Drunken!Giles Fic: Drinking Game, PG-13, Giles/Buffy/Ethan
Title: Drinking Game
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Giles/Ethan/Buffy
Notes: Written for the Drunken Giles Ficathon 2010, prompt 92: Giles/Ethan + Buffy. Buffy walks in on a drunk Giles and Ethan and decides to join the fun. Post show and ignoring the graphic novels. And a very big thanks to sadbhyl for her wonderful (and might I add gentle) beta work.
It wasn’t rare for the Council faculty to celebrate the conclusion of another “school” year but it was rare to see these particular scholars sharing space without devastating it. Buffy opened the door to discover just such an unlikely pair toasting to Alice Cooper’s “Schools Out” playing on the seldom used loud speaker. She’d caught Giles mid-chug of what had to be scotch from a clear plastic cup as Ethan watched on, obviously amused by whatever happened moments before she entered.
Buffy quickly shut the door, preventing any unwanted onlookers from catching the twosome engaging in the academically prohibited act. “What’s going on here, last call for Ethan before his execution?”
Giles chuckled. “Peace negotiations for the mystically endowed.”
“More like exacting my revenge against an hypocritical establishment,” Ethan corrected, directing a glare toward Giles.
“Sorry I asked.”
Ethan’s dark expression melted away into an easygoing smirk. “Come. Sit. Drink,” he gestured to the chair beside him.
“No. Stand. Go!” Buffy crossed her arms and set her glare to threat level intimidate.
“Ah ha!” Ethan exclaimed. “I believe an ‘I told you so’ is in order, Ripper.”
“Bollocks, it’s the scotch.” Giles waved the half empty bottle around in frustration. “If this were one of those frilly poofter drinks, she’d be all over it like one of her blood-sucking undead types.” Giles hiccuped.
“Hey, unnecessary roughness!” Buffy frowned. “I should have known, Giles plus Ethan equals drunken hijinks.”
“Hmm?” Giles’ head bobbed to some inaudible drunken beat until pausing with focus enough to pour another drink. “Don’t mind if I do.”
“If you insist!” Ethan raised his glass toward Giles who clinked it with his own and the two gulped down their drinks.
“Right. ‘Poofter’ better mean ‘kick ass’ or that’s what I’ll be doing to both of you.”
“AH!” Ethan punched the air. “And that would double your trouble, Ripper. You’re not faring well in this match. Pity, hee hee hee.”
“Bloody...” Giles hiccuped, “... hell. Buffy, be a dear and do shut up.”
“Not until I know what the heck you’re doing and even then, don’t count on it.”
“Ethan wagered you’d never join us for a drink.”
“With a stiff chaser for every threat, I might add.” Ethan offered a grin that hinted there was a double meaning in the statement. “Thank you, luv. You never disappoint.”
“Let me get this straight, you’ve reduced me to a drinking game?” Buffy grumbled. “How much is my antisocial sobriety worth, exactly?”
“No offense but it’s none of your b-bloody business.” Giles poured himself another shot with an unsteady grasp of the bottle.
“So that’s how you’re playing it? Fine!” Buffy charged for the door. “I’ll be back.”
“For what, exactly, a harsh word followed by spankings all around?” Giles’ giggled and looked up just as the door shut behind his determined Slayer.
“We can only hope,” Ethan mumbled under his breath.
Buffy returned moments later with a bottle in tow. She placed it on the table and settled into a seat opposite the drunken duo.
“Count me in,” she exclaimed and offered up an empty cup of her own.
Giles strained to get his numb tongue to work. “B-Buffy, you don’t want...”
“Ripper, we can let this round be a threesome if she so desires.” Ethan wore a menacing grin.
“Damn straight, but in much less offensive phrasing. Besides, I can beat you two any day, any time, any how.”
“Any way,” Ethan purred. “Sounds lovely.”
“Ethan, she’s never...”
“Then why should we deny her now? Besides, this will be interesting.” Ethan examined the nearly untouched bottle. “Vodka? Color me curious.”
Buffy shrugged. “I went to college. Even if it was only a blink’s worth, I did manage a few frat parties among the general lack of learning and supernatural interruptions.”
