24 August 2019 - A House Party
Title: A House Party
Author: Beriaearwen
Crossover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Miss Marple
Characters: Buffy, Giles, Raymond West, Jane Marple, various OC's
Rating: Suitable for people over 13
Word Count: 1505
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Mutant Enemy, etc. Jane Marple and Raymond West are the creation of Agatha Christie. All are used here without permission, no copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: While reviewing various Council properties, Giles and Buffy are invited by the owners of Gossington Hall Estate to review their library. The only catch is they're having a house party.
A House Party
By Beriaearwen
“Giles?” Buffy began, walking into his office, reading through a paper. She looked up and saw her mentor and friend smiling indulgently at her, a card in his hand. Flashing him a smile, she held up the paper. “It looks like there's something we should check out. There's a place called Gossington Hall Estate in Saint Mary Mead that has a collection of books being held in trust for the council.
“How very serendipitous,” he replied. “I happen to be holding an invitation to spend next weekend at Gossington Hall Estate at a house party for myself and a guest.”
“Giles. I don't believe in coincidences or leprechauns. And this isn't a leprechaun.”
“I agree. Make sure you pack well.”
“Mr. Pointy and sharp and shinies it is. They do accessorize with anything.”
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
“Mr. Edgington, Mrs. Edginton” Giles greeted offering his hand. “A pleasure to see you. May I introduce my co-worker and friend Buffy Summers?”
“A pleasure,” Buffy greeted with a smile.
“And it is our pleasure to have you,” Mrs. Edginton replied. “If you'll follow me to the Green Room, I'll introduce you to the other guests while your bags are brought to your rooms.”
“That would be lovely,” Buffy agreed.
They walked halfway down the rather lengthy hall and entered a room with light green walls and furniture covered in darker green upholstery. “Green room, indeed,” Giles observed quietly to Buffy earning a smile.
“Hello everyone,” Mrs. Edginton announced. “I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Rupert Giles and Miss Buffy Summers. They work for a company which specializes in antiquities. Rupert, Buffy, allow me to introduce you to Milton and Beatrice Worthy, Karol and Constance Midland, Albert Rogers, Roger Alberts, Felicia Simmons, a man who needs no introduction - Raymond West and his aunt Miss Jane Marple. We're just waiting for the Carringtons to arrive and we'll be complete.”
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Giles knocked on Buffy's door and waited. They were due on the patio for cocktails prior to dinner and had gone up to change for the meal. He recalled the blank look on Buffy's face when she'd first been informed she would need to change for meals and smiled. Truthfully, dressing for dinner is not something with which he was particularly familiar either, but at least he'd had the rituals drilled into him.
The door finally opened an Buffy stood in a becoming dress and heels. “You look lovely,” Giles complimented.
“You look rather dashing yourself,” Buffy returned with a smile.
“Shall we?”
“Let's shall,” she replied with a smile, a throwback to her high school days in Sunnydale. “So, is there anything special I need to know about after dinner? I'm pretty sure dinner won't be a problem after all the drilling Margaret did.”
Giles chuckled softly. When they had first arrived in the UK, they had been asked - very quietly - to dine with the queen and prime minister to discuss the charter the Council had signed with England when they moved the headquarters there. Margaret, one of the support workers who had survived the blast was horrified when she realized the very American Scoobies had no idea of the ins and outs of British protocol. She had drilled them several hours every day for two weeks on protocol and etiquette. None of the Scoobies ever forgot and had, in fact, made sure they had access to people who could teach them proper protocol and etiquette for all the countries in which they worked.
Stepping out onto the patio, Giles guided Buffy toward the bar where he requested drinks for each of them. Handing Buffy her white wine, they split up in order to meet the other occupants.
Buffy found herself sitting next to Miss Marple who seemed to be knitting what looked like a small sweater. “I take it someone has a baby coming?” she said by way of starting a conversation.
Miss Marple smiled up at her and kept knitting. “My niece just informed me she is expecting her second child.”
