The causeway [before classes, Tuesday morning]

[sith_happened]

The series of portals Anakin had managed to set up on short notice weren't the most direct way to get to District Thirteen, but they were the fastest. Anakin had checked four times to confirm when he realized they had a stopover in the Triassic era...

Now, as the sun peeked up over one of the allegedly happiest places on Earth (Anakin had other opinions on that), he waited for the rest of his fellow travelers to arrive while he left Tahiri a voicemail asking her to cover classes for him.

[OOC: For those heading to Katniss plot!]

Comments

[wwiii]

"Trust me, I'm going to become a huge nag if I don't get us-time somewhere in there," Warren promised.

It was how he'd talked her into this so-called vacation in the first place, after all.

[glacial_queen]

Which was going to be used as an argument when she was feeling particularly stubborn, too.

She sighed and rested her cheek on Warren's shoulder, thinking of everything that they'd faced--and everything that was still yet to come. Her gaze drifted over to Wesley and her heart went out to him. "I wish Haymitch had been a little more forthcoming on the details," she groused quietly. "I'd like to know what I'm walking into. And more about Katniss's condition."

[wwiii]

And then he would feel bad forever. Forever, Karla. That was a long time.

"I think we'd all like to know," Warren agreed, his arms pulling her a little closer while his wings, prickly as they were, stayed resolutely behind him. "Especially if they want help. We're going in blind."

[glacial_queen]

Karla would have pouted at the lack of wing, but Warren was doing a credible impression of a porcupine right now. "Wesley looks like he's taking this in stride," she noted. "I think he's just glad to have something to do."

Sitting on the sideline and waiting for news sucked. Who ever would have thought it?

"Have you spoken to him?" You know, since the whole 'tried to kill you' thing.

[wwiii]

Warren nodded, glancing back Wesley's way.

"Yeah," he replied, actually looking a little relieved to be able to say that. It was one of those huge things that had been chewing at him, and Wesley had been more than forgiving, and then they'd joked around like...

Well, like teenaged boys being teenaged boys.

"He's doing pretty good, I think."

[glacial_queen]

"I'm glad," Karla said, giving him a smile. "I know you were worried...and I bet it gave Wesley something else to think about."

You know, besides the fact his girlfriend had been shot.

"You should call Bobby, too, if you haven't already," she suggested softly. "Especially since you know he'll come looking for you if you don't. The last thing you want is him worrying about you twice over."

[wwiii]

Warren fidgeted a little at that suggestion, and then nodded slightly.

"I should," he agreed, chewing on his lip a little.

A face made out of ice, sitting in his hand. Something was wrong about it. Something was off. Something that he couldn't grasp and wasn't sure he wanted to, but he was trying, trying, so damn frustrated that he couldn't place just what it meant, screaming, angry, throwing it away...

"If only to check in on how he's been doing since Saturday..."

[glacial_queen]

"I know he's worried about you," Karla said. "He thought you had some kind of really horrible disease that mutants get in his world. It's invariably fatal."

He, like Karla, had been incredibly relieved when it turned out to 'just' be an invading alien rock. It was something other than a hopeless death sentence.

"I think he'd appreciate hearing from you, I really do."

[wwiii]

"Maybe I'll give him a call, then," Warren sighed, shaking his head a bit in an attempt to clear a few of the cobwebs. "I mean, of course I'll give him a call. I have to apologize for worrying him..."

And for trying to kill him. That probably deserved an apology, too.

[glacial_queen]

Maaaaaybe just a little one.

"Betcha ten dollars he says he doesn't care about you worrying him so long as you're all right," Karla said immediately.

Because, you know, she'd met Bobby and all.

[wwiii]

"Only ten dollars?"

That was like the change that you'd find in the couch cushions, for Warren.

That was less than the change that you'd find in the couch cushions, actually. Ten dollars was a joke.

"For ten dollars, I think I'd be willing to make that bet."

He kind of hoped he lost this one, yeah.

[glacial_queen]

Well, she could have bet him a car to make it a really hard bet. Except, what would she do with a car?

Besides kick the tires, anyway.

"If you'd prefer, you can bet me something else?" Karla challenged. "Stakes that matter?"

[wwiii]

Oh, Karla. You now had him intrigued.

"Stakes that matter, huh?" Warren pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Did you happen to have any examples in mind?"

[glacial_queen]

Karla tapped her fingers on her cheek, mulling the possibilities over in her mind. She'd tossed it out there as an off-handed comment, but if he was going to make it a dare...

"I would say leather pants, but I've already made my case for those," she said thoughtfully. Cradle was off the table for the foreseeable future and she didn't want something he'd normally agree to anyway. "If I'm right we...go out for karaoke at Caritas sometime."

Take that, Mr. I'm-Not-Singing-at-Rockband.

[wwiii]

"Okay, that's not so ba..."

Warren's brain took a moment to catch up to the stakes, there.

"Do you hate Caritas?"

[glacial_queen]

"Well, it was going to be 'take me dancing at Devil's Nest in leather pants' but you don't have any," Karla said, dimpling up at him. "So karaoke it is."

And maybe next time, he wouldn't sass a ten dollar bet!

[wwiii]

Okay. Cheating. Warren could handle Karla cheating. He just needed to come up with some counter-prize that would be equally unfair. The odds that Karla was wrong were slim to nil, so the prize could be...

"Okay, then if Bobby is more upset than worried, you have to help me soothe the ache," he replied. "You have to take me shopping for leather pants. I'm going to need somebody to stroke my ego by telling me how my butt looks in the really tight ones, after all."

Take that.

[glacial_queen]

Her boyfriend was hateful. Utterly and completely hateful. He was obviously taking lessons in cheating from someone and Karla would throttle them just as soon as she figured out who.

"You are the meanest mean Warren who was ever mean to me," she announced, giving him the most pathetic puppy eyes she could. "It's a deal."

No takesies-backsies, now, Warren. You would just have to deal with the puppy-eyes.

[wwiii]

"Now, do we shake on it, or would it be a better idea to just wait until it isn't too stupidly early in the morning to call him, and go from there?"

... Would his phone even get reception in Panem?

More importantly still, would be be able to work the touchscreen without putting a claw through it?

[glacial_queen]

Karla's eyes flicked down to his hands. "We can wait," she said, sniffing haughtily. "I trust you not to renege on our deal."

Plus, if they woke Bobby up at this hour, he would probably be too cranky to be worried or concerned.

[wwiii]

The corner of Warren's mouth twitched a little as she glanced down, and he told himself not to think too long on her refusing a handshake. He'd really only offered in jest in the first place, after all.

It still managed to sting a little.

"I'm nothing if not trustworthy," he quipped, keeping his tone light while he carefully slipped the ends of his fingers into the pockets of his jeans, out of sight. "I guess that's one thing that can be said for Worthingtons. We at least do what we say we'll do."

[glacial_queen]

"Which means I'm still waiting for me picnic," she told him, biting her lip a little as he put his hands in his pocket.

Guilt. Hello, guilt.

Almost of its own accord, her hand reached out to grab his wrist and tug slightly. He was her boyfriend. She might not be able to get wing hugs right now, but she could still hold his hand.

[wwiii]

Warren tensed. It was only for a split second, and then he relented and let her pull his hand from his pocket, but he tensed all the same.

"Pineapple and crepes, I haven't forgotten," he murmured, keeping his gaze level. "The moment we're out of Panem."