“Even so, vodka?”
“It can be cheap and mixes well with....”
“Fruity poofter drinks. Pay up, wanker.” Giles poked Ethan’s chest in triumph, vanquishing all signs of his hesitancy from moments before.
“Scotch me!” Buffy growled and watched eagerly as Ethan filled her cup, much to the dismay of Giles. “So what inspired this impromptu kegger?”
Giles raked his fingers through his hair. “Council’s decided to let Ethan go for breach of contract.”
“On what grounds?”
“All the grounds. They even revoked my access to the student union.” Ethan grumbled.
“Blessing in disguise, mate, considering the hazardous state of what they deem food.” They snickered.
“So connect the cold dish revenge special to Giles.”
“I’m on the committee,” Giles said with a coy smile.
“Bastard voted to fire me and now he’s going to pay dearly for his betrayal.” Ethan winked at Giles, sending a chill up Buffy’s spine.
“Ooookay, change of topic. How do I win this... um, thing?”
“You have to tell each of us a few things, in secret, to bet on the other. If it comes to pass, you win,” Ethan explained, biting back further comment.
“She doesn’t know anything about you, Ethan,” Giles defended.
“I know all I need to to beat him,” Buffy challenged.
Without looking at his target, Giles raised a finger in warning toward Ethan who simply smiled, leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“Buffy, this is foolish,” Giles said, concern just barely seeping though the haze of his drunken gaze.
Buffy chugged the scotch, slammed the empty cup to the table and let out a restrained cough peppered by the ragged words, “It’s... just... a game... Giles.” She finally cleared her throat. “I’m playing!”
Giles submitted with a shrug. Ethan, with almost giddy delight, refreshed the drinks and carefully placed the fullest cup before Buffy, adding a splash more before she accepted it. He made quite the show of dragging his chair in close to the Slayer and leaned in, eager to hear her whispered bet for Giles. Buffy rolled her eyes as she tried her best to keep her distance but secretly communicate the wager. She had to admit, he smelled different than she’d assumed he would. Rather than cheap drugstore cologne he smelled of incense, of the earthy, smokey tones of magicks. It was wild and curious. She found herself lingering a moment too long and pulled back suddenly with the realization of it. Ethan's brow arched with his confusion at her clumsy motion and Buffy quickly moved on.
It was Giles’ turn and Buffy skidded her chair in close to her Watcher, catching a whiff of that familiar, nostalgic musk that sent her back to their days of training. Striking, blocking, tackling... she liked tackling, especially Giles. Her stomach fluttered nervously as she leaned in a bit too far to feel his hair tickle the tip of her nose. She strained to concentrate and whispered her bets on Ethan. Giles nodded, both understanding and reassuring her she chose wisely. The game, as was the conversation, was on.
Buffy started off strong even though she could tell Giles was treading softly not to be lured into any of her sly traps. It was as if he’d deduced her ‘bets’ regarding him, stammering, cleaning his glasses with extra credit for him referencing the supernatural. All she had to do was tiptoe near the topic of relationships and sex and he would blush a brilliant crimson and escape to polishing his glasses usually followed by some stammered change of topic focused on the supernatural. Triple word score! So far, she rocked this game, whatever it was.
Ethan was a more difficult mark so she stuck with the basics, referring to Giles as ‘Ripper’ was her ace in the hole. She also chose to penalize him for teasing Giles. But the more difficult score depended on Rayne referring to magicks. Considering his level of drunkenness, the chaos mage was certain to speak of magicks like a beloved mistress and he didn’t disappoint.
After only a short while playing, Buffy began to feel it was like taking candy from a baby, or should she say taking booze away from the boys. Regardless, she’d already felt the dizzy warmth and liquid courage taking effect to loosen her up. Ethan offered a “well played” and swallowed down yet another shot of vodka, making the Slayer wonder if there was an ulterior motive in this game.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were letting me win, Rayne,” Buffy challenged.
“While Ethan rather enjoys losing this particular game, I’d know if he were cheating.” Giles took a long, slow drink, giving Ethan his patented Ripper stare of warning.
“How dare you accuse me of fair play, Ripper. After all, I have a reputation to uphold.”
