Room 322, Wednesday Afternoon

[not_every_mage]

This was something new for Anders.

This very clean side of the room (not that he had much to be messy with, truth be told), this fussed-over hair and carefully selected shirt -- he'd never had to do any of it in the Circle. In the Circle things like this went faster, and much more direct. Move too slow, and Templars were more likely to notice and intervene.

All this fussing was silly, he realized. He wasn't even completely certain this was about more than friendship. But that didn't stop him from letting down his ponytail, tying it back up,and then changing his mind and brushing it over his neck again as he waited for Kathy to arrive and put into motion their movie plans.

[OOC: For one, please!]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

"I can't imagine anyone saying no," Kathy said, happy to have given Anders an idea. "I mean, who in their right mind would turn away someone who could heal people good as new? That's just crazy!"

And then, right before she succumbed to the danger of forgetting to be self-conscious, she realized that they hadn't started the movie. And that Anders had suggested doing so several minutes before.

Whew! That had been a close one!

"Sorry!" she yelped, reaching over to press play. "Here I am babbling when we were supposed to watch a movie! Sorry, sorry, I don't know where my head is at sometimes."

[not_every_mage]

"There is the tiny detail they'd be breaking the law by paying me," Anders told her. "But tavernkeepers aren't known for scrupulous attention to that point. Find someone whose sibling is a mage, and ..."

He trailed off, watching her scramble. "It's all right," he said. "Don't be so nervous. The movie's not going anywhere."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I just--" Kathy gave him a sheepish smile. "I'm not any good at this. 'This' being acting like a normal person, I guess. Too focused all the ways I'll probably mess something up."

She ducked her head. "I like how confident you seem to be. That's really cool."

[not_every_mage]

"Am I confident?" Anders asked, surprised. "I don't feel that way. I just know who I am."

Which might be the definition of confidence, but was different somehow. Because reasons.

"And you seem fine at being normal to me -- especially when you aren't falling all over yourself worrying about horrible things that won't happen. How do you mess up watching a movie, anyhow?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"I'm still trying to figure that out," Kathy said with a shrug. "And, as for messing up watching a movie, well, not actually watching it would be a good start."

He'd invited her over to watch a movie, not listen to her blather on all afternoon.

[not_every_mage]

"I think I would survive if we never saw all of Copper Guy, or whatever it is," Anders promised, with a slight smile. "But you're right, we should start it sooner or later. Now's as good a time as any."

He leaned back, waiting for Kathy to work the voodoo that would make the film start.

[spin_kick_snap]

"You'd be missing out on a great cultural icon," Kathy joked, pressing play. "And you never know when you might be quizzed on what Ferrite Guy's done for America. You don't want to be branded as not a patriot, do you?"

[not_every_mage]

"I don't think I'm going to pass as a patriot," Anders returned, smiling. "Not when I barely understand how the government here works. But I'd hate to fall on my face because I don't know enough about Ferrite Guy."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Pshaw, you'd be surprised how many Americans don't understand the basic concepts of how our government works," Kathy said with a sigh as the opening scene came on the screen. "But if you didn't know Ferrite Guy, we'd have to deport you or something. And I couldn't let that happen!"

[not_every_mage]

"How would they deport me?" Anders asked, teasing lightly. "As far as I can tell no one's heard of Thedas. Probably I'd get 'deported' straight to the local asylum."

His speech slowed as he began to be absorbed in the film.

[spin_kick_snap]

He was too blond for Guantanamo, not that Kathy would say that aloud. It was too early in their...whatever...for political jokes like that. Especially when she'd have to explain it afterwards.

"From your clothes, they'd probably think you were from the local Renn Faire and toss you into the drunk tank until you were ready to talk sense. Don't worry," she added, patting his hand if that was cool, "I'd find some way to bust you out."

[not_every_mage]

"Now I wonder how many people fall into the wrong dimension and end up locked away for sounding insane," Anders mused. "Lucky me, to have a friend who'd help."

He minded the hand-pat not at all.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Well, it would be entirely my fault if you ended up locked away," Kathy said, offering him a warm smile. "Since I clearly hadn't worked hard enough to make sure you could pass the patriotism test."

