Chapter 1276 1276 Meddlesome Kats
--- Kat ---
After the highlight reel was done everyone starting dispersing. Kat and Lily noticed Nixilei and Asteodia leaving first, despite being on the opposite side of the room to the door. Intrigued, Lily transformed back into her Memphis form so Kat could pick her up, and then they both headed off to follow the pair.
They both picked up lunch and then turned towards the stairs… before sharing a glance and heading off to the lounging room with their food. *I feel the need. The need to meddle.*
[If they'd headed upstairs I would have tried to talk you out of it… but we both watched the previous round together, and they didn't bother to try and hide in their rooms so I say it's totally fair for us to meddle if we want.]
*Indeed. It's not really an urge I've gotten before, perhaps I'm hanging around Sue too much.*
[Actually… I think it's just that we have real friends outside of the two of us. All of the kids at the orphanage were… well kids. The meddling there was different and more parental in nature, and when it was just the two of us it's not really meddling because well… it was just the two of us.]
*Hmm… you make a compelling argument but I think I'd rather ignore it and blame Sue instead.*
[I'm quite sure Sue would love to take credit so I suppose it's fine.]
Katt and Lily smiled to themselves as they picked up a bit of food, mostly for Lily, and then headed over to Nixilei and Asteodia. They were just looking at each other awkwardly out of the corner of their eyes despite the fact they'd sat right next to each other. The food on the table near them was completely untouched. They were so focused on being awkward that despite Asteodia's elven hearing, and Nixilei looking IN THEIR DIRECTION, Kat and Lily's approach went unnoticed.
Kat and Lily shared their own look before pulling over another beanbag and dropping down into it, Kat even made sure to loudly smack her feet against the floor as she did so. When a loud thump rang out the awkward pair both turned to Kat in time to see Lily transform back into her human form. "What are you both doing here?" asked Nixilei.
Kat and Lily shared a grin and answered "Meddling" together.
"Um… meddling in what?" asked Asteodia.
Lily grinned showing off pointed canines as she said, "Remember that the entire round was recorded,"
Asteodia and Nixilei paled, and the fae had to ask, "Audio included?"
"Not during the highlight reel obviously… but for the rest of it yes," said Kat with her own Cheshire smile.
lightsΝοvel.cοm Nixilei and Asteodia shared a pained look for a few moments before Asteodia asked, "So… what, does EVERYONE know?"
Kat shrugged and Lily answered, "It depends. A few people didn't show up to watch with everyone else… but I also imagine that there were other places to view the round, like Green in the infirmary… wherever that is. Though if she was paying attention was another matter. On top of that, some people were watching Chartreuse and Midnight, some Ellenell, and quite a lot left after the big fight you two had with the guys thinking that the round was basically over and only came back for the bit right at the end…"
Kat picked up from there just to add, "Oh and Thyme was nice enough to cut out the part where you kissed Asteodia,"
Nixilei went red while Asteodia asked, "Wait how do you know that happened if Thyme didn't show it off?"
Kat and Lily grinned with Kat answering, "Well you just confirmed it for us… and it was pretty obvious for people like Lily and I who were watching the entire time. Thyme didn't make the cut until after you'd taken off the helmet, and I've seen that look on Lily more than enough to know what it means. Though… was it a kiss on the lips? Temple? Ears? I feel entitled to this information as your friend,"
"This isn't a very friendly conversation," grumbled Nixilei.
"Ah but Green isn't here to tease you about it because she's worried about Gareth," said Lily, "So it is up to us to fill in for her while she's worried about her fiancé. Truly, we are adhering to the code of friendship,"
"Um… how much of my team stuck around," asked Asteodia with a wince.
"Basically everyone except Borgick," said Kat.
Asteodia groaned. Kat glanced around as she did so and noticed Romilda floating near the ceiling with her head poked into the room. Kat nudged Asteodia with her foot and then flicked her eyes over to Romilda's head and Asteodia just let her head fall onto the table with another groan. "That's it, my social life is over," said Asteodia.
"Hey, Carl seems pretty cool, and he's gay as well, and really chill from what I've seen of him, so it should be fine," said Lily with an understanding tone of voice but a smirk on her face. Asteodia couldn't see it on account of her newfound desire to examine the table, but Nixilei could and was glaring back at Lily. Lily just wiggled her eyebrows in response.
When it became clear that wasn't going to cheer the fae up Kat added, "You and Kress can bond over your newfound loves,"
Nixilei groaned and decided, like Asteodia that the table was particularly fascinating, letting her head rest on it as well. This didn't really help matters, "See, they're clearly made for each other," said Lily.
"I agree, they even reacted the same way," confirmed Kat.
This caused both table women to pull themselves back up. "Is this all really necessary?" asked Nixilei.
Kat and Lily shared a look, with that they decided Lily was the designated explainer, "Yes we think so. Both of you were rather awkward about things both in the video, and just a few minutes ago. Sure this whole thing is new, and scary, but we care about you. Well, we care about Nixilei, and Kat is slightly invested in Asteodia's happiness after helping her out last night, so we would in fact, like to help you. This might seem embarrassing, but it's less awkward now, and you're both working together.
"Hey take it from someone who was pining after her best friend for years… twice. It's better to just get it over with. The first time, because she was a bitch that didn't deserve my friendship, and the second time because I could've been dating the love of my life much earlier if I'd said something… so say something,"
"Well I want to know what help Kat needed to give you," said Nixilei trying not to make her tone accusatory. She was just worried, but Nixilei winced at her own voice.
Asteodia, apparently already knowing the spy quite well, didn't take offence and answered properly. "I was… not in the best place after my showing at the log chopping contest. Even if I got away with breaking the rules it seemed like such a major thing… and I just got away with it. I… I might have issues with my parents as well… but I'd really rather not talk about it right now,"
"Of course," said Nixilei slowly rubbing Asteodia's back. "I'm just worried, but if it's not an immediate issue it can wait,"
*Naw. They're getting closer already. I say our meddling has been a success… though I do want to keep poking at them. Make them really think about this. Hopefully we can get them over a lot of that first awkwardness.*
[We didn't really have that issue.]
*No instead you just suppressed your feelings for ages until eventually the damn broke completely and you just blurted it all out while pushing me down. Truly a healthy way of dealing with things.*
Lily went read as she mentally retorted. [Oh like you could've done anything about it. Don't think I've forgotten that it was Sue and Kamiko that got you really thinking about what I was to you. Sure, I'll admit that maybe I should've asked you out earlier, but I'm not certain it would've worked, or at least, that things would've worked out so well, if you hadn't come to a few realisations yourself.]
Kat grinned and gave Lily a quick kiss. *Yes. Finally! You're not blaming yourself for all of our relationship problems. You've taken a massive step forward and I'm proud of you.*
[Don't patronise me.]
*How is it patronising? Surely you can feel my pride and joy at this accomplishment. Sure I sound a bit sarcastic but with the emotions beyond it… 'visible' for lack of a better word I doubt it's really patronising.*
Lily was of course blushing and looking away from Kat with a big goofy smile one her face. [Fine, it's not but I feel embarrassed just thinking about agreeing with you even mentally ok? I want to think that I wasn't too bad… but I know I WAS and probably still am. I doubt this newfound courage when it comes to admitting I'm not constantly at fault will last. Perhaps I'm just buoyed by our teasing of Nixilei and Asteodia.]
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