8330/Little Talks

Little Talks
Date of Scene:	15 July 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Oz, Willow, and Buffy have an important talk. Each learns a bit about the other, and they're all much happier in the end.
Cast of Characters:	Daniel Osborn, Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers

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Daniel Osborn has posed:
There's been a thing or 2 that's happened lately that has put a lot on Oz's mind. He's wanted to talk to Willow, and finally he bit the bullet and texted her, telling her he wanted to talk when she was free, it was nothing urgent, just whenever she had the time, he knew she was busy after all. He figured he could just come back to her apartment to talk when the time came around, since he actually knows where i is now and won't get lost in Crime Alley or anything like that anymore. Of course he's been just a little tense not really knowing how Willow will take the news he has to give her, though perhaps it will go better than he was expecting. Only time will tell on that one really, though that thought doesn't help him much.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow isn't precisely surprised that Oz knows where she lives. Or even, really, that he'd been to their apartment. Mostly she's surprised she's managed to avoid running into him any of the times he's been there. His text is met with a >> Sure. Come on over. Just finishing up homework. And Willow had turned back to her books and forgotten both about the time, or warning her room mate that they were expecting company.

Perhaps she could be forgiven. Midterms were next week, and Willow had a B minus to make up for.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers is in front of the tv, taking a short break from an all-night cramming session for tomorrow afternoon's exam. Hey, even she deserves a break once in a while. She didn't want to interrupt Wil's homework, knowing how much she was upset about the last B- from before. So she's in her own personal world, the tv down low as she watches another cheesy rom-com while hungrily nibbling on popcorn. Not the healthiest of snacks (when it's loaded with butter and salt), but hey, she's too lazy/tired to cook up something nutritious.

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz had received Willow's text, and of course he did come, knocking on the door once he arrives. Unlike the last time he came he has no overnight bag this time, probably because it's ealry enough that he'll be able to head back home tonight. In fact, he doesn't even have anything this time, just himself. And so, he waits at the door, attempting to hide his bit of nerves with a smile, though he closes his eyes to meditate while waiting, even if it'll only be a few seconds. Every little bit helps.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow has already forgotten company was on its way, and gives Buffy a confused look. "Are you expecting anyone?" Of course Willow still gets up and goes to answer the door. Mostly expecting to tell whoever it is they probably want the door next to theirs and not to worry, it happens all the time.

Only it's Oz. Who Willow looks at blankly until she remember, then 'ohs' guiltily until she remembers herself, and steps aside, inviting him in. "Oh my gosh, I forgot. I was reading the text and Buffy was eating the popcorn and I was thinking about how good it smelld and wondering when it was that people actually started putting butter on it.. Oh gosh, Daniel, I'm sorry. Uh.. We have coffee? It's instant?"

Yeah. it's mid-month and neither girl had gone grocery shopping which meant pickings were slim. Though, for some reason, they had a surfeit of microwave popcorn on hand. And Willow's secret stash of chocolate bars.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers perks up when she hears the door knocking. "Hmm? Not me. Maybe it's Oz? He was here the other day, maybe he left something behind.." OH right, she never really explained that. As Wil opens the door, she glances up and smiles. "Hey Oz, how's it going?" she nods at the popcorn bowl, "There's extra if you want some, yeah, I'm watching another cheesy chick-flick." she shrugs. Yeah, doesn't require as much brain power at least.

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz holds up a hand to silence Willow, though she never fails to make him smile when she does that. "Look at the time," he says, "then consider your offer of coffee again. Am I on vampire patrol duty tonight?" he asks, with a smirk. "C'mon, you gotta get better about remembering you're expecting visitors. Next time, when you get a text, just stare at your phone. Like, stare at it, stare, at it." he grins. "Anyway, did I interrupt anything? You still making up for that B minus that's totally not a failing grade?"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Coffee at this hour didn't seem odd to Willow.. but she kind of saw Oz's point.

