14 February 2003 - The Tournament Begins!

Jess and Smallville, Buffy and Roswell people

Dawn couldn't belive some of the things she was seeing as she and her friendsa walked into the arena. She and Clark walked up with Nyx, Spike, Dru, and Amanda, who were mainly just there to watch, and not participate, considering that not of them were members yet. Dawn didn't even understand why she was a member, except that it had to do with her blood being made of energy from outside the universe.

They met up with Taylor at the door, and after a few introductions, were shjown the way to the information booth. Rachel and Jess had promised to meet Dawn there, and apparently Rachel's cousins were going to be there as well. Still holding Clark's hand, she turned around to her 'bodyguards.'

"Can you believe this madness?" she asked with disbelief.

"We're going to have to take extra care to look after you," Spike insisted.

"Look at all the people!" Dru sang, "Are these nice people?"

"The best, Dru," Clark promised her. "But remember, they're not human, so no snacking. Spike has lots of food for you."

"Spike, I'm hungry," Dru whined.

"Nyx, I'm gonna take Dru to a corner where we won't draw too much attention and give her some lunch. You let ANYBODY hurt the nibblets, and I'll have your guts for garters." Spike threatened. Max, Isabel, Rachel, and Jess all looked somewhat shaken up. Finding her voice, Rachel spoke up.

"Don't forget, we have to meet up with Marco in an hour. He's still looking for a partner for the shapeshifting sculptures. He was going to ask his friend AJ, but I think she might still be in the hospital, recovering from the explosion. I'm not certain. I'm still kinda sad that Cassie and Jake can't make it, I haven't seen them in ages. They were signed up, but there was a fire on the animal preserve that Cassie's parents own, and they're needed to help with the animals. I'm hoping that Tobias will fly in later." They were walking and talking at the same time, when Spike and Dru veered off to the corner, Spike leading her by the hand. Giving them a peculiar look, Max spoke up.

"Okay, I'm missing something. Why did Spike threaten you, who are the 'Nibblets,' and why are they going aside to eat?"

Dawn and Amanda were finding it very hard to not laugh their heads off.

Taylor

Taylor could see Mouse from where he was, she'd gone past Sheldon. Sort of. They were still talking. He turned to Harry.

"Hey Harry! Can you help me out here for a second?"

He smiled at the next woman in line before taking off for where Sheldon was.

"Hey Sheldon? She's with me," Taylor blushed a little as he put a hand on Mouse's shoulder.

"Oooooooooh, I see," he winked.

"Not like that you bastard. Who are they?" Taylor asked Mouse, looking at Priss, etc.

Nyx

Nyx threw her head back and laughed, before shooting them a sly look. "Know all those stories about things that go bump in the night? Very true, and they're some of the things you children should run away from. They're vampires, what with the 'grrrr' and the blooddrinking. They're going away because for some reason watching vampires eat makes most people feel sick. What with the blood and all..." Nyx laughed again, and then her eyes widened. "Priss has made her entrance! What a flare!"

"What did she do?" Amanda asked worriedly.

"She zapped herself here, and oh! Sabby's here too! Oh, fun!" Nyx started to bounce slightly on the spot. "I can feel the magick humming through my fur. Mom helped her skip it though." Nyx spun in a tight circle. "This will be such delightful fun. All three kitties here to play. And Priss brought a friend. Meow!" Nyx gave them a coy look. "Oh, I'm hyped! So much energy, giving me shivers down my spine all the way to the end of my tail." Nyx shuddered theatically. "I wanna go pick fights and flirt and run! Dawn, can we?" Nyx leant her head on Dawn's shoulder. "C'mon, sweetie, you know you wanna." She batted her eyelashes up at Dawn.

Ash G and Taylor

Ashley came up to the door he knew Taylor would be on.

"Taking their time or what?" he heard a lady grumble, before realizing the line wasn't moving.

Neither was the other.

Frowning a little, he walked up to the head of the other line, and saw the five of them standing around.

"Hey Taylor! Sheldon! Mouse!" he exclaimed, with a wave.

Taylor and Sheldon looked up and waved, but went back to the conversation. A little annoyed, Ash went over to them.

> "The best, Dru," CPriss, Sabre and Mouse

Mouse blushed. Sabre decided to help the girl out with her her crush and settled on making the guy jealous. If he hadn't seen the heart in this girl, maybe he deserved to lose her.

"Ah well now, that's a tale and a half." Sabre grinned, before making his way to Mouse's side. "We're friends of a friend who's coming to this shindig. She invited us, and we decided it sounded like fun. Dawn Summers."

