InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Is that punishment?"

Rupert Giles (watcher_giles) wrote in dust_till_dawn,
@ 2009-07-03 22:28:00

Current mood:

excited

Let's Get Away From This Hell
Who: Giles and Buffy
Where: Buffy's Place
When: A few days after Giles applied at the library.
What: Giles offers Buffy a way out of working at the hell known as Doublemeat Palace
Locked to: Buffy
Status: Incomplete

Giles was relieved when he finally got the call back for the job at the Cleveland library. He had basically waited by the phone for the past couple of days to see if he would get the call back for it or not. Apparently, the library had loved both him and his credentials. He thought about asking if Wesley got the job as well, but knew that he would find out soon enough if he would be working with him again or not. Hopefully, if he was, it would work out much better this time.

However, what he wanted to tell Buffy now was much better news. He had finally heard back from the Council in England. They had agreed with him that giving a sort of salary to help her support herself. It wasn't like she would be able to hold down a steady job with her slaying duties. Maybe with some sort of income coming her way, she might even be able to go back to school if she wanted. He knew that the government gave out loans for that sort of thing, if nothing else.

Also, this meant that she wouldn't have to work at that god-awful place anymore. No one should have to work at Doublemeat Palace, especially not someone as talented and smart as Buffy. He wouldn't wish fast food work on his worst enemy. Well, maybe a couple of them, but, to be fair, most of the people he might consider an enemy were blown up with the original council. Sad, but true.

He walked from his room to Buffy's room and knocked on the door. He wasn't even sure if she would be there. It was sort of late in the evening, so he wasn't sure if she had went on some patrol yet, or if she had some other engagement that she had went off to. He never really could keep up with what any of them were doing at any one time. They seemed to be able to keep themselves busy with three or four things to do a night, when Giles himself couldn't usually keep up with one. He hoped that Buffy was here, though. All of his good news might just burst him at the seams.

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fightordie
2009-07-05 11:30 pm UTC (link)

"Welcome to the Doublemeat Palace, how may I help you?" There was nothing welcoming in the way that Buffy asked the question, but the customer in front of the counter didn't seem to mind her downtrodden mood, and they chirped off the items they wanted in such a way that made Buffy nauseous. It was fast food. What did the person have to be so happy about? "Do you want to upgrade your drink and fries for just a quarter more?" Buffy was sure that there was a quota on how many times someone could ask that same question and still be chipper, and Buffy had long since reached hers for the day. This was hell. It had to be. No, Buffy had never been to hell (yet), but she figured that this had to be it. Fire and brimstone was so outdated, anyway.

It Buffy had to smell the acrid stench of days-old grease one more time, she might not have to wait a year and a half; she'd kill herself. Just a few nights prior, a vampire had actually backed down from a fight because she smelled. When the things that smell like death tell you that you're stinky - it would usually be time for a career change. As it was, this was the only place that would hire her, and unless they all wanted to end up homeless in a few weeks, she would have to suck it up. Not that the money she was making now would be enough to pay off their debts, but it was something.

Six hours and an hour long shower later, Buffy was sprawled across the bed on her stomach, elbows propped up and chin resting on her hands. The Wizard of Oz was playing on the television in front of her, but she wasn't paying attention. Besides thinking about how nice it was to not smell like fries, her thoughts were scattered and erratic, not focusing on one thing in particular. In one corner, there was the Voodoo Doll Murderer, in the other, there was Angel and the fight they had just a week or two ago. And that wasn't even touching down on the prospect of living in a box, or how they would be able to continue to afford Dawn's ballet lessons. Oh, and then there was Dawn's actual recital, and -- Stop brain, stop! With a groan of frustration, the blonde rolled onto her back, and threw one arm over her eyes, like it might help stop the derailing train of her thoughts. It didn't.

Thankfully, the knock at the door did.

Gracious for the interruption, Buffy quickly scrambled from the bed and crossed the room, before she opened the door. "Giles," she said, and opened the door further, motioning for him to come in. "Step into my office. Just try to ignore the mess. I haven't cleaned in ... well, ever."

