MASK OR MENACE IC CONTACT

[selfequipped]

"Hey, it's Kate. Leave a message."

Comments

[selfequipped]

I'm not saying that you shouldn't have friends, but did you have to pick the one who keeps slaves?

[inmyothertights]

I'm trying to talk to him about it.

Are you saying I should pick the ones that try to destroy my life instead? Because newsflash, I'm working that end, too.

[selfequipped]

Billy, you were right there with us when we were ready to forgive him. It's not his fault that Teddy and Tommy aren't here.

[inmyothertights]

I'm saying that I'm working on giving people chances. Chances to explain themselves. And I don't blame Loki for Teddy and Tommy not being here.

[selfequipped]

And the difference between Loki and Mandrake is one earned it and one hasn't. The reason why we're forgiving Loki is because even if he's a self-destructive idiot, there was all that other stuff.

I'm coming up short in the "other stuff" arena for Mandrake.

So I'm a little confused.

[inmyothertights]

Kate, he's just as lonely and just as miserable as Loki. He doesn't know better. I'm not saying what he did is right by any stretch. I'm saying at no point has anyone ever really explained to him why it's wrong.

And he's done a lot for me. So why can't I try and get it through to him?

[selfequipped]

Because I'm worried that it might be more than him being lonely and miserable.

I just want to say ... I don't want Mandrake and Loki in the same consideration arena. You brought it up, and we know why we were ready to forgive Loki. Things are very different for Mandrake. And we don't even know if we know him.

[inmyothertights]

Okay, fine, I won't compare them.

You're worried it's part of who he is? That he's cruel by nature? When have you known me to want to hang out with cruel by nature?

[selfequipped]

[Well, they did see Nate destroy Jonas just because he tried to keep him from doing something terrible.]

We all have a history of it. It's kind of our thing.

[inmyothertights]

What do you want me to do? Tell him that because Kitty said he was bad, I can't give him a chance anymore?

[selfequipped]

I want you to be careful and not take him on dates.

[inmyothertights]

Not a date.

Not a date.

Not a date.

Anyway, it's all my magic, he definitely can't hold his own.

[selfequipped]

If I spent that very same evening with Tommy, what would you assume?

[inmyothertights]

Tommy has a thing for you and we both know you felt the same way, kind of, for a little while.

And if you told me it wasn't a date I would believe you.

[selfequipped]

But there would be that tiny inkling. "Why is Kate denying that it's a date?"

Of course, I wouldn't deny that it was a date, but that's beside the point!

[inmyothertights]

It's not a date. I wouldn't cheat on Teddy.

[selfequipped]

No, but Mandrake isn't the only one who's lonely. I'm worried about you, Billy. And you've looked better lately, but ...

[She's concerned that in the absence of Teddy for so long, that he might seek something without realizing it.]

[inmyothertights]

I'm not that pathetic, not yet.

[selfequipped]

I'm not calling you pathetic, but you're allowed to be lonely.

[inmyothertights]

Sure, I'm lonely.

And it's frustrating and everything, because I'm pretty sure Teddy'll never come here, but I'm not-

It's lonely. I can manage.

[selfequipped]

This isn't some desperate jealousy thing, but I would really prefer spending New Year's Eve with you than not with you, and even the after-breakfast. That's just what we do.

["We" here implies the team.

Because it is what they do.]

[inmyothertights]

Well-

I can go for most of it. You won't mind if I take some time off and skip out as long as I come back for the ball drop and the breakfast, right?

[selfequipped]

Yeah, but if it gets weird, pop right back. It still sounds like an intimate gathering.

[inmyothertights]

You got it.