Predators’ Parlay

## Content Information

Xander, looking a bit paler than usual, left Carter after the first night being in his own room in a few days.  He didn’t have an intended destination, but he needed a walk to distract him from everything going on.  Arsling was safe, but the looming threat of his grandmother hung at the back of his mind, not to mention Tamzen’s arm.  Turning the corner he caught a pleasant smell, barbecue, someone was barbecuing nearby.  His attention now on the smell he made his way towards it, hoping that maybe the grilled would be inclined to share.  When he was finally in range he caught a glimpse of someone he wasn’t really expecting to find.

In her punk-and-fishnet derby clothes and a giant “hellhounds” apron, Didi was flipping burgers for a line of hungry students. Others were sitting at the courtyard tables, enjoying the sunny day. She looked up when she caught Xander looking her way, meeting his gaze with a guarded expression before smiling at the next student in line and greeting them.

Xander, giving an expression somewhere between concern and regret, gathered himself.  With a hefty sigh he went to the back of the line and waited until each student had gone through.  When at long last he reached her, he gave Didi as friendly of a smile as he could muster and asked, “So, whatcha serving?”

She cocked her head, unsure of his intentions. “Burgers, wieners, and veggie-equivalents -- trying to feed everyone who needs it.” She nodded at the grill. “They’re pretty much the cheapest money can buy, but seasoned and grilled with love. What would you like?”

“I’ll take a burger,” he paused for a second considering his words carefully, “and uh… if you’ve got any time… I’d like to talk.”  He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head.  “But only if you’ve got the time to of course.”

She didn’t reply to that, at first, walking him through his rarity and cheese options before waving over another student and passing them the apron. She grabbed herself the rarest burger on the grill, piled on the mustard and pickles, then led Xander to an open patch of grass and had a seat.

“You don’t ``look`` like you’re about to try to threaten me, so what’s this about?” she asked.

“I wanted to apologize for how I reacted,” he blurred out without a second thought.  “I was pissed Thursday, I said a lot of nasty shit, and after I cooled off and well,” he gestured over his body, “de-Serpented, I realized I didn’t know shit about the situation at all.  I never gave you the chance to say a word before I just mentally jumped all over you.  So, yeah… I’m sorry.”

“You should probably apologize to those fey while you’re at it,” said Didi, with a half-smile, remembering how all three of the others had tried to get physical with the fae in the not-fun sense. Then she put down her burger. “How’s Tam’s arm?”

“Well,” his face quickly turned a little grim, “it’s um, it’s still wood for one thing.  I don’t think whatever they did will last a long time, but it hasn’t gone away yet.”  He looked down at his burger and the back to Didi.  “In the end though we’re just going to have to wait it out.”  Xander shifted a bit, “I’m guessing you’ve been to see Arsling, what with her recent twit, how is she?”

Didi let out a breath. “She’s adjusting... and she’s letting me help. She’s fragile right now and I want to be there for her.” She pursed her lips as she considered the freshman. “Let’s talk about you, the mega-rich fencing cobra-boy. I--” She paused. “Oh, I want you to know, the cobra thing isn’t an issue for me. I might have acted weird when I found out, but that’s just because I thought Tamzen had started completely shunning me for being a werewolf, and then was just fine with--” She shook her head. “But none of that was true, and snake-people are good by me. So. Tell me some more about you.”

Xander swallowed his bite of burger and got a little red in the face, talking about himself was… not his best subject.  “Well um, my family, more specifically my Grandmother, runs the most powerful tobacco producer in the world.  I’m one of seven siblings, the youngest among them.  My mom was human, my dad was full serpent, so I’m a hybrid.  Uh… I fence but you already know that…”  Xander trailed off and gave Didi a sheepish grin.  “Honestly I’m not too terribly interesting.  So how about you, tell me about yourself Ms. rough and tumble derby wolf?”

“Yeesh, big money and it’s tobacco, too? That’d make for the highest body count of any monster I know.” She took another bite of her burger and became thoughtful. “To be honest, I think Tamzen already told you a lot more than I’d share willingly. What was she doing? How did she see those memories?”

“Well my grandmother’s the one who runs it, I want no part of it truth be told.”  Xander thought carefully about his next response.  “As for Tamzen… she’s found herself with the ability to ask for information and be given memories that fit her criteria.  I know the rest of us, well I call us ‘special’ folks, have an innate sense for finding out things we shouldn’t know by dealing in the dark.  With Tamzen it’s different, she’s more gifted in it than us, and I don’t know how or why she gained these abilities.  The short and long though, is that she wanted to find out what a werewolf transformation is like, and well, you were apparently the one chosen to convey that. I don’t know why it was you, but her powers seem to be impacted by strong emotion so that could’ve played a part.”