"A man named Walker Hanson also told a friend of ours that we would be welcome here. I be Priss." Priss tilted her head to the side and stared at Taylor. "I am a child of the goddess Bastet. A cat in human form. I can shift for thee if thee requires proof, or perhaps magick be more to thine desires? Sabre, leave the child alone." Sabre looked up from where he'd been about to smell Mouse's hair, and made puppy dog eyes at Priss. Mouse stared at him with wide eyes.

"But she's so sweet, Priss me dear girl. Playing at human has never been the best game for either of us, really. She understands us, don't you feel it? She knows us for what we truly be." Sabre ran a hand through Mouse's hair. She ducked her head.

"You're a cat, so I understand the tactile. But no." Mouse said firmly. Sabre's eyes lit up.

"I like to play, kitten. What say we make a run of it?" Mouse moved closer to Taylor, eyes very wide now.

"Sabe..." Priss growled warningly. "I told thee to leave the girl alone. She is not in the mood for games, and that be all thee does, brother. Play." Sabre bared his teeth at her, and she slapped his arm lightly. "Stop thy nonsense or they will never let us in."

"Ah, ye know me Priss. I always put me great foot in it. Remember Carthage?" The two shared a grin.

"Um. Confused." Mouse said.

"Not alone in that." Sheldon replied.

Taylor and Ash

Taylor cleared his throat as he tried to help Mouse stand back.

"'Magick' is only aloud in the contests people. No one is supposed to use their powers otherwise, and since you're not competing, I'd thank you to keep it discreet."

He shot Sabre a look before turning to Priss.

"Walker Hanson is my father, I'm Taylor Hanson, from the band Hanson. I don't know if you're into music..."

He hesitated.

"This is Sheldon, a good friend of mine... sometimes... and this is Ashley," he finally included him in the conversation.

"You guys are into Magick? I know a witch, but she's only practising," Ashley said with a raised eyebrow, "more into Wicca."

"Yeah, but she's too far up herself to realise she's hardly doing it right. I know who you're talking about," Taylor shook his head, "by the way, I saw Katie earlier. Reckons she's going to kick your butt again."

Ashley clenched his fists.

"I'll find her and have a word to her."

With that, he pushed past, passed Harry, and into the centre.

Taylor turned his attention to the cats, etc.

Priss, Sabre and Mouse

"So, do we pass?" Sabre grinned. "Don't get yer knickers in a twist, Priss. I promised I'd behave. Mostly. Sides, flirting is naught but fun."

"I wilt tell Mother. She would be *most* annoyed at you." Priss smiled sweetly at her brother and then turned back to Mouse. "Pay him no attention, sweetheart. He be...himself, which is as good an explantion as any for his behaviour."

Mouse smiled at the gentle lady, cos that's what she was. A lady. "I can cope with it. Sides, kinda nice."

"Ah, don't go woun > "The best, Dru," Cding me heart so." Sabre sighed dramatically. "Surely such a sweet girl as yeself could find it in yer heart to give a man a bit of hope?" Mouse giggled at his antics. "Just a smile and I'll be yer slave forevermore. That boy won't never treat ye aright, treat ye like the princess ye are."

Back off, cat. Fafnir snarled finally.

"Mind thine own business, wolf. Besides, I think your mistress does not dislike it as much as ye think." Sabre switched his eyes from the wolf back to Mouse.

"Ok, flattered yes. But really thinking this won't pass beyond flirting."

"Aw, flirtation's half the fun, kitten. C'mon, gonna invite us in?"

"That's for vampires, Sabre." Priss shook her head. "I promise thee that I wilt restrain him."

"We can trust them." Mouse felt out with her empathic abilities, and her eyes widened. "Oh, you're so old. Ancient even."

"But we wear it so well!" Sabre chuckled. "I'm only sixty thousand, give or take a few centuries. I'm bored, and we're holding up the line. Can we come in? One of us is already here anyways. Nyx is running around in there, and you've let two vampires in." Sabre's head went up and his nostrils flared. "And there's summat else..."

"Well, if Mr. Hanson invited you...what do you think Taylor?" Sheldon dithered.

Taylor and Walker

"I don't believe my father would invite someone he doesn't know. I'll be back soon. If Mouse wants to come in, let her," Taylor nodded to Sheldon, "the wolf too. His name's Fafnir and he's with us."

Sheldon nodded before Taylor took off to look for his father.

He soon found him, talking with Wayne and another security guard. They were eyeing off everyone that walked past.

"Dad!" he exclaimed, going over.

"Excuse me," Walker nodded, and turned to him, "what's up?"

"There's a couple of people here, say you know who they are. Magick users," he said, pointing his thumb over his shoulder.

