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Location: Dorm 
Skills: N/A[/center]
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Fri. Oct 1

Dorian never joked about movie nights. He'd felt a little bad that he hadn't had much of a chance to catch up with any of the other students that he'd met at the Carnival. Like a summer fling except with friendship that only lasted a day. He'd decided to change that. Formally inviting Andy over for a Horror Movie Marathon, and what better time to do it than on the first of October. Not only did it cement the Spookiest month of the year, but today was none other than the 70th anniversary of the movie that sparked the Classic Zombie genre. Night of the Living Dead. Dorian had made sure everything was perfect, having baked some chocolate cupcakes that looked like mounds of gravedirt with gummy worms squirming out, coconut cream eyeball jellies that popped in your mouth, and other such. Themed snacks to each which they watched their fill of horror.

Andy was nervous about going to the movie night. She had mixed feelings about Dorian and his friends after their first encounter. However, she was willing to give them a second chance. She had no hope of fitting in with this time period if she didn’t at least try to make friends. She dressed up a bit and done her makeup. When she had gone to the mall with Zari and Mads she had gotten some things for herself too. It modernized her wardrobe a bit, even though she had primarily bought things that felt comfortable for her and were of course ‘retro’. 

As Dorian stood back and admired all of his hard work, he began to wonder if it was too much. After all it was her first movie night with him, and he hadn't the foggiest idea of what she might think this all was. Though he'd finally settled on leaving well enough alone, sitting down at the edge of his bed in his halloween pajamas that looked reminiscent of old school camp counselor outfits you would see in movies. He wasn't sure how long she would stay or even put up with him, so he opted for comfort rather than flair. Two plush blankets were set aside and folded as he threw himself on his own and mumbled into the woven texture. [Color=CC99FF]"Is t'is a mistake? What if she 'ates me?"[/color] he said to no one at all.

Once Andy was satisfied with her outfit (she had spun for Selene's approval of it (Selene said it should be more slutty)), Andy set out for Dorian's dorm. She didnt know the layout of the building super well but eventually she found it. Andy stood there nervously for a moment taking a deep breath before finally knocking. 


Dorian looked up from the mass of blanket he had smother himself with, hair slightly disheveled as he stared at the door. He quickly ran towards a mirror, fixing it up before making it back to his door and opening it. [Color=CC99FF]"Hi! Welcome to Chez Kingston-Gray. Come in come in."[/color] He'd stepped aside from the door to allow Andy to enter, noting her new digs that were much closer to the retro chic he'd expected. [Color=CC99FF]"What kind of movies do you like? I've got a ton so we 'ave a wide selection. T'ough we are soooo watchin' Night of t'e Livin Dead. Not only is it a classic its also its anniversary!"[/color]

[color=b71d5d]"I love that movie!"[/color] Andy said as a grin split across her face. She said, giving a nod of approval.  [color=b71d5d]"I used to live with this one family before...uh..I was adopted. And they watched B movies all the time. So the worse the film, the more I love it. You can't go wrong with the classics though."[/color] Andy could only hope Dorian and April wouldn't talk about when Andy had been adopted cause mathematically...linearly...it didn't work. She followed him into his room. Her jaw dropping a bit impressed with the set up. [color=b71d5d]"Nice! I can dig it."[/color] God that probably was outdated as hell.

Dorian matched her grin as she mentioned her love for the movie. He hadn't realized how much all of this could mean to her, but then again most people who got into horror were looking for some form of escape. What better way to bond than by screaming at your fears or making fun of a bad movie? He wondered if this adoption was how Andy was April's aunt. It wasn't exactly told to him [i]how[/i] that happened, but adoption made the most sense. [Color=CC99FF]"Dig it? Nice Zombie pun."[/color] He said with a bit of a chuckle as he went over towards his desk. Everything was organized, and he grabbed his drive that held B-rate Horror Movies. [Color=CC99FF]"B-Horror it is. Oh, and if you need help staying up I've got some coffee here we can drink."[/color]

Andy's shoulders relaxed a little at his compliment of her phrase. It worked as a pun. [color=b71d5d]"Oh, thank you but I've got my mug.[/color] Andy lifted up the travel mug she had in her hand. She was actually a pro and not sleeping. Prior to getting her pillow she avoided sleep as much as possible. [color=b71d5d]"You can try some too if you want. I made it myself. And it is never ending."[/color] Andy was very proud at how successful the spell had been while making the mug. Even if it felt like she was slipping down a slope to becoming her mother's puppet. 

