Dinner, Birthday, and a psuedo-party ((rp thread for anyone in L.A.!))

[fakingitsomehow]

No one ever said that Buffy could cook. Cereal? Yes. She excelled at making cereal. Get the box out, get the milk out, presto! Cereal. So having a dinner party for everyone as a sort of "mini-reunion"? Not really her forte. Still, it wasn't her belated birthday she was celebrating, so it couldn't go wrong. Right

Comments

[prodigalwatcher]

When he'd gotten the news that not only were Buffy and Faith about to take up residence-- albeit temporary residence-- in the great space that Gwen referred to as her "apartment", Wesley had deemed it the most appropriate course of action to stage a strategic withdrawal. He wondered whether the retreat might draw a bit of ire from Gwen, but he was sure he could find a way to get back in her good graces.

Wesley knocked on the door, wondering just what sort of party he was in for.

[fakingitsomehow]

"Hey... oh." Buffy forced a smile. This was, after all, the guy Gwen was sleeping with. She had to be nice to her roomie's choice of men, right?

Actually, where did it say that, anywhere?

"Wesley, come on inside. You know the layout, so whatever you do, don't do anything that would make me go blind from watching with Gwen. Please? Thanks."

Then she smiled sweetly at her old Watcher.

[prodigalwatcher]

Wesley chuckled quietly. "I wouldn't dream of it. There's still enough of the Wesley Wyndam-Pryce you remember to still have some propriety at gatherings." He shrugged. "Although one never knows what turns a party might take."

Sidling toward the table of drinks, Wesley selected a bottle of beer from the cooler and opened it. "So how was New York?"

[fakingitsomehow]

She shrugged a bit and got a bottled water for herself. Best to stay away from the booze after she got drunk and told Faith she thought she was "hot".

"It was nice, actually. Crazy at first with everyone trying to be there for Kara and Addie. I don't know how well Harry dealt with it and I know for sure Angel wasn't doing that great. Hence, the me asking you to call him favor which, by the way, thank you for doing that." She took a breath. "It wasn't all bad, though. Like I said, just crazy. Sort of reminded me of all the Potenial Slayers at my house way back."

She eyed Wesley. They hadn't really talked much since he'd gotten his "make-over". "What about you? How did you and Gwen hook up? She's pretty cagey about you, which is odd."

[_freaksrus]

A gathering with the potential of Angel, Spike and Lindsey in the same room was the perfect gift for Gwen. Seriously, Buffy couldn't have planned it better if she'd tried, which of course she knew she hadn't. It almost made up for Wesley's retreat... almost.

She smiled at Buffy when she stepped into the gathering area. "Hey, nice spread. Have I thanked you for throwing me this?" Not that Gwen would ever, ever admit this but it was touching. It was the first party anyone had voluntarily thrown for her birthday.

[fakingitsomehow]

"Nope, but I'm sure there's plenty of time to thank me later," she winked. "Booze is in the fridge, but don't touch the cake yet! I think we all need to sing to you first. Bad luck if you don't, or something."

She hugged her roomie and smiled. "Is it okay? Really?"

[_freaksrus]

Gwen returned the hug and smile. "It's really okay and thanks."

She nodded toward the direction of the fridge, "Want a beer? To steady the nerves before the others get here?" Her eyes danced as she asked the question.

[fakingitsomehow]

"Beer? No. No, no, no. Water is cool enough for me, thanks." She glared at Gwen. "You know what happens when I drink alcohol. Are you trying to get this party off on the wrong foot?"

[goaskmalice]

Faith felt like she was going to a birthday party for a twelve year when she saw the cake. Not that she was opposed to cake, she was sure she would eat enough of it by the end of the night. Still, she couldn't seem to shake the bad mood she'd found herself in lately. She blamed it on hanging around Buffy but somewhere she knew that wasn't really fair. Besides, it was Gwen's birthday and she wanted to help the other badass chick in leather pants in her life celebrate properly.

Why, with copious amounts of booze of course.

"I'm here, you can quit yer whinin' now." She announced to the room, but the announcement itself had been mostly for Buffy.

She turned the full force of her smirk onto Gwen instead. "Sorry, I'm not much of a shopper so I guess I'm your birthday present. Let me know when you wanna unwrap it." Faith winked at her before turning her back to all of them and looking for the whiskey.

[fakingitsomehow]

Buffy rolled her eyes, but was secretly happy that Faith decided to put in an appearance. Wasn't that the whole point of this, anyway? For "the gang" to be together?

