::Connor: Anywhere But Here

[Buffy Anne Summers]

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She groaned as she walked out of the cemetery. Tonight had been a large bust in the slayage column. It was strange…one night she’d have ten vampires constantly fighting them, and then nights like tonight, there would be none. Unfortunately tonight was a night she desperately needed to blow off some steam but there were no vampires to fight in order to let off said steam. Angel had gone back to Los Angeles for a few days to help with something (she had no idea what other than he said he’d be back soon) so she didn’t even have a sparring partner. These were the times she missed being in Rome…Granted, even in Rome she couldn’t use her full strength with the new girls (or even the trained ones---unless Faith was visiting) but it was still better than nothing. It was also one of the times she wished she had had some of the work out equipment from the school shipped over to the new house to make an impromptu gym. She definitely would have to look into at least buying a punching bag and maybe a treadmill within the next few days for days just like this one…it wouldn’t be much but it would be something.

As she headed towards her car, she noticed a Bar and Grill that was still opened. It was obvious that she was outside of Mystic Falls. Originally she had intended to stay within the city limits to make sure everything was okay in the small town, but after realizing that no vampires were out there she had ventured into Mid Rivers, Virginia. Seemed like this town had a bit more nightlife than Mystic Falls…but still no vampires. She pulled into the parking lot and shut off the rental car. She winced when she thought about how much the bill for the car would be, and made a mental note to speak with Giles about what he thought about her simply buying a car for whenever they had to come back into the states. The car payments might be cheaper than dealing with renting a car all the time. It was a ridiculous thing to think about as they technically never had to worry about money…but she wasn’t used to it so money still came into her brain a lot more than she cared to admit.

The lyrics on the overhead speaker drew her attention for a moment. Nobody's talking, cause' talking just turns into screaming, And now yes I'm yelling over her, she yelling over me, all that that means is neither of us are listening, and what's even worse, that we don't even remember why we're fighting. She laughed a bit at how the lyrics described her and Angel sometimes, but then stopped listening to the song once she got up to the bar. She ordered a diet coke, smirking at the glare from the bartender before walking towards a table that was free. She sat down and watched the people around her, hoping that the music and possibly dancing she would do after she got done drinking her soda would at least get some of her energy out so she could head home. She knew if she went home now she’d keep everyone up (or wake them up as it was 1am) and then everyone would be crab asses when they woke up. It was easier to stay out until they were getting up if she couldn’t sleep. At least it was better because she could sleep during the day.

Thank god she was the slayer…otherwise someone might mistake her for a vampire with her sleeping patterns.

Word Count:: 617
Tag:: Open
Note:: N/A
Outfit:: Click for Buffy’s outfit

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[Connor Angel Reilly]

Virginia was... interesting. Perhaps it wasn't the most flattering of adjectives, but it was all Connor had at his disposal tonight. And after the unique few nights he had been having, the man just needed a break. It had been a long time since he had dealt with such intense emotions, even longer since the chaotic nexus was someone he was attracted to. But que sera was all he felt like giving the world today before disappearing in his car and the siren song of the open road. And when the open road deposited him in Mid Rivers, all he could offer was a shrug and a sigh. Anywhere was better than the holding pattern he had been force fed and to be frank, led straight into. Something was rotten in the state of Denmark, question was whether his Slayer was damned Ophelia or his duplicitous Gertrude? Though at this point, anything was better than his Greek roots…

With his thoughts completely enshrouding his mind, Connor barely registered the lovely blonde wandering in the bar before she breezed past him towards the bar. The tingle of something more sang in his nose, and he gave the elegant young woman a considering look. She seemed as though she had had a rough day, or at the very least didn't want to venture home; a thought that was strange this close to last call. While he himself had barely been in the bar for a quarter of an hour, there was a different feel to how she carried herself than anything he had ever seen before. A quiet dignity mixed with the weight born more of Atlas than the petite woman had his heart go out and interest immediately caught. It was different than anything overly romantic or visceral, if anything it was the bearing of a warrior that he saw in each bored stride back to her table. Plucking his own Coke up off the table, since he was driving alone that night, Connor headed over to her table.

"Do you mind if I join you?" He asked softly, his smile friendly but devoid of any outward flirtation. "I'm new to town and I could use a friendly face." As he spoke, his tone continued to maintain that well-mannered yet young cultured edge that he knew came from Laurence's example. Almost all of the other patrons had coupled off or reeked of desperation, aching for that late night connection before Last Call to head home in shame or out on the town debauched. All he wanted was to get to know a seemingly intriguing woman and some actual conversation without the back talking edge of the last few. "I'm Connor." He offered his name first, a type of succession in this rather tentative interaction. So much could go wrong in a first impression, and he hoped this one would at the very least start out on the right foot. With a boyish and charming smile that made his ice blue eyes sparkle, Connor stayed at his vigil of beside the table waiting for the lady's decision. Chivalry may be dead, but he tried to still uphold most of the ideals, for fear of disappointing either of his fathers. All the while blending in more feminist qualities, thanks to a very passionate Women's Studies teacher during his Freshman year.

Tucking an errant bit of hair behind his ear, Connor subtly tried to gain a feel for the person before him. She was a honey blonde and lovely, her features causing a slight pain to lance through his heart. There was something about those deep eyes and sun kissed hair that reminded him of Natalie, though he could not for the life of him place the intensity of. The scent of her Shampoo was blending with New Car and Outside, along with that neck ruffling Spice that had his curiosity spiked to new heights. But most of all, he felt peace beside her, in a way he had not felt since before everything went so wrong in Los Angeles. The comfort he felt when Cordelia glowed with power to calm him down; without the bitter betrayal and vile manipulation of the brunette and their child. Pushing all those negative memories out of his mind, Connor resolved himself to spending as much time with the woman before him as she would allow. Though his smile turned a touch awkward at the edges as his hand came up to rub at the back of his neck showcasing his nerves. "I am so sorry, this must seem really bizarre. I'm just quite honestly bored and you seemed really interesting." Content with how firm his foot was now shoved deep into his mouth, Connor awaited fate with boyish blundering.

::stop:: Sorry this is late, hon! I passed out at my laptop and then it gave me a migraine! ^^;;
::look:: Outfit and Car
::listen:: F--kin' Perfect by Pink
::you're it:: Buffy and OPEN
::the credit:: Jess <3

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[Buffy Anne Summers]

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She was bored. She was tired…but not tired enough to fall asleep. She was lonely. She was sad. She hated feeling any of these things, let alone all of them rolled up together, but unfortunately that was how it seemed to be going recently. She hated being envious of others, but she definitely was these days. She was envious of those around her who had someone to hold on to at night. She was envious of those who were allowed to be with those who they loved. She was envious of those who didn’t have the weight on the world on their shoulders. She was envious of those who actually had someone to confide in, someone to let out their frustrations too, unfortunately she had none of that.

