Seishi - Wednesday, August 29, 2001, 7:11 PM
------------------------------------------

Beacon Park

Corner Lane follows a long, lazy curve, circling the northern half of the large plot of land set aside for the Beacon Harbor Park. Old Schoolhouse Road circles the park along the southern half, meeting Corner Lane at two points to provide a "moat" of roadway around the vast park. Two parking structures, one on the north outside rim of the park, and the other on the south side, provide parking for Navigator Stadium home of Beacon Harbor's own baseball team which sits between the two structures. Most of the park is filled with roughly landscaped lawns and concrete sidewalks that follow the semi-hilly terrain. There are a lot of trees in the park, creating a thick canopy of green over this part of the city, and blocking most of the buildings from the sight of the park's visitors. In the southern corner of the park are several public tennis courts as well as a place for volleyball.


Despite reports to the contrary, today is a nice day to be outside. And Simon really did visit during waking hours for once too. He's such a saint. Such an innocent thing, a walk in the park. "No, actually," he says in his normal, English, /not/ American (ahem Lara) voice. "I moved here just recently from out of town. But not /that/ out of town." He's no immigrant.

Seishi saunters alongside Simon, hands tucked into her jeans pockets. "Count your blessings," she tells him wryly. "It's not a trip I'd recommend."

Constantine is slumped back against a bench, looking half-asleep. In fact, God only knows what's keeping him awake. Went to sleep too late, woke up too early. He has too much to do. Too much to worry over. And it's *all his fault*. At the moment, though, he's taking a break from his dubious activities to just feel sorry for himself, sitting there, smoking, head in his hands. He looks up tiredly at the sight of Seishi and Simon approaching.

"A little socialization should do wonders for your mood, John, love," says a calm, pleasant voice that only John can hear, which comes from a spectre sitting next to him on the bench, legs crossed and hands primly clasped atop knees. Which, of course, only John can see. His name is Ray, and his death was partially John's fault. "Here, now is it so terribly hard to greet them? They'll cheer you right up, I'm sure."

"I wonder if it's ever done anyone any good," Simon muses. He still hasn't pegged down that voice. "I've been meaning to ask you...." Maybe the unfinished question will seem mysterious. "The infamous John Constantine," Simon says as they draw nearer. And looking none too happy.

Seishi's brow furrows in concern when she sees Constantine. "Hey..." She has the tact not to say he looks like hell, but she's certainly thinking it.

Constantine's eyes flicker uneasily to one side. Of course there's nothing and no one next to him. Not that anyone else can see. "'lo," he says gloomily, like a schoolchild being prompted by a teacher. "I know, I know," he tells Seishi resignedly. "I look like hell." Well put.

Seishi replies mildly, "I wasn't going to say it."

Simon follows John's brief little flicker, and can't for the life of him read what John's looking at. The looking like hell part is obvious. Seems like he feels it too. "Well appearances can be deceiving," but probably aren't in this case.

"Of course they can, but they're not - at least not in this case," observes Ray, watching Simon interestedly. He gives him a good long elevator stare, then returns his attention to John. "Rather fetching, but with an unfortunate tendency to gloss over the obvious, don't you think?"

"I didn't say you were going to." John stands. He might as well brood in company. Er. In *live* company. Poor Ray. "They're not. No." There's something slightly disjointed about that last word, as if it wasn't just an add-on to the first two but a reply to something else entirely.

Seishi has to ask. She may not have a high opinion of Constantine, but she /can't/ just stand around and watch him look miserable. "...What's wrong?"

Simon was looking to Seishi, to see if she wanted to say. The saint is curious but not very empathic. He goes to prop up a foot on the bench. Look out Ray's crotch.

