+ appointments

[strangelyliteral]

Please follow the format below:

- If it's a private journal ring: [ voice + date ] (i.e. [Voice - April 11])

- A private journal note: [ written + date ] -- of course, if it's just a note saying "lets meet here", it can progress to action quickly enough.

- A knock/planned meeting/continued thread/etc and so forth: [ action + date ]

Comments

[strangelyliteral]

She contemplates the chai cup after another sip, setting it down.

"And it's, something you're doing for yourself, right? For - ... skill acquiring and still feeling productive. Not like - like your doing bartending for free gig."

[herotypical]

"...Exactly." She was pleased they could find some common understanding -- however fledgling. "I serve no one but myself. And -- okay, technically? Jack's the Captain. But only technically. And only because he built her. Which, by the way, happens to be another one of those feeling productive things."

[strangelyliteral]

"...Like Xander's old job."

Except it wasn't just a job, for Xander, when it came to construction. He built himself right out of his parent's apartment and into a new life - even if it wasn't with her.

Which still stung, in it's own way. Not a painful one, but the sadness of knowing that they never would have the time to piece together what it was that they were.

[herotypical]

"Very much like that. I'll never make fun of a dove joint again."

[strangelyliteral]

"I'm sure all the dove joints are happy for it."

Was this small talk? She contemplated her cup further, still feeling the burn to go but having no destination.

[herotypical]

"I'm sorry that the Spirits thing had to be your first taste of...here, by the way. It was mine, too, when I showed up. It's more than a little freaky."

[strangelyliteral]

"... Did one choose you that time?"

Said very lightly. Anya could remember Twila's twinge of disappointment at the failure to recruit Buffy to it's cause - though at the time, it had been quickly crushed under the weight of that revelation.

[herotypical]

"Nah. I was untouched. But, like you, it was my first month. I didn't know anyone except the anyones from home. For all I knew, they were the bad guys."

[strangelyliteral]

"Shouldn't you have been more prepared this time, then?" The edge comes back. "It's not like you didn't know who I was."

[herotypical]

Her problems this time were entirely different from her problems last time, but saying so would only sound like an excuse. So: "Well, I wasn't considering slaying anyone -- that was already an improvement."

Wrong response, really, given the real subject at this conversation's core.

[strangelyliteral]

"You took it into consideration whether or not you should slay." The words are repeated, granted not in the same order that Buffy had said them, with some disbelief. "I guess in your defense, slaying doesn't count for much in a world where people don't stay dead."

[herotypical]

"...I got Drusilla, once." And while Anya might never have met the vampire, Buffy knew the name had been dropped around the household. "Straight to dust. She came back in a week -- fangless."

[strangelyliteral]

Considering what she's heard about the not-so-trendy vamp, Anya has to admit that's pretty lucky - almost impressive, if not for already being informed that the penalties didn't exactly stick here either.

"Oh. That's good for you, I guess." And lo, how they were again straying from the touchy subject.

[herotypical]

"Goodish. I mean -- as good as it gets. She still managed to cause trouble. I guess...what I'm trying to say is that anyone could show up. You being here as good as proves that."

Because, in four years, she'd seen a lot of people come and go. Most of them multiple times. But this was Anya's first. It was still a surprise.

[strangelyliteral]

"Anyone could show up and anyone could go. Maybe I'm here so that you can go get your life back."

She's not sure what brought that thought to mind - other than the strange coincidences in the similarities of their arrivals and experiences. Anya no longer had a place at home, but Buffy would always have one.

[herotypical]

"I wouldn't hold my breath. I mean -- I can't imagine me leaving any time soon."

[strangelyliteral]

"You say something like that, and then poof - gone tomorrow, I bet."

[herotypical]

"Don't even joke about that," she said -- startled. Clearly distressed by the notion.

[strangelyliteral]

"Who's joking? I was under the impression this place liked tragic irony."

[herotypical]

"It's just that...look -- leaving's not something I'm ready to do. Yet."

[strangelyliteral]

"It's going to happen whether you're ready for it or not, Buffy."

[herotypical]

She flattened her palms on the table.

"Hey, now. I'm the one who's supposed to be giving the sage advice. Winged veteran, here."

[strangelyliteral]

"Oh yeah? Sometimes newbies can be right on the money about advice too." She's nonplussed by Buffy's reaction. "But I guess - I hope it won't happen like that."

[herotypical]

"And -- for what it's worth -- I hope you have a long and fulfilling stint here before you...

Well, I've known a few others in your predicament. Still know them, in point of fact. And they make it seem as though peace is possible."

[strangelyliteral]

"If there's enough time to make peace with the idea, maybe."

It hasn't been nearly enough time for Anya, yet. She had gone through a few stages, true - even evicting Twila was part of that. Something she had to do for herself.

Maybe she should actually take another sip of that tea. She brings the cup back to her lips.