She had no one to hold her at night…though the person she wanted was currently staying only a few rooms away. The one she loved, she couldn’t be with because of something he had done a hundred plus years ago and some gypsies who thought it would be the perfect revenge to keep him from ever attaining true happiness. She had the weight of the world on her shoulders…and have had it on her shoulders since she was 15. Sure, now she had others who shared the burden, but when it came down to it, it was still her. She was the one who was responsible for training the girls…she was the one who if all else failed, it would be up to her to defeat whatever it was. She had no one to confide in…not really. Sure she had her best friends, and they were more like family, but unfortunately she could only tell them so much. None of them really understood how hard it had been for ever every day of her life since the day she was called. They tried…but she didn’t feel like any of them could really understand.

The only person she had ever really confided in all the way was her ex lover…but unfortunately he was no longer in the picture and she was alone again. She guessed she could also say she confided in Spike, but he was gone as well.

Her back stiffened and her thoughts were broken when she felt someone staring at her. She didn’t feel any vampires or demons within the establishment, but it was still unnerving to be watched like she was. Before she could turn around she heard a man’s voice next to her asking if he could join her. She tilted her head to the side, examining him quickly. There was something strange about him but she couldn’t put his finger on it. She nodded her head and smiled a soft smile. “Sure.” She stated, not really knowing what else to say. If it had been back a few years ago she would have gladly flirted with the stranger, something she had been proficient in as a teenager. However times had changed, she had gotten older and had gone through more than most. With such her attitude on certain things had changed… this just happened to be one of them.

She thought about giving her real name but something inside her, some weird intuition screamed at her not to give her real name, and if she had learned one thing over the years it was to trust her instincts…so she did. “I’m Anne. Nice to meet you.” She introduced, laughing a bit when he apologized for seeming awkward. “Don’t apologize. I’m just sorta out of it today. Been a long day.” She stated with a laugh. “So you said your new in town, where do you hail from Connor?” She asked with a smile, hoping it seemed genuine. He seemed like a nice guy, a little younger than her, but nice.

But there was still that part inside of her that told her to be careful, that he wasn’t what he seemed.

Word Count:: 669
Tag:: Connor
Outfit:: Click for Buffy’s outfit
Note:: None At The Moment

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[Connor Angel Reilly]

As soon as she accepted his request, the smile that broke out over Connor face was bright and infectious. It made his nose crinkle, eyes sparkle, and softened his eyes while taking the last tendrils of self-consciousness away. It was a smile he knew he shared with his father; though it was in the ability to completely brighten up a room as opposed to the shape or general aesthetic. And it was something Connor actually liked about his physical appearance, especially considering how self-conscious he was about things like his brow. But you couldn't pick and chose genetics, despite his younger wishes, and it seemed like a good enough trade. Relaxing the last bit of tension out of his shoulders, Connor folded his formidable height down into a car near the lovely blonde without crowding her. The chance at companionship without the overbearing need to make it romantic was intoxicating. Not to say that the blond wasn't completely worth the full force of his flirtatious charms! More so, he needed this; this easy going conversation meant so much more than the old song and dance. And if it meant he could gain a friend that was predisposed to seeing him as an infant, all the better.

At the offer of her name, Connor dipped his head a little in greeting; eyes still shimmering blue lapis. "Nice to meet you too, Anne. I understand how that can be, I just finished a rather exhausting road trip myself and I'm still trying to shake the cobwebs out." He took a sip from his Coke before chuckling softly under his breath in response and nodding a few times before swallowing abruptly. "Originally California. I'm a student at Stanford, but I took a semester off to come down here and visit with my family. What about you? You don't exactly sound local…" His smile turned a touch sheepish, stretching his legs out to the side to comfortably fit and relax fully into his chair. There was something about this Anne he still couldn't put his finger on; she was both intriguing and hair ruffling in a way that he remembered someone else doing before. But again, for the life of him the man could not place it.

Subtly, he took in a slow inhale of her scent a touch deeper; pawing through the different notes that made up his new companion. It was the spiced notes he kept coming back to, though they had a soft almost buttercream edge to them. This was a woman who had a gentle side to her steel, judging as best as his nose could at least, and it made him rather happy she was being so friendly. Cautious, obviously, but friendly. "But what about you? Student? 9-5 worker? Doctor? Secret agent selling government secrets overseas? Because I'm probably not the best mark.." His words were playful and interested, the tendency to lean more towards the teasing side of social interactions had always served him well. Finishing the last of his Coke, he climbed back up onto his feet, plucking up his empty glass before nodding to hers. "Refill? My treat." Again, with that sensitive and frankly Nice Guy tone. It had been so long since Connor was in the company of someone who made him feel well, normal. Since Stanford really, though the other law students had a tendency to wax poetic whenever they thought it would get them attention. So to have a genuine friendly connection with someone was a luxury that the young Reilly was not going to turn down.

Tucking the stray bangs behind his ear, he glanced down at his clothes quickly to make sure he wasn't covered in either car grease or something else equally embarrassing. He had a tendency to be a bit of a klutz around pretty girls; whether or not he was interested in them romantically had little effect on his bungled reflexes. So it was all he needed to be wearing a smear of schmutz or something else cringe-worthy. Seeing the clasp of his necklace tangled in his cross, he wrestled his glass from a heartbeat. Clutching the cross between his middle and ring finger of the already occupied glass, he shifted the chain back around before readjusting the tenuous grasp on the not so-flatware. His face once more turned sheepish before he rubbed at the back of his neck again in thought.

Gee, Connor, fidget more why don't you? Cause that's not freaky or anything…

::stop:: Sorry I kept you waiting Britt. My laptop kept white screening from heat. And now, thunder... >.<
::look:: Outfit and Car
::listen:: -----
::you're it:: Buffy and OPEN
::the credit:: Jess <3

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[Buffy Anne Summers]

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Seeing Connor smile when she accepted his request to join her she was taken aback by how much he looked like someone she knew. She couldn't tell who it was and it wasn't really any facial feature so much as the way he smiled. She smiled back, unable to stop herself though again, she had no idea why. She couldn't put her finger on who he reminded her of but she knew it was someone. Quickly running through the list of people who he could reasonably remind her of she was drawing a blank, never even having the faintest idea that she was skipping over the one person who would have clued her in immediately. That was probably a blessing in her case in that particular moment however as there shouldn’t be any innocent people around when she realized who he was.

