Totally not lying about the band

[Zodiac]

Zoey continues here for anyone wishing to join her in her room.

[Avis]

Avis had that sort of wide eyed, dazed expression that people get from having some potentially disastrous event pass right by them, like when a bear wandered through a campsite after dinner, or when a car whipped through an intersection and would have obliterated a pedestrian if they'd been even a foot further into the crosswalk. Or like when a child sees their parents fight for the first time. Not that Asp and Zoey's fight had anywhere near that level of emotional impact, but it's escalation had been so sudden that Avis wasn't sure how to react and that uncertainty was what conjured the expression onto her face. That was probably how the others had felt when she'd blown up earlier, but then again, maybe not. Cut didn't really seem fazed at all.

"Um. She was talking about, like, leaving," Avis replied, ignoring the compliment. "Shouldn't we do something? Like let the air out of her tires so she can't leave before we talk her down?"

[Star]

He turned, seeing that he and Avis were alone, and leaned against the counter using his hands for balance.

"Yeah."

The simple word was a good answer for the statement and question. His eyes? Far more serious than the word.

"No one is going to talk Mandy down." We use original S'Names when Serious. "It's not who she is. We can tell her that we're her friends, and that we'll miss her. But we won't convince her to stay. Haven't you heard everything she's said? She's been a loner for a long time. So it's not just this? Or us? It's a massive change for her. And maybe being alone started out by circumstance, but now she has a choice. Part of that choice is compromise."

He made a slicing motion.

"Not compromises about parties. But compromises about how to deal with people who are friends. She and Asp are really opposite, too. Flight versus Fight. Not really defending Asp? Just my thoughts on Mandy since she's the one that is forcing a decision upon herself. But maybe they both need to believe in the best of us rather than the worst of us. Maybe we're not as dumb as Mandy things. Maybe Asp needs to consider Mandy's people skills rather than see a deliberate insult."

He shrugged.

"But they both need a little time. Coming at them right now while they're hot is just going to end up in more ultimatums or perceived finger-pointing."

Honestly? He didn't see either as the type that would respond to a hand yanking them and saying No/Don't Go. It was tough not to smile. Amazons, all of them.

"So. That's how I see it? If you think I'm wrong, go do your thing. Totally. But I'm not cleaning up the kitchen because I don't care."

A wry smile peaked out.

"And I'd really appreciate it if you didn't repeat any of that to either one of them."

[Avis]

That was a lot to take in, so for a while she just sat there, taking it in. He was right, though. She knew, more literally than probably any other mage in the city, that if someone wanted to leave the only way you could stop them was to physically restrain them. And sometimes not even then. It all depended on how strongly the person's will burned inside them and how completely you were willing to confine them. That was the frustrating thing about people. At times, there was basically nothing you could when they wanted to shut you out. Even with the insight and ability Pandemonium had given her, it was all temporary. People existed inside themselves, and that made it all the easier to shut the world out. Sometimes the mind didn't even give you a choice, no matter how badly you wanted to perceive what existed beyond the cage of your skull.

Of course, sometimes people left a little crack open in their cage. Sometimes it was still possible to slip a message through.

"Ok. You're probably right. I'll give them space, but there's still one thing I want to try. I need tape, though. And paper. You wouldn't happen to have any giant pieces of paper, would you?"

[Star]

He shifted weight slightly while Avis digested the word buffet, taking the opportunity to drink some water. Making words is thirsty work, yo. Especially after cheese cake.

"Yep, totally."

No questions asked.

"It's a roll of butcher paper, like this?" He set the glass down and held his hands apart to indicate the width."But, you know, side by side to make it wider. Tape's yours, too. Come on."

He dried his hands and motioned for her to follow him to his theater. Kitchen could wait. Of course he had a roll of butcher paper. Didn't everyone?

[Avis]

Avis blinked. "Really? Oh. Awesome. Yeah, right behind you," she replied, following after the magician.

Honestly, she'd expected him to say no. That wouldn't have stopped her, of course, but this would make it much easier.

"You ever done Origami?"