Appointments

[chikaidestroyer]

Got a reason to get in touch with Albert? Use this post to send a voiced or written message over the journal, or as a place to set up an action thread. These short messages or action threads can lead to journal entries, longer action posts, or logs.

Use the subject line to specify the date and method of contact, such as the following examples:

[action, March 24]
[written, July 10]
[voice, December 20]

Comments

[ february 25th ; written & filtered ]

[chikaidestroyer]

[The way he felt following the lasting effects of the love experiment had gone unnoticed for a few days; it was not as if he inwardly denied his attraction to Buffy Summers, so such thoughts and feelings should not have been much of a surprise.

But when he found himself glancing in the direction of Good Spirits on his way to the tea shop, or walking the long way back to the house while scanning the roads for a particular night-patrolling Slayer... Well. It gave him pause. Had their time spent during the experiment really affected him? He couldn't deny the possibility.

He reads the letter by candlelight in his room; in addition to the light, the warmth was welcome during these colder nights. He writes back carefully, moving his journal away from the dripping wax.]

Buffy--

Your mind seems to be wandering a fair amount tonight. You probably know better than most that I am awake in the dead of night -- and perhaps someday you will get to see why that is the case.

[He eyes the window in front of him that faced the forest, then continues.]

If you see need to spend points for the sand, let me know; perhaps, MARS be willing, I can assist in the purchase. Unless you find yourself in surplus supply, considering it sounds as if you have not seen reason to use your points.

In any case, the weather will hopefully warm soon. It would be a shame to see you with your eyelashes frozen off.

--Albert Silverberg

[herotypical]

Someday? Albert, you make it sound like a mystery. You got to know that an inquisitive mind like mine can't cope with leaving a mystery unsolved.

[ a little flirtatious threatening never went amiss, right? and it was safe enough. ]

I have ninety-some of my own. Sand can't be that pricey. [ god, she wants so badly to comment on his comment about her eyelashes, but some flirtation is just a little too far gone. so -- remaining on topic: ] What about you -- have you bought much from MARS?

--B

[chikaidestroyer]

Someday. Perhaps if you ever come by the vicinity of the house in the dead of night.

[That's not suggestive at all, right? He considers crossing out the sentence, but then refrains; he shouldn't make it a habit to second-guess.]

I have bought some magic supplies from my world in the past. A printer and scanner. Not much else. [Was there anything else he had bought? No, his points had primarily gone into collecting runes.] I have not seen any reason to aim for the more expensive rewards available.

[He leaves the letter unsigned.]

[herotypical]

[ ...buffy knows she should be a decent soul and stick to the conversation points: namely, the conversing about points. but damn, that first line... ]

Is that an invitation?

[chikaidestroyer]

[He sits there, tapping his pen against the journal. His lips twitch, threatening to curve into a small smile as he writes back.]

You are welcome, of course.

[herotypical]

...Spatially speaking, which window is yours?

[chikaidestroyer]

I have two -- the ones to the northwestern corner of the house. The larger window faces the forest to the north.

[These questions. Did she truly intend to come over?]

[herotypical]

I know it's cold -- but leave the littler one open. Just a crack.

[ she scribbles this from an odd angle while picking up the coat she'd only so recently shed. she thinks it's too late for front doors. ]

[chikaidestroyer]

I can always wear a jacket.

[That's all he writes before he sets down his pen, glancing over at a large, filled burlap sack he had set next to the shelf.

He should prepare.]

[herotypical]

I won't be long. See you soon--

[ and she nudges the book shut. it isn't fifteen minutes later and she's prying at his smaller winder with chilled fingertips. levering it open. letting herself in. ]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert is standing by the larger window, looking somewhat amused as he watches Buffy enter his room.]

Ah, I seem to have a room invader.

[But he is smiling faintly.] Why the smaller window?

[herotypical]

[ she hauls herself up with strong arms and throws a leg astride the sill before slipping smoothly down to the floor. buffy reaches behind her to close the window again with a gentle thud. ]

Because I knew I'd fit. Because it seemed...[ she blows out a sigh ] sneakier, I suppose.

[chikaidestroyer]

I should have told you the larger window would work just as well. [He gestures to the window, which also has latches to open and shut it, before walking over to properly greet her.]

I am surprised that you actually came.

[herotypical]

[ and when he walks over, she takes advantage; she reaches out an arm and rests its wrist on his shoulder, propping herself up as she lifted first one foot and then the other. buffy removes her boots and tucks them under the window so as to not track old snow and detritus deeper into the room. ]

Of course I came. [ though she herself is not sure what makes her arrival so damned self-evident. ] How could I pass up a chance to show off my very advanced breaking and entering skills?

[chikaidestroyer]

[He can't quite fight back the faint smile at her joke, remaining still as Buffy pulls her boots off; his hand reaches up to her wrist on his shoulder, as if meant to steady her, before he even realizes he has done so.]

I see. So does opening the window make me an accomplice to a crime?

[herotypical]

...That's the beauty of the whole plan -- [ she speaks breathlessly, as if well aware of the subtext bubbling forth from these very words. ] You can't tell on me without telling on yourself. Consider yourself outsmarted, Mister Silverberg.

[ her hand lingers under his well after the footwear was gone, but then she seems to come to her senses and twists free. buffy makes up for her cowardice by staking a bold claim on the corner of his bed. she uses it as a perch. ]

[chikaidestroyer]

What a shame. I am not so sure if I can concede being outsmarted so easily. [Though he doesn't laugh, there is a wry amusement to his voice.] Perhaps I will just say that I brought a stray patroller out from the cold.

[herotypical]

The Good Samaritan, bringing the Slayer in from the wild wild wilderness. What a service to humanity; what a hero. [ she plants her palms on the mattress and leans back, supporting herself on straight arms. ]

So. Pay up. What are you doing?

[chikaidestroyer]

What am I doing. [He muses how to answer, glancing over at the window he had been standing at just awhile ago.] Would you believe you are not the only visitor I am expecting tonight?

[herotypical]

[ she sports a playful pout to hide her otherwise sincere...jealousy?

wow. buffy isn't used to feeling jealous over albert's personal life. ]

Oh? Got a better offer, did you?

[chikaidestroyer]

[He gives Buffy the faintest tilt of the head at her pout, a quiet laugh on his lips as he replies.]

A continuous responsibility would be more accurate. You remember the owl I mentioned sometime back?

[herotypical]

...I remember. [ she watches him, still. buffy rarely takes her eyes off of a conversational partner to begin with, but this time? her eyes are so very intent. ]

[chikaidestroyer]

He comes over so I can see how he is doing.

[From outside, there's the noticeable sound of the treetops rustling -- even if there is no significant wind this evening. Albert takes this as his cue to walk over to the window again, peering outside.

The giant owl stands taller than the window, so it has to lean over to look inside and blink its large eyes at the humans.]

[herotypical]

That's a lot of dedication, y'know. Waiting up just for a bird.

[ even if it is such a large bird. buffy turns, but doesn't stand from her bed-edge seat. ]

[chikaidestroyer]

It helps that I have no obligations in the morning. [A small smile at that.

He opens the window and presses his hand against the owl's beak, as if that will actually shove the owl away; the owl, used to this routine by now, obliges by hopping backwards. This gives Albert room to take the sack he had waiting by the window and toss it outside to the waiting bird of prey.]