Walker sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"They're not members," Taylor added bluntly.

"If they know a Rupert Giles, let them in. Ask if they know his first name or something. I spoke with Mr. Giles last night, and he assured me they'd be no trouble."

Taylor nodded, and went back to Sheldon.

"Hey Taylor! You coming back?!" Harry called as people were getting restless in the other line.

"Yeah! Just stall for a second!" he yelled back.

He turned to the cats and Faith.

"What's Giles' first name, if you don't mind me asking? Dad said if you know to let you through."

He nodded to Sheldon.

Priss and Sabre

"Rupert," Priss said confidently.

"And such a pansy ass name at that." Priss glowered at Sabre and hit him on the arm. "Aw, I forgot. You like the Watcher, don't ye?"

"Be quiet, Sabre." Priss flushed.

"What is this? A blush? Hah, I win!" Sabre crowed. "I haven't made ye blush since, jaysus, I can't even remember the last time I made you blush. So, the name is right, can we come in?"

Taylor

"Yep, she's right," Taylor nodded, "I'd better get back to the other line."

"So many people are going to complain about your service, you realize?" Sheldon grinned.

"Shut up."

With that, Taylor went back to work.

"So many people coming in early. The bloody lunch isn't until twelve," Sheldon rolled his eyes, then smiled at Priss.

"Tenha freaks bons de uma > "The best, Dru," C estadia," he grinned at Sabre, before waving them through.

Amanda and Dawn

Amanda was the first to spot them. "Nyx, Dawn, everyone, look who's here!" She declared, pointing at Priss, Sabre, and Faith. Dawn spun around, and practically lept at Faith. She was made of the Slayers, which meant that Faith was a part of her, and vice versa, just like with Buffy.

"Faith! I so missed you, despite the trying to kill y sister thing. How have you been?"

Priss, Sabre and Mouse

Mouse watched them shyly. Wow. Much connection and love. As if PRiss could sense her thoughts, the cat turned and took her hand, bringing her forward. "This be Mouse, she helped us get inside."

"Well, you're Folk," Mouse said reasonably. "And cats. Cats and wolves are my thing, though I had to leave Sidhe at home."

"Ye have a cat named Sidhe? Ah, you're a girl after me own heart, so ye are." Sabre picked her up and whirled her around before putting her back down on the ground. Mouse was shellshocked, and Fafnir growled, then leapt for Sabre's throat.

"NO!" Mouse sprang after him, knocking him off target, and then waiting to hit the floor hard, eyes closed in anticipation, but she didn't. She opened her eyes cautouisly. She was floating. "Ok, much weird."

Priss sighed as she righted Mouse with a twist of her wrist. "Sabre, do not taunt the wolf."

"But she's just so sweet, I can't help meself." Sabre grinned rogueishly.

"Fafnir, no biting. Told you not to." Mouse bared her teeth at the wolf. "Packmate, obey me in this. They're more then you think. You wanna get your tail whipped, go ahead. But there will be words after."

Aw, ruin all my fun. Ok, but he does that again, and he'll be as naked as the day he was born. With my teeth firmly attached to his jugular vein.

"And still weirded out by the whole not hitting the floor thing."

"Magick, sweetling, magick." Priss laughed.

"Sabre, I do agree, she's very sweet. Hey cutie." Nyx moved into Mouse's personal space. Mouse blinked.

"Um, very straight here. Quite quite het. Not looking to walk on the other side, thanks."

"I can take a no. She's all yours Sabre."

"Who said I was anyones? I'm mine." Mouse felt like everything was rapidly spinning out of control.

Faith

Faith stepped back, trying to avoid Dawn's hug. She'd never really been good with affection, probably because she wasn't used to it. But Dawn persisted and they hugged, although Faith felt cold all over and stiffly hugged back.

"You know, five by five. How are you these days?"

Jess and Buufy, Smallville and Roswell people

Dawn & Amanda ran off after the cats, and Clark followed because he was whipped. Turning around, he bid the others to follow. Jess came willingly, as did Max, but Isabel and Rachel decided to wait for Marco at the Information Booth. As they were walking, Dawn asked Jess a question.

"So Jess, met up with Pyro yet? I've been wanting to meet him since you & Ash introduced us online. I'd like to meet Ash too, any sight of them?

"They're here, I'll introduce you to everyone at lunch."

"Okay, sounds good to me." Before long, they reched Faith and the kitties.

"Priss!" Dawn exclaimed, embracing the woman. "How are you?"

Mouse, Priss and Sabre

"I be fine, sweet. Meet Mouse." Priss hugged Dawn, then beckoned Mouse forward. Sabre and Nyx were trading quick blows, and then uma > "The best, Dru," C stopped, laughed, and fell into each other's arms.

