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Why am I always scared to ask "what now"?

[Pandora looks up from her tablet, chin in hand and elbow still on the counter.]

Hm. I'm not sure. Why do you have that reaction?

What did you expect? I expected bacon. Or candy.

Edited 2018-07-24 18:26 (UTC)

Probably the number of near heart attacks you've given me.

What didn't you expect?

[Now she actually focuses on Rogue. Her lips part in an 'uhhh' look.]

Just... feelings.

Why bacon?

Cos it's tasty... and it smelled like it.

Well. Alright. I can that logic.

... I thought less explosive.

[That look does abso-frigging-lutely nothing to make Rogue feel better about whatever's going on. She takes a seat -- because she'll probably need one -- and stares Pandora down.]

You're going to make this difficult, aren't you?

Eh I'm kinda used to thing exploding when Holtzman is around. Also I'm hungry. I misplaced my bacon sandwich somewhere. [It's possibly floating in the aquarium]

Edited 2018-07-24 18:32 (UTC)

No.

[A beat. She sighs.] But this is strictly confidential.

[Pandora gets a look. Yes. That look.]

I'm a little offended you don't think I can keep a secret.

That's not it and you know it. But if I don't say not to tell, how would you know to, say, not tell John?

Whoa.

[That gets her to lean forward.]

What, exactly, happened that you're hiding it from your brother?

[And, yes, this counts as Pandora hiding it.]

[Pandora's head bobs side to side, contemplatively. How to phrase this?]

I had sex with Dom. [So matter-of-fact.] Twice, technically.

[Rogue groans. Dom's cute little crush on someone eleven years his junior is pretty obvious. Pandora humoring it is going to end up in destruction. Everywhere. Destruction and mayhem. Maybe death. And also...]

What do you mean technically?

Well. Neither one of us remembered the first time, so I initiated a second time.

[Just the facts, Rogue. 20 year old Pandora does not look alarmed or repentant.]

[Rogue puts her face in her hands. Because people always find out everything, and now she can't tell John, who's likely to find out anyway and then kill her for not telling him, and Pandora looks about ready to put her hands on her hips and say I'll do what I want. And all y'all suck right now.]

Why didn't you remember the first time? Were you drunk? Did he get you drunk? [Because she's 20 for goodness sake.]

He didn't get me anything. We were celebrating. We were both intoxicated. [She shrugs.] It isn't like most people my age don't drink.

Not with 31 year olds.

You realize John's going to murder him, right?

That is partially why you aren't going to tell him. And if John complains about the alcohol, I'll have to remind him that the first time I'd drank was with him.

[In his first apartment. John had let her have jello shots, reasoning that 14 was old enough to have a taste under supervision.]

No kidding I'm not going to tell him. I'm moving to a different continent and changing my name before this blows up. And there's not a chance in hell you're going to be able to use logic when he finds out anyway and loses his mind.

That is exceedingly dramatic. John may never find out. Dom may have lost interest.

[She rather hoped not. His interest had not been one sided. Yet, it would not surprise her, as she's already told him: girls who know what you're thinking are nigh undateable]

First.

[Complete with one finger held up to accentuate her point.]

I'm an awful liar and John is going to know I'm hiding something. Second. [Another finger.] Dominic has a big mouth and likes giving your brother a hard time too much not to say something eventually.

Third. [Yep. Third finger.] The guy looks at you like a lovesick puppy. He hasn't lost interest.

Please tell me this was a one-time thing and you're done.

[Pandora blinks at the three fingers and then shrugs.] I don't think Dom is going to start anything. And if he's still interested...

[Pandora turns off the tablet.] So am I.

Look. You're a big girl. You can date... or sleep with... or both... whoever you want. But if you're going to keep doing this someone needs to tell John. Because he doesn't get to tell you what to do, but you're his baby sister, and Dom's one of his best friends, and he doesn't deserve to hear about this through someone gossiping about it.

[Pandora takes a deep breath and then lets it out through her nose.] Well, it can't be Dom. It would take no time at all for that to be an incident.

At least we agree on that.

Well. The lab does have a built in fire suppression system.

I don't think you have to worry about him setting you on fire.

It does no harm to be prepared. He's never been angry with me before. Annoyed but not angry.

Here's some advice: he's an asshole when he's angry. Ignore it.

[Pandora gives her a very dry look.] I am well aware.

Just looking out for you.