1.14 Return of the Natives

Session Summary

RETURN OF THE NATIVES - quotes

Nikki [to Raveena re: Ethan]: "We have to work on getting you stripped."

Geoff [to Deaver]: "By the way, I have some of the ingredients for the weapon of mass destruction." Chase: "These boys should not be allowed to hang out together."

Gabe: "I need to patrol with someone who has a cell phone." Chase: "We're not letting you patrol with Jade because you two are 'late' to everything." Gabe: "? She has a cell phone."

Gabe: "I think we should charge her a late fee if she doesn't bring him back."

Chase [re: Deaver volunteering Raveena to take wine to apt.]: "Be careful what you promise, big guy."

Raveena: "We'll let you know if you need to vacuum." Deaver: "As long as I don't need the wheelbarrow."

Gabe: "So did he bite himself?" Raveena: "What is that? Like vampire masturbation? That's GROSS!"

Michael: "Who are you again?" Raveena: "SLA-YER." Gabe: "I'm just Gabriel."

Deaver [re: Anthony and the wine]: "And ? why did he not seem eager?" Raveena: "I expect it was lack of brain activity."

Raveena [to Nikki]: "Well, TELL me next time you're gonna pull a Deanna Troi!"

Chase: "So basically she just wanted to find out if Geoff is banging his ex-girlfriend." Ravena: "Well ? yeah. Pretty much. But he's not. Chase [mumbling]: "Yeah, that sounds about right."

Chase: "Hair up. The kind of up that makes people who shall remain nameless want to take it down again." Raveena: "I don't know how to fix my hair to make other people get ? shower and want to go down ?" [Chase howls with laughter.]

Raveena [post-smooching]: "Maybe we should go to the dance while my hair is still up." Ethan: "Maybe we can see about your hair later." Raveena [to herself]: "He must be the one who showers." [Light bulb goes on for Raveena]

Chase: "You cheat!!" Gabe: "I improvised."

Deaver: "It's missing half the bolts!" [Jen: I think Nikki said something here, or Chase did, but I don't remember what they said.]

Chase: "Enjoy the ride." RETURN OF THE NATIVES

It's homecoming weekend at Phillipi, and Deaver has received a "request" from the administration to host several returning alumni [cough] at his apartment for the duration of the festivities. Having spruced up his apartment (and laid a couple of vampire warning devices throughout), he waits for his guests' arrival. A cab pulls up and two men get out - Anthony Larson, a pompous 40ish gentleman, and Michael (no last name given), clad in all black with long hair to match, a pale complexion, piercing eyes, and an intense but mostly friendly demeanor. After a brief exchange with Anthony, Deaver is left to carry his luggage upstairs - Anthony is most upset that the Smythe Hotel messed up his reservation, and he seem to expect the same level of service from Deaver and his apartment that he would have received at that most illustrious institution. Michael watches Anthony proceed up the stairs with an expression of blatant disgust, and follows with Deaver. He carries his own luggage.

The two men stop outside the door (where Deaver has hung a cross), and wait to be invited in. Michael looks askance at the cross as he enters. Deaver's other vampire detection device, the mirror at the end of the hall, has unfortunately taken a tumble and shattered. Therefore Deaver is unable to discern what he's dealing with [Poor Deaver]. Deaver shows the two men to his guest room and tells them that they will have to bunk in together - the room has two beds, but he doesn't really have any other sleeping space. Anthony looks appalled, and Michael takes one look at Anthony before politely asking Deaver if he has a sofa that he wouldn't mind giving up for the weekend. Deaver shows him to the fencing/training room, and Michael settles himself. Deaver spends the night locked in his own room with a chair braced under the door handle.

