Okay, work has had me hopping. Buffy finally sat me down and threatened to let Dawn mess with my new OT Greedo, and I had no choice but to update. Poor Greedo . . .

All's quiet on the homestead. We're all just living life. It's kind of nice, not having to worry about squicky demons. The hellmouth seems to have slowed its flow of evilness. Of course, it's not completely 100% Pleasantville, but things have been certainly less crazy in our neck of the haunted forest.

Ben and I are going great. There's not much else to say. I think we're going to try and go away for fall break in November. We haven't decided where, but I've been dying to go to New Zealand ever since LOTR. He seemed interested in that. So we'll see.

Okay, Ben and I are heading out for dinner. Anyone want to join us?

Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: "Broken" -- Seether & Amy Lee

So I got the job, but of course, I didn't start work at the school until Tuesday. Unfortunately, I didn't realize this until I was up and dressed first thing Monday morning. (Thanks, Ben. Hee.) So I went back to bed after that. We all had a picnic in the park that afternoon/evening, and it was a lot of fun. (Well, except that Xander wasn't there. He's still out of town. Wonder what's keeping him? Although Ben seemed remarkably at ease without Xander around, so maybe it was of the good he wasn't here.) Mason, Kennedy and Willow's new furry bundle o' joy, kept us all in stitches. And color me surprised: Buffy really seems to have a knack for picnics; who knew that She Who Hangs Out In Graveyards could be so . . . well . . . girly? (No offense, Buff.) I started at the library on Tuesday. It wasn't as overwhelming as I thought it would be. The Watcher's Council library was pretty formidable, considering that Caleb's big boom probably took out a lot of the books they had (except the ones Mr. Giles Winona Rydered). So a high school library didn't really faze me much. Of course, the Watcher's Council also had more . . . uh . . . controversial reading material than My Friend Flicka. This should be a little less challenging than that job. I've been taking Spike's car to work, but I don't think that can last. He's so moody about it, it would almost be less stressful to walk. I put in a call to London, to see if I could persuade the Council to provide me with a vehicle of my very own. They said they'd have to mull it over and get back to me. (I thought about telling them I was using a vampyr's car to get to work, just to put a little fire under their bums, but elected not to.) Buffy's gone now too. She went back to California for the funeral of Phoebe Halliwell. I never met her (I think I may have talked to her on the phone), but Buffy's talked about her before, and she seemed like a nice girl. My heart goes out to her sisters, her husband, and her friends. Buffy didn't really talk about it a lot (at least, not to me), but I could tell she was sad. I hope she's okay. Anyway, I feel the need to go patrol tonight. Anyone want to go with me? (Preferably a Slayer, so I don't get killed. . .) Anyone?

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: "Bright Lights" -- matchbox 20

So Mr. Nowlin hired me. I'm the new librarian. I think he was reluctant, seeing as how I lack that whole college degree thing, but my stint as the library guy for the Watcher's Council in London sort of convinced him I could handle it. He claims it's only temporary, 'til they find someone more qualified. For some strange reason, no one wants to come work here; maybe it's the fact that we have our very own Hellmouth. Or perhaps it's the fact that the last librarian was, eh, disemboweled. Tends to scare potential job-seekers.

Spike was a little reluctant to let me drive his car to the interview, but I was persistent, which is code for saying "I bugged the crap out of him 'til he gave in." He finally came around to my way of thinking, and let me have the keys. I don't know what his deal is anyway; it's not like it's his car in the first place. I'm surprised Angel hasn't asked for it back.

I start work on Monday. I'm excited, but nervous. I'm gonna talk to Mr. Giles about it, just to get the input of someone who's been there before. Of course, he ended up blowing his library (and the whole school) to smithereens, but there were extenuating circumstances. I just hope I don't have to drive Spike insane every day just to get to take the car. (Cuz he was insane before, and, yeah, not fun.) Perhaps it's time to look into an automobile of my very own. (But not like the Citroen Xander says Mr. Giles used to have; I may be a librarian now, but I refuse to drive a librarian car.)

Ben and I are going to settle in and watch our new Star Trek DVDs. Yeah, the first season of the original series. You should see the packaging on this thing. It's really cool. Anyway, I'm going now. Yeah.

