[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]

[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.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[sighs and looks away because noooo let's not move the conversation to other things you think you suck at]

I just had to say it, that's all.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[getting the point and smiling a little, almost as if she doesn't have massive issues regarding relationships and her own self-worth]

Kind of wish we could go see your other self's gallery show. Having two of you there would blow the critics' minds trying to justify it as performance art.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[there we go, that's better]

Something about the duality of human nature, probably.

[the_ex_in_xp]

And not the obvious soap opera angle?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[mock-gasping in an affronted tone]

What self-respecting art critic would dare reference low art like soap operas? Honestly, Ramona.

[the_ex_in_xp]

The ones that aren't pretentious asses?

...they exist, right?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Yeah, they do. But I think they mostly write for blogs.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[resting her chin on her hand]

So at least the art world has something to balance out the crazy Precious Moments fans.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[laughing a little and visibly relaxing, finally]

I really do wish I could see what she does with an actual canvas. I bet it's interesting.

[the_ex_in_xp]

Maybe she's got a studio or something. Somewhere out in nature with fuzzy wildlife acting as bouncers.