i'm leaving you my last curse

[bravebartender]

Comments

[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. )

[mojitos]

She's doing well. I think she's happy to be back with her family again, and it's honestly a miracle that she's hasn't punched a member of the paparazzi in the face yet.

[He's actually rather impressed given some of the things they say about her.]

[attainathons]

As far as I've seen, paparazzi haven't gotten close enough, but my People magazine days are behind me. ...Reading, not being on the cover. That's more Mia's thing.

( She smiles, though. )

I'm happy for her, though.

( Mia missed her family and Buffy could see it, but Mia was on her own journey. )

[mojitos]

[Wes nods.]

She had nothing but glowing things to say about you, though, which made this both exciting and intimidating, given ...

[Well, the vampire of it all.]

[attainathons]

Relax. You're a friend of Mia's and we have all evolved past the, all vampires and demons are evil stance. Like, thirty years ago. You're fine.

( She tries to give him an encouraging hand squeeze. )

Promise me you'll do the relaxing thing. And not worry about the givens, OK?

[mojitos]

Promise. Is there anything I can help with?

[Scarlett trained him well in terms of being a house guest. Always offer to help, and if they say no, offer to do dishes after.]

[attainathons]

Stefan, Will, and I have it covered. But, thank you for the offer. ( which brings her to. ) You don't really give off the Butler quality, you know that?

[mojitos]

Well, one, I'm originally from New Jersey.

[And that is a very different upbringing from the deep antebellum south.]

And they did adopt me when I was fully grown.

[attainathons]

Right. Of course. You're adopted. Not - I mean - were you sired - ?

( Can you ask a vampire if they were sired by their parents? Where's the line? She's just trying to be friendly. )

Not my business, and either way, it's good to have you here. I like your parents, they're real - spirited.

[mojitos]

That they are. And if it helps, they're not my sire, but they're the sires who stepped up.

[He tosses Scarlett a wink as she passes him to make her way to the balcony and she rolls her eyes playfully. "Unfortunately, we could do nothing for his sense of humor," she teases, though she knows Buffy will likely appreciate the pun of sorts.]

[attainathons]

Well, I'm sure he got the best parts of both of you.

( In the raising. )

Please let me or anyone know if you need anything before dinner. There are drinks in the dining room. And by the balcony doors. And the living room.

( Because, party! )

[prettyclothes]

[Having libations abound is the proper choice for this party set, so Buffy certainly did well. Scarlett takes that cue and pours herself a healthy glass of whisky before stepping out into the fresh air.]

I have to say, Buffy, this view is simply divine. Probably the prettiest place we've seen in all of Scotland.

[Which coming from Scarlett is high praise, because she is not a great lover of Scotland.]

[attainathons]

Yeah, there's not much that beats it. I mean we have the tower and the turrets, but this really takes the cake and the rest of the dessert. I wish I had more time to just.

( Take it all in.

Rhett approaches the edge of the balcony, peering over.

"Nasty fall, if it comes to that," he says, bringing down the
cheer only slightly. )

[prettyclothes]

[Scarlett gives Rhett a gentle swat before turning her attention back to the Slayer at hand.]

This is quite the operation you're running. But with all the Slayers are your disposal, surely you have more time for rest than you used to.

[Bold of Scarlett to assume that Buffy knows how to slow down the way Scarlett was taught in her southern upbringing.]

[attainathons]

Gee. Rest. It's a quaint idea I faintly remember having, but, like it or not, there's always something slayer-y that needs - well, slaying.

( or her expertise. )

Traveling comes with the slaying territory now. Ooh, I do rest on the plane. That counts, right?

[prettyclothes]

[That absolutely does not count, and Scarlett's ire turns from her partner to Buffy's.]

To me, that says that your beau clearly is not making enough of an effort to provide you opportunities of rest and relaxation.

["I try, Scarlett," Stefan replies dryly. "Last time I tried, a hunter tried to kill me on my way into town, and things spiraled from there."

Scarlett takes another sip of her whisky before shrugging.]

That simply sounds like poor planning.

[unforgivably]

( Damon finds the balcony next, chiming in. )

She's right, Stefan. How could you so poorly plan your surprise assault by a gas station in the middle of the day? Everyone. Buffy.

[prettyclothes]

All I'm saying if supernatural problems are anticipated, plan for supernatural solutions.

[Stefan shakes his head with a smirk. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind for next time."]

Good, see that you do.

[unforgivably]

Scarlett, always coming in with the best solutions.

( Or, the unrealistic ones. Either way. Same thing? Damon settles by Rhett, leaning against the edge, giving his son a wide berth.

Buffy exchanges a glance with Stefan.

"What's our Thanksgiving treats ETA?" )

[somanyadjectives]

Not much longer.

[He moves to check the turkey, before glancing at his watch.]

Turkey needs another twenty to thirty minutes, so we can start putting out the h'orderves?

[attainathons]

I am h'orderves girl.

( And he gets a kiss to the cheek while she retreats back inside and does what she can do! Which is bring put the appetizers and place them on the table.

It's been a long time since she made her own Thanksgiving meal back in Sunnydale. )

[indurare]

[As the food comes out and more of the party gathers in the dining room, Melanie slowly begins to take stock of all of the guests she hasn't met yet. There aren't many, given the intimate nature of the dinner itself, but there is someone she has been meaning to make the acquaintance of, given how Damon tends to speak of her.

It strikes her how much she looks like Emily. That probably isn't what she should open with.]

Now, if I am not mistaken, I believe you are the lovely Miss Bennet.

[She shifts her drink to her other hand before holding her free hand out to her.]

Melanie Hamilton. A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.