Dorian scoffed in bewilderment. [Color=CC99FF]"You mean you made t'e coffee yourself…right?"[/color] He made his way over to her, inspecting the mug in her hand as he debated on whether or not he wanted to try. [Color=CC99FF]"Is anyt'ing you put in t'ere never-endin? Like if I put in some Baja-blast would it be forever Baja?"[/color] He wondered out loud as he held his hand out to try the strange artifact.

[color=b71d5d]"The spell would have to be done differently. I almost made it donkey shit when I was still practicing."[/color] Andy wasn't totally sure. She hadn't asked follow up questions. Mostly cause that probably would have included more begging for virgins or something. Andy handed over the mug and when Dorian tried it the coffee is hot, but not scalding. The flavor was a wonderful blend. It was a little nutty with a light citrus flavor dancing in the background. It was rich and perfectly sweet with just the right amount of coffee.

Dorian took a sip of the coffee, pausing as the gears inside his mind turned. The flavourful wasn't terribly complex yet it held interesting notes. He took another sip, this time giving a little slurp as he drank so that the flavor covered his entire tongue (something he'd learned abroad while doing coffee tastings). [Color=CC99FF]"Is t'is…Brazilian roast? Somewhere between a dark and medium, I mean t'at's really t'e best way to brin' out t'e nutty flavors after all."[/color] He paused as he handed the cup back to her. [Color=CC99FF]"I didn't realize you 'ad such a complex knowledge for coffee. Or magic for t'at matter."[/color]

Andy smiled at his assessment. [color=b71d5d]"Coffee yes. I'm basically addicted. Magic, I'm learning. I had a lot of help for this."[/color] She explains taking back the travel mug. [color=b71d5d]"Dark roast is my favorite. This was based off my favorite cup of coffee. That was actually a blend of two, one from Honduras and the other Brazilian."[/color]

Dorian smiled, figuring that was why he couldn't quite place the flavour. It was a blend of Central and South American coffees. [Color=CC99FF]"Did Mads 'elp you out wit' t'e magic?"[/color] He asked as he went over to grab an eyeball and plopped it in his mouth as he debated on how much of his coffee knowledge was too much. She seemed cool enough, and earlier that year she'd been sporting a leather jacket so she might be a bit punk enough. [Color=CC99FF]"We've got just about every roast imaginable 'ere. Straight from t'e source never sat on a shelf sort of deal so it's fresh as fresh gets. Buuuuut we 'ave to let it last for a bit. Can't be pesterin' t'e rents everytime we need somet'in' while at school."[/color] He said as he let out a defeated sigh. The coffee was the hardest thing to get used to while at AA every year. If they ran through it chances were they wouldn't get more for a while and them they'd have to suffer through whatever wash the school classified as coffee.

[color=b71d5d]"Uh, well no. But she went to the mall with me and helped me find new clothes.”[/color] Andy gestured at her outfit. It was still too hot in LA to wear her leather jacket, as much as she wanted to. [color=b71d5d]"That’s cool that your parents let you bring all that coffee here.”[/color] She thought of all the foster parents she had had over the years and only the Drummonds (who had never even legally been her guardians) would have been cool enough for that. She grabbed a cupcake from the collection of them on the table. Andy pulled it apart and took the bottom sticking it to the top and ate it like a very sugary sandwich. 