"Um. Hi. Tag's Mouse. This is Fafnir, and Nevyn." Mouse reached up and scratched Nevyn under the chin. "Fafnir's a bit protective, and having nervous panic attacks all over the place because Sabre's being all flirty. Which is new."

I don't have nervous panic attacks.

"Sure you don't. So anyway. I'm an empath, strongest with animals."

"And she's such a sweet lovely girl, Nyx." Sabre appeared at Mouse's side and she jumped.

"Stop that!"

"Aw, why?"

"Cos, I said so. Don't."

"Don't ye want yer boy all jealous?"

"Well, he's not here, and he's not my boy, so stop that." Mouse frowned. "So, you alien?"

Dawn

"Faith, this is my boyfriend, Clark Kent. Clark, this is the other Slayer, Faith. IN a way, she's my sister, because I was made of her as well as of Buffy. Oh, and this is Amanda, the next Slayer-to-be."

"That's a hard question to answer," Dawn said laughing. "Well, I'm the Key. I open the gateways to alternate dimensions. My blood is made out of energy that's as old as the world itself, and I was created about 3 years ago by a group of monks trying to save the world from the Beast. So, yeah. There's a glamour on me, making people want to protect me, but still, I'm constantly being kidnapped, so I travel with bodyguards." On this note, Spike and Dru were returning. "Speaking of, here are two of them. Nyx is one, she's a cat, but I think you knew that. Bastet's daughter. Spike and Dru, over there, are vampires, and this is my boyfriend Clark, he's the only alien in our circle. And this is Amanda, she's a Slayer-in-waiting."

Faith

Faith eyed Clark. He wasn't bad looking. Obviously, the Summers' women had good taste in men. Not counting Riley, Faith thought, screwing her nose up in disgust. She noticed everyone looking at her strangely, and so she returned her face to her usual aloof look.

"Another potential? Geez, how many do there wanna be? Nyx... am I right in assuming you too are a cat?"

Dawn and Dru

Dawn spoke up at this.

"Um, Nyx, Sabe, not everybody is as able to handle your come-ons as I am, okay? Just leave her be. I know that the smells hear must be making you hyper. Heck, I'm hyper, and I don't even have enhanced senses. But please, pleeease try to control yourselves. None of us are real aliens, and I don't wanna get kicked out of the tournament. So for my sake, please behave?"

"Yes Sabre," Dru spoke up, "Please, please behave. If I must, so must ye. And it so so very hard, with all the pretty people to eat, and all the pretty smells. But think oif our babies, and please behave for them.

Piper, Phoebe and Paige

Piper, Phoebe and Paige all heard the tournament before they saw it. As it came into view, Piper took the lead, making a path for her two sisters to follow. She paused in a line, not sure what to do until she was at the front and face to face with Taylor Hanson.

"Uh... hi... Ashley Greyson told me to tell you that I knew him and you'd tell me where he is. I'm Piper Halliwell, by the way, and this are my sisters Phoebe and Paige."

Alvarezes

The Alvarezes walked up to the Information booth.

"Perdoneme, Seņora, but could my sister and I become members? We're hybrids."

"Just the two of you? Not your brothers?"

"No seņora. Our mother was a mutant, only Claudia and I had an alien father."

"Okay, please fill out these forms, > "The best, Dru," C and then Walker Hanson will have to sign off on your membership. As long as you do it within the our, you may sign up for contests as well." As Estrella filled out the forms, one for her, and one for her sister, they waited for Walker to show up. Meanwhile, Estrella signed herself up for the 'Coloured People' contest, and she signed Claudia up for Aerobatics, but not for speed flying, 'cause she couldn't do that with out seeing.

Dru and Amanda

"This is THE Potential," Dru said, "She is Slayer, the next." Amanda blushed at that.

"Apparently Dru had a vision that I'm the next Slayer, and Nyx verified it with magick."

Bastet's childen and Mouse

"I have been trying to make Sabre leave her alone since we got here," Priss said. "Greetings, William, Drusilla."

Sabre pouted. "I have a plan here, ye know. It's called flirt with the pretty girl, get her boy all riled up and jealous and make them get together. It's a good plan. A workable plan."

"Can I play?" Nyx asked excitedly. "Cos, she's plenty sweet. Deserves nothing but the best."

Finally! Someone to help. Fafnir grinned.

"No! There will be no making jealous! And don't even get me started on what the Folk did. No matchmaking." Mouse put her hands on her hips and glared. "Matchmaking just makes for embarrassment. And geez, pushy much? Back off, or I will go wolf on you! Grrr, with the biting much!"

