[Sometime during AU week]

[the_ex_in_xp]

[meanwhile at the dorms, a half-pirate and some girl who managed a +3 lockpicking skill in her bag of tricks are trying to break in to "their" room]

This lock is way more sophisticated than the others. You'd think they were worried about unsavory people trying to break in...

Comments

[the_ex_in_excessive]

... okay, yeah, that's true.

[the_ex_in_xp]

That, and your cheeks look very pinchable.

[if you can't tell I am teasing I don't know what to say]

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[rolling her eyes and shaking her head]

Oh, I bet you say that to all the girls.

[the_ex_in_xp]

Well, I definitely don't say it to the guys.

[although Scott's face is both punchable and pinchable, hmmm :|a]

[the_ex_in_excessive]

That's... good? Is that good?

[the_ex_in_xp]

It's not really a thing, so not really good or bad. It's something exclusive to you, like a lot of things I'll never repeat to outside company.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

I don't repeat all the cute things you say to other people either, for the record.

[ha see two can play at this teasing game]

[the_ex_in_xp]

For the record, there's nothing to repeat. I deny saying or doing anything within the realm of cute.

[saying this as there is a rabbit flopped over my feet]

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Oh, I know you do. Plus, in college I kind of liked that people were a little terrified of you.

[the_ex_in_xp]

You did? Besides the part where it kept most drunk frat boys from hitting on you, my reputation seemed pretty unhelpful.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Yeah, but the drunk frat boys thing is incredibly important. And besides, people who get wrapped up in the reputation stuff probably weren't hanging out with anyway.

[the_ex_in_xp]

You could've handled them, you did whenever they didn't get the hint the first time. Kind of brutally, it made me wonder if they didn't know you were the one to watch out for.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Yeah, but you know how I feel about the getting into fights stuff.

[and indeed, she definitely always did hate the actual escalation of conflict/confrontation part. The "slamming heads into bar counters" part was a little less bad.]

[the_ex_in_xp]

I know, I know. By that's another reason why I thought you weren't super happy about my, uh, history.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[shrugs]

I mean, I would have liked to get into less fights, but some of them were worth it.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[there's a mean impulse to point out fighting Scott was definitely not worth it, but bites her tongue]

Well, hey, no need to worry about random fights in a greeting card workplace, right?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[well she'd agree with you and pointedly ignore any meaner aspect than "that was a dumb, pointless fight," so]

Right. It's never fists. Passive-aggressive comments, sometimes, sure, but never fists.

[the_ex_in_xp]

Ugh, but passive-aggressive comments are the worst. I'm glad Mrs. Liu just hits me with a bamboo cane when she's pissed off at me.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[smiling, sort of out of amusement but maybe the teeeeensy bit wistfully]

Admittedly the punching's a lot more straightforward.

[the_ex_in_xp]

Except when they lead with a right hook, but I get what you're saying.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Mm.

[quiet for a moment, staring at the rabbits and petting them idly]

I was gonna ask if you keep in touch with anyone from then but that's a dumb question, huh.

[the_ex_in_xp]

It's one you're bound to be disappointed in hearing the answer.

[leaning forward, running a hand through her hair]

What about you? How many of your friends you still Skype with or whatever.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Not really a lot? I didn't really fit in with the art department crowd that much, honestly. I still have some friends from courses outside the department, though.

... though, uh. Remember Norah?

[saying that name with the same sort of disapproving lilt she uses for everyone she doesn't really like. Like Scott.]

[the_ex_in_xp]

Uh, vaguely? She was in the art crowd too, yeah?

[in that nebulous way she's trying to see if she can jumpstart remembering all those people she doesn't think much of now]

[the_ex_in_excessive]

She was the one who tried to hang out with us because she thought having gay friends would make her cooler.

I mean, that's not what she said, but honestly...