xp_logs | Marie, Amanda - Wednesday afternoon

Following this exchange, Marie drops by room 201 to give Amanda her birthday gift. Girl talk ensues.

Class was over, she had a couple of hours before the... whatever it was (since it definitely wasn't A Date) with Manuel, and people kept giving her presents. This whole birthday lark wasn't and at all, Amanda decided. She was in the process of going through her wardrobe looking for what to wear when there was a knock on the door.

"Amanda?" Marie was wearing a black tracksuit that she'd thrown on hastily and she was still dirty, sweaty, and a little worse for wear from the mission, but she figured she'd stop by to drop off the gift she'd gotten for the other girl.

Amanda practically leapt at the door. "Heya," she said, grinning broadly. "Back in one piece, then?"

"Yeah, mostly," Marie said, grinning. "Not quite as exciting as I like them but it was all in a good cause. No getting shot, no getting captured, no getting arrested. It was all good." She held out a silver parcel. "Here. Just a little something that had your name all over it. Not literally. I wouldn't do that to you."

"This present thing is something I could get used to," Amanda said, grinning as she took the parcel. She waved her hand vaguely in the direction of her desk, which was even more covered in spellbooks and badly written notes than usual. "Have a seat, if you can find space."

"If I sit down, I won't get back up," Marie said with a sigh, settling for leaning on the desk. "I'm glad you're having a good birthday."

"I am. Sort of makes up for all the shitty ones before," Amanda said absently, sitting on the bed and tearing into the parcel. She laughed at the first item that appeared, a pair of long striped witch socks. "Y'know, anyone else would be too scared t' actually give me somethin' like this."

Marie laughed. "Well, I live dangerously, I guess. I couldn't resist. Should I start running?" She grinned at Amanda.

"Not yet. Depends on what else is in here..." Amanda's eyes widened as she pulled out a bundle of leather that was too small to be pants and too big to be a top. She shook it out, and the bundle resolved itself into a leather kilt of a length to rival Sarah's infamous Skirt. "Wow."

"I think it'll look really good on Manny," Marie mused.

Amanda snorted. "He ain't got the legs for it." She held the skirt up to herself, frowning a little as she calculated just how much it would cover.

"That's a pity," Marie said sincerely. "I hope you can use it, one way or another. It seems that there's this leather trend running around and I thought you'd be able to carry that off. I liked the buckles."

"So do I..." Amanda pondered the skirt again, and decided to hell with it, she could always wear tights to cover the scars on her legs. She looked up at Marie and beamed. "Thanks. 'S gunna get quite the reaction next time we go out."

"Well, you're only young once," Marie said, smiling back at Amanda. "Best to make it last until you die, right? It was kind of an impulse thing, but I figured that anything that had to do with going out and having fun was a good idea."

"You'll probably get a thank you from Manuel at some point too," Amanda chuckled. She lay the skirt down on the bed. "I scared the shite out of Nate before by pouncin' on him, so I'm gunna ask this time. All right for a thank you hug?"

"Of course." Marie held out her arms. "I'd love one. And Nate needs hugs, he's just not good at having them."

"Well, I did sort of leap on him. You should have seen the box he got me for me healin' stuff. Rom helped him pick it out." Amanda came over and hugged the older girl. "An' I'm startin' t' get used t' this hug thing meself. Ain't so bad, when you get used to it."

"He's a keeper. I said so from the start." Marie shifted carefully so that Amanda wouldn't press too hard on anything that hurt. "And hugs are good for you. They'll make you grow," she said, smiling down at Amanda.

"Yer as bad as Homily." Amanda noted Marie's slight stiffness and eased back a little to not hurt her. "She kept makin' me drink all these tonics 'for me health'." She wrinkled her nose as she stepped back. "Worse 'n those protein shakes of yours."

"That's dreadful," Marie said, eyes widening a little. "I can't imagine that much tastes worse than those things. Drinking them's my punishment for not eating like a good girl. But I think I don't mind being as bad as Homily if we're talking about wanting you to be healthy."

"'M workin' on it. What's it they say in AA? One day at a time." Amanda snorted. "An' speakin' of healthy, anythin' I can help with there?"

