Mistoffelees and Tugger followed Griddlebone down the aisle in the PAC about a week later. Bomba was on the stage, doing something or other, and Coricopat was alone in the seats. Grids settled into the row behind him, leaning over the seats, "Hey, Cori. How'd you finagle such a primo assignment?"

The librarian rubbed his eyes wearily, "Our new Fuhrer, Mr. Snyder..."

"I think they're called principals now," Mistoffelees said with a grin that was still a little off balance, but getting better.

Cori glanced at him, almost asking how he was, but biting the words off, "He thought it would behoove me to have more contact with the students. I did try to explain that my vocational choice of librarian was a deliberate attempt to minimize said contact, but, he would have none of it."

Grids smirked, "Cori, unto every generation is born one who must run the annual talentless show. You cannot escape your destiny."

He looked at her, unimpressed, "If you had any shred of decency, you would have participated, or at least helped."

Grids shook her head firmly, "Nah! I think I'll take on your traditional role and watch!"

"And mock," Tugger added.

"Maybe even laugh a little?" Mistoffelees offered, leaning his arms against the back of one of the seats and managing a full on grin at Coricopat. At least when he was leaning against the seat, the fact his white tee shirt had a yellow rubber duck on it was less noticeable.

Cori shook his head slightly, "You three are ever so much help..."

Grids laughed, rising again, "Come on, let's leave Sir Andrew Lloyd Cori to the business he calls show."

Rising, Mistoffelees paused long enough to gently touch his shoulder. "Good luck," he said quietly before catching up to the others.

Grids froze in the center of the aisle, "Mr. Snyder."

The principal looked over the three students, "Oh, look at this: three more anxious participants for our show."

"Oh, no sir," Tugger said quickly. "We were just..."

"Leaving," Mistofelees said quickly.

"Quickly." Grids supplied.

The principal cut them off again, "No, stay. I think you could put on a wonderful act for the audience to watch. And mock. And laugh. At."

The girl managed a weak smile, "Looks like we just volunteered."

"Principal Flutie may have tolerated anti-social, recalcitrant behavior like yours. He was all touch-feely and weak-willed. Which explains why he was eaten by wild dogs, god rest his soul. But there's a new sheriff in town. Sunnydale High has touched and felt for the last time." With those words Snyder made his way out of the auditorium.

The three teens gaped after him before returning to their prior seats and sitting down hard. "But..." Mistoffelees started. "But..."

Cori couldn't suppress the smirk that tugged at the corners of his lips, "Audition forms are on the front table."

"But," Mistoffelees attempted again, voice strained and Tugger patted him on the shoulder.

"Breath, M. You'll do fine." The smaller teen just squeaked at him.

Cori glanced at him, "If all three of you work together it needn't be more than a minute or two at the most."

"You were in band for years," Tugger tried to remind him.

"Yes, in the back, relying on everyone else," Mistoffelees replied.

Grids shrugged, "So we'll find something that you don't have to speak in?"

He breathed and nodded. "Or sing?"

"No singing," Tugger replied quickly. "No worries there."

Cori glanced between the three of them, "You could do a tableau."

"Huh?" Tugger's expression was blank.

Cori turned enough to be able to better see them, "A tableau."

Grids sighed, "You said that. What is it?"

"Oh. It's where you choose a scene, or scenes from a book or film I suppose would work as well, and take a still-life approach to it."

Mistoffelees blinked. "How long do we hold the still life approach?"

"Not long. In a space of one to two minutes you could easily do a half-dozen or more scenes."

"Oh! Can we do Braveheart?" Tugger asked.

"No," Mistoffelees shot him down instantly and firmly.

"You just don't like Mel Gibson. Which is strange, since you're pretty much into guys and all."

Mistoffelees gave him a long look. "No, he's an idiot who can't act. And not that attractive anyway, and no, we're not doing Braveheart."

"Well, I'll let the three of you decide what you're doing." Cori motioned to the table in the front, "Do fill out the audition forms." Mistoffelees nodded, fleeing to get the forms.

Grids flopped back in her seat, "Can't we just skip it?"

"Do you really want the Principal breathing down your neck more?" Cori's brow arched.

"That's a no, by the way," Tugger supplied helpfully, sad to not have gotten a reaction out of Cori one way or another earlier.

Grids glanced at Tugger, "Yeah, I got that bit."

Mistoffelees returned with the forms. "Here you go, slaves of the school system," he said, sitting down next to Cori to fill out his own. Grids took hers, murmuring a thank you that sounded more than a little sarcastic.

Cori leaned back in his seat, sighing as the next act came up on stage.

Every once and a while Mistoffelees would glance up as another act came on, and Tugger tried not to laugh when Bomba strode onto stage.

She started singing, off-key. She got to the first chorus before Cori cut her off, "Okay, Thank you, Bombalurina. Tha-that's going to be lovely."

"But I didn't do the part with the sparklers!" She protested.

His eyes widened in horror, "W-we'll, um... save that for the dress rehearsal." He glanced at his list, "Alright, last up, thank goodness, is... Morgan and Sid."

Morgan stepped up to the microphone to begin his act, "Hi, I'm Morgan." He worked the puppet's mouth, "/And I'm Sid. Hey, Morgan, would you like to tell some jokes?/ Would I! /As a matter of fact it is. It's also a wood nose and wood mouth!/"

Coricopat rubbed his temples, looking almost as though he was considering calling Bombalurina back.

