Chapter 201

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201: Pizza With Friends
In Which Mackenzie Rediscovers An Old Pleasure

Mack and Ian join Amaranth, Oru, Shiel, Honey, Hazel, Andreas and Two for pizza and a conversation that meanders over a number of different topics.

1 Details

[edit] Details

[edit] Time Frame

This chapter occurs during the midday of Calendula 3rd, 222. It is the Saturday of "Week 3" of the story.

It was published on April 22, 2008.

[edit] Plot Synopsis

After getting dressed, Mack and Ian head over to Hazel and Honey's Room to join their friends for pizza. Hazel introduces them to her boyfriend, Andreas the dwarf, then introduces Ian to Oru and Shiel. Ian seems a bit weirded out about meeting a pair of goblinoids, but he manages to mind his manners. Andreas offers Ian a beer but Hazel nixes that as it would bother Two.

Amaranth asks Two if she still has a key to her old room so they can check on Dee, but Two informs her that she was required to turn it in when she changed rooms. Amaranth asks Mack if she would break the lock on Dee's door if they could find someone to fix it, but Mack is reluctant to do so. Two points out that that would be against the rules and carries harsh penalties. Amaranth asks if they know anybody besides her roommate Trina who is into divination. Mack and Two both respond that Twyla is. Amaranth decides to ask Twyla if she would peek through the door and check to see if Dee is alright.

When Ian comes back with sodas for himself and Mack, Amaranth asks if they had fun, to which Mack responds with a “Yes, ma’am,” and a blush. Oru and Honey talk about choral music. Hazel talks with Shiel about their war game and tries to bring Andy in on the conversation, but Shiel and Andreas seem to prefer to each pretend the other does not exist.

Oru asks Ian about being a musician, mispronouncing his name Seeyan. This seems to be due to the fact that in goblin culture all male names start with a consonant while all female names start with a vowel, a fact referenced in the Bonus Story: Small Talk. Since Hazel introduced Ian by saying "this is Ian", Oru mistakenly took the "s" from the end of "is" and tacked it onto the beginning of Ian's name. When Ian corrects her Oru giggles, finding the (to her) inappropriate naming amusing. She asks if there are girls named Ian and is surprised to learn that Ian is a boy's name.

Mack brings the conversation back on track by announcing that Ian is in a band. Ian downplays the importance of his being in a band, claiming everybody with a lute is in a band in college. Honey asks if he sings, to which Ian replies that he only sings in the shower, or did back home. This prompts Oru to comment on taking a while to get the hang of taking showers. She explains how she used to stand beside the shower and wet her washcloth in it before she saw someone else standing under the shower. Shiel proclaims that she still does it that way, as she prefers not to get rained on. She mentions she would prefer washing at the sink if it wasn't so exposed or in the tub if it wasn't so hard to get in and out of.

Mack quietly mentions to Amaranth that she needs to talk to her later about rings, making Amaranth alarmed that she and Ian may have had unprotected sex. Mack assures her they haven't, then explains how the rings Ian got froze her up. Amaranth says they will ask Steff about necromantic alternatives. Mack states that she isn't comfortable with necromancy in her personal life. Amaranth tries to explain that death is merely the other side of life, to which Mackenzie remarks about not wanting death magic in her vagina, a line which makes Andreas squirt beer out of his nose.

Oru asks if Ian has met Moeli. She seems to be keen on having Ian meet him for some reason and suggests a double date between Moeli and herself and Mack and Ian at a dance being held in the pent on Wednesday. Mack gets a little ticked that this is the first she's heard of this dance. Ian offers to keep Mack informed about such events. Mack asks him to also make note of any posters that go up in his dorm.

Ian mentions that there's another dance coming up in a couple of weeks for Veil. Mack seems a bit stunned by the news that there is going to be a Veil Ball on campus. Shiel suggests that they should protest, stating that the holiday is offensive and reinforces stereotypes. Mack tries to explain that the holiday is really just harmless fun. Amaranth becomes intrigued by the possibility that she might be able to justify getting dressed up in honor of this Arkhanite holiday. The fact that the holiday has been appropriated from an oppressed religion makes Shiel even more outraged against the celebration.

As the debate becomes more heated, or at least Shiel's part in it, Honey mentions that it is considered impolite to discuss religion at the table in some circles as a way of defusing things. Oru chimes in that she doesn't discuss it anywhere because it leads to arguments. Ian invites Mackenzie to the Veil Ball. Mack accepts. Amaranth invites herself and Steff along as well, much to Ian's not-so-great delight.

Mack asks if Amy has spoken with Viktor yet about her transgression with Steff. Amaranth replies that she'll do so while she's working the boys' side later that day and reassures Mack that things will be alright.

Honey seems enthused about the Veil Ball. She reminds Hazel of one New Year's at her uncles where they went dressed as peacocks. Hazel mentions kneeing Honey's uncle in the "grapes" for showing an unseemly amount of interest in her tail feathers. Honey reckons that explains why they weren't invited back the next year.

Shiel turns to Oru as her last hope for support in opposing the Veil Ball, but Oru suggest that she and Honey can go dressed up as each other. Honey eagerly replies that she can paint her face. Shiel bemoans the future this forebodes.

[edit] Notes

Ian plays the typical pay-for-your-girlfriend type of boyfriend once again in this chapter, a fact Mack rather appreciates.

Two and Ian exchange dirty looks over the whole underage drinking issue, highlighting once more the friction between them.

Ian brings Mack a bottle of strawberry soda and an I.C. Cola for himself.

Oru seems to be jealous of Moeli's obvious infatuation with Mack and appears to be trying to steer Moeli away from Mack by arranging for him to meet Mack's boyfriend Ian.