Every squad gets a Watcher. Fortunately, Watchers lend themselves to being academics, so if they're not a student, they get themselves hired as an adjunct or a professor. Or an administrator.
[They're very good at blending in when they have to.]
It used to be every Slayer gets a Watcher, but there are too many of them now. Though some of them are lucky enough to marry their own personal Watcher. Which!
[She turns to Jeremy.]
We'll have a wedding to go to soon. It's not new news, Beck proposed months ago, but I heard a vicious rumor that we may be getting actual invitations soon.
( A watcher JR, Dawn calls them. Sometimes it's more undercover work. Fake distant family. My cousin is the professor of this.
"So they're not like priests," Grayson says to himself. )
No. They can have sex. And get married. It's like a trainer, not a --. ( whatever you'd call your religious confidant. to Dawn. ) I won't hold my breath a slayer-watcher wedding won't end in some kind of ( right, mixed company. dad. ) I mean, I like weddings.
I mean, you're not wrong. Wear something nice, but easy to move in and/or conceal weapons. But! I should be cast free by then, so also bring your dancing shoes.
[She flashes him a grin as Miranda comes around the corner, finally free of the dishes.
[There will be one (1) obligatory dance with your girlfriend, Jeremy. If you really don't want to, she'll pick something slow.]
She's relocated now, though. Her husband-to-be was recently tapped to be the leader of the human faction in New Orleans.
[Miranda nods slowly as she moves to sit next to her husband. "There are factions in New Orleans?"]
Yes. A representative from each of the major ... species, as it were. Witches, vampires, werewolves and humans. They work together in order to try and keep it peaceful, and not having lots of murder all the time, which was a problem for them in the past.
( Dawn can get him to do anything. He's just giving her a hard time. He does like slow dances. And dance-dances. He just doesn't often. He remembers decade dances, okay? )
A big problem. For a time, there was a vampire king, and the witch's quarter and then a crime family of wolves. And bayou wolves. Back when Klaus first moved to New Orleans, there was a lot of unrest.
["And Klaus being Klaus made things worse before they got better." Elena also remembers the early days of Klaus' return to New Orleans, and it was messy.]
But they're a lot better now. The Mikaelsons are way less hands on, and the individual factions coexist really well together. They're probably the biggest proof that we actually can all live together in peace and harmony if people actually want to.
[Miranda raises an eyebrow. "But I'm guessing that in most instances, people don't?"]
People like power, no matter what flavor of the supernatural they take.
[Miranda is still having a hard time with it, but she's trying not to take it out on everyone around her. If she had her way, no member of her family would have to deal with vampires or anyone else supernatural ever again. But her children do not have the same feelings and she's just trying not to feel smothered trapped in the bunker.]
[There's a small look at Jeremy at that, because how can she not be? She's trapped in a supernatural bunker, and her children are invested in this world, either via their partners or what they are or both. She'll never be completely free of it, no matter how hard she tries.
But she doesn't say any of that. Instead she turns back to Dawn.]
So. Dawn. How long are you planning to stay?
["Oh. Uh, at least through Christmas. For New Year's, I think we're going to Mystic Falls ...?"
"I'm working on nailing down a location," Elena replies. "But probably not here, no. Somewhere closer to everyone else."
"Yes, so, meeting all of Jeremy's other friends for New Year's but my sister is considering coming for Christmas, which is exciting, because she hasn't met this one yet." She pats Jeremy's arm gently. "We're just figuring out if she's going to bring her partner or not."
Elena's brow furrows because why wouldn't she, then oh right. Miranda misses the faces her daughter is making, however and just asks the question instead:]
Why wouldn't she bring her partner?
[Dawn glances from Jeremy to Elena because this is not going to avoid the topic that Miranda changed the subject to avoid, but she doesn't feel good about lying so: "Her partner is Stefan Salvatore."
Miranda's back straightens, before giving a small nod.]
( Jeremy would argue both of their children can't help what they are. And as far as his parents know, him being a hunter's a choice and not some coincidental birthright that got real awkward for a while.
Grayson is too far away from his wife, on the other side of the table to ground her. To leave her a light touch on her shoulder or slip his hand into hers.
This fight shouldn't be in front of Dawn, but he sees it boiling. And then it feels like his wife's frustration fizzles in his mind because all he can come up with is conclusion. Like, how small the world must be. How is that possible? )
Your girlfriend's sister is dating Elena's ex-boyfriend? That Stefan Salvatore. The only Stefan Salvatore we've heard about. ( Grayson thought he and Elena were on good terms. ) Is that a Winchester rule, because Caroline and Ryan were here.
Yep. It's a truly small world and we had a big laugh about it when we figured it out.
[Or at least Buffy and Dawn did. She can't say the same for their boyfriends.]
And we don't know. Neither of them have been here before and Caroline and Ryan might be a different circumstance than ... Stefan Salvatore and his considerable reputation.