"Oh, well, water?" It seems by the clutter on the couch that Buffy is the only one watching chick flicks. Willow is being Willow, only the less magicky version this evening it would seem.

"No, I think we're not patrolling tonight." Well she and Buffy were still working out the finer points of what that constituted. Willow's help wasn't really necessary for mundane patrol. But that didn't mean the little witch didn't have other obligations. Or other studies, and like the Slayer, and the darker denizens of the world, John Constantine was a night owl too.

"It was a failing mark!" Willow complains and flumps down on the couch. "Why doesn't anyone understand? And no, you didn't interupt anything."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers yawns and stretches. "Yeah, we got homework and exams. We can patrol tomorrow maybe?" she stuffs her mouth with more popcorn. "But it's good to see you again, Oz. I didn't know you were still in town." she makes a face at Wil, "I wish I could score a B- in psych. But I guess Wil just has higher standards than me."

Daniel Osborn has posed:
"No one will ever understand the mystery of Willow and her failing B minus," Oz says, with a grin as he enters the apartment. "I wasn't. I just came back to town. I bounce around a lot." he shrugs. "But it works out for me, ya know? Like that Bad Company song, movin' on from town to town."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"It was a fail!" Willow complains, though even she is half-laughing. "I gave up all my scholarships to follow Buffy." Not news. The girls had talked about it. Willow was fine with that. "But I have to get into a good grad school. That B- is as good as a fail on my record when I'm competing for top spots. You guys all have your thing. This is mine."

Okay, Willow had the magic thing too, but so far magic wasn't paying very well.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers sighs and shifts over to pat Willow on the shoulder. "It's okay, I get it Wil. My parents aren't as fussy about my grades as yours. Plus, for me, school isn't the most important thing in my life. Although maybe it should be? I dunno." She smiles, "But I'm glad that you chose to come to the same school as me. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll ace the next test no problemo!" she nods to Oz, "That's pretty cool, I guess you score gigs just about everywhere. Soo, what's the real reason your here? You just came to steal more popcorn and watch another cheesy rom-com with me?"

Daniel Osborn has posed:
"You nailed it, Buffy," Oz says, with a smirk, though it's clear he's joking. "Hey, I fully expect you to tease me when you think I did great and I didn't when it comes to guitar. It evens out." He looks between Buffy and Willow, then sighs. "Well, the real reason I came here was to talk to Willow. Buffy, I think you know what it's about as well."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow frowns, then blurts out, "Look, I didn't ask Spike for those things, and I'll give them back if you want. just don't be mad at him. I.. I.. I'm not the same person you all went to school with and I need everyone to stop trying to make me be that person!"

Because in Willow mind, this is all about those gifts. And that stupid boy in Vancouver who gave her his number. And the fact that everyone, Buffy included, just expected her to pick up where high school had left off and like she'd told John, she didn't want to be headed towards a future where Sunnydale featured as the main descriptive adjective.

"I'm sorry Oz, I know we talked about seeing how things were, but I just want to be friends. I'll still give the things back if you want, but I think the other is best."

With the rush of that blurted out, Willow feels so much better. It hasn't occured to her that maybe it was Oz who'd wanted to unload.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers blinks slowly, peering at Wil and her sudden outburst. "Spike gave you..Gifts?" Oh right, he'd mentionned something about having a brief thing for her, or something. She bites her lip, a bit surprised really, a bit sympathetic. "Oh geez, I'm sorry Wil, I never realized you felt pressured that way. I mean, I guess we're all a little different than we were in highschool. Maybe sometimes it's just hard to realize that.." When she makes confession, Buffy glances over at Oz and shrugs. "Well, I guess there's your answer."

