as_damaged | ☎ voicemail [v 2.0]

[She had to ask around for two things trying to find this apartment; first the address, obviously, but secondly to get the address she had to get the resident's last name and God if Angela remembered that much. The longer she remains here, the more she realizes she's forgotten a lot more in the twisty time period she's been back home. Some less important than others, but the bigger ones worry her, the faces she can't put with names or names she can't put with faces. Events she has no recollection of happening. Losing her memory never was fun for her.

But she's here, knocking on this apartment's door, not sure if Allison Cameron is home or not. It's worth a try, really, before attempting to hunt her down at the hospital during this influenza party or whatever the new City talking heads are calling it. And Angela's not dressed for the occasion, still rocking the borrowed men's clothes, though they are now tied up and knotted in certain places because things are loose and loose things fall down. Oh well. Cameron is nice enough not to make fun of her for it, at least Angela thinks she remembers.]

[She's home-- it's usually a safe bet that she will be if she's not at work, though the only reason she's not right now is that she knows if she doesn't take some time to sleep and breathe she'll be joining her patients.

The scrape of the cover on the peephole is followed by the clatter of locks being unbolted, though in her haste (or perhaps out of habit,) she doesn't unhook the chain, so rather than throwing the door open she only cracks it.]

Angela?

[Hello, Cameron. The prodigal daughter/runaway puppy has come home to hide under your porch because she loves you.]

Surprise.

[She gives a quick wave, only beaten in excitement by the smile spreading across her face. Maybe she's more excited than Cameron appears to her, but then again, not everybody leaves for a year and pops up weirdly dressed to say hello.

Angela leans in a little, angling her face into the door crack.]

Don't worry. I'm not here to tell you about our Lord and Savior Jesus.

[It's not that she's not happy-- there's just that element of did I see a ghost there. People come and go all the time, after all, but it's rare to return after more than a month or two away. And she can be sure it's not just a Tourist day, since they've just had one.]

Just a second--

[she pulls back and waits for Angela to do the same, so she can slip the chain back and open the door properly.]

When did you get back?

[Nope, no ghost. Just actual living and breathing Angela. All warm flesh and red blood. Angela takes a step back and raises her arms to the side, as if to indicate her clothing as an obvious answer to Cameron's question.]

Today. A couple hours ago or so. Did I interrupt you or something?

[Hey, hey, you can't expect her to be detail-oriented under the circumstances. But that is a bit of an eccentric outfit choice, even for Angela, whose clothing tastes Cameron sometimes finds to be a little bit much.]

No, no, it's just-- it's been a long time since you left. I wasn't expecting you to come back.

[It was less choice and more necessity. Showing up with no clothes and even less money to buy some leaves one with very little options. Also, beggars can't be choosers.]

Well, neither was I, but the City likes to pull surprises on us.

[Hey, they've all been there. Or if not there, then somewhere weirder. Cameron remembers having to borrow men's clothes from Angela's... well, really, even then she was fuzzy on the details.]

That hasn't changed. Can I get you anything? Coffee?

A couple of things, actually, but coffee's great too.

[What she has to ask for is a big favor--favors--and she's prepared to be turned down. Not that she has a backup plan in place, but Angela will come to that when she has to.]

[She could do worse, looking for favors. She could do better, too, but she could do worse.]

It's a start,

[she answers easily, heading for the kitchen.]

[Well, Angela was never very good at asking for help. She still needs practice.

While Cameron heads to the kitchen, Angela moves to the living room, perching on the edge of the couch where a grey bundle of fur comes around to sniff the new yet familiar human in their space. Angela glances down at it with a cock of her eyebrow. Sigh. Cats.]

You have a cat. [Wow. Look at that impressive fact finding of something she should know already. And remember.] When did you get a cat?

Grey? I've had her for... oh, a long time, now.

[She's making an effort not to sound vaguely concerned about that, but it might show a little. People forget things all the time when they come and go, she knows; but it never stops being strange.

She busies herself making the coffee and tries not to worry.]

You named a gray cat Grey? [Angela chuckles, shaking her head.] No roommate yet?

[Angela's hoping there's a no coming.]

Just the cat. [She sticks her head out the door with a faint smile.] It seemed to suit her. I guess I'm not that creative.

Oh. [A pause as she glances over at Cameron.] I need to ask a favor from you. If the answer is no, that's okay. No hard feelings.

[She moves a bit more into the room, leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed.]

What do you need?

Some clothes, if you can spare them. [She raises her arms and lets the baggy sleeves fall down, crumpled around her bicep.] I don't know how long borrowing this guy's shirt will fly.

[As far as favors go that's hardly anything. She relaxes a bit, arms falling to her sides as she crosses into the living room and toward the bedrooms.]

Sure, [she says, pausing at the threshold of the short hallway.] Come on, we can find you something.

[But that's only one of two things. Angela's going to drop the next one.]

Also... can I stay here for a bit? I mean, crashing, not moving in. Until I get a job and my own place again.

[She knows how people can be about their own space; even she's like that sometimes, so she's not going to blame Cameron for saying no. They may have started out as enemies only to become friends, but they are still two very different types of people. Those always don't get along in small spaces.]

[Cameron in particular has always been a picky lady; surviving with no more than a temporary roommate from time to time-- and not even that, in a while, only the cat-- is no small task. Long-term, living with Angela might be... difficult.

But, lucky her, Cameron thrives on being able to help people.]

For a while, [she says slowly, agreeably. It's not that big a gesture really-- she's let others crash on her couch for a week here and there, and Angela has claimed the spare bedroom as her own in the past for that matter.] I don't mind, of course.

For a while.

[As slowly as Cameron says it, she makes it a plan that won't last more than a couple of days, curses permitting. Even though, Angela is sure she doesn't want to live alone this time around. If the clock comes back, she'll be driving into that sanity again, that sanity she has no idea Cameron's avoided.

And Angela doesn't remember staying in that other room. Another thing.]

Thank you. I didn't have anywhere else to go for the moment.

[In all fairness, Cameron would be more comfortable letting Angela stay longer than... well, just about anyone else. But she thinks the driving crazy would probably be mutual.]

It's nothing. Really. We've known each other long enough-- I'll be glad to have you.

I was afraid I'd be imposing.

[Honestly, less fear and just uncertainty starting all over here again. Her first time around, she has Brennan to fall back on. Here, she's just like everybody else who shows up with little to begin from.]

It'll be nice, having company.

[That's a rare, honest admission, and she moves along quickly lest it be noticed.]

It could be worse-- I spent my first week on House's couch, you know.

[Angela laughs, noting the admission but not commenting on it.]

You poor thing. Did he wake you up by poking you with his cane?

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

Re: action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »

action »