The Ninth Sortie (Action, Voice)

[yellowthirteen]

[Thirteen awoke early in the morning, as usual.  He's still got that streak in him, and he got ready as though it was any other day.  On his way to the living room, he passed by Goroh's bedroom, his door ajar.  Unusual, considering they usually kept it closed to discourage Tao from getting inside.  He knew Goroh wasn't around because of his

Comments

[voice]

[slaying]

[Actually? Due to a happenstanceishly whole week off from Good Spirits, Buffy won't be found there. But she does catch the message, later.]

What? Really? [Pause.] Good on him, I guess.

[Voice]

[yellowthirteen]

[Ah, there she is.]

...I'm sorry you had to get the news like this. I went looking for you at the bar, but I couldn't find you.

[Voice]

[slaying]

Oh, God. Don't sweat that. Taking a bit of a vacation and--well, news is news. All I can really do is thank you for giving it in the first place.

[Quiet, while she pins down the voice.] You...live with him, right? Lived. I never know which tense to use in these situations.

[Voice]

[yellowthirteen]

Yes. I'm David. I share a house with him and Doctor Litchi Faye-Ling. Shared? ...Guess I don't know either.

...But he left something for you. Is there a time or place I can give it to you?

[Voice]

[slaying]

Will you be around later this evening?

[She figures she could stop by before patrol.]

[Voice]

[yellowthirteen]

Yes. Wherever you want me to be, I'll be there.

[Voice]

[slaying]

How--uhm--accommodating. [She sounds quietly grateful, really.] Shortly after eight? I'll try to be as on time as possible.

[Voice]

[yellowthirteen]

I understand. I'll be around.

[action]

[slaying]

[At a quarter after eight, there is a knock on the door.]

[Action]

[yellowthirteen]

[And he'll be the one to answer the door, giving as much of a smile as he's able to muster.]

Buffy. Good to see you. Please, come in.

[Action]

[slaying]

Don't mind if I do. [Her smile is also rather subdued. Polite window dressing. Losing someone--even someone as by times stressful to know as Goroh--is always tough in this place. The trick came in focusing on how much better it should be to be home.

She steps inside.] I was gonna bring something over--y'know, like cookies? But then I remembered that bringing food to a house in a situation like this smacked way too much of funeral. So I ditched that idea pretty fast.

[Action]

[yellowthirteen]

[Thirteen actually chuckles at that remark.]

And the last thing he would want us to do was think he was dead. Still, the thought's appreciated.

[He moves over to a table and picks up Buffy's still sealed note and holds it out to her.]

This is what he left behind. ...Remember who it's from when you read it though. If it's anything like the other ones I've delivered today, it'll be typical Goroh.

[Action]

[slaying]

I'll be sorely disappointed if he doesn't get his jerk on about how much of a single mom he's left me to be. [She takes the letter, clarifying casually:] I mean...with the fight school and him totally ditching me on it.

[She takes her time opening the thing.]

[Action]

[yellowthirteen]

...Oh, that. Yeah, he talked a little about that. ...I'm just glad it's not what it first sounded like.

[Action]

[slaying]

Believe me, so am I. Not that...that would ever be possible.

[She tugs the letter out, looking over it once (quickly) and a second time (at length).] That rat bastard. [...With a slight smile.] If he thinks I'd change the name he is so sadly mistaken.

[Action]

[yellowthirteen]

For the fight school, huh? Heh. I'm not surprised.