[Simon follows Xander’s lead to the table. He’s been spending most of this wedding following Xander’s lead, as these are his friends, but he can’t help but worry if Xander has more reasons to be concerned than he original let on.
As such, he avoids the looks from the people who he does know are Xander’s people—Willow and Giles respectively—and turns instead to the well-dressed couple sitting next to them.]
Simon Torquill. A pleasure.
[“Scarlett O’Hara. My husband, Rhett.”
Simon blinks, before nodding.]
It’s so wonderful to know that after five hundred years and change, there are still things that can surprise you.
( Friends are a stretch, currently, but that is all his own doing. He doesn't want to make someone else's ceremony and happiness about him, but should he get the chance, he owes some apologies and already approached Dawn before the ceremony started.
Willow eyes him, warily, but then holds out a tray of bread. A peace offering? He smiles and takes his assigned seat. They fall into very tentative banter about bad bread the elementary school served.
Rhett will never not be amused when his wife introduces herself, smirking behind his glass of scotch. )
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that if the world isn't surprising you, you aren't looking hard enough. Rhett Butler.
( But he'd gathered that, hadn't he.
Giles keeps out of Willow and Xander's drama, nodding cordially to Angel and exchanging pleasantries with Clara and Lee. Angel leans down to make sure Fred is doing okay, but she's just happy to be a part of such a happy occasion. It's good for her to get out from behind her books and her labs. If she had a lab. She should work on getting a lab.
Spike eyes the Butlers from across the table. O'Hara? )
[Cordy also turns with a glance at that name, before promptly shoving her elbow into her boyfriend's ribs. You said you knew them, Angel. Time to introduce her.
Scarlett nods and tips her head to the side curiously as she studies the man in front of her. "Forgive me for saying, but five hundred years old and you don't feel like a vampire. Not that there aren't other immortals out there, but consider a girl curious. Which flavor are you?"
Simon raises an eyebrow curiously, before nodding because fair is in fact fair, and the ceremony made it clear that most people here are familiar enough with the supernatural.]
Faerie. Daione Sidhe to be specific, if you are familiar with the different kinds.
Rhett's (11) has him not familiar in the least with faerie or fae.
Angel straightens up, wincing from the elbow to the ribs.
"Rhett, Scarlett," he says. "Have you met my date, Cordelia?" Spike smirks over a sip from his beer. Willow is pointedly not asking about Xander's plus one because things are going smoothly, though their banter quiets as the table is brought into the conversation. )
[Despite her Irish heritage, Scarlett is also clueless (5). Probably she forgot any stories she heard in order to make room for new memories or much more relevant information.
She does have more questions, but fortunately she's distracted by Angel. She turns and flashes them both a smile.]
Oh how lovely. A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Cordelia.
["Pleasure is all mine, really. Big fan."]
You're too kind. And how have you been Angel? I feel as though it's been forever.
["Well, it is good to see you. And who knew we ran in such similar circles - though Lindsay and Beck are more recent friends." And more Rhett's friend than Scarlett's.
Simon glances over at the offering, before nodding and taking one of the pieces of bread with a small smile.]
It's Willow, isn't it? I've heard a great deal about you.
["Resurrections seem to be going around these days. My friend Melanie has run off with one of them." Is Scarlett miffed about the fact that she still hasn't met Melanie's new beau, but almost all other members of her family have or will have by the time this post is completed? Maybe.
Simon considers this, because he knows all too well trying to balance old but complicated friendships.]
All positive, I assure you.
[And if it was otherwise, he would lie. He knows how these things go.]
You and Xander have a long, shared history. It'd be hard to get to know him without learning about you as well.
("Now, now, Scarlett. We've trusted Melly to go off on her jaunts throughout the years. You and I both have had our lost weekends," Rhett says, leaning into his wife. )
Just how much have you gotten to know about Xander?
( Because, Xander is of the male variety and has never been open about his maleness. Well, his selfness. His family. His feelings. She's wondering if this person is just a buffer to hers, Dawn's, and Buffy's awkwardness. )
["Yes, we have, but I'm starting to think she wants to introduce him to anyone but me." And Scarlett will get pouty about it if she wants to.
Simon is old enough to sense the question in Willow's words - the things that have remained unsaid between her and Xander and the things that make his appearance complicated.]
We've spent the better part of the last two years together - sometimes exclusively. Part of it I spent cursed in an orb and he was the only one who could see me. We did a lot of talking. While I can't be sure what you would consider enough, I would like to think I know him quite well.
("You're right, there's clearly a conspiracy afoot," he says, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
Willow waits with breath baited. There's something that smells - well, not fishy, but, maybe like a less fishy fish - but is still a fish. "So, you two met in Vegas," she ponders, "from a cursed orb," she repeats to herself. It's actually very on brand for Xander, she'd say. "Like that show The Magicians," she says, perking up. "You were his Charleton."