“This has gone on long enough. Tell her what the true stakes are, Ethan,” Giles urged.
“Why, don’t think I have what it takes? You can stop watchin’ over me, Giles. I’m a big girl now.” Buffy gestured for Ethan to refresh her drink.
“That much is certain,” Ethan smirked, eyes carefully avoiding Giles.
“What are you, sixteen?” Buffy barked.
“Eternally. Ms. Summers entered into this arrangement of her own free will...”
Giles shook his head and interrupted, “Without full knowledge of...”
“Yet still enough for her to formulate her own judgments, her own assumptions, her own presumptions. Let her play, Rupert. Let her learn.”
“Yeah, whatever chaos freak said.”
“This game is over.” Giles shook his head, ashamed.
“Then I win. Pay up, losers!” Buffy boasted and did a brief victory dance which quickly regressed into a clumsy Twister game with an innocent chair.
“Buffy, as I have been trying repeatedly to tell you, you don’t understand.”
“I understand plenty, especially that you’re the sorest or the sore, loser-est loser unless you pay up.”
“You heard the lady, Ripper. Pay up.”
“Yeah, pay up Watcher-man. Don’t be a player if you can’t pay the Slayer,” Buffy teased.
“Buffy, you really should know...”
“What? That you can’t deliver when the Chosen One’s a winner?”
“Buffy, stop it, please.”
“I’ll shut up when you pay up!”
Giles grabbed her wrists and yanked her in close, trapping her within his arms. He pressed his lips to hers, firm and unyielding until she froze in silent shock. Before Buffy could comprehend what was happening, Giles pulled away, suddenly unable to meet her gaze.
Ethan was the first to break the awkward silence. “Are we learning, princess?”
“You kissed me.” Buffy whispered it, nearly breathless.
“Sorry, had to be done.” Giles cringed at his lame, excuse-less apology and searched for his glasses which he’d long since discarded in the midst of battle.
“You kissed me.” Her tone grew louder but still emotionally indiscernible.
“You broke her, mate. Knew you still had it in you!” Ethan gave Giles a nudge.
“You kissed me!”
“It would seem so.” Giles shrugged.
“No ‘seem’ about it. You kissed her.”
“But... wha... where’s my cash?”
“Who said we were playing for money?” Ethan chuckled.
“Are you saying we’re playing for kisses?”
“As well as further carnal prizes. Just our usual unwholesome game of chance. Besides, what harm could an innocent shag or two do?”
“Sh... sh... shag?” Buffy's eyes went wide.
“Just a little one,” Ethan quipped.
Buffy sobered all too suddenly. “What exactly did I win?”
“You must be Lady Luck in the flesh, my dear, for you won the jackpot. That is, two jacks, one pot, no waiting.” Ethan was enjoying the moment too much.
“Enough with the innuendoes, already. What’s going on, Giles?”
“It’s an old game we used to play. But rather than play for fiscal gain, we played for...”
“Each other,” Buffy finished softly, seemingly embarrassed.
“Or everyone. We became, erm... rather close back then. Buffy, I tried to warn you. It’s just a juvenile game we used to play. I won’t hold you to anything.”
“Bloody hell to that!” Ethan punctuated his objection with a slap to the table. “I’ll hold her to it, every nasty bit. It’s a matter of honor.”
“Ethan Rayne playing the honor card? It is to laugh.” Buffy said.
“I didn’t say my honor.”
“Buffy, it’s only a game and a rather pitiful excuse for one at that. Considered it forgotten.”
Buffy took a long, thoughtful look at Giles, taking in his sincerity, considering his passionate loyalty. Then she sized Ethan up from feet to head, finishing off at his eager smile, begging promises of filthy fun.
“Giles, in this year alone we’ve survived ten vampire/werewolf protests, thirteen Wiccan tribunals, three apocalypses, five catastrophes, two demonic uprisings, three ‘Back to School’ sales, one Potential wedding and now this. All there’s left to say is...”
Giles and Ethan waited for the Slayer with opposing expressions displaying their trepidation and excitement with all points between.
“...Bring it on, boys.” A smirk curled along her lips.