Ray startles and looks down, where there's suddenly a foot through his crotch. "Oh, bugger all, he hasn't even any -manners-." The ghost stands huffily and brushes himself off, then looks kind of snotty. "For pity's sake. If you're going to defend the conversation skills of a boor like that, even if he -is- ridiculously attractive, you can sodding well -keep- brooding like a silly little twit." Not that he's going away. He inclines his head at Seishi and glares at John. "Answer -her-! At least she's as concerned for your well-being as I am."

Constantine shakes his head a little. "The usual. A lot of things." He drops his cigarette end, stares at it a moment, and then steps on it. As sulky as he may be right now, he doesn't want to send the park up in flames or anything. Probably. He scowls at...well, no one. It's very odd. Then he shrugs and looks back at Seishi. "I pissed off the wrong people again, and just to make things even better Buffy's been miserable lately too."

Simon puts his other foot on the bench and swings up so he's sitting on the back of it, both feet on the bench. "Buffy unfortunately has a strong drive to be miserable it seems," Simon says, remembering their talk on the plane. Now her, he feels sorry for. "Easier to be hurt than afraid, and all that.

Seishi makes a tired face. "Yeah, I, um, talked to her last night." And criticized her in particular and romance in general, but--hey, it was a bad night all around, okay? "I don't really know what to tell you."

Suddenly, Ray looks very interested indeed. "I -knew- I should've brought it up before. Buffy's lovely, I thought I ought to tell you. Don't tell Emma I said, but I do believe you've done it this time. In a good sort of way, rather. The nail on the head, as it were. She's just as deadly to you as you are to her, isn't she?" He means well. He really does. Look at that angelic face. "So she can take care of herself, and you needn't worry over her."

"Yeah." Constantine looks away, that little response having been to both Simon and Seishi. "I didn't expect you would. It's not your problem. I shouldn't be thinking about it either. I've other things to deal with. Like finding somewhere else to stay. My place in the Badlands...everybody seems to be able to find it now." Dead goths. Worse--lawyers. He rolls his eyes, giving--somebody--a "yeah right" look. This is so inconvenient. Damn ghosts.

Seishi admits, "I can't really help you there, either." After all, she's still camped out on Holmes' couch.

Simon looks over at Seishi questioningly for a moment. Is he rolling eyes at her? He tends to pick up on just about any body language. "What kind of place are you looking for?" He of course could potentially be of help.

Indiana arrives from School House Road.
Indiana has arrived.

"The kind with a roof. And doors that lock," John says dryly. He pauses to consider. "Well, I s'pose it should be someplace nice enough. For Buffy's sake." He doesn't particularly care if he's living in filth, but Buffy might be kind of pissed off. He's standing next to a bench and also next to Simon and Seishi. He does not look to be in a good mood. There's nobody dead talking to him! Really!...that anyone else can see.

Indiana exits the Beacon Harbor University parking lot, a book tucked under his arm. He waits on the curb for the traffic, then threads his way through the cars as a red light brings the next line to a halt. He moves off of the sidewalk and over a rise in the greenery of the park, seeking a spot to read.

Simon is sitting on the back of the bench, feet on the part where people normally sit. Intersecting the ghost quite possibly as well. Living with someone. It must be hellish. "Waterfront for the lady?" Simon says with a gentle tease. He knows a few places, and how to get it under a different name. Though considering John, he probably does as well.

Ray is actually standing near the bench, now, not having enjoyed the spectacle of a foot through his crotch. He's quite invisible and quite inaudible to everyone but John, which has been getting to be quite a problem for the aforementioned urban mage. "You really ought to consider settling down with her," he says mildly. "You're getting on in years, and if you want to start a family, you should start soon."

Seishi stands by with her hands in her pockets, looking a little uncomfortable. When she catches sight of Indy, she waves to him, but doesn't make any other effort to catch his attention.

Constantine does, but he's been very careful with his contacts lately. Pull too many strings and one might break, or bring an anvil tumbling down on your head. He smiles wanly at Simon. And then promptly goes into a small fit of coughing, which to the Saint (and maybe even less practiced people-readers) is easily enough identified as an attempt to hide a much larger fit of laughter. Oh, he can ignore the ghosts. Sometimes. Most the time, even. But usually they don't say anything quite so *ridiculous*!