"Oh, fire!" Sabre's eyes lit up.

"Oi, Sabre, back down mate." Spike interfered.

"Thanks." Mouse looked at Spike.

"No worries, pet." He grinned back.

"And here's me thinking that I'm stickig close to the sane cat here." Mouse moved pointedly to Priss's side who draped an arm over her shoulder and purred.

"I will protect thee, sweetling."

"Anyways, Faith, how ya feel about sparring later? Sabre said ya were pretty good." Nyx looked at Faith, challenging grin on her face.

Taylor

"Sorry to keep you waiting, umm... had a bit of a scuffle," he smiled at her, looking down the line.

It was still growing.

"Um, Ashley Greyson? He just ran off to tell off a girl for something," he chuckled.

He looked around for a moment. Not seeing him, he rubbed his chin.

"Wait here for a moment."

He pushed a little past them, just so he was outside. Then he let out a loud whistle, drawing attention to himself unintentionally. Soon enough, a sparrow came flying from a nearby tree.

"Taylor!" it cried, "I missed you!"

"Here they little girl. Can you do me a favour this year?" he smiled as she settled on his outstretched hand.

"Sure! Just like mother did last year!"

Taylor nodded.

"I need you to find a friend of mine inside," he began, walking back to the doors, describing Ashley on the way.

The bird soon flew off in her search. Taylor looked at Piper.

"She should be back soon. If you just want to stand aside a little to let other people through, I'll tell you where he is as soon as she comes back."

Faith

Faith nodded in approval.

"Don't worry girlfriend, it's wicked good fun."

Amanda

Amanda looked doubtful. "That's not how Buffy describes it, she says it's hard, and lonely, and makes her want to be dead again. I'm scared."

Faith

Faith grinned at Nyx, bent down to fix her shoe, then stood up, adjusting her > "The best, Dru," Cjacket.

"Yeah, sure. I'm always up for a good fight. You cats really know how to fight."

Walker

"Just as long as Sam doesn't fall asleep up there," Walker said sternly.

"Nah, he can stay awake for a few weeks. He's been working on it," Wayne assured.

Someone tapped Walker on the shoulder, and he turned around.

"Excuse me, Mr. Hanson... Courtney has a few hybrids at the desk needing confirmation on a membership before they can compete in the tournament," the young girl informed him.

He glanced at Wayne.

"Not again. I hate these late enterants," he looked at his watch, "well they have another hour."

He nodded to Wayne.

"I'll see you around. Just watch out for Tom and what he's up to."

The girl ran off as Walker made his way over to the information booth. He soon saw that it was the Alvarezes waiting.

"Ah, thank goodness. I thought you were someone else," he smiled welcomingly to them, taking their papers.

He skimmed over the bio information, then added his signature to the bottom of each slip.

"Have fun," he smiled, then turned to Courtney.

Piper, Paige and Phoebe

Piper moved to the side, her sisters quietly following. Paige let out a groan as she stretched her hands over her head.

"Why are we here, anyway?" Paige asked, still stretching.

"Because Piper met some guy on the net and he's gonna be here." Phoebe grinned cheekily.

Piper looked alarmed. "How did you know that? And besides, we're here to watch and meet new people and see competitions. Do something interesting for once."

Phoebe giggled, causing Paige to join in and Piper to look annoyed.

"Oh, I'm just teasing big sis. I know you don't like this guy."

"Thank you." Piper's eyes returned to watching her surroundings.

Sabre, Mouse and Nyx

"Thanks, Slayer." Sabre grinned, and then turned back to his tormenting of Mouse. "C'mon, pet, it'll be fun."

"No, thinking it really won't." Mouse looked stubborn.

"I'll catch ya up later, and we can have a good old free for all. Wanna join, Spike?" Nyx smiled at Faith, and then bounced on her feet.

"Don't mind if I do, pet." Spike ruffled her hair. Nyx yelped, then swung back with her elbow. He caught it. "I thought we were doing that later."

"Don't call me pet."

"But you make such a *nice* pet, pet." Spike quirked his eyebrow at her. Nyx growled at him.

Faith

Faith grinned at the exchange between Spike and Nyx. She stepped over to Spike.

"I don't think we've ever really officially met. The last time I did sorta meet you, I was in Buffy's body. So, I'm Faith. Another vampire Slayer."

Taylor

Taylor let the next few people through to Harry, only having to direct one Polish woman to the information booth. It was quite a while before the small bird returned and landed on his shoulder. He jumped.

"He's with a small red-haired girl over near the room where people make stuff."

"You mean the Creation Masters room?"

"I think so. I haven't been here for a year."

