A Relaxed Situation

[st_clare]

It was amazing what a little physicality could do.

Julianna moved out of the hotel and into her apartment, which she'd leased furnished, and slept in a bed that actually belonged to her. She'd woken up the next morning with a bounce in her step. And a bite mark on the side of her neck, which she covered up with a scarf so she could pay a visit to the campus. She'd been on the phone with London the night before, looking for information on Rhiannon. The girl could not be allowed to outrun her forever.

She'd been surprised to discover that there was another Slayer in the area, to say nothing of the fact that she was a student at UNLV. She'd checked out her transcript and class schedule and found that the person in question wasn't trying to stay off the radar, which was encouraging. Perhaps this Slayer would be less of an incorrigible brat.

The Watcher posted herself outside of a classroom, giving half of her attention to some papers she was carrying. Her office was in this building, and they could retreat to the smaller space if the girl proved amenable. This was business to be dealt with behind closed doors, anyway. And at least this time she wouldn't be caught flat-footed only to be dismissed.

It would go easier this time. It certainly couldn't go any harder.

Comments

[valerie_vause]

During the day life went on as normal. Valerie had no trouble in class, other than the occasional moment when her eyes would close and she’d open them to discover ten minutes had passed. For the most part nobody seemed to notice, and when they did it was with a grin and the suspicion that she’d been out late. Technically, that part held true, but she wasn’t one to run into a party or club to actually enjoy the festivities. She mingled to do her duty. Even when that meant she had to sacrifice sleep.

Today though, she felt wide awake. Fingers had bounced a pencil against her notes much to others annoyance but she’d been too focused to notice. Scribbling down words in between the odd doodle and sketch. She’d been working with wood lately, so she could get her hands on the chunks of waste material for her own use. Valerie had learned that you could never have enough stakes. Some were lost in battle or broken, others wore away and splintered over time. Though she had gotten an idea during class and drawn a bottle with a cross on front as a reminder.

When the class ended she got up and stuffed her books and notes into her bag. While everyone hurried for the door the blonde took her time adjusting the strap around her shoulder. It wasn’t until she walked into the hallway that she realised she still held the pencil. She twirled it between her fingers before shaking her head. In her peripheral vision she caught sight of a woman going over some papers but never questioned it further. Valerie opened her bag just enough to slip the pencil inside then turned on her heel.

Next stop, the cafeteria.

[st_clare]

Julianna lifted her gaze when the last of the students filed out of the room, saw a lithe blonde who looked likely. Something about her natural grace, the way she moved. She'd have noticed it with Rhiannon if she'd been paying attention, but she'd been caught off guard.

"Ms. Vause?"

The older woman kept her tone polite and her voice low, stepping a bit more quickly to catch up. Her papers went into her messenger bag. They['d just been a cover anyway.

"Valerie?" Easier to establish a rapport if she used the girl's first name although it was a bit uncomfortable for her. "I'm Julianna St. Clare. From London." Just a touch of emphasis. "I think we should speak."

[valerie_vause]

The sound of her last name caused the blonde to stop in her tracks, the accent had gone unnoticed or was simply undetected. Valerie turned curiously, expecting to discover that she’d dropped something or perhaps forgotten to lift something on the way out. When her eyes took in the older woman and she queried who she was Rhiannon’s words from a few days ago echoed in her mind.

“Yes?” She asked quietly, curiously as the woman confirmed what she was already knew. So this was Julianna. “Oh, of course.” The last thing she wanted to do was get in trouble, and she wasn’t the type to cause a scene, especially within the very place she’d worked so hard to get too. Valerie didn’t know what had happened between the two, or why, and it felt like none of her business.

Green eyes watched a few students walk by before she met Julianna’s gaze. The woman was taller than her by several inches. Though, most people were. The Watcher however had the added bonus of working for the Council, and those people made her anxious. Valerie took in a slow breath and tried to remain calm, fear, irrational or not, threatened to wash through her system. “Should we go somewhere we can?”

[st_clare]

"Of course. My office isn't that far from here." The voices of the other students were fading as the small crowd rounded the corner and disappeared. The wide strap of Julianna's bag slipped off of her shoulder, and she re-adjusted it. She should get a briefcase, one monogrammed with her initials.