Laughing at his comment about shaking the cobwebs out she nodded empathetically, knowing exactly what he meant. "I know that feeling." She stated before straightening so slightly that no one except someone who had studied her would have seen it at hearing he was from California originally. Again, something was pulling at her brain cells to try and figure out why he seemed so familiar and yet for the life of her she couldn't figure out what it was. She knew for a fact she had never met him before...so why did it seem like he was someone she should know? She couldn't figure it out and it was driving her up the wall! She hated not knowing things...she was naturally curious by nature and not being able to figure things out were one of her biggest pet peeves.

"I've actually traveled quite a bit recently to be honest." She started, wondering briefly what she would tell him before figuring she would tell him the truth, though just omitting a few key details. "I'm originally from California myself actually. Born and raised in Los Angeles." She stated with a shrug. "However I moved to Rome about ten months ago and then came to Richmond about two months ago as my sister wanted to attend school here. Neither of us were really digging living in another country so we headed back here." She stated. All of what she had said was true but she had omitted the fact that she had moved from Los Angeles to Sunnydale when she was sixteen. Anyone who knew of the slayer or vampires for that matter knew that the hellmouth was once underneath a small town named Sunnydale and that was something she didn’t want to even think about. Sunnydale no longer existed and to draw attention to the fact that she had been there would be too much.

Smiling in appreciation she nodded. "Sure, thanks." She told him before answering his question. "Actually I'm a high school counselor." She stated with a laugh. "Which is ironic since if you would have asked anyone that I knew in high school they'd all tell you that I wanted to escape and never return...and yet apparently I had been wrong." She said with a laugh. "What about you? You said you had taken a semester off...what are you studying?" She asked him, genuinely curious.

Seeing him fidget she caught sight of a necklace...a cross necklace actually. A part of her wanted to jump up and down that she was right and her senses had still not failed her, and yet the realist in her (which didn't come out too often) made her stay in her seat and look as casual as possible. It wasn't uncommon for people to wear crosses...so why should this be any different? Fingering her own cross that she hadn't even realized she'd pulled out from under her shirt which unfortunately moved ever so slightly showing a mark that had long healed on her neck but had scarred.

A vampire bite paired with a cross necklace...now that was something that most people didn't see every day.

Word Count:: 676
Tag:: Connor
Outfit:: Click for Buffy’s outfit
Note:: <3

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[Connor Angel Reilly]

When she accepted his offer, again Connor couldn't do anything but beam. It felt like being back home, and when Anne mentioned she was from California it was all crystal clear. There truly was something about the girls from back home; they seemed to have an ease to them that apparently held even when they were far from the Pacific. Scooping her glass up in his hands, he twisted about quickly to return them to the bar before ordering a 'refill for himself and the lady'. Thumbing out change and a rather decent tip (something most people forgot to do when ordering sodas at the bar much to his own dismay the few times he helped out at the local college watering hole), Connor deftly spun about on the heel of his boot to replace the glasses onto the table with grace not usually born in someone of his gender or height. At the mention of her travel, Connor enthusiastically leaned forward while folding himself back into his chair. Seeing the world sounded marvelous, the opportunity to go abroad was something teasing the series of 'maybe laters' that were stacking up before settling down into Real Life. "I've wanted to see other countries, but I probably couldn't live abroad either. I'd miss home too much, you know?"

When she mentioned her career and how it was apparently slightly out of character for her, Connor's eyes crinkled up as he grinned at her. "Irony, but fitting. You have that quality that counselors need. That nature that makes people want to open up to you. You're an exceptionally warm person, Anne." The comment was kindhearted and honest, further proof to what he said. There was something exceptional about this woman, and you had to be an absolute idiot to miss it. When she questioned him about school, he had to quickly swallow a long sip of brown pop before continuing. "Law School, actually. The dream is working for the DA's office, taking the hard cases no one else wants. I want to be able to help those who don't have a voice, so probably Special Victims if I had the choice. It's hard, but I know i've got this." Realizing he was getting a little impassioned, Connor actually blushed a little before ducking his head. Smiling a hint crooked, he looked up through his eyelashes at her before crinkling his nose. "Sorry, I can get a little animated…" Sheepishly, he took another slow sip of his Coke and tried to regain any semblance he could of his previous confidence.

It was when she fidgeted with her necklace that Connor's eyes trailed up the column of her throat. And it was the delicate scarring there that caught his eyes. Rounded, paler than the skin around it lay in stark yet subtle contrast. It was deep and violent or a wound sunk into more than once by either the same vamp or more than one. The cross then, made sense; and Connor had no idea how to broach the subject without offending her. Taking the sensitive guy route, his face turned soft as he gave Anne a gentle smile. "I've always found scars to be lovely. They show that we've gone through something and survived. The Good, The Bad, it's an equalizing kind of strength I respect." He words were light, soft spoken yet with a level of genuine empathy. This woman, no matter how she got that scar, had gone through something that deserved at the very least kindness and consideration. "That's a beautiful necklace, by the way." It was a subtle nod to his understanding where that particular mark came from, and an attempt should she not for whatever reason know what bit her be a segue into more lighthearted conversation. Either way, his night just became incredibly interesting.

::stop:: So much muse tonight. Good day. <3
::look:: Outfit and Car
::listen:: I Wanna Hold Your Hand covered by Chris Colfer from gLee
::you're it:: Buffy
::the credit:: Jess <3

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[Buffy Anne Summers]

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"Seeing Rome was great, it was the living there thing that I really didn't agree with. For one thing I'm a California girl at heart. I like my ocean right there, the crazy hot heat that you can almost feel soaking up in your pores, and all that crazy stuff. In Rome I think the hottest it got while I was there was eighty and while that's all fine and dandy, I like it hotter." She stated with a laugh. "For another thing, I'm sort of a blonde as is shown by the hair color. So the really heavy accents and the speaking in Italian thing, yeah, not for me. I have never been one for foreign languages...just ask my tenth grade Spanish teacher." She told him, rolling her eyes at herself in a playful way. "I think all I remember of that class, in which I took two years of, is how to count from one to ten and 'si' means yes." She told him, laughing as she did.

“However Rome is definitely the only other country I’ve seen. I actually never really strayed too far out of California. I don’t know, I just never really had that itch that some people do. You know the one where they can’t wait to leave the town they grew up in? Never really had that. Was always completely fine with living in California, loved it in fact.” She stated with a shrug.

