[milliways] conversations with/for/about people who may or may not be dead

[stilljustandrew]

[After this.]

The last group job at Angel Investigations -- a fairly routine intervention to take out a pair of vampires who'd been killing homeless people in Morningside Park -- wrapped up a few days ago. Spike's doing a post-mission patrol to be sure they haven't disrupted anything local beyond what they intended; Gunn's taken care of the internal paperwork; and Jonathan's been putting together the written summary to hand over to the local Watchers.

Hopefully he's finished by now, because he's about to be interrupted.

Comments

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew presses his hand, just one quick squeeze.

"Lots of people, yeah. But you mean like, I dunno, a therapist?"

[jonathanparagon]

"Yeah. I know therapists who know about vampires and demons aren't that easy to find."

[stilljustandrew]

"Yeah. Much less Milliways." A rueful, crooked smile. "I had one for a while, but ... we never covered a lot of stuff."

[jonathanparagon]

"Maybe you might have more luck in Milliways", he suggests gently. "There's got to be at least one or two."

[stilljustandrew]

He looks a little uncertain.

"I dunno. I mean ... someone at Milliways could just stop showing up, because they lose their door or time goes wonky on them or something. Seems like kind of a risk."

[jonathanparagon]

"At least you'll have made a start", he counters.

[stilljustandrew]

"Yeah," he says slowly.

"... You really think I should?"

[jonathanparagon]

"Yeah", Jonathan says simply. "You... I've been worried about you. Sometimes."

[stilljustandrew]

Uncertainly: "I thought I was doing mostly okay."

[jonathanparagon]

"Mostly", Jonathan agrees. "But sometimes... not. Like that time in Sunnydale."

[stilljustandrew]

He doesn't have to specify which time.

Andrew flushes a little. "Okay, yeah."

[jonathanparagon]

"I just don't want you to - " He searches for the words. "To give too much paying it back."

[stilljustandrew]

He breathes out. "Check."

(And whether that means I hear you or something more like touché, it's an agreement either way.)

[jonathanparagon]

"Just remember you don't owe me anything. Not any more. And if seeing a therapist helps with that..."

[stilljustandrew]

"Okay," he says, low.

"But ... look, even if I don't owe you anything anymore, I still feel like maybe paying it forward should be a thing."

[jonathanparagon]

"Maybe", Jonathan allows. "But not by getting yourself killed, if you can help it."

[stilljustandrew]

"Not if I can help it," he agrees.

"... and anyway that's probably not the kind of help Noah needs, at least."

[jonathanparagon]

"Yeah", Jonathan agrees with a quick grin, "it sounds like what he needs more right now is friends. Being new to Milliways, and all."

[stilljustandrew]

"So let's do what we can about that. Yeah?"

[jonathanparagon]

"Definitely. I'll try and find a reasonable way to bring it up in conversation when I see him next."

[stilljustandrew]

He nods.

Soft: "I hope Milliways is good for him."

[jonathanparagon]

"I think, one way or another... it's good for most people."

Not all. But most.