Xaviers!

"I tend to be pretty invisible because my role is more as a... mediator of extremes."

"Been a lot of those lately," she says, obviously trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy in the middle of the restaurant and only partially succeeding.

"And I don't mind, honestly. If things are going well you won't see me."

"I just had to step in to... ensure continuity of your expected Samantha experience."

"And in the process, you kind of broke it," Tereza sighs, looking around for the waiter to request the check.

She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Appologies. It was just... it was going to get worse."

"Yeah, well, I'm beginning to realize that's going to be a thing," she says as she hands her card to the waitperson and her keys on the table. "Get her whatever she wants and just give her the card when she's done." The waitperson raises an eyebrow, but doesn't argue as they bustle away to start running the bill. Tereza picks up her napkin from her lap and sets it on the table, "Enjoy your meal. I need some air."

It takes a bit before Sam comes out. Whether that's because she's eating is up for debate, but Tereza can catch a hint of a mental struggle on the other end of the link.

Or perhaps more accurately, an argument.

But when she does finally emerge, she looks like Sam. Just Sam. No overcompensating to what she might think Tereza is expecting. The argument, whatever it was about, seems quelled.

"Hey," she says softly as she approaches.

Tereza is down the street quite a ways, just walking. "Didn't really expect you to come find me. S'why I left you the keys," she says, voice slightly growly.

"I was trying too hard. It didn't go well."

"I just... thought I owed you a good night."

Tereza keeps walking. "And after last time, you didn't think that might be the wrong stance to take going into it?"

"...different kind of night, I thought."

She sighs, "That's not... Sam, the night was for *us*. Something nice that wasn't loud music or fighting or whatever. Something new. People keep telling me I need to learn how to address *all* of the Morrigan and not just single bits out or try to single out 'Sam'. Well, you need to learn how to address all of me at once too."

"I was having a good time."

"And you're... look. You're doing fine. I'm the one that keeps screwing up, here."

She lets that hang for a moment.

"...sorry. I'm trying to take all the blame again. I know you didn't want me to do that."

Tereza wants to be irritated with that revelation, but she also knows that Sam can't really help it. "Sometimes I screw up. Maybe I should have talked about this with you rather than springing it on you. I don't know."

"If it were just this, we would have had the time of our lives."

"It's obvious though that we're still... carrying around some baggage, aye?"

Tereza finally stops walking and turns around, "I suppose so."

"At the same time, you're one of two people I trust to be around... my mess, aye?"

"Doesn't mean I'm any good at holding baggage..." Then she quickly adds, "But yes, you're right."

"So, want to drive me home?"

"Or... anywhere you want?"

Tereza glances in the vague direction of the school and makes a face mentally. "I don't really want to go back, but I don't have anywhere else for us to go right now."

"How much petrol's in the tank?"

"Maybe half a tank. Been avoiding refilling it cause the station messes with my nose."

"So we cruise for a bit, I fill the tank and buy you a snack if your appetite's back?"

"In no specific order."

"I suppose we can do that," she says, holding out her hand for the keys.

"Oh, you suppose, do you?" She smirks as she dangles the keys out teasingly, Tereza's card also in her hand.

"Yes, I suppose," she says, making a grab for the keys.

Sam relents and lets her have her keys and her card back.

"Truth told, I'm not a confident enough driver to take your baby out."

"I'm just hoping she doesn't leave us on the side of the road," Tereza says, starting to walk back in the direction of where they parked.

"Sounded pretty good tonight," she says as she follows.

"Minimal unexplained noises."

"There's a few subtle noises that have me concerned, but I don't have time to try to figure out what they are."

"So I should crank the radio to keep your ears occupied?"

Tereza shakes her head as they approach the car, "No, just talk to me."

"After all this? Gladly."