"I sorta stumbled on to the whole counselor thing to be honest." She stated, blushing at his compliment of how warm she was. "I was taking my sister to school and there was a fight of some sort. Apparently it was between two kids who had always been in trouble in one way or another. I talked them down and by the end of it the two of them, along with my sister, were fairly close friends. The principal saw it and decided to give me a job working with students. It was fairly ironic as the only reason I jumped to help in the first place was because I was already a paranoid mess about leaving my sister." She stated with a laugh, remember the actual story which was a bit more in depth than that but since she couldn’t tell him that she figured that making up something similar but not the whole truth would work out well.

Hearing that he wanted to go to law school she grinned. She could see him working with special victims and making them feel comfortable in order to help them get over their past. She smiled an almost fond smile and knocked his shoulder with hers gently. "No need to apologize, you love what you want to do...that's good. The world needs more people like that. There are so many out there just going along because it's what they have to do to survive, but you really are passionate about what you are trying to become, and that's a great quality to have." She told him, again, taken aback by how much he reminded her of someone but for the life of her not being able to figure out whom.

Hearing his statement her hand immediately went to cover the scar. It had recently been reopened thanks to a very bad decision on her part but at the same time she still loved it. She carried a part of Angel around with her wherever she went so even if she lost the cross (something that had yet to happen, even when she had thrown it Angel had retrieved it for her) she still had a piece of him with her that was visible. "Scars can be very telling too." She told him, her eyes boring into his with an intensity that would make a lot of people look away in discomfort. "They can tell where one's been, how long they were there for, the whole nine yards." She told him, lifting her sleeve to show the extremely recent scar on her hand that was almost healed. She had forced Angel to drink from her a few nights before hand as she had accidentally cracked his skull open and had wanted to heal him...hence the very recent scar.

The only bite mark that had ever scarred completely was the one on her neck. She had been bitten by Dracula and The Master and neither of them had scarred. The one on her hand wouldn't leave a scar, it was just not finished healing completely, and yet the one on her neck would be with her forever, something that again, she was grateful for. “Yours is beautiful too. It’s different, not so ordinary, seems like something that is almost a tribute to you in a way, because Connor, you’re not ordinary…and that’s something in this world that you should be proud of.” She told him with a smile.

Word Count:: 849
Tag:: Connor
Outfit:: Click for Buffy’s outfit
Note:: Sorry it took me a few days. Crappy Laptop + Internet Issues = Brittany not getting to post as frequently as usual.

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[Connor Angel Reilly]

"I know the feeling. California's perfect for me. Don't get me wrong, I like it here too, but there's a chance my family may want me to head back at any moment so Virginia's up in the air. But it seriously only got to eighty? Wow, that's crazy. I can't imagine that, it seems so… boring?" He laughed softly, nodding enthusiastically when she mentioned her issues with Spanish. "I had to take Latin to help with the law, oh my god… Dead languages are brutal, no way I could handle one people still speak. I'm convinced some residents of Rome are turning in their graves, all I need to do is offend an actual native speaker because I asked 'which way to the pineapple dance' or something equally zany." He rolled his eyes playfully, enjoying the chance to let go and be a little silly with someone who he felt genuinely comfortable with. He still couldn't put his finger on why this woman put him so at ease, but that was part of what made her extraordinary to him. To demystify it seemed wrong, somehow; so he promptly told his brain to hushabye.

When she described the story of how she became a counselor, Connor coughed a bit on the soda he tried to drink at the same time. Tears in his eyes, he couldn't help as the coughing fit became a deep rumbling chuckle. "That's really cool though. I've got a kid sister too, I would have done the exact same thing. Once she had these girls at school picking on her for weeks since our mom insisted on dressing her everyday, despite her being fourteen. Which meant that it was my brotherly duty to drive her to school in my very shiny convertible and play the part of Hunky Unattainable but Crushable Older Brother. There may have been scented oil involved… I'm not proud…" His eyes twinkled mischievously, as he leaned in close, conspiratorially so to hide his shame from the room at large. Even going so far as to glance around a few times before divulging his tale of prepubescent warfare.

It was the fact that she not only understood his passion but complimented him on it that had Connor's cheeks flush pink all the way to his ears. It was the same reaction he had gotten whenever someone told him he had done something worthy of praise, the humble soul not knowing how to take it. "I want to do my part to help people. 'All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.' It's one of my favorite quotes of all time, from Edmund Burke. It's what I try to live by everyday, you know? This world has so much darkness in it, we need to do everything in our power to push it back, no matter the cost to ourselves. To think otherwise is really selfish." Connor stopped his impassioned speech for a moment, ducking his head shyly. Anne seemed like the exact type of person to understand where he was coming from when it came to his morals, in his heart of hearts he was sure of it. And when her hand covered her neck, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at making her feel self-conscious.

Unflinching, he held her gaze. It was important, and spoke to the demon hunter in him that he had for so long ignored.This was the kind of stare that warriors shared, ones who had seen their share of hell and kept their stand despite the oncoming storm. His respect for her tripled as each beautifully spoken word fell from her lips. All he could do was bask in awe at the woman before him, struck by how much she reminded him of his father. Angel held that noble soul, and it made him so homesick for his Dad. Holtz had a similar edge, but it was misguided and at it's core corrupt. This woman was a pillar, stalwart example of everything he wanted to be and it was all he could do but simply and wryly smile. "Exactly…" When she showed him her newest scar, Connor tentatively reached out to ghost over the line tracing her hand. There was something about scars that spoke to the boy from Quor'thoth, the beauty of a survivor clung to each healing mark with pride and honor.

At her words, Connor felt his heart pull. It was a truer warm glow than what he felt when Cordelia forced the feelings upon him when he first came to this plane. For a moment, his face showed the youth that was so lost those years ago, without the anger and eventual madness. Ducking his head once more, while looking up through the curtain of his lashes and tousled bangs, he gave Anne one of the most soul-revealing smiles of his life. "Thank you. That means more than I could even begin to explain." Offhandedly, he wished this lovely woman had someone to treasure and love her the way she deserved. He knew the pain of fighting the good fight alone, and it wore on the soul. And Connor would willingly go back to his home Hell Dimension before his companion felt an ounce of emptiness. It just wasn't happening. Whether or not she needed it, Anne had herself a loyal protector. Always having to help guard the Maiden Fair, no one could deny his parentage if they tried...

