A/N: See Chapter 1 for Disclaimers, warnings
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Chapter 3: CustomsRupert Giles, AKA XLH Reginald S.-S., who one thought would have learned by now not to casually request that Willow whip up a fake ID without, at the very least, specifying the name. He was going to be called "Reggie" and "Reg" all day and he was going to have to answer to it.
He straightened his absurdly colorful Hawaiian shirt (comfortable, though, he had to admit) and adjusted his eye patch to fit snugly under his glasses. He felt a slight twinge of shame that he had never thought to do this before, never quite realized just how much of the world disappeared when you closed one eye and kept it that way. That Xander continued to fight and survive with such a handicap forced him, once again, to revise his opinion of the young man upwards. Although anointing him with messiahhood was probably taking that respect just little too far, he thought with a smile.
Still, whatever the reason, it had been nice to see them all together again, in one place, at one table, laughing as they ate the surprisingly good dinner served in the Inn's diningroom. Nice to see Faith happy and sane, his failure there if not wholly redeemed at least amended. Repaired. Another reason, he supposed, to be grateful for Xander.
He tried to remember the last time they had all been together like this and couldn't. That was his fault, at least a little. After the First had destroyed practically the entire Council with one blow he had thought it best to make it a policy never to, as it were, have all his eggs in one basket. Perhaps the time had come to rethink. For one thing, he needed to find out exactly how the anti-demon shield that covered Stars Hollow had been created and maintained. There would be a cost, of course, but perhaps it was one the New Council was in a position to afford.
Perhaps too, now that the New Council and the slayers were spread out around the globe, an annual meeting might not be such a bad idea, if only to make sure the lines of communication stayed open, to make sure the names on the lists always had faces and laughs and the little quirks that made them human first and warriors second…
Perhaps on Sunday before they all went their separate ways, they could have an old fashioned Scooby meeting and talk about it.
Well, he thought, enough meandering, let's see what we're in for today. He opened the convention packet, pulled out the program and looked it over, sighed. On the other hand, there could be worse things than a demon attack at an annual meeting. He read;
Seventh Annual Meeting of the
Xander L. Harris Doppelganger Society
PROGRAM SATURDAY MORNING
Welcome: XLH Joseph B.
OLD BUSINESS
Decision of the Disciplinary Committee re:
XLH Geoffrey T. and XLH Ramon Q. and F. Maria Q.
Moment of Silence for XLH Mark O.
Moment of Silence for XLH Giorgio M.
Moment of Silence for F. Jeanne l.
PRESENTATIONS
As I See It: How We Came To Be Here: a brief history : XLH Harvey P.
We Are Professionals: Viewpoint. : XLH Robert Y.
We are Soldiers in a Righteous War: Viewpoint : XLH Renee V.
We Be, Therefore We Are: Viewpoint : XLH Davis O.
What the Man Himself Would Say: Viewpoint :XLH Ed G.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Ya Gotta Have Faith:
Integration and Suffrage: Fatal or Necessary?
XLH Joseph B. XLH Harvey P. XLH Kevin G. F. Erin M.
The Doppelganger's Doppelganger: The Look-alike Contest
Judges: XLH Joseph B. XLH Harvey P. XLH Ed G.
LUNCH --- We will join the Ladies in the Dining Room
AFTERNOON (The Ladies Will Join Us)
DEBATE
Whither the Dopplegang:
A New Beginning or the Beginning of the End?
XLH Robert Y. XLH Davis O. XLH Joseph B.
Eye to Eye: Free Discussion Period:
We ask that all members remember that though we may disagree we are brothers and sisters at the core, in order to properly honor the Heart of the Scoobies Please remain civil.
Free Time
Please enjoy the fine grounds of the Independence Inn, boating and volleyball equipment available, inquire at the front desk. And/or explore the quaint charms of Historic Stars Hollow, map and shopping guide also available at the front desk
Remember to attend the Banquet in the Dining Room at 8:00 PM
Hosted by XLH Joseph B. and F. Sarah B.
Twinkie Eating Contest at 9:15
Entertainment provided by the
Musical Comedy of the Shoo Be Do Be Scoobies.
SUNDAY
PRESENTATION
Our Hero in Cyberspace:
What You Can Learn From RPG's
XLH Anthony B and XLH Timothy M.
WORKSHOPS
Xan and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance:
Basic Motorcycle Repair
XLH Marty G. F. Nyoko H.
Intimidation through Implication:
How to Scare Scary Things.
XLH Joseph B. F. Sarah B.
The Real Thing
Slayers: a spotter's guide
XLH Gene K. XLH Baraka N.
BRUNCH
Informal
Free Discussion Period
Members to Share Success Stories and Cautionary Tales
NON-BINDING STRAW VOTE
Farewell: XLH Harvey P.
Giles was just starting to look through the supplementary materials, position papers and so on when there was an urgent knocking at his door.
"Yes?" he called.
"It's me, Mr. Giles," Zoey answered and he stood and opened the door.
"What is it?"
"They want you to come down right away. Please come, Mr. Giles. Buffy said I was to … carry you kicking and screaming if you didn't and….well."
"Of course. And Zoey, even without such… intimacy I think you could drop the Mister."
"Of course, Mr. Giles. Now, please?"
"I'm coming…. wait, I should bring my walking stick, shouldn't I." He followed the girl down the hall, down the stairs, through the lobby to where the others were waiting, Buffy came bounding over, grinning madly and took his arm while an equally eager Dawn took his other elbow and they pulled him into the next room.
"Oh dear lord," he said, and, after extracting his limbs from the Summers' girls grips, began thoughtfully polishing his glasses.
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