[not_every_mage]

"That just means you're going to have to show me lots more movies, doesn't it?" Anders asked, looking pleased to see her smile. "And ... whatever else is on the citizenship test. Books?"

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy snorted. "Books? I hate to admit it, but that's not likely to happen. Reading isn't exactly one of our national pastimes."

She shrugged. "One more reason I'm considered a nerd back--"

She stopped. Looked at Anders. Started grinning.

"Oh my goodness. You have books, don't you? Books from home! Books no one here has ever read yet. Books you can loan to me!"

[not_every_mage]

She looked so excited that Anders hated to let her down. If only books were easier to conjure.

If only Anders was better at conjuring to begin with.

"I don't, really," he apologized. "Unless you want a pocket encyclopedia of spell ingredients. But I didn't think to grab books when I left. Not that I had many to start with."

He bit his lip. "I could ask my friend Karl to try to mail some."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Oh." Kathy looked crestfallen for a minute, before perking herself back up again. "No worries about that. I mean, the school library has books from all over the multiverse! It's not really a hardship sticking to those, you know?"

After all, it wasn't fair to expect Anders to cater to her book whims.

"How'd you hear about Fandom in...Thedas? Is that where you said you were from?"

[not_every_mage]

Anders resolved he'd get some books from home soon anyhow. He hated seeing Kathy sad.

"It is," he nodded. "If you want to be specific, I'm Ferelden -- Thedas is a continent -- but that hardly matters."

"And the funny thing is," he said, leaning back, "I hadn't heard of this place. I'd gotten shut up for running away, again, and Karl managed to scrounge up a teleportation potion. I had no idea where it'd take me, but I figured it would be better than where I was. Turned out I was right."

[spin_kick_snap]

"They shut you up for running away?!" Kathy asked. Between that and the law that said he couldn't be paid for the work he did, Kathy was beginning to draw a very unsavory picture of what life had been like for Anders before he came here. "...Can I ask why you're even planning on going home once you graduate? I mean, I don't want to sound like I'm judging your home--" which she was, just a tiny bit "--but it sounds like you're awfully mistreated there."

Which, you know, contrasted sharply with the lavish and irresponsible lifestyle being shown on the screen right now.

[not_every_mage]

"All mages are awfully mistreated," Anders said, tone going strident. "I had it better than some. You don't want to know what they do if they're really angry at you."

He frowned at the TV screen. "What would I do if I didn't go home?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Become a doctor known for miracle cures?" Kathy suggested. "Vegas's most popular illusionist? Goodness, I don't even know all of what you can do, but being a mage in a world where no one believes in magic? It would seem to me like the possibilities are endless."

She tentatively reached for his arm. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories or make you think about this stuff if you don't want to. I mean, I showed up so we could just watch silly movies and have a good time. Not to make you talk about anything that makes you uncomfortable."

[not_every_mage]

"The only doctor I've met here loves leeches and has us dig things out of the mud for class," Anders whined, but settled against her arm. "Don't worry about it, Kathy, I know I'm not the easiest company sometimes. I have years to work out what happens after I graduate, anyhow. We could talk about something else -- kittens, or nail polish, or who that blonde woman is who keeps telling Ferrite Guy what to do."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Oh no, nothing like that!" Kathy assured him. "And she's the only one who can talk sense into Ferrite Guy. He needs to be pushed around a little so he doesn't forget to occasionally act like a person."

That little segue aside, she continued, "I don't think you're hard to her along with at all. It sounds like you were in a really awful situation. I just don't want to be nosy or make you talk about it if you'd rather not. That's all."

She inched a bit closer, too. "For what it's worth, while I don't think that anyone should be treated the way it sounds like your home treats mages, but that goes extra for you, okay?"

[not_every_mage]

"I appreciate that," Anders said, and brought up a hand to brush it over Kathy's hair. "And I don't mind talking about mage oppression at all."

Rather the contrary, in fact.

"I just honestly don't know what I'll do after graduation. For that matter, I don't even know if I can go home if I want to, so the entire discussion may be moot."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Whether you can or not, there's nothing wrong with thinking about it anyway," Kathy pointed out. "You might feel less, like, stuck if you have a plan in mind when you find out you can't."

She smiled, running a hand through her hair. "I mean, nothing says you have to decide this minute or anything. But it might not be a bad idea for you to think about while you're here."