everyonelives | i'm leaving you my last curse

It's easy. He talks. Asks questions. Gives me the space I need when you and me get punch-happy. ( He's an honorary slayer at this point. ) Still taking things slow, but, for everything that counts, it's good I haven't had in a long time.

( So, there's that. )

And I thought maybe seeing Lucas. Cooper again. It might -- ( Stir something up? ) It was just good to see him alive. Weird. Coming from the vampire. But. Good.

[She nods, because she gets that. She worried about how it would feel seeing JJ again when she returned - and she's also was concerned about seeing Connor, given the other life she remembered. JJ went worse than expected, but no old feelings surfaced in the process.

Connor's more complicated, because as much as her feelings are still a complicated knot, he doesn't look at her in the same way. He's not the same Connor. How is she supposed to handle that?

Still, this isn't about her.]

Sometimes it's good to get closure, one way or another.

We're all one big incestuous ball, I don't see closure happening any time soon. I also don't need it. When Cooper called to clear the air, to apologize, I didn't need it. Felt good to hear. I deserved to know about Lucas, but - I didn't need it.

( Even though their lives continue to enmesh. )

How about you. It's not only Scotland keeping you out here, is it?

Oh, just the eternal disappointment of breaking up the relationship your parents had been rooting for since you were children. Lyla and Dig's disappointed faces are loud, even if they're not saying it.

[She's also willing to bet that Lyla always knew where she was because ARGUS, and that's a can of worms she doesn't want to open.]

I should probably get back in there. Plus I have a message for William from Isaac.

( "We're young," he says, reassuring her. She may feel like they're boring holes into her skull. And they might be. But, they will get over it. JJ hasn't attempted anything since they came back together.

Parents get over it.

"Right behind you," he says, picking the carton back up and following her inside.

William's in the kitchen drinking a glass of sparkling and holding court with his boyfriend, his father, and mother. )

["There she is," Laurel says with a small smile, giving Mia's shoulder a squeeze. "Is the bad news slowing down?"

Mia nods as she glances over to her with a smile.]

More or less.

[She then looks to her brother.]

Also I heard from Isaac and he wanted to ask you for a new phone because his is at the bottom of a lake.

I've lost count of how many phones Isaac has lost me. I'm making this one an obnoxious color. I may even have it bedazzled. Or bejeweled.

( He won't, there is nothing stealthy about sparkle. )

Tell me when he intends to be in one place for more then a week and I'll arrange another.

He said that he, Danny and Bonnie were heading back to London in a couple days, so you can probably send it to the coven.

[It makes Isaac easy to find, and if nothing else they can hold onto it for him until he gets there.]

Rhinestones are in for phones.

Then he will be a rhinestone werewolf cowboy.

( This one will probably break, too. )

You didn't know, but I became a Radio Shack while you weren't looking.

There are worse things to be.

[Radio Shack, once upon a time, was a much needed institution.]

Why are you this guy's personal phone broker?

I'm the guy behind the screens, which means when it involves Isaac, or Cooper or Mia in the field, I'm on the other end of the earpiece. Which means if something happens to said earpiece or say a seventh phone, I have to replace it. Or, at least facilitate replacing it.

( Herego the rhinestone werewolf cowboy. )

Unfortunately, that is a side effect of being in the field.

[At least as far as Laurel is concerned.]

I've blown out a lot of phones just through sonic scream alone.

And I've shorted my fair share.

( Of earpieces. )

Who's footing the bill for all these replaced electronics?

( "Argent Arms International," William answers. "They're an international business, and yes, they do pay me." )

I didn't ask.

( "No, you're just hoping I don't use any of my money to -" )

I didn't say that.

( William sets his glass down on the counter.

"Even if I did, it would be going to a good cause. The supernatural is in danger. The slayers in Scotland almost lost everyone today. And if I could throw money at it - invest it - I still might." )

I just want you to think before you make any big decisions. Who's running your company you built from the ground up while you were away?

Zari and Behrad.

[Mia is happy to supply the information, because she and Zari recently chatted at STAR Labs.]

They trade off depending on who's doing time on the Waverider.

( Not that he has a horse in this race, but he knows something about hard-ass fathers. And from everything he's seen of William, he sees decency. So, he makes some commentary. )

Sounds like he covered his bases.

( Don't mind if he sets his open carton of beer on the counter and sips from the one in his hand. )

He did.

[Laurel holds up her hands, almost as though to say she's not taking part in her husband's parental judgement. "I think it sounds like he's doing a good thing. Especially if this is what Mia is tied up in now."

Mia's face flickers before nodding.]

At least he had a choice. And gets paid.

You ask Allison for pay?

( "It's - different," William explains. Though, it's not out of the realm of possibility. Slayers go out on their own after training. Find their lives. There was, apparently, a private contracting company using them at one point, though Mia would hear that failed.

"But, I could ask, if she joined full-time." )

If I wanted to get paid, there's a Slayer organization I could join. And I don't need to be paid.

[She throws a smile Oliver's way.]

Thanks, Dad.

[Laurel smirked. "I'm not sure this is what Moira envisioned your trust fund being used for."]

( "Nor me, but I guess I set the example," Oliver says, lips drawing into a thin line.

Mickey claps a hand on Mia's back, still on her team. )

Star City's been treating Mia well. You raised a good roommate.

Thanks, roomie.

[Who knew back in London that she'd wind up getting a good friend out of the deal? That being said, there's something else she should probably tell her family while they're here:]

Speaking of work, though, I need to go to Mississippi for a couple days.

( Not Mickey, his life took a completely different trajectory, for sure. )

You keep me sane on my more restless nights. Still drinks me under the table.

( "Alright, Mickey," William says, laughing, changing the subject.

And then Mia does it for the both of them.

"Mississippi?," he then asks. )

You get to go on the Riverboat?

( "I'll probably regret asking, but, Riverboat," her father asks. )

The Riverboat is run by the vampire conglomerate that decided it was a good idea to blow up the Slayer HQ in Scotland and kill a lot of my friends.

[To be clear it is very personal, and she will be making it personal for them in return.]

Buffy says she knows a guy with a plan, so I'm going to go help.

( "When do we leave?" William asks, without consulting his boyfriend, or letting his father and stepmother even know he's volunteering himself. Because she is going, than so is her brother. He can help, especially if a team is involved. He knows what she lost.

"Hold on," Oliver says. "This is coming together fast. Do you know the guy with a plan? Do you know the plan?" )

In his defense, not knowing the guy with the plan got me where I am now.

I do not know the guy with the plan but I do know parts of the plan. Wes' mom is going to get us on the boat, we're going to kill all the vampires who aren't our friends, and then we're getting off the boat.

[The details in between she doesn't have yet, but she's sure she'll get them when she gets to Mississippi.

Then she turns back to her brother.]

You don't have to come. I'll be back by the end of the weekend.

( Off Oliver's, probably Laurel's faces. )

Wes. My boyfriend.

( A beat. )

His mom is Scarlett O'Hara. It's - yeah, it's a whole thing.

( Super pointed, long sip.

"Okay. I know I don't have to. But I want to. Better?" William asks, the silence drawing out. )

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