Avoidance

[Immortal Ghost]

It was at some point that Phoenix realized people might think her missing if she stayed huddled in her apartment and refused to leave, no matter how nice of an idea that sounded. It wasn't as if anyone had tried to get in contact with her, so she was wondering if it was worth the trouble to look presentable to go outside. Still she took the time to try to look like a civilized human being. She shouldn't have bothered though, all she did was end up randomly wandering the streets, she didn't have anywhere to go in mind, didn't have anywhere she wanted to go. Phoenix was very clearly in a bout of, well something, it wasn't so much just depression as much as that mixed with self-doubt and being terribly unsure. Not so much of herself, oh no, she knew she was an overly sarcastic, and far too rude, idiot, she had always known that. It wasn't till recently that she was feeling more lost on what to do really.

She still wasn't really talking, which meant she wasn't in contact with anyone, she always got like this when she avoided people, it was people that kept her anchored to the world, as much as she would try to argue it. Going a few weeks without so much as talking to anyone, she had taken a vacation with work, had left her drifting, unhealthily drifting. So it wasn't all that surprising when she looked up from staring at her shoes that she realized she had no idea where she was, she wasn't the type to explore all that much, and now that fact bit her in the a**.

Phoenix looked torn between screaming or breaking into tears, she did not have the mental stability to deal with this right now, which was why she sat herself right on the sidewalk. There wasn't really anyone else out anyway, why should it matter. She did at lest pull her phone out and debated on calling someone, but in the end she didn't see the point in bothering someone, so pocketed it and set herself on braiding her hair. It really didn't matter to her where she was, this was at lest slightly better then sitting in her room avoiding the world, now she could sit on a sidewalk and avoid the world.

 

[Gaston Marceau]

Since it was looking like a fairly pleasant day out, Gaston left his makeshift office at the Embassy Suites to run his weekend errands on foot. Nothing too serious, just athering a few groceries and other random odds and ends, so leaving the Superbird behind in the parking garage was not that big of a hindrance.

With a well stuffed back of groceries tucked under one arm, Gaston rounds a corner and picks up the familiar buzz of a nearby Immortal. His eyes take in his surroundings, and he quickly spies the source sitting on the sidewalk. Recognizing Phoenix from their past encounters, the Cajun relaxes and continues on his way.

He stops breifly beside Methos' latest student and smiles in greeting. "Piece of candy, go for ride, little girl?"  

[Immortal Ghost]

Phoenix gave a honest flinch on words being addressed towards her, even as she looked up with bright eyes, so maybe her bright eyes were narrowed slightly. She blinked at him a moment, placing how it was she knew she knew him, before relaxing slightly. It didn't look like she had gone for a weapon, but then her hands were in her hair, as was her sword hilt. Methos had already scolded her on her choice of a spine sheath but she was more comfortable with it and so far refused to give it up.

Offering a dimmed smile she shook her head at him, kind of in answer and almost in bemusement at his words, though she said nothing. Standing with an odd grace given she looked too boney to move so smoothly she tried for a brighter smile. Phoenix still had recovered to the point she wanted to talk clearly, no that anyone knew why she had suddenly stopped talking. Her silence left her with motioning that she could carry a bag for him, might as well, she had nothing to do, no where to go, she didn't even know where she was.

 

[Gaston Marceau]

Gaston's smile remains fully in place, though he's a little bothered by the lack of vocal response. Not that he's offended, just that Phoenix still has him worried. As the Unofficial Big Brother of Methos Students, he's very concerned...though hopefully he'll find out how to help Phoenix so she can get better and he can make the appropriate round of a** kickings and/or beheadings.

At any rate, when she offers to help, Gaston gives Phoenix a nod. "OK, if you insist." He hands over one of the two bas. "You're lucky...that one has the Goldfish crackers in it, so feel free to snack on the way." As he begins to lead the way back towards Embassy Suites, he adds. "Don't worry, it's not too long of a walk."  

[Immortal Ghost]

She gave a smile and a shrug on that, food, that brought the question to mind if she had eaten or not, but happily took the bag without pause and went to follow him. Long walk or not wouldn't have bothered her, she at lest thought she knew where the hotel was from her apartment, hopefully, so she could find her way back home after helping him. She hadn't eaten yet she decided, she ate yesterday though, pizza, ordered online even so she didn't have to call it in. With another shrug she went to dig in the bag, hey he offered, besides she wanted to see if they were the normal ones or some freaky type first.