Ethan looked to Giles and mouthed, “Class is dismissed.”
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Giles/Ethan/Buffy
Notes: Written for the Drunken Giles Ficathon 2010, prompt 92: Giles/Ethan + Buffy. Buffy walks in on a drunk Giles and Ethan and decides to join the fun. Post show and ignoring the graphic novels. And a very big thanks to sadbhyl for her wonderful (and might I add gentle) beta work.
It wasn’t rare for the Council faculty to celebrate the conclusion of another “school” year but it was rare to see these particular scholars sharing space without devastating it. Buffy opened the door to discover just such an unlikely pair toasting to Alice Cooper’s “Schools Out” playing on the seldom used loud speaker. She’d caught Giles mid-chug of what had to be scotch from a clear plastic cup as Ethan watched on, obviously amused by whatever happened moments before she entered.
Buffy quickly shut the door, preventing any unwanted onlookers from catching the twosome engaging in the academically prohibited act. “What’s going on here, last call for Ethan before his execution?”
Giles chuckled. “Peace negotiations for the mystically endowed.”
“More like exacting my revenge against an hypocritical establishment,” Ethan corrected, directing a glare toward Giles.
“Sorry I asked.”
Ethan’s dark expression melted away into an easygoing smirk. “Come. Sit. Drink,” he gestured to the chair beside him.
“No. Stand. Go!” Buffy crossed her arms and set her glare to threat level intimidate.
“Ah ha!” Ethan exclaimed. “I believe an ‘I told you so’ is in order, Ripper.”
“Bollocks, it’s the scotch.” Giles waved the half empty bottle around in frustration. “If this were one of those frilly poofter drinks, she’d be all over it like one of her blood-sucking undead types.” Giles hiccuped.
“Hey, unnecessary roughness!” Buffy frowned. “I should have known, Giles plus Ethan equals drunken hijinks.”
“Hmm?” Giles’ head bobbed to some inaudible drunken beat until pausing with focus enough to pour another drink. “Don’t mind if I do.”
“If you insist!” Ethan raised his glass toward Giles who clinked it with his own and the two gulped down their drinks.
“Right. ‘Poofter’ better mean ‘kick ass’ or that’s what I’ll be doing to both of you.”
“AH!” Ethan punched the air. “And that would double your trouble, Ripper. You’re not faring well in this match. Pity, hee hee hee.”
“Bloody...” Giles hiccuped, “... hell. Buffy, be a dear and do shut up.”
“Not until I know what the heck you’re doing and even then, don’t count on it.”
“Ethan wagered you’d never join us for a drink.”
“With a stiff chaser for every threat, I might add.” Ethan offered a grin that hinted there was a double meaning in the statement. “Thank you, luv. You never disappoint.”
“Let me get this straight, you’ve reduced me to a drinking game?” Buffy grumbled. “How much is my antisocial sobriety worth, exactly?”
“No offense but it’s none of your b-bloody business.” Giles poured himself another shot with an unsteady grasp of the bottle.
“So that’s how you’re playing it? Fine!” Buffy charged for the door. “I’ll be back.”
“For what, exactly, a harsh word followed by spankings all around?” Giles’ giggled and looked up just as the door shut behind his determined Slayer.
“We can only hope,” Ethan mumbled under his breath.
Buffy returned moments later with a bottle in tow. She placed it on the table and settled into a seat opposite the drunken duo.
“Count me in,” she exclaimed and offered up an empty cup of her own.
Giles strained to get his numb tongue to work. “B-Buffy, you don’t want...”
“Ripper, we can let this round be a threesome if she so desires.” Ethan wore a menacing grin.
“Damn straight, but in much less offensive phrasing. Besides, I can beat you two any day, any time, any how.”
“Any way,” Ethan purred. “Sounds lovely.”
“Ethan, she’s never...”
“Then why should we deny her now? Besides, this will be interesting.” Ethan examined the nearly untouched bottle. “Vodka? Color me curious.”
Buffy shrugged. “I went to college. Even if it was only a blink’s worth, I did manage a few frat parties among the general lack of learning and supernatural interruptions.”
“Even so, vodka?”