"Ok, thank you. Very much obliged."

The bird gave a small whistle of approval, then left the building to sit in a tree and watch the rest of the people file in.

Taylor turned to the three sisters.

"He's over nea > "The best, Dru," Cr the Creation Masters room. Just go straight in and turn to your left. It's right in the far corner."

Dawn and Clark

"Well," Dawn said, "I think Clark & I are going to walk around by ourselves for a while," she said, hoping for a bit of privacy.

"What? And have your sister castrate me while all the Potentials watch? I think not," Spike declared. "Dru and I are coming along, but I promise we'll stay 5 paces behind you." Dawn glared.

"Take it our leave it, Nibblet."

"Just take the deal, Dawnie," Clark said, gently, and the four of them wandered off to explore, leaving Amanda in Nyx's very capable, if not overly grabby, hands.

Piper, Phobe and Paige

Piper led her sisters through the maze of people to the Creation Masters room. Once they had reached it, she realised she didn't actually know what Ashley looked like.

"I wonder what he looks like. I know he has brown hair and I told him I'd have you guys along..."

Paige giggled at her sister. "Oh no, you don't like him at all."

Phoebe shushed Paige, her eyes laughing, but her face in a mock serious expression. "You know she's always like this. Always worrying about something or rather."

Piper glared at her sisters again. "I'm not always worrying. I'd just like to know who he is, that's all."

Sabre and Spike

Spike gave Faith a cold look. "Well, I tagged you as a Slayer as soon as you walked up. What was it you said? Something to suit your role as the whorish Slayer, if I remember right."

Sabre bared his teeth at Spike. "Watch your tongue, William."

"She better watch hers, Sabre." With another disdainful stare at Faith, Spike turned to Dawn.

Ash

"You had no right," Ashley glared.

"I have every right to speak the truth, fatboy."

"Don't call me fatboy, Miss Anorexia."

"Well how about I call you loser?"

"How about I call you Macy Gray?"

Katie let her hand shift into leather and slapped him across the face.

"YEOW! Dude!" Ashley exclaimed, holding his face.

"I don't have time for this," Katie shook her head, then left.

Ashley glowered after her, then saw the three girls watching him.

"Uh..." he began, before realizing Piper had said she'd come with two sisters...

"Halliwells?" he raised his eyebrows hopefully.

Faith

Faith reached over to Sabre, putting her hand on his arm.

"Don't bother. I know I'm not going to be a favourite with everyone. It doesn't bother me, I'm used to it. Kinda a poetic justice for doing all that bad stuff before. And he was right... I did say something horrible to him. Because I could. Thank you anyway."

Faith looked away sadly, still seeing that Spike was glaring at her, she decided that maybe she should leave for a bit.

"I'm gonna head off on my own for a bit. I'll come find ya later."

Faith turned away, Spike's comments still echoing in her mind. She ignored it. Everything he said was exactly the same as what everyone else had said. She didn't care. She couldn't let it get to her. With a final wave, she headed in the direction of the Creation Masters room.

Piper, Paige and Phoebe

Piper smiled at Ashley. "Yeah, I'm Piper, and these are my sisters. Phoebe and Paige. Matthews."

Paige grinned triumphantly and Phoebe just checked Ashley out. "Hey, nice choice, big sis."

Piper nudged Phoebe hard in the back. "Coughing, not speaking."

"Good. Um... so... what's going on today?" Piper asked nervously, still unsre about what she was doing there.

Ash

"Nice to finally meet you, Piper," Ashley grinned, extending his hand to shake with hers, "I am Ashley Greyson."

He chuckled a little.

"I guess you met either Taylor or Sheldon at the door and they sent a spy to find me. Sorry about that, she's a..." Ashley looked to where Katie had disappeared to.

He glanced at Paige and Phoebe.

"She's an old rival. Planning to cream me this is year in the shapeshifter sculptures. I'm not sure if Piper told you, I'm a shape shifter."

He grinned as two of his fingers turned into small snakes and made their way towards them. He drew them back before they could touch.

Mouse and Sabre

Mouse stared after the dark haired woman, feeling her despair. So she turned around and hit Spike across the chest. He stumbled backwards in surprise.

"Hey!"

"That was just mean! And now she's all hurting, again!" Fafnir snarled at Spike as the vampire stared at Mouse in shock. "No, don't wanna hear it!" She put her hands on her hips and glared harder.

Sabre laughed as the petite girl faced off with Spike. "Weel, now, lovely. You really don't want to go baiting him. He's a vampire, an' all, even if he does have a soul."

"You can save me then." Mouse batted her eyelashes at Sabre.

