Dinner, dungeons, dragons, 3 headed dogs, and...some new people

[potential_geek]

A few hours after I got off the phone with Andrew, I was stepping off the jet Warren had sent to fetch me, a personal guard or two with me. Once again: stoopid bringers. Once inside the compound, however, there was no need for them, since the place was locked down tighter than Azkaban in Voldemort’s heyday

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[bible_beater]

"I'm sure you can, sir. I was given instructions to show you to the dining hall," the little sop with halitosis said to me, gently putting a tentative set of fingers at my elbow

[summoner_tucker]

I'd been sitting, watching the pretty little play unfolding before me in the lobby with a bored sort of disgust. I may have been a loser, but at least I was honest about it. Save for Andrew, all these people were just desperate, whiny little kids who were playing at being powerful.

Andrew wasn't like that though. Andrew lights up wherever he is. He's shy and twitchy and Warren's little bitch in so many ways, but I know there's more. I've seen how brilliant he can be, how gloriously vicious.

And Faith. Faith had something glowing in her, from the inside out too. I could see it, like I saw most things. She was angry and heated, lost and violent in the brightest way. If only she'd let herself go, recognize what she was capable of beyond sex and ass-kicking...there was something there. But I doubted it would ever manifest.

Amanda, Andrew's little friend. She was a nice girl deep down, a hurt little girl, a bitter, hate-filled little girl. Geeky and sure of herself, I had to respect that. Still, she was so...so needy for something. I

[always_been_bad]

I still couldn't believe I was bloody doing this. How the blazes did I end up here like this? Everything had been fine in it's typical fucked up manner that had been my life, and then I wake up after bein' frozen to find out that the geek of the week was the ruler of the country? And then I agree to eat dinner with him?! I don't even eat food.

If I get in there and Buffy an' her bleedin' groupies jump out shriekin' about some kinda hidden camera, then chip or no chip I'm gonna have myself a good, ol' fashion massacre.Warren's little gun-totin' man-bitch lead me to a pair of fancy doors which I assumed led to the dinin' hall or some other prissy poofter word for the room where I wouldn't be eatin' with

[potential_geek]

I walked along with Warren and Andrew to the dining room, chatting and laughing, assuring them both that I had been just fine and how good it was to seem them. Faith said hi to me when she came in and I nodded and gave her wide smile. By the look on her face, it looked as though for a second she was scared I was gonna launch myself across the room like a ninja turtle and attach myself to her leg. Faith was cool, and I really did admire her, but I knew she liked her space, so as long as she had that I guess it was all good

[warren_is_gone]

"So. Are we going to do this thing, or what? I'm hungry"

"Patience has always been one of my favorite virtues, Tucker. But it does seem that almost everyone is here, so yes. We'll be eating in just a..."

"So... uh, s'pose this is the place then, right?"

The warm, pleased smile on my face spread to unbelievable proportions as I turned to face the thoroughly-broken William the Bloody.

Or William the Mentally Impotent. Whatever.

"Spike. I am so glad you could join us" I took a step or two towards him, still smiling that bright, cheery smile. "What a pleasant...surprise. I know my brother here has already had the pleasure, but for everyone else, this is Spike. He's the newest member of the team, and he'll be joining us for dinner tonight. I know you'll all welcome him"

"Well um, this is an interesting crowd"Amanda's voice sounded like some kind of odd mix between amused, disappointed, and confused. I smiled down at her as well as I stood there next to her, but with a more genuine expression. I'm sure I looked like a giddy little kid

[addicted_andrew]

I have to admit, I was pretty startled when mystery guest number one came through the door. A... a preacher, was it? Whoever he was, he was religious and all little white collary and suddenly I felt kind of... well, embarrassed. Guilty wasn't the word, though I had the distinct impression that he wasn't the sort to approve of... er, some of my tastes. I caught the look he gave me when he entered, and it made me shudder slightly, like he'd scanned me and analyzed me like some... some Holy Robot or something. Tucker looked up at him, and it seemed like the two knew each other, which was uber-odd in itself. Tucker wasn't religious last I checked

[wickedslayer]

