But there's a light on in Chicago and I know I should be home.

[nothingsodivine]

As is custom, there are many different people around, engaging in many different activities (and some of the same activities in different places). Come with me, gentle viewers, and we will see what they're up to.

Desmond Descant is in a bar as is per the custom of manly men who suffer manly heartache (the narration hears you snickering). He's

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[gunslingersai]

Roland has only recently walked into the sun room, but he's been watching (in a non creepy way) long enough to recognize how nervous the other girl is with that box of camcord aimed at her. He adjusts the guns at his waist and steps toward them both with ridiculous stealth. It's not that he's trying to sneak up on them. It's just the way he moves.

"Andrew," is all that he says, tone low, almost commanding.

Again, it can't be helped. When gunslingers talk, people listen.

[savesomelight]

Andrew jumps, because he is like a frightened rabbit. He blinks at Roland a little, somewhat sheepishly, because Roland, despite being younger is kind of scary and has very pretty guns.

"Hi, Roland," he waves. "Have you met Piper?"

Piper, meanwhile, is more than happy to be rescued and gently pushes Andrew away so she can meet this... Very dashing young man. Andrew is more than a little miffed, because it's not like he was torturing her or anything, and eventually just starts toying with his camcorder.

"Hi!" She says, gleefully, sticking her hand out. "I'm Piper and I'm a demon, and should I say that?" That last bit is directed at Andrew- like Andrew should know.

Andrew doesn't look up. "The demon part might be a bit much.

Piper makes a face and turns back to Roland, still holding her hand out. "Well, I'm Piper anyway. Nice to meet you, Roland... Are those real guns?"

The narration is so sorry, Roland.

[gunslingersai]

Andrew's reaction almost makes Roland smile. Almost. It's a difficult feat to accomplish.

He looks very confused at her hand sticking out, but then seems to remember that people shake hands in this world when they meet each other. Roland does not seem to think it applies as well in this moment. Shaking seems much too... rough. He takes her hand, lifts it up a little, and bows his head a little.

It's cute and awkward.

"And you, lady-sai." Roland raises his eyebrows, releasing her hand. No one's asked him that before. "Yes."

He'll take one out and hold it in his hand so she can have a better look at it.

[savesomelight]

Piper blushes and somehow doesn't mind the awkward. She thought he was going to kiss her hand there for a second, but... This was just adorable.

Do not spazz. Do not spazz.

Somewhere behind her Andrew scoffs, catching her thoughts and plops down on a chair. Of course, Roland is all handsome and dashing and from another world and has guns, and girls swoon over him. Bleah.

"Lady-sai. I like that. It's so... Storybook." She's a little breathless and she squeaks a little when he brings out the gun. "Really, really storybook... Well, it's a fairly modern fairy tale with guns, instead of swords or something... You're not some kind of prince, are you?"

Because that'd be weird. And cool. But mostly weird. And it should be noted that only the last bit was actually directed at Roland. Piper has a bad habit of talking to herself.

[gunslingersai]

"No," Roland says, putting the gun back in place. "I'm a gunslinger."

Not that she knows what that is. No one does here, but the way he says it makes it sound like it's a title that deserves respect.

"From a world very different from this one."

As if that hasn't already been made incredibly obvious.

[savesomelight]

Piper doesn't know what that means, but she's going to stare at him like he's something very special, ebcause he does say it like it is something deserving of respect. Plus it just sounds cool. Gunslinger.

"Oh yeah? There's so many people from weird worlds around here. Well, I mean... Buffy and Andrew's world's not so different, but, you know." She blinks at him and clasps her hands together. "If you want, you can tell me all about it. Oh God, that sounded so forward and weird. I'm sorry. I just... Don't meet people from other worlds very often."

Meanwhile, Andrew is now filming this scene and whispering under his breath from a safe distance. "This is gold, gentle viewers. Young love blossoming before your eyes. She, a common young demon with little understanding of her greater purpose and he a noble gunslinger from another world."

...It's probably a good thing that Piper can't hear him. In fact, it's probably a good thing that he's gotten far enough away that no one can hear him.