“How wonderful. I'm sure she will appreciate your efforts. It is a sweater, correct?”
“Jumper,” Jane corrected. “Yes. Regardless of the time of year, the little ones always seem to need to be warmed.”
Buffy smiled and took a sip of her wine. “Does she live near you?”
“Oh, I wouldn't say near, but not terribly far. Only a few hours on the bus. I actually live here in St. Mary Mead, but my nephew, Raymond, requested I attend this with him since his wife is busy elsewhere.”
“I see. And he is a mystery writer?”
“Oh, yes,” Miss Marple replied with a smile, her eyes drifting from Buffy's face to something going on behind her. “He is quite well known for it.”
“That's lovely,” Buffy replied listening to see if she could figure out what caught the older woman's attention. She caught the voices of two men arguing in low tones about money and something they weren't identifying or had identified earlier in the conversation. She refocused on her present companion when Miss Marple asked her a question. “I'm sorry I was distracted for a moment. What did you ask?”
“Oh. I just noticed you were American and wondered where, exactly, you were from?”
Buffy smiled. “California, on the West coast. It was usually sunny and quite warm where I was.”
“Quite different from here, for certain,” Jane returned with a smile.
Conversation continued on for several moment before Constance and Felicia joined them.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
The scream drew both Buffy and Giles from their review of the books in the library, a task much more tempting due to the storm raging outside. Stepping into the hall, Buffy indicated they should head toward the back of the house.
Moving cautiously down the hall and keeping alert for anything out of the ordinary, they soon spotted Albert Rogers standing in the doorway of what they'd been told was the billiard room.
Pushing forward, Buffy took in the sight of the body laying on the floor. It was obviously from the blank-eyed stare and the hilt of the knife sticking from his chest that Roger Alberts was dead. Moving forward, she checked the body just to be sure nothing supernatural had happened. “Have the police been called?” she asked, taking a closer look at the knife hilt.
“Phones are down,” Mrs. Edgington stammered, her voice shaking. “Mark went to get them.”
Standing, Buffy exchanged a look with Giles and shook her head slightly. She then moved to Mrs. Edgington and guided her from the room, hoping she would calm away from the body. “Why don't we find somewhere else to sit. Maybe some wine? Or tea? That might help steady your nerves.”
“Oh, yes, dear. A small nip of brandy would most likely be just the thing,” Jane Marple agreed, appearing on Mrs. Edginton's other side as they exited the room.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Three days later those who survived the weekend were sitting in the Green Room once more. This time the police were nearby. Beatrice Worthy and Rafael Carrington were both dead as well. The police were ready to arrest Albert Rogers, but Raymond West spoke up.
Buffy could only shake her head as he went about revealing the truth of the situation and the web of lies an deceit that caused the weekend's tragedy. What had Buffy shaking her head was the fact that it was Miss Marple who had solved the whole thing. Maybe it was because she was so used to working at her problems from prophesy, allegory and watcher diaries that she understood Jane's stories about people she knew were more than just a lady reminiscing.
Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them as everything was revealed.
After the arrest was made, statements were given and they had everything packed. Buffy and Giles headed out of the house. They were stopped by the Edgingtons.
“I know you mostly came to view the library,” Mrs. Edginton began, “but I want to thank you for your help in seeing us through this weekend.”
“In fact, if you wouldn't mind, we're going to pack up and send you the whole library,” Mr. Edginton offered.
Buffy and Giles exchanged a shocked look. “Of course, but that will leave the room rather empty,” Buffy stated.
“We'll most likely be selling,” Mrs. Edgington confided. “It just doesn't feel like home anymore.”
Buffy smiled and rested a hand on hers in sympathy.
Giles and Mr. Edgington exchanged a few more words and then they left.
As they were pulling away from the house, Buffy turned to Giles. “So... Jane Marple? Seer? Psychic? Potential watcher?”
“She is quite perceptive,” Giles agreed, “but I don't believe she would be the right fit for us.”
“You're probably right,” Buffy agreed. “Besides, I don't think she'd be able to knit enough sweaters for everyone.”
