i'm leaving you my last curse

[bravebartender]

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[ooglyboogleys]

[Apparently a lot of Stefan’s friends are coming to Thanksgiving.

Not that Dawn is mad about it. It turns out that some of Stefan’s friends are also Jeremy’s friends, and so this feels like a low pressure opportunity to scope them out without it being an “official” meeting. There’s probably going to be enough of that if and when she gets to Kansas to meet his parents, which she’s totally not jealous about at all. Especially since she technically has one living parent.

Though that is a huge technicality.

Still, with Buffy in the kitchen working on the spread and Stefan is there being an actual chef and helping with said spread, Lindsay and Beck debating their potential return to the states, and Faith is not reliable on door duty, so it leaves Dawn to answer the door as people arrive. A knock sounds, and she makes her way over to the entrance, pulling it open with a smile.]

Hi. Happy Thanksgiving.

[She will save verbal invitations for those that need it, depending on who is actually at the door.]

[moralitypolice]

( Speaking of technicalities, Bonnie definitely covers both bases in being Stefan's friend (though Damon's best friend) and Jeremy's friend. Her history with the younger Gilbert is long past and it had its' seriousness. These days, they remain exes and friends who respect each other. She became one of his premier witch contacts and should he end up international, or should she, or should he have some questions, she becomes his go-to witch. He'd argue she's the most powerful witch he knows. He knows about others, about regents and ancestors but nobody but Bonnie has lost and gained her magic back more times than either of them can count. So, to Jeremy, Bonnie's like the witch.

It's been a long time since he was just Elena's little brother.

Bonnie slams the door of the rented Jeep, meeting Isaac behind to pull their bags out of the trunk. She hands Danny's his, Isaac grabs his own, and she pulls her own out closing it behind her.

She leads the way up to, essentially what feels like a foreboding castle, but she knows good is done here. The drive was beautiful and in some ways that's definitely enough, but she can't help feel her witchy tingle.

She does glance back at Isaac, remembering their time in the fort. She vows to keep him from enclosed spaces. No closets, no small bedrooms, she will go to the wine cellar if there's a wine cellar.

They got this.

And then the door opens. And Dawn is prettier in person, and somehow Bonnie just gets her, her air, her welcome quality. Also, something inherently clicks as a witch (20) and she sees just how powerful Dawn is. But she can't put a finger as to what that might mean. )

Happy Thanksgiving! Isaac and Danny, this is Dawn Summers. Buffy's sister and Jeremy's girlfriend.

[ooglyboogleys]

Yes, I am. And you're Bonnie. Nice to put a name to an in-person face.

[Dawn isn't powerful. She is a powerful thing, but she's not powerful in her own right. She and Bonnie can chat about it later, but not when she's greeting people at the door.]

Welcome to our Scottish Thanksgiving.

[Isaac and Danny come up with walk behind her, offering a small nod in return.]

[moralitypolice]

Likewise.

( Bonnie wouldn't dream. It's not her place. She was an anchor once upon a time. And then the vessel for killing all vampires. There are things she doesn't discuss. )

Thank ( Buffy for accepting the idea ) you for inviting us. Believe it or not, this is my first true castle.

[ooglyboogleys]

It was mine too. When my sister told me we were coming here from Cleveland, I honestly wanted to know how much the Watchers were hiding from us.

[Because seriously, why were Watchers hoarding castles while their Slayer was in danger of losing their house?]

Turns out, it was a lot.

[moralitypolice]

The watchers - and slayers, right?

( She doesn't know everything about being a slayer, but there are a few things out there in the public. Including a very short-term stint being classified as terrorists that was quickly rescinded. )

[ooglyboogleys]

The Watcher's Council was essentially the Slayer tracking and training program. They mostly hung back and observed in their original incarnation, but all those assholes got blown up a long time ago, so we've done a lot to reform the program. Especially since there are so many more Slayers now.

[They needed a much more manageable system, not a bunch of white old men exploiting their labor.]

[moralitypolice]

Something more... matriarchal?

( She did know watchers were predominantly male, stuffy, and British.

While she speaks and follows Dawn in, she turns back to the boys. )

A spell was done and in an instant, every potential slayer became a slayer in their own right. The original deal meant one slayer died, another one was called. Buffy changed all that.

[ooglyboogleys]

Yeah, she did. And ... there were some mixed opinions on it. But it did help us save the world, so sometimes you do what you have to do.

[She leads them further in, before brightening as another Slayer appears, Lindsay coming down the stairs.]

Speaking of people who helped us save the world.