::stop:: Not to worry honey, I've been slow myself lately. But, OMG, that last paragraph had me tearing up!! >.<
::look:: Outfit and Car
::listen:: Brick by Boring Brick by Paramore
::you're it:: Buffy
::the credit:: Jess <3

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[Buffy Anne Summers]

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Nodding her understanding she grinned. "I'm sure it probably gets a bit hotter during the summer but when I was there that was the highest it got." She stated with a laugh. "So it was most definitely boring. Also, being single in the most romantic place in the world wasn't exactly the highlight of my life either may I just say. I saw more proposals in the few months I was there than I did my entire twenty three and a half years in California. It was insane." She stated, remembering with a fond smile the couples she saw walking down the streets, looking at one another like they were the only two in the world.

It made her jealous sure, but at the same time it reminded her exactly why she did what she did. She fought for the world on a nightly basis so things like that could happen. Children could grow up, fall in love and get married. Then those children no longer children could have babies and the cycle could continue. That was what she fought for...and it was invigorating to be confronted by that in a city that didn't know everything that went on at night. Rome was beautiful at night and while she was used to the nights being still, in Rome, they were alive with romance. Again, it made her wish for her own happy ending, but it also filled her with a deep sense of pride.

"I definitely miss California. I thought about paying a visit here in a few weeks to go back to Los Angeles for a few days. I miss the shopping." She stated with a laugh. Sure, she might be an adult now; she may be a lot more mature than she had been while living in Los Angeles, but that didn't mean she didn't miss spending her father's money at Rodeo Drive any time she wanted. Ahhh, to be young again.

Patting his back gently, making sure not to give away even an ounce of her real strength, she made sure he was alright before answering his statement. "You sound like an amazing older brother." She told him with a grin. "Makes me wish I had an older brother when I was growing up. Unfortunately my younger sister didn't usually like me because I had to play the adult. Our mom died when she was fourteen and I got custody of her. Which meant I had to play the parent after that instead of the cool older sister, something that she really wasn't too fond of back then." She stated, twirling her straw in the glass of coke that was in front of her. "Every once in awhile I would do something that she approved of, but not often after that."

Hearing that he wanted to help people struck another chord within her. She was drawn to him in a way that was odd to her because she wasn't used to it. She felt almost, connected to him somehow which was odd as she just met him. There were no romantic feelings there as hello, she was madly in love with her creature of the night ex boyfriend who would probably not be happy with her that she hadn't made it home yet but eh, he'd get over it. However, there was something there, something that told her that he was meant to be in her life. She just couldn't figure out the specifics yet. "Living by that quote sounds like a good way to live. I used to live by 'Carpe Diem'... I actually told my best friend that when we first met. I'm not really sure how I live anymore, whether a quote could completely define how I live. That's something to think about." She stated idly, rolling her eyes at herself. "God I need a life it seems." She laughed, taking a sip of her drink.

Feeling his fingers touch her scar she fought her instinct to retract her hand. Not because of the fact that someone was touching her, but because it was another special place of Angel's. She doubted he would see it like that but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Looking at him she saw a young boy in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. She couldn't pull herself away from his stare, and yet, she wasn't afraid of it. A small part of her tried to tell her to steer clear, that something wasn't right...but she ignored it. She was safe with him...which wasn't something she could say about just anyone. "No thanks needed." She told him with a smile, not knowing what else to say. She felt like she should say something, but for the life of her she couldn't figure it out.

Feeling her phone vibrate against her thigh as it was in her pocket, she dropped her eyes and pulled it out with an apologetic glance his way. Seeing that it was Willow she shot her a text back telling her she'd be home in a bit and quickly re-pocketed the phone. "Sorry about that, my best friend is a little bit of a worry wart sometimes."

Word Count:: 882
Tag:: Connor
Outfit:: Click for Buffy’s outfit
Note:: Woot! Didn’t take me nearly as long. Lol.

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[Connor Angel Reilly]

At the mention of proposals, Connor smiled softly though looked lost behind the eyes for a moment. He had thought that kind of love was his, not so very long ago. It was the nature of the young man to throw his heart completely into the person he cared for, refusing to be as distant as he saw Holtz be. Or in his own way, how empty Angel seemed when he came back. It was as if his father had lost something so great, so important that he was a ghost without it. While they never talked about it, sans a quick chat about his father maybe-shagging Nina the werewolf, Connor was certain it was a lovelorn look in his Dad's eyes. Must be genetic… It was why he did what he did, and studied what he wanted to study. A safe place to belong and be loved was everything to him. Here's hoping he could find one.

As he sat there in their companionable silence for a handful of heartbeats, Connor's mind traced over to the other night with Faith. Everything was so conflicted and torn up within him, to a point that he couldn't possibly understand. This wasn't hero worship, or some childlike crush. There was a true and honest passion to how he felt about her. A life without passion… I''d rather be dead. For a brief slip of time he allowed himself to think selfish thoughts before letting them go. Faith was like smoke in his hands; insubstantial and beautiful, though to try and clutch at it would only slip away through his fingers. Rather he could let her twist and wind about him, ensnare his senses and merely be near her. Even if it was killing him inside to watch her flit away. His eyes flicked up when Anne continued to speak and he chastised himself for allowing his mind to wander away from her. It was beyond rude and he was better than that. Consummate Gentleman, after all.

The shopping comment had him smirking slightly, a slow sip of his soda and a nod before adding to his response. "I'm only slightly ashamed to admit I'm with you there. It's impossible to find jeans in my length that aren't Dad jeans on the East Coast. It's torturous." His comment was again, playful and a touch flippant if completely accurate. Somehow, he had a feeling that statement would at least garner him one of her bright smiles and put her at further ease. This was not some elaborate hook up scheme but genuine companionship and Connor wanted her to trust in that. So if it meant being a touch silly, he had no problem with it. And the pat on his back had him chuckling under his breath before giving her the full gamut of his grin. He hadn't felt this comfortable since being around his kid sister, but again that still wasn't right. But Anne filled him with this sense of Familial affection, and he was going to stop analyzing and just accept it.

"Thanks. And I'm sorry to hear about your mom. I was adopted. so I never really knew my birth mother. She died in childbirth. But my family's still mine, you know?" Connor paused, brows pulling down over his eyes in thought. It was a story he had been using for some time, so it didn't taste of a lie. If anything, it was completely true in a mystical way. But that didn't mean he didn't still have hangups from before he was a Reilly. And one big one revolved around Darla. Blinking through the past, Connor looked back up at Anne, voice still soft. "I'm not all she has like with your sister but, who else is going to help show her the world? Who to trust. Who'll be there for her if she needs me? I don't think I could ever be able to do what you needed to do. It's a type of strength I don't have. I would break if I lost my parents." It was a nightmare he had had a lot as a child; in Quor'thoth and the 'real' world. Clinging tight onto his parents, whose faces kept changing depending on who served that role in his life at the time, and being ripped from them. Guess some childhood trauma never really goes away.