The hallway was quiet as she and Valerie made their way along, and she resisted the urge to make small talk. Perhaps that had been her mistake before, she'd been trying to appear like everyone else. As long as they had it straight from the beginning that she was employed by the Council, there would be no misunderstandings.

Her nameplate had just been added to the door, and she unlocked the office and ushered the younger woman in ahead of her. "Would you like something to drink? I have water and coffee." The school had supplied the coffee pot. She was going to have to get some tea things in here, because she really couldn't abide coffee except in very small doses.

"I expect you know what this is about, hmm?"

[valerie_vause]

The silence as they walked left Valerie feeling like the teenager she had been when she’d been first called. That daunting apprehension that had her wonder if she’d done something wrong. The worry that if she had, then what would the punishment be? There was no way to know what was worse, the actual or the imaginary.

Valerie walked into the room and resisted the urge to look around. Instead she automatically stood behind a chair that sat in front of the woman’s desk and fought the urge to curl her fingers around it. “I’ll have a water, please.” Coffee would make her more jittery than she already was, and in truth, she’d have rather had the milk to try and settle her stomach.

The question caused lungs to still and Valerie swallowed thickly. What did she mean by that? There were only three things that fluttered through her mind, but each could potentially stir trouble one way or the other. “I… I‘m not sure.” Did they know of Sabra? Had they caused it? What about Brian? Could they have found out she’d bumped into Rhiannon? Wait, what had the brunette said about twelve months being the magic number?

“Is it the yearly check up?” Valerie’s voice sounded light, calm, despite the way her left hand clutched the strap of her bag tightly.

[st_clare]

The Watcher poured two glasses of water from the carafe that had been set out, then added ice cubes from the insulated bucket next to the beverages. The air conditioner was on, emitting a soft hum. She handed one glass to Valerie, then took a seat behind her desk. Her forearms came to rest on the blotter next to the telephone.

"Yes, it's the check in," she said, noting the way the blonde was holding the handle of the bag she carried. It almost made her sigh. Why did they act as if she were about to jab them with a needle? She sipped at her water. The ice cubes crackled against the inside of the glass.

"I can promise you, Valerie, my intent is only to ask a few questions and find out how active you've been," Julianna said. "I've seen your transcript and your professors have good things to say about you. Not every girl in your situation can balance academics with what goes on in the night time world."

There was a short silence, and the older woman hoped her expression was benign enough to put the Slayer at ease. She was simply trying to do her job, not cause problems or get in the way. Watchers weren't supposed to be participants, merely advisors. "You may have to endure a physical test, but even that shouldn't be any trouble."

[valerie_vause]

Valerie accepted the glass with a polite, “Thank you.” She took a liberal sip and waited for Julianna to sit down before taking a seat herself, she’d been told by her father it was respectful. Usually she enjoyed ice in her water, but she found her hand slightly shaking so quickly wrapped her other around it too. Now steady, she let the woman’s words sink in. It was just a check up. She could breathe. Sort of.

Council tests made her nervous. She strived to be her best, but she feared that one day they’d deem her unsatisfactory on some level and decide to recycle her power. Valerie knew it could seem irrational but she doubted that she was only one to worry about it. She also knew that Watchers believed in their duty as much as she did in hers and she tried to remind herself that as she listened. The blonde wasn’t sure if it was a compliment that she was doing well in school or if it meant the elder thought she must be slacking off with her patrols. She very much hoped it wasn’t the later. Julianna’s expression, when she finally looked up, was neutral. The woman, demure.

“I understand that you’re just doing your job, Ms. St. Clare. I’m happy to answer any questions you feel you need to ask.” Valerie even managed a slight smile, anxiety still present but at least kept at bay. This wasn’t anything knew, she wasn’t about to be shipped off and stripped of her calling. If there was a physical test she’d at least be able to focus on it, block out everything else, and with any hope pass.

[st_clare]

"I understand there's been some unusual incidents on campus," Julianna said, putting aside her water glass so she could open the bottom drawer of her desk and pull out a notebook. "Security has reported that a body was discovered not that long ago, at..."

There was a pause while pages flipped, making a whispery sound, and the Watcher looked at Valerie to continue as if she'd never stopped speaking. "...At sometime after midnight? According to the incident report, there were certain marks on the corpse. Were you the one who made the call, and if so did you catch whoever did it?"