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz opens his mouth to interrupt Willow's outburst, but then remembers that sometimes it's more important to listen than to talk, so, he's characteristically silent. He contemplates her words for a moment before speaking. "We're not the same as we were in high school," he says, simply. "Why would I ask you to give the gifts back? Willow, I don't run your life, I never have. I'm...I'm sorry I got a bit jealous about that guy that gave you his number. But, I talked to Buffy, I did a lot of thinking. I will always love you, that will never change, we have a connection that you can't deny, but we really aren't the same as we were in high school. I held out hope, I was hoping we could make it work, but, well, I found someone else. And I realized that maybe it would be better if we just remember what we had, but stay friends." he holds out his arms, intending to give her a hug. "I don't want you to feel like you're being pressured or anything. We're your friends, we like you for who you are, and we don't want you to be anything different."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"You keep acting like you do," Willow says simply. "You and everyone else. Like I belonged to you and that's the way it was supposed to be like if we did something else we've somehow broken something. I just don't want to end up married to you and living in Sunnydale, raising Sunnydale kids, who go to Sunnydale schools, until I die in my Sunnydale bed and get buried .. anyway. Everyone, and you worst of all, Oz. You kept saying you heard me, but you weren't listening."

Buffy, too. Though to a much lesser degree.

"I like who I'm finding out I am. I helped the Justice League save Superman. I went to another planet. I used force lightning on a bad guy. Some powerful sorceress wanted me to join with her. Me."

She sighs.

"You all were off growing nad changing and you all came back expecting I didn't. Well, I did. You're my best friends, but none of you have been acting like it lately."

Buffy gets an apologetic look. "I didn't mind coming to Gotham with you. I think it was probably good for me. I had to grow up and learn how to be away from my parents. If I'd gone to those schools with a scholarship, I'd still have been the same Willow I was in high school."

Oz gets a small smile, "And you weren't a little jealous. You were a lot jealous. I didn't even do anything. I went on a ride and you were acting like you owned me. That's not how I want to be treated even if I was your girlfriend. You guys all showed me I could be powerful and do things. Anyway, I didn't mean to blurt it all out. I've been afraid of having this conversation with you. John said I needed to, even if I were afraid."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers gasps, "Wow, really? You did all that? That's amazing, Wil.." she does frown a little at the accusations a little and sighs. "C'mon Wil..Maybe I was a little selfish in wanting you to come to the same college as me. But, we had fun, didn't we? I mean, you could always transfer to another one if you wanted. I..I wont hold you back anymore, I promise." Buffy nods, "But it's good you got it all out into the open like that."

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz is characteristically silent again, always the good listener. Of course, nobody's perfect, and all the things he's done start to click in his head as she talks. "I'm...sorry," he says, quietly. "I didn't know you felt that way, I guess I didn't think that's what I was doing. No one's perfect, not even me, I didn't mean to make you feel like that. You know, if you'd wanted to leave Sunnydale, I would've gone anywhere you went. In fact, I'm probably going to New York City, but, I don't know yet. Sunnydale is the place I was raised, where I grew up, but I need something different, ya know? That's a bit of the reason I left." He goes silent again, for a minute, taking a breath as he contemplates his next words carefully. "I want you to be who you really are, Willow. And i really mean it, whatever I did in the past, let's move on. You do what you wanna do. Go make it big, be famous, go to Harvard or something, and I'll be there to support you. Whatever it is, we're your friends, we'll stand behind you, pat you on the back, and encourage you to keep going. It's what we do. Oh, you'll still come to my shows, right?"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow sighs and gives Oz a (hopefully) reassuring smile. "You weren't listening. I kept telling you, but you didn't want to hear it because you wanted me to be that same person. Only look at you, you went and found someone, and I bet it's tons better because it was the right person and the right time, not just because that's what everyone expected."

By then her smile is truly of Willow proportions. "You'll have to tell us.. er.. I guess me.. all about her. Sounds like Buffy already knew. And gosh you two. If you'd been paying any attention you could have saved all this trouble. Why would I be upset a friend is happy?"

