38th Slay [Video || Action || Audio]

[whattingawhat]

[Buffy is sitting at the coffee shop on the patio with an iced coffee. She's scanning the crowd, obviously looking for someone. She makes a face and looks to the device.]

Calling all Sunnydale residents.

Also, don't panic. This weekend is usually pretty tame. Just don't go into the Underground.

Comments

[watcherwells.livejournal.com]

...Buffy?

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Andrew?

[She's giving him a narrowed look, trying to decide when he's from.]

[watcherwells.livejournal.com]

[He smiles awkwardly. (Pfft, as if there's any other way for Andrew to smile.)]

Oh my gosh, it is actually so good to see you right now. I would hug you, but, well.

[He holds up his hands. In one is some sort of elaborate blended frozen chocolate coffee something-or-other with a mountain of whipped cream on top. In the other is a camcorder.]

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

[Okay well that sounds like hostage!Andrew as opposed to Villain!Andrew]

It's okay. [She's going to kick herself for this] Want to have a seat.

[watcherwells.livejournal.com]

Aye aye.

[He plops down and sets the camcorder in his lap. He takes a long pull on the straw, sucking down an impressive amount of the girly coffee stuff before fixing Buffy with a cautious look.]

So, some sort of new danger, I presume? Where's everybody else?

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Nope. No new danger and everyone else is just Dawn. She's probably at work. You're in the City. It's like a pocket dimension. I'm stuck here. You're not.

[She doesn't hesitate to describe the City for what it is to Andrew. If anyone will get it, he will.]

[watcherwells.livejournal.com]

...Oh.

[He takes a minute to think about that.]

Like the Phantom Zone? So... you didn't bring me here.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Sorry. No but...it's good to see you. You know, someone from home because it's just me and Dawn here. You'll get to go home tomorrow.

[watcherwells.livejournal.com]

Oh. I just assumed, 'cause, if someone "POOF!" and winds up where you are, it would make sense that you wanted 'em there.

[Andrew's mouth goes ahead of his mind, so he doesn't think enough to get a crucial part of what Buffy just said until AFTER he's blurted out that much.]

...I'm good to see?

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Well...you know...because you're from home. [Quick subject change.] How's Giles?

[watcherwells.livejournal.com]

Mr. Giles is, uhmm, good, last time I heard from him? [Andrew can change the subject just as fast.] If you're stuck here, what's gonna happen to Scotland Squad?

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

[Oh good. He knows about that so he's at least as far along as she is.] Supposedly time doesn't move there when I'm here? I don't understand how it works. Everything goes freeze frame and I would go right back to where I came from and no one would ever miss me?

[watcherwells.livejournal.com]

Oh! Non-commensurate timelines, that makes sense. [Big word. You can bet the big bucks he learned that from a George Takei lecture or some such.] So when I get back, I'll still be in Italy, documenting a training session.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

[She's giving him a look like riiiiiiight whatever you say.] Yeah, same point and time. No one will know you were gone. Training session?

[stilluphere.livejournal.com]

[A young Irishman with spikey hair, a floppy robe, and a very strange mask is all up in your device.]

Why, what's underground?

[He sounds a little more... interested than frightened.]

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

[he gets a confused look and then a 'what the...' look]

It's got lots of...mobsters.

[stilluphere.livejournal.com]

Ah. Shady underground dealings of the shady underground variety, I'm presuming.

What's with this place, anyway. Hasn't anyone got a proper face on?

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

A what--huh? Who?

[stilluphere.livejournal.com]

You know, you lot. All your faces look the same. No proper expressions on them, at all. It can be terribly confusing, you know.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

[Have a gasp and a shocked look, almost offended.]

What? How can you--and what's this 'you lot' stuff?

[stilluphere.livejournal.com]

I've never seen so many people without masks before. Is this just what people in this world look like? I assume I'm in another world. It looks awfully like that one I was a waiter in for a few minutes.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Yeah...pretty much 365 days a year. Except on Halloween and then we do the mask thing. That would also be affirmative on another world. Or at least another dimension?

[stilluphere.livejournal.com]

That's a pity. It's so hard to tell people apart without them.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Kind of a hard place to be a resident of these days, isn't it? [Hello, you.]

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

[Have a huge smile, Spike. Yes, she's missed you.] And who's fault is that?

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Seems to me like you played a part there too, but I don't mind taking all the credit.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Maybe a little. You did all the boom and the exploding.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

That's why I got the shiny necklace parting gift. Don't suppose my basement is where I left it? Can't expect you to go and not blow up a place after too long.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Hey! It's still there. It has winter clothes in it now but it's still there. You have to share with my boots and sweaters.

[A pause because this is Spike we're talking about]

If I come down there you won't be sniffing them...right?

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

So, basically it's downgraded to closet?

Hey now, I have more respect than that. [He won't let you catch him!]

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's not exploded, imploded, flooded or rented to someone else. Be happy.

[She wouldn't expect anything less.]

[not-pirate.livejournal.com]

So, should I ask for the recap first or the bone-crushing, oops-I-forgot-my-slayer-strength hug first?

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Hug first. Recap can come later.

[not-pirate.livejournal.com]

I can handle that order. I've been working out. It will probably take you almost three seconds to crush me.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

I'll work on keeping it under 2.9 seconds then.

[And she's up out of her seat making with the hugging.]

[not-pirate.livejournal.com]

[He will do his best to be uncrushed.] It's good to see you, Buff.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

[It's good when they have agreements like this.] It's good to see you too, Xan. There has been missage.

[not-pirate.livejournal.com]

Has anyone else shown up? [He hopes no one else left. Buffy shouldn't have the leaving.]

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

To live, nope. Just me and Dawnie. Faith is...here-ish but you know how she is with the group participation. Andrew was here today and Spike.