake. The weather wasn't the greatest it could have been but at least she wasn't caught in a storm.

And maybe she would've liked one. The day had been long, and she was feeling off-balance in a way that not even idle chatter over the phone with her aunt (in response to a voicemail Charmaine had left for her) had been able snap her out of. Her head just wasn't on straight, and that was why she was here. This had always been a happy place, and this was a good place to take a moment and breathe.

She wasn't sure what she was intending to do later. She figured she'd go back to the island, at least, but perhaps to crash at the dorms just for the night, instead of the cabins. She would've gone to Kansas for the night if she'd thought she'd get away with it. Maybe next week.

Rummaging around her bag, she found she had no more cigarettes, and wondered if this wouldn't just be the perfect time to quit.

[ooc: NFB but open for contact via phone and/or if you know where this place is.]

Comments

[therewaslife]

When Bod hadn't found Kate at work, in her alcove or in the dorms, he'd decided to try one place he knew she knew about that she might come. When he spotted her, he exhaled in relief and walked quietly, hoping not to startle her.

"Kate?" he murmured, looking concerned. She didn't usually come out here on a whim, not at least without letting him know.

[vanillajello]

Kate had been looking out towards the water just then, but turned her head at the sound of his voice, not looking too startled, at least.

"Hey," she said, managing a small upwards quirk of the corners of her mouth. "You found me."

[therewaslife]

"I did," he said, moving to sit down next to her. "I've been looking for you for awhile. I missed you at work and tried the cabins and the dorms to no avail. If you weren't here, I was going to call and hope you were in Kansas."

[vanillajello]

"I thought about it," Kate admitted as she scooted closer to lean against him a bit. "But it would've been too much of a hassle just for a night. Plus I hear our bed collapsed." Yes. "Sorry I made you look around for me."

[therewaslife]

"Our bed collapsed?" Bod asked, draping an arm around her and kissing the top of her head. "What happened?"

[vanillajello]

"Us, I think," Kate replied with a hint of amusement. "Charmaine said she found it like that like a day after we left."

[therewaslife]

"...oh dear," he said and frowned. "Does your aunt realize that? I'll gladly pay for any damage done."

[vanillajello]

"Judging by the teasing, I think she does realize that, yes," she drawled, then shrugged a shoulder. "But, y'know, it was an old bed and I was already eyeing the sofabed anyway, 'cause that bed was a little narrow for us and the sofabed opens wider. So, good riddance."

[therewaslife]

"She doesn't hate me for corrupting you?" Oh Bod, that was such a laughable question. It was just too bad he was being honest and sincere.

[vanillajello]

"I was caught with a prescription for morning after pills over two years ago," Kate pointed out, shaking her head. "Charmaine, at least, holds no illusions about how corrupted I am. Dude."

[therewaslife]

"It was a valid question," Bod said, shaking his head. "I was a participant so I didn't want your aunt to think me bad or whatever else relatives think about boyfriends."

[vanillajello]

"It's not really a valid question," Kate replied, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Well, except that it is to you, so let me assure you no bad thoughts are thought about you by my family."

[therewaslife]

"Good," he murmured and sat with her in silence before glancing down at her. "Did you want to talk about what's bothering you?"

[vanillajello]

"Stuff's just a little weird," Kate sighed. It was an understatement, a half truth, but it was a start. "I couldn't deal with going back to the cabins yet, I thought I wouldn't be able to breathe there. Melodramatic, I know."

[therewaslife]

"It's not," he disagreed, shaking his head. "There are walls and other people and sometimes you just need to be away from it all to take a breath. What stuff's weird?"

[vanillajello]

"Mitchell," she said, and tried to burrow even more against his side. "For a start."

[therewaslife]

When Bod noticed that she was trying to get closer to him, he decided to shift his position a bit and make that easier. He slid backwards, getting behind her so he could bracket her with his legs and she could lean back against his chest and use him as a chair basically.

"What's happened with Mitchell?" he asked when he'd gotten situated.

[vanillajello]

Kate let him move around her. It was safe and comfortable to be tucked against him like that, and she accepted the comfort easily, right now.

"I don't even know," she sighed. "He came by the theater today for like the first time in a month. His girlfriend's missing, but... I don't know."

There was something off, there.

[therewaslife]

Bod draped his arms loosely around her and rested his cheek against her hair. "Perhaps he's just worried? I know if you were worried, I'd be completely out of sorts and off balance."

[vanillajello]

"Yeah but I don't know if I got that vibe from him, you know?" Kate replied quietly, brows knitting together again. "I mean sure, he was turning his office upside down trying to find the name of her church, but... I don't know. He didn't say a single word about hoping she was okay or anything."

[therewaslife]

"Is he usually private about that sort of thing?" Bod asked softly, rubbing her arms with his fingertips. "Perhaps he just didn't realize he wasn't saying something like that?"

[vanillajello]

"Maybe," Kate allowed mildly, though it didn't sound like she really believed that. "But he did say he wasn't in the mood for humans."

Notice how Kate made that word sound like an insult.

[therewaslife]

Bod frowned at that and guessed that particular line was what was causing Kate's current mood. He was quiet for a second or two, trying to think of any reason Mitchell might have said that.

"That's quite the thing to say," Bod said, coming up with no logical response. "If he was worried, I'd say you could chalk it up to not thinking but I think the response would have been more broad if that was the case. I would suggest he needs to not be on the island if he's not in the mood for humans."

[vanillajello]

"No worries on that front," Kate drawled, dryly, shaking her head, "I think he took off again straight away."

She closed her eyes, breathed deep and was quiet for a moment. "His girlfriend's a human," she pointed out then. "And I've heard him say things like that before."

[therewaslife]

"Are you worried she's in danger?" Bod asked quietly. "That maybe he was trying to find her for...something bad?"