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xp_logsA random meeting in the kitchen, an incredibly awkward scene.
Topaz was largely oblivious to the world as she made her way around the kitchen, making something for lunch (Darcy had been yelling at her so much about eating regular meals) and some tea to bring back to the basement library, earbuds in her ears, playing music loud enough to drown out any noise (or anyone trying to talk to her). She needed to make time to check in on the mansion library too. Maybe tonight. It was open, but largely abandoned, mostly because it was one of the surefire places to find her, and she didn't want to be found.
She was just finishing the tea and turning to get a bowl for her pasta - and she froze when she saw Amanda in the kitchen door. The tips of her ears immediately started burning, and she had to resist the urge to abandon everything and bolt. Saying she had been "avoiding" Amanda might have been putting it lightly. She hadn't been to magic class since... everything and hadn't gone anywhere near places she thought Amanda might be. The mansion was only so big, though. And running would have just been stupid. Instead she pulled out earbuds, giving herself a moment to adjust to the sudden lack of noise, and said, "Hey," in a rather small voice.
For her own part, Amanda had been 'coping' in her usual fashion - by working all hours and forgetting the basics like food and sleep. But not so much that she wasn't aware of how Topaz was doing, even with the avoidance, and seeing her so shut off weighed heavy on the older witch's heart. "Hey," she said in reply, as normally as she could. "I was just looking for some food - apparently more than one meal a day is a thing people do.
"So I’ve heard.” Topaz tucked her earphones into her pocket, waving a hand at the pot on the stove. “I seem to have picked up another mother. Guess there’s something about me that just screams pathetic and needs to be taken care of.”
Amanda hid the face she made at Topaz's words in the fridge as she bent and retrieved a container of leftovers. "Or there's people here who make it their life's work to feed people. Laurie used to be terrifying about it - ask Haller about the time she practically threatened him if he didn't let her feed him." She pulled the lid off the container and sniffed dubiously at the contents.
“Mmm,” Topaz murmured, mostly ignoring if she was honest. But when did that happen? “There’s probably enough for two here if you don’t want to risk whatever’s left over. Dunno the last time it was cleaned.”
Amanda gave her a relieved grin. "Ta. This... well, I don't know if it's supposed to be this colour, but this shade of green isn't exactly appetising." She tossed the container into the trash and went to get a bowl from the cupboard. "How're you pulling up?" she asked, nonchalantly.
Topaz gave the pasta one last stir before draining the water and putting on a pot holder so Amanda could serve herself. “Hmm?” As if she hadn’t heard what Amanda had said. “Oh, I’m brilliant.” She went to get her own bowl. “Business as usual and all that, right?”
Again, Amanda used the fact her back was turned to wince at the response. But she was sure her emotions were clear to be seen - she'd dropped her usual shields so Topaz would be able to read her concern and sympathy and no element of anger or disappointment. "Seems so," she replied. "Maya said she was going to camp outside your door - did you end up tripping over her?"
The sympathy might’ve been worse. Of course she was someone who needed to be pitied. Of course she was. “Yeah saw her when I left for school Wednesday.” Topaz poured far too much Parmesan cheese into her bowl. “Told her off for the way she acted Saturday night and I think she understood. Sort of.”
"I shouldn't have told her to fuck off," Amanda replied, going for forks. "She just got me so wild. I'll apologise, even if it gives her another shot at me." She snorted slightly.
“She’s not a bad kid.”Topaz stabbed at her pasta, staring at the floor. This was such stupid, mundane stuff. It wasn’t right. “She said some awful things, but she’s not the first angry kid to rail off at someone.”
"All the more reason I shouldn't have reacted the way I did." Amanda sighed. It was obvious Topaz really didn't want to talk to her. "Thanks for the advice, tho' - it's easy to forget she's just a kid sometimes when she's out for points." She poked half-heartedly at her pasta. "I think I'll take this to go. Got some work and all," she said at last, lamely. She didn't want to run away, but she didn't want to make things harder for Topaz at all. "I'll... see you around."
"Hmm?" Topaz shifted her gaze to look at Amanda out of the corner of her eye. "Oh, yeah. Same actually, I should..." She waved her hand vaguely before fishing her earphones out of her pocket and popping them back into her ears, turning away. "See ya."