Again, he pushed his thoughts down and away when they continued to speak, though he couldn't help but acknowledge that Anne made him comfortable enough to be prosaic if still thoughtful. It had been a long time since he allowed himself an opportunity to rifle through his own damage and it felt oddly refreshing. So when she mentioned her own personal if previous drive, he nodded his own assent. "Still it was an amazing one at the time. And it in it's own way gained you a best friend. Which is something I've never had. So consider your day completely seized." At her self-deprecating tease, Connor chuckled softly and took his own matching sip. There was something to that personal dig at herself, and he knew her enough by now to not pry. She seemed to need this as much as he did, and so he'd help in any way he could. Which meant lighthearted and only slightly maudlin conversation. So when his fingers traced her mark, Connor couldn't help but feel as though this was one of those important moments. A trust, a glimpse into who Anne really was. And it left him feeling both raw and slightly embarrassed. After a brief heartbeat of his fingertips over her scar, he pulled them back shyly, his cheeks tinged with pink once more when he noticed how his face was far from schooled.

When she fished out her phone, Connor sat back with a hand held up to show he didn't mind her taking a moment. He smiled when she mentioned this phantom best friend again and he twirled his straw around a bit to mix up the ice. "No need. It's getting late and it seems like your friend truly cares about you. That's never something you should feel like apologizing over. Do you need to get going?" While he hated to cut the conversation short, Connor understood if she had somewhere she needed to be. Especially considering the time, he would need to find a place of his own to lay his head soon.

::stop:: Not in as much pain today, so taking advantage of it!
::look:: Outfit and Car
::listen:: The AC chugging along again.
::you're it:: Buffy
::the credit:: Jess <3

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[Buffy Anne Summers]

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Grinning at his statement about missing the shopping she shoved his shoulder a bit. "I should take you shopping with me. You would think with the fact that all of my friends are from California, that I would have one, just one, who liked to shop. But no, I don't. None of the people that I spend time with like to shop, especially not on Rodeo Drive. How fair is that?" She asked, her pink lips pushing out to make a perfect pout even though she wasn't really truly aware of doing it. It was true though, none of those she really spent time with liked to shop. She was sure she could convince a couple of the new girls to go with her but that didn't sound like that much fun. She enjoyed being around them, but babysitting a bunch of teenagers on Rodeo Drive didn't sound like fun.

Faith didn't shop much as far as she knew, Xander would rather die than be caught dead shopping for shoes or purses, Willow wasn't really a girly girl in the strictest sense, Angel would rather jump outside without his ring on than tell her which outfit looked the best on her, and Giles would be useless in the Los Angeles shopping district. Oooh, she had completely forgotten about Kathy. Now she would be fun to shop with. The blonde slayer made a mental note to take the little vampire shopping as soon as Willow made her a daylight ring before grinning at the man next to her. "Then again, you might not want to sit there and watch me drool over $500 purses...I tend to lose it a bit." She stated with a laugh.

"As for the dad jeans, I understand. Except for me it's the opposite. I cannot find any jeans that fit me because of how short I am unless they are in the Juniors section. And while the jeans themselves are fine, the style with the holes and the paint splattered on them and such...not my scene. What happened to regular flare jeans? Hell even skinny jeans would be fine if they didn't have some funky design and wow, shut me up." She stated, realizing not for the first time that she was completely rambling. "Sorry, I'm totally a girly girl sometimes so get me talking about clothes...I'll never stop talking." She told him with am embarrassed grin. She quickly took a drink of her soda, trying to cool the blush on her face. She really needed to work on the whole rambling thing. It tended to get her into trouble more often than not.

Smiling sadly at the memory of her mom before shooting him a sad look as well she nodded. "I'm sorry about your birth mother. I can't imagine... but it seems like you're close to your adopted parents so that's good. Family is important... I never really truly realized how much I looked up to my mom until she was gone." She stated. "If you don't mind me asking, you said that you've never really known your birth mother...what about your birth father? And please, tell me if I'm over stepping. My foot tends to live in my mouth." She told him with a smile, hoping that she wouldn't offend him. She was simply curious. It had been awhile since she had met someone who she clicked with like she did with him and for some reason she felt inclined to know as much as she could about him.

"I thought I was going to break when my mom passed away. She had a brain tumor earlier that year and they did surgery and she was fine for awhile...but I came home and she had apparently had an aneurysm while I was gone." She stated before shaking her head. "I didn't think I was going to be able to take care of my sister, but when my dad never returned my phone calls about my mom...I knew I had to step up. It's something that you don't know that you can do until you don't have another choice. I know that if your sister needed you...you'd do whatever you could to make sure she was okay." She told him with a smile, showing that while he may not see it, she did. She saw the strength in him that few had...and her respect for him grew.

Setting her phone back in her purse she shook her head. "Probably here in a few minutes I should head back. My friends tend to worry and I really don't want a search party coming out looking for me." She stated with a laugh. "Search parties plus B...Anne...it never equals well." She stated, covering her slip up with another drink of her soda, hoping he didn't catch on to the fact that she had almost spilled out her real name. She still wasn't sure why she hadn't given it yet...but something within her told her to keep it quiet.

She trusted her instincts and did just that.

Word Count:: 856
Tag:: Connor
Outfit:: Click for Buffy’s outfit
Note:: Glad you’re feeling better <3 Btw, Kase and I were talking and thought about maybe once Buffy left Angel could jump in and see Connor and bring him back to the boarding house…thus showing Connor who Buffy really is and Buffy who Connor really is. Completely up to you though, it was just an idea.

