Valentine's Day

[everyone_takes]

It wasn't that Kate was one of those people who totally hated Valentine's Day and everything it stood for, but she'd never really cared much about it either. It was nice to get presents, but she'd lived on the island long enough now that she didn't expect anything.

Usually, what she expected on a day like today was something weird. The fact that she woke up in her own body had been nice and so far nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She didn't feel the need to tell everyone she loved them or act out of character. She didn't feel weird at all.

"I guess nothing is going to happen today," she said to Chang. "I should probably take you outside to play."

The dog bounced around the living room while she collected his ball and a pair of sandals, then raced through the door ahead of her when she opened it. Kate dragged her chair down off the porch and set it up in front of the hut, then began to throw the ball into the jungle for Chang.

"I'm glad you don't eat all my stuff," she said to him. "You know I'm not very good at being tough."

Comments

[mantlethemagnificent]

"Well, well, well, if it isn't one of my favorite people and her... yeah, hey! What's up?" Reggie asked brightly, blanking disappointingly on a suitably witty quip to fire off at Chang. Not that he disliked the little fuzz bucket, of course, but he couldn't talk back, which was always fun.

[everyone_takes]

Kate grinned at the sight of Reggie, tossing the ball again for Chang, who went running off into the bushes, crashing against trees as he went. He'd be gone for at least a minute, she figured, trying to find his ball under all the leaves and plants out there. "Just playing with the dog," she answered as a particularly loud crash came from the jungle. "I think he just ran into a log."

She paused, frowning faintly. "Did I just rhyme? I feel like I'm doing it all the time."

[mantlethemagnificent]

"Heh, you're a poet and you... well, apparently must know it," Reggie chuckled, peering around some trees to try to catch a glimpse of whatever mess the dog was getting himself into.

"So, V-Day! Shouldn't you be out doing something with the boy-toy who lived?"

[everyone_takes]

She and Harry hadn't really talked about Valentine's Day, which she was grateful for most of the time. It was one of those holidays usually reserved for the really mushy people, people who liked pink and hearts and while Kate wasn't opposed to some chocolate, she didn't care much about it otherwise.

Shrugging, she said, "We haven't really talked about it. It's not like if I don't get flowers I'll have a fit." She frowned again. "Okay, what the hell, what is this? Something is seriously fucking amiss."

[mantlethemagnificent]

"Amiss, nice vocabulary," Reggie said, sounding a lot more genuinely complimentary than teasing at that. "Just think about what you say before you say it, there's only so much accidental rhyming you can do, heh."

[everyone_takes]

"You're right," Kate said, then fell silent, seriously planning out the next part of her statement. What she meant to say was Any plans for you? and what came out was, "Are you taking out any girls tonight?"

Her fists clenched and she stared at Reggie. "It keeps happening no matter what I do. And everything I say is something true."

[mantlethemagnificent]

"No way," Reggie said, concerned first for Kate and then for himself as well. He wasn't rhyming, but he didn't think he'd yet tried skirting the truth that day, either.

"But yeah, I've got dates lined up straight through to midnight, no worries here," he added, his expression quickly shifting from one of confidence to relief, and then to annoyance that that happened to be a lie.

[everyone_takes]

Kate stared at Reggie for a long moment, trying to decide if that was the truth, if he was stuck doing it, too. At least he wasn't rhyming, but she didn't know if he actually had dates lined up all night and asking if he was lying just seemed sort of rude.

Not that she cared.

"Can you lie? Have you tried?" That almost didn't count as a rhyme, so maybe it was wearing off.

[mantlethemagnificent]

"I don't try anything, I just do," Reggie replied boldly, pleased that he was still himself. "But I'm pretty sure I'm okay? Besides, whether I said yes or no, how would you know it was the truth?"

[everyone_takes]

That was a good question and Kate's nose wrinkled as she thought about it. It seemed like she had to think about everything or she'd just start blabbing shit she didn't want said. "I could ask you something I know the answer to. Who lives in the big bedroom, me or you? Try to lie."

