#andice

[ziraconarose]

I should suppose, I think, it matters in the end that as long as something truly loved you, you were never quite alone.

[abouttogetdicey]

ANDICE 2 - Greek, Hebrew, and Armenian by MoonMARES Games.

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[penig]

Beaker/Neugierig/Point The house is quiet, give or take a violin solo or a parrot speech, in the wake of Martine's departure.  Lukey keeps his nose to the grindstone, and tries to think of new and different ways to fill up the empty space that is totally not there.  Lazlo doesn't quite make dean's list, and doesn't understand why. He knuckled down and worked and everything! Maybe that was his mistake?

[penig]

The party is all family (if you count Maddy's fifth cousinship to Clovis, which would be a highly Upslope thing to do).   Time to be big!

[penig]

Eva gets Andice to teach her to play kickybag. Kickybag is a sure draw at parties, Eva knows; and she plans to have some epic ones, as soon as she makes enough friends the right age. Their first teen party is certainly a success, but that's not surprising given the guest list. Agemate parties might be a different matter.

[penig]

"Oh, hey, you all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed again already? Good - we are going to have such a good time!"

"Okay, now, I know this is hard, but your legs'll never get strong if you don't exercise them, and I'm right here to catch you."

"I'll think about what y'all said, Andice, I will. But I can't promise either of you'll like what I decide."

"That's okay, as long as you do listen. He needs to get with you or get over you, and I for one don't care which." "I can hear you, Andice! Stop meddling!" "Stop needing my intervention and I will. Good night, Mads."

Madeleine doesn't know what to do, or who to talk to about it who would be truly neutral. But it won't help anything to lie awake worrying about it. Maybe things will look simpler in the morning.

Or maybe she'll just distract herself and let her backbrain work on the problem.

[penig]

"Hi, Nova! Did you see who knocked over this trash can?" "Nope. Must've been a dog. Got to run." "There's nothing in that direction but the top of the mountain. What're you doing way up here, anyhow?" "Long story. Wouldn't want to delay your carpool. See you!"

"Andice! What a pleasant surprise." "We'll see if you think so in a minute. So, you and Lance, sleeping together." "He told you!?" "No, you did, just now. But I saw his face when you made out with Grimnir at your party and I'm not stupid."

"You're older and you knew he'd think with the downstairs brain given half a chance!"

"I know, I'm sorry, but I've got a downstairs brain too, you know. And it's not like we were, were, - he knew it was temporary!" "Look, I've got no opinion about this Upslope genetic paranoia, because I don't have enough data, but it seems to me you either buy into it or you don't. If you don't buy into it, fine - stand up to your family and be honest. If you do, then what the heck were you doing committing incest? Either way, the whole thing's messed up!"

"Oh, Lance, I'm so sorry I hurt you! I just didn't know any other way to get through to you that it had to be over."

"Uh-huh. I heard about your dust-up with Grimnir the other night. Are you sure you're sorry you hurt me, and not that you suddenly have no one on your string?" "...I guess I deserve that." "On the one hand, you do. On the other hand, I wish I hadn't said it."

"Thanks for seeing to supper. Are your friends staying?" "They will if I have anything to say about it. And you don't mind."

"Look, I am mad at you, but I also get it. This is not an easy thing we have between us. But I'm willing to work on it - if you are." "Lance -" "Don't 'Lance' me in that tone of voice! Think about it! Think hard!"

[penig]

Great. She invited Grimnir. Lance had thought she was still mad about catching him bringing that blonde home. (No, she never told him about it; but you hear things around campus.) His first instinct is to push back when Grimnir pushes him. But this party is all about suppressing his first instincts. The phone rings for Madeleine in the middle of the party - Martine Ruben, saying good-by even though she couldn't come because of a class in the middle of it. How sweet.