“It can be cheap and mixes well with....”
“Fruity poofter drinks. Pay up, wanker.” Giles poked Ethan’s chest in triumph, vanquishing all signs of his hesitancy from moments before.
“Scotch me!” Buffy growled and watched eagerly as Ethan filled her cup, much to the dismay of Giles. “So what inspired this impromptu kegger?”
Giles raked his fingers through his hair. “Council’s decided to let Ethan go for breach of contract.”
“On what grounds?”
“All the grounds. They even revoked my access to the student union.” Ethan grumbled.
“Blessing in disguise, mate, considering the hazardous state of what they deem food.” They snickered.
“So connect the cold dish revenge special to Giles.”
“I’m on the committee,” Giles said with a coy smile.
“Bastard voted to fire me and now he’s going to pay dearly for his betrayal.” Ethan winked at Giles, sending a chill up Buffy’s spine.
“Ooookay, change of topic. How do I win this... um, thing?”
“You have to tell each of us a few things, in secret, to bet on the other. If it comes to pass, you win,” Ethan explained, biting back further comment.
“She doesn’t know anything about you, Ethan,” Giles defended.
“I know all I need to to beat him,” Buffy challenged.
Without looking at his target, Giles raised a finger in warning toward Ethan who simply smiled, leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“Buffy, this is foolish,” Giles said, concern just barely seeping though the haze of his drunken gaze.
Buffy chugged the scotch, slammed the empty cup to the table and let out a restrained cough peppered by the ragged words, “It’s... just... a game... Giles.” She finally cleared her throat. “I’m playing!”
Giles submitted with a shrug. Ethan, with almost giddy delight, refreshed the drinks and carefully placed the fullest cup before Buffy, adding a splash more before she accepted it. He made quite the show of dragging his chair in close to the Slayer and leaned in, eager to hear her whispered bet for Giles. Buffy rolled her eyes as she tried her best to keep her distance but secretly communicate the wager. She had to admit, he smelled different than she’d assumed he would. Rather than cheap drugstore cologne he smelled of incense, of the earthy, smokey tones of magicks. It was wild and curious. She found herself lingering a moment too long and pulled back suddenly with the realization of it. Ethan's brow arched with his confusion at her clumsy motion and Buffy quickly moved on.
It was Giles’ turn and Buffy skidded her chair in close to her Watcher, catching a whiff of that familiar, nostalgic musk that sent her back to their days of training. Striking, blocking, tackling... she liked tackling, especially Giles. Her stomach fluttered nervously as she leaned in a bit too far to feel his hair tickle the tip of her nose. She strained to concentrate and whispered her bets on Ethan. Giles nodded, both understanding and reassuring her she chose wisely. The game, as was the conversation, was on.
Buffy started off strong even though she could tell Giles was treading softly not to be lured into any of her sly traps. It was as if he’d deduced her ‘bets’ regarding him, stammering, cleaning his glasses with extra credit for him referencing the supernatural. All she had to do was tiptoe near the topic of relationships and sex and he would blush a brilliant crimson and escape to polishing his glasses usually followed by some stammered change of topic focused on the supernatural. Triple word score! So far, she rocked this game, whatever it was.
Ethan was a more difficult mark so she stuck with the basics, referring to Giles as ‘Ripper’ was her ace in the hole. She also chose to penalize him for teasing Giles. But the more difficult score depended on Rayne referring to magicks. Considering his level of drunkenness, the chaos mage was certain to speak of magicks like a beloved mistress and he didn’t disappoint.
After only a short while playing, Buffy began to feel it was like taking candy from a baby, or should she say taking booze away from the boys. Regardless, she’d already felt the dizzy warmth and liquid courage taking effect to loosen her up. Ethan offered a “well played” and swallowed down yet another shot of vodka, making the Slayer wonder if there was an ulterior motive in this game.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were letting me win, Rayne,” Buffy challenged.
“While Ethan rather enjoys losing this particular game, I’d know if he were cheating.” Giles took a long, slow drink, giving Ethan his patented Ripper stare of warning.
“How dare you accuse me of fair play, Ripper. After all, I have a reputation to uphold.”