Maybe it was a stupid question, but it was the easiest one she could think of. She had the biggest bedroom, of course and if he said as much, then she'd know he couldn't lie. But that didn't prove he had to tell the truth either.

[mantlethemagnificent]

"It's all mine, natch, which I've never really understood because you obviously deserve it more, but hey, no complaints, right?" Reggie said with a shrug. It wasn't quite his usual approach, granted, but he supposed it got the job done. "See? Devious as ever."

[everyone_takes]

She wanted to tease him about being the worst, about how having him around totally sucked, but because it didn't those words wouldn't even come out. Kate's mouth hung open for a moment before she sighed and closed it again.

"I can't even tease you, I just want to say you're the best. This whole day is like a totally weird and crappy test," she said. It was kind of like torture. It wasn't that she had to lie, but twisting the truth was always sort of fun.

[mantlethemagnificent]

"One which I am apparently acing," Reggie grinned, feeling bad for her to a certain extent, but mostly just pleased that he wasn't in a similar bind. "The best, you say? The best what, exactly?"

[everyone_takes]

That wasn't fair at all. Not when he knew she couldn't lie and say something totally dismissive. Maybe if she concentrated really hard she could just say one honest thing instead of a whole bunch, which was probably just going to get her into trouble.

"Best... friend," she said through gritted teeth, trying to make sure that was the only thing that came out. "I can't wait for this to end."

[mantlethemagnificent]

"I'll take it, I'll take it," Reggie replied, nodding smugly. "I mean, I personally would add a few more items to the list, but that's just me. Besides, that's a real compliment coming from someone like you!"

[everyone_takes]

"I would, too, but that'd just get us into trouble," she said, even though she absolutely didn't want to. "Oh, god, I just need to live inside a bubble." The rhyming was bad enough, but the fact that she was going to keep saying things that shouldn't be said was much worse. She needed to change the subject, she needed to turn this back around on Reggie.

"What does that mean, someone like me? C'mon, I want an answer, ASAP." She really hated today.

[mantlethemagnificent]

"Aww, but we were talking about me," Reggie said, affecting a pout before he shrugged. He could always steer the conversation back in his direction later, it was something of a gift. "You know, someone smart, and funny, and so good at being all cool and jaded that you know it really means something when she's being genuine."

Okay, even for him, that was laying it on a bit thick. What gave?

"Whether she wants to or not."

[everyone_takes]

"That's so sweet, I knew you had it in you," she said, grinning. "And everything you said is totally true." At least she knew that couldn't be a lie, not today. It was nice to know her ego was still healthy enough, even when a lot of other stuff in her life was sort of falling down around her and going to shit.

But this was still a bad idea. Sitting here, being honest with the guy she already knew her boyfriend didn't trust.

Her smile faded a little and she said, "I think I need to stop most of my talking, or it won't be long before trouble comes knocking."

[theboywholived]

Harry had a pretty poor track record when it came to Valentine's Days, and that was before the island became a factor in his life. He regarded the approaching day with trepidation, disliking the treacly kind of sweetness that usually permeated the holiday and anticipating some new interference from the island. Turning everything into candy was well and good. But you couldn't trust the island magic to be that kind always.

When he woke up that morning, everything felt wrong, but that was only because Hermione was still gone. That feeling had yet to leave him, even months later, although it did seem to be fading, easing to a dull ache in his belly. Other than that, there was nothing. Nothing had transformed: not the environment and not Harry. A quick walk through the Green Arrow Estates confirmed that no one else seemed to be suffering of anything. It was early yet, but usually people switching bodies or changing personalities entirely got found out fairly quickly.

Harry's hopes were steadily creeping upward as he approached Kate's place and saw her simply playing with Chang. He checked his back pocket once again to make sure her gift was safe and sound, then dared to give her a grin.

"Hey!"

[everyone_takes]

At the sound of Harry's voice, Kate looked up and smiled, tossing the ball for Chang again. "Hey," she greeted him, watching as the stupid dog crashed into the jungle. "Come to play?"

