Bryce flinches a little. "What is it?"

"Oh jeez, no, I'm not like mad at you or anything. I just don't know how responsible it was of Raine to keep you in the dark like that. Like, I heard from Mal that Raine was talking to them, she's not just - out of touch, or something. You seriously had no idea I gave her the phone number to get in touch with the League?"

She shakes her head again.

"Why - would she not want you to talk to them?"

Wouldn't it be ~so convenient~ if the person you're lying to about the awful things you've done was actually the one sneakily manipulating you. Then you'd be totally blameless, huh.

It's a thought she's had before. But Bryce is the one keeping secrets, in this relationship. Raine has nothing to hide.

She shrugs noncommitally.

"- Okay, never mind," Tobi says. "Like, maybe I'm full of shit, it's not like I've known you two too long. I just think it's better to have more people you can reach out to. So. I'm gonna give you Mal's phone number, and if you want you can just throw it away as soon as I turn my back."

She retrieves a notepad, jots down a phone number, tears out the page, folds it up, hands it over.

"Seriously. You don't even have to look at it if you don't want, if you really think Raine's call was the right one. I just think it should be up to you, whether you have the information. And I won't give your number to Mal or anybody unless you tell me to. She can already get in touch with Raine, but if you don't want her calling you directly, she won't be able to. Okay?"

Bryce nods.

- There's something actually kind of nice about that. Raine probably would've just decided for her whether to let this Mal person try to talk to her. And that's comforting, in a way, to have someone looking out for her best interests. But... but.

She takes the folded-up notepad page, pockets it. "Thanks, Tobi."

Grin. "No problem. Magical girls gotta look out for each other."

...Grin. It's even a little genuine. (Raine said you wouldn't be like this / I don't deserve how nice you're being to me / Raine thinks I'm a good person, maybe I do ... She shoves all of it down.)

Tobi doesn't catch much of that. And what she does - well, it might be the best she's gonna get for now. She'll keep her fingers crossed that Bryce gets in touch with Mal.

Raine returns a good bit before the promised time, but not so fast she's cutting off their talk.

"House didn't catch fire while I was gone I see!" she says, voice somewhat joking.

"Not burning down houses is my specialty."

"An example we can all aspire to."

Bryce giggles.

"I try."

She'll stick around a bit, make light conversation, appear casual and friendly toward Raine.  Not bring up the League.

Raine isn't as warm as she's been in the past, but she isn't really unfriendly, either.

Tempting though it is to loom over Bryce until she's out from under Raine's thumb, Tobi's not gonna stay overnight.  As the afternoon winds into evening, she says her goodbyes: "Nice seeing you guys again.  Keep in touch."

"We'll certainly try!"

"See you around, Tobi."

"See ya."

She shuts the door, and sighs, and lets her face fall into the scowl she's been suppressing all afternoon.

She stalks off to her Jeep and drives away.

(That night, Bryce - doesn't call the League.)

(But - she has their number.)

(She could talk to Raine about it.  But she doesn't think she wants to be told whether to call them or not.)

"Do you like having her here?" she asks. "Tobi? It's just, you always seem so worried when she's around..."

She shrugs.  "I guess - I've always been nervous around new people, even before I became a magical girl.  Tobi really seems okay, though."

"I'm just worried she's making you unhappy."