This wasn't so terrible, she reflected. Had Allison lived, she might have been called on to attend to the girl's check in as well. It was easy to establish a relationship with a girl when they practically lived with you for two years. The Watcher turned her mind away from the memory. The stench of her failure followed her closely enough as it was.

"How often do you patrol? If this is a hive of supernatural activity, it must take up a lot of your attention."

[valerie_vause]

Valerie sipped at her water as Julianna went straight on to discuss things. Professional, she decided, and resisted the urge to tap her fingers against the glass. Optimistic as the blonde was, her posture changed when the topic turned out to be the girl she’d found half dragged behind the bushes. The shower hadn’t helped that night, she’d gone to bed feeling like a failure, wondering about the girl and what her family must be going through. She knew it didn’t do any good to obsess, but she always took it hard when it was fresh kill.

“I called it in.” Even to her own ears her voice sounded small. Valerie cleared her throat, teeth caught and chewed the inside of her lower lip before she continued, “Vampire attack. I tracked him to a party on campus, staked him when I got him alone outside. He was a new one, maybe a few days. I think alone, he’d tried to hide her where he’d…” She bit her lip again for a second. “He wasn’t very clever, not well hidden at all, right near the path. I don’t think he belonged to a group or nest.”

Another sip of water was taken as Valerie heard the next question. The ice cubes clinked and danced within the glass and she watched them for a few seconds before she looked back at Julianna. “I patrol every night.” The answer was completely honest. “Coming here I knew there would be some on campus, students are easy targets and with so many a few going missing wouldn’t look suspicious but… There are more than I expected. I mean I can handle that, it just makes me wonder why.”

[st_clare]

Julianna was making notes, because she'd written down Valerie's name and was adding things as she listened. When the Slayer posed the question of why there had been so many attacks, she stopped writing and looked up, her expression briefly less guarded. A tight, rueful smile crossed her face.

"They hide in plain sight," she offered, gesturing at the window where the blinds shielded the room from the glare of the afternoon sun. "In large cities, in crowds, in public places where you'd expect the least danger. It's how they hunt, not unlike lions chasing gazelles." It was an analogy that Mother had used, and it made her a bit nostalgic.

"How long has it been since you were called? There's a chance that you'll become acclimated with experience. Battle changes everyone."

[valerie_vause]

Valerie didn’t take it personally when Julianna explained things the way she did. She’d been trying to offer an explanation but the blonde had been aware of that fact, even if her gaze went to the window due to the gesture. Which was why her lips quirked into a slight smile. Though the blonde had to admit, it was a fitting picture. Much better than sheep to slaughter. “You’re right” She agreed.

“Almost seven years.” The blonde shrugged lightly and added, “Few weeks before I turned fifteen.” Finger tips smoothed down the sides of the glass as Valerie glanced up at Julianna. She had to make sure the woman didn’t think she was inexperienced, especially with how many years she’d been active.

“I’m used to how they hunt and how many to expect, where and why, but here...” Left hand lifted to push a few strands of hair behind her ear, eyes glanced towards the ceiling as she searched for the right words. “It’s…” She sought out the elders gaze and continued, “As if there’s more here than natural. Demons they… Flock, to areas that attract them. There must be a reason, there always is, I just haven’t found it yet.”

[st_clare]

"Seven years? Well. I had no idea."

And Rhiannon had claimed nearly the same amount of experience, but Julianna had been exasperated by the brunette Slayer's attitude and had ignored it. Then again, Valerie was being cooperative and letting her gather information. The marked difference in the two girls' reactions was worth noting.

"And yes, vampires do congregate in some areas more than others," the Watcher agreed. "Usually where there's a Hellmouth, which as I'm sure you know acts like a beacon for the supernatural. According to the Council's records, there's nothing like that in Nevada, which leads me to wonder why there are two of you in such close proximity. That's unusual."

Was it possible that the blonde had seen Rhiannon, had contact with her? If the more difficult of the two was as stand-offish with her fellow combatants as she was with Watchers, it was unlikely. Still, the circumstance of two Slayers in one place at one time was unusual, and perhaps worth asking about.

"When was your most recent activity on patrol?"

[valerie_vause]

That was bit disconcerting. The woman asking her questions hadn’t been aware of how long she’d been called. That didn’t mean anything bad though, other than information hadn’t been passed along and that wasn’t Julianna’s fault. Valerie knew from experience how that felt but said only, “Yes.” to the question. With no Hellmouth around the blonde frowned. Something was going on, she’d felt it the first day she’d arrived and it had lingered ever since. The Council had trained her to trust her instincts, which had never let her down.