Simon raises his eyebrows with a dry expression. He hadn't realized he was so hilarious. "Something less expensive perhaps." Look, it's Indy. Simon stands up on the bench, waving an arm. He's still got those papers to give him.

Indiana returns the wave and approaches. "What are you riff raff up to?" he asks, smiling.

Seishi lifts her brows curiously at Constantine, then turns a crooked grin toward Indy. "Riff-raff? I think I'm offended."

Simon reaches into an inner pocket underneath his shirt (secret don't you know), and has a few pieces of ID for the good doctor. "Congratulations Dr. Jones. You now exist."

"More than I can say for me," mutters Ray, his pleased smile fading into a bit of a scowl, and he turns away, watching the...the landscape. Yes. The landscape behind Simon. And Indy. Too bad they're in the way, eh?

Constantine glares daggers at the ghost. As if they could hurt him now. "I'm not," he says, glancing back at the others. "But I'm not surprised Seishi is." He gives Simon a darkly amused look. "ID cards. The soul as seen in the twenty-first century." The amusement fades into guilt for...no apparent reason, and he looks down.

Accepting the card from Simon, Indy turns it around, looking it over. Glancing left then right for signs of Federal Agents hiding in the bushes, he says "Nice work." He digs out his wallet and slips it into a plastic cover therein, adding "Thanks." He then looks at Constantine with a bemused sort of expression. "Seishi's guilty by means of association with us, way I figure it." He glances at Seishi, winks. "Sorry, honey."

Seishi looks toward the sky with a wry expression. "Doesn't it just figure. Ah, well."

"I think we're more in danger of being reformed by her," Simon says. She made him give back the bracelet. Which he didn't want anyway. But still, the principle of it.

Lara has arrived.

Smiling sadly at Constantine, Ray makes as if to pat him on the back, but, uh, you know, is all intangible. This only serves to underline his point. He's dead, and all. "Don't fret, Johnny dear, I don't hold you at all responsible. I was just missing it, is all." He steps back and offers an encouraging smile. "I suggest proposing to her as soon as possible. Girl like that, you can't let slip, can you? Not that I know anything about that." He beams and fades from John's sight.

"I can think of worse situations than that," Indiana says in idle reply to Simon's comment. He then tucks his hands into his pants pockets, book poised gingerly in the crook of his right arm. "I heard you had somethin' you wanted to talk to me about, Constantine?"

Lara's Norton seems just perfect for these park roads - and well, even if it weren't, Lara'd use them anyway. The low purr of the motorcycle heralds her arrival, and she brings it to a pause near the group, but not so near as to disrupt all manner of conversation.

Everyone is clustered around a park bench, Seishi, John and Indiana standing, Simon sitting on the back of it with feet on the seat proper. He stands again to hail Lara with a hand, waving. More people arriving. This is starting to look suspiciously like a social gathering. "Have you seen her reform technique?" Simon asks.

Seishi looks vaguely pleased now, though she doesn't say anything. The sound of the motorcycle diverts her attention, and she waves good-naturedly to Lara.

Constantine just...broods. The angst is more tangible than the ghost who provoked it (while being entirely well-meaning, of course). If he wasn't feeling so guilt-ridden, though, he'd laugh his head off. "Uh--" He struggles to snap out of it. "Yeah. This quest you're taking Buffy on. What's it about?" Don't touch her while you're on it! Rarr. He offers a half-hearted wave to Lara.

Everyone is clustered around a park bench, Seishi, John and Indiana standing, Simon sitting on the back of it with feet on the seat proper, and Lara just having arrived on her bike.

"Quest?" Simon chimes in, unable to not be curious about it. Oooh, a quest. How heroic.

