MASK OR MENACE IC CONTACT

[selfequipped]

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

Comments

[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.