End.
Author: Beriaearwen
Crossover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Miss Marple
Characters: Buffy, Giles, Raymond West, Jane Marple, various OC's
Rating: Suitable for people over 13
Word Count: 1505
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Mutant Enemy, etc. Jane Marple and Raymond West are the creation of Agatha Christie. All are used here without permission, no copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: While reviewing various Council properties, Giles and Buffy are invited by the owners of Gossington Hall Estate to review their library. The only catch is they're having a house party.
A House Party
By Beriaearwen
“Giles?” Buffy began, walking into his office, reading through a paper. She looked up and saw her mentor and friend smiling indulgently at her, a card in his hand. Flashing him a smile, she held up the paper. “It looks like there's something we should check out. There's a place called Gossington Hall Estate in Saint Mary Mead that has a collection of books being held in trust for the council.
“How very serendipitous,” he replied. “I happen to be holding an invitation to spend next weekend at Gossington Hall Estate at a house party for myself and a guest.”
“Giles. I don't believe in coincidences or leprechauns. And this isn't a leprechaun.”
“I agree. Make sure you pack well.”
“Mr. Pointy and sharp and shinies it is. They do accessorize with anything.”
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
“Mr. Edgington, Mrs. Edginton” Giles greeted offering his hand. “A pleasure to see you. May I introduce my co-worker and friend Buffy Summers?”
“A pleasure,” Buffy greeted with a smile.
“And it is our pleasure to have you,” Mrs. Edginton replied. “If you'll follow me to the Green Room, I'll introduce you to the other guests while your bags are brought to your rooms.”
“That would be lovely,” Buffy agreed.
They walked halfway down the rather lengthy hall and entered a room with light green walls and furniture covered in darker green upholstery. “Green room, indeed,” Giles observed quietly to Buffy earning a smile.
“Hello everyone,” Mrs. Edginton announced. “I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Rupert Giles and Miss Buffy Summers. They work for a company which specializes in antiquities. Rupert, Buffy, allow me to introduce you to Milton and Beatrice Worthy, Karol and Constance Midland, Albert Rogers, Roger Alberts, Felicia Simmons, a man who needs no introduction - Raymond West and his aunt Miss Jane Marple. We're just waiting for the Carringtons to arrive and we'll be complete.”
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Giles knocked on Buffy's door and waited. They were due on the patio for cocktails prior to dinner and had gone up to change for the meal. He recalled the blank look on Buffy's face when she'd first been informed she would need to change for meals and smiled. Truthfully, dressing for dinner is not something with which he was particularly familiar either, but at least he'd had the rituals drilled into him.
The door finally opened an Buffy stood in a becoming dress and heels. “You look lovely,” Giles complimented.
“You look rather dashing yourself,” Buffy returned with a smile.
“Shall we?”
“Let's shall,” she replied with a smile, a throwback to her high school days in Sunnydale. “So, is there anything special I need to know about after dinner? I'm pretty sure dinner won't be a problem after all the drilling Margaret did.”
Giles chuckled softly. When they had first arrived in the UK, they had been asked - very quietly - to dine with the queen and prime minister to discuss the charter the Council had signed with England when they moved the headquarters there. Margaret, one of the support workers who had survived the blast was horrified when she realized the very American Scoobies had no idea of the ins and outs of British protocol. She had drilled them several hours every day for two weeks on protocol and etiquette. None of the Scoobies ever forgot and had, in fact, made sure they had access to people who could teach them proper protocol and etiquette for all the countries in which they worked.
Stepping out onto the patio, Giles guided Buffy toward the bar where he requested drinks for each of them. Handing Buffy her white wine, they split up in order to meet the other occupants.
Buffy found herself sitting next to Miss Marple who seemed to be knitting what looked like a small sweater. “I take it someone has a baby coming?” she said by way of starting a conversation.
Miss Marple smiled up at her and kept knitting. “My niece just informed me she is expecting her second child.”
“How wonderful. I'm sure she will appreciate your efforts. It is a sweater, correct?”