“Two of us?” The frown she wore stayed in place, in her moment of contemplation she’d forgotten about Rhiannon. Although, right then that was probably for the best as her expression was genuine. She shook her head, reality flooded back in and she realised what Julianna had meant. The brunette had asked her not to say anything and she sipped her drink, happy to let the topic slide.

“Last night I staked a girl outside of a club not far from the campus, the night before there was a vampire inside a bathroom at the MGM. I’d heard rumors about the place, from what the bartender said vampire activity is rife though he just thinks it’s murderers getting kicks, and the place actually is haunted so I’ll definitely be going back to check it out again.”

[st_clare]

MGM. Haunted? Vampire activity definite.

Julianna wondered if her notes would be legible to anyone other than herself, took off her glasses to check the lenses. "It's good that you're so active," she remarked. "Not only on the campus but elsewhere. This city isn't quite a metropolis, but there are shadows and places to hide for unsavory things."

The ice in her glass were melting despite the air conditioning, and she got a sliver of a cube between her teeth and crunched it up with a thoughtful expression on her face. Valerie was one of the cooperative ones, and she was experienced enough to know that the check-in was a necessary evil. If she asked this next question, would she tell the truth? Would she be able to decipher it if she didn't?

"You haven't seen her? The other girl. She's about your age, bit taller than you, brown hair. If you're right, and it stands to reason that you could be, perhaps she feels the same pull." Julianna's expression was still benign. That shag really had done wonders for her.

[valerie_vause]

“I believe in what I do.” Valerie nodded slowly, a few strands of blonde hair fell across her cheek, dislodged from behind her ear. “I go out every night because of that, with so many things out there, I wouldn’t be able to rest if I didn’t.” In a way it was like training, a way to work on skills and learn something new, even if it was just about herself.

When Julianna paused to chew ice the blonde’s stomach twisted. She knew, even before the words left the elders lips what she was about to ask. Which was why she took a sip of water, let it chill her mouth before she swallowed, and took in a slow breath. Valerie didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t break her word either, her words would have to be casual, truthful but careful.

“I could have.” Valerie’s right hand lifted as she shrugged to push the hair back behind her ear. “I mean I’ve seen a lot of girls with brown hair and nearly all of them are taller than me. I don’t exactly socialise, I mean I go places but always alone and my main focus is on what’s out there looking for a meal. I never thought to look for anyone like me.” All true, and she smiled in a way that said she was used to being shorter than average. At five foot two she didn’t have an intimidating aura the way others did.

[st_clare]

Julianna was not a mind reader, which was fortunate because she would have identified the compartmentalization. To lie and tell the truth at the same time was a skill she'd acquired over the years, and a necessary one. In the current moment, she folded her hands together on the desk blotter and smiled at Valerie kindly.

"I'm sure if you did, she exaggerated things terribly, said that I'm some dreadful ogre. However, Las Vegas is not a small community, despite the surroundings. It's not as if you'd just run into her on the street."

One eyebrow went up at that, settled back into place. Polite lies, perhaps on both their parts. She would have to investigate the location the blonde had mentioned, MGM, on her own. If it was a regular haunt for the undead, Rhiannon might go there. She wouldn't be able to resist it.

"I admire your dedication," Julianna said, her tone warming. "I've been with the Council for a long time, and it takes courage and strength for someone to go out there nightly, even with your abilities. But you're fighting the good fight, and that's commendable."

She was reminded again of her lost charge, who would have been about Valerie's age if she had survived. "Has there been anything of note worth reporting other than a large amount of vampire activity?"

[valerie_vause]

In order to get caught in a lie you had to tell it, and Valerie felt at ease with what she had said. Which she was grateful for, as a guilty person might have squirmed when Julianna folded her hands and smiled. Instead she saw it as gentle kindness, in a reserved, Watcher like way. Though she did arch her eyebrows slightly, the common expression for confusion, when she said ogre. What had happened between the two of them? Rhiannon was doing her duty and Julianna appeared to be doing hers, where was the problem in that? “I don’t think you’re an ogre.” Though, the Watcher had the potential to frighten her, simply because of the power she held and what it could mean for her.