* * *

Chase, Nikki, and Raveena are entrenched at The Lone Star, which is filled to bursting with Phillipi alumni in their 20s and 30s. Raveena is a little alarmed by the crush, as she can't readily tell who is vamp and who isn't. The conversation at their table (naturally) turns to girl talk. Raveena bashfully reveals that she's sweet on Ethan, who has asked her to the homecoming dance. She laments the fact that she doesn't feel they can be seriously involved, because her calling as a slayer doesn't really allow for a steady, healthy social life. Even so, she's excited about their date tomorrow night and already knows what she wants to wear - the prom dress that she never got a chance to use. Nikki immediately volunteers herself and Chase as makeover artists once again. Raveena looks perplexed by the offer, and asks Chase if she isn't going to the dance with Geoff. Chase frowns, grinds out a cigarette (with a bit more force than necessary), and gives the girls the lowdown - that Geoff has said he can't see her anymore, so no, they're not going anywhere together, now or later. Nikki can't help noting that for a guy who doesn't want to see her, he is certainly around the house a lot. But she has also noticed that he never stays the night. Chase acknowledges the friendship, but expresses her frustration at all the situational weirdness. The girls try to get Geoff's story out of her, the 'whys' of it all, but Chase is uncooperative - she gave Geoff her word and she intends to keep it. Raveena and Nikki do a lot of theorizing on Geoff's mysterious past, and Chase tries not to react. Nikki eventually changes the topic, and brings up the idea of going to the fair tomorrow evening. The girls are game, so they make plans.

* * *

Deaver calls Nikki first thing the next morning, as promised. She is relieved to know that he's still alive. Everyone has classes on Friday, and they frequently meet up around some benches on the lawn in the science/medicine area of campus. This Friday isn't any different, and the gang hooks up around lunchtime. Geoff tells Deaver that he has the chemicals ready that he had requested, and someone is welcome to come pick them up in the morning. They discuss attending the fair. One of the things that Phillipi homecoming is most famous for is the number of deaths and accidents (which doesn't keep the event from being one of the two high points of the year). The gang decides to patrol the fair on Saturday to keep the vampiric-type alumni in check. Raveena is placed in charge of monitoring the dance, as she'll already be there with Ethan (and Nikki gleefully points out that this means she simply can't leave early).

While they start divvying up shifts (Geoff can't participate because he's scheduled to be at the morgue Saturday night), Geoff is approached by an unfamiliar, petite brunette and gets an enormous hug. "Eliza?" Chase's eyes get a little bigger, and the rest of the crew looks on in confusion. After the beginnings of an exasperated argument between the two, introductions are made: the girl is Eliza Barrett, an old ex-girlfriend of Geoff's from his Chicago days. She is sweet and friendly, and cheerfully asks the gang to excuse her as she intends to steal Geoff for a couple of days. She drags him off. Nikki notices a girl sitting on the lawn that has been watching Eliza and Geoff, and points her out as someone who arrived with Eliza. Chase divulges to the group and Geoff and Eliza had a huge argument before he left Chicago and that they haven't spoken in ten years. Chase is a bit shell-shocked, but the gang turns their attention back to the important details of organizing patrols for Saturday at the fair.

About that time, Deaver gets a call on his cell phone - it is Anthony, announcing to Deaver that he is out of white wine at the apartment. Deaver tries to tell him that there is a convenience store around the corner, but it is clear that Anthony expects the libations to be hand-delivered. Raveena offers to go, and Deaver tells Anthony that someone is on the way. Raveena and Gabe head to the convenience store (Gabe glamours his ID) and buy the only wine their pocketbooks can afford [think the stuff that comes in a box]. They then proceed to Deaver's apartment. The front door is open, so they go inside. The two guests are sitting beyond the glass doors on the shady balcony. Gabe and Raveena put the wine on the counter and go outside to let the guests know it has arrived. Anthony waves them away from his seat and asks them to bring him a glass. Raveena and Gabe exchange a look and head back inside. Gabe and Raveena pick up their paper sack and dig out some Styrofoam cups from Deaver's pantry, taking the lot back outside. They hear running water as they pass the bathroom, and Michael emerges. They all head back out on the balcony, where Anthony appears to have dozed off. Closer inspection reveals that he is in fact quite dead, and the cause is the bite on his neck. Michael settles himself back in his seat, and upon learning the news, shrugs and announces that the guy was a jerk anyway. Convinced that they have their culprit, Raveena grills Michael, eventually convincing him to extend his hand beyond the safety of the shade and in to the sun ? and nothing happens. Gabe and Raveena retreat from the apartment and call Deaver, telling him what has befallen his guest. How did a vamp get on to the balcony in broad daylight?

