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]

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."