[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_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...

[the_ex_in_xp]

Oh--Wait, shit, Nora DiLorenzo. Her. I can't remember why you didn't let me toss her in a lake or something.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[laughing]

I honestly don't either? I guess because she hadn't done anything really bad. But she tried to hit on me a little while after you left, so I regret it now.

Anyway, she of all people had a gallery show a couple months ago and invited me.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[hold please, trying to figure this out while not making the judgiest of faces]

So she and you...?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

No, I turned her down.

On any sort of intimate anything, I mean. Not the gallery show, I went to that and it was awful.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[still looking like she has misgivings, but nodding slowly]

She had bad taste in everything.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[trying to diffuse that with humor, then!]

Hey, should I be offended by that if I was her "I want to prove I'm edgy by sleeping with a girl" pick?

[the_ex_in_xp]

[it's not helpful, since Ramona really did dislike her and she hates the idea of her hitting on you more, as demonstrated by her visibly trying not to look angry]

Yeah, because you're a terrible pick for that. For one, you're the opposite of edgy. Second, she has a fucking stupid reason to want to sleep with anybody, out of many stupid reasons.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[ah, dammit :/]

... look, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have even mentioned it. I forgot how much you hated her.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[letting the anger go out of her like wind out of a sail]

It's fine, I hate a lot of people. You'd never be able to talk about anything at that rate.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[pursing her lips and going back to petting Mr. Miyagi]

Okay.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[trying to examine the room for clues how her other self managed not to ruin things the way she always seems to, before looking down at Mr. Miyagi--and by proxy--Roxanne]

It's not...it wasn't about you. You're a great pick--shit, I obviously thought so.

I was angry because she was doing what I did in a shittier, stupider way. And you should have better people hitting on you. And you should love better people than that.

[the last part obviously is not referring to Norah but let's ignore that for the moment]

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[not looking up]

You're not like her.

[the_ex_in_xp]

I'm not an obnoxious try hard, yeah.

[not saying it's better or worse though]

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Yeah. And you're not someone I shouldn't love, either.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[giving a flinty stare, but it's hard to disagree when you don't have fisticuffs as a way to resolve the argument]

...there are better choices.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[staring back, then, with that steely resolve that she only lets shine through when it's absolutely needed]

Maybe one day I'll meet her, then, whoever she is. But it's been years and I haven't yet, and it wouldn't stop me from loving you all the same.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[breaking the stare, trying to laugh but it comes out as more of a sigh]

Look, I'm sorry. It's not like I can talk about anyone's choices in dating.