Outside the Magic Box, Sunday

[not_every_mage]

Town wasn't totally recovered yet, but it had definitely improved. The sun alone was enough to show that.

That only gave Anders so much comfort. Things could look better for a while and then get worse, after all. So he decided to go to work for two reasons -- first, in case anyone needed magic supplies, and second, because he wanted to be ready to fight if fighters were needed.

He lingered on the sidewalk outside the store before going in, finishing his coffee and enjoying the weak morning light.

Comments

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"You know this place has been looted to hell and back again anyway."

Dante hadn't planned on heading in here. Not even when he spotted something that looked like motion and blond hair up ahead.

But curiosity drove him to nudge open the door anyway, just to see if it was his Anders - not that he'd admit to phrasing it that way - or someone else.

"I mean, not that I'm going to begrudge you presiding over a few chunks of crystal and some springs of myrrh if that's your bag."

[not_every_mage]

"I do it every Sunday," Anders frowned. "I guess it must be my bag by now. What's going on with you?"

By which he meant the mask as well as the tone.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"Well, the sun's up this morning and half my friends are monsters," Dante said idly. "You're tiny Anders, huh."

[not_every_mage]

"That's not what you called me the other night," Anders said, and immediately regretted the attempt at a smutty joke. It didn't seem like this man would appreciate it. "And you're Dante from the same world as Kathy."

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

The joy of the mask was - as always - that Anders couldn't see the slight wince on Dante's face at his first words.

Or the way he was looking at this mercifully Justice-free version of his friend.

"You can tell that easily?" he said. "Points for you, I guess. But yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you, I guess, if that's a thing we say at a time like this."

[not_every_mage]

"I don't mind saying it," Anders shrugged, still wary. "Nice to meet you too. And yes, I can tell. I'm clever that way. Besides, I don't think my Dante thinks half our friends are monsters."

That my slipped out half-noticed.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"I'd hope not," Dante said. "They didn't start out that way." He bit back a cruel comment about Anders himself. It was unnecessary. "How are you...r people holding up?"

[not_every_mage]

"Fine, from what I can tell," Anders said carefully. "It's not anyone's idea of a nice way to spend a week, but we'll make it. How are yours?"

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

He didn't really have any.

"Eh, you'd have to ask them, not me," Dante said casually. He stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled towards Anders. "Bu the village seemed fine last time I passed it."

[not_every_mage]

"That's something, at least," Anders said, and let an uncomfortable moment pass before he frowned at Dante. "So ... what happened? How did things get so bad for you?"

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"For me personally, or for the island?" Dante asked.

Then, as if he'd decided which one it was all by himself: "Family, man. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em."

[not_every_mage]

"Speaking in riddles?" Anders mused warily. "I'm not sure I like this game. But I'm guessing that means your parents turned up. Am I warm?"

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"Something like that," Dante said, rubbing his thumb idly over the palm of his own hand. "I'd tell you, but then you'd tell me, and I'm not sure me would believe it."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

Back, when Kathy used to make this jog regularly, always done the loop around Apocalypse Ave, swinging by the Magic Box to see if Anders were there, if he'd want to meet up for coffee or just enjoy a quick makeout session in the back. It had been years since she'd had the opportunity for any of those things, but this morning, her legs once more in running condition, she'd followed her old path by rote. Muscle memory was so much more reliable than physical memory.

Muscle memory had not prepared her for the sight of Anders actually in the shop. She wasn't sure if 'her' Anders (if only that were true) even came by here anymore. And then she was pushing her way in through the door before conscious thought kicked in, reminding her this possibly wasn't her best idea ever.

[not_every_mage]

Anders' body stiffened when he saw Kathy. He knew she wasn't his Kathy, and she hadn't been particularly pleasant to speak with the last time.

"Hello there," he said. "I didn't know you still ran."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

Slowly losing your mind, watching people die or become monsters, and living in endless pain would do that to you.

"I didn't," she said slowly. "Not until this morning, I mean. It's been..." She tried to remember exactly how long and couldn't. "Years?"

[not_every_mage]

"Oh," Anders said, and frowned. "Well, er. Congratulations? I'm glad you're doing better."

He meant that, but it was just awkward.

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

"Are you?" Kathy asked. "Or are you just resentful that I'm here and she's not?"

She didn't sound accusatory. Just curious.

[not_every_mage]

Anders looked at her sharply.

"How am I supposed to answer that?" he asked. "No, Kathy. I 'don't resent you for being alive. But you're a stranger to me, and that hurts."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

"You could be," Kathy said, shrugging. "I'd understand." And it would be a little less weird than everybody hugging her because she was there and the other wasn't. "I'd probably resent you if the tables were turned."

She sighed; she was handling this all wrong. "I can go. It was just habit that had me coming by here anyway. I miss--forget it." This conversation wasn't about what she missed. "I'm sorry I hurt you. That we both hurt you. It's not something we'd ever want to do."

But something they ended up doing anyway. She started to turn back the way she came, hating that this Anders made her wish he'd call her back, too.

Oh, Anders. Why couldn't she quit you?

[not_every_mage]

Why would he hug her? She was supposed to be dead and she was alive, and she was just going to leave again if island history was anything to go by. Anders wasn't angry so much as he was trying hard not to feel anything about her at all.

It made quitting her much easier, if you kept the feelings out of the way.

"If you'd resent me for continuing to exist in some other miserable universe, that's your problem, not mine," he told her coolly. "But I'll accept the apology. From you, anyhow. Other-her made her choice."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

Because everybody else was? It was a little creepy, the number of people who saw her and immediately wanted to hug her. Resentment would be so much easier to understand.

"Yeah she did," Kathy shot back, this Anders managing to get under her skin as easily as hers did. "And then she died for it. But your hurt feelings are clearly the most tragic part of it all." She bit back more comments, about how she wasn't the only person who could make stupid, hurtful choices, choices where people died. But that wouldn't be fair--those weren't his choices. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

[not_every_mage]

"I didn't say my hurt feelings were the worst part," Anders shot back -- and now he did sound resentful. "An 18-year-old girl and her whole world are gone. Do you think I wouldn't give myself a hundred times over to bring them back?"

He twisted at his ponytail. "I can recognize the tragedy and think the way she died was selfish and idiotic, you know. I'm complicated that way."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

"If you're willing to give yourself a hundred times over to save an 18-year-old girl and her world, why are you so pissed off she did it the once?" Kathy asked, head tilting slightly.

She definitely agreed it was idiotic--it wasn't a mistake she'd be making, even with her legs healed. But he'd literally just said he'd do the same.

[not_every_mage]

"Because she didn't succeed," Anders said shortly. "Save the world, and you're a noble sacrifice. But fail -- and know you're going to fail -- and all you are is another martyr. It was a waste. Would be if I did it and failed, too, but at least ten I wouldn't be here to think about it and miss her."

He sighed. "It's weird telling you all of this."