 

[Gaston Marceau]

Gaston chuckles as Phoenix starts rifling through the back...she's definitely a student of Methos. If not the goldfish crackers, then it would be beer.

At any rate, as the two Immortals continue walking, the Embassy Suites tower soon comes into view...looks like just another block or so to go. As the hotel comes into view, Gaston looks over at his younger counterpart. "I'm guessing that if you really had something better to do than carting my food around for me, you'd say something right?"  

[Immortal Ghost]

She had gotten the goldfish out and was in the act of opening them when he asked that, making her freeze a moment to blink up at him like she was caught doing something she wasn't suppose to do. After a few seconds she shrugged in answer and gave another smile, it wasn't really a yes or a no, more of a 'depends'. Which made some sense, she could talk, she just didn't. Opening the bag of snacks she ate one, or rather a small handful that she shoved in her mouth before holding the container to him to share, after all they were his.

 

[Gaston Marceau]

Gaston assumes that isn't an outright refusal, so he continues walking."Work for me." Phoenix may well not feel like it at the moment, but he'll keep talking, no matter how schizophrenic it makes him look.

He takes the opportunity to nab a few goldfish crackers of his own to munch as they keep going. "I think I mentioned it to Adam, but it looks like my job is going to have me assigned up here for a while, so I get to stick around for a bit. Seems like a nice, open area...definitely beats DC, that's for sure."  

[Immortal Ghost]

With a few nods she gave gave a barely seen smile, she hadn't really seen DC for a little over twenty years, her tastes for big citys was largely lacking having grown up in one. She really didn't mind one way or another if Gaston stuck around or not, he wasn't threatening, at lest not her her so far, so she didn't mind at all. Phoenix had to admit though there was a lot of other immortals popping in and out of town, it was kind of creepy, not scary, just creepy. Couldn't be scary, she hadn't problems with most of them, and the or or two she had problems with weren't a problem anymore, hopefully. Didn't matter if they were to blame for her lack of talking.

Phoenix had in all truth minorly forgotten about Adam, which was normal for her, if she hadn't seen someone for a while she just kinda shoved them to the back of her brain. It did get her to frown, she really should check up on him, didn't matter if he was older them her and could certianlly take care of himself. He got counted as a friend, so she wanted to check on him, she made a mental note to try to call him, maybe text him, that could work.

Shaking her head she looked and focused back on Gaston with a dim smile as she munched on more goldfish, rate she was going she was going to have to buy him a new bag.

 

[Gaston Marceau]

The fact that Phoenix does respond to him in her own way, even if not talking out loud, makes Gaston worry about her a little less. The bit with the Goldfish brings a wry smile to his lips...the damn things really are addictive.

As they approach the hotel parking lot and come within sight of the main entrance, Gaston remarks. "You know, if you're that hungry, there's better food in there. I'd have to cook though, but that's up to you. After all, a meal of Goldfish crackers only is best suited to a college student staying up all night playing video games instead of studying for exams."  

[Immortal Ghost]

She stared up at the hotel a moment before she gave an uncaring shrug, she supposed she should eat, but really didn't want to tax his time. After all he had to have more interesting things to do then deal with her, surely. If nothing else she could drop of his groceries and give money for the goldfish before seeing if she could bug Methos, now him she didn't feel bad about annoying. With that in mind she shook her head, besides, she didn't really know Gaston, and not to be rude, wasn't sure how much she trusted him.

 

[Gaston Marceau]

Observing Phoenix's reactions, Gaston is able to take the no for what it is. "Fair enough, just thought I'd ask."

His room is only up on the second floor, one of the large hospitality suites that has a mix of office and lounge with the usual kitchen/bedroom deal. It pays to have a job with a good expense account.

Anyway, as Gaston sets his own bag down on the meeting table, he adds. "Since I'll be around for a while, just let me know if you need anything, OK?"  

[Immortal Ghost]

She was a little wide-eyes at the room, it was bigger then her apartment surely, course that wasn't saying much given the size of her apartment really. Still Phoenix didn't know hotel rooms came this big, she looked like a little kid staring at an amusement park for the first time, it was a funny sight. She always was easy to fascinate. Even so she snapped out of it and gave another smile to set the bag down, she was practically hugging the goldfish, what was left of them by any rate. At lest she dug out her wallet and offered a ten, maybe with a little bit brighter smile, but by this point they were over half gone. With his question, was it a question, didn't matter she gave a shrug, her ask for help, wasn't likely, nope, not at all, but oh well.