["It is getting a little crowded down here," Elena replies gently. Not saying one way or another on whether or not she trusts Stefan - of course she trusts Stefan - but maybe it would be best if they weren't all sleeping under one roof. "It might be better if they stay in a hotel."]
( Grayson mouths to his daughter, Considerable reputation? before shrugging altogether. How are they supposed to take this. )
I don't think having any more people here would make much of a difference. They have the room.
( Don't make this about your parents. Do what you want. And if his considerable reputation hinders that, then that's the Winchester's call.
"It's not our place. They're being kind, yeah, and they have a reputation for it. But we're all lucky we can be here. It's their call if Stefan or Buffy or anyone stays here," Jeremy says a little fed up with this line of questioning. "And Stefan's a good guy. We've all done questionable things. And worse. It's what he's doing now that matters. He and Buffy make each other happy."
Grayson pulls a face at that because he and his wife know it's not their place. Their place burned down. And nobody's there anymore. )
If he and Buffy make each other happy and he's doing better than why should Dean or Sam or your mother or me care if he moves into the Winchester hotel?
[Elena isn't ashamed of Stefan, exactly, but he is still Stefan and whether or not the Winchesters want to invite him in is their business. Hopefully Stefan's never going to flip his switch again.
But unfortunately for Sam, she's going to deflect onto the nearest Winchester available as he comes around the corner: "Maybe we should just ask Sam."
Sam blinks, drawing to a stop as he looks over the group.]
( Jeremy tries to deflect, skip right over that he was the topic of conversation, but his parents are there and Grayson looks up.
"If Stefan Salvatore and my son's girlfriend's sister can stay here when they visit. I think for the holidays, but the date's haven't yet been determined.")
[Sam's eyes flit between the two younger Gilberts and Dawn and he hesitates, though it's likely not for the reason the two elder Gilberts will read into it. It's not as though the Winchesters are big Christmas people, but Mary will probably be back from Battlecreek for the holidays - she likes Christmas, and he's trying for his mom.
So them plus the Gilberts, plus Dawn, plus whoever else might happen to stumble in is a lot of people and Elena can see the very tall introvert trying to navigate what the right answer to this question is.
He's still trying to get used to having all these people in their space on a regular basis. Spend fifteen years on the road with just your brother and you lose your tolerance for living on top of people.
Elena smirks. "It's your house. You are allowed to say no, Sam."
He flashes her a grateful look.]
It's not that we don't trust Stefan. It's just that it's a lot of people. We'll see when they get here? It's probably not going to be hard to book a hotel room if they have to.
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[They're very good at blending in when they have to.]
It used to be every Slayer gets a Watcher, but there are too many of them now. Though some of them are lucky enough to marry their own personal Watcher. Which!
[She turns to Jeremy.]
We'll have a wedding to go to soon. It's not new news, Beck proposed months ago, but I heard a vicious rumor that we may be getting actual invitations soon.
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( A watcher JR, Dawn calls them. Sometimes it's more undercover work. Fake distant family. My cousin is the professor of this.
"So they're not like priests," Grayson says to himself. )
No. They can have sex. And get married. It's like a trainer, not a --. ( whatever you'd call your religious confidant. to Dawn. ) I won't hold my breath a slayer-watcher wedding won't end in some kind of ( right, mixed company. dad. ) I mean, I like weddings.
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[She flashes him a grin as Miranda comes around the corner, finally free of the dishes.
"Who's dancing?"]
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( Jeremy? Dance? )
Not me, maybe Dawn. A friend of ours is getting married. Lindsay, she was the sheriff of Mystic Falls for a while.
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She's relocated now, though. Her husband-to-be was recently tapped to be the leader of the human faction in New Orleans.
[Miranda nods slowly as she moves to sit next to her husband. "There are factions in New Orleans?"]
Yes. A representative from each of the major ... species, as it were. Witches, vampires, werewolves and humans. They work together in order to try and keep it peaceful, and not having lots of murder all the time, which was a problem for them in the past.
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A big problem. For a time, there was a vampire king, and the witch's quarter and then a crime family of wolves. And bayou wolves. Back when Klaus first moved to New Orleans, there was a lot of unrest.
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But they're a lot better now. The Mikaelsons are way less hands on, and the individual factions coexist really well together. They're probably the biggest proof that we actually can all live together in peace and harmony if people actually want to.
[Miranda raises an eyebrow. "But I'm guessing that in most instances, people don't?"]
People like power, no matter what flavor of the supernatural they take.
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( It's a real fucking sad thing, actually. )
Some have taken point at reeducating the ones in the wrong. Or, outright excommunicating them altogether. With great power and all that.
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[She pauses, before making a face.]
Probably because we can be "soft" in some areas, but a lot of them don't want to believe that there are tiers to these things.
[Miranda makes a face also, because she is one of those people having trouble. "It's hard to, when you see how much harm they can do."]