Dorians eyes grew wide. [Color=CC99FF]"No way! You eat your cupcakes like t'at too?!"[/color] It was the superior way to enjoy a cupcake, thought it seemed not many had agreed with him as most people ate it like savages, biting off from the top and leaving themselves with a disappointing unfrosted bottom. He went ahead and made himself a cup of coffee, pouring it out of the French press that had been started earlier before Andy had arrived. He paused to take a sip, enjoying the flavourful with a smile that reached his cheeks before settling back down. [Color=CC99FF]"I know a bit about magic ya know. Not a lot, not like Mads, mostly because I can't actually do any of t'e stuff. Buuuut you kinda 'ave to learn a t'ing or two when learning about Astral Projectin' and it's dangers. Even 'elped enchant my sword…t'ough my fat'er did most of t'e work."[/color]

[color=b71d5d]"It is the superior way to eat them.”[/color] Andy nods. [color=b71d5d]"I don’t know a lot to be honest. I’ve only started learning since I came here. I didn’t even know I could do magic until like four months ago.”[/color] Time continued marching on. For Andy it had only been a few months ago, but the rest of the world it had been almost two decades. She started to say something, but turned the open mouth into another bite of the cupcake. [color=b71d5d]"Anyway, go ahead and lets start the movie.”[/color] She said and found a place to sit down comfortably, kicking off her shoes and relaxing. She could see being friends with Dorian. This could work. 

Dorian noted that she'd mentioned she only knew about her magic for four months. It was weird, but not unheard of, for students or other kids to develop their powers very late in life. Either that, or she was lucky enough to develop a secondary mutation extremely early. Maybe that was why she was put on a judges team. He didn't say anything though, just nodding at her request for the movie to start. He wondered if he'd dug too deep? Asked too many questions. Regardless, the file was in and he hit play to an in color screening of Night of the Living Dead. The scene opened up with the siblings of Barbara and Johnny driving up towards an old cemetery. 

He let the movie play in relative silence as he struggled to sit still. Constantly adjusting himself underneath the blankets until one of his favorite lines came on. He looked towards Andy with his best Zombie face as he recited the practiced words. [Color=CC99FF]"They're coming to get you Barbara. They're coming for you Barbara."[/color] Dorian eerily groaned out before giggling and grabbing himself a cupcake to eat. 

Andy laughed, she was about to recite the next line, but it was just Barbara being a wet blanket and she didn’t want to say any of that to Dorian. She was having fun, instead she grabbed one of the eyeball candies and munched it while humming a [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tmzjaN2DWc]song[/url]. 

Dorian spied Andy out of the corner of his eye. A part of him wanted to give her a few fun facts about the movie. But he also didn't want to talk through the entire movie for her or mansplain things that she may already know. So he sat there quietly for a moment, looking towards Andy at key points during the movie to see her reaction to the movie plot points. Taking another sip of his coffee as he curled up in his blankets. .

It was obvious she had seen the movie before, probably a few times as she seemed to know the lines rather well. She’d mouth along with them. Andy was having a lot of fun. She munched on the snacks Dorian had provided and sipped her own coffee from the everfilling mug. It was obvious it was everfilling as Andy drank quite a bit and never seemed worried about running out. [color=b71d5d]"I haven’t gotten to see a good old classic horror in ages.”[/color] She said at one quiet part of the film. 

[Color=CC99FF]"What stopped you? I mean not like I can talk. Most of my friends are big scaredy cats t'at don't like 'orror. But it's a bit 'andwaved on my birt'day. T'ough I ended up canceling it t'is year. Wayyy too much 'appened t'at day and so I kept it a bit more…quaint."[/color] He replied. It wasn't exactly a quiet scene, but one of many where Barbara simply simply screamed for no real reason while muttering something that didn't develop the plot in the slightest. 

[color=b71d5d]"A lot happened and then I came here.”[/color] Andy gestured slightly to indicate the school. There was more to what she meant though. She just couldn’t talk about it. She seemed a little sad, but then she smiled. [color=b71d5d]"However, if all of that hadn’t have happened I wouldn’t have met Zari. So it was worth it.”[/color] Would she have stayed happy if the Drummonds had lived? The sadness creeped back into her smile. Her attention to the movie wanned, which meant the next jump scare got her. A squeak left her lips and then she laughed.