Xander takes a bite of his burger quickly and swallows it.  “I do know one thing though, those abilities she’s got are very, very dangerous.  She’s already been hurt because of them,” Xander’s eyes became filled with worry, “and she’s just a mortal, a special mortal for sure, but she doesn’t have the strength to defend herself from these things like you or I do.”

Didi’s brows tensed as well at the mention of the danger to Tamzen. “I haven’t talked with her since that night, but I doubt she wants me hanging around anymore.” She met Xander’s eyes with a fierce expression. “But if she’s in trouble, I’ll be there in an instant. All the nights we spent together meant a lot to me, and she seemed to like me in human form alright until last week. I thought she was avoiding me because I told her I was a werewolf, but…” She shook her head. “We have a lot to talk about, if she’s willing. I guess I’ll find out soon.” She ate more of her burger as she mulled it over. “Anyway, it’s cool that she’s fencing! And going out in public! She seems confident and comfortable with you.” Didi’s smile was genuine as she thought of Tamzen building a support network and finding people who made her feel good, even if it was bittersweet that she likely wasn’t going to be a part of it.

“Yeah, she really has grown a lot in the past week and a half… Wow it really has only been a week and a half since we met, feels like it was months ago.”  Xander gives a wistful look into the distance, then returns his attention to Didi.  “In regards to you and her, I’d just give her some time.  She’s in a really fragile place right now, and she hasn’t had the space she needs to just breathe and process everything.  She’s very protective of Arsling and I, and watching both of us get hurt how we did affected her a lot.  But she and Arsling will hopefully talk, and I’ll talk to her as well.  I know why you had to, yknow, turn Arsling, I get the broader picture of that situation.  I understand why you took such precautions to do it as well.  Put in your place I don’t know that I’d have done much differently to be honest, aside from possibly doing it sooner.

Xander, realizing he’d been rambling, decided to try and get to the point.  “But I’m not either of them, and I certainly wouldn’t want to speak for them, but yeah, tldr their emotions will probably settle out given proper time and space to do so... At least that’s what I think.”  Xander takes another bite of his burger, chewing slowly.  “And of course I’ll put in a good word for you to both of them.  You clearly care deeply about those two, and there’s no sense in making you suffer for doing the right thing, in spite of the method.”

Didi was listening intently at the ramble, offering just a snort at Xander’s comment that he might have done it sooner. She wondered if he really did have all the facts, but wasn’t really interested in his approval. Certainly if he wanted to try to smooth things over with the others, that might help. She finished her burger as she listened.

“Thanks for clarifying where you stand. You seem relatively alright for a spoiled, rich froshboy, though I’ll reserve judgment until I have all the facts.” She gave a toothy smile that made it clear she wasn’t going to lower her guard so easily. But she also wasn’t going to start shit; not anything serious, at any rate.

“Hey yknow, all I can ask for is to be given a fair shake I guess.  It’s what everyone deserves at the end of the day.”  Xander finished his burger quickly, and wiped his mouth.  “That was really good, great flavor profile and seasoning blend.  Much better than the ingredients you were working with.  Many compliments to the chef.”

Xander rose to his feet, grabbing his plate to throw it out later.  “Tamzen told me about the project you two have to work on together.  She’ll probably be the least friendly of the three of us after Thursday, so I’d tread carefully with her for now.”

“I’d better get back to the grill,” she said. “More hungry students to dazzle with the twin miracles of free food and actual flavors.”

“Oh before you go Didi, one more thing.”  Xander got in close and hushed his voice to a whisper.  “Be on your guard, Arsling’s situation may be mostly resolved, but there’s another threat looming out there.  I don’t know how much you know, but us ‘special’ folks have been coming under attack recently from some sort of group around campus.  There are a few of us aware of their presence, but we need to spread the word and stay vigilant.  Already I’ve been attacked at a career fair and other very open locations.”  Xander moved back a bit, an icy look overcoming his eyes without him even realizing.  “Any newly awakened folks may be prime targets for them.  Just something to consider moving forward.  Enjoy the grilling, and please do stay safe now.”  Xander turned to the wastebasket, deposited his plate, and began slowly walking away out towards the athletic fields.