“Jumper,” Jane corrected. “Yes. Regardless of the time of year, the little ones always seem to need to be warmed.”
Buffy smiled and took a sip of her wine. “Does she live near you?”
“Oh, I wouldn't say near, but not terribly far. Only a few hours on the bus. I actually live here in St. Mary Mead, but my nephew, Raymond, requested I attend this with him since his wife is busy elsewhere.”
“I see. And he is a mystery writer?”
“Oh, yes,” Miss Marple replied with a smile, her eyes drifting from Buffy's face to something going on behind her. “He is quite well known for it.”
“That's lovely,” Buffy replied listening to see if she could figure out what caught the older woman's attention. She caught the voices of two men arguing in low tones about money and something they weren't identifying or had identified earlier in the conversation. She refocused on her present companion when Miss Marple asked her a question. “I'm sorry I was distracted for a moment. What did you ask?”
“Oh. I just noticed you were American and wondered where, exactly, you were from?”
Buffy smiled. “California, on the West coast. It was usually sunny and quite warm where I was.”
“Quite different from here, for certain,” Jane returned with a smile.
Conversation continued on for several moment before Constance and Felicia joined them.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
The scream drew both Buffy and Giles from their review of the books in the library, a task much more tempting due to the storm raging outside. Stepping into the hall, Buffy indicated they should head toward the back of the house.
Moving cautiously down the hall and keeping alert for anything out of the ordinary, they soon spotted Albert Rogers standing in the doorway of what they'd been told was the billiard room.
Pushing forward, Buffy took in the sight of the body laying on the floor. It was obviously from the blank-eyed stare and the hilt of the knife sticking from his chest that Roger Alberts was dead. Moving forward, she checked the body just to be sure nothing supernatural had happened. “Have the police been called?” she asked, taking a closer look at the knife hilt.
“Phones are down,” Mrs. Edgington stammered, her voice shaking. “Mark went to get them.”
Standing, Buffy exchanged a look with Giles and shook her head slightly. She then moved to Mrs. Edgington and guided her from the room, hoping she would calm away from the body. “Why don't we find somewhere else to sit. Maybe some wine? Or tea? That might help steady your nerves.”
“Oh, yes, dear. A small nip of brandy would most likely be just the thing,” Jane Marple agreed, appearing on Mrs. Edginton's other side as they exited the room.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Three days later those who survived the weekend were sitting in the Green Room once more. This time the police were nearby. Beatrice Worthy and Rafael Carrington were both dead as well. The police were ready to arrest Albert Rogers, but Raymond West spoke up.
Buffy could only shake her head as he went about revealing the truth of the situation and the web of lies an deceit that caused the weekend's tragedy. What had Buffy shaking her head was the fact that it was Miss Marple who had solved the whole thing. Maybe it was because she was so used to working at her problems from prophesy, allegory and watcher diaries that she understood Jane's stories about people she knew were more than just a lady reminiscing.
Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them as everything was revealed.
After the arrest was made, statements were given and they had everything packed. Buffy and Giles headed out of the house. They were stopped by the Edgingtons.
“I know you mostly came to view the library,” Mrs. Edginton began, “but I want to thank you for your help in seeing us through this weekend.”
“In fact, if you wouldn't mind, we're going to pack up and send you the whole library,” Mr. Edginton offered.
Buffy and Giles exchanged a shocked look. “Of course, but that will leave the room rather empty,” Buffy stated.
“We'll most likely be selling,” Mrs. Edgington confided. “It just doesn't feel like home anymore.”
Buffy smiled and rested a hand on hers in sympathy.
Giles and Mr. Edgington exchanged a few more words and then they left.
As they were pulling away from the house, Buffy turned to Giles. “So... Jane Marple? Seer? Psychic? Potential watcher?”
“She is quite perceptive,” Giles agreed, “but I don't believe she would be the right fit for us.”
“You're probably right,” Buffy agreed. “Besides, I don't think she'd be able to knit enough sweaters for everyone.”
End.