Lara shuts the engine off and lifts herself away from the bike, leaning against it instead. She makes her way over to Seishi and co, half an ear cocked to Indiana and Constantine.

There's a more distant rumble, from a larger bike, which cuts off. Jack appears not long after, humming a Gilbert & Sullivan tune. "A party and non bothered to invite us to?" he wonders, mildly, as he makes his way over, still stiff.

"'Quest'?" Indiana says. "Well. Not quite. Just a potential...trip."

"It's not *my* party, mate," Constantine mutters. Then he lights a cigarette and returns his gaze to Indy. "Well, good, 'cos she's not letting me come along, and quests tend to be more dangerous than trips, and I wouldn't want to know that you're putting her in danger and I can't do a bloody thing about it."

Indiana nods slowly. "Well, I didn't say it wouldn't be dangerous..." He seems to associate any trip with danger, so he's not really the best judge.

Seishi regards Indy curiously. "What sort of trip? Or is this another one of those things that nobody wants to tell anyone about?" She's not bitter, really.

Trip, quest...both of them pique Jack's interest. His eyes are bright, as he wanders up, patting down his pockets for his own case of cigarettes.

Lara purses her lips in a grin. "Yes, do share with the class, Dr. Jones."

Someone must have made some phone calls, the people keep flooding in. And crowd is starting to make Simon edgy. Just about everyone here seems excited at the thought, including the Saint. "You've stepped in it now."

Indiana looks at Lara, makes a face that shows that Simon is correct. "Oh for chrissakes..." he says, somewhat exasperated. "I don't even know if thing really exists!"

"And you're taking Buffy to find it," Constantine prompts. Don't make me hurt you.

Seishi laughs softly. "Sorry, Indy. That's what happens when someone mentions a trip around this bunch."

Lara says in a mild tone, "Half the fun is finding out for sure. I shouldn't have to tell -you- that."

"Look, Constantine, I understand why you're antsy about Buffy going along, but she's a big girl. She can take care of herself." Dr. Jones says, glancing around the cluster of people, looking wary. He then eyes Seishi. "I'm going to have to remember that. But since you're all so fascinated; who here has heard of the Fourth Nail?" He evidently expects people to raise hands. Next, he'll be looking for help dusting the erasers.

Jack looks like a kid on Christmas Eve. "I have. Is that what we're going to look for?" He grew up on those kind of legends - how can you not, when your parents collect Pre-Raphaelite art.

"I have too," Simon pipes in. His early schooling was quite religious centric. "The fourth nail was supposedly the one that didn't get used at the Crucifixion."

"I have," Constantine calls out. He's a bad boy. "And I'm sure she can, but I still don't like it." Just so long as *you* don't start taking care of her, dammit.

Lara supplies exposition as well, "Rumored to have been stolen by a Gypsy, and in exchange they were granted immunity from the commandment, 'Thou Shalt Not Steal'. Or so they claim."

"Christianity is Universal, it would seem." Simon isn't sure if that's a comfort or not.

Jack wonders, idly, "Why would Miss Summers go? I wasn't aware she had experience with artifacts, other than this last little affair."

"Well," Indy says, kicking at a rock absently, hands in his pockets, shoulders slouched. His jaw sets, his eyes get flinty. He looks up, then says "I'm figuring she's the only one of us who can use it to full effect. I'm gonna have her smash that Goddamned Gem with it."

Seishi looks greatly interested; she hadn't known any of this beforehand.

Jack leans in, face still alight. "So. The Nail is what can destroy the Gem, then?"

Lara says smoothly, "Considering the fact that I have the Gem, don't you think it might have been prudent to consult me?"

Indiana shrugs vaguely. "According to some of the stories..." He pretends not to hear Lara. "Right now I've got the Great Detective and Buffy signed on. And this Hawkins kid's going to help out."

Jack says "Where precisely are you going to look for it? Might I be of help?"

