Of Watchers and People Persons

[nomorekaraoke]

Seeing Emma--

Let's start over.

Seeing Beth was probably one of the hardest things he's done in the past year, but he doesn't regret coming here. He doesn't care about the looks he gets from everyone, nor about the whispers or the tension so thick you could cut with something suitably sharp... And yet, it's getting to him despite his best efforts; he needs air, he needs open spaces, and more than anything, he needs a mini marshmallow.

Or twelve of them. Badly.

Only problem is, once he's outside, there's this thing... getting the bag out of his (very manly and stylish) traveling suitcase is one thing. Getting it open (without using his teeth, thank you very much) is kind of difficult if you've only got full use of one of your arms. In short, life sucks on all levels today. Why can't Deathwoks have sharp claws like every other demon? Or fangs. Actual fangs would be nice.

He is not going to use his teeth for this. Not gonna happen.


His problems, so huge, aren't they. So huge even his narration jumps on the sarcasm wagon.

Comments

[stilljustandrew]

He shrugs.

"You tell me. Killing him would've been cheaper. And probably easier. So why the mind-whammy?"

[nomorekaraoke]

"I don't care about money, and nothing's ever easy."

He doesn't want to talk about this, doesn't want to tell his deep, dirty secrets, but he isn't exactly in a state - of mind or otherwise - to be running away. He's stuck, but even if he wasn't, he isn't sure he'd move one inch. Running makes you look guilty. It's even worse if you are.

"Because I couldn't kill him. Because I've laid down rules, and everyone expects me to follow them. Because he... He made a living off of exploiting everyone's personal integrity, off of selling secrets. He'd sell his own mother if he thought it would make him big enough of a profit. Because I didn't want him to keep ruining all my hard work for I don't care how much cash you paid him."

[stilljustandrew]

His lips tighten at the venom in those last words, but after a moment he nods, acknowledging their truth.

"We've all got secrets to keep," he says. "I didn't just bring this up cause it was a handy way to turn the conversation around. I brought it up because both the geas and the tabula rasa spell have been brought up as possible sentences."

He's looking directly at Lorne as he says it.

[nomorekaraoke]

They all got secrets to keep, and Lorne isn't doing his best to keep them kept and hidden and locked away, and it's all getting to be a bit too much. He feels sick, vulnerable, and all too close to accepting defeat. He's too drawn even for righteous indignation... But the fact Wells would outright tell him about the Council's potential plans throws him for a loop, makes him wonder why, and most importantly, he's too far gone to mask his surprise. Not at the possible sentences, but at the candid leveling with him.

"Haven't you ever known someone...who made some bad decisions, or, or just did some pretty stupid, bad things? And you didn't care, you just wanted them to be safe because of what they meant to you?"

[stilljustandrew]

He's watching for the shock, and sees it, and despises himself a little for that move. Enough to feel that he's earned that jolt of unexpected pain at Lorne’s question.

(It's been a long time since he's thought about Warren.)

"Yeah," he whispers. "Yeah, I have."

[nomorekaraoke]

"Sorry, doe eyes. Just had to see if you have any idea what I'm dealing with, here." He sighs, closing his eyes. "I didn't know her before the big bad bang. I just... I'm just struggling with this."

His heart aches.

[stilljustandrew]

"I get that."

Low, and careful.

"I do get that. And I'll do what I can for her. But she can't be my first concern."

[nomorekaraoke]

He nods, eyes still closed for fear of what he might say or do if he sees the look on Wells's face. "Of course.

"...thank you."

[stilljustandrew]

With his eyes closed, he's not going to see Andrew stoop to pick up something on the grass.

He'll probably hear the rustle of a plastic seal being tugged apart, though, and when he opens his eyes he'll see Andrew holding out the opened bag of marshmallows.

"You dropped these."

[nomorekaraoke]

His breath doesn't quite get caught on the sheer surreality of the moment, not on the surprise... But it catches on the kindness of the gesture. He reaches out, speechless and beyond, accepting the bag as if it's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for him.

"I, yeah. I did, didn't I." It is the sweetest thing ever. "Thanks. You're such a darling."

[stilljustandrew]

See if you still feel that way by this time next week, he thinks caustically.

"You should probably be going. To ... wherever it is you're staying tonight. The hearings are starting tomorrow, and Beth's isn’t going to be until after they’ve finished with the others."

[nomorekaraoke]

He doesn't answer at first, because right this moment sugar is his first priority. One tiny marshmallow disappears behind his pearly whites, and another, and slowly, slowly, the wooziness begins to fade and all he can think is Thank God for people like Doc.

"I wasn't planning on setting up camp, don't worry. I'll be off the grounds in no time, just need to regain some of my bearings."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew nods. And, for the moment, doesn't say anything else.

What he's waiting for, he couldn't say.

[nomorekaraoke]

Licking some stickiness off his molars behind closed lips, Lorne looks up at Wells with knowing red eyes. Though, knowing might be stretching it, so let's call it a hunch. An inkling.

He reaches up with a small smile, holding out the bag of sugary, fluffy goodness.

[stilljustandrew]

A long beat.

And he reaches out and takes a marshmallow, with a very small rueful smile. "Thanks."

[nomorekaraoke]

He's feeling better already, and with it comes his usual penchant for generosity, however small a gesture it may be. "Nemas problemas, 'bro."

[stilljustandrew]

Wry: "Oh, don't I wish."

He pops the marshmallow into his mouth, and chews.

"Listen," he says before he's quite finished chewing, "I'll walk you out."

[nomorekaraoke]

"Oooh, a private escort. I'm flattered." And apparently, with his regained bearings and slightly eased heart and soul comes the flirting, and with a vengeance.

Another few munches, and he thinks he's ready-steady enough to try standing on his own two feet. Up he goes, bag safely tucked into the hook of his wrist. (Very manly) traveling suitcase, check, coat, check, everything else, check checkity-check.

"After you, kind Sir."

[stilljustandrew]

"Oh no no, after you." Andrew makes a flourishing gesture in the direction of the main road.

"This isn't me being polite," he adds after a moment, slightly sardonic. "This is me doing my job to make sure you've left."

[nomorekaraoke]

"Yes, but notice how nice I am, not pointing that out." He grins, not sure if it's the sugar or the surprisingly honest talk they had that's lifting his spirits a bit higher than strictly normal, lately.

"I own a night club, sweetie. I know all about showing people the door."

[stilljustandrew]

"Oh, I know that." Wry again, as he falls into step next to Lorne. "I should know, I watched you do it back in February."

[nomorekaraoke]

"Yeah. And it went so smoothly too," sarcasm - Lorne's best friend. "My best moment, I'm telling you, the highlight of my career offending one of the members of House Varadeem. Go me."

[stilljustandrew]

"Yeah, about that."

Andrew’s eyes are on the path ahead of them.

"You ever find out why we were there with Lord Vayan in the first place?"

[nomorekaraoke]

He tilts his head down, then up again, to the skies above. "I have an idea or two. Vayan's very much the epitome of aristokitten, and his enemies want him dead. But what I can't figure out is how come he accepted you guys into his pride."

[stilljustandrew]

"We showed up one night earlier that month and saved his life. Same assassins. Well, not the same assassins, they kinda came down with a bad case of dead after that, but same order."

He has no idea why he's telling Lorne this, and then he thinks of Angel's flat closed expression and he knows exactly why h's telling Lorne this.

"I wonder if you can guess how we knew he'd need our help."