When I'm confident, I'm hopeless - just like everybody else right before they fall apart...

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor is trying to slip into the Casa unnoticed, like nothing happened, like he didn't slip out early on Christmas morning to track down an old not-quite friend. Looking like nothing happened is a bit more difficult when he's having trouble easing the frustration from his face, the tension from his body... but maybe, if he's lucky, no one will

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[savesomelight]

Piper is bundled in a heavy coat, a floppy hat with gloves, a scarf, and heavy mittens, giving her the impression of some sort of clothing monster. Demons do not approve of being out in the cold, but she needed to go to the library.

And now she's waddling along near Gale, casting him sidelong glances, before finally trying to mutter something at him. It's hard to distinguish from behind the scarf.

[fiaintaibhse]

Gale turns finally to look at the girl, eyebrows raised - he thinks it's a girl, anyway, though under that mass of clothes, it's hard to be certain. "Can I help you?" he asks, eyeing her with a faint, friendly smile. "I think it helps if you pull the scarf down..."

[savesomelight]

Piper lowers the scarf and blushes a bit, although given that her face is flush, it's hard to tell. "Sorry. I was asking if you were even a little bit cold."

Because the temperatures out here today are maddening. He doesn't seem dressed nearly warmly enough.

[fiaintaibhse]

"Oh." He grins a little, and shrugs. "I guess a little. Not enough to warrant that get-up," he says with a nod toward her scarf and coat and all the rest of it, "but I don't much mind the cold." It's not that he can't feel it, it's just hard to care when it doesn't affect you in any way.

[savesomelight]

Piper manages to look slightly indignant, but doesn't manage to think up any words to convey why exactly she's in this get-up. All she manages to say is a sheepish, "Lucky you. I'd love to not be bothered by it. The weather's so pretty, but I hate being out in it." She sticks her tongue out.

[fiaintaibhse]

He actually laughs as she sticks her tongue out. It's kind of cute, after all. "Then why are you? You couldn't just peek out a window to see without actually going out?"

[savesomelight]

"That's what I was doing," Piper admits, rubbing a mittened hand over the back of her neck, which only manages to get snow down her back. She makes a face and quickly drops her hand back down.

"But then I had to make a necessary library trip."

Books are important, Gale.

[fiaintaibhse]

"Of course. Reading is absolutely worth the hypothermia." Gale nods, and it's very difficult to tell if he's seriously agreeing with the need for books or mocking her. That's a... common problem with Gale, actually.

[savesomelight]

Piper blinks a few times, because naive teenager though she is, sometimes she has to wonder if people are poking fun of her. She is kind of mockable. After a moment of lip-biting, she just shrugs and changes the subject.

"Well, what is worth it? For you, I mean? Are you new here?" It's a good question to ask wanderers. So many of them are.

[fiaintaibhse]

"I'm exploring," he says, so serious he can't be anything but a little snarky. And he already knows perfectly well what new tends to be code for around here. "I am. I've never been to Chicago before now - I thought it might be useful to know my way around."

He plans to get out of the Conrad's basement at some point, but that sort of requires knowledge of Chicago as a whole. He misses New York. His New York - he could probably get to the one in this universe, but it would only be a hollow imitation.

[savesomelight]

"Yeeah. It's a big place, but seems a lot smaller sometimes and I can't put my finger on why," she goes on, clearly impervious to the snark. "I actually live in Cicero, but still. The whole place is kind of... Homey."

She laughs nervously. "Jeepers. I'm getting all... Hokey, I guess, on you. I'm just saying that for a place that takes people against their will and leaves them here where there's monsters and bad things, it's sort of a... A family environment."

And this is why Piper doesn't get to hang out with new wanderers. Her orientation speeches are awkward.

[fiaintaibhse]

"Well, that's... reassuring, I suppose." He pauses a second, studying Piper from the corner of his eye, and then asks, "Can you always tell when people are from... out of town?"

[savesomelight]

"I guess so," she laughs, a little nervously. "I didn't mean to sound like a-a Hallmark card or anything at you." She coughs into her hand, smiling awkwardly.

"Yes. It's a demon thing."

Pause. Wince.

"....I should probably stop just coming out and saying that."

[fiaintaibhse]

Gale snorts, grinning despite himself. "That might be wise to keep to yourself, yes. Don't worry, though. I've been living with angels, but... well, I've got nothing against demons." He pauses, and then adds, "You seem very... sweet. For a demon."

[savesomelight]

"Probably. Although no one's ever, um... Done anything about it, but I figure I say that and the next time it comes out, someone tries to kill me." Never mind that the last person who tried to kill her didn't even need for her to say it. He just knew.

She ducks her head, smiling nervously. "Thanks. Demons aren't really as bad as people say they are, though, so I'm nothing special."