[ open ] always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it

[inakoipond]

If you wander through Grant Park you may witness a man staring up at the sun. If he's not staring incredulously at the ball of light in the sky, he's seated on a bench, flipping through a journal. It's not exactly his first walk through the park, figuratively speaking, when it comes to dimensional travel. But, because of what he is, he hardly ever

Comments

[isaywe_party]

There are numerous things that Buffy expects to see in Grant Park.

Monsters, vampires, tourists. Occasionally there's even a random wild animal (usually a shapeshifter gone awry). It's usually a magical mystery tour of fun and adventure, and every once in a while there's a new Wanderer that she has to show the ropes. And normally, she doesn't mind -- but this Wanderer isn't something that she's expecting. It's been a very, very long time since she's seen him, and it's something that she always knew would happen, but still isn't entirely prepared for.

"Angel."

Saying it makes it real in away, because it's that moment where everything else sets in. The fact that yes, that's Angel. The fact that yes, it's daytime.

The fact that Angel is most decidedly not on fire.

"Angel, what are you doing?"

That statement is mostly worry and concern as she's running towards him trying to shield him from the sun as she did. She isn't going to let him land in Chicago just to burn up two minutes later.

That's just not very much fun at all.

[inakoipond]

Angel looks up.

He's not surprised Buffy is in Grant Park. Because of the journal and a very honest journal entry.

"You were with a slayer named Satsu?" It comes out without thinking but, could she blame him? It's at the forefront of his mind, currently. That, and why Buffy would be sharing that information in the first place.

And then, her reaction. He sits under her, giving her a decidedly neutral look.

"Not that I don't appreciate it... but I'm fine. The sun is different in different dimensions."

Seriously, Buffy. Satsu? What kind of name is Satsu?

[isaywe_party]

"Oh."

... And now Buffy seems decidedly foolish for rushing in to save him from a ... fire he was not going to be set on. She shifts a bit, resettling the jacket on her shoulders, and then starts to scowl.

"Satsu is none of your business," she says simply. "You are not allowed to comment on Satsu." Angel is not allowed to comment on any of her partners, period.

She then crosses her arms in front of her chest, clearly very uncomfortable. "How long have you been here?"

[inakoipond]

"I'm not - but the Rift is." Or, the - what's the word he read? Wanderer? Is he a wanderer?

Angel closes the journal in his hand, setting it beside him.

"Not even a few hours. How long have you been here?" He asked the same question back. "A few months, at least, judging by your last journal entry." He's only a little jealous.

[smithnjones]

Martha Jones is on her way from her home to the Kashtta Tower. It would be a bit difficult not to notice the man in the middle of Grant Park staring at the sun. At first she thinks there must be something else in the sky that's caught his attention, but no, it's the bloody sun. It's the caretaker in her that can't exactly let that go on without her making a comment of some kind.

She raises an eyebrow at him before she steps forward, glancing at least once to be certain that there isn't something else there that would explain the staring.

"You realize that's really dangerous for your eyes, don't you?"

It's not simply something mother's tell children that isn't true at all.

You can go blind from looking at the sun for too long. Even staring at it once, it can be more than enough to cause permanent damage. She doesn't like to let people stand in the middle of Grant Park and get their retinas literally burned from ultra violet rays.

She's generous like that.

[inakoipond]

What, he's covering his eyes. Kind of. Anyway, if she really finds it that weird, maybe she shouldn't comment on it. But, she does.

"You realize you're really stating the obvious, don't you?" he asks. Sorry, Martha, you're catching him after a spat with his ex. That, and he finally looks down. Happy? He's looking down away from the blinding ball of light.

"Just... making sure," he adds, leaving it very vague. Because, he's not exactly going to say, just making sure I'm not going to suddenly burst into a ball of vampire flame.

[smithnjones]

It isn't so much that she finds it weird, but more that she's concerned. She doesn't like to see eyes destroyed. It goes against what it means to be a doctor. It's like watching someone put their hand against a sharp blade.

Martha narrows her gaze at him. She doesn't really mind, but she won't really not respond to it either People have bad days in Chicago. It happens. "I assumed that it would be obvious, but I also assumed I'd never see someone staring into the sun. If you're trying to blind yourself, don't let me stop you."

She lifts a brow. "Making sure that the sun is still there?"

[inakoipond]

He appreciates - as much as he really can bring himself to - her concern. But, he can take care of himself.

Appearing in Chicago, finding out you can't leave - that you're in an alternate reality? Yeah, that's a bad day, Martha. "I'm not trying to blind myself." And he can't. But, she doesn't need to know that.

"Something like that." He finally looks back down. "I was told this is an alternate Chicago."