i'm leaving you my last curse

[bravebartender]

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[unforgivably]

( Damon holds a hand over his eyes to miss the glare of the sub=n while the beanie-baby greets the woman he's courting. He doesn't need to make any kind of impression. He's never been anyone's favorite person, even when he is. He's used to being the ignored punching bag. It's fine.

Rhett leans in to his beauty.

"Just look at our progeny. Perhaps the Northwest gloom is doing him some good." )

[mojitos]

["I wish it would do something for his fashion's sense but I suppose that's what's in over there."

Scarlett judges with love, Wes knows this by now. He's still greeted by her blinding smile as she climbs out of the car to greet him. "There you are."

His smile widens as he wraps his arms around her.]

Hi, Scarlett.

["Did you have a good flight?"]

I did. This is certainly fancier than our previous Thanksgivings.

[persistingly]

He's comfortable and cleans up when he's meant to. Let him be, Scarlett.

( Rhett waits for his own handshake but pulls him in for a stern one armed hug. )

Only the best for our Westley.

( Rhett leans back. )

You remember Damon.

[mojitos]

I do.

[Unfortunately. Don't worry, Damon, he's probably going to be just as cool with Stefan. He flashes the other man a small, polite smile.]

Nice to see you again, Damon.

[persistingly]

( "You, too. Really putting the hip back in hipster," Damon says with a smile.

Rhett steps away and back. )

Honestly, Damon. Scarlett. Maybe we get away one weekend without commentary on fashion.

[mojitos]

[Scarlett waves a hand. "I'm just saying, it's very Bohemian."

Wes laughs.]

It's okay, Mom. I like Bohemian. But I did try my best to match.

[It is a little more upscale than your usual Boho style, even if he is wearing a beanie and a beaded bracelet. There is a button down and slacks under his peacoat. Scarlett smiles, giving his hand a squeeze as she pulls him close.

"I appreciate the effort."]

[persistingly]

( "It's not black tie Thanksgiving, I think everyone will meet the dress code," Damon confirms, moving things along.

Rhett turns to Scarlett, always the man not paying attention. Maybe she mentioned it, maybe not. )

Are we to be staying the weekend or will we be returning to the village?

[prettyclothes]

I think that's up to Buffy.

[The answer, in fact, will be no as there will be nowhere to stay, but they don't know that yet.]

Perhaps it's best if we don't wear out our welcome in the castle full of vampire Slayers.

[persistingly]

Perhaps, indeed. Westley, Melanie and we both have room for you in our suites.

( Or, they can get you your own room! Either or. )

You're gonna love Buffy. She's a kick.

[prettyclothes]

["I've heard very interesting things from my boyfriend's roommate."

Scarlett tips her head to the side curiously. Boyfriend. She will make a note of that. But the roommate seems more interesting.]

His roommate is familiar with Buffy?

["His roommate is a Slayer, actually. So yes."]

Playing with fire, I see.

["He's also a vampire, so I think if she took issue with us, I wouldn't have a boyfriend in the first place." At least not this boyfriend.]

[persistingly]

Boyfriend?

( Scarlett may tip, but Rhett fully jumps in. There is not just a note. This is a notepad. )

Well, now, I thought we were eclipsing the new frontier, apparently, we once again, darling, are just "in fashion." Let's get back to this boyfriend.

[mojitos]

Not much to get back to. It's still new.

[And it's more that he doesn't want to get into it in front of Damon. But predictably, Scarlett doesn't let it go quite so easily. "Can we at least have a name for this mysterious gentleman caller?"

Wes keeps his eyes straight ahead on the castle before nodding.]

His name's Mickey. He recently moved to Star City.

[persistingly]

( Yes, let them live their Tennessee William fantasy for you!

Damon's head whips around.

"Also known as Gatsby," he says, holding a finger up. "Right? It's a small world after all." )

Why on Earth are you bringing F. Scott Fitzgerald into this?

[mojitos]

Because Damon is the one who turned him.

["What a small world after all," Scarlett smiles, before Wes' tone catches up with her. "But you don't make that sound like a good thing."

Wes shakes his head.]

I don't think now is the time.

[persistingly]

We will get to the bottom of this.

( There it is, he's the villain in someone's story once again.

Damon could antagonize him, but he doesn't feel like it. He turned him. And somehow, the him he turned ends up in Seattle. Sometimes he feels like his life is just being written...

Damon gestures, letting the family take the lead to the door before falling in step with Melanie.

"Here I thought the only resentment I'd encounter this weekend is my brothers." )

[indurare]

[Melanie takes his arm, before giving a small shrug.]

You and Stefan aren't too resentful these days. And Wes doesn't seem to want to get into it, so as long as you respect that, you should be fine. He's not one to pick fights when in mixed company.

[unforgivably]

Who picks fights? Me?

( He doesn't want to, no, and he would stand by his decision. He made it, after all.

Rhett takes his son's arm and walks them up to the giant front doors, flapping the large knocker. )

[patrols]

[Melanie casts him a fond look, before the door opens and Lindsay appears on the other side.]

Were your ears burning? I was just talking about you.

[It was a good way, she promises.]

Come on in.

[unforgivably]

( "Lindsey, aren't you a sight for holiday eyes," Rhett says, his gentleman side peeking out.

Damon waves from behind them, bringing his hand up. His most recent best friend. A friendlier face. )

You upgraded from sheriff.

[patrols]

Oh, things may be getting even weirder for me, but for now I'm enjoying the castle life.

[She steps to the side as the vampire contingent makes their way in, and she frowns as her eyes land on Wesley.]

You're new.

[Wes smirks a bit. "Wes. I'm their son, visiting from the Pacific Northwest." He gestures between Scarlett and Rhett to indicate who's child he meant.]

[unforgivably]

Weirder than our sequel to The Hangover?

( But, he lets that pleasantry land before saying anything else.

"Ours," Rhett volunteers, as his arm is still intertwined with his son's. "Wes came into our life in the late eighties. One of the best things we've done."

When not crying and screaming and fighting. )

[patrols]

Well, it's nice to meet you, Wes. Welcome to Castle Slayer. I think you guys are the last to arrive, so we should be getting this party started soon. Bonnie, Isaac and Danny just beat you.

[But she will lead the way into the dining area, where the long table sits waiting for them to all settle down and enjoy their food.

She pauses to shout into the kitchen:]

Everyone's here!

[Stefan's voice follows: "Thank you, Lindsay."]

[persistingly]

Bonnie. It has been too long since we've sat down with a Bennett, hasn't it, Scarlett?

( He did like Bonnie, but he really, really liked Sheila.

"Just name-dropping Bennett's, now?" Damon asks.

Buffy comes out, drying her hands on a rag.

"More everyone for our everyone," she says. "You must be Westley," she says, introducing herself to their son. 'Son.' But, she knows all about quotation marks. It's the same. He's their son. )

[mojitos]

Wes, please. Thank you for having me.

[He flashes Buffy a smile before extending his hand, making his way closer.]

Mia sends her regards.

[attainathons]

( Her smile turns fond as she takes his hand in hers. Wes, it is. )

How is she doing, she's in Star City?

( Behind, Rhett takes Scarlett's coat for her as he admires the tablescape. )