"If you say so." John eyes Indy. "I still don't see why she has to *get* it." He shrugs. "But of course you'd know that sort of thing." He stalks off. He's going to go angst in peace. Hmf.

Lara remarks, "What a shame you've made all this plans...considering I've already dropped it into the ocean." With that she turns on her heel and heads back to her bike. Her expression is placid, but behind her sunglasses, her eyes are furious.

Indiana looks after Constantine, muttering "Yeah, well, have a nice day." He then watches Lara stalk off in the other direction, doubletaking. "You WHAT?!"

"Oops," Seishi murmurs softly.

Simon clears his throat slightly, looking down. Well it looks to him like she's lying, but why help out Dr. Jones with that information? He nudges Seishi surreptitiously with a wink.

Jack doesn't believe it, either. But he abruptly clams up, after a sigh. So, those two haven't worked anything out. Ah, well.

Seishi glances with faint irritation toward Simon. She doesn't say anything, but her expression speaks clearly: /What?/

Simon widens his eyes. Jeez, can't you tell? She's got it. Laugh silently at Jones with me.

Lara looks over. "Oh," she says in mock surprise. "I'm so sorry Dr. Jones, were you saying something?" Of course she has it, but Lara's quite the actress.

The man in the hat glares, hunching a little and raising a finger to jab at the air between himself and Lara. "Lara. You better be giving me the run around, or I swear to God..."

Seishi may be the only person here who actually /believes/ Lara. What can she say--she's a trusting soul. Simon, therefore, gets an exasperated look. What is /with/ you?

Constantine has left.

Jack is grinning wolfishly as well. He winks at Lara, as she turns back.

Oh you are so naive. Simon likes it of course. He slides his thumb and index finger down over the ring finger on his other hand. Then points his eyes towards Lara and nods. C'mon, charades anyone?

Seishi has a gesture for Simon. Rolling her eyes, she points her index finger at her own temple and circles it in the air. Clearly she has no idea what he's going on about.

Lara blinks coquettishly. "Oh, it's /Lara/ now, is it? Not 'Your Highness' or 'Lady Croft'? My, I do seem to have your attention now. Tell me something - how were you going to get the Gem from me after you went on this little adventure if you weren't going to tell me about it in the first place, or refuse to acknowledge me through the course of it? Have Simon steal it, perhaps? Very ill of you, Indiana. And disappointing too, from a man I held in such high esteem." With that she does turn away and head back to her bike, unless she's stopped.

Simon rolls his eyes back at Seishi and beckons her to move closer with one finger. Then he gets all distracted. Someone mentioned his name. It's weird.

Seishi edges closer to Simon, frowning in mild confusion. And elbows him when he gets distracted.

"'scuse me," Indiana mutters to the others, glaring after Lara. He walks briskly after the Tomb Raider, glowering and removing his hands from his pockets with somewhat stiff motions. "Hey. Hey!" he says, sounding appropriately ticked off. "Get back over here. I wasn't planning to tell you about it until after I'd gotten back, if you really want to know. I was worried that if I mentioned it to you before then you'd get into one of your High Minded Aristocratic fits of temper. Go figure, huh?"

Simon gives a false pained look at Seishi, and leans close enough to whisper to her. Or maybe closer than needed anyway. But certainly doesn't want to be overheard.

Simon whispers "She still has the ring."

Seishi stares at Simon. Just stares.

Lara whirls and looks at him as if he was insane. "For what? Pursuing the means of destroying an artifact that I'm responsible for without telling me? Of course I'd be furious, Indy. If you'd told me in the first place and just said plainly you didn't want me directly involved, at least it wouldn't have been deceitful." Whereas she's just bluffing, not lying. Right. "Don't you think I have some say, some right to help? What really was your motivation to go around me, hmmm?" Lara's got the whole 'beautiful when angry' thing nailed. Danger Will Robinson, Beware The Chair.