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( Just ask Anna. Or her mother, Pearl. Or, Caroline every time she was kidnapped and tortured. )
It gets easier to see.
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[Miranda is still having a hard time with it, but she's trying not to take it out on everyone around her. If she had her way, no member of her family would have to deal with vampires or anyone else supernatural ever again. But her children do not have the same feelings and she's just trying not to feel smothered trapped in the bunker.]
I would personally rather stay out of it.
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( Even though she is. Even though the supernatural brought her back. Even though she can't escape it, not how her son and daughter live their lives. )
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But she doesn't say any of that. Instead she turns back to Dawn.]
So. Dawn. How long are you planning to stay?
["Oh. Uh, at least through Christmas. For New Year's, I think we're going to Mystic Falls ...?"
"I'm working on nailing down a location," Elena replies. "But probably not here, no. Somewhere closer to everyone else."
"Yes, so, meeting all of Jeremy's other friends for New Year's but my sister is considering coming for Christmas, which is exciting, because she hasn't met this one yet." She pats Jeremy's arm gently. "We're just figuring out if she's going to bring her partner or not."
Elena's brow furrows because why wouldn't she, then oh right. Miranda misses the faces her daughter is making, however and just asks the question instead:]
Why wouldn't she bring her partner?
[Dawn glances from Jeremy to Elena because this is not going to avoid the topic that Miranda changed the subject to avoid, but she doesn't feel good about lying so: "Her partner is Stefan Salvatore."
Miranda's back straightens, before giving a small nod.]
Oh. Of course.
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Grayson is too far away from his wife, on the other side of the table to ground her. To leave her a light touch on her shoulder or slip his hand into hers.
This fight shouldn't be in front of Dawn, but he sees it boiling. And then it feels like his wife's frustration fizzles in his mind because all he can come up with is conclusion. Like, how small the world must be. How is that possible? )
Your girlfriend's sister is dating Elena's ex-boyfriend? That Stefan Salvatore. The only Stefan Salvatore we've heard about. ( Grayson thought he and Elena were on good terms. ) Is that a Winchester rule, because Caroline and Ryan were here.
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[Or at least Buffy and Dawn did. She can't say the same for their boyfriends.]
And we don't know. Neither of them have been here before and Caroline and Ryan might be a different circumstance than ... Stefan Salvatore and his considerable reputation.
["It is getting a little crowded down here," Elena replies gently. Not saying one way or another on whether or not she trusts Stefan - of course she trusts Stefan - but maybe it would be best if they weren't all sleeping under one roof. "It might be better if they stay in a hotel."]
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I don't think having any more people here would make much of a difference. They have the room.
( Don't make this about your parents. Do what you want. And if his considerable reputation hinders that, then that's the Winchester's call.
"It's not our place. They're being kind, yeah, and they have a reputation for it. But we're all lucky we can be here. It's their call if Stefan or Buffy or anyone stays here," Jeremy says a little fed up with this line of questioning. "And Stefan's a good guy. We've all done questionable things. And worse. It's what he's doing now that matters. He and Buffy make each other happy."
Grayson pulls a face at that because he and his wife know it's not their place. Their place burned down. And nobody's there anymore. )
If he and Buffy make each other happy and he's doing better than why should Dean or Sam or your mother or me care if he moves into the Winchester hotel?
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But unfortunately for Sam, she's going to deflect onto the nearest Winchester available as he comes around the corner: "Maybe we should just ask Sam."
Sam blinks, drawing to a stop as he looks over the group.]
Ask Sam what?
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( Jeremy tries to deflect, skip right over that he was the topic of conversation, but his parents are there and Grayson looks up.
"If Stefan Salvatore and my son's girlfriend's sister can stay here when they visit. I think for the holidays, but the date's haven't yet been determined." )
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[Sam's eyes flit between the two younger Gilberts and Dawn and he hesitates, though it's likely not for the reason the two elder Gilberts will read into it. It's not as though the Winchesters are big Christmas people, but Mary will probably be back from Battlecreek for the holidays - she likes Christmas, and he's trying for his mom.
So them plus the Gilberts, plus Dawn, plus whoever else might happen to stumble in is a lot of people and Elena can see the very tall introvert trying to navigate what the right answer to this question is.
He's still trying to get used to having all these people in their space on a regular basis. Spend fifteen years on the road with just your brother and you lose your tolerance for living on top of people.
Elena smirks. "It's your house. You are allowed to say no, Sam."
He flashes her a grateful look.]
It's not that we don't trust Stefan. It's just that it's a lot of people. We'll see when they get here? It's probably not going to be hard to book a hotel room if they have to.
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( And, speaking of, maybe it's time to let this all go. )
I'm gonna get Dawn unpacked and we'll see everyone for dinner?
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Yes. That sounds like an excellent plan. After which I will hobble off into the library and investigate the books.
[And Jeremy may ... loose his girlfriend to the books for a while, but it's okay. They have a long vacation together.]