Buffy gets her own reassurance. "Oh you didn't make me come here. I wanted to. I was still the person who needed to come here with you. I was afraid if I went off to one of those other schools.. what if I wasn't good enough. Or how would I be on my own? Only I had to learn to do all those things anyway when you were off in ./.. well, wherever you were. And Oz was off. Everyone else was busy doing their own things, and I had tfigure out how to be Willow by myself. That's why this was so hard. I didn't want you all upset with me and not like me. You're still the best friends I have."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers sighs and rises to her feet. "I'm sorry. Really. I guess there's a lot we still had to learn about each other." whenever she finishes giving Oz a hug, assuming she accepts his hug, Buffy will offer her own huggage.

"But wow, you've done so many amazing things, plus taking all these courses in school and probably acing them. You're really amazing, Wil. Just take time for yourself too. I guess I'm guilty too. I initially thought you two were still an item. I guess a lot changed since highschool though.."

She shrugs. "Well..Oz did mention this other girl he liked. I still didn't know how you felt about him but it seemed like you two might still have something..So I told him he shold talk to you and get the air cleared up before committing to another relationship." she shrugs, "But glad we got everything out in the open, finally. Soo anything else you wanna talk about?"

Daniel Osborn has posed:
"Oh, Kitora," Oz says, with a smile. "You know, Willow...to be honest it did feel better, and I guess that's when I started to realize what you were saying. I could show you a picture of her if you want to see it. I hope you're pro-mutant, because both Buffy and I have a thing for mutants, apparently. And I seem to have a thing for red heads. Maybe it's because I'm one, or...something." He shrugs. He looks much less tense, and much happier now than he did when he walked in, and probably even since he returned from Tibet.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Well," Willow has to admit, "I don't think I'mve thought too much about whether or not I'mm pro or against, but it would be kinda wrong to say I'm friends with a werewolf and a vampire and then draw the line at mutants? Besides, I'mm a witch. We have a really bad reputation through history. People don't really believe all that much in magic."

Not to mention she'd singlehandedly come up with tecchnoscrying, which was a bizarre mix of computer savvy and magic thrown into one unique little Willow sized package. If you were going to get side-eyed for magic that was certainly the way to go about it.

"I'md love to see a picture of her. And not just to see if she looks a lot like me. I'mm thinking she doesn't, other than maybe the hair. I'mm betting she's taller and alot more confident than I am. And that's okay too. I'mm still figuring out what it is I want to be and how to be it. I think you're supposed to be a little insecure when you're doing that. Or maybe too secure, and oh gosh, so many things, Buffy. Like Superman thanked me himself and welcomed me to the Justice League!"

It's very clear Willow hasn't tweaked yet.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers bites her lip, looking a little red. "eheh..Well..I dunno about that. I mean..Logan's nice and all but..It's not like we're in an actual, relationship.." although the way she talks it kinda sounds like there's definitely *something* there. "I'm also curious to meet your new lady friend, Oz." she smirks, glancing back at Willow. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Wil. You're pretty and smart and any guy would be lucky to have someone like you." her eyes widen, "Ooh, Justice League? that's cool, I mean, seriously cool! Fighting with the big leaguers now! Travelling to outer space even? That's pretty impressive. I mean, I'm just struggling with school and slaying vamps to think about something bigger than that. Although the Xmen seem to have taken a liking to me.."

Daniel Osborn has posed:
"Oh c'mon, Buffy, I know you want to be," he says, with a smirk. "Hey, Willow, why do you think I held out for you for so long? If anyone is qualified to say any guy would be lucky to have you..." He takes out his phone, opening the photo gallery and swiping through pictures until he finds the one he's looking for and holds it up for Willow to see. It's the same picture he sent Buffy, a selfy of him with Rift, a red-haired red-eyed glowing demon-looking? girl. "What do you think?" he asks.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Oh, you know what I mean. And okay, don't take this the wrong way, Oz, because it's not a hey please date me, but people haven't exactly been banging on my door to ask me out, and I'm a lot less picky about gender than most people."