"Of course, lovely." Sabre agreed. Spike growled in frustration.

"Look, you have no bloody idea what happened, you miserable little chit."

"And I said, I don't wanna hear it, mr bitey and bumpy." Mouse said firmly. "Bad, bad vampire."

Paige, Piper and Phoebe

"Whoa, that is so cool." Paige grinned at Ashley. Piper smiled and stepped away from the snakes instinctively.

"Can you change into anything you want? Like even things that don't exist in real life? Like, something in your imagination?" Phoebe asked.

"Pheebs, I don't think Ashley really wants to explain how his powers work." Piper laughed, her eyes twinkling.

"Come on!" Phoebe wheedled.

Ash

"It's ok," he smiled at Piper.

"I can change into anything and everything... you'll see with the sculptures and speed shifting."

He grinned.

"The only rule for a shapeshifter is that you can't divide yourself. Other than that, anything goes. But there is a way around that..."

He bit his lip for a moment as he sent out an unnoticeable translucent liquid from his shoe, then slowly rose it, forming a duplicate of himself.

"There's a string on the ground," his duplicate pointed to it as he made it blue for a moment and grinned, "but I can make myself transparent."

Faith and Phoebe

Faith turned a corner, not even knowing where the Creation Masters room was, or what it even was about. She rounded the corner and she spotted 3 girls talking to a tall guy. As she approached them, still feeling the sting of Spike's comments, she recognised one of the girls.

"Phoebe?"

The girl turned, and Faith's face broke into a huge grin. "PHEEBS!"

"FAITH!" Phoebe hugged Faith, and Faith accepted the embrace a little more easily this time. She pulled away and turned to everyone else.

"Hi."

"Faith, my sisters Piper and Paige. And this is Ashley."

Amanda

"Hey!" Amanda shouted, "Spike is NOT a bad vampire. He's done nothing but look out for me. He's held me when I've cried. Has Faith done any of that. No, but I don't know her very well just yet. I'm not certain what's going on here, I only know that it is not necesssarily Spike's fault.

Paige and Phoebe

The three girls clapped, laughing happily with each other, enjoying the company of Ashley.

"That would be so cool to be able to shape shift." Paige said longingly.

"Paige, you have powers too. Don't be power greedy... or power envious." Phoebe patted her sister on the arm, while Piper was still too speechless to form a proper sentence.

"I think that means she's impressed." Phoebe told Ashley.

Mouse, Sabre and Priss

Mouse actually flinched at the anger directed at her, going to one knee. "Ok, ow."

"What's wrong lovely?" Sabre asked her gently.

"I'm an empath, and I just got me two big serves of anger and dislike. As I said, ow." Mouse got unsteadily to her feet. "Maybe there's blame on both sides, I don't know. But hey, give her a bit of a break. I feel it, the loneliness and despair and regret she's got going in spades. And when he dug at her, it jumped up several notches. I don't *like* to feel people hurt. It hurts me. Sorry," Mouse said briefly to Spike, holding a hand to her stomach. "Still rather nasty what you said."

"We've got history." Spike glared at her. "Don't hit me again."

"Well, not really planning on doing it the first time." Mouse swayed on her feet, looking a bit white. "And that anger? Really not helping here." Priss wrapped her arms around Mouse and started to purr. The girl started then relaxed into it.

"William, please." Priss looked at Spike. He growled. "She be naught but a child. She does not understand. And thee should truly watch thy mouth. Faith be trying."

Ash

"Faith?" he raised his eyebrows.

He smiled.

"Nice name," his duplicate said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.

Ashley hit his hand.

"Don't mind my twin... Daniel. He's such a flirt."

He chuckled, then let his duplicate melt into what seemed like a pool of water, before soaking it up through his shoe again.

He couldn't help but grin at the looks on their faces.

Faith

Faith took in the scene with feigned nonchalance. She'd been slaying for what, 5 years now, and she'd seene some pretty hairy things in her time, and everytime she found something strange they were usually evil. She decided to just come out and ask. What was the point in hiding it?

Ash

Ashley grinned suddenly.

"Depends if you want me to be or not. Name's Ashley Greyson. I work with Hanson making videos and touring the world. When I'm not working, I'm either tricking the Hansons by impersonating them or sleeping."

He chuckled.

"Come on. They wouldn't let anything evil in here. For a start there's too many telepaths around. Jake's a telepath on the commitee, but I suppose he's a bit of an asshole when you get to know him. Kind of like Sheldon. Didn't you telk to him on the net or something Piper? Have you seen him yet?"

Piper and Faith

Piper nodded. "He seemed... different." She had decided on not saying too much in case Ashley and him were actually closer than he let on.