Which makes where her head's going -- yeah, she still sits, puzzled.
"Sometimes exclusively?"
She looks to the table, to Cordelia, Spike, Clara and Lee, to the people who know Xander. )
You look all nice and un-cursed now, so that must be an improvement. ( It isn't often Xander uncurses anything. Holding her glass of wine, she tilts her head, though. Xander is currently staring into his soup that's placed down in front of him. ) And how Xander, did you uncurse such a personal relationship?
("Will," he starts, looking up. He looks to ex-girlfriend, the utterly uninterested Angel, Clara, Lee, Giles, and a positively smirking Spike, like he's the cat that caught the canary. Like he remembers sharing a basement and a host of gay panic and nummy treats. "Okay, let's just address the big Farie element in the room, and not fairy like fairy, but, he was a cursed fairy and now he's not. And over the course of several months, we did form and have and are currently sharing a..."
Why is it so hard to say out loud. He needs someone like Cordelia to just ask him to spit it out, but his eyes find Simon's because this isn't easy to just say but he knows he can just say it. He's safe, blah blah. And things are thawing with Willow. And, hopefully, with Dawn, who he owes a conversation later. )
[Scarlett's eyebrows go up at the start of that explanation, but she swallows any response with a sip of her wine, leaning in to get more of the hot goss. Clara and Lee are also checking out of his conversation because this seems far above their paygrade.
Cordelia, on the other hand is clocking in. She doesn't quite know where this is going yet (9), and she's been done with Xander for years, but things apparently exploded in some of the time where she was either gone or working with the Winchesters and she's trying to catch up.
Simon, on the other hand, realizes where Xander is taking that conversation and while Faerie doesn't necessarily have a need for coming out conversations - most of Faerie is fairly queernormative as a rule - he knows that this is important for humans.
So he falls quiet and Cordy helps with a:]
Sharing a what? Is this guy your new best friend? Or is he ...
That doesn't make sense( is his quick, instant response - but then he turns to Simon ) for us it makes sense, but not for, for everyone else. ( so he turns back. ) I have lived a long and often colorful straight life, often to my own detriment and almost dying or being clawed to death or sacrificed or had my head eaten -- and then yes, I met Simon and over the course of a lot of time, we, we found something. It's found. But what about it makes sense?
[Oh, Xander is going to engage her directly. That was probably a mistake. Cordelia was not given a lecture about playing nice to not disrupt the wedding because it was mostly assumed that she would have no reason not to.
That was also probably a mistake.]
First of all, I'm one of the now two people in this room who have actually dated you, brief but illuminating as that was. Second of all, Xander, I also know that you spend about ninety percent of your energy at any given time judging the crap out of everyone around you for not meeting your arbitrary standards about what you think is right or not.
[She sets her drink down on the table and turns to fully put her ex-boyfriend in her sights.]
What you don't seem to realize is you spend at least that much energy if not more being highly judgmental of yourself, and if you just let all of that nonsense go you'd probably be a much happier person.
[She pauses to let that point land, before glancing away.]
And for the record, I'm not saying this for your benefit, I'm mostly saying it for his -
[She points to Simon.]
- as he deserves to be with someone who actually likes themselves and is not going to impulsively cheat on them with his best friend - no offense, Willow - or leave him at the altar because he's convinced himself he can't hack it.
[Simon blinks, before shaking his head. "Do not worry, Lady Cordelia. I believe I bear the self-loathing crown in this relationship, as I have more than earned it. But I do appreciate your efforts."]
( His eyes narrow. Brief, but illuminating. And, Willow and he didn't date. She had the unrequited crush that turned into hormones. And yes, Xander ruined that. But they were the two. They did that together. Maybe his part in it is worse. Was worse.
Willow goes a bit red as Cordelia talks.
In terms of judgment? Yeah, there are things he doesn't get. Like vampire loving. Why and how and why? Everyone came around to Anya, why was he so loathsome about Spike? Well, he'd never measure up to a man like Spike. Obviously. He's hashed most of this out with Simon over time. With nothing to do but talk for months. He opened up more.
Jesus Christ. Yeah, he's an unhappy person and always has been. And made his bed. Why is he doing this again? Why did he think this was a good idea?
Fuck, and she mentions Anya. He's not about to sit here and defend that. Not now.
