(Untitled)

[not_lugosi]

A week to go, a week to go... That's the refrain that's been echoing through Bela's head all day. A week to go until her "one year to go" countdown.

She can't take much more of this, except she can and she will. She simply doesn't want to. The fucking door to Milliways finally showed up earlier tonight, and she slipped in to claim her usual booth

Comments

[isaysimplewords]

Cal does not require an invitation from the narrative to invade Bela's space the moment he spots her. Especially since he hasn't seen her since she left his world to go back home.

So, Bela now has a Cal to go with that martini. One who is glancing at her neck as he sits, saying,

"Hey, Isabella."

[not_lugosi]

"Hey, Cal," she says, and her tensed shoulders visibly relax.

She sets down her glass (she's on her third martini, but not acting like it) and wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a most welcome kiss hello.

"I can't believe it's been so long since I last saw you. It feels like months. Look!" She points to her neck. "All gone. Magical cosmetic surgery. It's ancient history."

She's over the vampire bite. She has way more pressing matters on her mind.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal takes a close look and grins.

"Good," he says. "Glad to hear it.

"So how are you, other than that?"

[not_lugosi]

She could lie, but he'll see right through it. He knows her too well by now.

"I'm okay. Ish. Better, now that I'm here."

[isaysimplewords]

He gives her a gentle squeeze and kisses her temple.

"Anything in particular?" he asks.

He thinks he might know the answer to that, but it could always be something else. Bela's life is hardly a quiet one.

[not_lugosi]

She doesn't respond for a moment. Then she takes a drink of her martini.

"It's a week until it's one year to go. I can't- I'd like to stop thinking about it, but it's not easy."

[isaysimplewords]

"That's probably not the way to do it," Cal says with a glance at the glass in her hand, which itself is probably not the way to answer, but he doesn't know what else to say. It isn't a matter of encouragement, not right now. All the encouragement in the world won't change the timeline.

[not_lugosi]

"I know."

She rests her head on his shoulder.

"I've got nothing. No leads. I'm thinking about summoning the Crossroads Demon again because there's- nothing."

Except D'Hoffryn's offer. She's not quite sure how to broach that particular subject.

[isaysimplewords]

"You really think that would do any good?"

Cal sighs, because of course she doesn't. Not really.

"There's still that thing from Wolfram and Hart," he reminds her. "I know it's not a guarantee, but it's not nothing. And there's still plenty to look into here, and - there's always Milliways."

He leans his head against hers. "I know you want to win, but you might want to start thinking about just settling for not losing."

[not_lugosi]

Okay. Here goes.

"I'm thinking about it. Believe me. There's a- another girl here. Ava. She works for a, well, they call him a demon lord, but he's not like the demons I know. He does justice. Takes care of people. The realm is in Wolfram & Hart's universe, but- the demon lord talked to me. About possibly maybe..."

She trails off.

"If I just leave, it won't go away. She comes here. The door will still open to my world. I have to keep trying. I'm just- not handling it well for the moment. I'll get better. I always do."

[isaysimplewords]

"I know you do," Cal assures her automatically, but he's still frowning over the first part.

Cal's not so good at splitting hairs when it comes to demons.

"About possibly maybe what?"

[not_lugosi]

"Working for him. He was the liaison for the job I took. He liked what I was able to do, and he's powerful. Ava's really happy working for him."

Bela doesn't know Ava's a psychopath. But since Bela is not what you'd call normal, it doesn't quite matter.

"It can't hurt to find out more. They don't make the same kind of deals."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal is cautiously, and very consciously, neutral.

"Probably don't want to dismiss anything out of hand right now."

[not_lugosi]

"I don't have that luxury, no."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal nods, and kisses the top of her head.

The time to watch Bela for fear-driven stupid decision-making has clearly begun.

[not_lugosi]

It's going to be such a fun year!

"Tell me about how you've been, and your Penny. I want to hear everything."

She wants to hear about normal things. Happy things.