Faith looked at her and smiled. "Nice cover. Hey, you have powers too? Like Phobe?"

"Yep... but it's... I might as well show you." Piper threw her bag in the air and froze it, mid way down. Faith whistled her appreciation.

"I like. You and I are gonna get on real well girlfriend."

Piper unfroze the bag and caught it again. She turned to Ashley. "So what are we doing? Wanna show us around?"

Ash

"So you've seen him? Was he the one that sent the bird after me? You can tell me," he assured, "I'm used to being spied on by birds. Taylor does it to me all the time when he thinks I'm up to something. He uses birds so much, and hardly gives anything back to them. Unfortunately, animals just like him for some reason."

He scratched his head, knowing he was babbling.

"So ah... Faith. Alien? Human? Other?"

Piper and Faith

"No, I think I saw him. At any rate, I saw another guy at the door. Taylor sent the bird after you, but that was for me. So we could find you." Piper explained.

Faith turned back to Ashley, scrutinising his face for a moment. "I guess I'd be what you classified as 'other'. I'm a Vampire Slayer. I don't know if you've heard of us..."

Ashley

"Trust Taylor," Ashley rolled his eyes, "too lazy to actually come looking. Sheldon was doing the same as Taylor was, but he has brown hair, brown eyes. Bit shorter."

He turned to Faith.

"Yeah, I've had the whole vampire/demon thing given to me by a girl on the net. Reckons she keeps getting kidnapped cos she opens portals with her blood or something. All a bit weird for me."

Faith and Paige

Faith nodded knowingly. "I guess you spoke to Dawn. The other slayer's sister. Not a bad kid. You'll get used to us and our little world."

Paige giggled. "It's not like we're completely normal anyway, right, Ashley? Are we going to look around? Ashley, wanna show us around?"

Ash

Ashley grinned.

"Depends on what you call normal."

He held out his elbow for Piper to take and nodded at Faith.

"If you don't come with us I guess i'll see you around," he smiled at her, before leading the sisters away.

"A lot has changed since last year, I might get you lost. No doubt if I don't show up for lunch someone will send someone - or something after me," he grinned charmingly at Piper.

And with that, he began to show them around.

Spike

Spike gently took her hand, and projected his feeling toward her. His guilt and shame for 120 years of merciless killing. His love for Buffy, and for Dru. His caring for Dawn, his friendship and longing for Joyce. He let her feel what he felt, and suddenly saw her eyes widen.

Mouse, Sabre and Priss

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Mouse whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "I react too quickly. Chalk it down to lots of years on the streets, where if you're slow, you're usually dead. Not that being dead is really a problem for you..." Mouse closed her eyes and slowly started to push feelings of love, belonging and forgiveness towards Spike.

"What's she doin'?" Sabre asked Priss.

"She be giving William a sense of forgiveness."

"Everyone deserves forgiveness, if they decide they want to change," Mouse said absently as she took Spike's hand between both of hers. "It's the deciding that does it. At least for me. I've killed, when I've had to. I'm planning bloody revenge on the guy who killed my parents...when I catch the bastard. Maybe, I haven't quite racked up the deeds he has, but I'm no angel." Priss stepped away from the two of them, and let Mouse fix what she had done.

"Mayhap not, but you are a gentle soul." Mouse smiled at Priss's words.

"Chalk it down to my empathy. Though I can be ruthless when I need be." Mouse let go of Spike's hand and sat down heavily on the floor, breathing heavily. "I'll be fine in a few minutes. I just need to catch my breath."

Bastet's children and Mouse

Priss helped Mouse to her feet, then the girl broke away. "I'll talk to ya later. Now, I've just got to get out and away from people. Coming, Fafnir?" Without another word, Mouse spun on her heel and walked away, the wolf flanking her protectively.

"She..." Spike didn't know what to say. She had just blasted all his shields and defenses to shreds with nothing more then a touch and feelings of love.

"She doesn't like it when people hurt," Priss said quietly. "She be quite the healer, in her spirit though she dost try to cut herself off by communing with the Folk."

Nyx giggled, and then wrapped her arms around the still shocked Spike. "She loves everyone! She's sweet. Bit wolfy at times, but otherwise quite nice. Whaddya reckon we go hunting this bloke that killed her parents after the Tournament, Sabby babe?"

"Don't call me Sabby, wench. Perhaps. I think she would no' appreciate it though."

"We can take her with us! Hunting, grrr, fun!"

Priss laughed at her sibs happy bloodthirstiness. "Come, let us go and gaze at the stalls."

"I have money to burn! Let's go." Nyx ran off and the rest of the group followed her more sedately.

February
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