Face Off

[Trillian]

Cicero caught her hostility but not why she was feeling it.  He gave her his fixed stare, wondering why she was annoyed.

It was interesting seeing her thoughts as she listened to Tucker's strangely animated story.  Tucker had been selected for a combination of his looks and slightly more animated manner of thinking.  He wasn't as vivid a thinker as Ami, or as colourful, but there was something fresh about his thoughts nonetheless.  Surprisingly, his explanation of their meeting touched lightly on this freshness.

Cicero wondered if Ami would be disappointed in him for his selection of the youth.

[Harlequin]

As Tucker relayed his story, Ami got a picture of the depth of his non-understanding of the situation he'd gotten himself into. This was a game to him. Shit, was he even old enough to drink? 

But everybody had to learn somehow. She'd had to do it the hard way, and she was stronger for it.

She shrugged in answer to his question, and glanced toward Cicero. The way he was looking at her still sent a chill up her spine, but it didn't show on her face. "Woulda thought of something." she assured Tucker. Fuck, why WOULDN'T she want a mannequin?

Then, after another long drink, the ultimate source of her annoyance was revealed: "Let's go do somethin'."

And by something, she meant anything that wasn't sitting around talking.

[Saccharin]

His first inclination was to suggest they play some video games on one of his consoles, but his TV and all his gaming equipment was at his old place. Even if he'd had everything with him, he didn't think it'd been what Ami had meant. Go meant leaving the house, typically.

"I can get us into the movies for free," he mentioned after a moment's thought, "but-"

it's up to Cicero

"-I'd be down for whatever."

[Trillian]

He liked that Tucker thought of him, thought about whether or not Cicero would approve.  It made for a good sign that Tucker would be exactly what he needed to relax with.  Cicero sent his thoughts to both of them, not needing or wanting to isolate Tucker from his side of the conversation, and wanting the two of them to be friendly.

Have something in mind, Ami? he said, then smiled beautifically.  Were you wanting to look for trouble?

Trouble wouldn't be trouble with Cicero at her side or at her heels.  He could protect her from anything.

Except Lazarus, but he could avoid his sire easily enough.

[Harlequin]

Part of Ami wondered if she really wanted to know what Cicero's idea of trouble was, but a slow smile crept across the bassist's face. She hadn't been thinking trouble, but hell, why not? No reason for tonight to be a total bust. Plus, maybe trouble would scare the kid off.

"Capital T," she said, then shrugged. "Could go to the cliffs. Maybe stir shit up at the Rabbit. I'm easy."

[Trillian]

He was looking at her with fascination when she was talking about the cliffs.  An image, the most beautiful kind of artistic vision, came to him as she imagined what they would be doing at the cliffs.  He wouldn't call that trouble - though it certainly seemed thrilling.

The cliffs it is, he sent to both of them.  And so they went.