* * *

That evening, Geoff and Eliza are sitting on the sofa in his apartment, deep in conversation. He begins to apologize for everything that happened between them that preceded his departure from Chicago. She stops him before he can get very far in to it, and tells him that he has nothing to apologize for. Time has helped her see how much he risked by helping her. They hold on to each other for a long time.

* * *

Elsewhere, Jade and Gabe meet up and head to the biggest Daughters party of the year short of Beltane. The music is wild, the air smells beautiful, everything is illuminated by firelight, and at the core of the crowd the magick is flying - from silly hexes to more impressive mojo. Jade tries to get Gabe to dance, but he is still preoccupied by the puzzle of Anthony's death. She is very persuasive, however, and they eventually move further in towards the center of the activity. She strays away from Gabe after a while and heads for the heart of the event, throwing her own magick in to the mix. Gabe sees many people who look almost crazed and incoherent. One approaches him, draws her hand across his chest, and whispers in his ear in a language he recognizes vaguely but does not understand. About that time, Jade reappears. Her presence is electric, her eyes are black with power, and she convinces Gabe to join the inner group. He too starts indulging in magickal mayhem.

* * *

The next morning, Raveena gets a phone call bright and early at 9:00 am. It's Nikki, and she wants a partner in crime to go to Geoff's apartment with her to "pick up the chemicals". She assures Raveena that Chase won't be awake for a good hour or so, so they won't get caught. She is determined to ascertain the ? status ? of Geoff and Eliza's relationship, at which point they'll figure out what, if anything, they're going to tell Chase. Raveena is reluctant, but Nikki talks her in to it. They head to Geoff's apartment and knock on the door. Geoff opens it, looks a little confused, and lets them in. Nikki stammers out that they've come for the chemicals. Geoff goes back to his bedroom, knocks twice on the door, and steps inside. Raveena and Nikki exchange glances. He comes back out with two bags and hands them to Nikki, giving her instructions for Deaver - do NOT keep the two chemicals anywhere near each other. About that time, Eliza emerges from the same bedroom wearing one of Geoff's button-down shirts. More glances are exchanged between our ladies. Nikki suddenly decides she wants coffee, and sits down on the sofa. A slightly awkward conversation ensues (such is often the case when its led by Raveena). Nikki spends most of it silent. Eliza mentions that her roommate, Amy, is staying with Geoff as well. Out of the corner of her eye, Raveena notices a blanket and pillow stashed next to the sofa. As soon as Nikki and Raveena take their leave, Raveena tells Nikki what she saw, and that she's pretty sure there's nothing going on between Geoff and Eliza. Nikki concurs, having used the conversation as an opportunity to "read" the group. They head back to Nikki's house ? where Chase, who is very much awake, is waiting for them. She takes one look inside the bags Nikki is carrying and quietly asks them how Geoff is doing. Nikki takes the opportunity to escape upstairs with the bags, leaving Raveena to deal with Chase's snit. Chase had already assumed that Nikki was the primary culprit (and Raveena is quick to agree), so Raveena fills her in on what they found out. Chase points out with a grumpy look that she doesn't have any hold on Geoff, so it really isn't her business anyway, and then she lets the topic drop.