Current Mood: content
Current Music: "I Want to Break Free" -- Queen

Since everyone's in get-a-job mode around here, I thought I would do the same. The consulate project doesn't really seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, and I can't just sit around and watch Babylon 5 24-7. I did some digging, and it turns out, coincidentally, Dawn's school, Valley Forge High, is in need of a new librarian. Yes, I'm trying to follow in the illustrious career path of Mr. Giles (who, by the way, returned from abroad, allaying all our fears for his well-being; I know I'm glad he's home safe). Anyway, I called and scheduled an appointment to go talk to Mr. Nowlin, the principal, tomorrow morning. I need to see if I can borrow Spike's car, seeing as how it's in Parma Heights, and the bus gives me hives. I'm excited; I'm sure Dawn will be too. Hee.

In other news, Willow and Kennedy got a new puppy, Mason. Now, I'm more of a cat person myself, but I could totally fall for this dog. He's got the sweetest face. He's so cute. So, congrats, girls! (And don't let him pee on my stuff.)

Okay, gotta go edit my resume. I wonder if "memorization of the Klingon Dictionary" would be impressive . . .?

Current Mood: hyper

It's been a while. Spike and I had our big night on the town, and the less said about that the better. The next night, after we had recuperated, we started out on the road. We were just leaving the hotel when I spotted none other than Ben walking down the street in that direction! Well, color me stunned. I leapt out of the car and ran to him. He said that when we didn't get home the same day as Willow and Buffy, he got concerned, and came on a plane to check on us. I was touched. Spike was nauseous. He piled in the car with us, and, thoroughly exhausted, he passed out cold in the back seat.

Spike and I chatted on the way back. We talked a lot about Buffy. He was still very hurt she had just taken off. I was surprised when he started to open up about certain things. Of course, he threatened to hurt Boba Fett if I told anyone what he said. (Poor Boba Fett; he's always being threatened.) Ben slept soundly the whole way back. It was so sweet of him to be concerned like that. I felt very special.

Since we got back, I've been living life, doing stuff with Ben and with everyone else. It's been nice. There hasn't been any sort of Hellmouthy evilness in a while, so it's been (dare I say it?) really dull here at Slayer Central, at least as far as fighting evil goes. (Of course, now that I've said it, something evil and icky is bound to come crashing through the door any minute. Good one, Andrew.) With Kennedy back home, Willow's been happy; and Buffy and Spike seem to have worked out whatever was going on with them in Boston. Everything here is good. Love is in the air, autumn is on its way, and all is right with the world.

Just one thing is bothering me: Has anyone heard from Mr. Giles? Buffy? Xander? Willow? Anyone? Maybe one of us should put in a call to the Watcher's Council . . .

Current Mood: curious
Current Music: "Semi-Charmed Life" -- Third Eye Blind

So after days of searching through the Boston streets for clues, evidence, anything that could lead us to some answers in the slaying of that Slayer, (and treading lightly after that phone call) we finally got a tip-off: The culprit was a squicky demon by the name of Tlaloc. This evidence was stuff the four of us (Buffy, Willow, Spike, and me) all uncovered mostly on our own; Simon was virtually no help at all. He was mostly paralyzed by fear and paranoia. I didn't tell him about the mystery phone call; that was the last thing we needed, was for him to get even more paranoid.

Anyway, we found Tlaloc, and Buffy did what Buffy does. Case closed . . . right?

The strangest thing happened today. Buffy and Willow just up and left, took a flight back to Cleveland. Maybe they were homesick, but I don't think so. Not from the way Spike's been acting. He's been sulking around the room like a little lost puppy, taking little forlorn sips from his ever present flask -- Owww! Spike! Okay, okay! Fine, I'll change it. He's been perfectly normal. Absolutely no sulking. It's like he's completely unaffected by her leaving. Is that better?

Ooookay. Spike just told me to change clothes, because we're going out. Apparently, he wants to take me for drinks. Why do I feel like this is not such a good idea? . . .

Current Mood: quixotic
Current Music: "If You're Not For Me" -- Daniel Bedingfield

So Buffy, Willow, Spike, and I do not exactly make the best traveling companions, at least not cramped into that little teeny car Spike jacked from Angel for nearly ten hours. I tried to keep to myself, listening to Weird Al Yankovic on my headphones and reading my Fantastic Four books, but Willow started to complain that the music was too loud ("'The Saga Begins' is the uber-suck!"), so I turned it down, then off. She was watching the men's swimming Olympic competition on a little portable TV, so I tried to watch along but she got mad (in all fairness, I did try to take it from her at one point -- Ian Thorpe, yummy) and threatened to hex me if I tried to take it again. All the fighting and complaining caused Buffy to yell, "Andrew, if you don't knock it off, I'll show you EXACTLY what a Slayer can do. And not in the happy fun way." I was so afraid she'd start speechifying that I did as I was told. Cuz her speeches? Not fun.

