15940/Things they be changing.

Things they be changing.
Date of Scene:	01 January 2024
Location:	Harry Dresden's Office, Kingston Falls
Synopsis:	Night in, the duo catch dinner and talk shop. Willow had a gift that Harry never got around to seeing.
Cast of Characters:	Harry Dresden, Willow Rosenberg

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Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry and company are in the office working late. Mouse is laying by the desk while Harry paces between the desk and the file cabinets. Life would be easier if he could have a computer, but he'd probably drop it even if he couldn't blow it up walking past it.

Mouse lifts his head and his eyes look at the door. There is a soft sound, not quite a growl and sounding more confused than anything. He rises from the floor and trots over to the door to see who is passing by.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow wasn't quite aware of the subtle hints to her body odour. But Mouse was

Of course.. She might have been aware and couldn't have given a flying fig about.

But, let's go with she's not aware

Opening the door and wards she had bags filled with supper, alcohol, and a present for Harry. "It's the wrong day for it, but I figured why be bothered by the date? We can do our own Jolabokaflod." It was definitely a book shaped package, she she wasn't giving to much away that he could already have guessed.

"Pizza. Wings. And garlic bread."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Mouse sees Willow and cocks his head the other way, makes a questioning noise in his throat, and then moves to walk with her. She's Willow after all so he seems to be convinced that maybe it was someone else out there.

Looking up and seeing her hands full, Harry goes to help her,"I like your idea of not being bothered by the date. He takes the bag of food carefully and carries it to the desk,"How was your day?"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Thanks!" She holds out the dinner bags, and presses a kiss to Harry cheek. Almost immediately, she turns her attention on Mouse as she talks. "It's been a hectic day. Switching my old TA's office for the supervisors office. Still don't know if I will take a year or two past this semester. There's so much I could add to my course load. But technically, after this summer I could be done."

Willow can't believe she is almost done!

As for going on.. She has been leafing through doctorate programs.

Harry Dresden has posed:
He leans against the cheek kiss a little and then stars unloading things. He takes in a breath and then nods approvingly. Listening to her he tells her,"You are always busy dear. Sometimes I think I need to try to get you to work here. I could use someone that works so hard."

He smiles and starts opening things,"My stomach is very happy to see you. I've been ignoring it thoroughly today."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow giggles.

And says something so unlike her.. "Oh Harry. I have enough work." Then smiles, "Good thing I know you aren't serious!"

*beat*

"You are joking.. right?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
He blinks, looks at her, smiles a little, and nods,"I was joking yes." he replies,"I just never heard you say you have enough work. I always think you are stretching yourself thin, but it is just a surprise to hear you say it. You know I would love to have you all the time, but I definately take you all the time I can."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"I'm growing up?" Amongst other things. "But, anytime you need a hand, I will help you." Which sounds like a contradiction in no uncertain terms.

Willow gets out some paper plates and hands them out. "The vegetable one is the medium. The wings in the separate bag are for me. And we can both eat the garlic bread."

As she says it, she begins to sort by who eats what. "What's happening here? Anything new? Or just the old stuff rehashed?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Oh no. My girlfriend is growing up. How soon before she realizes I can't." he teases lightly and helping open the medium to her and the separate bag wings too, making sure ladies first and all that.

When she offers him a plate he tells her,"Thank you."

He looks at the other box and opens it to look at the pizza and takes two pieces out to put on his plate.

Looking around the room he says,"Files. Lots of files. Something us cavemen have to do." The last is a tease of course. Mouse chuffs and trots off to the living room.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
'I'm not going to tell you, but you know what is flipping through my mind!" Willow teases him unmercilessly. "So a lot of bookkeeping."

Picking out teo pieces of pizza, a few cauliflower wings, and a couple garlic breads, she sits on the opposite side of the couch cross legged, she mows down. "I've been carrying my office to the new one. It's really nice. Though they could have saved us a bunch of headaches and just used my titles on my old office.'

Harry Dresden has posed:
He takes a seat with her and smirks,"I tend to fear the things flipping through your mind. They tend to be similar to mine and that's can't be good." He eats some chicken and mms softly,"I definately need to keep you around. The first person since my father to actually make sure I eat."

"I wish I could come help you move, but I know what would happen to everyone's electronics. I might be able to get a friend of mine to come and help you?" Friends, he has a lot of them though she has only met a few.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Now you say it!" Willow grins. "I finished it up this afternoon. Handed in my keys, and, obviously, I've got the new ones. If I stay an extra year, the position is mine. Probably mine is I decided to make an even four year degree. They don't like to move this position if they don't have to."

The first slice is inhaled!

"So did you make headway with Dracula? Or for that matter, the dreams?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Hey I have the good boyfriend timing." he tells her playfully and starts on a slice himself. If he notices the inhale, he doesn't mention,"Offer help right after the work is done."

He nods when she mentions probably already having the position,"Better hang on to it then. Not that I have a basis, but I would suspect a job waiting after college if you wanted would be good."

