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Couple of hours later.
Sitting on a corner booth of a busy sports bar that is just far enough from the convention centre that pretty much no one has a clue about Anthrocon, or at least not visibly so, the pair have gotten a lot of pizza in them, and are currently idly munching on nachos and are on their second or third pint. The dinner has gone in almost complete quiet, both minds full of everything from the last two days.
Finally, Jacinto breaks the silence. "So... magic is a thing. I definitely expected more like some Harry Potter crap or something, and not..." He gestures vaguely with his hand: "...this."
Rowan washes down a mouthful of nachos and swallows, relaxed a little at last from the few beers in his system, "Right? I thought magic was supposed to be all waving your hand around fire balls... though I guess maybe that's just Dungeons and Dragons?"
Jacinto chuckles, making sure no one is listening... not that anyone is in a loud bar like this. "A definite lack of fireballs." He smirks. "Though really, I wouldn't even know how to aim one, you know?"
Rowan laughs quietly, "Just sorta cup your hands and... well no, that's Dragonball Z. Heh... guess I don't really know either." He dips his head down, staring into his beer a moment as if considering adding more. At last, he shakes his head, "But I guess it's a thing, huh? This whole thing is... real."
Jacinto nods: "Yeah. We gots some really fancy costumes now. Cause that's all they are. Obviously." He doesn't sound terribly convinced, but saying it makes him feel better. Momentarily, anyway.
Rowan frowns slightly, "Yeah, they are that, I guess..." He takes another drink. "...and that's all. Right?"
Jacinto starts to nod, then sighs. "Well. We could hope so. Wake up tomorrow and everything is back to normal, right?" He blinks, then groans. "...I said that last night as well, didn't I."
Rowan glances back up, "Guess maybe things can never go back to normal now...? Not unless... unless we just get rid of the suits and never look back. Even that's different from what it was." He sighs, "I wish things were just the way they were before..."
Jacinto nods in agreement. "Yeah. Back to before. I mean. We could just... leave this behind us and never even... look up anything, but..."
He gathers his addled thoughts, then frowns at the nachos, even though the nachos are likely innocent in all this. "...not sure I could forget. Or look at a good looking fursuit the same ever again."
Rowan takes another nacho off the pile, but doesn't put it in his mouth just yet, "I won't ever either, but I'm not gonna lie, walking away and never coming back... that's where my head is. And I hate that. I love these cons, but..." He trails off, hating himself for making the admission.
Jacinto looks up at Rowan: "You're stronger than me." He sighs harshly. "Much as I would like to... do that thing, I know I can't. While all that scares me, it also... fascinates, you know?"
Rowan shakes his head, "Don't feel stronger... I feel like a coward. I love this stuff, ever since you pulled me along to that first con. But I'm scared stiff now..."
Jacinto nods. "It is pretty darn scary. And maybe you are right. We should not get pulled into this... insanity."
Rowan sighs, "Over a thousand people in this group... it's almost unbelievable..."
Jacinto nods: "It's pretty unbelievable. Like how do people even keep something like that in secret?" He pauses. "Well. Magic. But besides that."
Rowan shrugs, eating the nacho chip at last. "Magic is probably a lot of it. If we just walk away and never reach out, who would believe us if we tried to reveal them? Not that I ever would."
Jacinto gives an amused snort. "Yeah. Suppose they got this pretty well set up in that regard."
Rowan chuckles, "Yeah... magical deities and bubbles and... I mean, the worst that can happen to them is a troll joining their Discord server I guess." He sighs, "Ugh... what are we going to do..."
Jacinto hums at the nacho chip in his hand: "To them? Nothing, probably." He frowns. "With us? I don't know."
Rowan laughs again, "I meant with us, yeah. I don't want to do anything to them. At least, if Rowena was telling the truth, they weren't exactly singling us out. Maybe... we need to talk with Audie more."
Jacinto considers, then nods. "Couldn't hurt. Or checking out the discord server. Even if we decide to do nothing, we'll be wiser about what we're not doing anything about, right?"
Rowan makes a face, but slowly nods, "Yeah... guess it couldn't hurt to check it out. Lots of folks there with more experience than us, I'm sure. I'm just torn still."
Jacinto continues: "Just checking it out. And yeah, just... more perspective before we do anything about... well, anything."
Rowan looks back down into his beer, taking another drink to finish his glass. "So... what are we doing Sunday? Not suiting up for sure, but... we still have a day at the con. We should see if Audie actually is in the vendor hall first, but..."
Jacinto hums: "Maybe she can provide answers. I don't know."
Rowan sighs, "Not even sure what answers I want at this point."
Jacinto pauses, then nods. "...yeah, there is that. I don't know. Some experience or wisdom that makes this shit make sense."
Rowan nods, "Maybe... Maybe... I wish... I don't even know, ha. I wish we had another pitcher of beer because I think I need it tonight."
Jacinto laughs a bit. "Now that, I can agree on." He almost moves to go get one, but gives Rowan a look first: "You sure, though? We've had a few." The two crafters noted a long time ago that fursuiting and drinking don't mix, so very rarely indulge.
Rowan frowns, "Yeeeessssss... But you're probably right. I really, really want to keep drinking. Which is usually a good sign it's time to stop."
Jacinto nods with a small smile. "Grab some snacks on the way to the hotel and investigate this stuff on our phones in the room for a bit?"
Rowan gives a thumbs up, "Yeah, and thanks Jac'."
Jacinto smiles: "Always. Whatever madness we're in, I won't let you down."
Rowan grins, "What are best friends for, right?"
Jacinto smirks as he offers his hand to Rowan: "Indeed."
Rowan reaches across the table to take Jac's hand, at least if everything else goes crazy, their friendship is a constant.
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