October 1, 2008

"Remind me again why we're going to this thing?"

Mac sighed and shook her head. "Support for Prop 2, Veronica. PHAT's trying to raise awareness about the plight of farm animals so they can get the proposition passed in November. This demonstration is to rally the support of the Hearst student body." She waved the flyer in her hand, then folded it in half and brandished it at Veronica. "This is the size of the cage of an egg-laying hen. And then they stack them on top of each other. They burn their beaks off so they don't peck each other, Bond."

"Nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh, stop right now." Veronica cringed and shrugged her shoulders up around her ears, like she could somehow un-hear Mac's explanation. "We're not gonna see anything about that, right? I can't watch videos like that. No. Just...no. I will leave."

"I don't expect any videos tonight. I can't promise there'll be no signs though."

Veronica shuddered. "I see even a single beak-less chicken, I'm out."

"Duly noted." They were nearing a crowd outside the Student Union. "Thanks for coming, Veronica."

"No problem. Gotta support the chickens. Need 'em for my breakfast."

Mac burst into nervous laughter. "Probably want to keep that sentiment to yourself."

"Does that mean I can't talk about bacon either?"

"Oh, dear God."

"Hey." Veronica stopped, peering up at the Student Union steps where the PHAT leaders were gathering. After a moment, she glanced suspiciously at Mac. "I know that guy."

"Yeah," Mac replied evenly. "We both do. You worked a case two years ago and we met him."

"And you dated him." Veronica spun at Mac, pointing an accusatory finger. "That's why I'm here. You couldn't very well bring Dick with you to meet up with an ex-boyfriend."

"That's not why you're here," Mac protested. "Dick cares even less about the ethical treatment of animals than you do. Of the people I usually interact with, you were the least offensive option so I wouldn't have to come alone."

Veronica burst into laughter. "Least offensive option. Wow. That's something to aspire to. Way to make a girl feel wanted." She threw an arm around Mac's shoulders. "So, spill. Did ex-boyfriend—"

"Bronson."

"—yeah, that's right, Bronson, did he invite you here himself? Or are you really into the plight of the chickens?"

"It's a legit issue, Veronica. If you're going to insist on eating eggs, you should at least go cage-free."

"I think we already do. Logan does all the grocery shopping online and I'm pretty sure he's got a genetic pre-disposition that makes him buy the most expensive version of any given item." She gestured toward Bronson. "Come on, don't think you can divert attention from the topic at hand. Did you get a personal invitation to this thing?"

"It's not like that. We've both got classes in the same hall, that let out at the same time, so sometimes we bump into each other and talk. This demonstration is a big deal for PHAT, so he asked if I could come and bring a friend or two. There's supposed to be press here, and if they were only able to pull in a tiny crowd, they'd probably get ignored next time they tried to get any publicity."

"Uh huh." Veronica nodded thoughtfully. "So there's nothing going on here that's gonna end up with Dick whiny and hanging around my house all the time, right? Like when he was trying to get you to move in with him and you kept saying no? He was attached to my husband like a limpet until you finally agreed. You know how I feel about Dick who won't get out of my house."

Mac snorted. "You've made your feelings on that subject abundantly clear. And that was almost a year ago, Veronica. Stop worrying, everything's fine."

"Okay, okay." Veronica shrugged, looking a little apologetic. "I just had to check. Can't have you dumping Logan's BFF. Too much risk of him ending up crashed on my couch."

"You know, if I ever start to feel dissatisfied in my relationship, I'll try to remember to keep your needs in mind and just suffer through."

"Excellent, thanks." Veronica looked at Mac with a very serious face, then they both burst into laughter. "All right, come on. The chickens need us."