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watcher_giles
2009-07-06 10:20 pm UTC (link)

Giles knew that Buffy was less than thrilled about her station in life at the moment, being an employee at the Doublemeat Palace, but the air around her just screamed of disappointment for a split second when he first saw her. Of course, it wasn't like she should be happy with where she was working. Maybe he could help her find a different job as well. There *had* to be something else in Cleveland that she could do, and, with the income she would shortly be getting, maybe she would now be able to really look.

"Thank you," he said, stepping inside of her room. "It's not too bad," he said of the clutter about. It wouldn't feel like it was really Buffy's room unless there was at least a little bit of clutter about. If it were too neat, it would just show him that she was never actually there. Not that she really had the chance to be there too much as it was.

"I hope you don't mind me stopping by unannounced," he said to her. "I wanted to see how you were doing today." There were many things that he wanted to talk about. Money, the job he had gotten for himself as well, maybe even setting up a training schedule for her and the other girls, the list went on in his mind. So much to do. They really should set up some sort of base here in Cleveland, with so many girls here and everything.

"I wanted to deliver a bit of good news as well," he said. "Well, I hope it's good news. I've been talking with the others in the Council in England." He watched her face for any reaction as he went on. "I've finally convinced them that a...a salary for you isn't a bad idea. They agree with me that you shouldn't have to both save the world and have to worry so much about the more mundane parts of like like bills. Besides, no one should have to wear a hat with a cow on their head."

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fightordie
2009-07-07 03:08 am UTC (link)

Less than thrilled? Oh, that didn't even begin to touch down on how Buffy felt about her station in life. Whether it was Justice, Angel, the latest big bad, or the manager at Doublemeat Palace - there was always something there to remind her that her glory days (if there ever was such a thing) had been lost long before now. For now, all she could do was try to keep her head above water. Treading water got tiring after a while though, and Buffy was ready to just stop. But she couldn't. It didn't matter that she wasn't at her prime, or that she was tired, because her loved ones - not to mention the world - still depended on her.

Joy.

"I hope you don't mind me stopping by unannounced. I wanted to see how you were doing today." Offering a smile, Buffy cleared one of the chairs so that Giles could actually sit somewhere that wasn't littered with the usual mess of clothes and food wrappers. Really, Buffy wasn't a slob; she was just busy. Cleaning wasn't high on her list of important things to do. "I don't mind. Trust me, it's a nice distraction. I'm having one of those days where my brain just won't slow down. Besides, it's a hotel, Giles; calling would be kind of pointless when I'm just down the hall."

Buffy switched off the television then, and sat back on the bed, her attention solely on her watcher. "Good news? I'm all for good news." Good news had been hard to come by ever since they had all moved to Cleveland, it seemed. Any good news would have absolutely thrilled Buffy, even if the news itself was slight. What Giles told her? That definitely wasn't slight good news. It was enough to make the slayer positively light up. For a long moment, she didn't move. Buffy didn't - couldn't - even speak. When he had first mentioned the Council, she had thought the worst. It wasn't as if her previous experiences with the Council had been good ones. Memorable, but certainly not good.

"Besides, no one should have to wear a hat with a cow on their head." God, Buffy couldn't agree more. "Giles, I don't -" She paused, trying to gather her scattered thoughts. This certainly wasn't the first time Giles had helped her out of a bad situation, fiscal and otherwise. Even after all of these years, he always managed to surprise her. "I don't know how to thank you." And then, like some strong force of wind, Buffy was off the bed, and had thrown herself at Giles, her arms instantly finding themselves around his neck in a wild, spirited hug.

Obviously, Buffy was pleased.

"Do you know what this means?! It means I won't have to come home smelling like grease! It means I won't have to deal with snotty customers! It means I won't have to work with Scotty, the pervy fry cook!"