Dorian watched the emotional roller-coaster that seemed to plague Andy's smile. He recalled she mentioned being adopted, and wondered if that had something to do with the school transfer and sudden change in mood. He was adopted too, obviously as two men couldn't exactly make a baby, but he was young when his parents had died. He wondered if Andy had gone through a similar experience later in life, one in which she could actually recall her parents. His solemn thoughts left him as she squeaked, laughing at the reaction as he wiped a tear from his eye. [Color=CC99FF]"Didn't expect you to get startled like t'at I'm sorry"[/color] He spoke in between laughs. 

He didn't want to press Andy too much about the past if she wasn't willing to talk about it yet. So he focused on what he could as he plopped an eye into his mouth and popped it. [Color=CC99FF]" 'ow did you and t'e techie meet? Or was it on one of t'ose super 'ero datin' apps?"[/color] He asked playfully.

Andy waved away his apology, she didn’t mind getting spooked, she enjoyed it from movies. [color=b71d5d]"There’s apps for that?”[/color] Andy asked super confused. How could she explain meeting Zari without explaining a whole lot of other stuff. [color=b71d5d]"Well, I was living on the streets at the time. We ended up with this group of other people and just sort of stuck together even though the group didn’t.”[/color] That left out a [i]whole[/i] lot of detail, but it was the most basic way of explaining the story. It was the truth.

[Color=CC99FF]"Please. T'ere's an app for everyt'ing and all of t'em are great way to just get ghosted. But it sounds to me you went t'e found family route. T'ats what my fat'er and Appa did, well t'em and my Uncle Casper and Uncle James. T'ey were a part of t'is awesome group t'at saved all of mutants kind! Even brought some back t'at were lost in a fight. It was awesome and terrifyin' all at once! T'ere was t'is dark evil woman, Selene, tried to suck up t'e souls of all t'e mutants around but t'ey stopped 'er cold in 'er tracks. Or well…trapped 'er. But t'at still counts!"[/color] Dorian punctuated certain parts with fists or kicks as he showed off how they fought off the evil forces of Selene before getting up and bringing the left over back of sour gummies that didn't fit into the cupcakes.

Andy’s jaw dropped. Starting at the name Casper followed by James. There was very quickly no doubt in her mind that these were the same people she had run with for a while. These were the very same people she had met Zari at the same time with. She closes her mouth again and tries to compose herself. When Dorian brings over the snacks she takes one and chews on it. [color=b71d5d]"That’s a lot. Must have been...insane.”[/color] Thank goodness Dorian hadn’t mentioned how the ‘Thundering Champian’ who also just happened to have the name Andy had grown to like ten feet tall during the fight because of trying to eat souls so Selene couldn’t have it. She wondered how much they had told him...and if he’d ever put it together that he was going to school with two of the people involved in that fight.

[Color=CC99FF]"Yeah, I'm surprised you 'aven't 'eard of it. 'onestly at first when I 'eard your names I t'ought it was funny. Andy is kinda basic, no offense just not like…weird ya know? But [i]Zari[/i]? I t'ought maybe 'er parents were fan of one of the 'eroes of Genosha. T'ere was someone wit' your name as well but t'ats to be expected. Really a lot of t'em 'ad lame generic names. Not t'at yours is."[/color] Dorian said as he backpeddled. [Color=CC99FF]" 'ell my dad is Max and Appa is Ben. 'ow more basic can you get? At least Casper and Zari were original."[/color]

Andy took a sip of her coffee. It lasted longer than probably necessary. [color=b71d5d]"Wild.”[/color] She said. [color=b71d5d]"And that’s fine. I’m not super attached to my name.”[/color] She gave a shrug. [color=b71d5d]"So your dads are Max and Ben.”[/color] Andy took another sip of her coffee. The movie basically forgotten at this point. [color=b71d5d]"And that means Danny’s are Casper and James.”[/color] She remembered Danny as a baby. She didn’t think she had met Dorian when he was a baby, but she had met Danny. She just hadn’t put it together. 

