(no subject)

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

Jonathan's in the bar, sitting by the Bar with a cup of coffee.

He's twitchier than usual, and keeps glancing at the stairs like he's waiting for someone.

Comments

[stilljustandrew]

*If he's waiting for Andrew to come down those stairs, he's doomed to disappointment.*

*That's because Andrew's in the bar already, approaching him from the other direction.*

Hey.

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Andrew. Hey." He holds up his coffee, which is about the strongest it comes. "Want one?"

[stilljustandrew]

Had one already, thanks.

How're you doing?

*Something about the tone indicates that it isn't just a pleasantry.*

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Okay." His eyes flick to the front door, and away. "But you know we can't stay here."

[stilljustandrew]

Yeah.

*His eyes go a little introspective.*

I was talking to Nita about that the other night. Been putting off going home.

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Me too." He stares into his coffee. "Didn't want to go without you, either."

[stilljustandrew]

No, we have to go together.

Finish up our business with Angel first, make sure Tammy and the other Slayers get out of the area ... explain the sitch to Connor, and do the Tabula Rasa spell ...

*A deep breath.*

And then we have to report to the Council.

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"...yeah. When're you thinking of going?"

[stilljustandrew]

I don't know. Soon.

-- no, actually soon. Not soon-meaning-maybe-never.

[gone_byebye]

Ray, for his part, doesn't come down the stairs. He's already down. But he's done with his evening computer tinkering, so he looks up and- oh, hey, familiar face.

"Hi, Jonathan."

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

Jonathan glances up in turn, smiling slightly.

"Ray! Hi."

[gone_byebye]

Ray smiles. "How's it going?" he asks. "Haven't seen you guys in a while."

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Ah, it's... okay! How're you?"

He's caffeine-jittery, and not looking at the door.

[gone_byebye]

"Doing all right," Ray says. "Romana came back just before Christmas, which is always a good thing, and Peter seems to be at least holiday-cheerful if nothing else, so that's good too. Gonna head home tonight, though- I've been here long enough for now. Yourself?"

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, uh... Andrew and I are going home too. Three days from now."

[gone_byebye]

Ray nods. "Good luck with that. Got all your stuff in order yet?"

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

He swallows. "That's why we have to go back, when we've told everybody here who'd need to know. To face the music."

[shining-mercury.livejournal.com]

In comes stumbling a blue-haired young woman wearing a smart blue coat and a fluffy, inexpertly knitted hat-- a gift from Usagi-chan. She catches her breath and glances around dazedly.

As she realizes where she is-- and, taking in the holiday decorations, when she is-- an expression of deep frustration clouds her face.

"Ohhhhh!" she exclaims, managing somehow to sound sweet and innocent even while growling. "I'm too late ... I, I ... drat!"

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

He blinks in her direction, then gets up quickly, waving.

"Ami!"

[shining-mercury.livejournal.com]

In the habit of deeply distraught anime characters who are taken by surprise, Ami nearly falls over.

"Oh, Jonathan!" she says, sweatdropping copiously. "Are you all right? I'm so sorry, I couldn't get back, I--"

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt", he lies. "And that happens. How are you?"

[shining-mercury.livejournal.com]

With the air of someone picking her words carefully, she says, "So you were all ... successful? You did what you went to do?"

Then she takes a calming breath.

"Christmas was wonderful," she says with a smile. "My friends and I all got to be together."

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"We did", he confirms, smiling back. "And that's nice. I was here for the holidays."

Because he's been putting off going home.

[shining-mercury.livejournal.com]

"That's good," Ami says, nodding.

And it is. She wishes she could have helped ... but so much the better that they didn't need it.

Ami glances around.

"Well, it's ... nice here," she says brightly. "Very ..."

Alcoholic.

"... festive."

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

Jonathan shrugs. "Andrew was here too, and I didn't really have much reason to go back."