“This has gone on long enough. Tell her what the true stakes are, Ethan,” Giles urged.
“Why, don’t think I have what it takes? You can stop watchin’ over me, Giles. I’m a big girl now.” Buffy gestured for Ethan to refresh her drink.
“That much is certain,” Ethan smirked, eyes carefully avoiding Giles.
“What are you, sixteen?” Buffy barked.
“Eternally. Ms. Summers entered into this arrangement of her own free will...”
Giles shook his head and interrupted, “Without full knowledge of...”
“Yet still enough for her to formulate her own judgments, her own assumptions, her own presumptions. Let her play, Rupert. Let her learn.”
“Yeah, whatever chaos freak said.”
“This game is over.” Giles shook his head, ashamed.
“Then I win. Pay up, losers!” Buffy boasted and did a brief victory dance which quickly regressed into a clumsy Twister game with an innocent chair.
“Buffy, as I have been trying repeatedly to tell you, you don’t understand.”
“I understand plenty, especially that you’re the sorest or the sore, loser-est loser unless you pay up.”
“You heard the lady, Ripper. Pay up.”
“Yeah, pay up Watcher-man. Don’t be a player if you can’t pay the Slayer,” Buffy teased.
“Buffy, you really should know...”
“What? That you can’t deliver when the Chosen One’s a winner?”
“Buffy, stop it, please.”
“I’ll shut up when you pay up!”
Giles grabbed her wrists and yanked her in close, trapping her within his arms. He pressed his lips to hers, firm and unyielding until she froze in silent shock. Before Buffy could comprehend what was happening, Giles pulled away, suddenly unable to meet her gaze.
Ethan was the first to break the awkward silence. “Are we learning, princess?”
“You kissed me.” Buffy whispered it, nearly breathless.
“Sorry, had to be done.” Giles cringed at his lame, excuse-less apology and searched for his glasses which he’d long since discarded in the midst of battle.
“You kissed me.” Her tone grew louder but still emotionally indiscernible.
“You broke her, mate. Knew you still had it in you!” Ethan gave Giles a nudge.
“You kissed me!”
“It would seem so.” Giles shrugged.
“No ‘seem’ about it. You kissed her.”
“But... wha... where’s my cash?”
“Who said we were playing for money?” Ethan chuckled.
“Are you saying we’re playing for kisses?”
“As well as further carnal prizes. Just our usual unwholesome game of chance. Besides, what harm could an innocent shag or two do?”
“Sh... sh... shag?” Buffy's eyes went wide.
“Just a little one,” Ethan quipped.
Buffy sobered all too suddenly. “What exactly did I win?”
“You must be Lady Luck in the flesh, my dear, for you won the jackpot. That is, two jacks, one pot, no waiting.” Ethan was enjoying the moment too much.
“Enough with the innuendoes, already. What’s going on, Giles?”
“It’s an old game we used to play. But rather than play for fiscal gain, we played for...”
“Each other,” Buffy finished softly, seemingly embarrassed.
“Or everyone. We became, erm... rather close back then. Buffy, I tried to warn you. It’s just a juvenile game we used to play. I won’t hold you to anything.”
“Bloody hell to that!” Ethan punctuated his objection with a slap to the table. “I’ll hold her to it, every nasty bit. It’s a matter of honor.”
“Ethan Rayne playing the honor card? It is to laugh.” Buffy said.
“I didn’t say my honor.”
“Buffy, it’s only a game and a rather pitiful excuse for one at that. Considered it forgotten.”
Buffy took a long, thoughtful look at Giles, taking in his sincerity, considering his passionate loyalty. Then she sized Ethan up from feet to head, finishing off at his eager smile, begging promises of filthy fun.
“Giles, in this year alone we’ve survived ten vampire/werewolf protests, thirteen Wiccan tribunals, three apocalypses, five catastrophes, two demonic uprisings, three ‘Back to School’ sales, one Potential wedding and now this. All there’s left to say is...”
Giles and Ethan waited for the Slayer with opposing expressions displaying their trepidation and excitement with all points between.
“...Bring it on, boys.” A smirk curled along her lips.
Ethan looked to Giles and mouthed, “Class is dismissed.”