Dorian gave her a wide grin with teeth. [Color=CC99FF]"T'e one and onlys! T'e mutant trio, t'e Genoshan circuit, and t'e best four parents a kid could ask for."[/color] It was part of how he was able to get into the school, but he wasn't about to say that. Most people looked down on nepotism, and he would like to think he'd have gotten in regardless with his skills. [Color=CC99FF]"Sorry. I…get a little excited when it comes to my family. T'ey're all I got, adopted or not you know?"[/color]

[color=b71d5d]”I understand that.”[/color] Andy nods seriously. She wasn’t thinking of Magneto though. She was thinking of the Drummonds. [color=b71d5d]”Besides you’ve been with them your whole life. Blood isn’t what matters. Blood brings you into the world. Doesn’t mean they are family.”[/color] There was a part of her that was still mad at Selene for just letting her disappear. She didn’t know the whole story, someday she’d have to get it out of her mom, but all that mattered is Selene had failed to protect her from something. She sighed deeply. Andy needed to tell Zari who Dorian and Danny were, and who their parents were. They could not meet their parents since the two of them hadn’t aged in the [i]years[/i] since they had last seen each other. Max and Casper and James would know them instantly. Ben, well Andy was sure he would too, but she knew she’d barely recognize him since he had been a ghost most of the time Andy had been with the Mutant Underground.

Dorian curled back up under the blanket. Wondering what was going on inside her head. He held his hand out to her, placing it on hers after she'd sighed. [Color=CC99FF]" 'ey we don't 'ave to talk about families if you don't want to. I know it can be 'ard and not every 'ome life is easy even if it pulled you off t'e streets. But if you ever need an ear, t'is is a safe space to talk ok?"[/color] His usual smile was gone, replaced with a very serious demeanor before his childlike grin came back. [Color=CC99FF]"Besides, we got t'e best crew around! A witch to curse people, a mutant t'at messes wit' memories, a Pyro, and moi t'e best damn Poltergeist you'll ever meet! You'll be safe wit' us guaranteed."[/color] As soon as he said the words he felt a small pang of pain. Recalling the vision of the massive Graves he'd seen. One year. 

Andy smiled gently. A whole lot of emotions swirled in her for a moment. [color=b71d5d]”I appreciate it.”[/color] Dorian was like his dad, genetics be damned. She could imagine Max saying that exact thing. [color=b71d5d]”I mean you know who my adopted dad is, that’s a whole lot of...I don’t even know.”[/color] Andy shook her head. [color=b71d5d]”It’s complicated.”[/color] She shrugged. [color=b71d5d]”But yeah, it all got me off the streets, which is nice. I had been living with this couple, and they died, right before Christmas and I didn’t know what to do. I got lucky. But when I think of family, they are who I think of.”[/color] Technically this year would be her first Christmas since their death, not counting the one immediately after their death and she had been in survival mode then. That was insane to consider. 

Dorian cooked his head to the side. Normally this is where he'd ghost and go upside down as he spoke to her, but he figured she wouldn't be used to his constant shift between planes yet. [Color=CC99FF]"I…know your dad?"[/color] He said with a confused look across his face. Had he met her dad? Was he at the Orientation? Did he pay attention to Orientation? His mind went a million miles a minute before it shorted out and froze. [Color=CC99FF]"I uh…must've forgot. I'm really bad at focusin' sometimes so details kinda get lost on me if somethin' else grabbed my attention. I'm so so so sorry."[/color]

[color=b71d5d]”Oh. No I doubt you’ve met him. I just though April would have told you by now. It came out during the first day of training that I guess. She knew my last name anyway. Uh, Magneto is my adopted dad.”[/color] Andy explained. She mentally cursed at herself for saying anything. She could have just kept her mouth shut about that. Especially since April knew that Andy had been adopted ‘on Genosha’ and that made the timeline exist that made a whole lot of what Andy had said so far not work out if anyone thought about it. She was going to get caught in a trap of not wanting to lie, but also having to avoid explain the whole time travel thing. 