He scowls at the scrying circle and shakes his head,"I keep getting your place, Thomas' place, and now a cemetary. Nothing that makes sense. I mean you and Faith have common ground. Buffy and Faith have common ground, but I doubt he is living at any of those place. Weirdly, the cemetary only came up once and then it moved to Mutant Town as I think about it. I really don't think he would live there."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Oh, this is just while doing my Master's. I have a job at X-Corp. And Mr. Luthor was trying to seduce me over to Lex Industries. Trust me, having a job is the one thing I don't worry about. In fact, I have too many choices!"

As Willow eats, she nods and listens. "Buffy and Faith are the probable pair. But the cemetery? The only thing I can't think of there is Spike. He might roam mutant town?" Not likely, but it could be?

Unless it is Faith and Willow having a connection. Which means there are a third, and possibly a fourth person who are tied to Dracula.

Willow never asked him. The easiest way to avoid spilling the bean, as to not know more than you needed to.

But, golly gee she is curious!

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Stars and stones Willow, how do you have time to spend doing anything other than work?" he asks her and finishes the first pizza. He notices finally the vast vanishing pizza on her side, but doesn't comment. People get hungry.

"Buffy and Faith make sense. I guess the Slayers line or something. Is there anything else they have in common? I know they aren't fond of one another. Spike is possible. Maybe it's a connection to specific Sunnydale supernatural sorts. Maybe..." He sighs,"I can make those connection without fail. I thought it stopped on the old mansion once, but it never did. I went there to look anyway. Nothing."

She can tell he's burning the candle at both ends on this one.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Oh?" Willow swallows a mouthful, and continues. "I've been thinking about that. See, he could have phased out, where there was the last place he was in this phase. Sorta like you and crossing over to the underside.. or however you say it."

"Besides, what are the odds of him being responsible for the dreams. Maybe you need to focus, and when this is done, work on getting rid of him." The needs of the one sorta thing. The dreams are affecting lots of people right now."

Harry Dresden has posed:
That idea strikes him with shock. He stops eating and looks at Willow, raising a brow,"He'd have to be supremely arrogant to step into the NeverNever through the way between worlds. I have been told Dracula is arrogant."

He pauses and thinks about the dreams and nods,"The dreams probably should take precendence. I think the fact he's here and hurting those we care about...well you know what I mean." Shaking his head,"I will see about getting a team together and see if we can get to that first and soon."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"I didn't mean *there*! Just someplace like it. But, I'll take it back." Apparently that was a horrible idea! "And, yes, he's hurting our friends." Though to speak of Faith as a friend feels weird. "I don't have any solution. But you are spreading yourself too thin, and the ultimate response as nothing will work."

Who is this, and what has she done to Willow?!?

"I guess, we could divvy up the problems. You look after the dream, and I'll keep on looking for Dracula?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"I think he's completely capable of going there." he replies,"That one is legendary for a reason. I wouldn't put it past him to be arrogant enough to walk right through there."

He sighs,"If you think I am spreading too thin I must be pushing my luck." he replies. A sigh,"You wrote the book on it love. There is no question." Oops used the L word.

He pauses at the mention of her taking a look for Dracula and he looks at her. Every fiber in his being screams no, but they are a team and he needs to accept that,"Promise me you won't try to fight him on your own other than in self defense." He doesn't say no and he doesn't make a demand, just as ask,"I am getting used to you being here. I don't want to look up some night and realize you aren't coming back."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Either it was the L word, or his very reluctant asking her to help - either way, it brings a smile to her face. If only it were so simple.

"Did you know, I have met him many years ago? With Spike. He was my hero that day, protecting me. I bet it will help me scry him. I can't go beyond this plane though. He probably is bored and on to the next victim. I mean, he got one of our Slayers. What else can beat that?"

In other words, he was worried over nothing.

Which, at this time, is true. Harry should be more concerned about Rack.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry listens to her and raises his brow with a half smirk,"I notice you didn't promise." He is teasing of course. He's going to worry, but that's his job. He sighs,"All right I will focus on the dream situation and try to prepare a venture to look at the thing and put it down, maybe study it. I am sure Satana would have a good time with that."

He shakes his head and admits,"The idea of Spike being anyone's hero is at once amusing and terrifying." He frowns thoughtfully,"He bit one of our slayers, I wonder if he every bit the other." Harry muses outloud,"You might be right about that. The victim thing, what if that's what is scrying?"

He stops and rubs his face,"You're on that I am on the other. All right. Just be careful."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Hrm.. Maybe? Sometimes I find out later what the connection is. And I can promise you he hasn't bit me. So, you can relax."

Willow puts her plate aside and crawls across the couch, intent on ruining Harry's dinner in the most delightful of ways. "But you can.."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"All right." he comments and leaves it alone, trying not to think about more hits with that idea. She is on that one, he lets it go for now,"I will relax on that point. That wouldn't end well." he mutters about her being bitten.

He almost raises another piece of pizza to his mouth, but that stops when suddenly there is a pretty red head crawling his way. That look and the promise of biting...what food? Looking at her he asks,"Oh? You have some places you want me to bite you?"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Tell you what. You can guess, but if you bite wrong, I get to bite you. Fair is fair."

Willow sounds very serious, while her eyes glance over him. "Think of it as hot and cold."

(and from that point on things get interesting.. ftb..)