Room 322, Tuesday Afternoon

[not_every_mage]

Anders had hoped for a clear day so he and Nathan could have one last picnic before the end of the year, but it was too cold and wet to be outside. (For him, anyhow. Probably not for Nathan.) He tried to make up for it by opening the windows as far as he could without letting rain in and unplugging everything electric on his side of the room.

The nice thing was the blasted carols had stopped, so his room was quiet.

He laid out an array of Mexican food -- probably more than they could eat, but he'd gotten overwhelmed by the menu and decided one of everything was the wisest course. And then he waited and tried to keep Lachlan out of the guacamole.

[OOC: For the boy, please.]

Comments

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

The cold was definitely something Nathan didn't mind but the rain made it uncomfortable if he stayed outside too long. He didn't much like clingy clothes or wet socks.

But, he had been outside some and had seen a few strange Christmas ornamanets hanging from tree branches in the preserve but he hadn't looked closer. Now, he was dry and rapping his knuckles on the Anders' door just to make sure he was in.

[not_every_mage]

Anders put the lid on the guacamole because Lachlan wouldn't listen to reason on the point, and went to get the door.

"Hi," he said, gesturing Nathan in. "I'm glad to see you. Not having classes is getting boring."

Which wasn't the only reason he was happy to see Nathan.

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"From the little that I know about school, most people don't think that way," Nathan said, stepping in and taking in the spread. It was still surprising to be able to partake in so much food so easily. "Most people are grateful to be out. But maybe that's just where I'm from."

[not_every_mage]

Anders watched Nathan's eyes, and, almost apologetically, said, "I couldn't remember which thing was which and I didn't know what you liked anyhow, so I got one of almost everything. I'll take what we don't finish to the common room."

Shrugging, he added, "No, I'd be grateful to be out if they were proper classes with math and books and such. Here I just miss having something to do."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"No, no, there's no need to take anything away," Nathan said, shaking his head.d "I was just thinking how surprised I still get by having such easy access to so much food. That's all."

[not_every_mage]

"It still hasn't sunk in for you?" Anders asked. "I'm used to that part. Not everything else, but the food doesn't surprise me anymore."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"I think it just catches me off guard," Nathan clarified. "It's just different. It's a good different but different. I'm grateful."

[not_every_mage]

"It's not a bad thing to be grateful for," Anders said, closing the door behind Nathan. "I still get grateful sometimes for being able to take a walk just because I feel like it."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, me too," he said before adding, "though today's not really good for a walk. It's wet. You'll end up stepping in a mud puddle."

[not_every_mage]

"Which is why we're inside with way too much food instead of in the preserve," Anders chuckled. "I managed not to step in any on my way home, though. Which is good if you don't fancy mud on your quesadilla."

He didn't entirely know what a quesadilla was, but it was fun to say.

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"I was in the preserve earlier and it wouldn't be a very good place for something like this," Nathan said, taking a closer look at the food. "Thanks for getting all this. I don't know what half of it is but it smells good."

[not_every_mage]

"That makes two of us," Anders said wryly. "I know I like tacos, and Lachlan's fascinated by the green stuff -- I'm not sure if that's a good sign or a bad one."

As he spoke, he opened more containers and put his plate together: beef taco, rice, salsa.

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Thank you for this," Nathan said, watching Anders put his plate together. "It's been strange this week. Quiet and almost slow."

He paused.

"I shouldn't say that."

Because then it'd stop being quiet and slow.

[not_every_mage]

"Well, you said it now either way," Anders shrugged. "You didn't have the garlands trying to tie you up the other day? I got stuck with that one at work. And the singing yesterday -- strange,but not quiet."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Nothing tried to tie me up," he said, shaking his head. "I saw some...bulbs hanging from trees in the preserve but didn't look too close. I was trying to get here and they gave me a strange feeling."

[not_every_mage]

"I didn't notice those were strange," Anders said. "But there are so many of the bloody things I stopped paying attention. Is it normal where you come from to decorate this much for the holidays?"

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Not in places I've ever been," Nathan said, shaking his head. "Sometimes, in the city, we'd see lights and things but we never did it at my grandmother's. It wasn't really a thing we celebrated. Do you have anything like this where you're from?"

He finally picked up a plate and went about taking small samples of everything.

[not_every_mage]

"Not on this scale," Anders said. "Not where I was, anyhow. Rich people might have done more. There's a big town party for First Day and presents for Wintersend but not as many sparkly things everywhere."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, we never really had the money or motivation to do something so...outrageous," he said, scratching his cheek. "Or maybe we did and I've just forgotten. Arran never really told me anything about holidays like this."

[not_every_mage]

"Maybe it's an American thing," Anders suggested. "Or it might just be Fandom. I wouldn't put it past the island."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Maybe." He popped some of the food into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "Maybe that means I should find you a gift."

That could be an experience considering he'd never really shopped for anyone before.

[not_every_mage]

Anders looked simultaneously shy, pleased, and surprised by the thought -- a complicated expression to hold while swallowing a forkful of rice.

"If you want," he said, a happy ripple in his voice. "But then maybe I should get you something too."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"If you want," Nathan echoed, snickering quietly. "Not that I really know how to shop for someone but -- but I think I might try."

[not_every_mage]

"I'm going to be happy with anything you get, you know," Anders said, smiling at that snicker. "I don't even know what a good Christmas gift is. At Wintersend I always got books or things somebody knitted."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

Nathan made a mental note to fall back on a book or something knitted if he ran into trouble.

"I'm trying to think of something I was given." It was a little difficult all things considered. "Sometimes, I got Arran's old clothes."