I was wicked bored. Who the fuck were some of these people anyway? Warren had the most whack posse, for real. Good thing he was smart enough to make me his right hand chick or else I'd really be thrown for a loop. I mean, I get Andrew cause the two of them are butt buddies together. Then Andrew's annoying brother, who wouldn't stop glaring at everyone. Who the fuck did he think he was anyway? Amanda, I get. She was a good kid anyway, not to mention a total nerd and a potential slayer. But seriously....what the hell is up with the priest? Why was he givin' me this whack look? Almost like he was sizing me up and he disapproved. Asshole. Why was Warren hangin' with a priest anyway

[bible_beater]

I stood by an empty chair and waited for the rest of the group to assemble, perplexed greatly by the table manners of these folks. Sitting down before they were instructed to, flumping themselves around in a frenzy to sit as close to Mears as they could, sluttishly giving every new arrival the eye. All eyes turned to a bleach-blonde slip of a man when he entered. I'll admit that he cut a striking figure, mugging like a rock and roller, but as I didn't know him from Adam, I couldn't give two horseshits about where he sat or what his story was. I'd find out in good time

[summoner_tucker]

This was all so fucking stupid. I felt like I was acting out some mindless fucking part in a goddamned play or something. Nonetheless, I got up and followed everyone into Warren's enormous dining room. It was all dark woods and real flowers, golden cups and the finest china and wine. It was all so fucking beautiful I wanted to vomit

[always_been_bad]

"Spike. I am so glad you could join us. What a pleasant...surprise. I know my brother here has already had the pleasure, but for everyone else, this is Spike. He's the newest member of the team, and he'll be joining us for dinner tonight. I know you'll all welcome him."

Member of the team? Hmph. Like Hell I am. Just workin' with what you bloody gave me. I'll be out of this just as soon as I can find somethin' better.

I didn't say that, of course. Instead I just gritted my teeth and nodded, choosing not to look at Warren's smug face. The bastard. I didn't like the way everyone else was lookin' me up or down either. All summin' me up, judgin' me or just trying to figure out what I was even doin' here.

Hah. Good luck, mates. Don't even know that one myself.Aside from feelin' my ego deflatin' 'front a Faith and Warren (though the way that twinky little blond was lookin' at me helped some), the Holy man present made a bloke feel kind of self conscious. Usually I'd just shrug 'em off like nothin'. Hell, I'd desecrated my fair share of

[potential_geek]

Ok, exactly what was going on here? At the moment, I currently had the patience of Potterphile fifteen minutes to midnight the day the next book was coming out, but I kept that to myself considering the company I was in. So this Spike guy was the newest member of the team? What, are we putting together a metal band or something? I didn’t even know we had a set team, just kind of…a group of friends, I saw it as. So still not exactly sure what to make of all of this. I looked around the table. Everyone was kind of just sizing everyone else up and making nice for who knows what reasons.

"Come on, Warren. I'm burstin' at the seams here." I said impatiently.I smiled at that. Leave it to Faith to get right down to things. That was one of the things that was so cool about her. She told things like they were. There was no fussing and fronting when it came to her, it was all about holding it down and representing her own bad ass self. She was kind of like Sara Pezzini or Lara Croft or- where was I going with this again? Eh,

[warren_is_gone]

"Come on, Warren. I'm burstin' at the seams here."

I smirked in Faith's direction as we started to eat. The servants were bustling silently around us, putting down steaming platters of the finest gourmet. I had of course, ensured that Faith was sitting on my right side and Andrew on my left. It was symbolic, in a sledgehammer John Keats kind of way.

"Never fear, Faith. Join Amanda and I in my office tonight and I'll explain everything" I spoke quietly, as to not attract the attention of those sitting near me. Spike was the one I was most concerned about, as his hearing was better than anyone else at the table's. I spoke no more on the subject after that, choosing instead to engage in some idle chatter with Andrew and Amanda as we all ate. It was nice, sitting with everyone like this. These were my people

[addicted_andrew]

"You must be the younger Wells boy. 'Andrew,' innit? Heard so much about you."I nearly choked on my drink upon hearing the creepy Preacher man talking to me. I tried to cover like it was cool, but I still spilled some of my water on my tie. Laughing nervously, I grabbed my napkin and dabbed the water up before it sank into the fancy fabric