The complement hadn’t been expected and Valerie actually blinked, felt the warmth as her cheeks tinged pink. “I… Thank you, Ms. St. Clare, but I’m only doing my duty.” It wasn’t like she needed to be validated but it felt nice to be appreciated. In a world where she had to remain a secret it was rare that she got any acknowledgement at all, good or bad. Brian had been the only person she’d told about vampire’s, but she hadn’t mentioned what she was, and she didn’t feel like he was the kind of supernatural worth the Council investigating. He was human, and funny, and surprisingly sweet, and his mouth when he talked made her smile to watch.

Valerie caught herself smiling and cleared her throat to focus. The water was sipped at and she considered Sabra. It was too early to tell either way and she wanted to be sure first before subjecting the creature, the woman, through any more hell than it had already been. That and she’d made a deal, with the hopes of teaching it to spare humans as much as herself. If she fed on vampire’s there was potential. That being said, the blonde did have a few questions, and Julianna might be able to aid in the answers.

“I’ve only been here about a month so there probably is and I haven’t come across it yet. Although…” Valerie chewed on her lower lip, her voice when she spoke was hushed and she leaned forward a little in her seat. “I know the supernatural spectrum is quite vast, and a lot of demons know about vampire’s and vice versa but… Not many refer to them as being Maloker’s. I heard something call them that when I was fighting two in an alley, but I don’t know what it was.” Which was all technically true.

Valerie shrugged lightly a perplexed look on her features as she went on to ask, “I like to stay educated in those things, it makes it easier for me and safer for everyone else but I don’t have the knowledge you do, or the books and I was wondering… Do you know the kinds of things that would know the Old Ones? Or is it just common among some things? I ask because I’d never heard anyone other than my, well, other than Watcher’s when I was being trained talk about Maloker and the vampires.”

[st_clare]

Julianna had propped her chin in her hand as she listened, and when Valerie finished speaking she flipped to a clean sheet of paper and wrote 'OLD ONES' in capital letters. The term was familiar, but she would have to check her personal library for more information. This was the part of her job where she felt comfortable.

"I believe the Old Ones were a set of godlike beings who pre-date humanity. Pureblood demons. Their origins are shrouded in mystery to the point that not even the Council knows where they came from. I'd need to peruse the books I have at home to really answer your question, but I was informed about them in my training to become a Watcher. Admittedly, that was quite a while ago, but I try to stay abreast of subjects of interest."

The Watcher smiled self-deprecatingly when she said it, lifting one shoulder in an elegant shrug. She rather liked Valerie in her reserved way, and it was nice to not be thwarted at every turn. Perhaps the blonde wouldn't mind if she offered to assist her once the check-in was completed.

"How are you managing with your schoolwork?" she asked. "Your transcript says that your studies seem to be progressing apace, even if you have only just arrived at UNLV. I should imagine that sleep could become a conce3rn if you patrol every night. How is your overall health?"

[valerie_vause]

The information would come later, Valerie felt fine with that, reassured perhaps in some way knowing the woman had books of her own. In truth, the blonde had expected she would, all Watchers had a collection of sorts. It kept them in the loop with what things were and where they originated from. Naturally she’d been trained and studied what she could during those years but once set loose on the world she’d found out that those books weren’t going with her. She was, essentially, the brawn behind the brains. Although, that never deterred her in learning. She returned the smile Julianna wore, albeit more amused than anything else.

“I appreciate that, I try to keep my own notes but…” Valerie lifted a hand and waved it near her head, as if that explained everything. “You’ll know more about that kind of thing than I will, so thank you, for looking into it for me.” For a second the blonde wondered how long ago Julianna had become a watcher. The things she’d witnessed in her life. The knowledge she’d gathered. The girls she’d seen come and go. The possibility that she might even meet the blonde’s replacement once she… Expired.

Morbid thoughts were pushed aside as Valerie mulled over the questions. “Oh, well I… I think I manage alright. I tried to take classes that were a little more hands on so that I wouldn’t be stuck with mountains of reading and writing to do.” So it wouldn’t conflict quite as much with her nightly activities with things that wanted her dead. “Some of the scrap material from a few classes actually comes in handy for taking on patrol.” Personally she enjoyed what she could use to her advantage. Being creative helped to keep her alive, literally.