["Hi, Dawn. And it's Bonnie, Isaac and Danny, right?" Lindsay met them very briefly when they spent some time in Mystic Falls, but emphasis on the very brief. Fortunately, she's always been good with names, at least.]

[moralitypolice]

Sometimes you do.

( Bonnie waves, giving her a smile, also introducing her, too. )

Lindsey, former Mystic Falls sheriff.

[patrols]

That's me. Happy Thanksgiving.

[She's ready to eat some turkey.]

Any sign of Damon and his antebellum friends?

["Not yet. But if you wouldn't mind manning the door while I get these guys settled?"

Lindsay nods.]

Sure, no problem.

[moralitypolice]

Antebellum friends? Damon invited -- racist friends?

( Because, that's ... just all she hears. )

Do they live on a plantation? Of course, Damon has friends that live on a plantation. Wait, Scottish plantation?

[patrols]

They ... well, I don't think Rhett ever owned a plantation. Though maybe he technically married into one.

[It's a pretty big technicality though.]

But in their defense, they were turned during Civil War Reconstruction. And I don't believe they're still racist.

[moralitypolice]

Rhett.

( No. No. Shut. Up. Not possible, though. Is it? Damon knows -- aren't they fictional? She's seen that movie more times than she can count thanks to growing up in Mystic Falls. )

As in, Rhett Butler?

[patrols]

Yep.

[Lindsay does enjoy sharing this part of the story.]

Scarlett is a lot. Melanie's pretty nice though. She and Damon have been doing this weird old people flirting thing.

[moralitypolice]

Old people flirting thing? I have only ever seen Damon shamelessly flirt. Please, later, let me know what old people flirting looks like and please let me see it in person today.

( She lets Lindsey man the door as Dawn continues the -- tour? )

Have you met Scarlett and Rhett and Melanie?

[ooglyboogleys]

["Trust me, you'll know it when you see it."]

I have not, but I have heard about them.

[She's very curious though and looking forward to the adventure.]

Apparently they've gone on a few adventures with Buffy in the Scottish countryside.

[moralitypolice]

I can't wait to hear all about them. Or, to meet them. Or, both.

( Really, she's in for both. She looks back at Isaac and Danny, who she assumes may not know Gone With the Wind. )

[notwitty]

[Yeah, this is all going over Danny's head. He's too young and too British for this.

Isaac, however, is connecting some of the dots. He is confused, but he assumes Bonnie will explain later. He does know enough to go:]

Has Caroline met them yet?

[moralitypolice]

I don't think so? But, this is the first I'm hearing of them. So. Maybe passing through? I'm out of the loop unless the girls want me in.

( Or, think they should be in it. )

For a long time, I liked it that way. I lost a lot in Mystic Falls. Escaping - I promised someone I would take my life into my own hands and that's what I did. I don't regret it. Even if meeting Rhett and Scarlett O'Hara would've been... I don't even know.

( She glances back at Danny. )

Gone With the Wind?

[notwitty]

["Oh. I fell asleep halfway through that one."

In his defense, it is a very long film. Isaac smirks, before shaking his head.]

Depending how recently they came back into Damon's life, this could all be new. Maybe you beat them to the punch.

[moralitypolice]

Maybe. You'd think Damon would mention his Antebellum friends.

( She shrugs, stretching her shoulder. )

Is there time for a nap before dinner, Dawn?

( She just needs a little sit-down. Even a lie-down. )

[ooglyboogleys]

Totally. I think Buffy's shooting for mid-afternoon, and we're still missing a good chunk of guests. Please relax.

[She's sure Stefan would like to see her, but he's busy cooking so it can probably wait.]

[moralitypolice]

Than that's what we'll do. Let us know if we can be of any help.

( Danny gets his own private room, while Bonnie and Isaac are given one of the suites.

Stefan is helping Buffy with the Thanksgiving preparation in the kitchen, Faith is finishing a smoke out on the terrace, and Rhett pulls up behind another... - is that a rental car or a car service? Rhett is driving his own, he always liked the Scottish highlands, so a convertible rental is a must.

"That could be our Wesley." he asks, coming to a stop a few feet away and putting the car in park. He lifts his sunglasses.

Damon steps out of the car and holds a hand out for Melanie, like a gentleman. )

[mojitos]

[Melanie takes his hand, following his lead with a smile and climbing out of the car before looking at the young man emerging from the car ahead of him. "It is. Hello, Wes."

Wes smiles, barely giving Damon a second glance.]

Hello, Melanie. Happy Thanksgiving. It's good to see you.