[ it's weird. trying to connect on a human level after a month of instinct and an entirely different language. it wasn't him, but it sort of was, and this is - it feels a bit awkward, but it's not difficult.
there's the hint of a grateful smile, and there's nothing guarded about his reply. ]
Thank you.
[ a beat, then: ] You too, obviously. If I can ever help with... [ ghost problems? that'd mostly been talking with sally, but the offer stands. ]
[She's nods, and it's quiet for a moment, but then the kettle goes off so she starts the process of making tea. After it's had a moment to steep, she hands it over]
There's no milk or sugar, but I did find these sort of...well, they're not great, but they're all right, I know because I held George's head while he ate one.
[She gets a biscuit and hands it over]
After George shifts back, he always wants something sweet.
[She's smiling a little, hoping that seeing someone a bit cheery will help.]
[ tea and biscuits. annie, you are so incredibly english. it's amusing and comforting, though, so josh happily accepts. ]
Just don't tell Sally. I think she'd get jealous.
[ that's a joke, because a) sally will never end up here, ever and b) ... actually yeah, she might get a little jealous, if only because she enjoys being proactive and in josh's business. ]
[ god, but he catches himself before he finishes. it's not particularly loud, but it is startled; not so much at the cold and tingly part as the touching at all part. ]
No, she'd definitely be jealous.
[ he's distracted for another second, but it's entirely amicable - impressed, maybe. that said, his voice is a bit more dubious when he continues. ]
[She lets go quickly enough because well that's not the reaction she usually gets]
Sorry, sorry, I forget, it's cold, I know. And-
I'm sorry, what? No, I don't - well I never have - and...if I touch someone I can feel what they're feeling, if I concentrate, but no, I don't possess people!
[ it's a quick apology in response to hers, and the fact that the possession question's clearly taken her off guard. ]
It's something— Sally can, but it usually ends in tears, and I wasn't sure if that's a thing where... you can feel what people are feeling? [ derailed mid-sentence, there. he wasn't expecting that. ]
Well, yes. Like taste, and smell, and touch, those things.
[She's smiling because it's made things better.]
Like if I hold onto George's head, I can taste what he's eating. George is
better than Mitchell, everything Mitchell eats has a metallic flavor to it,
I don't know why.
Well, maybe I can possess people. Do you know how she does it?
No. [ that one's even more abrupt than his surprise at her touch. sorry, annie. ]
I mean— no, no possessing people. Tears, lots of them. It's a terrible idea.
[ which is to say: no, he's not going to tell annie how she does it. ]
And that's probably the blood. [ it's a quick, thoughtless reply to her comment about metallic flavors. he realizes after he says it that it's slightly off color.
maybe it's for the best that he can only do the human interaction thing once a month. ]
[ well i never said tact was his strongest suit okay!! ]
I'm sorry.
[ for being tactless, and for her being a ghost. josh had assumed it would be easier for annie, given that she can at least feel something - clearly he was wrong. and also an insensitive ass. ]
Maybe it'll change here. I mean, I'm basically a dog at this point. Anything's possible, right?
[She smiles a little, but it's clearly sad, there's something painful there. She knows how strange she is, she knows precisely how this isn't exactly easy]
[ josh's motto is more along the lines of it can always get worse, but he still does a good job of offering her a smile like he's almost sold on the optimism. ]
Yeah, of course it will. I've dealt with worse. [ ... maybe. ] I think.
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[She says not because it's the right thing to say, but because it's genuine]
I'll ask him for you, then.
[And a pause]
I have. If something happens-
I want you to know that you can always call me. I'll help you.
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there's the hint of a grateful smile, and there's nothing guarded about his reply. ]
Thank you.
[ a beat, then: ] You too, obviously. If I can ever help with... [ ghost problems? that'd mostly been talking with sally, but the offer stands. ]
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There's no milk or sugar, but I did find these sort of...well, they're not great, but they're all right, I know because I held George's head while he ate one.
[She gets a biscuit and hands it over]
After George shifts back, he always wants something sweet.
[She's smiling a little, hoping that seeing someone a bit cheery will help.]
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Just don't tell Sally. I think she'd get jealous.
[ that's a joke, because a) sally will never end up here, ever and b) ... actually yeah, she might get a little jealous, if only because she enjoys being proactive and in josh's business. ]
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[No, she'd get jealous-]
She would get over it once I explained I was only doing my ghostly duty.
[She reaches out and takes his free hand and squeezes. It's cold and tingly]
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[ god, but he catches himself before he finishes. it's not particularly loud, but it is startled; not so much at the cold and tingly part as the touching at all part. ]
No, she'd definitely be jealous.
[ he's distracted for another second, but it's entirely amicable - impressed, maybe. that said, his voice is a bit more dubious when he continues. ]
You don't... possess people, do you?
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Sorry, sorry, I forget, it's cold, I know. And-
I'm sorry, what? No, I don't - well I never have - and...if I touch someone I can feel what they're feeling, if I concentrate, but no, I don't possess people!
[She just sounds perplexed, more than anything]
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[ it's a quick apology in response to hers, and the fact that the possession question's clearly taken her off guard. ]
It's something— Sally can, but it usually ends in tears, and I wasn't sure if that's a thing where... you can feel what people are feeling? [ derailed mid-sentence, there. he wasn't expecting that. ]
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Well, yes. Like taste, and smell, and touch, those things.
[She's smiling because it's made things better.]
Like if I hold onto George's head, I can taste what he's eating. George is better than Mitchell, everything Mitchell eats has a metallic flavor to it, I don't know why.
Well, maybe I can possess people. Do you know how she does it?
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I mean— no, no possessing people. Tears, lots of them. It's a terrible idea.
[ which is to say: no, he's not going to tell annie how she does it. ]
And that's probably the blood. [ it's a quick, thoughtless reply to her comment about metallic flavors. he realizes after he says it that it's slightly off color.
maybe it's for the best that he can only do the human interaction thing once a month. ]
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[Wait maybe she can-
That's not a thought for public]
I'd probably be terrible at it anyway. And people can see me here so there's really no reason, is there?
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But seeing isn't really the same thing, is it?
[ several years before he and sally even managed to hug, his own self-imposed exile - he knows what it's like to miss the tactile side of things. ]
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Well, Mitchell and George, they hug me-
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I'm sorry.
[ for being tactless, and for her being a ghost. josh had assumed it would be easier for annie, given that she can at least feel something - clearly he was wrong. and also an insensitive ass. ]
Maybe it'll change here. I mean, I'm basically a dog at this point. Anything's possible, right?
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This will get better, Josh. I'm sure it will.
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Yeah, of course it will. I've dealt with worse. [ ... maybe. ] I think.
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[And that's Annie's.]
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and then they probably awkwardly tried not to make each other sad until he got nervous and kicked her out!! the end. :') ]