016 ☣ Some private video messages

[fridgetothefire]

[Private to Cassel]

Okay, now that I can carry and pour things, let's do this. You, me, cooking sherry and an insane amount of chocolate. Cabin 4-20.


[Private to Junko]

You know, you should give me a makeover.


[Private to Pietro]

Let's talk. Tell me you're not busy.

Comments

[fridgetothefire]

[She stirs steadily as the batter evens out.]

When we first met, I said it didn't cost me anything to be nice to you. Since then, I've learned that you're interesting company, more perceptive than most people I talk to, and you have a wonky gear shift in your brain on the topic of family where somebody stuck a wrench when you were too young to stop them.

So I care enough to want to meddle. It still doesn't cost me much.

[patheticvillain]

[He glances sideways at her.]

Not much, but still something?

[fridgetothefire]

Mmm. Half a batch of brownies I could have kept all to myself, to start with.

[And he can hurt her now; she hurt, a little, when he said she saw people like pets. She's more frank with him than she's been in a long time, wrapped in Magneto's cape, but even fearless, she shies away from admitting that.]

[patheticvillain]

[It's okay; she doesn't need to say it. He knows. And, while he's not her friend exactly and would hurt her if he felt it would save him, he wouldn't hurt her just for fun. So that's progress.]

[He grins.]

Well, you're just too generous for your own good.

[fridgetothefire]

[She would use him in the same way, but she hopes she never has a reason to.]

I want to graduate. It's strategic altruism.

[True and not true; it's still sincere. Anya always has many reasons. SHSL doublethink.]

[patheticvillain]

I don't think brownies get you to graduation, Anya. Sorry to say.

[fridgetothefire]

Baby steps, Cassel. Baby steps.

Now, where'd I put the amaretto?

[patheticvillain]

[He squints at the counters and shelves, then points with the hand that's not still stirring.]

That shit?

[fridgetothefire]

The very same.

[She pours a liberal amount straight into the batter. Some of it will bake out, anyway.]

[patheticvillain]

[But not all of it. Even Cassel knows that much. He grins.]

I think I like baking.

[fridgetothefire]

It's a good hobby.

[patheticvillain]

Better with alcohol.

[fridgetothefire]

All in moderation.

[...she mostly says this because she knows Lua is probably eavesdropping.]

[patheticvillain]

[He waggles his eyebrows conspiratorially.]

Of course.