Dorian snapped his finger as she mentioned Magneto. [Color=CC99FF]"Oooooooh t'ats what Princess meant when she said you're 'er aunt. Man Magneto must be gettin' up in years if 'es lookin' to adopt now a days. Big ol softie. Glad 'e got you off t'e streets t'ough. Everyone deserves a second chance and redemption. We can't always see t'em as villains or we don't give t'em t'e chance to grow out of it."[/color] He said with a bit of a shrug. His father always told him that everyone deserves a fighting chance, and that unless you lived through their experiences you'll never truly understand why it is they do what they do. Everyone's a hero in their own story anyways.

[color=b71d5d]”Yeah.”[/color] Andy smiled and nodded. [color=b71d5d]”I understand why people see him that way. But I got to see a really nice side of him. He protected me when I was in a lot of danger.”[/color] Her smile softened. The irony was that Magneto protecting her was in the very same fight Max and them did the mutant circuit. 

[Color=CC99FF]"So I've 'eard. Wonder if my parents would ever want to 'ave dinner wit' yours sometime. We could all 'ang out, I mean I know my fat'er 'as a bit of 'istory wit' yours. Some good, some bad. But maybe in t'eir ancient age t'ey can look past t'e past and focus on t'eir kids futures instead."[/color] Dorian suggested, though he was also super curious to see how Magneto did at playing host. What food would he cook, was his house really all metal? Did it save or cost more for heating and cooling? Did he just glide everywhere or did the old man know how to walk?

[color=b71d5d]”I bet that would be very awkward. Magneto might be interested.”[/color] There was a whole lot Andy could say. Of course, she could just see in her mind the four of them, older with gray in their hair, sitting down to dinner with Magneto and Selene in a high chair or something. She had to laugh at the image. [color=b71d5d]”Do you have a picture of your parents?”[/color] She wanted to see how they aged. 

[Color=CC99FF]"Yes, hold on!"[/color] Dorian got up and scrambled towards his closet before he pulled out an album. It was a leather bound book with some faded pages sticking out of it along with various objects or threads. He sat down next to Andy and opened it, showing off an array of Polaroids each from a family vacation they'd taken across the world. He flipped towards one that had all of them in frame, the most recent trip they'd taken. Both his father's had aged gracefully, one literally having been a model while the other just looked as youthful as ever. [Color=CC99FF]"T'e blonde ones Max, t'ats my fat'er, and the Dark 'aired ones my Appa Ben."[/color] he said as he pointed to each of them.

Andy didn’t need Dorian to point at them. Or even tell her which was which. Max, while he looked older, also looked so much like he had. It had been seventeen years and she would have known him if they had bumped into each other on the street. She was sure he would know her too. What did he think of what happened to her? She hadn’t said goodbye. She regretted that now. Andy had just left, told Magneto she was going with Zari, took Selene and left. She had bought herself time with it. If she had stayed...She’d be older too, in her 30s now. Looking similarly aged as Max and Ben did. Ben of course she hadn’t known well. Though, she remembered him from the party that ended Genosha. Andy hadn’t thought of herself as close with any of the MU, but as she sat there and remembered it all she missed them. She wondered what each of them were up to. Could she risk asking Dorian about them? He hadn’t said the group name so she’d have to be careful. Tonight wouldn’t be the night. Also, the internet existed. She could look them up. There had to be information about them there. She was honestly a little surprised she never had looked them up. [color=b71d5d]”Thank you.”[/color] She smiled looking up at Dorian from the picture. [color=b71d5d]”You said there were others...what about them? Do you know what all they do now or did after everything?”[/color] She hadn’t meant to ask, but found herself wanting to know right then. 