- - - - - - - - - - -

[Connor Angel Reilly]

"I'd actually really like that. It's one of my more masculine talents, what with the proper color coordinating and eye for designer deals." Connor smirked playfully, no longer ashamed of the years of teasing from his friends as to his bizarre quirk for fashion. The feminine habit had him mocked furiously by his friends, until it landed him his beautiful (if damaged, but really who wasn't?) ex-girlfriend. Then, it was all he could do to answer every male friend's overeager request for help. "I haven't been to Rodeo in years. My sister doesn't have a love for it, but I love the artistry of fashion. It's no different than fine art and it gets to be an expression of yourself without the necessity of words. And if you drool over purses, I'll just have to find something equally as distracting." With a put on roll of his eyes, he gave a smart ass flick of his hand in 'dismissal' before snickering into his soda. The fact that he felt comfortable enough to joke with her was refreshing, and he couldn't help but quantify misstatement. "My ex-girlfriend claimed one of the things she'd miss most about our relationship was shopping together. Story of my life. My relationships resemble most cataclysmic disasters. And that… was oversharing. I am so sorry…"


Connor's cheeks flushed deeply as his brows furrowed in thought. What started as a 'mention you're mostly straight offhandedly' became an awkward moment he wasn't sure he could recover from. Smooth, Connor… real smooth… When she went on her jeans discussion, Connor relaxed and nodded. "It's because you're petite. But if you shop Misses, you'll end up dating yourself older, which is never good. And hemming jeans all the time is a pain in the ass. You should try looking at Japanese designs. Street fashion-wise, the flared jean is something they gravitate towards because it's 'Americana' fashion, but you have the figure to wear their styles beautifully and not look like you wrestled someone down the Home Depot aisles." It seemed the pair of them were going to play the embarrassment game, and it at least meant they were comfortable enough to show themselves without the need for a silly social mask. It was as close as he remembered Quor'thoth to be, sans the brimstone and demons. Honest communication was easy when everyday was potentially your last. He missed it. More than he knew, actually.

"I don't mind at all. No foot in mouth in the least. I ended up meeting back with my birth father when I was sixteen. It was rough at first, there were some differences at first. But he's an amazing man, you know? I guess everybody puts their parents on a pedestal, but my Dad deserves it. He's the kind of person I want to be. He helps people without asking for a thing in return, just because it's what you should so. He taught me that it doesn't matter how hard it is, you fight for what's right and you keep innocent people safe and make the hard decisions even if it means you catch it in the teeth at the end. He's not just wonderful to those he helps though, he's a Hero to me too. I'd do anything to be like him… I love my adoptive Dad, he's a kind and honest man too. I'm really grateful I have two of the best men in the entire world to look up to, and I don't ever want to disappoint them." His voice took on a soft tone, smiling bashfully at the mention of what he really felt towards Angel. He hadn't ever had an opportunity to tell his Dad what was in his heart, and it felt incredibly cathartic to get it off his chest when it came to talking with Anne. Even if Angel never knew it, Connor still said it. And that mattered. At least, to him it mattered…

Impossibly more, as Anne talked about her mom and what she went through, Connor's heart went out to her. Sickness was something he had never known, thanks to his pedigree. But it scared him. There was no way to fight disease with your fists or your words, and it made him feel helpless. A sensation he despised more than anything. "I am so sorry. I can't handle hospitals or doctors, they terrify me in a way I can't even begin to explain. I don't know how on Earth you had the strength to not only survive all of that, but deal with your father not being there and help raise your sister. You're just like my Dad, Anne. You're a Hero too. I just hope I could be there for her; i'd like to think I would but there's the chance I'd blunder it all up somehow. But I'd do my best. Guess that's all anyone can do, right?"

When she mentioned needing to go, Connor pulled out his wallet. Slipping out a bit of notecard leftover from an exam, he quickly scrawled his phone number on it along with his name in neat flowing letters. "Here. This way we can catch up and your friends don't need to fret over you." The momentary hiccup of her speech did pique his curiosity, but he chalked it up to her almost using a 'friends only' nickname. "And this way we can both appease our retail therapy needs without subjecting your poor friends to the horrors of a shopping spree." He stood, offering a hand up for Anne in a manner he had seen his father do to the women he helped. It was a gesture of time long passed, but for some reason the young man liked it. Gallant looked good on O'Connor men…

"Here. Let me walk you out, at least."

::stop:: I managed to write these posts while helping mom paint the bottom half of out kitchen walls as far as the heating pad cord would reach! I'm so proud of myself! Oh! And i am so a Go for the plan! It sounds like so much fun!
::look:: Outfit and Car
::listen:: Momma comparing granite options with my Uncle.
::you're it:: Buffy
::the credit:: Jess <3

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[Buffy Anne Summers]

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Grinning at the playful way that she and Connor reacted to one another she couldn't help but giggle. "I am totally dragging you and my... my friend's sister along with me soon and we are going to engage in some serious retail therapy." She stated, excitement lighting up her hazel eyes. It had been years since she had been able to have a good shopping trip and she could definitely use the breather from everything going on around her. She knew that Kathy would enjoy it as well and knew that Angel probably could use a few moments of peace without his sister and his, whatever the hell she was to him, hanging on him
"I'm just going to forewarn you though; I will totally use you as my personal ken doll if you let me." She stated before realizing how that sounded and laughing awkwardly, fiddling with the straw in her soda. "What I mean is I'll find clothes that I think look good and then beg you to model them for me until you get so annoyed that you do it just to shut me up." She laughed. "Again, I desperately need to go out and find myself a life." She told him with a roll of her eyes, clearly laughing internally at herself.

"Not over sharing, not at all. Trust me when I say, I understand cataclysmic relationships...I could definitely be the queen of those." She stated, thinking about her past relationships. Fell in love with a vampire, vampire lost his soul, had to send vampire to hell, vampire came back, got back together with vampire, vampire then decided he wanted to be noble and leave for her 'own good'. She died. She came back. Vampire and her reconnected after saving the world. Vampire loses his soul again. She sleeps with vampires evil alter-ego. Vampire gets soul back and refuses to speak to her. The two finally talk and now sort of getting back together. Yeah, and that's just one of us. She figured she probably shouldn't say any of that out loud so instead she shook her head. "At least you got to shop with her. I can't imagine dragging any of my ex's shopping with me. They would all probably commit suicide before going anywhere near the mall with me." She told him with a laugh before sobering up. “I’m sorry about your ex girlfriend. If you ever need to talk, I’m here. I’m apparently a good listener…when I shut up for five minutes and actually listen that is.” She told him, rolling her eyes again at herself.

Hearing Connor talk about his parents she smiled but didn't say a word, knowing that he had more to say. When he told her that she was like his dad, a hero, she would admit to no one but herself that her eyes welled up a bit. "You just gotta do your best. There's nothing but you can do. I let my sister down a lot when our mom first died. It was only after she had been gone for awhile that I really was able to get it together." She stated, thinking back to right after she was brought back from heaven. She hadn't been in her right mind to deal with anyone, let alone taking care of a teenager. Luckily she finally got her act together, but her and Dawn's relationship suffered greatly because of it.

Taking his phone number she quickly pulled out her phone and sent him a text message so that he had hers as well. "There, now you can give me a call whenever you're free to shop." She told him with a grin, though internally grateful she hadn't pulled out her card like she normally would...her card with her full name on it.

