xp_logs | Doug and Amanda

Doug, being confused about how to react to one of Marie-Ange's replies to Medusa's introduction post, comes to Amanda bearing curry for a sounding board.

Shave and a haircut, two bits. Doug rapped on the door and tapped his foot waiting for Amanda to open the door. He'd been confused pretty much all day, and needed someone to talk to. Amanda had fast filled that role since they'd begun working together, so here he stood. Waiting. And fidgeting.

Amanda grinned at the knock, which had become Doug's signature rap. Putting aside her books - she was working on her degree tonight, since she'd gotten a little behind - she went and answered the door. "Well, if it isn't the curry fairy," she said, taking note of the plastic bag dangling from one hand.

"Who you calling a fairy?" Doug rejoined somewhat weakly, quirking his mouth in a half-smile. "But yes, I come bearing curry," he continued, holding up the bag. "May the curry-bearer enter?" he asked, jokingly formal.

"Too bloody right he can." Amanda stepped aside to let Doug in, closing the door behind him. As usual, her coffee table and couch were covered with books and notes, signs of the work she'd been doing on various projects. "And you're too manly t' be a fairy. Curry gnome, maybe? Only you're too tall for that." His troubled expression hadn't missed her attention, but she would let him get to it himself.

Doug's joking formality had reminded him of his reply to Medusalith Amaquelin's introductory journal post, which in turn reminded him of Marie-Ange's reply partway down the page. Lost in thought, it took him a distracted moment to catch up to Amanda's reply. "Maybe Curry Man," he said, audibly capitalizing the words. "You know, a superhero. Like Pizza Delivery Girl."

She snorted. "Rescuing the hungry from curry famine across the country..." Moving ahead of him, she started clearing space on the couch and coffee table. "Considering Marie's already Pizza Delivery Girl, all I need now is Beer Bloke and I'm set."

Setting the bags down on the cleared space, Doug indicated the papers. "So how's the studying going?" he asked. He wasn't quite ready to leap into yet another complicated discussion and analysis of his awkward relationship with his ex-girlfriend, and he was honestly curious as to how Amanda's studies were coming along. "All done with math yet?" he needled her with a cheeky grin.

"Not for a while yet - statistics, yuck." Amanda stacked her books into a pile and put them on the floor next to the end of the couch. "'S going all right - got a bit behind with all the travelling, which is why I'm putting the hours in now. But I'm enjoying it - who'd have thought, me a college girl, huh?" She indicated the couch. "Have a seat. You want a drink? There's juice, or a beer if you want one."

"Juice sounds good," Doug replied as he flopped backward onto a corner of the couch. "And I think you don't give yourself enough credit," he told Amanda as she went over to her refrigerator. "Sure, math and stats aren't your thing, but you're smarter than you think you are."

"Well, I was meaning more the bit where I could barely write anything more than my own name three years ago, but thanks, mate." Amanda came back with apple juice for Doug and a beer for herself. "How about you? Finding enough hours in the day to do everything?"

Doug shook his head. "Pete and Remy run me from pillar to post, really," he said. "They always want the next upgrade, not to mention the moon on a stick, five minutes ago. But it's still rewarding, and the benefits are good, so I keep on keeping on."

"As long as you're not driving yourself into the ground." Taking a seat next to Doug, Amanda opened her beer with a practiced twist of the cap and took a swig. "Pot calling the kettle black and all, I know, but yeah, we like you upright and not drooling."

Doug raised his glass to acknowledge the comment in a silent toast before taking a drink from his own glass. Then he managed to busy himself taking out containers from the bags, and serving up the curry. After that, he suddenly ran out of things to do. Better to just say what had been on his mind. "I saw Angie's response to that new girl's introduction," he said quietly.

Ah. Amanda nodded. "Yeah, me too. 'S the reason why I suggested breakfast - sounds like she's been spending too much time on her own." She grinned wryly. "Bad habit, when you brood like us."

Doug indicated himself with a wave of his hand. "Hence why I am here with curry. Doing my best to learn my lesson." His grin was just as wry as Amanda's.

"Wonders'll never cease, eh?" Amanda reached for the rice, spooning it out onto one of the plates she'd brought back from the kitchen. "So. You saw Angie's comment and here you are with curry. I'm guessing you aren't just making small talk about it?"

"Not really, no." Leaning his head back against the top of the couch, Doug stared at the ceiling and blew out a long breath. "I know she's talking about me. I just...don't know how to react to it. My brain's been going around in circles pretty much all day."

"I'd say hers is too and all," Amanda replied quietly. "I haven't talked to her for a while with all the work lately, so I don't really know where her head is right now, but how about you?" She paused, before continuing. "How does she make you feel?"

"In a word? Confused." Doug barked a short, wry laugh. "When Marie and I decided we were better off being friends...it wasn't at all like when Angie and I broke up. And you and I have gotten to be pretty good friends." He paused for a moment. "Angie and I were friends, once, and I kind of miss it, I guess. I don't know." He shook his head. "Like I said. Confused."

"Well, maybe the two of you could go back to being friends?" Amanda suggested, helping herself to some of the chicken tikka. "It was too early before, but maybe now, after you've been working together and the rest, you could try and get back to that?" She smiled a little. "Since neither of you is the same as you were back then."

Doug thought about that for a bit as he ate some of the chicken himself. "And how am I supposed to do that?" he asked quietly. "I mean, 'So, how've you been since that screaming fight we had in the lobby of the mansion?' isn't exactly the greatest conversation starter. I don't even know where to begin."

"Sounds like a job for Curry Man," Amanda said, grinning. "She's renovating her place, yeah? Chances are her kitchen's a disaster, and even if it wasn't, she never was the domestic type back when we were at the school. I daresay she'd appreciate someone bringing her dinner one night, all friendly-like?" She pointed to the food spread before them. "Since I know I do."

"I...that could work," Doug replied slowly and pensively. "Maybe some Greek food from Mr. Portokalos' place. She likes those little grape leaf things a lot," he said, warming to the idea.

"I think Curry Man can moonlight as Greek Food Guy," she replied, winking. "Sounds like a plan, then."