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 Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 6:54 pm
"No," she said, shaking her head. She didn't think she'd be eating tonight. "Thanks for the offer, though." Unsure what to say, she took a step near him, as if for a hug, and seemed to think better of it. She backed out of the dining room. "I'll...see you later then, yeah?"
She headed out into the backyard to find Dari.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:03 pm
Toby sighed. "I'm really sorry, Maia--" but she was gone. He put his head in his hands. <******** was out in the back yard, far enough away that he wouldn't be able to make out words, but he could hear the tension. He was frowning when Maia came out to him. There had been such a slight chance that Toby would react positively, that it would all go well. More likely this was just the start of some longer process. He had been sitting under the tree and stood when Maia came out, offering his hand for her to take as he approached.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:10 pm
"Well. That went as badly as we expected," Maia said, taking Dari's hand. She leaned in to hug him, after a moment, sighing. "I think I ought to have waited after all," she said, wiping at her eyes with a finger. "Want to stay out here with me a while?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:16 pm
Dari nodded and took Maia's hand, then pulled her close and gave her a hug. Yes, he was afraid this would happen. He kissed the side of Maia's head and stroked her back with a thumb. "Sure. We can stay out here as long as you like."
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:22 pm
"All night," Maia said, after a moment. She returned the hug, allowing him to hold her. "I've gone and ruined everything." "Or do you want to come upstairs? We could read." Anything to keep Toby off her mind.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:25 pm
"Well, we'll have to go inside at some point," Dari reasoned. "No. No, you haven't ruined anything. This is just a new beginning. We haven't lost yet." He nodded then at her offer to go upstairs.
"Sure. At some time, though, I will have to go check on Toby. I imagine he isn't doing rather well either."
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:30 pm
They hadn't lost, but it certainly felt like it. She stood, offering Dari her hand. "I won't keep you long," She promised. Toby needed his best friend too. He'd seemed upset. "Its a kids book, about an enchantor and he has a castle and he shows up whenever anyone says his name three times."
She led him upstairs and to her room.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:42 pm
"You know, I can't remember the story you're talking about. All I can think of is Betelgeuse and Candyman, both of which are movies you should avoid, because they're generally considered horror, even if the first is a dark comedy."
Some Chrestomancy later, Dari came downstairs to find the kitchen abandoned. A zucchini was half-sliced and drying on the cutting board. Apparently Toby hadn't eaten either. Where he found partner was in the living room, the TV on some generic reality television show. Toby wasn't watching it. His eyes were vacant, and he was sipping a mixed drink from a short glass.
"Hello," Dari said. Toby barely regarded him.
"Hey."
"Are you feeling alright?"
"...no." A sip. "I feel like s**t."
"I can tell. What happened?"
"Maia told me she 'has feelings for me,' and I just didn't know what to say, so she ran off with you. You know what happened."
"I honestly don't. Don't you have feelings for her too? You seem like you do, more than just your casual flirting."
There was a long pause. Toby took a swig of his drink, his face puckering as if it was unusually bitter, and then sighed.
"Yeah. Yeah, I do."
"Why not try, then? If you both feel romantically inclined, why not go on a date? Just one. You two get along so well, it might be fun."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't want anybody getting hurt. It could be selkie love, and if it's not then I'm just bad news. I feel awful."
"Just give her a chance, Toby."
Toby shook his head and stood. "I don't know what to do."
"Give her a chance!"
"I won't hurt her. I can't. ... Then what about me? What if this is all just some fairy tale that's going to drop short when I'm not some lonely sad-sack any more?"
"Give her a chance." Dari walked up beside his friend and put an arm around him. He could see tears pooling at the rim of Toby's eyelids. He refused to let them fall.
"Nah, man. It's ********. I need to be alone a while. Sorry."
Dari shook his head and dropped his arm. "I understand. Good night, Toby."
"Yeah. Good night."
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:11 pm
Maia woken early that morning and could be found in the kitchen. It seemed she had tried her hand at pancakes and succeeded, for the most part. Except she'd made much too many for herself and ended up with two extra plates piled high. Oh well. She left those on the kitchen counter; maybe Toby would like them.
She still didn't feel particularly hungry. She picked at the pancakes on her plate. She planned on asking Toby how he felt about her today, without backing out.
She went into the living room, leaving her unfinished pancakes on the table and flopped onto the couch. "Dari? You up?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:34 pm
Dari was lying in the hall off the living room, his arm at his sides, rigid and unmoving. He had sort of 'turned off' for the night. Some of it had involved thinking about the current romantic situation of his roommates, but eventually he had just decided he needed a little 'off' time. He heard Maia approach and call for him and it took him a few seconds to respond, but he got there. He sat up first and then stood.
"Yes, I am."
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:39 pm
"I made pancakes," Maia said, looking towards the kitchen. It wasn't as if Dari ate; he didn't need to. "There's enough for Toby and anyone who looks like they need breakfast." She gave him a small, slightly forced smile.
"How is he?" She asked.
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:46 pm
Dari's expression grew thoughtful and he thought enough to turn his head away slightly so he wouldn't appear to be staring. He wasn't concerned about the pancakes. What interested him was the incredible volume Maia had made. Was it an anxious reaction to cook? If so, that was yet another unexplored parallel between the two.
On the subject of Toby, he wasn't sure what Maia wanted to hear.
"...not especially well," he answered finally, turning back to face Maia. "He isn't in crisis, but he did not wish to speak wit me last night."
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:51 pm
Maia looked saddened. "Can I help at all?" she asked. How did one fix Toby? When they'd fought it'd been easy. They'd made breakfast together and it'd been as if the argument had never happened.
Maia doubted it'd be that easy this time. "Maybe if I make cake."
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:00 pm
"Oh, uh... Toby will probably be making cake as well. It only helps him if he is the one baking," Dari said, because that was an easier question to answer. Then, after another moment of thought; "I don't think you can. I'm trying to nudge him in the right direction, but gently. Don't try to force anything. He'll need time. Also, try not to be offended by his manner in the upcoming days."
Hopefully it would all just resolve itself naturally.
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:10 pm
"I won't," Maia promised. It'd be hard. It'd be really hard. But she'd do it. "Do you think Lori's up? I could text him and invite him for pancakes." There were certainly plenty. Maybe Seamus liked them?
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