Topaz was largely oblivious to the world as she made her way around the kitchen, making something for lunch (Darcy had been yelling at her so much about eating regular meals) and some tea to bring back to the basement library, earbuds in her ears, playing music loud enough to drown out any noise (or anyone trying to talk to her). She needed to make time to check in on the mansion library too. Maybe tonight. It was open, but largely abandoned, mostly because it was one of the surefire places to find her, and she didn't want to be found.
She was just finishing the tea and turning to get a bowl for her pasta - and she froze when she saw Amanda in the kitchen door. The tips of her ears immediately started burning, and she had to resist the urge to abandon everything and bolt. Saying she had been "avoiding" Amanda might have been putting it lightly. She hadn't been to magic class since... everything and hadn't gone anywhere near places she thought Amanda might be. The mansion was only so big, though. And running would have just been stupid. Instead she pulled out earbuds, giving herself a moment to adjust to the sudden lack of noise, and said, "Hey," in a rather small voice.
For her own part, Amanda had been 'coping' in her usual fashion - by working all hours and forgetting the basics like food and sleep. But not so much that she wasn't aware of how Topaz was doing, even with the avoidance, and seeing her so shut off weighed heavy on the older witch's heart. "Hey," she said in reply, as normally as she could. "I was just looking for some food - apparently more than one meal a day is a thing people do.
"So I’ve heard.” Topaz tucked her earphones into her pocket, waving a hand at the pot on the stove. “I seem to have picked up another mother. Guess there’s something about me that just screams pathetic and needs to be taken care of.”
Amanda hid the face she made at Topaz's words in the fridge as she bent and retrieved a container of leftovers. "Or there's people here who make it their life's work to feed people. Laurie used to be terrifying about it - ask Haller about the time she practically threatened him if he didn't let her feed him." She pulled the lid off the container and sniffed dubiously at the contents.
“Mmm,” Topaz murmured, mostly ignoring if she was honest. But when did that happen? “There’s probably enough for two here if you don’t want to risk whatever’s left over. Dunno the last time it was cleaned.”
Amanda gave her a relieved grin. "Ta. This... well, I don't know if it's supposed to be this colour, but this shade of green isn't exactly appetising." She tossed the container into the trash and went to get a bowl from the cupboard. "How're you pulling up?" she asked, nonchalantly.
Topaz gave the pasta one last stir before draining the water and putting on a pot holder so Amanda could serve herself. “Hmm?” As if she hadn’t heard what Amanda had said. “Oh, I’m brilliant.” She went to get her own bowl. “Business as usual and all that, right?”
Again, Amanda used the fact her back was turned to wince at the response. But she was sure her emotions were clear to be seen - she'd dropped her usual shields so Topaz would be able to read her concern and sympathy and no element of anger or disappointment. "Seems so," she replied. "Maya said she was going to camp outside your door - did you end up tripping over her?"
The sympathy might’ve been worse. Of course she was someone who needed to be pitied. Of course she was. “Yeah saw her when I left for school Wednesday.” Topaz poured far too much Parmesan cheese into her bowl. “Told her off for the way she acted Saturday night and I think she understood. Sort of.”
"I shouldn't have told her to fuck off," Amanda replied, going for forks. "She just got me so wild. I'll apologise, even if it gives her another shot at me." She snorted slightly.
“She’s not a bad kid.”Topaz stabbed at her pasta, staring at the floor. This was such stupid, mundane stuff. It wasn’t right. “She said some awful things, but she’s not the first angry kid to rail off at someone.”
"All the more reason I shouldn't have reacted the way I did." Amanda sighed. It was obvious Topaz really didn't want to talk to her. "Thanks for the advice, tho' - it's easy to forget she's just a kid sometimes when she's out for points." She poked half-heartedly at her pasta. "I think I'll take this to go. Got some work and all," she said at last, lamely. She didn't want to run away, but she didn't want to make things harder for Topaz at all. "I'll... see you around."
"Hmm?" Topaz shifted her gaze to look at Amanda out of the corner of her eye. "Oh, yeah. Same actually, I should..." She waved her hand vaguely before fishing her earphones out of her pocket and popping them back into her ears, turning away. "See ya."
