(no subject)

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

Faith's in the bar, in a booth with food and coffee.

She's wearing headphones, but it's not music - it's a French language instruction tape.

Nick's being stubborn about the teacher thing.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

That? Is the sound of Simon doing a spit-take. Fortunately without anything actually in his mouth at the time.

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"I shouldn't talk when you're with me, should I?"

[simon_doctor]

"...well, you've just answered the question of how I could have danced even less well than I did, so I'm grateful."

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

Faith laughs and ruffles his hair affectionately.

"Did it go OK, after you got depenguinized?"

[simon_doctor]

"...yeah. It really did."

That's definitely a grin.

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"Excellent."

Beat.

"You were a very cute penguin. I was looking forward to keeping you."

[simon_doctor]

He looks wry again for a moment.

"I'll buy you a pet penguin the very next chance I have."

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"Aw. That's sweet, but it won't be the same. It won't have your special brand of human-turned-penguin-charm."

Faith sighs. "And since Kaylee'd object to my keeping you like you are...a life of solitude, it would seem, is my destiny. Woe alas."

[simon_doctor]

"Maybe you'll find someone who's always secretly wanted to be a penguin."

A bit thinly: "I'm sure Robin would oblige."

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

Faith's smile fades, and she looks at him, worriedly.

"...are you OK? I mean, joking aside, it couldn't have been any fun."

[simon_doctor]

A deep breath. "...It wasn't. But I'm all right now."

A pause. "I appreciate your asking, though."

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"I was a bird once. Raven. But that was voluntarily, so I could try flying." Faith pats his hand. "Count yourself lucky it was a penguin and not something with a smaller brain. When Meg was a butterfly she didn't want to change back."

[simon_doctor]

"...how often does this kind of thing happen here?"

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"In general? Pretty frequently. To Meg? Uh...pretty frequently. Though I'm told the centaur thing was her idea."

Faith grins. "My friend Alex was a cat. And Anthy made somebody a cow once."

Beat.

"There should be a support group."

[simon_doctor]

Simon is trying to keep a straight face, and failing.

"For people who've been turned into animals and want to discuss the trauma?"

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"Yes. We'll call it the 'Society To Prevent Interspecies Transformation.'"

Beat.

"'STOPIT,' for short."

Another beat.

"I'll figure out what the 'o' stands for later."

[simon_doctor]

"...The Society To Officially Prevent Interspecies Transformation?"

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"Yes!"

Faith beams at him.

"That's perfect! We can make buttons."