The Penderghast Home - Ojai, California [Wednesday afternoon]

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It was still only in the mid-fifties in Ojai, but Olive was still outside in the name of getting out of the house for a bit. Christmas had, of course, been excellent, but five straight days of running interference between her parents and her friends -- not that they needed it, but she was a little worried that their powers would somehow come up and

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[ultron_junior]

Victor had gone into the week terrified things would go horribly wrong, but so far nothing had. There'd been a couple awkward moments, and Victor had learned not to be in a room alone with Olive's dad if at all possible. But mostly it had been the kind of nice family Christmas they made soup commercials about, and he wasn't being sarcastic. After Fandom and the Hostel, it was ... quaint.

He left Chip to finish the model alone and wandered out to find Olive. "So how are the dogs doing?" he asked idly, as he sat down across the table from her.

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"I'm not entirely sure the puppies understand they're smaller than he is," Olive said, nodding to the larger dog playing with Ally and Vitor. "But otherwise, everyone's surviving thus far. Having fun? I'm sorry if Chip's like, talking your ear off." She'd seen the model-construction as she'd exited, and she knew how excitable her little brother could be. Not a bad thing, but she figured it might not be ideal for someone not used to it.

[ultron_junior]

"This is about the most relaxing week I've had in a long time," Victor said. "And Chip's a pretty cool kid. Besides, he let me put together one whole side."

Chip reminded him of Molly, actually. He'd called home Christmas Day, but nobody had been able to talk for long. It made him a bit wistful.

"What about you? Are you regretting inviting superpowered weirdos home with you yet?"

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"Well, you haven't short-circuited the TV, and we've managed to convince Mom and Dad that Sia's both just very sheltered and not telekinetic, so no, no regrets," Olive assured him with a grin. Her phone beeped, and she glanced at it. "I made an executive decision that we're not going to go to Melody's for a party tonight, by the way. Figured you wouldn't mind, though I know I'll have to talk Marsie off the ledge due to her disappointment."

Because Sia had totally demonstrated her love of teenage debauchery back in October.

[ultron_junior]

"I think Sia still practically has PTSD from that party you threw in Africa," Victor said. "I can live without finding out how much fancier the keg is at an Ojai rager than at an L.A. one. Parties where I only know the person who asked me stress me out anyhow."

He smiled, scruffed his hair out of his eyes. "Also, I would totally fix the TV if I shorted it out."

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"I know you would," Olive said with a smile, reaching a hand over to run her fingers over his hair, too. "And then everyone would like you even more than they already do. You totally have the brotherly and parental seal of approval, by the way, if you were worried."

[ultron_junior]

"Only a little," Victor admitted, tilting his head to encourage the petting. "Your dad still throws me off, but it's better now that I know it's on purpose. Also? I'm so glad you aren't the type of girl who has to date somebody her parents hate."

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"Pff, no," Olive said, rolling her eyes. "I mean, I don't think I'd care except that it'd be awkward, but making a point of it would probably just be too hard. My parents are really laid-back, anyway. I think they'd be fine with it if I brought home someone who looked like Sparkle or Cade, too. Though truth be told, you're the first boyfriend I have introduced around, so maybe you're just an exceptionally awesome fluke."

[ultron_junior]

"Or maybe you just have exceptionally awesome taste," Victor returned. "And yeah, it's not that it'd be some huge thing to me if people across the country didn't like me, but it makes the visit go way easier that they do."

He leaned forward, distracted by watching the dogs tussle over something n the yard.

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Olive glanced at the dogs and realized that Sia's super-hyper puppy was, once again, attacking leaves and PROTECTING THEM ALL. So brave.

"Think it'd go this smoothly if I visited your LA?" Olive asked a little wryly, knowing the answer was probably a pretty sound 'no.'

[ultron_junior]

Victor hesitated. "Maybe," he said. "It's not like they wouldn't like you, there are just .... a lot of complications."

And didn't that make it sound appealing?

He tossed a stick to try to distract Vitor. "We could stop by, y'know. We don't have to be back at school for good until the fifth."

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Olive slanted a look over. "Would you want to? I mean, if the...complications would make it easier not to, I understand. And are we talking like, 'I don't have powers and it's dangerous' kinds of complications, or what?"

[ultron_junior]

Victor thought about it. "Mostly that," he said candidly. "People with powers dating people without is ... sometimes kind of a bad idea. Plus there are still bad guys who want to hurt them. But it's been pretty quiet there last couple months, and they got this sweet beach house in Malibu, so we'd probably be good for overnight."

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Olive played with a loose thread on her jeans, feigning casualness. "You think they'll like me?" she asked, more nervous than she'd like him to know. Because seriously, she kind of had this non-powers thing working against her, plus there was an ex-girlfriend in the mix.

(Todd, blissfully, had gone away for the holidays. Not that she wouldn't have liked to see him, but...Victor might not have.)

[ultron_junior]

"Sure," Victor said, too easily. "At least, Karolina -- my Karolina -- will, and Chase and Mol. Nico might be a little snotty, but that's not really personal. It's just the ex thing."

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"Eh, if she doesn't make it awkward I won't," Olive promised. "And I also won't tell Karolina I live with her, sort of. That whole situation is so confusing."