#open; andy

[normallyxstranger]

Andy tried not to let her frayed nerves show, but it was difficult with her on-again-off-again-sometimes boyfriend hovering nearby. Dylan must've woken up in the mood to pester because he was doing that and then some.

With a toss of her red hair, Andy did her best to ignore him. "Just pretend he's not even there," she said to her customer.

"Ha!" The soultaker interjected, grinning broadly. He hopped up to sit on the counter, pushing aside Embers & Ashes merchandise as he did. Oh, he loved getting under her skin... the customer's too, if he could manage it. "You can try."

Andy took in a deep breath, counted, then exhaled. She didn't spare Dylan a single glance, but smiled at the customer. "So. How can I help you?"

[normallyxstranger1]

    “I know this may be hard to believe, but I’m on your side.” Andy stood her ground, hands open at her sides. Magic buzzed around her fingertips, sparking a deep purple hue as she spindled it between her fingers. She was ready for a fight, but hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

[normallyxstranger]

Her eyes swept over the figure before her. A single, uplifted eyebrow indicated her surprise. “Well, I was expecting someone,” Andy began, “but it wasn’t you.” It so rarely happened that her visions were this wrong, but it did happen. Her mother always said seeing the future wasn’t always set in stone, that actions and circumstances could change—but the person involved? That almost never changed.

What the hell?

Never one to be too fazed by change, the witch sighed. Faint irritation rounded her voice when she said, “I’m here to help, or something. I’m not really sure now, but I’m here. Hi."

[normallyxstranger]

Concern etched a line between her brows. Andy took one step closer before she stopped.

"Well," she said, exhaling a nervous laugh, "this is a problem."

[normallyxstranger]

"Hey, you know what sounds really good right now?" Andy unfolded her legs, stretching them out before she stood. "Strawberry ice cream with hot fudge sauce." She grinned. "You in?"

[normallyxstranger]

"Okay, stop," Andy said sharply. She'd had enough. "Why are you acting weird?"

[normallyxstranger]

"I'm sorry" —Andy wasn't— "you want me to do what?"

[normallyxstranger]

"It's nothing," Andy immediately answered. "Just a headache. Nothing a pain potion and some rest won't cure."

That would've been believable, if blood had begun to trickle from her nose—a tell-tale sign she'd overused her powers. She touched the wetness on her upper lip, fingers coming away red. Andy stared at them for a few seconds.

"Shit."

Hastily she grabbed a tissue from the box near her. "It's nothing," she insisted again. "I'm fine."