01 | holo | location: sanctuary | ARRIVAL

[buffy_slayer]

"So... that's a whisky, two strawberry daquiris, and... a diet coke. Got it. Be right back!" She can feel the smile stretching her skin tight, trying to keep the level of cheer expected by The Powers that Be... in this case, the guys running the place. This polyester renaissance horror show that is her job right now, it manages to pay the bills

Comments

[visual]

[troublescleaner]

"Not a joke." This is from one blonde to another--Dwight Hendrickson has seen what happens, even moreso now that he's experienced it. His thoughts are a jumbled mess but that leaves one fit hunter to stare at the tablet with an air of chagrin.

"Sorry. I'm Dwight. This? Is the worst Trouble you're in for. Welcome to Taxon."

[holo]

[buffy_slayer]

She startles at the sound, reflexively lashing out.

No one, it seems, is very threatened by a brandished order pad.

"If a cold metal room is my worst trouble, the rest should be all sunshine and puppies, right?" The was all coming from the tablet, and as Buffy edges towards it she can see the glow emanating from the screen.

"Hello... Dwight." She should at least be marginally friendly, right?

[visual]

[troublescleaner]

Dwight puts a hand through sandy blonde hair, not bothering to hide the slight amusement on his face. Yup. Nothing like a bright yellow pad of paper to scare off a Afghanistan veteran that happens to be Troubled.

He scratches the mane of hair, though, more because it gives him a minute to look decidedly less uncomfortable than he already is. He briefly contemplates the blond coming from ancient roman times or something of the sort--it's the clothing--but the cynicism is a 90s era trait Dwight's all too familiar with.

"In a convention?" he can't help but--and okay maybe he's a bit like Duke Crocker, but there's a genuinely apologetic smile coming from the large electrician. "Pick up the tablet, you'll get out. Door will open, or..something." He pauses. "I'm actually in the same building as you right now. It's called Sanctuary."

Someone better at talking needed to do this.

[holo]

[buffy_slayer]

Right, just pick up the strange talking tablet; at least it matches the bracelet that seems to be welded to her wrist.

"Sanctuary, huh." She's talking as she pries the table up from the pedestal and looking at the man on the screen.

"Why is it that places that have such serene names end up usually being the worst places to be?"

[Visual]

[smecker]

Long look at the tablet. Tap to answer, after a few minutes' thought.

"Buffy, isn't it?" He remembers her.... but she apparently doesn't remember Taxon. One of the repeats, then. "Paul Smecker. I'd say welcome to Taxon but it's not exactly the sort of place one wants to be welcomed to."

Re: [Visual]

[buffy_slayer]

"Hello, ... person I don't know. Everyone so far as been so positive about this place, I can't wait to get out of here and take a look around. I can do that, right?"

Not that she's necessarily wanting to, what with the doom and gloom that's been hinted at by, well, everyone. Buffy's half expecting pits of fire and clouds of acid.

[Visual]

[smecker]

"Sorry. Paul Smecker." Paul digs out his cigarettes, lights one up to take a drag. "Formerly FBI.

"So, just to be clear-- you're Buffy-who-has-a-sister-named-Dawn, you're from somewhere called Sunnydale that is very hell-on-earth, you're all anti-monster? Because if you're already used to the weird shit, that reduces the amount of explanation time I spend on the 'I'm-not-crazy, really' aspect of things."

Re: [Visual]

[buffy_slayer]

"I... how did you... I didn't..." One word filters through all of the rest, at which point he gets fixed with a steady glare.

"Dawn is here?" Her voice is steady, just barely.

[goodluck_kobra]

Kobra is still sick and tired and a million other things and only watches the new arrival on the tablet with the tiniest hint of interest. He wiggles his fingers in a wave, swallows a few times to make his throat less dry.

"Look alive, Sunshine. Welcome to Taxon, tumbleweed."

[buffy_slayer]

So many... interesting people in this new place.

"No dire warnings? You'd be the first."

[goodluck_kobra]

"Nope," Kobra shakes his head. "There's no point in that, really. You'll find things out yourself."

[buffy_slayer]

"Eventually I will, I guess. Unless I just... sleep in the hallway here." The image isn't quite clear enough to make out his condition.

"But I'm guessing that wouldn't be the best idea ever."

[visual]

[slayersidekick]

The only thing Willow gets out of the whole transmission is that Buffy's back. She is back, isn't she? Willow searches the tablet, both with her eyes, her tech knowledge, and a little bit of magic to be sure before she responds. It's been so long... and even though she knows Buffy won't remember anything, she no longer cares. It's still her best friend.

"I'm coming, Buffy!"

Nothing else. Just that she's coming. And she is. The tablet will stay on as she runs to the Sanctuary, which is lucky since it's a... good long way from where she is.

Re: [visual]

[buffy_slayer]

"Will??" The part of the picture that seems to be Willow is moving, like she's running.

But it's that voice, and that's familiar. She can't help but hope, deep down, that this'll be a friendly face amidst a sea of unknowns.

[visual]

[slayersidekick]

Yep, she's definitely running. Until that moment where she gets on the train system and it's all still again. Then Willow herself turns up in the window, grinning in relief.

"Buffy, are you okay? You haven't left the Sanctuary yet, right?"

Re: [visual]

[buffy_slayer]

"I haven't. I'm looking down a hallway, which I'm guessing leads to outside. Which from what the others have been saying is probably on fire or something."

She's in the hallway and peering down at the end, hesitating before going any further.

"Should... should I be worried, Willow? For... for being here, for what's at the end of hallway..."

And I'm concerned that you're not you and that might just kill me. Words she wouldn't, couldn't speak out loud.

[Visual]

[a_pretty_fire]

Although it had been months - too long, even for a creature who would live for centuries - since Drusilla had heard that voice, she recognised it immediately. It was so full of life. Full of the strange brightness that belonged to the Slayer alone.

She hastily switched on the tablet to reply, fumbling with technology that she had a low opinion of in the first place. Drusilla had no love for science of any sort. (Although she didn’t hate it, either. It had set her on the path to Buffy.)

"I knew you'd find me."

But she doesn't sound scared or angry or any of the other things that a vampire should feel when faced with a Slayer. If anything, she sounded genuinely and quietly affectionate.

Re: [Visual]

[buffy_slayer]

"Oh goody. My favorite crazy person."

Her voice is laden, positively dripping with sarcasm. The affection heard in the other woman's voice... well, it's Dru. Buffy was pretty sure that it really was a crapshoot as to what Dru was thinking at any point in time.

[Visual]

[a_pretty_fire]

"Are you here to take me home?"

She ignored the sarcasm - the Slayer often said things that she didn't mean or used phrases that she didn't realise were wrong - and continued to smile with softness and affection at the screen.

"The parties haven't been the same without you. It's been too cold."

Re: [Visual]

[buffy_slayer]

"I'm not here to take you anywhere, Drusilla. I'm here to..." Buffy scrubs at her forehead to try and forestall the inevitable headache.

"Really, I don't know why I'm here. If it has anything to do with you, I'd love to know it." Things with Dru in the past have never been easy, and often involved violence.