Marie shook her head. "Thanks for the offer, but that would take some of the fun out of my evening," she said with a little grin. "I think someone might be a little miffed if I accepted. I do appreciate the thought, though."

"Well, I don't want t' be gettin' anyone miffed now, especially when I have another project due in Art next week," laughed Amanda.

"I still can't believe Charles did that to him." Marie's expression was pure disbelief. "It's pretty damn funny. You all haven't trussed him up and left him on the lawn as modern art - or vice versa - so he must be coping. Still, I think that staying on his good side is probably a wise choice."

"Actually, he's better 'n the Pillock - Rasputin, that is. An' the stuff we're doin' is actually pretty interestin', tho' I thought Shiro was gunna have a fit when Jane did her presentation for controversial art."

Marie grinned. "I heard about that. Good for her, I'm glad she got a reaction out of someone."

"Well, Marie-Ange made a couple of strangled noises, but that Speech class has ruined all the fun of makin' her blush," Amanda pouted slightly. "She's makin' it hard t' get a reaction out of her at all these days. I'm gunna need some better dirty jokes."

"Or you could try complimenting her," Marie said thoughtfully. "That probably still works."

"Or mention her an' Doug." Amanda rolled her eyes.

Marie laughed at that. "That too. I think that would work.'

"Or she'll end up rambling on 'bout how cute he is in those leather pants." Amanda rolled her eyes again. "It must be spring, what with all the lovey-dovey stuff that's been goin' 'round.

"Oh, you'll survive," Marie said, ruffling Amanda's hair lightly. "I'll be sure not to be mushy at you about anyone, just in case."

"Oh, if you were gunna do it, you would have by now," Amanda replied, grinning.

"True," Marie admitted. "I could, but no one would get it, and they'd probably have me committed, so I keep my mouth shut. But, even so, I wouldn't do it to you. I might give you wicked witch sockies to wear - or use as ammo - but I'm not truely evil."

"For which I'm thankful. Really. Only so much us cynics can take."

"Well, I hope that having a happy birthday isn't too much of a burden on you," Marie said with a wink. "I think it's something you'll have to learn to cope with. One day a year only."

"Oh, that part's fine. Great, even." A slightly worried look crossed her face. "Even if Manny's up t' somethin' an' won't tell me what. He's makin' Preparations for tonight. With a capital P."

"That's too cute." Marie's expression became affectionate. "He's so funny when he's properly pleased with himself. I'm sure it'll be fun."

"Yeah, he is. He's all excited an' all, an' it's sort of sweet, but it worries me a bit. It ain't like datin' is somethin' I'm used to." Amanda shook her head. "An' I can't believe I just said I'm datin'. This ain't a date, 's just dinner an' a club."

"Mm." Marie nodded sagely. "I don't date either. And you'll be fine. He obviously cares about you, and he's doing a lot better now. It'll be good for both of you."

"You have t' be the first person t' say that me an' Manny seein' each other is a good thing. Ever since I got back it's been 'stay away from him!'. Even Shinobi asked me t' not get involved. Thing is, I am involved. The link's gone, but I still remember what it was like." Amanda started clearing the mess on her desk with quick, nervous movements. "An' I ain't about t' leave him in the lurch, not when he needs me t' be her friend."

"I understand that completely." Marie shrugged. "I don't know how he is with you, but I like who he is when he's around me. I'm sure it's the same with you. I think it's good for him to be that person. And it's good for you to get to be with people you like and care for. It's complicated, but who says that simple things are better?"

"Not me, that's for sure." Amanda snorted, pausing in her stacking of her books into a roughly tidy pile. "I ain't sayin' we're soul mates or nothin', but... I like bein' with him. He makes me laugh, an' he treats me like I'm important. An' he's incredibly good in bed." The last was said with a mischievous grin.

"So he tells me," Marie said dryly, shaking her head. "He's incorrigible."

"That too."

"Have fun tonight. I hope it's perfect." Marie offered Amanda another hug. "I'm going to go catch up on the news and see what pleasant things they're saying about thieves like us."

"Pillocks, all of 'em. You done good today." Amanda stepped into the hug, careful not to touch the shoulder. "An' I will. Don't wait up for us."

"I won't," Marie said, hugging her warmly but gingerly and then stepping away. "I plan to actually sleep tonight. Take care and happy birthday, Amanda."