(Untitled)

[ieuandavisjones]

I had to figure out a way to break the news to David that we were getting our Slayer back, but we were geting her back with a burden, or a bonus, depending on how he chose to look at it. I ran the arguments through my head a dozen times, trying to put he most positive face on it that I could. Yes, we would be saddled with another prospective

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[godolphin]

I admit I was rather preoccupied when someone knocked on the door. The fact that we had a slayer - who was also a vampire - locked up in the basement was causing me all kinds of headaches. I was going to have to get Tara to check out her story, work out if she did have a soul. I didn't want to put Tara too near Raven though in case it was false... Maybe it could be done from a distance? If only Willow were here. She could do it from the other side of the house, probably.

I sighed and rubbed my head, and then there was a knock at the door. I opened it, forgetting I had a cup of tea in my hand, and spilt hot liquid down my shirt front.
"Damn," I said, looking down at my shirt, then up at my visitor. "Oh, Ieuan. Hello." I waved him in as I put the cup down and tried to mop up the tea with a tissue. My skin felt slightly scalded. Wonderful.

[ieuandavisjones]

'I'd offer to help with that, but I'm afraid it would be taken the wrong way,' I said. 'I can see you're inundated, so I'll keep this brief. Arianna Howell has agreed to return to training as a Slayer, but... there's a condition - which probably won't be a problem, still, though...'

I was stalling and I knew it, so I just plunged ahead, heedlessly, as usual. 'Dawn Summers, the sister of the Buffy Summers, wants to train to be a Watcher, and she wants to be trained here. All things considered, it could be a bit of a PR coup, if nothing else.'

[godolphin]

I grinned as Ieuan cracked the remark about it being taken the wrong way. He must have known I felt a bit awkward about taking off my shirt, which I would normally have been happy enough doing in male company, but since Ieuan and I had... Well, it felt strange. Reassured, I started unbuttoning my shirt and took a look at my stomach. Slightly pink, but nothing serious. Good.

I realised what Ieuan was talking about and stared at him.
"Dawn Summers? A watcher? Bloody hell." I took my shirt off and pulled on a jumper. The wool was itchy. "When did she tell you about this?" I'd known Dawn had come over to England to study, but hadn't paid much heed. I'd assumed she wouldn't want to be involved in the Council at all. "I never dreamed she'd mix with us. After all, she's friends with that Rupert Giles," I said, unable to keep the disdain from my voice.

[ieuandavisjones]

'Arianna mentioned it first, I asked Dawn to call, and paid a call on her,' I explained, as simply and succinctly as possible. 'A nice enough girl, Dawn is. She seems... young... but she did spend a lot of time on a Hellmouth without getting killed.'

"I never dreamed she'd mix with us. After all, she's friends with that Rupert Giles."

'Yeah, bloody marvellous, isn't it? Like rats deserting a sinking ship... couldn't happen to a nicer fellow.' I never actually met the man, but after spending a good part of my life being compared unfavourably to him because of my staunch refusal to buckle down and become another Council clone, I thought that gave me the right to speak on the subject.

'They're both coming to tea on Friday, so I can break the good news, or the bad news to them at the same time. I also figured if you're assigning Arianna to me, she needs to meet Ethan, and better sooner than later.'

[godolphin]

I was pleased to see that Ieuan shared my dislike of Rupert Giles. I'd only met him once or twice, and he'd seemed pleasant enough, but evidently being Buffy's watcher had changed all that. I wondered if her sister was as headstrong as her sister was meant to be. I sighed a little inwardly on that

[ieuandavisjones]

"Most of the Council disapproved of his unorthodox ways, but then, they seemed to disapprove of most of the people who have turned out to be quite useful."

Like me, for example, I thought, steepling my fingers to hide the slight smile on my lips.

"My, Ieuan, you are really one of the firm now, aren't you? I never thought I'd see you hosting teas to recruit new members."

'Thank you for reminding me that I am now the man I swore I would never become,' I said pleasantly. But things change, and so had I. I didn't really mean it as a criticism.

"As for meeting Ethan, yes, probably a good idea. He's an, um, acquired taste."

'That, and anyone who spends time with me is necessarily going to be spending some time with Ethan,' I said. 'And, I don't want Ethan to feel cut off from my life when I'm working. He starts getting strange ideas, when he has too much time to brood.'

[godolphin]

"Indeed," I said. "I don't want Ethan to have any of his... strange ideas. It might spell all sorts of trouble." I looked at Ieuan wonderingly for a moment. Who would have thought this boy - and he was a boy, really, despite his skills and intellect - would be the one to tame Ethan Rayne, a thorn in the side of decent folk for years? It was a funny world.
"Now, don't take my words as a criticism, Ieuan. I'm just a little amused. But we've all changed a great deal in this last year, no?" I said, raising my eyebrows. "Plus ca change and all that."

I sat back down in my chair.
"I hope you won't think I'm awfully rude, Ieuan, but I must get on with some paperwork. There are some funny things going on..." I decided to leave the discussion of Raven for another time. "Go ahead with the tea and the invitation, but ask the girls to see me at some point. Must keep some formality, I suppose. Oh, and Ieuan -" I added as he turned to go - "do give my regards to Ethan." I might as well start being polite to the man, after all.

[ieuandavisjones]

"Indeed. I don't want Ethan to have any of his... strange ideas. It might spell all sorts of trouble."

'Mostly for me this time,' I sighed. 'But Ethan hasn't thrown a real party since I've been living with him, either.'

"Now, don't take my words as a criticism, Ieuan. I'm just a little amused."

'I might be, too, if it wasn't at my expense,' I conceded.

"But we've all changed a great deal in this last year, no? Plus ca change and all that."

Changed more than I hope you'll ever know, I thought, remaining silent. The things I've done... The hell of it was, I didn't know when or if I might decide to use the darker side of my magic again. Linda was easier than the first. Almost absurdly so. It was such a small thing, wasn't it? Not even a real spell -- just an extension of power. Ethan wouldn't discourage me in it. No, Ethan liked it, and that worried me.

"Go ahead with the tea and the invitation, but ask the girls to see me at some point. Must keep some formality, I suppose."

'Not too much formality,' I couldn't help but add. 'I