Somehow we made it to Boston, and crashed. Spike and Buffy took one room, and (after some arguing) Willow and I took the other. I did my best not to make her mad; the last thing I need is to wake up with a tail or something. So we slept in for a bit, even though at that point it was almost dawn.

After sleeping for a bit, Buffy, Willow, and I went to our rendezvous with the dead girl's Watcher; we finally tracked him down at Ned Devine's in Fanueil Hall. He is, to put it mildly, insane. He was very paranoid, which is understandable, seeing as how his girl just got butchered. But, hey, we're the good guys. Overreact much? I mean, he wouldn't even tell us his last name. All he would tell us was his name is Simon. Simon is like Mr. Giles, only a million times stuffier, more solemn, and more upright. (Maybe all the time Mr. Giles spent in California took some of the British out of him.) Anyway, Simon agreed to help us in whatever way he could, and briefed us on what was going on. We said we'd be checking things out in town, and promised to be in touch.

We went back to the hotel to regroup, and were relaxing in our rooms when I got a very creepy phone call. I figured it was Ben or Xander calling from Cleveland, so I picked up. It wasn't Ben or Xander, but a very proper-sounding British man. He asked if I was Andrew Wells, and I said I was, and could I help him with something. He said "No, thank you. Good day, sir." And then he hung up.

I was creeped out, so I told Buffy, Spike, and Willow what happened. The first thought that popped into our heads was that it was someone from the Watcher's Council. It wasn't Mr. Giles, and it wasn't Simon. It was obviously someone who knows who I am, so I figure he must know who the others are too. It was really creepy, no matter who it was. We're all a little freaked out by it.

We will see what happens, and be on our guard.

Another Slayer has been found dead and mutilated in Boston. This does not look good. Something out there seems to be once again targeting Slayers. I wonder if the First is at it again, or if this is some new threat.

Buffy has quickly organized a road trip to Boston to check things out, see what we can find. I feel it's my duty to go along, being the Watcher's Council representative in the States. (Mr. Giles returned to England this past week on orders from the Council, which is semi-strange since they just sent us to America a short while ago. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, probably just a briefing on the consulate project before we get the ball rolling.)

We're leaving in just a little while; Buffy feels (and rightly so) that it's better to drive at night, so that we don't have to worry about Spike in regard to that whole bursting-into-flame thing.

Ben has decided to stay behind in Cleveland. He doesn't like road trips much, says he gets motion sickness really badly in cars. Personally, I don't think he likes America much; the culture shock hasn't really been easy for him. We're working through it though. Anyway, so he's staying here while we go off in search of the Big Bad. I hope he'll be all right by himself. I'm sure he will be; I'm just feeling the separation anxiety already.

Okay, I need to go pack now. I don't know how long we'll be gone, so I'll just have to use good sense on how much to pack. I wonder if there's room in the car for my Fantastic Four books. Hmmmm, I hope Buffy or Spike don't throw them out the window . . .

Current Mood: busy
Current Music: "William Tell Overture"

Sounds like every one had some fun with Casper the Friendly Ghost today while Ben and I were out. I missed everyone getting pantsed? (Although, yeah, had my share of that, to be sure.) And I missed the big unveiling of our spook? Bummer. Whenever the action goes down, I'm out and about, or knocked unconscious. Thus is the fate of a Watcher, from what I'm told about the various misadventures of Mr. Giles. *sigh* I'll never be James Bond . . .

I need to find out from Mr. Giles when we're to start work on the consulate project. Things have been quiet on the Council front lately, except when they called and sent Buffy to investigate the dead Slayer incident. Wonder what's going on with that project. I need to do something work-related here. Of course, some could argue that I am doing something work-related, but that's not exactly what I meant.

Speaking of which, I think we're gonna watch a movie. Anyone else want to come join us? It's Goldfinger . . . .Any takers?

Current Mood: awake
Current Music: "If I Could Turn Back Time" -- Cher

Something weird happened today. I was telling Ben about how I was sort of antagonistic to Dawn the other night, when all of a sudden my belt buckle popped right off, and my pants fell down around my ankles! I know I've been eating a little more than usual lately (American food beats English food any day), but I didn't think I had put on that much weight! Guess I need to do a few more crunches before bed tonight. Weird . . .

Current Mood: weird
Current Music: "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" -- Elton John & Kiki Dee