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watcher_giles
2009-07-07 07:44 pm UTC (link)

The pounce of a hug was a little unexpected, but he was very relieved that she was happy that he had done this. He had hoped that she wouldn't take it as meddling or something of the sort. True, he had doubted that she would, but he had worried none the less. He hugged her back and then looked at her.

"No, no more coming home to smell like grease." She didn't smell like it right now, which he was a little relieved for. "You can burn that uniform if you'd like, although I'd do it far away from this hotel, in case it's that flammable from all of the grease." He arched an eyebrow when she said something about a pervy cook, but didn't say anything. He knew that, at the end of the day, Buffy could more than take care of herself. He just still felt protective over her, after all of these years.

"Also, I got a job as well. It's at the Cleveland Public Library, so, along with the Council doing its long due part and chipping in, I can actually do it as well," he said. He never did like the feeling of freeloading off of anyone, even if it was imagined. "So, with all of that together, we should be OK. That should give you time to look for a better job, go back to school, or strictly just fight vampires and demons if that's what you want."

He had to admit that he wasn't sure what she would want to do. There were plenty of other jobs out there, but she would probably have to pay for some sort of training. Of course, before she needed some sort of immediate source of income. Now that she had a real income, though, she could look and see about doing what she really wanted.

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fightordie
2009-07-10 07:19 pm UTC (link)

Even if reality would undoubtedly set back in soon enough, Buffy felt as if she were flying on cloud nine. There had been so many things riding on her shoulders lately, that even this - just knowing that she didn't have to work somewhere that she loathed - felt like one of the biggest weights had been lifted. Buffy felt lighter already. Alongside not having to work at the Doublemeat Palace, this meant that Buffy didn't have to worry quite so vehemently about her and everyone else being kicked out of the hotel.

"Oh, I will most definitely burn the uniform. We could make it a celebration. Roast marshmallows, even."

When Giles mentioned his own job, Buffy's smile widened that much further until it actually made her cheeks hurt. "That's great! Having you back in a library will feel just like old times." Considering how terrible the better portion of her day had been, right now was a thoroughly welcomed reprieve. Giles always did know how to make her feel better, no matter the circumstance. How had she gone months without him?

Her expression seemed to become more tame, but the smile was still there. Buffy took both of his hands in hers, and gave a gentle, thankful squeeze. "Giles, really - I don't know how to thank you for this. These last months, I've been so miserable. And now - now I feel like there's been a weight lifted from my shoulders. Just knowing I won't have to put on that hat again makes me feel so much better. Thank you. Really."

So, what would Buffy do now? She had always wanted to go back to school, but after her mother got ill, everything had seemed to disalign so that Buffy couldn't. Or maybe she could actually try to find a job that she wanted. The possibilities Buffy had were vast for the first time since she had moved to Cleveland.

"God, Giles, I'm still stunned. I don't really know what to say."

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watcher_giles
2009-07-14 02:56 am UTC (link)

Reality would come back soon enough. There was still plenty of evil outside to fight, and they still needed to make enough money to keep this place. However, maybe getting a home of some sort would be cheaper in the long run. Maybe something to bring up at some point. It would be a better way to keep an eye on the other Slayers as well.

"Not sure if I want grease flavored marshmallows, actually." He smiled at her. He understood where her urge to burn any remains of that job came from. He'd at least understand if she wanted to completely burn down the restaurant, as well. Of course, he'd have to stop her from doing so, but he would understand.

"Well, I'll be working nights, so at least there won't be a lot of people around. You'll have to be more quiet, though, and probably no training there." They really should look into renting some sort of space for them to train in. They couldn't do it in these hotel rooms, nor the library he would soon be starting at. "Actually, we know one of my coworkers. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce of all people will be working there as well."

He squeezed her hands back when she took his in hers. "It's my pleasure, Buffy. I'm just glad that you're happier now." She really had looked so miserable. It was all he could do to just not write her a check from his own accounts, but that would only put a band aid on the wound. Convincing the Council to actually pay Buffy for her services was a way for her to actually get on her feet.

"Just you saying that your happy is all that I need to hear."

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