Indiana smiles a stupid, faintly helpless smile reserved for times when he can't think of a retort. He raises a hand, chuckles, looks away, then finds something in his mental reservoir. A witticism sure to cut her down to size. A brilliant flash of Wilde-esque verbal wordplay. "Oh, Shut Up."

Simon nods several times at Seishi, then leans forward to whisper again.
Simon whispers "Why do you think she's so angry?"

Seishi stares at Simon for a little while longer. Then she very eloquently slaps the palm of her hand to her forehead.

Lara looks at the archeologist with an almost pitying smile. She casually reaches into her trench coat, and opens her hand. In her palm, lies the Gem, banded into the ring worn on Angelus' finger. "Don't ever sit across from me at a poker table, Indy." she says blithely. "I'd smash you flat." With that, her hand curls around the ring and tucks it back into her trench. She starts to move to the bike again. "If you don't want me along, that's fine - but kindly have the courtesy to keep up correspondences while you're out of the country."

Indiana glares and draws his lip back over his upper teeth, working up some bile or another to say to Lara. He then gets a "buh?" look at the gem, and reaches up to rubs his forehead in a sign of a headache coming on. After a moment of meditating on the grass, he looks up and says "You're really something. Okay. Okay. Fine. You come with me, but this is MY expedition."

Simon leans back from Seishi and spreads his hands. See? Told you so. Remind him never to do anything to her without her permission. Or rather, don't let her catch him. "I wouldn't have taken it for less than 2 million Lara."

Lara says sweetly, "Why thank you, Indy. So very gentlemanly of you." To Simon she laughs, to Seishi, an apologetic look, and she's off.

Seishi remarks ruefully, "There are times when I'm pretty sure this place is going to drive me crazy."

Indiana watches Lara ride her cycle off, shaking his head slightly from side to side. He turns around and walks back towards the master thief and the martial artist. "Always has to put herself in the spotlight. Always. Spoiled," he mutters darkly. He then looks at Seishi. "You and me both, sister."

Simon hops off the bench, ready to resume the afternoon constitutional. "That's what you get for going out in public without a disguise. Just like picking teams back in school Doctor? Who's your favourite?" Simon is grinning, because it isn't happening to him.

Seishi grins lopsidedly. "The scary thing is that I'm sort of getting used to it."

"I don't know, pal. I seem to be pressing all the wrong buttons, today," Indiana says to Simon with a smirk. "Of course, I think maybe Lara's just one Big Button." And he has to push it.

"I would have gone as low as one million," the thief confides to Indiana. Or heck, maybe for free. Turned out well last time he stole from her. "That's because you can manage a low profile," Simon informs Seishi. While Indy has to push buttons.

Indiana scratches his neck. "Well. I'm gonna go do what I was doing before I took my break and got this headache...see you guys around."

Indiana meanders off back towards campus.

"Alone at last," Simon says with deliberate over suggestiveness. He holds out an elbow, that's how proper ladies and gentlemen walk, don't you know. "The Fourth Nail. Imagine that."

Seishi cuffs him lightly on the shoulder before laying her hand on his arm like a proper lady. "It sounds... fascinating, I guess. I'd never heard that story before..."

Simon raises his eyebrows and smiles. Well damn, he can tell a story. Catholic school wasn't useless after all. "When Christ was nailed to the cross, there were supposed to be four. Three were impaled into him, and the fourth was meant to be in the chest. Into his heart, as it were." Slow meandering walk through the park. So quaintly normal it's almost strange here in Beacon Harbor. "Thus, they saved his life, in a fashion, by stealing the nail."

Seishi ohs, listening with interest. "I see... so there's some actual proof that it exists?"

"Well...that's a bit more iffy," Simon says, shrugging slightly. "You'll have one group saying Jesus never existed, one taking everything literally, and others searching a more quote unquote rational explanation for the parables. Personally? I'd believe about anything concerning the Romany."