If that wasn't clear before, it certainly is out of the bag now.

The picture is regarded quietly. Then, "She's shorter. And gosh she's cute. I can see why you like her. But that glow, that's, that's the mutant thing? You did say mutant, not demon, right?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers blushes a bit and smirks at Oz. "Well...I guess he is kinda cute, and we have some serious chemistry. Buuut, y'know, after the whole Parker thing..And things are still confusing between me and Spike, soo I guess I just want to make sure it's what I really want, before I do something I regret..Like last time." she shrugs, "He right, y'know. Maybe you just need to be a bit more..Assertive? I mean, sometimes you just need to get out there and take the initiative." as for the pic, Buffy smiles and nods, "She IS cute, isn't she. I mean, not cuter than you, just different. But yeah, she's got a strange glow, I thought she might be demon material too, then I realized she's just a mutant. Guess mutants are an interesting lot, they seem to possess just about any powers imaginable.."

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz laughs. "She's a mutant," he says. "I thought she was a demon too. And she makes these red portals. So, I was in Central Park practicing shooting arrows, ya know, and this red portal poens, right in the path of my arrow. Then, I hear this scream, and she comes out, glowing red, and furious. I thought I'd opened a portal to hell and it was time for judgement to be served or something. It's hilarious looking back now, but i was actually scared then." He chuckles. "And I put a hole in her Star Wars poster. Then last time we met in Central Park, she told me no archery before she came. I wasn't doing anything that time, though." He chuckles, with a smile. "She is cute, isn't she? But Buffy's right, I don't think I could pick which one's cuter based on looks between you and her. Hey, if you're bisexual you're bisexual, it's cool with me. Whoever makes you happy, that's what's important."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Wait, you shoot arrows? And you can't shoot them there! That's illegal Oz! And not safe." Like those two things were always mutually exclusive and needed saying individually. "They have places for doing that."

She'd really like to poke buffy about this Spike thing, but her beste had wisely disappeared, leaving Oz and Willow a few to make sure things were straightened out between them. And it wasn't like Willow didn't know where Buffy slept. That talk could wait.

"I'm kinda the cute that people want to pat on the head. She looks.. like dangerous cute. And you're really cool with that?"

Because woah, sometimes people weren't, and well, they'd just gotten past being cool with she just wanted to be friends.

"Anyway, I'm not dating anyone. I've not really done anything with a girl. Just I would, you know? I mean, it would be okay with me." She has to add, because Willow, "Don't worry, just because I think she's cute, I'm not after her. I mean she is cute, but not really my type."

Not that Willow knew what her type was yet. That was kind of the glory of your youth - finding that out.

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz chuckles. "Oh please. It's not unsafe if there's nobody around. And it's not illegal if you don't get caught, right? Besides, it's free to practice there, I might have to pay if I went to a range." He grins. "It's fun though. Certainly gives you some strength in your arms." He smiles. "Hey, you'll find the someone for you one day. That, or you'll stay single, and be happy that way. Whatever it is that makes you happy, that's what matters. I didn't think you were after her." He looks at the picture thoughtfully. "She does kinda look dangerous, doesn't she? But hey, when she can make herself so light that I can lift her with one hand...yeah. She can even fly, it's insane. I'm gonna try and convince her to take me flying with her one day. That would be fun." He grins.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"No, it's dangerous. Gosh, Oz, it's not okay if nobody is around. You could still hurt someone!" Because it wouldn't be Willow if she didn't worry about these things. "And I'm not really looking. I mean it would be fun to find someone and do things with, but I don't know. Maybe I'll be doing something and then it will surprise me. I think if you try and make things happen it just makes them forced and wrong. You want them to be something they're not. That's not fair to you or the other person."

So philosophical!