Dorian grinned as he flipped to the back of the album. It wasn't filled all the way yet, but he kept a special picture tucked away in the back. [Color=CC99FF]"I really t'ink what my dad found was special. Even if t'ey disbanded afterwards t'ey all kept in touch. I consider t'em all aunts and uncles…"[/color] He pulled out a Polaroid, a picture of a picture. The original was back home, with his fathers, but he had taken his own picture of it and had the backs signed by most of the MU that dropped by and visited. [Color=CC99FF]"That's all of t'em. Well…most of t'em…"[/color] All he had of Andy and Zari were stories. Tales of exploits and time spent together but never once did he see a photograph. He began to point to each and every member of the Mutant Underground that helped to save Genosha, explaining where they all were as he went along. Some were dead when the picture was taken, missing from the frame but living now after the circuit was made.

Andy’s smile cracked a little as she looked at the picture. There was a couple faces and names she had known from then that weren’t in the picture. She let Dorian talk, something dramatic happening on the TV in the background, not really needing him to tell her, but appreciating it still. Her heart tightened a bit when he got to Sapphire. She literally owed her life to Sapphire. Sure she wished that fight had gone different but if Sapphire hadn’t sacrificed herself...well the fight on Genosha might not have even happened. Everyone would have been dead.

She could ask him to tell her all sorts of stories. Some she would know. Others would have happened before or after she had joined the group. Genosha, and the events leading up to it, had been some of the best and worst time of Andy’s life. It had been so dangerous. There had been times she had thought she would die. But this group of people she hadn’t known had taken her in and trusted her to share space with them. [color=b71d5d]”Thank you. I really appreciate you sharing this with me.”[/color] Maybe someday she’d sign the picture too, with her old mutant name, the one Max would know. Andy was glad she had changed it when she came here. Maybe she should have changed her first name too. All well, too late for all of that. 

[Color=CC99FF]"Anytime! Well I mean, it's mostly just t'is one pic. I 'ave a few of ot'ers who came wit' on some vacations, but not everyone is free or willin' all t'e time."[/color] As far as Dorian was concerned they were his extended family. He lingered on the photo for a moment longer before putting it away. [Color=CC99FF]"T'ats what I really want from 'ere. Danni, April and I are a great team. T'e Terrific Trio! Even if t'e school is keepin' us apart. I want to find more t'an a group t'ough. I want a family like t'ey 'ad. A bond as strong as what we already 'ave between us t'ree t'at can grow and infect ot'ers too."[/color]

[color=b71d5d]”That’s wonderful.”[/color] She wanted it too. But if she opened herself up like that...well people died.  [color=b71d5d]”I’m too scared to lose the people I love. After...”[/color] After basically her whole life. She noticed the credits were starting to roll on the TV. Had it already been an hour and a half? She looked at the TV with it’s credits rolling and for a moment it felt like so much had happened, yet so little. 

Dorian didn't know what to say. He knew how she felt, and worse he knew the coming year was going to be the hardest. He sat there in silence for a moment, listening as the credits rolled by. [Color=CC99FF]"I know what you mean. But…you never truly lose anyone. So long as t'eir in your 'eart and memories t'ey'll live on wit' you."[/color]]

How do you tell someone that that doesn’t really help? That missing their hug, their laugh, their slightly burnt pancakes on a lazy Sunday, can’t be fixed with memories. Her eyes filled with tears. Had she cried? Had she really allowed herself to feel the emotions that were constantly bubbling? Andy had tried so hard since that foster care where she had been sent away after they had had a child of their own, to not care about people. Her anger issues and everything had started then. She allowed herself to love the Drummonds but they had been killed. And then everything happened that meant she was now sitting in the room of Max’s son. 

She realized suddenly that she was crying. [color=b71d5d]”I’m sorry I didn’t mean to cry.”[/color] This was the first time she had cried in front of anyone since she was little. Andy didn’t even remember crying in front of the Drummonds. She dashed into the bathroom and washed her face. The makeup she had put on washed away with the tears. [color=b71d5d]”It isn’t what you said. I was just thinking of pancakes.”[/color] Andy said once she had finished cleaning up her face. 

