It's nice, really very nice, when nobody looks at you oddly for wearing a bulky black coat. Now, someone might look at you oddly when you're sitting at the edge of a (drained) fountain at the park, on a dreary, drizzly day, and you appear to be neither cold nor in the least wet.

Despite the occaisional stares (and really, they are occaisional, as few people are out on a day like this, and if they are they're generally hardcore runners who don't give a toss about the mysteriously dry man sitting on the fountain), Nick is in a good mood. He's smiling. He's solid. Who knows, someone might even talk to him!

She, on the other hand, gets stares because she isn't wearing a coat. (This is because even if she could concentrate long enough to keep one on, she keeps getting summoned away to various places, and a coat would not come with.)

The cold doesn't bother her - it doesn't even touch her.

Things with Bo, though... that's been difficult. They are well and truly finished, now. Even if she does find some way to make a body. They won't be able to get back together.

It's depressing.

She's walking an inch above the ground again. Somebody's not paying attention.

"Lexi,"Nick waves, grinning. Her again. He likes her. "You're floating a little."

"Oh."

She settles to the ground.

"I was rather preoccupied."

Him again. She likes him, maybe? He didn't when he was alive, but now that she's dead...

It puts a different spin on things.

"Come sit." he waves a hand at the stone beside him. "Is something the matter, then?" his head is tilted, his eyebrows drawn just slightly inward with concern--it's all very...precise somehow. He means it, but the way he expresses himself is...well, the way he learned in his life, which is a little posed.

She comes and sits.

"Well... you recall how I vanished, last time we spoke?" It was not exactly a forgettable experience, after all. Heh.

"Keye has been having troubles, and Bo has too, and I can't do much for Keye and I don't want to see Bo. It's hard."

Sigh.

"I recall. I had been wondering."
He nods.
"That sounds dreadful. I'm...I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

"Keye actually summoned me and trapped me in a circle. I hadn't realized he knew how to do that... or that he would do that to me."

It was rather upsetting.

"No... nothing you can do. Unless you happen to know how to come back from the dead."

"He did?" Nick looks incredulous, because that's really rather rude, isn't it? "What did he do that for?"

A slight chuckle.
"If I knew how to come back from the dead, I would not be sitting here now."

"I was rather avoiding him, as well as Bo. He didn't like it." It was a very upsetting experience all around.

Sigh.

"I didn't think you would. I still think my best bet would be a false body."

"Oh. I see. I suppose he ought to have found a better way."
It's a strange situation.
"I'm afraid I don't know what to tell you. My own experiences were quite different."

"It's all right."

She tugs at her hair, uncomfortably.

"I think I'm getting used to it."

Which is very depressing.

"It's too bad that you're having trouble with the crazy one and the sane one."

Sigh.
It is depressing.

"Which one's the sane one?"

S/he thought Bo was, but not anymore. They're both nuts.

"The small one?"
I mean, yes, the crossdressing was a little weird, but he at least seemed sensible.

"Guess again."

Sigh.

"They've both gone crazy."

And s/he doesn't even know about Enrique yet.

"Oh dear."

Frown.

"Well, I...er. I suppose since they've...lost someone very dear to them..."
You can hardly expect them just to bounce back.

"I don't know."

"I don't either."

Sigh.

"It isn't any easier for me than it is for them."

Sniffle.

Life (and death) aren't fair.

"I know." he touches her shoulder lightly. "Don't cry."

"What if I want to cry, huh?"

What then? Huh? Huh?

She feels contrary.

His hand draws back.
"Then do."

She leans on his shoulder.

And does.

It's an unhappy situation all around.

Oh.
He wasn't expecting that.

He strokes her hair gently, murmuring "Shh, shh," in that soothing non-shushing sort of way.

She doesn't cry very long. It isn't as fresh as it has been, it isn't as painful.

It still hurts, though.

At some point in there, he begins rubbing her back.

When her crying stops, he pulls away, his face blank with bemusement, his hands hovering in the air.

"Um... thanks."

She isn't quite sure how to treat him after this sort of thing - it isn't as if he's her boyfriend. (Or his boyfriend.)

It's awkward.

He puts his hands on his knees and smiles, grace restored.
"It's really no trouble."

"Well... it isn't like I'm used to it."

You were in his head for a while, Nick. Remember that big gap in the middle between families?

"Nor am I."
He's been basically alone for nearly ninety years.
"It's no matter. We do our best in times like these."

"Yeah..."

Sigh.

"How did you manage to stand it this long?"

There's a long pause that hangs, hangs...

"I don't know."

"Oh."

Tentatively, she rests her hand on one of his.

Misery loves company.

He laughs uncomfortably, but keeps his hand where it is.
"I'm a...I'm a bit of a leech, I suppose. I just wander about and see who will talk to me."

"I'm not sure I could bring myself to do that."

She's not actually very good with strangers. Not good at being friends with them, anyway. Sigh.

"I get lonely enough." It's worth the risk.
"I've had more than a few run screaming, but..."

"Mm. I used to frighten my students." Even made them cry. "But I don't think I'd like having someone run away screaming."

It would be very... unflattering.

"I've never frightened anyone on purpose."
Sigh.
"You're lucky you weren't murdered, I suppose."

"Mm. I suppose."

It wasn't any less painful for that.

"No blood." he clarifies, to avoid an awkward silence.

Oh, here it is anyway.
Well, never mind.

"... yes, I suppose that would be awkward."

Pause.

(He's really very nice, and quite handsome. And yes, it's immensely confusing to find him appealing at certain times and not at others. Also there's that she's just gotten out of a very serious relationship, and...)

"And that's why you wear that coat."