voice + action ✪ a ghost just needs a home

[slaying]

Good morning. Happy Sunday. Et cetera, et cetera.

My dear barman-in-arms, Zack, has already intro'd you fine folks to the equally fine watering-hole we like to call Good Spirits. So here's me -- Buffy Summers -- with a bit of a follow-up question

Comments

[ action ]

[halftheduet]

[Stephen Maturin slips into the bar in the afternoon. He's left Jack asleep at home-- a late night engaged in God-only-knows-what. He'll get the answer later, when Jack is awake. The man seemed... simply too tired to bother about it last night.

Today, rather than sliding into his corner table to watch and listen all the things around him, he actually takes a proper seat at the bar.]

Good afternoon, my dear.

[ action ]

[slaying]

[ and the doctor is on the receiving end of one of her more winning smiles. she leans back against the far counter and supports herself against its lip with the palms of her hands. ]

Hi. Here to put a little warmth in the soul now that the cooler weather is settling in?

[ action ]

[halftheduet]

[And he smiles in return, nodding.]

You mentioned something about cider. I could hardly resist stopping by.

[ action ]

[slaying]

...Are you looking for the grown-up version?

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy]

I'd gladly come, but I'm not sure what my house is doing yet.

[Voice]

[slaying]

No sweat if you end up with other arrangements but -- if you're free? We'd love to have you.

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy]

And you know if I'm available I'd love to come. Have a tentative guest list yet?

[Voice]

[slaying]

I'm trying to rope just about every sailor from my world's ancient sailing past. Giles, too. And his plus-ones or plus-twos. Melaka's been press-ganged though she hasn't replied, yet. Sokka's already said no.

Jilly'll be there, of course. And I'll cry if Derek isn't. [ a beat. ] You know, if you can come? You should probably bring Haruhi.

[Voice]

[markofthewise]

Um. Thanks for the invite. Buuuut you probably don't want five extra people. [Because he's not going to go alone. Not when his 'family' is at home.] Besides, this whole Thanksgiving thing isn't really a thing in my world. So. You know.

[Voice]

[slaying]

Hey. The invite's been given, my duty of friendship has been dispatched. It's up to you to crush my poor heart or not.

[Voice]

[markofthewise]

Crushing hearts. It's what I do. Call it a hobby.

[Voice]

[slaying]

Or a crime-spree.

[Voice]

[so_shik]

..quite a sales pitch. Is it working out for you?

[Voice]

[slaying]

You tell me. Are you salivating yet?

[Voice]

[so_shik]

Maybe. Mind if I drop by for a bit?

[Voice]

[slaying]

I never mind. I'll have one waiting for you.

[Voice]

[hisdarkmark]

Here's a better question. What do you recommend beyond the cider?

[Voice]

[slaying]

In the warm drink department? Hot cocoa stirred with a candy cane is one of my favourites. And egg nog's meant to be cold but I prefer it hot.

[Voice]

[hisdarkmark]

You know? You may actually know what you're talking about. Color me impressed...I might try either one. Bit of a coffee habit I need to kick, you see. [Man...small talk. He used to be a lot better at this. It doesn't help that he's got an objective in mind but no idea how to really execute it.]

I'll never understand why people want to be bartenders in the first place. Don't you have other things to do?

[Voice]

[slaying]

Oh. Believe me. Back home? This wouldn't be my first choice. Or even my second. Or my thirty-first. But here...? I don't know. It started out as therapy, really. And then it stuck.