otherways - Sara's Room

[lvpd_sidle]

[ooc: This is Millitimed before the New Years party.]

Four sets of hands are better than two, and Sara's more than happy to give Angel a hand with his costume.

They chat quietly about inane subjects--Sara recounting the funnier cases she'd had in San Francisco, Angel talking about the people he'd meet while drumming on the streets--while carefully melding together plastic and fabric.

Just a quiet, calm evening.

Comments

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the door opening without so much as a quick rap doesn't startle anyone into a flaw or injury.

"Th' door's still there for me, but looks like time's passin' on th' outside. 'S just a few minutes, but-" Breaking off at the sight of scattered crafts and the unknown individual working on them.

"Sorry, aingeal. Didn't realise you had company."

[lvpd_sidle]

"That's fine," she says absently around a mouthful of pins.

[moreofaman.livejournal.com]

Angel for his part just gives him a friendly smile. "Hi, Josh. Nice to see you again--wait, Sara, I thought you said your boyfriend's name was Murphy?"

There are no words in any language that can describe Sara's expression.

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

It's probably up there with Murphy's expression, as the only people in the bar who should know anything about his undercover persona are Connor and Sara.

And he doesn't recognise this person at all, though from the outfit he's willing to guess this would be Angel.

[lvpd_sidle]

"You spoke to Josh?" Sara asks Angel quietly, who nods, looking confused.

"Yeah--spitting image of you, too. I didn't know you had a twin."

"He does--a fraternal one." Sara swallows hard, looking equal parts disturbed and oddly relieved. "I've...spoken to Josh before."

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

Which doesn't make any sense.

"So..." Spoken slowly. "You're telling me there's some other world where Josh is real, looks exactly like m'self, an' managed t'find his way here as well?"

[lvpd_sidle]

"No, Murphy," Sara says quietly, voice controlled. "He's told me how good I am for you, and says he looks out for you during really nasty assignments."

Angel is looking less confused. "Do you mean--Dios mio."

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

For a moment, there's no reaction.

Then there's a shudder running down the back of his spine, a change in the posture....

"Well, that could have gone better."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Don't blame me," Sara says disgustedly, putting the pins in the outfit.

[moreofaman.livejournal.com]

"This is fucking weird," Angel announces.

"Is...is Murphy aware of you?"

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

"He is now."

Rough shrug. "Can't be undone, so we'll just have to muddle through."

[lvpd_sidle]

"It's not like I could have brought you up before," Sara points out. "Not without a witness. 'Honey, your alternate personality doesn't like that shirt' really doesn't fly."

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

Hint of a grin at that.

[moreofaman.livejournal.com]

"Does this sort of thing happen often?" Angel asks curiously.

Sara shrugs. "Milliways."

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

"Only place I can be myself with less fear of wrecking his life."

Speaking of which....

"Can't tell Connor. Not yet."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Connor and I aren't on the best of terms anyway. It's not something I'll tell him."

"The twin?" At her nod, Angel glances at Josh. "I won't say anything either--you don't seem to be putting him in danger."

But the moment he frightens Sara, that might change, and the warning is contained in his eyes.

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

Josh is pretty good at reading expressions. Comes from a lifetime of hiding.

"I'd no more hurt her than you would."

[lvpd_sidle]

"I now have more siblings than you can shake a stick at. We dealt with Benny and his ilk, by the way." Sara finishes the seam with a sigh.

Angel holds his eyes a moment further before nodding again. "Fair enough. What do we do now?"

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

"Personally, I'd be asking for the highlights of that story." He winces. "Only Murphy's speaking up, and rather angrily at that, so-"

Slightest bit of a stumble and a headshake, posture changing once more.

"An' do I even want t'know how long this has been goin' on, then?" Low, controlled voice.

[lvpd_sidle]

"Hell if I know," Sara says bluntly. "Probably for most of your life. I didn't know for a long time, and even then, what could I say? Honestly?"

Angel breathes in deeply, evenly. His voice is equally controlled. "I know this has to be a shock--hell, I can't even imagine to be honest. But don't you dare take this out on her."

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

"I-"

There had been an empty space left on the bed.

Up until Murphy sat down, somewhat unsteadily.

[lvpd_sidle]

Sara moves over, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you." The Gaelic flows melodically from her lips.

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

{"And I wouldn't have known how to believe it."}

Reaching up, his hand over hers.

"Just some time I'd be needin', then. Get m' mind around th' lot of it."

[lvpd_sidle]

"It's all right then?" Angel asks quietly.

Sara nods. "As well as it can be, I think." She threads her fingers through Murphy's.

The sight makes Angel smile. "Good." Pause. "I'm Angel, by the way."

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

Rough nod and the faintest trace of a grin. "Murphy. Pleased t'make your acquaintance, though I'll have t'apologize for th' circumstances."

[moreofaman.livejournal.com]

"Not the strangest I've ever experienced. I met my lover due to him being mugged near where I was," Angel says with a shrug and a slight grin.

"Collins did say he'd never been so happy to get his ass kicked."

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

"Seems th' most common start of relationships in this place."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Ours started because Bar went ballistic and we ran outside for shelter. There's a difference there."

[saint-aequitas.livejournal.com]

He shrugs.

"Violence from an outside party in both cases. 'S just t'finer details different, is all."

[lvpd_sidle]

"What should we do, thank my brother for going insane after Nick's death?" Sara shakes her head. "Milliways."

Angel snorts, gathering up the sewing materials. "Collins and I were considering trying to find those punks to thank them. I'm just glad this is the strangest thing that's happened to me so far. I think I can finish this, honey. Thanks for your help."

"Oh, no trouble at all, Angel. Thanks for helping with mine."

With a smile at Murphy, Angel leaves. After he is gone, Sara sits back down, rubbing her head.