I AM NOT A MACODDITY!!

[smithnjones]

Martha Jones has spent the better part of the week at the Conrad hotel, as much as her house with a random smattering of people has become home to her, the Conrad will always hold a special place in her heart. It was her home for so long. She's leaving the hotel, actually, for the first time since she entered to walk through the park, take a break

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[archangelet]

This is Tay's sun room. Okay, no, it's not, but it's the one she's been moping in alone the past few days. And there's a woman in it.

Tay hesitates in the doorway, just on the edge of the pheromones' influence, feeling... just a tad less broken. Not enough for her to even notice yet, but a little.

Penny, don't mind the young girl in the doorway looking like she's debating whether to stay or flee for somewhere less populated. She won't bite (today).

[wots_her_name]

Penny looks up at Tay when she enters and smiles, just a little, her way. Just a friendly sort of I'm not anyone to worry about kind of smile that she uses with countless people. And she really isn't anyone to worry about so it's nice when there's complete honesty behind the expression.

She doesn't bite and she's not going to stare either. Just... wave slightly and say, "Hi!"

Before she returns to writing out pamphlet ideas, leaving it up to Tay whether or not she wants to enter any further.

[archangelet]

"Hi," Tay responds, rather quietly. She considers running away for a moment more, but... she recognizes this woman. Somehow, that makes her stop.

"You were in the basement," she says after a moment. "One of the civilians."

One of the ones there when Romana Fell.

[wots_her_name]

Penny looks up at her, again. Really looks at the girl this time, and then her smiles fades away slowly. Kind of dissolves the way sugar does in coffee. There's still a hint of it in her expression, but mostly she seems more dark and serious.

"Yes," she nods, setting the notebook aside. "My name is Penny."

[archangelet]

"Tay," she replies, curt and emotionless. Well, full of repressed emotion, anyway, but not letting any of it out enough to be distinct. Thinking about it, she shifts a little, puts her game face on without realizing it. From lost kid to... well, she's not exactly in warrior-mode, but she definitely gained a couple years, appearance-wise.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," she says honestly. "It wasn't your war."

[wots_her_name]

Penny smiles, again, sadly this time, mostly, because she's not sure how else to react.

"It's okay." She stands and takes a few steps toward her, drawn toward, despite herself. "I mean, it's not... really. Nothing about any of this is, but it's no one's fault that we ended up here and got in the way of everything. We're lucky that there are groups that know about us and put up with us. I'm still not positive I've got a handle on what the war was... is? really about, but I'm sorry. For what happened."

There was so much pain that night. It was not difficult for anyone to figure that out. And it took days for her to calm from it and she only witnessed, didn't know anyone involved, just was there.

"I can't imagine how you're even standing here now. I might become a hermit after all that."

[archangelet]

Tay doesn't comment on how she's standing here. It's a combination of tough love (Buffy) and necessity (El) and not knowing what else to do.

"It's... a war. Been going on centuries. Angels against demons. And the First of First Angels decided to kill the oldest and most powerful demon in the area." Deep breaths. Talk about it like it isn't the most painful and complicated thing that has ever happened to her.

[wots_her_name]

"Wow. I can't... even imagine that."

Penny walks closer to Tay since she doesn't seem to mind, or maybe just doesn't notice.

"I bet a lot of very good people, a lot of loved ones were lost in this war. It must be a heavy price to pay."

People as in angels, demons, supernaturals, wanderers, humans... everyone.

[archangelet]

Tay shrugs a bit. "It's a war. That's what happens."

She sighs, and rolls her shoulders. First time since the attack that she's wanted to let her wings out. "Problem is that I don't think it's a war we should be fighting anymore. Not like this." She hesitates. "Do you... know about angels and demons? This is a mostly demon-occupied complex. The Conrad Hotel, in Chicago, has a complex in the basement that's pretty much angelic headquarters in the area."

[wots_her_name]

"It doesn't make it any easier. I mean, saying it's a war and it happens, probably doesn't make the pain any less, right?"

Penny nods, quietly, thinking of how her vision of both angels and demons has gotten more than a bit switched about since she arrived here.

"Only a little. I've met more demons than angels living here, but neither is anything like what I could have expected."

[archangelet]

Tay smiles bitterly and holds out a hand. "Tay Barnam, Guardian Angel. Only one in the complex."

She's the one who tried to stop it all. The girl who's grown up fighting and killing and loving the battle was the one who tried to stop it. Go figure. "Not that I was fighting at all. Kinda got knocked out."

[wots_her_name]

Penny takes the offered hand, shaking it, a little awkwardly before her hand retreats, again.

"I'm Penny...Wanderer, but you... knew that already. It's nice to meet you, anyway. To kind of have references for both angels and demons. What's the... difference, anyway? It's just you all don't look any different to me." She winces at the 'knocked out'. "Are- How're you feeling? I mean, since the getting knocked out."

[archangelet]

"Fine." Which is... not technically a lie, if they're speaking on plain physical 'how are you feeling', but it's a close enough line that it twinges a bit in Tay's chest.

She doesn't show it.

"The differences... well, the biggest non-physical difference is that demons are inclined and driven to do evil, while angels are inclined and driven to do good. If an angel kills an innocent person, they lose their wings. If an angel lies, it physically hurts them."

[wots_her_name]

Penny just nods when she says she's fine. She won't question it.

"So really there aren't that many differences... I mean, a demon wouldn't have to do evil, right? I've just met so many nice demons. Or at least, they seemed nice, anyway."

[archangelet]

"They probably weren't as nice as you think," Tay says dryly. "And this is coming from someone who reluctantly considers a few demons her friends, so..." She shrugs. "Even the nicest ones will probably fuck you up if it would get them something."

[wots_her_name]

"Really?" Penny blinks. Yes, there is honest surprise as she looks away sheepishly, still smiling a little. "I don't know. I... honestly believe that there's good in everybody. Even the people who would hurt you."