Seishi admits, "Just another of /many/ things I have no experience with."

"No one is experience with /everything/ Seishi," Simon says in a soothing voice. "Not even Holmes. Well, perhaps Holmes. Some are more generalized, and some like yourself, are highly specialized. For instance." He puts his hand over hers, in an affectionate gesture. Then tries to twist her arm back, positive she's be able to handle him readily.

Seishi's reaction is both prompt and elegant; a slight shift of her balance and suddenly its /his/ arm being twisted back in a simple and effective hold.

Simon makes a slight effort to get away, but feels it wrench at his arm noticeably, and doesn't struggle. He tries to start walking again, as if this were normal. "The lengths I'll go to have a pretty lady hold my hand. Very few can get away with being a master of everything."

Seishi lets go of Simon now, and regards him thoughtfully. "You've got a good point," she admits. "Just a random burst of self-pity, I guess, not that /that/ makes me unique in this crowd."

Simon rolls his shoulder, falling back beside her. He's smiling, and he even looks impressed. "I may just come to you for lessons next time. And if that's as self pitying as you get, then it's far better than most. /Especially/ in this crowd." He rolls his shoulder again. Okay, so he wasn't sure before. Now he knows. He doesn't stand a chance.

Seishi quirks a slight grin. "Well," she says easily, "I've already promised to give Kate and Jack some instruction, and probably Barbara too. Though somehow I think you'd be on a different level entirely." About self-pity she says nothing more, though her expression goes briefly distasteful. Someday soon she may have to knock Buffy and John's heads together.

"I've had a few classes," he is willing to admit. Underplaying yourself is always safest. Except about thievery. Simon catches the look of distaste, and glances back to where they found John. "Quite they pair aren't they."

Seishi makes a very wry face. "I really hope they can keep the melodrama to a minimum, but I have serious doubts that it'll happen." She gives a longsuffering sigh.

"Oh it's not just the melodrama," Simon amends. "/I'm/ melodramatic." Such as the story of his injury to her. "It's they take it all so bloody seriously. It's..." he checks himself. Let's not get carried away. "I once heard 'you bring as much pain into the world by taking offense as you do by giving it'. They look for things that hurt."

Seishi comments in a mild voice, "That's a very insightful observation."

Simon clears his throat, looking for a trace of sarcasm. Huh. "Well, to be other people, you have to study them. I'm sure I can't match Holmes, or even come close. But, they way someone moves and stands and sits gives away a great deal."

Seishi laughs quietly. "I'm receiving a very fascinating education on that whole theory."

Simon stops and turns to face Seishi, looking her over with an exaggerated expression of thoughtfulness and concentration. "Hmm...yes. Well the training is obvious at once, yes." He starts to circle, using his pretentious British voice. "Oh, what's this? Bright. Friendly. And oooh my," he says in wonderment at whatever it is he thinks he's seeing.

Seishi eyes him warily. This is, though he can't know it, very similar to the look she occasionally gives Holmes when she thinks he's about to blow up the sink. "What /are/ you doing?"

"Reading you of course," Simon says, moving back in front of her. He's only half serious, his smile would seem to indicate. "Want to know what else I see?"

Seishi grins wryly and spreads her hands. "All right," she invites, "shoot."

"As I said, intelligent, friendly. Hmm, decent sense of humour." Simon rubs at his chin thoughtfully. "Ah. And of course. It's written plainly for me to see. You find me irresistible!" When in doubt, tell people they are attracted to you. It usually gets a laugh if you can bear the embarrassment.

Seishi arches a brow. Her skeptical expression says it more clearly than words could.

"Aha!" Simon says, pointing. "I can tell you don't believe me now. See?"

Seishi drawls, "Your powers of observation /astound/ me." Sarcasm drips.

Simon spreads hands to his side, with a shrug, and his brows furrow. "What can I say? Usually the concept of someone being irresistibly attracted is enough to get a laugh." Cue half certain hopeful smile.