She was teasing, of course, knowing full well that Harry wasn't there for the dog, as much as Chang might have liked that. He retrieved the ball and bounded back out of the trees, looking from Kate to Harry and then back again, his entire body wriggling as he tried to decide what to do. Eventually, he trotted over to Harry and dropped the ball.

"He totally loves you best," she said, surprised by how much that actually worried her. "I shouldn't even care, he's such a pest."

[theboywholived]

Harry had come to really like Chang, despite his name and ridiculousness. An owl was better than a dog; this he had to believe otherwise he was sure Hedwig would know his feelings and shun him. And a hippogriff was better than a dog, because he was sure Buckbeak would have been insulted otherwise, too. But the dog was definitely his third favorite creature on the island.

"He does love me best," Harry said, kneeling down to give Chang a scratch. That wasn't actually what he had meant to say at all. He had meant to reassure Kate, but the words just slipped out. He frowned slightly and tried to take it back a little.

"I mean, I think it's totally true."

..That wasn't right.

[everyone_takes]

"Hey, rude," Kate said, sitting up in her chair with a frown. "Come on, dude."

And she was still doing that, too. It seemed like no matter what she tried, everything was coming out in rhyme. And everything was coming out as the truth. It was weird and she didn't like it much.

"Have you noticed anything weird about today? This keeps happening, no matter what I say."

[theboywholived]

It was rude as well as not at all what Harry had meant to say, but when he opened his mouth to try to explain that to Kate, the words twisted and got caught in his throat.

Frowning, he shook his head. "Nothing weird," he said, which was again, wrong. "Everything's normal."

This was already starting to get on his nerves.

[everyone_takes]

"Well, I'm glad you're all fine and dandy," Kate said and although it sounded a little sarcastic, she actually meant it. It was good that nothing was wrong with Harry, especially when everything that came out of her mouth sounded like a stupid kid's poem. Chang bounded toward her and flopped against her lap, covering her in dirt.

"Ugh, he's all sandy," she said, then groaned and rolled her eyes. "I'm seriously over this crap. I need to sleep away this day, take a fucking nap."

[theboywholived]

"Well, I didn't have anything planned."

Lie. Absolute lie. Harry didn't have a lot planned as he wasn't a huge fan of Valentine's Day, but he did have a present in his pocket and the intention of spending the entire day with Kate. The last thing he wanted was for Kate to spend the day holed up in her hut.

"I couldn't care less," he said, his voice rising in frustration. What was wrong with him?

[everyone_takes]

"Okay," Kate said, dragging out the word as she looked at Harry. Something was weird with him, too, though she couldn't tell what it was. At least she was just doing this rhyming bullshit. He looked like he was getting more and more frustrated by the second. "Bad day?"

If he said no, then she'd know something was up.

[theboywholived]

"Just great," he said with gritted teeth. Harry couldn't control his voice. Nothing that he wanted to say was coming out and he couldn't tell why.

Except, of course...

"The island isn't doing anything for this holiday," he said with a dark, very obvious scowl.

[everyone_takes]

Kate stared at Harry for a long time, because she knew he was trying to tell her something even if his words weren't necessarily making any sense. Nothing he said made sense, especially with how annoyed he seemed by everything he kept saying. She couldn't lie and it seemed like Harry could only lie.

"Nothing you say is right!" she said, feeling pleased that she'd figured it out. "The stupid island wants us to fight."

[theboywholived]

It wasn't Kate's fault that she could only speak in rhymes. Harry reminded himself of that. But the couplets were not helping his mood at all. This was frustrating to him and the sound of her words felt like jeering.

"I-- I-- This is great," he said, throwing his hands up in the air. "This is just how I wanted to spend the bloody day."

[everyone_takes]

"At least now I know you mean the opposite of that!" Kate said, still feeling pleased that she'd figured it out. "One step ahead of the island, take that." That wasn't a very good rhyme either, but at least she could blame the island for being a crappy poet.