007: [Action/Accidental Video]

[yesimagenius]

[Reid is in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge. He rejects most of the food he finds there with a scowl that's uncharacteristic of him. Finally he settles for a bowl of Cheerios and a decidedly grumpy expression. He carries the bowl over to a couch and slumps down as if he's trying to disappear into the couch. It's not until he sits the communicator on the coffee table that he realizes it's on. With a near growl/grumble he turns it off]

Comments

[commarogue]

[If nothing else, his uncharacteristic grouchiness helps their interaction be less awkward. Faith takes a seat on the stool at the breakfast bar and makes herself comfortable, spreading out. Her feet prop up on the bench next to her.]

Sound like it too.

[Faith's worried about him - worried that what she did made him come back wrong somehow. Like she'll say it, though.]

[yes-imagenius.livejournal.com]

[He's still got his back to her, not looking at her. He's not entirely sure he can make eye contact with her. He scratches at his neck, turning the skin red before he digs back into his cereal.]

F-fantastic. Th-thanks.

[commarogue]

What the hell, Reid?

[She hops up off of her stool and moves to stand in front of him. Misinterpreting his actions as still being caught up in the whole killing thing, she just assumes that getting him to chew her out finally might turn him back into normal Reid. The weird and awkward but mostly happy little dweeb she didn't really mind so much.]

Why don't you just come out and say it, instead of being a little bitch?

[yes-imagenius.livejournal.com]

[Reid looks up at Faith then back down and shakes his head.]

I r-really don't f-feel like d-doing th-this.

[And then he starts scratching his neck again]

[commarogue]

[Faith looks at him sideways, crossing her arms over her chest.]

Whatever, not my problem if you want to be a moron.

[With that, she turns on her heel and heads toward the door. Faith slows and makes it about halfway before stopping almost dead. This was not normal, not even for just being brought back wrong. She was missing something, and as Faith turned back to look at Reid again, scratching himself and stuttering, she had a fleeting idea; the personality difference and the timing? God damn, it was like a fucking after school special. She moves back toward him, her voice less pissed now and more concerned, though stern.]

Reid.

[yes-imagenius.livejournal.com]

[Reid leans forward and puts his bowl on the table then rakes both hands through his hair before looking up at Faith then leaning back against the couch and closing his eyes]

Wh-what?

[commarogue]

[She's suddenly uncomfortable again. Confrontation has never been Faith's forte and now it's doubly hard. In the back of her mind, she knows that she's the cause of it. She made him relapse.]

I uh, I'm sorry...

[She cringes a little at the words - you can't apologize for what she's done. It doesn't work that way. But Angel insisted otherwise. Always said it had to start somewhere. Reid didn't deserve what he got and even if he did? Didn't make it right.]

[yes-imagenius.livejournal.com]

Yeah

[A long pause]

Me too.

[commarogue]

Doesn't make it okay.

[Her reference is twofold. One for her actions and another for his.]

[yes-imagenius.livejournal.com]

[He clenches his jaw slightly and his eyes harden a bit when they catch her gaze]

Speaking from experience? Want me to pour my heart out about what happened? Want to assure me you know what it's like? You d-don't know half as much as you th-think you do.

[He's cutting her down and being outright mean. Surprisingly, there's very little stutter]

[commarogue]

[Faith breathes in deep and nods once, slow. Her nose wrinkles a little bit as she prepares to dish it right back.

But it doesn't come. This is what she was looking for; some punishment from the people she deserved it from, Reid being #1 on that list. Words come, but they lack any fight she'd meant to deliver. She sounds indifferent, which of course means she's more upset than she'll ever admit.]

Yeah, sorry I've never dropped-- whatever the hell you're on.

[yes-imagenius.livejournal.com]

[In his right mind, Reid would understand this. He would get it and profile it probably try to help her absolve some of that guilt because more guilt didn't generally lead to good things. As it is, he doesn't understand it.

He looks up at her with eyes that nearly look black they're so ringed with circles]

G-guess I'll have to find another sp-sponsor.

[commarogue]

[She shrugs, but she doesn't move.]

Guess so.

[yes-imagenius.livejournal.com]

[Reid closes his eyes, trying to do his impression of the couch for a few seconds before he sighs.]

You don't have to do anything. This isn't your responsibility. I'll get it under control. I did once before.

[Of course before he had his job to keep him on the straight and narrow. Here...he didn't have anything.]

[commarogue]

Pretty sure you wouldn't be this messed up if I didn't-- you'd be fine.

[Faith's not really sure what to do here. She's already fought the instinct to just leave. The warring instinct to help didn't give her much else to follow, given her motto of being unable to apologize for things.]

Maybe you just need to detox. Or whatever.

[yes-imagenius.livejournal.com]

[Reid actually laughs at that. It sounds bitter and hollow, terribly unlike him]

Yeah. That's gonna help.