[ open ] always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it

[inakoipond]

If you wander through Grant Park you may witness a man staring up at the sun. If he's not staring incredulously at the ball of light in the sky, he's seated on a bench, flipping through a journal. It's not exactly his first walk through the park, figuratively speaking, when it comes to dimensional travel. But, because of what he is, he hardly ever

Comments

[isaywe_party]

There are numerous things that Buffy expects to see in Grant Park.

Monsters, vampires, tourists. Occasionally there's even a random wild animal (usually a shapeshifter gone awry). It's usually a magical mystery tour of fun and adventure, and every once in a while there's a new Wanderer that she has to show the ropes. And normally, she doesn't mind -- but this Wanderer isn't something that she's expecting. It's been a very, very long time since she's seen him, and it's something that she always knew would happen, but still isn't entirely prepared for.

"Angel."

Saying it makes it real in away, because it's that moment where everything else sets in. The fact that yes, that's Angel. The fact that yes, it's daytime.

The fact that Angel is most decidedly not on fire.

"Angel, what are you doing?"

That statement is mostly worry and concern as she's running towards him trying to shield him from the sun as she did. She isn't going to let him land in Chicago just to burn up two minutes later.

That's just not very much fun at all.

[isaywe_party]

"Yeah, he was," she nods. "He's a good guy. I'm sorry I didn't get to know him better back home." She's sorry for a lot of things, but that is definitely one of them.

She slides her hands in the pockets of her coat, taking a deep breath and nodding. "It has. A really long time."

[inakoipond]

"You sent Andrew," he adds, thinking back to the time of the wayward slayer.

[isaywe_party]

It takes her a moment to place what he was talking about, but eventually the clues clicked into place. "Andrew was equipped to handle it," she replies. "I didn't think it warranted a personal visit."

She was still scrambling to get organized. She couldn't abandon her post just because she may have wanted to see him. It is just the way things were.

[inakoipond]

"Andrew was a child," he bites back. "Watcher in training." He huffs, almost amused at the idea. "You were avoiding me. You didn't trust me. The moves I made." He had his reasons. She should know that. His trust, his judgment has never been called into question -- not after Faith, anyway.

[isaywe_party]

"Andrew is good at what he does. He's good with the girls, and he's good at keeping them safe. I trust him with their lives." This isn't the place to be debating this, and this is business that is old and buried, but apparently, they're rehashing this now.

"I have an army of girls who depend on me. I can't just drop everything and go to see you whenever I feel like it. And at the time, yes, I wasn't sure if you could be trusted. If you remember correctly, you were working for Wolfram and Hart."

[inakoipond]

"I do remember correctly. I decided that." But, Buffy doesn't know what went into that decision, where he's coming from, why he does anything. She's not in his head. Why are they arguing about this now? Oh, right. "I also remember you. Spike and I went to Italy."

[isaywe_party]

"Italy?" she frowns. "I haven't been in Italy in ... " Ages. Ever, actually. Let's go with ever. "When did you see me in Italy?"

[inakoipond]

"When we went to Italy." Because that explains everything. When she was dating the Immortal. But, like it's his place to bring it up. "We thought you were in trouble." Under a spell, more likely. "The Immortal..."

[isaywe_party]

" ... Oh. Oh."

There's a bit of an awkward face on her part, before she shakes her head. "That ... wasn't me. That was my double."

[inakoipond]

Sorry, Buffy, that doesn't really compute. It's just hard to believe - that, and it's confusing.

"Your double." He tries that thought on for size. "Why would you have a double?" It's not that he means to sound like he doesn't believe her. It's just -- he needs more. "Another... you."

[isaywe_party]

"Because I was the leader of all the Slayers and finding me would have been a very bad thing?" she says, giving him a skeptical look. "There was three of me for a while. Slayers who looked close enough that they could fool everyone else."

[inakoipond]

"Three of you," he replies. "Where was the real you?" he asks.

[isaywe_party]

She takes a deep breath. "Scotland. Training the rest of the new Slayers, and doing my job."

[inakoipond]

"Scotland," he replies. "Fringe Festival?" he asks, a bit of a mocking tone accompanying.

[isaywe_party]

She rolls her eyes. "Really, Angel?"