Dorian didn't know what it was that Andy was going through, but clearly it was a lot. The Transfer, new family, everything must've happened so fast. Had she had time to grieve her old family? He didn't know what to do, watching as she rushed to the restroom to wash her face. He stood up slowly, making his way towards her as he realized he'd never once had to deal with loss. How long did one grieve? How long did it stay inside of you? Dorian acted out of impulse, letting his body direct his motions instead of his mind as he simply wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. As soon as he'd made contact, there was a lurch inside of him. Nothing painful or distressing, but a feeling like his spirit was being tugged. He didn't stop however, only managing to hold onto her tighter regardless of what he was feeling. [Color=CC99FF]"It's ok to cry, even over pancakes. Just…let it all out."[/color]

Andy wanted to hug Dorian. But she felt it. Her mother’s power, the ‘gift’, of eating the spirit of another. Dorian tasted good, not as delicious as Madalyne, the spice that she carried wasn’t there. [color=b71d5d]”No!”[/color] She shouted and pulled away.  [color=b71d5d]”Sorry, but uh, shit I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. I just can’t risk touching you skin to skin. I uh am a energy vampire. I’ll literally eat your soul if you do. Look if you want to hug me I’d love it, just wrap me in a blanket or something first.”[/color] Andy said quickly trying not to hurt his feelings.  

Dorian jumped back in shock as Andy yelled at him. He hadn't expected such a violent reaction to a hug, that is until she explained herself. It explained the odd feeling he had, the lurch from his soul. [Color=CC99FF]"T'ats so cool! Just like Rogue! But t'ats no problem at all!"[/color] He said as he ran over and threw on an oversized sweater, the sleeves pulled past his hands. He ran back towards Andy, giving her a massive hug. [Color=CC99FF]"No soul stealin' is gonna stop a 'ug of friendship."[/color]

The shock of the situation had pushed the worst of the emotions away. The hug was still nice. She sank into it a little. She hadn’t realized how little touch she had had since Genosha. Only Zari had touched her. Only Zari seemed unfazed by the energy vampire. If she hadn’t already started to fall for Zari before that had had happened she would have thought it was part of the allure. But she had liked Zari since the two of them had been in the back of a car and she explained Netflix to her. 

[color=b71d5d]”Thank you. I think I actually really needed that hug.”[/color] Andy said after probably a full two minutes of hugging Dorian. Her voice was steady and the tears that had come were gone now. Her face was dry again. She pulled away from the hug.

 [Color=CC99FF]"Anytime."[/color] Dorian said with a smile.  He backed away a bit, leaning against the door frame. He wanted to ask her a question, but he didn't want to make her cry again. [Color=CC99FF]"You know, I 'ave an open door policy 'ere. If you ever need someone to talk to…'ug, or anythin' I'm 'ere for you. It can be 'ard transferrin' in so late in school."[/color]

[color=b71d5d]"Thank you. I'll take you up on that sometime."[/color] Andy nods. She will, even if it just the hug. The talking about things is hard. Especially when she can't tell the whole story. [color=b71d5d]"Thanks for the movie and the snacks."[/color] [i]and the walk down memory lane.[/i] [color=b71d5d]"I should get back to my room."[/color] Did the school do dorm checks? She hoped not.

[Color=CC99FF]"It is getting late. I'd 'ate for Firestar to get upset about 'avin' a student 'ere after 'ours."[/color] Dorian went and grabbed another cupcake, hanging it to Andy. [Color=CC99FF]"For the road"[/color]

Andy takes the cupcake. [color=b71d5d]"Thanks. I'll see you later."[/color] She grabs her mug and leaves. Waving over her shoulder as she exits the room. Once in the hall she sighs. That was heavy. Is making friends always going to be like that? Really Zari is Andy's first friend. Before that Andy had never had anyone she called friend. And here it was so difficult navigating history and her identity with everyone else. 

Dorian closed the door behind him. Leaning his back against the wooden frame as his head held low. He couldn't tell how well tonight had gone, but he hoped it went well. Andy seemed cool, loved horror, and could easy hang when not being barraged by sentimental questions that remind her of her dead family. He went over and grabbed a handful of eyeballs, plopping on his bed as he tossed them up to catch them in his mouth as he thought on the night.