Saturday afternoon, Gabe decides it's time to take the information the gang has discovered about Zolor and Strella to the members of both the Daughters of Hecate and Cernunos' Grove. The demons' names are unfamiliar to the covens, but they appreciate the tip. Chase and Nikki descend on a hapless Raveena to prepare her for The Big Date. It's a flurry of hairpins, blush brushes, giggles, and Spanish perfume. Chase and Nikki decide to leave Raveena to her own devices this time and make their exit before Ethan arrives. Someone knocks, and she takes a deep breath before opening the door. Ethan is there, with roses in hand. He takes one look at her and is completely dazzled. She invites him in for a moment, as she puts the flowers in some water. She turns to him, and they kiss. And again. And again. Eventually, a slightly breathless Raveena announces that they had better go to the dance. Now. Before they don't go at all. Ethan grins at her, gives her his arm, and they head to the fairgrounds.

* * *

Chase is winning a quick succession of stuffed animals on the midway at the fair, which Nikki is gleefully toting around. Deaver is funding the entire operation. Gabe decides to try his hand at it, and while the ball misses, the bottles still fall down. The carnie mutters something about 'damn witches' as he hands Gabe the Scooby-Doo that Jade had her eye on.

Jade and Gabe eventually manage to extract themselves from the group and mosey over to the Tunnel of Love [I know you're shocked]. Make out madness follows, and they're setting off literal sparks. Luckily for them, one of their random arcs of magick just happens to hit a vampire who is lurking in the darkness engulfing the ride (with an unconscious victim) square in the chest, doing him in. The happy couple never even notices.

Deaver, Nikki, and Chase decide to ride the Haunted House wooden coaster. Deaver is a little dubious about the safety of the rickety looking ride, while Chase and Nikki patiently explain that ricketyness is the whole point. Partway through the ride, Chase notices that the female half of the couple two cars in front of them is amorously nuzzling the neck of her partner [I guess only the sexually frustrated people notice stuff like this]. A second glance reveals that it's waaaay more than amorous. Chase wriggles out from under the lap bar, balances momentarily on the seat and executes a leap to the empty car between them with a move that would do her old snowboarding coach proud. She whips a stake out of her back pocket and unceremoniously stakes the she-vamp through the heart from behind. When the dust clears, she looks at the confused passenger, smiles, and tells him to enjoy the ride. She then scuttles back to her seat as the guy murmurs that this is the best haunted-house ride EVER.

When the three get off the coaster, Nikki tells the other two that they should really go to the dance to see how Raveena is doing. They head toward the big white tents in the middle of the fairgrounds. The dance floor is crowded with couples, and there are many other people milling about who have just wandered in from the fair. Deaver and Nikki hit the dance floor where they spot Raveena and Ethan slow-dancing cheek to cheek, completely ignoring the tempo of the music. While they maneuver their way closer to Ethan and Raveena, Chase works her way over to the punch table, where she helps herself to the available frosty concoction. While she is leaning back surveying the scene, a voice from off to her side interrupts her thoughts. "Ellen McCallum?" She turns, and is facing a distinguished older gentleman who reeks of power (the I'm-above-the-law kind). He reaches out to shake her hand, and his is ice cold. She politely asks him if he is a Phillipi alumnus, and he grins. He tells her that he is a client of her mother's back in Denver, and that he knew Chase back when she was small. He also mentions that he knows Chase has her own connections within the alumni, and that she would be wise to keep them - it is always a good idea to have powerful allies. He hands her his card before he disappears in to the crowd. Chase turns back to survey the scene once more. It's a slow song this time, and she notices Eliza and Amy on the dance floor, holding each other close.

Ethan excuses himself to Raveena after the song ends to make a trip to the drink table. When he returns, he is white as a sheet and visibly shaken. Raveena asks what has upset him, but he brushes off her concern. They go back to dancing, and he soon relaxes.

Ethan walks Raveena to her door and thoroughly kisses her good night. She opens the door to her room, steps inside, and invites him to do the same. Ethan smiles at her and follows her through the door. It closes softly behind them.

FINIS.