Well, technically, it wasn't everyone. It wasn't like Dawnie or Xander or Wills or Giles were there.

Hmm. Buffy decided to stop while she was ahead, and walked up to Faith.

"Hey, thanks. I know this isn't your thing, but thanks."

[goaskmalice]

"Hey, it's my thing. I like a good party." Faith replied tersely before looking back over at Buffy, who was obviously trying hard to please everyone.

Faith sighed. Annoyed that as of late, she's overwhelmed with the urge to behave for Buffy's sake. Plus, Faith was all too aware that most of the party guests were guaranteed to not like her and let it be widely known. CORDELIA.

"Dunno why you wanted me here though." She admitted. "And seriously. Where's the beer? Whiskey? I'll take whatever you got."

[fakingitsomehow]

"Uh, beer's in the fridge, next to the blood for the vamps." She frowned a little at Faith. Was something wrong already? Had Buffy done something to piss her off already?

"I just thought, you know, that it would be nice to have everybody here and not fighting for a change. Or at least, not fighting evil."

She hoped there wasn't evil beer or cake, but that was anyone's guess.

[queen_c_tm]

Cordelia was always happy to go to a party, even if she might not be the best of friends with everyone there. It was for Gwen's birthday, and she was trying to do the friend thing with her, for the sake of the agency and some of the other friends they shared.

Besides, how often would they have everyone in LA like this? Might as well make the most of it when she could. Especially since she didn't know how many more of these gatherings she had to look forward to, what with her head still a ticking time bomb.

She'd brought Gwen a gift, although she still wasn't sure what her tastes were. It seems a safe enough present: simple, pretty and from Tiffany's. How could you go wrong?

"Thanks for the invite," she told Buffy once she and Lindsey had arrived. "Let's just hope your guests don't all kill each other by the end of the night."

Maybe not the most encouraging thing to say? But what else did Buffy expect, mixing all of those people together?

[fakingitsomehow]

"You're welcome..."

Buffy smiled at Lindsey (and was it forced? Maybe...), but actually gave a real smile to Cordelia. "I... kill each other? Really? I don't think people will..." She looked around.

"Seriously? I figured we could all just eat and be merry. Or whatever that saying is."

[evilhandissue]

Lindsey was behind Cordelia, and while he would have tried to weasel his way out, it was Gwen's birthday and so he would make what he felt was the ultimate sacrifice and spend time with people he more or less didn't like.

Cordelia and Gwen excluded.

With Buffy's smile, he gave her a half smile back and nodded in acknowledgment. See, being nice. He deserved a cookie. Or at least a beer.

[queen_c_tm]

Cordelia had to fight not to roll her eyes at Buffy. It was almost cute how naive she was about the violent potential of her little party.

"Fine, maybe not kill, but maim? That one's a possibility. But maybe we'll be lucky and everyone will be on their best behavior."

That said, she shot a pointed look at Lindsey. Then smiled, because this was a party, and she was here to have fun. Too bad she couldn't have any alcohol. That would go a long way toward the fun.

[big_pile_o_dust]

Spike already had his fags with him, thank-you-very-much, and he wasn't about to be the only one still working at the agency if there was a party going on where there might be food.

He nodded at Buffy, winked at Cordelia, waggled his eyebrows at the birthday girl, and stopped dead in his tracks at seeing Faith again. Faith? Faith was here in town too? And no one had told him?

He started muttering under his breath a little about always being ignored as he grabbed a California Roll and popped it into his mouth.

[_freaksrus]

Gwen's eyebrow arched upward at the little pause that Spike gave at the sight of Faith. Oh, very interesting there. Now all she needed to find out was the story behind that pause.

She made her way over to where Spike stood. "Hey, you. Had a beer yet?"

[big_pile_o_dust]

"Hey, luv. Aren't you the picture of beauty tonight." He thought about kissing her in front of Percy, but decided it was too early in the day to be brassing him off like that, so he settled for a kiss on the cheek.

"Didn't get you a gift, since frankly, I'm all you need." He passed his fag to her. "Want some?"

Looking at the fridge, he shook his head. "No beers yet, pet, but that sounds like a right good idea."

[_freaksrus]

Gwen shook her head, "Thanks, but no. I don't smoke." Then she grinned. "And I'll unwrap you later when I unwrap Faith. Looks like you both had the same idea for my gift?"