Willow waves a hand. She feels like she started this. )
Also, misery loves company and we work. But, I'm also not sitting around thinking about what could've beens. I fucked up. I'm here admitting I fucked up. With Willow. And Buffy. I've made some real selfish decisions. And isolated myself. And yes, judged my friends. And you, Cordy. ( But who is he to judge? ) But, I've also made my own sacrifices. And confronted a lot of crap. So. With way more pomp and circumstance at an event not about me, yes. Simon and me are figuring our way through things. And it surprised me. But... yes, maybe, something like it could be seen coming. And as for apologies I do owe, Buffy and Willow will be spoken to directly and not over a table. But, thanks Cordy for really boiling it down.
("Really missed you round here," Spike says under his breath, leaning in to Cordy.
[Cordy smirks before leaning back towards him and murmuring. "Don't start none, won't be none."
Simon then clears his throat and shifting the conversation back to Willow.]
To answer your question, Xander worked with my daughter and my sister-in-law to find a solution to breaking the spell that kept me in the orb. Lady Dawn assisted us as well, using her vast collection of books.
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tables 10 & 11 | the butlers, giles, willow, xander, simon, angel, cordelia, fred, spike, clara, lee
As such, he avoids the looks from the people who he does know are Xander’s people—Willow and Giles respectively—and turns instead to the well-dressed couple sitting next to them.]
Simon Torquill. A pleasure.
[“Scarlett O’Hara. My husband, Rhett.”
Simon blinks, before nodding.]
It’s so wonderful to know that after five hundred years and change, there are still things that can surprise you.
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Willow eyes him, warily, but then holds out a tray of bread. A peace offering? He smiles and takes his assigned seat. They fall into very tentative banter about bad bread the elementary school served.
Rhett will never not be amused when his wife introduces herself, smirking behind his glass of scotch. )
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that if the world isn't surprising you, you aren't looking hard enough. Rhett Butler.
( But he'd gathered that, hadn't he.
Giles keeps out of Willow and Xander's drama, nodding cordially to Angel and exchanging pleasantries with Clara and Lee. Angel leans down to make sure Fred is doing okay, but she's just happy to be a part of such a happy occasion. It's good for her to get out from behind her books and her labs. If she had a lab. She should work on getting a lab.
Spike eyes the Butlers from across the table. O'Hara? )
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Scarlett nods and tips her head to the side curiously as she studies the man in front of her. "Forgive me for saying, but five hundred years old and you don't feel like a vampire. Not that there aren't other immortals out there, but consider a girl curious. Which flavor are you?"
Simon raises an eyebrow curiously, before nodding because fair is in fact fair, and the ceremony made it clear that most people here are familiar enough with the supernatural.]
Faerie. Daione Sidhe to be specific, if you are familiar with the different kinds.
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( Though chiding her, he too is curious.
Rhett's (11) has him not familiar in the least with faerie or fae.
Angel straightens up, wincing from the elbow to the ribs.
"Rhett, Scarlett," he says. "Have you met my date, Cordelia?" Spike smirks over a sip from his beer. Willow is pointedly not asking about Xander's plus one because things are going smoothly, though their banter quiets as the table is brought into the conversation. )
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She does have more questions, but fortunately she's distracted by Angel. She turns and flashes them both a smile.]
Oh how lovely. A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Cordelia.
["Pleasure is all mine, really. Big fan."]
You're too kind. And how have you been Angel? I feel as though it's been forever.
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( Obviously.
Willow recognizes Simon is sitting beside Xander and she hands the bread basket over, offering Simon an olive branch. )
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Simon glances over at the offering, before nodding and taking one of the pieces of bread with a small smile.]
It's Willow, isn't it? I've heard a great deal about you.
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Willow meets his smile with one of hers, even though she doesn't know what to make of Xander's handsome new friend. )
How great is this great deal, because, I'm not great at all deals or sometimes less than half. All depends on the deal.
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Simon considers this, because he knows all too well trying to balance old but complicated friendships.]
All positive, I assure you.
[And if it was otherwise, he would lie. He knows how these things go.]
You and Xander have a long, shared history. It'd be hard to get to know him without learning about you as well.
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Just how much have you gotten to know about Xander?
( Because, Xander is of the male variety and has never been open about his maleness. Well, his selfness. His family. His feelings. She's wondering if this person is just a buffer to hers, Dawn's, and Buffy's awkwardness. )
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Simon is old enough to sense the question in Willow's words - the things that have remained unsaid between her and Xander and the things that make his appearance complicated.]
We've spent the better part of the last two years together - sometimes exclusively. Part of it I spent cursed in an orb and he was the only one who could see me. We did a lot of talking. While I can't be sure what you would consider enough, I would like to think I know him quite well.
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Willow waits with breath baited. There's something that smells - well, not fishy, but, maybe like a less fishy fish - but is still a fish. "So, you two met in Vegas," she ponders, "from a cursed orb," she repeats to herself. It's actually very on brand for Xander, she'd say. "Like that show The Magicians," she says, perking up. "You were his Charleton."
