Contact information can be exchanged then.

Awesome.

Run continues, and eventually concludes; she calls up Mallory to give her Raine's info.

Mallory thanks her and asks for her impressions of the girls, if she doesn't mind giving them.

(She ducks out of the house to make this call, and speaks in a low voice - though she still doesn't know exactly how much Raine can enhance her hearing.)

"They seem nice.  Bryce seems like she's - going through some shit.  She's not taking to it well.  And, uh - just, let me know if you don't hear from them in a week or two?  I could be imagining things, but there was something a little weird about how much Raine was down on Bryce talking to someone else."

"That does sound concerning. I'll keep you updated."

...Subtlety remains not her strong suit. She'll need to be more careful from now on.

" 'Preciate it.  Talk to ya later."

"Talk to you later, then."

She returns to the house for lunch.  She doesn't bring up the League with Bryce, alone or with Raine there, for the rest of the day.  It feels like going against her better judgment.

Raine is perfectly pleasant and solicitous and doesn't mention the League, either.

Bryce shows no signs at all of soul-melting self-loathing except for the occasional hint of forcedness in her smile.

They can be a whole household of not-talking-about-it then.

(Raine's not really talking at Bryce about Emotional Things, but she's making sure to be generally attentive and helpful in subtle ways.)

Tobi observes, with her friendliest and most encouraging grin on, and does not observe any obvious attempts to make Bryce's issues any worse, at least.  So there's that?

Well, if Bryce doesn't think Tobi is trustworthy, Tobi will demonstrate trustworthiness by being cool and nice.

Raine isn't as good at subtle as she could be, but she does know what she's doing. Her goal is a nice, happy-as-possible-given-the-givens Bryce who is thoroughly hers, not a melted puddle of self-hatred. Admittedly, the 'hers' is a bit more important. Mostly because she knows that as long as she has Bryce she can do damage control, and make sure the other girl's fine. How's she supposed to look after Bryce if she wanders off?

Tobi's never tried to unravel this sort of web before, so she doesn't pick up on much of this.  She is not, by nature, a conspirator.  And if Bryce doesn't want to leave, Tobi's at a bit of a loss for what to do for her.

But she keeps one eye on Bryce, makes sure she at least seems happy, and resolves that yes, she'll definitely be circling back this way at least once, especially if Mal and the rest of the League never hear from Bryce.

Eventually the day does end.

Bryce sleeps a little more soundly tonight.

Zzz.

"Thinking of heading out today?" Raine asks the next morning over breakfast.

“Yeah, I think so.”  Nom.  “May swing back this way to say hi, but I won’t make you guys unfold the couch again.”

"We'll be glad to have you, either way."

"Hey, thanks.  Thinking of looping my way around the Carolinas if my tech guy doesn't notice any big witches around.  Know any good tourist traps?"

"Charleston, South Carolina's always pretty. Got some good architecture, neat ghost tours. The local magical girl is fine if you don't hunt in her territory, though she sometimes plays pranks on tourists. I wouldn't suggest hunting there, that girl always knows who's doing what and will attack. If beaches are your thing, there's Myrtle Beach, but I like the Outer Banks better, there's more non-beachy things to do. Been through Boone a few times, that's more nature stuff but it's fun even if hiking isn't your thing. There's a theme park nearish Boone, Tweetsie Railroad, that I loved as a kid, though I don't know if it's any actual good when you're not knee high." There's also a few smaller, more spend-an-hour places she can point out, little hidden gems that you only really learn as you get to know a place.

Tobi whips out her phone to take notes.  "Good stuff.  On a related note, I gotta go get packed."  She wipes her mouth and pushes away her breakfast plate.  "Good breakfast, Bryce, thanks."

Grin.  "You're welcome."