Did it surprise her that Julianna had her records? Not in the slightest, and she didn’t take it as prying either. The Council liked to be kept in the loop with progress, and what she, and the others, were up too. The problem was working out how to respond to the question of sleep and of health. If she confessed to how she felt would there be a mark against her name? A score to state that she might be going downhill? No, she wouldn’t worry herself sick over it, she’d explained the increase of demon activity.

“Honestly?” Valerie pressed her lips together, wrestled with her inner turmoil, then brought one hand up to rub the side of her face. “Once or twice I may have found myself sneaking off to the back of the library during lunch to take a power nap but it’s not because I’m losing my touch or getting older it’s just that I’ve been out longer. I’m trying to learn the streets and what areas are the worst.” She paused then to chew her lip, properly considering the next question. “Overall my health is fine. I don’t normally get hurt, if I do I heal quickly, my appetite is normal and so is my…” Libido? “Everything else.” She said quickly, and took a sip of water. Even if they hadn’t technically kissed, there were stirrings, she was young and healthy.

[st_clare]

Julianna noted the fact that Valerie cut herself off, and the corners of her mouth tucked inward as she resisted the urge to smile. It wouldn't do to embarrass the girl, although she could have told her that such stirrings were natural. But it was best to keep this professional, at least until they were on less official business.

"Have you ever tried to destroy a nest by yourself?" she asked, fiddling with her glasses where they lay on the desk with one hand. "I'm sure you consider yourself a veteran at this point, but over-confidence kills as much as timidity does. I don't mean to question your skill, but you shouldn't risk doing some things alone."

The Watcher had said the words as mildly as possible, her expression simply curious. The blonde seemed like a by-the-book sort, not someone who felt the urge to test her mettle against odds that didn't favor her. Still, it paid to take care, even with superhuman abilities. "Do vampires usually challenge you or try to run away?"

[valerie_vause]

Valerie breathed when Julianna continued on as if she hadn’t just fumbled the last part. Maybe she hadn’t noticed. Maybe that was just wishful thinking. The important thing was, she wasn’t being held under a microscope because of it. “Y-uhm…” She cut herself off and cast her gaze towards the window when she heard the rest of what the elder blonde had to say. Did she consider herself over confident? Not really, and she was certainly cautious, not cocky. Though she had to stop herself from asking who else she was supposed to turn too if she wasn’t meant to take on a nest herself?

“But I am alone.” Valerie had the urge to bite her tongue off. The words hadn’t been cheeky, or defensive, just stated as confused fact before she shook her head and cringed. “I mean, yes, I... I have taken out my fair share of nests but I never rush into those situations. I assess it first, the location, how many, devise a plan and a backup plan, before doing anything. Holy water is surprisingly versatile for many things.” Like, in a water gun or that time she’d actually drank half a bottle in front of the last two vampires because it made sure nobody wanted to try and bite her.

The glass of water got wedged between her knees so that Valerie could run a hand through her hair, the other was used to make a rocky motion in the air. “Most try to scuffle to begin with until they realise I’m not an average meal, at that point they tend to try and run. There are the odd few who get angry and decide to fight to the death but they’re either new and stupid or they’re old and feel like they need to prove something.”

[st_clare]

"Mmm."

It was a noncommittal sound, one Julianna made while looking down at her notes, but on the inside she was kicking herself. She'd been trying to catch Valerie off guard, to surprise her into admitting that she'd seen Rhiannon after all, but the blonde had taken her question at face value. Ah well, perhaps it was just as well. Suspicion bred mistrust, and if there was mistrust this would have been much more difficult.

"I do thank you for being so patient with me,"
she said, looking up with another smile. "I'm sure all of this must seem extremely tedious, but I have a report to make at the end of it."

[valerie_vause]

“It’s not tedious.” Valerie said with a slight shrug, a small smile of her own being offered up as she added, “I know it’s routine to be checked up on, I’m used to it. I’ll answer as best I can.” Even if it still left her anxious and irrationally afraid. Well, maybe not entirely irrational, given it was the report she worried over. Whatever Julianna said reflected entirely on her, one way or another the woman held all the cards, and the blonde tried to keep that in mind as she sat there.

No doubt there would be other questions, the Council tended to be thorough, if not at times intrusive. Blaming the woman in front of her would be foolish and ignorant. The rules had been formed hundreds of years ago, the trouble with that was how little they had really changed.