Seishi does laugh, smoothing a hand absently over her hair. "Well."

"You know fixing your hair means you want to look good for someone," Simon says with a straight face and starts walking again. "I'll tell you what. Next time the Constantines and Buffys of the world are bringing you down, just think of me and you'll be laughing in no time."

Seishi says with perfect sobriety, "I'm sure I will." And then she grins again.

Simon looks upwards with a self depreciating grin, and shakes his head in slight movement once, walking on. "The optimists of the world must stick together after all. So how did you end up living on the couch of the greatest detective both in and out of fiction?"

Seishi is perfectly happy to talk about her roommate. "Well, he offered," she says, still grinning. "He seemed a little shocked when I found out I was sleeping in homeless shelters."

"And right he should be," Simon says with enthusiasm. Really. Homeless shelters. "Give thought to your own place? I don't even know if you work. I'm sorry. I'm being awfully nosy aren't I? I'll keep it up unless you tell me otherwise too."

Seishi replies easily, "I'm used to it." She /does/ live with Holmes, after all. "I work in a bookstore on Pilot Street--Eclectic."

Ah yes the books she is so fond of. He's suddenly quite proud of his apology gift. "There are worse ways to make a living, without doubt. Employee discount?"

Seishi nods with enthusiasm. "You bet. /And/ I get to read on the job."\

"And have you started reading your latest book?" Simon asks, wanting more attention for himself. Unless she's gotten another book since. Erk.

Never fear, Simon; it takes a lot to divert Seishi's attention from the Lord of the Rings. Especially a leatherbound, signed copy. "I have! I adore Tolkien."

"As do I," Simon says, and for once he is being totally completely 100% sincere. "I memorized it when I first got it." Which isn't so special if you have a photographic memory.

Seishi immediately looks impressed. "Wow. I retain what I read really well, but I've never memorized a novel." Not that she's ever tried to, but.

Simon smiles, of course he wanted to impress her. "The songs though. I never liked the songs. I can't imagine music for them.

"Oh, I don't know," Sei answers. "I've always loved Galadriel's Song, for instance. Though I've never really tried to imagine music for them; I've just always read them as poetry."

"'I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew," Simon recites, eyes closed for a moment to see the picture in his head. "Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew.' Poetry. Well, that would make it easier. I'm sure I'm getting the tunes wrong when I try."

Seishi quotes easily, "Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon, the foam was on the Sea, And by the strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden Tree. /That,/" she says with satisfaction, "I did memorize."

Simon stops, arms spread, looking impressed. He says it. "Seishi. I'm impressed. I supposed I made a good choice after all." And you'll never know how much it cost. Or if it cost anything at all.

Seishi would just as soon /not/ know where or how he got it. "You did. It's a wonderful gift."

Then we can both be happy forever and ever more, amen. He stats walking again, hands going together behind his back. Which reminds him. "You returned the bracelet?"

Seishi mms noncommittally. "I gave it to Holmes-sama," she says, and doesn't say that this means she has no idea if it ever got returned or not.

Simon does /not/ look comfortable at that notion. It's as close as he wants Holmes to ever get to investigation his work. If Holmes were on him...well, he'd surely be caught. And just as surely escape, true. Still, maybe he should go check up on Holmes. "I will be honest, Seishi, and that is more than many get." Crooked smile. I'm so incorrigible. "I had a nice afternoon."

Seishi smiles brightly. "I appreciate the honesty. Thank you."

Simon bows his head slightly. "And I appreciate the company. May I call again sometime?"

Seishi's voice has only a hint of a wry tone when she invites, "Feel free." As though he doesn't already.

It's the principle of it! "You know you should get a better lock," Simon urges as he starts to head away. "you and Holmes should be more careful! There are lots of villainous types out there!"

Seishi waves a hand, calling back good-naturedly, "I'll mention it to him!"