Which makes where her head's going -- yeah, she still sits, puzzled.
"Sometimes exclusively?"
She looks to the table, to Cordelia, Spike, Clara and Lee, to the people who know Xander. )
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[He pauses, before glancing to Xander, because is this going to be revealing too much? It's hard to be sure.]
And early on in our relationship, Xander did not have a lot of company beyond occasional visits from the Nadals.
[Lucia did check in with Xander when she could, but it's clear they weren't incredibly close.]
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( Back when things were still icy. )
You look all nice and un-cursed now, so that must be an improvement. ( It isn't often Xander uncurses anything. Holding her glass of wine, she tilts her head, though. Xander is currently staring into his soup that's placed down in front of him. ) And how Xander, did you uncurse such a personal relationship?
( "Will," he starts, looking up. He looks to ex-girlfriend, the utterly uninterested Angel, Clara, Lee, Giles, and a positively smirking Spike, like he's the cat that caught the canary. Like he remembers sharing a basement and a host of gay panic and nummy treats. "Okay, let's just address the big Farie element in the room, and not fairy like fairy, but, he was a cursed fairy and now he's not. And over the course of several months, we did form and have and are currently sharing a..."
Why is it so hard to say out loud. He needs someone like Cordelia to just ask him to spit it out, but his eyes find Simon's because this isn't easy to just say but he knows he can just say it. He's safe, blah blah. And things are thawing with Willow. And, hopefully, with Dawn, who he owes a conversation later. )
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Cordelia, on the other hand is clocking in. She doesn't quite know where this is going yet (9), and she's been done with Xander for years, but things apparently exploded in some of the time where she was either gone or working with the Winchesters and she's trying to catch up.
Simon, on the other hand, realizes where Xander is taking that conversation and while Faerie doesn't necessarily have a need for coming out conversations - most of Faerie is fairly queernormative as a rule - he knows that this is important for humans.
So he falls quiet and Cordy helps with a:]
Sharing a what? Is this guy your new best friend? Or is he ...
[And then the penny drops.]
Oh ... that makes so much sense.
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( Is then sent to Cordelia. )
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That was also probably a mistake.]
First of all, I'm one of the now two people in this room who have actually dated you, brief but illuminating as that was. Second of all, Xander, I also know that you spend about ninety percent of your energy at any given time judging the crap out of everyone around you for not meeting your arbitrary standards about what you think is right or not.
[She sets her drink down on the table and turns to fully put her ex-boyfriend in her sights.]
What you don't seem to realize is you spend at least that much energy if not more being highly judgmental of yourself, and if you just let all of that nonsense go you'd probably be a much happier person.
[She pauses to let that point land, before glancing away.]
And for the record, I'm not saying this for your benefit, I'm mostly saying it for his -
[She points to Simon.]
- as he deserves to be with someone who actually likes themselves and is not going to impulsively cheat on them with his best friend - no offense, Willow - or leave him at the altar because he's convinced himself he can't hack it.
[Simon blinks, before shaking his head. "Do not worry, Lady Cordelia. I believe I bear the self-loathing crown in this relationship, as I have more than earned it. But I do appreciate your efforts."]
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Willow goes a bit red as Cordelia talks.
In terms of judgment? Yeah, there are things he doesn't get. Like vampire loving. Why and how and why? Everyone came around to Anya, why was he so loathsome about Spike? Well, he'd never measure up to a man like Spike. Obviously. He's hashed most of this out with Simon over time. With nothing to do but talk for months. He opened up more.
Jesus Christ. Yeah, he's an unhappy person and always has been. And made his bed. Why is he doing this again? Why did he think this was a good idea?
Fuck, and she mentions Anya. He's not about to sit here and defend that. Not now.
Willow waves a hand. She feels like she started this. )
Also, misery loves company and we work. But, I'm also not sitting around thinking about what could've beens. I fucked up. I'm here admitting I fucked up. With Willow. And Buffy. I've made some real selfish decisions. And isolated myself. And yes, judged my friends. And you, Cordy. ( But who is he to judge? ) But, I've also made my own sacrifices. And confronted a lot of crap. So. With way more pomp and circumstance at an event not about me, yes. Simon and me are figuring our way through things. And it surprised me. But... yes, maybe, something like it could be seen coming. And as for apologies I do owe, Buffy and Willow will be spoken to directly and not over a table. But, thanks Cordy for really boiling it down.
( "Really missed you round here," Spike says under his breath, leaning in to Cordy.
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Simon then clears his throat and shifting the conversation back to Willow.]
To answer your question, Xander worked with my daughter and my sister-in-law to find a solution to breaking the spell that kept me in the orb. Lady Dawn assisted us as well, using her vast collection of books.