I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark, living in a powderkeg and giving off sparks.

[hesourhostage]

In a Main Gauche sunroom, Andrew Wells is sitting upside down in a chair with his camera, rewatching old footage and snickering to himself. One of these days he's going to find some way to invest in a laptop and some video editing software and actually get this documentary off the ground

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[archangelet]

There's a withdrawn teenage girl wandering aimlessly through the halls of the Gauche today. She's been thinking about going to visit Vincent, but she's not sure she can take it today. He just lays there, Vincent's body, but... not Vincent.

She gets a few steps into the sunroom before she realises there are people there, and she stops awkwardly, just... standing there. She's really not sure if she can deal with people right now. Plus, she's not sure Piper or Andrew want her around. They might want to be alone.

[hesourhostage]

Piper is generally amicable to anything, but she's distracted by her book at the moment and doesn't even feel the emotions- she's gotten good at blocking out what she doesn't want to feel.

Andrew on the other hand, just happens to look up from his camera and give Tay and an awkward upside down wave, just barely managing to keep his legs from unhooking from around the chair. "Hey, Tay! You know there's some really great footage of you fighting monsters with Buffy on here. I wonder if there's anyone here who has video editing equipment. We could do a whole fight montage with music and everything."

Yeah, Andrew is often special when it comes to greetings and actually noticing when people aren't at their best.

[archangelet]

"Yeah, sounds cool," Tay says quietly, smiling a tiny bit. It doesn't seem even half-real.

She's still considering running for the hills. If he doesn't talk any more.

[hesourhostage]

Piper finally starts paying attention and she frowns a little. "Tay, you want to join us? I mean, it's fine if you don't or if you have somewhere else to be, but we're not doing anything really important, and, hey, if you wanted to go get ice cream or something, I'm sure there's... Food... Somewhere, and you wouldn't have to leave the Gauche, and... and..."

Andrew looks up from his camera and cuts her off with a, "Breathe, Piper, breathe!"

Piper flushes scarlet and goes back to her book. Andrew can handle it. He knows Tay better. And handle it, Andrew intends to do as he rights himself and peers at Tay from over the back of his chair, camera abandoned. "So...Do you want to do something?"

[archangelet]

Andrew knows Tay better, yes. For a certain value of "know". He's interviewed her once and been thumped (gently) quite a few times. Well, there's also the mind-reading thing.

Yes No Yes No don't do it don't get close what if something happens already lost enough people couldn't manage if I lost more god I just wish I'd stayed in Boston why couldn't I just be an archangel like I was supposed to be then everything would actually make sense still and I wouldn't feel like I completely betrayed my idol and now she's dead can't get close can't get close can't fall apart in front of anyone ever not ever.

"Um." Tay shrugs a little, still hovering. She sort of wants to. And sort of doesn't. As the little inner monologue above would indicate.

[hesourhostage]

Tay's always been easier to mind-read than most people- not that he actually does it intentionally. Most of it only happens when people think too loud and Piper and Tay? Both think ridiculously loud.

Andrew ducks his head a bit to press a thumb to his temples.

"Tay, d'you mind not doing that? Or if you're going to do that, at least be coherent?" Yeah, that's helpful, but it's Andrew-brand helpful, which is not helpful at all with a side of kind of adorable.

[archangelet]

"Sorry," she mumbles, ducking her head, and takes a step back. Sorry sorry sorry keep screwing up can't make anyone proud "I... maybe I should go."

God, she can't even think right.

[hesourhostage]

Okay, Andrew is not having any of this. He gives Piper a look and Piper gives him a look back and somehow they have a silent psychic conversation that amounts to Piper telling him that the last time she tried to make Tay happier, she was as subtle as a brick wall.

In that moment, Andrew decides that Piper is no help at all and bolts after Tay. "It's fine, really. Your thought processes are very unique and enlightening on your inner spirit even if they do give me a headache, which... Isn't your fault. It's totally mine, because... You know, maybe it's the Rift's fault." He pauses, considers this, and then shrugs. "Anyway, I think you need to take some time and do something fun. Preferably with me, because I... Dunno. I'll think of a reason why later."

[archangelet]

Tay raises an eyebrow, but the dubious look is rather half-hearted. Maybe only quarter-hearted.

"I don't do fun. I get sunburns and sand in my crotch."

She had fun on beach day. She just doesn't remember it so much as the not-fun. It's just the mood she's in.

[hesourhostage]

Andrew makes a noise that's something like a scoff. "Yeah, well, how about ice cream?"

And here come the puppy eyes. See the puppy eyes, Tay?

"There should be ice cream. I haven't left the Gauche ever, and the only time I do leave it is when I follow you and Buffy on patrol, which I probably shouldn't have just admitted to, but don't try to find me when you go out next time, because it will do you no good. My ninja skills are impressive."

And the inevitable ninja poses happen, followed by Andrew blinking a little. "....What was I talking about?"

[archangelet]

And the ninja pose, followed by that... well, even Tay can't help but laugh, just a tiny bit. It's hardly more than a smirk and a snort, but it's something, right?

"Ice cream. Are you, like, completely unable to get ice cream on your own?"

[hesourhostage]

Andrew rocks back and forth on his heels a bit, looking more than a little victorious.

"If I said no, would you believe me?"

....Hey, Andrew is spastic and flaily and would probably get hit by a car out there.

[archangelet]

Tay considers this for a moment.

Get himself hit by a bus or killed by a demon or freaking eaten by demented kittens that's his luck how has he survived this long?

"Not really, no." She sighs deeply, but is secretly sort of glad for... well, friends. "Fine, we'll go get ice cream. Just for you, though. I'm not really fond of it."

[hesourhostage]

"Hey! ....I wouldn't get eaten by kittens." Sulky Andrew is sulky.

And now he is appalled. See Andrew. See Andrew convey shock and horror. Convey, Andrew, Andrew.

"Tay Barnam, that is blasphemy."

But hey, she's going out and she seems happier. Life is good.

[archangelet]

Tay raises an eyebrow in earnest this time. "I don't like sweet things. Except for frappuccinos," she adds, with a hint of sheepishness. "I don't know, they're just... too sweet."

[hesourhostage]

Andrew still looks a little like she just suggested that the sky was made of blue cheese.

"You're the weirdest girl ever."

Pot. Kettle. Black. Especially considering that Andrew isn't actually a walking perfect example of the male of the species.