paradisalost | (no subject)

Who: The Ills (Jilly, Billy and Willow)
What: Friends reconnecting to a bit of karaoke
When: About 8ish, Thursday evening.
Where: Caritas
Rating: PG-13 for Billy's secret evil motives.

Sometimes it amazed Jilly how much the months in Paradisa could weigh on you. She argued against the people who claimed death had no meaning here, or that their struggles here were meaningless and easily forgotten, but sometimes she wished she could agree. In the midst of yet another crisis, with more people disappearing, slipping back to their own worlds and fates every day, it could be an almost overwhelming burden to bear.

But Jilly had bore other burdens before, equally heavy, and she already knew how this went. It didn't get easier and it didn't go away...and there was no way she could do it on her own. Legato, perhaps without even trying, had made her forget. He'd isolated her, making her in all ways the scared little girl too afraid to speak up about what was going on around her. Really, he'd barely had to do anything...and that's where the shame had been. The threat had been more implied than implicit. She'd filled in the blanks herself, with her own memories. And she'd forgotten the lessons she'd learned the first time around.

There was no fixing it alone.

So this was her, rewalking this path. It was a new problem with new faces, but the steps were the same. She had the Doctor. She had Allen and Lois. She had allies to turn to. But, even more than the "heroes," she had something even more secure to lean on. Her friends.

Her latest conversation with Legato had left her troubled, but that wasn't what tonight was about. Tonight was a reminder that, when this was all said and done, Legato and Riful and Arthas would not have won. Because there was more to this place than the fighting and the violence and the battle of wills. And tonight, she intended to dance and laugh and drink (just a little) and remember who she was for the days ahead.

It was still pretty early, the music just a recorded soundtrack being looped through the overhead speakers while Lorne waited for the nights' crowd to arrive, but Jilly's foot tapped along all the same. She had a bottle of beer that she hadn't really touched yet, and her finger traced patterns in the condensation on the surface. Waiting. Willow would be coming for sure. And, if Billy managed to fail to show (which would be unsurprising considering how distracted he'd sounded), well...they'd just have to go find him later. After they'd had their night on the town.

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"No......" Another look. Then another. Unlike some, Willow's never once had a difficult time telling them apart. But then, she knew Jilly hadn't either.

"That's definitely Billy."

"Maybe his work in the lab is going well. He said something about breakthroughs." Her smile curved a bit more at the corners of her mouth. "Or maybe he's just happy at certain company?" There's teasing, but its genuine. A real suggestion in a bit of friendly jest.

She sees, there, what Jilly is doing. And herself, conveniently without a drink to hide behind. Willow flushes slightly.

"We were stuck at the beach. That is the very definition of the opposite of breaking through anything."

"I wasn't necessarily combining the two," she said with a laugh. "Though if you have something to tell me-"

Willow blinked. And wished she had something for her hands.

Like a drink.

"--- why would there be anything to tell?"

"Why wouldn't there be?"

Her voice lowered as she carefully checked to make sure Billy wasn't back within earshot, yet. "You like him. He likes you. This is a good combination, usually."

It was a very good combination. One that they were only barely beginning to -- combine. Willow knew she shouldn't be hesitant in sharing the details with Jilly. After all, the other girl practically created the details. She should have full detail privileges.

"Have we discussed how out of practice I am?"

"We can, but then we have to go into how I think I might be even more behind than you are. But I'm going to guess and say we're all in the same boat." It's said with just the tiniest of glances towards the bar.

It wasn't that she didn't think Billy was capable of being in a relationship...but she'd have been very surprised to find out he was hiding an inner Fred Astair. Of course, he had surprised her before.

"Right. The same boat..."

Willow's voice trained off as she followed the direction of Jilly's glance. It looked like someone had found their way to the island. Or the cruise liner. Or -- something had to be appropriate here.

"Don't make me lock you both in the seasons room, again."

Willow looked genuinely shocked. And amused. And distrustful. Jilly actually might --

"You wouldn't."

[she just grinned, her eyes crinkling slightly around the edges]

[Only...]

You would.

[a laugh] Only if I have to.