sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood

[madskilled]

Comments

[blackstarred]

Yeah, he's okay.

[Thankfully. She doesn't know what she would have done if things had been different.]

Did you ever do the whole disappearing off the face of the planet thing when you first became a Slayer?

[She probably didn't, Buffy always seems like she had it way more together, but Mia figures it's worth asking.]

[attainathons]

Oh yeah. ( She switches the phone to her other ear, she she moves away from the pummel horse. ) My mom actually kicked me out and I spent most of the summer before my senior year in Los Angeles. I lied about my name. I waited tables. I disappeared. But, being a slayer isn't a job. It's a calling. Escaping me wasn't on the menu.

( And her mom hadn't actually wanted her gone. )

And there were other times, too. Days, weekends you need away. Especially when the going gets tough. Sometimes, the tough just need to... disappear. But, those same toughs have families. You have a very high profile family.

[blackstarred]

Tell me about it.

[She doesn't know what would have happened if her Calling hadn't coincided with a few other big life changes.]

Trust me, I'm honestly surprised that a legion of superheroes hasn't come knocking on our door trying to find out where I am. For my dad, this is restraint.

[attainathons]

We're also off the grid. Purposefully. But, don't you think it's time?

( She's not a mother, but. She is a sister. She's given talks like this before. )

[blackstarred]

Maybe.

[There's part of her that does want to talk to her dad, and is thinking that she should have called him sooner. But she's stubborn enough not to admit it outright.]

Besides, it's not like William is giving me much of a choice.

[attainathons]

The sibling ultimatum, I know it well. Can I do anything else?

( She'll be texting Stefan shortly, too. )

[blackstarred]

No, I think we're good for now. But you might have to make space for William back at the castle depending on how things go from here.

[Or she might be stepping out to make sure that William doesn't get himself killed following Isaac.]

[attainathons]

Done. If you need it, he can have a room. But, maybe ask him if he wants one.

( Either way, it will be there. )

[blackstarred]

I will. But he's got his own crusade he's following.

[Wherever that may happen to take him.]

Thanks, Buffy.

[attainathons]

Sounds like a story.

( And like Dawn. )

Do you want me there?

[blackstarred]

No, I think we're okay for now.

[They're not going to try another attack like they had so soon.]

But I'll keep you posted once I know more.

[attainathons]

How is Faith.

( She and Spike always had a weird connection, one Buffy never questioned. Maybe because they were both smokers. )

[blackstarred]

She sounded okay on the phone. She's still stuck in witch town, but I'll let you know when I see her.

[Whenever Faith happens to return.]

[attainathons]

Or, just tell her to call me. Slayer to slayer check-in. It's an excuse as old as -- it was when I started it.

( And that's good enough. )

[blackstarred]

Yeah. I can do that.

[In fact she will send Faith text right now: Call Buffy.]

Let me know when Stefan's getting in. One of us will try and meet him.

[attainathons]

Stefan's more the, you'll know he's there when he's there, type. Mia. Thank you.

( Sigh. )

[blackstarred]

Then I'll let you know when he gets here.

[And with that, they'll say their goodbyes, and she'll move on to the next call on the list: her dad. After a deep breath, she dials a number she's always known by heart and places the phone to her ear.]

[kapiushon]

( Answering numbers he doesn't recognize should be a thing he doesn't do, but his network spans continents, and he has a missing kid, so he answers. )

...Hello?

[blackstarred]

[There's a brief silence before she manages to get out:]

Hi, Dad.

[kapiushon]

( And he's up, pacing away. )

Mia?

[blackstarred]

I'm okay.

[Because clearly that is the biggest concern.]

I'm sorry, for disappearing, I just ... I was having a hard time dealing.

[kapiushon]

( Well. He has every question to ask. Every single question. But jumping down her throat won't help. )

With what?

[blackstarred]

With ... becoming a Slayer?

[Her dad used to roll with John Constantine. Fifty-fifty chance that he might know what that is.]

[kapiushon]

( Nope. He hasn't. )

You're going to have to elaborate. Did you join a murder group, Mia?

[blackstarred]

Only if you're a vampire?

[That's probably not the answer he wants either.]

It's this ... ancient magical calling. It makes you stronger, faster so you can compete with the creatures you're fighting. I got called when I was on that vacation with JJ. The other Slayers found me and when I saw an option to disappear, I took it.