[gunslingersai]

"It's okay, sai-Piper. Neither do I."

Not at this young age, Roland, but had you continued on in your life, you would have met many people from other worlds.

Not to mention Walter. Not that he realizes it right now.

"I am not sure where to begin... with my world. There are no cartmobiles or boxes of camcord there. Paper is a luxury. There aren't as many guns there, either. Or weapons of any kind. It is much simpler in some ways, more complicated in others." He shakes his head. "Beg your pardon, I never had to explain it before. I'm not good with... words."

They were taught to be polite and how to speak to others, but not how to have a proper conversation. He managed them with Susan, with his friends, too, but...

[savesomelight]

She covers her mouth and tries not to laugh at 'box of camcord' or 'cartmobile.' God, it really is like talking to someone out of a fairy tale, but with guns in.

She blinks and shakes her head. "No, no! It's no trouble at all. Jeepers, it sounds fascinating though. I've never been out of the little town I lived in before I came here, so even this city is like a completely different world to me."

The narration really wishes she'd stop saying 'jeepers.'

"It's all so exciting. I'm afraid I'm going to wake up." She waves a hand. "Yeah, I don't think you need me being all..." She waves her hands in a vague, flaily gesture that Roland's probably not going to understand at all. "...At you."

[gunslingersai]

Roland doesn't mind the 'jeepers' just because he hasn't heard anyone else talk like that. It makes him feel a little like he's not so alone in the weird phrases.

"Does everyone say 'jeepers' where you're from?"

He raises his eyebrows. He's not sure 'exciting' is a word he'd use for it. There are dangerous people here and he's starting to wonder if she realizes that.

Not that he wants to be the one to inform her of it, but... keeping an eye out on her does not seem out of the question. He may do the same for all of the Scooby gang, secretly, but her and yes, even Andrew, especially. There's an innocence about them that reminds him of Susan, an innocence he'd like to keep alive.

The concern might even show up on his face a little when she says 'exciting'.

"Being all...?" Roland trails off, questioning.

[savesomelight]

"Actually, no one says 'jeepers' where I come from. I don't even think that's an actual word." Piper deeply considers this and then decides to let it go. It is technically an actual word, but it's not one anyone says unless you're Velma.

She blinks a minute at his question, realizes she was just flailing, and tries to correct herself, "Spazzy. Overly exciteable. Weird."

And there's a sheepish smile and a shrug as she hinds her hands behind her back as if doing so will make the flailing stop.

[gunslingersai]

Roland just nods in response to that looking vaguely interested. He's not sure how something could not be an actual word when she says it like it's one, but they didn't teach English at gunslinger school.

The narration just screwed around with Roland's past.

"Weird?" He raises his eyebrows. Never heard that word before. After a second he just shakes his head. "I like it. It's... you."

[savesomelight]

Piper gives him a sheepish grin and tries not to blush. "Well, no one's ever really said that about it before. Mostly, it's just 'Oh that's nice, Piper, please go over there now.' Or 'Piper, the world will not end if you say as little as possible.'"

Piper's parents were very... Restrained. Obviously one more reason why she was scared they'd freak out and try to exorcise her if they realized their little girl had moth wings and was pretty much a demon.

[gunslingersai]

"You shouldn't let other people tell you who to be."

Spoken from someone who has been practically molded his whole life by other people.

By their words and codes.

"Many a time, they only have themselves in mind."

Ah, Martin.

[savesomelight]

Piper shrugs again and smiles a bit more. "I guess that's what I'm doing here, huh? Trying to figure out who I am without the parentals having to tell me."

Andrew, for no discernible reason, maybe just to prove he exists in the grand scheme of things, pops up with his camcorder. "This is getting a bit after-school special-y. Hey, Piper, you wanna see if we can find Malek and observe the native velociraptor in his natural habitat?"

Piper just stares at him and stammers. "...But it's not his natura-I- wha? Okay."

She rolls her eyes, because Andrew is persistent and it'll probably be fun or something and gives Roland a small wave. "It was nice talking to you. We should do it again some time!"

That last part is said as Andrew grabs her by her arm and drags her off, leaving her sort of flailing.