Magic Box, Thursday, 2/11

[life_inshadow]

It had stopped snowing, but it was still cold enough out that Tara was happiest curled up behind the counter with a mug of tea and a trashy novel. She set up a window display of love spells for Valentine's Day, but made sure there was nothing that would actually work mixed up in there. Compulsed love grossed her out.

[OOC: Open shop. Laaaazy mun means no OCD.}

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[brat_inslayage]

Was Kennedy the type of girl who'd have an envelope sticking out of her back pocket when she dropped in, because she'd gone ahead and bought tickets first? Well, yes. But she also had coffee, and a bag of cookies. And a question.

"Is there room back there for your sleepy girlfriend to curl up and take a nap?"

It wasn't the main question, but she was working up to that.

[life_inshadow]

"Would she mind sharing my blankie?" Tara asked with a slight, sleepy smile. ".... that I, um, kind of don't have. But there's totally room. Especially if she brought cookies."

[brat_inslayage]

"Mmm, depends. How good are you at sharing the totally hypothetical blankie?" Kennedy put on the best exaggeratedly sheepish look she could, and angled around the counter before holding out the bag. "I knew I forgot something, but that something isn't the cookies. Next time? Warm cuddly blanket goodness. I can make a note and everything."

[life_inshadow]

"See, if the blanket is totally hypothetical, it's totally hypothetically the right size to share," Tara told her as she reached a hand into the bag for a cookie. "I can bring a real one for next week...?"

[brat_inslayage]

"I was gonna bring one for you," Kennedy explained, because bringing stuff every week was a Thing. Putting the coffee down, she settled in beside Tara. "Oooh. Hypothetical blanket's perfect. How're you?"

[life_inshadow]

"Okay," Tara said. "Better now that you're here. I think the cold weather's making me sleepy, you know? What about you?"

[brat_inslayage]

"Cold makes everybody sleepy. 's a good excuse for this." Kennedy hoped Tara wouldn't object to being used as a pillow, because curling in and resting her head against Tara's shoulder sounded like a really good idea right now.

"I'm tired," she added with a hint of complaint, but just a mild one, under the circumstances. "But I had very serious business to discuss with you."

[life_inshadow]

Tara cuddled up easily, bringing a hand around to play with Kennedy's hair. "I like very serious business when it comes with cookies."

[brat_inslayage]

Well, now Kennedy was going to have to close her eyes and make a happy little sound. "The cookies were to get on your good side," she informed Tara, and reached for the envelope in her pocket. "Because there's this whole dance thing happening on Saturday, and I kinda think this is one of those things where I ask if you want to go."

[life_inshadow]

Tara managed not to bounce, but she did make a happy little noise of her own. "I kinda think I'd love to go if it was going with you. Like, a whole lot. So, yes."

She cuddled up even closer to add, "You were on my good side anyhow. You're kinda ... permanently there."

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy didn't bounce either, but she did raise her head to give Tara a huge grin before snuggling back in again.

"Permanently?" A tiny note of meep crept into Kennedy's voice, but it might have been overshadowed by the louder counterpoint of awwwww. "You mean I didn't need to bring the cookies?"

[life_inshadow]

"Cookies are totally unnecessary," Tara said. "But appreciated."

She was going to give people diabetes sometime all on her own, even without the cookies.

[brat_inslayage]

"Totally necessary," insisted Kennedy; giving people things was the most comfortable way she knew to show she cared, thanks for that, Dad. "Yesterday was the first time I've seen you in days. I had to make up for it somehow."

[life_inshadow]

"It's been one of those weeks," Tara said easily. "Were you patrolling? How did that go?"

[brat_inslayage]

"Still am," Kennedy admitted, "and it's screwing up my sleep schedule a lot. It's been quiet, but I don't think I should stop, yet."

She shifted to wrap her arms around Tara. "Makes me miss you a lot."

[life_inshadow]

"It's good that it's quiet," Tara said, "but ... I wouldn't stop either. It's not like they caught the vampire who did it."

She curled softly against Kennedy. "Even if it makes me miss you too. But you should sleep more."

[brat_inslayage]

"Yeah," Kennedy said, sounding annoyed with herself. "Maybe if I'd started doing this earlier, I could've stopped it, you know?" And never mind that she was hardly the only person on the island capable of trying.

"I just don't want it to happen again. Especially now that I've got you to worry about, and--" She shrugged. "I'll work it out. Good thing I only have classes one day a week."

[life_inshadow]

Tara wasn't going to pick a fight with Kennedy about who else could or couldn't have prevented the attack; she pretty much thought Kennedy could do anything.

"I'll be fine," she promised soothingly. And, to change the subject: "Hey, speaking of classes and, um, things a little less depressing, so guess what we had to do in modeling class today?"

[brat_inslayage]

And Kennedy pretty much thought she could do, or at least try, anything. It was an interesting combination.

"Oh, damn. I missed something good, huh?" she asked. "Is it something I could convince you to repeat sometime where I can see?"

[life_inshadow]

"Maaaaaybe," Tara drawled with a nervous giggle in her voice. "There's some spring break ... trip thing, right? I, uh, probably would have to wear a swimsuit for that."

Even though she might leave a t-shirt and shorts over her one-piece until the last possible moment.

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy had to sit up and look at her, otherwise the full jaw-drop effect would be wasted. "I missed seeing you in a swimsuit? Aw, man."

[life_inshadow]

"For class," Tara said, nervous blush-giggle-stutter thing in full effect.

But it was a pleased nervous blush-giggle-stutter thing. It was nice when somebody thought you were hot.

"It was this ... purple one-piece retro thing."

[brat_inslayage]

"Yeah, but." Kennedy reached up to trace a finger along her arm. "You. Swimsuit. My imagination only makes up so much."

Her expression was slightly unfocused, dazed, and kind of way too happy. "And now I'm really looking forward to spring break."

[life_inshadow]

Tara leaned in to try to kiss her, because way-too-happy Kennedy was irresistible. "There is a pool in the dorms, y'know....."

[brat_inslayage]

Wasn't she always irresistible? No, don't answer that.

"Don't really wanna spend that much time hanging out in a basement," Kennedy murmured against Tara's lips. "But if it means a sneak preview, I could go for it."

[life_inshadow]

"Quick trip to the basement," Tara promised, but as she pulled back from the kiss she was scrunching her forehead in thought. "Or ... isn't there a spa or something? We could try that."

[brat_inslayage]

"Hot and full of good ideas," Kennedy declared. She definitely Approved. "There's that Japanese hot tub thing. I've been passing it on patrol. We could hit that sometime."

[life_inshadow]

"Wanna go next Friday?" Tara asked. "Like a hey, yay, halfway through the semester present."

[brat_inslayage]

"Oooh. Our own private pre-spring-break party." Kennedy gave her a lazy grin and leaned in to bump noses with her. "Consider me RSVP-ed."

[life_inshadow]

"That makes it sound all fancy," Tara observed happily.

[brat_inslayage]

"Yeah, well." Kennedy tried to sneak a quick kiss. "Dating you is serious business."