"Fly even? That's kinda neat. I didn't get to fly, but I did get to go to the Watchtower, and work with all these important people. It was really weird being with them and them listening to me. I still don't know how I got included. We opened a portal. I helped! The first time I was on the anchor end here, which wasn't really exciting other than we were under attack so it was harder and harder to keep it open. But the second time I was on the away team! And we were attacking. I made someone so angry they dropped Superman's blood and ran away. It was great!"

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz smiles, with a nod. "Hey, when did you turn into me?" he asks, with a smirk, regarding her philosophical statement. "But you do have a point. Oh, so, hurting nonexistant people isn't okay?" he asks, with a laugh. "Hey, it sounds like you did some amazing stuff. I'm proud of you. Though, some of the things we did were pretty important. Stopping the first evil and all of that, ya know. You know I've been thinking about trying to stop crime in some way, ya know, like those heroes that are always featured in the newspapers, but, well...I just wish I wasn't the most useless werewolf ever. I can't even transform. Maybe one day, I read that there are werewolves out there with full control of their abilities and transformations."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"I thought learning to transform was why you went away? Didn't it work?" Willow looks confused. "And you know right from wrong, Oz. Anyone could show up at any time. You said it yourself, she came and you scared people into thinking you'd opened a portal to heck. Those were real people. Not pretend ones."

Daniel Osborn has posed:
"She came from a portal," Oz says, defensively. "Like, that's not normal. That was some freaky stuff, I'm telling you. It could've been anywhere. If it'd been a normal person i'd have known they were coming long before it was a problem." he shakes his head slightly. "No no, I went away to learn to not transform on the full moon. I didn't learn how to really control my powers. I'm just no longer a danger to society for 3 nights a month."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"The point is, it scared people. And it isn't okay." Yes, she's getting into foot stomping for emphasis territory if her tones are anything to go by.

The rest earns an 'oh' oif understanding. "Then maybe you need to find a teacher. I know someone."

Daniel Osborn has posed:
"Do you?" Oz asks curiously. "Who is it? I met a werewolf not that long ago, we didn't really get a chance to talk much, but I found him in New York City, maybe if I can findhim again, he might help. He seemed older, more experienced."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Well, I only met them the once," Willow has to admit. "But they mentioned being a shifter. They might be able to help you. Anyway, she seemed nice enough. She said she'd had her own sorts of troubles growing up. I think she said something about a garage? I could scry?"

Daniel Osborn has posed:
"Oh? Who was she?" Oz asks. "A garage? New York City?"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Well, I'd rather maybe not say say until.. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to say her name. She said her name was Mercy. She was a coyote, b ut I think she said she wasn't raised by them. Maybe she'd be okay with helping you, seeing as you weren't born to this either. She might understand how tough it is for you. It couldn't hurt to ask?"

Or it could hurt a whole bunch. But really only one way to find out.

Daniel Osborn has posed:
"Oh, I know Mercy," Oz says, with a smile. "She gave me a free oil change. No, she's a different kind of shifter than I am, she can't really help me out I'm afraid. But it's okay, the most important thing to me is that I won't kill anymore people, and that seems to be the case for me now. Even if I'm just a human with a damn curse, it's better that that curse is under control." And he's not just a human, he has super sensitie hearing and an amazing nose, so, there is that.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"She can't help? Gosh, I was hoping. She's the only kind of help I even know. But I guess there have to be more people like you out there... only I bet most of them are evil. I'm sorry Oz. And it is very much better you have at least some of it under control."

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz nods. "Not all werewolves are evil. I'll find someone someday," he says, with a smile. "Well, Willow, I'm glad we talked. I feel better now, and I really am sorry for everything." He offers another hug. "I should get going before it's too late and I have to start dusting vampires to get home."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"I'm glad we talked to. I was getting really.. unhappy. But now I feel so much better."

She gets up and offers him a hug before officially seeing Oz out. "I still have studying to do." And Buffy to bug. Plus a class in the morning..

Daniel Osborn has posed:
Oz nods. "Here's to hoping you pass with a B minus," he says, as he steps out the door, smirking back at her. "Good night, Willow."