[st_clare]

"Are you still having the prophetic dreams?" Julianna asked. "There have been cases where that doesn't stop for quite some time after you're called, and I know that can affect your mental state. Or at least your concentration. When you sleep, do you sleep without dreaming?"

At this rate, she would have a thorough stack of notes to compose into a file, then send it to London for perusal at Council headquarters. She felt competent, as if she knew what she was about. And it didn't have to be torture. Getting it done quickly meant Valerie could go about her business, and she herself could get back to teaching. It was beneficial all around.

[valerie_vause]

“I still have them, I never consider them a burden or anything. They’re useful, even when they’re disturbing.” Though, those kind of dreams were more nightmares than anything else. “I do have nights where I don’t dream, but those aren’t bad either.” Probably necessary, now that she thought about it. A way for her body to re-charge, so to speak, with a full nights rest.

“Quite a few people on campus have complained about nightmares but I’m not sure if that’s just from pressure or if there’s something behind it.” Up until now she hadn’t really considered it. Valerie sipped at her water and watched the melting ice as it collided against the glass quietly.

[st_clare]

"True. The pressure of academic life can get to anyone, it doesn't have to be something supernatural. Perhaps this pull you speak of affects other people, not just Slayers."

It was a theory, albeit a quickly-constructed one. Julianna flipped notebook pages, considered what she'd written so far. This was enough information, perhaps.

"I'm going to give you my number, if that's all right with you. I'm intrigued by your question about the Old Ones. It speaks to your innate intelligence and curiosity, and if you'd like I could show you some of my books."

[valerie_vause]

Valerie found herself nodding as the woman spoke. She didn’t want to assume anything was the cause because it could lead her down roads that just wasted her time. She could always ask around to find out how often people were having them, and when they started. If anything, it would give her a chance to establish if they were just normal.

It took the blonde a second to register what Julianna had just said. When it hit she looked at the Watcher curiously, but saw no reason to reject taking the number. That and getting to browse through some books would be seriously beneficial. Hopefully.

“Sure.” She said gently, and set the glass down on the woman’s desk, making sure it was placed on top of a coaster. “That would be great, actually. It’s been awhile since I’ve had the opportunity to brush up on that kind of thing. Thank you, Ms. St. Clare.”

[st_clare]

"Please. Call me Julianna."

The older woman saw no reason not to foster a good relationship with Valerie if she could manage it, and it would be nostalgic for her to share her wealth of book-learning with a Slayer again. She wanted to see if she could remember Allison without pain.

She tore off a fresh sheet of notebook paper, wrote down her new home number with a pencil. Then she folded it into a careful square and passed it across the desk so the blonde could take hold of it.

"I realize it's a bit unusual to want to stay in contact after the check in, but whatever routine you've established for yourself it's clearly working for you. I'd like to hear more about your progress when it's convenient for you."

[valerie_vause]

“Thank you, Julianna.”

The words rolled easily enough off her tongue as she plucked the small square of paper up, and she smiled in a way that said she’d need to remind herself to call the woman by her first name. The entire process had been painless, and with that realisation her nervousness lessened. Not completely but enough for her to notice. Enough for her to feel at least somewhat comfortable with a relative stranger that knew the intimate details of her life.

Valerie stood up then, only to pause and listen. Yes, it was unusual, but at least the woman recognised that fact and smoothed over the potential paranoia that might have tried to sneak up on the blonde. If what the elder said was true then she had nothing to worry about. Watcher’s didn’t compliment abilities unless you had them, ego’s had nothing to do with duty, so she was safe to carry on with hers.

“If anything unusual happens on patrol I’ll make sure to give you a call.” She grinned a little, adjusted the strap of her bag, and said casually, “I have no doubt that if you need to talk to me you’ll be able to reach me.” Since they both spent several hours a day on campus it wouldn’t be hard for either of them to find the other.

[st_clare]

The Watcher smiled back, and a knot of tension in her stomach that she hadn't quite realized was there loosened into something more comfortable. There, it was over. She'd been competent and professional and assured. Even if it was only routine, she'd gotten through it.

"I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, Valerie," she said, realizing that she shouldn't keep the blonde any longer. "Keep up the good work, both in daylight and afterwards. I hope to see you again under less formal circumstances."