Taking his hand she stood up, reminded once again of someone, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out who. Hopefully once she got home, away from all the noises and such, she would remember as it was going to drink her completely crazy until she did.
Turning around she smiled. "No worries. My car's right out front." She told him with a smile, not wanting to admit that she was actually walking home. She needed to stop by on her way home and hit the cemeteries but knew if Connor walked her out he would most likely insist on giving her a ride home. "Give me a call soon and we can hit Rodeo Drive. Coach is calling my name." She stated with a laugh before leaning in and kissing his cheek in a friendly notion before waving once and allowing herself to get lost in the crowd.

Never knowing that she was in for a large surprise the next time she saw Connor.

Word Count:: 839
Tag:: Connor
Outfit:: Click for Buffy’s outfit
Note:: Woot woot! Kase I believe you can jump in at any time my lovveeee! Buffy’s gone. I’m so excited for them to all realize who is who!!! <3

- - - - - - - - - - -

[angel]

After a night of patrolling with Faith, they had decided to split up. They hadn’t found anything challenging all night so it seemed like a waste to continue fighting together. She moved on to check out other avenues, finishing off the rest of the cemeteries and then heading to the park. Angel on the other hand felt more gravitated towards the city. Though it was nothing close to Los Angeles it was at least a city. He missed the city a lot these days. More specifically he really missed his city, the city of angels. He had always felt at home there. Los Angeles was a city for lost souls and that’d been exactly what he was when he went there. In fact he could argue that he was still a very lost soul even to this day. Soon he’d have to go back and visit his city, and hopefully bring Katheryn to see it as well. He had a feeling she’d like it, especially with all of the shopping. Might as well bring Buffy back as well while he was at it.

However this was why he’d chosen to patrol the streets of the city. They reminded him in a very distant way of his own city. He started in the back alleys and dark corners, as they seemed most logical. Coming up empty handed he decided to narrow his search. He went to the first bar he seen, though he’d never been there. They had expanded their patrolling tonight to another town which was a lot bigger than Richmond or Mystic Falls. It was a nice town overall, though seemed a bit more industrial than the town they were living in. So when he seen the Mid Rivers bar and grill, he decided to stop in and check things out. There were a lot of cars parked in the parking lot and along the street and it was a very crowded night. Crowded night meant a feeding frenzy to a hungry vampire, which he was hoping to prevent.

Pulling the large handles on the front door open, he couldn’t help stop abruptly as a scent hit his nose. It was oddly familiar and yet it seemed like somehow the scent had changed…he wasn’t sure what it was, but it was rather strange. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was and it was beginning to bug him. Trying to disregard it he let the doors close behind him as he strode in, though the smell only got stronger. Maneuvering around some tables of people and through a large crowd, he made his way over to the bar. The smell only kept getting stronger and stronger as he moved towards the bar. He wanted to know what in the hell this damned smell was. Finally he saw what he’d been smelling and he stopped dead in his tracks.

Connor…

Could it really be him? It smelled and looked like him, but was he hallucinating? Why would his son be in Virginia? Forcing his previously paralyzed legs to move him forward, he moved to stand in front of his son, who had now seen him as well. ”Connor…is it really you?” he said, barely able to choke out the words. Was this possible? It almost felt as if Angel was in a dream. He hadn’t ever expected to see his son anytime soon, let alone for him to come to Virginia. Was he here for Angel, or for something else? His eyes remained wide as he stared at his son, dumbfounded. Honestly he just really didn’t know what to think.

::Tag:: Connor
::Word count::602
::Notes:: ----
::Credit:: Jax

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[Connor Angel Reilly]

"I can't wait." Once more, Connor's nose wrinkled in delight at the thought of a day with the girls. To him, there was something very soothing about the process; down to even enjoying being the bag and purse keeper. He blamed a lot on his mom and little sister plus her hordes of friends, as well as the ex. It made the girls smile, and that made every second of it completely worthwhile. Besides, there was a certain level of pride he had in being able to list the rules of a true haute couture House and a few current members. "And I have no complaints about being a Ken doll, as long as it doesn't involve board shorts and sandals." Making a face, Connor shook his head to rid the horrible image before laughing once more. "I think I can do model. And I'm rather easygoing. I say we should plan for this shopping day with your friend's sister as soon as we're all free. It sounds like more fun than I've had in almost a year."

When she empathized with his old relationship mess with her own personal bad, Connor once more gave Anne a compassionate smile. They were very similar, and he couldn't believe how lucky he was to have honestly made a friend here in Virginia. "Only if you do the same. Friends take care of friends." Her words were heartfelt, his own to match. Sometimes just knowing you had someone in the world willing to listen and not judge was everything; and sometimes all you needed was someone to distract you from the pain. Either way, Anne was the kind of friend he tried to be, and each passing second showed him more and more how fantastic of a person she was. This was it; between his Dad, Faith, and his new friend Connor honestly felt like he was where he always wanted to be. Home.

As she spoke of her sister, he nodded in agreement, eyes looking a little wistful as she mentioned doing what you had to. A feeling overcame him suddenly, and Connor couldn't help but echo something he had said once before. "It's like what I said to my Dad. 'You gotta do what you can to protect your family.' That's what really matters above everything else. And family isn't just blood. Those who find their way into our hearts past our defenses; those who love us not in spite of our faults, but because of them. That's Family."

When his phone went off, Connor grinned boyishly and nodded, easily plugging in the name Anne into the contact info. When she assured him her car was right out front, he nodded and ruffled his hair back into place very much looking like the slightly awkward college co-ed. "Most def. Night Anne." The kiss on his cheek had him chuckling under his breath as he watched her leave before sinking into his seat gratefully. Good damned day.

It took a handful of minutes and another refill on his soda before Connor felt a familiar tingle lick up his spine. Perking up, Connor looks around the room before his eyes caught what his nose was telling him. "Dad!" A bright grin lit up his features as Connor sprung up to his feet. Immediately, Connor let his arms fling around his father. It didn't matter that he knew Angel had survived the Battle of Los Angeles at the hands of the Senior Partners; the last time he had seen the ensouled vampire he was getting the ever-loving hell kicked out of him thanks to a one Marcus Hamilton. "Sorry I didn't call…" He murmured before moving to break the embrace and possibly step backwards awkwardly.

::stop:: Can I just say, how much this thread makes my LIFE? Best patchwork family ever! All we need is Kathy here and then someone picking up Dawn! <3
::look:: Outfit and Car
::listen:: Turn Me On by David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj
::you're it:: Angel
::the credit:: Jess <3

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