Morgan continued, "/I didn't sleep at all last night. Itching like crazy./ Some kind of rash? /Termites. Doctor Carpenter says-/"

The voice of the puppet suddenly changed. "-All right, time out. Let's stop this before someone gets hurt. Kid, you are the worst. Even I can see your lips move. On top of that, you're spitting all over me."

Morgan looked startled, "Sid..."

Cori looked up, his brow arching.

"And you call those jokes?" the puppet continued. "My jockey shorts are made of better material. And they're edible."

That garnered laughter from the students who were still standing around. Morgan managed a smile, looking at least somewhat pleased by the turn of events. Mistoffelees raised his brows at that.

Cori finally rose, "Alright, thank you Morgan, that was well done." He looked around at the auditioners, "Our first rehearsal will be tomorrow morning." He glanced at Bomba, "Some of you might want to get here early and run through your act before I arrive."

The "singer" pointed at Grids, Misto, and Tugger, " What about the odd squad? They didn't even audition."

"I'll expect to see them here bright and early with an idea of what exactly they're doing."

"Not be here bright and early comes to mind," Grids murmured. She picked up her bookbag, heading out and pausing when she saw Morgan "talking" with Sid. "Hey, Morgan, you were funny up there." She blinked when he didn't respond, "Morgan?"

The puppet, Sid, glanced up and nodded at the boy,

Mistoffelees and Tugger meanwhile were heading for the door, but paused to wait for their friend.

Morgan finally looked up, "Huh? Oh, thanks."

Grids offered him a smile before going to join her friends.

He turned back to Sid, "Did you hear that?"

"Of course I did," the puppet replied. "I told you you'd be great. Just keep letting me call the shots."

o.o.o.o

Mistoffelees leaned his head against the wall near the stage steps. "Great."

Grids sighed, her chin resting on her hands, "Either of you have any ideas what we can do?"

"I liked Cori's idea," Tugger said. "Still scenes."

"Which means we just have to come up with them... similar enough we don't have to do crazy costume changes or anything," Mistoffelees pointed out.

"Exactly. That's the problem," Grids agreed.

"Well, can we do a series of scenes from a movie?" Tugger offered

"It's possible, but what movie?" Grids rejoined.

"A long one," Tugger said.

"No Braveheart," Mistoffelees said. "Um, well..."

"Well...action movies are probably difficult to take still scenes from," Grids added.

"Right. Jane Austen mini-series? No, the clothes would be impossible. 80s flick?"

"Could do an 80s flick..."

"It would be interesting, not that hard, and the scenes would probably be different enough," Tugger agreed.

"True, we could do that. Maybe we can see if the drama department has anything we can use too?" Grids asked.

"Yeah," Mistoffelees said and glanced up as Coricopat entered.

Cori offered them a smile as he came over, "So, do the three of you know what you're doing?"

"We're circling in closer to an answer," Mistoffelees replied with a faint smile. "Slowly but surely."

"Oh? Good to hear." He scanned the auditorium, "I cannot believe I got dragged into this..."

"There there," Mistoffelees said, reaching out and patting his knee, unable to reach his shoulder or anywhere else. "It's not..." he glanced at the stage. "Okay it is that bad."

Cori glanced down at him, before sighing. "I might as well get this started for today..."

"Probably," Tugger said, eying Mistoffelees who shrugged.

Grids rose, "I'm going to go see if I can find anything we can work with, you guys coming?"

"Suppose so," Mistoffelees said, rising. "We'll leave good old Cori to his fate."

He offered them a wry smile, "Thank you for your support."

"Anytime," the teen beamed.

Grids headed toward the backstage area, pausing when she saw Morgan. "Hey, Morgan, how's it going?"

"I..um..."

"Tell the girl hello," Sid said.

He looked at the dummy and then offered Grids a shy smile, "Hello."

She arched an eyebrow, "How's it going?"

"Good?" he managed.

"Morgan's a little shy around pretty girls," Sid added. "But I'm not."

Grids looked at him, smiling and patting his head, "Aw, that's sweet."

"What say you and me do a little rehearsing of our own? I'd feel right at home sitting on your knee," the puppet said and would have been leering if it could.

Grids' jaw dropped at that and she looked at Morgan, who blushed. Tugger growled, from where he'd followed Grids." Hey, wood-man, watch your mouth... I mean," he glanced at Morgan. "Watch his mouth?"

"Sorry pal," Sid continued. "Just checking out the scenery. And I likes what I see." He glanced over at Mistoffelees who'd trailed in after the other. "He wouldn't be bad either, if female."

Mistoffelees gaped at the puppet and flushed. Grids' eyes narrowed, "Okay, Morgan. We get the joke. Horny dummy - ha ha. But you might think about getting some new schtick. Unless you want your best prop ending up as a Duraflame log."

Morgan nodded, shushing the puppet.

"Feisty," the puppet said and finally fell silent. Mistoffelees looked at the pair for a moment before returning to the main foyer, in time to see Cori talking to the new principal.

Cori was managing to remain civil as Mr. Snyder spoke, "By the way, thanks for steering this talent show ship. I owe you a debt of gratitude." The principal tossed him a dime, "Debt paid. I love that gag. But seriously, thanks."

The librarian smiled thinly, "It is a cross I carry with the joy of Jesus himself."

"Ooh, don't say that around the students. Church/State matters, you know."

Cori sighed, "I'll be careful."

"I've got to say, this place isn't nearly as bad as I was told. I'd heard reports of mysterious gang activity, witchery, the occasional case of spontaneous cheerleader combustion. But I'm beginning to think those were just rumors. I haven't seen any of that."

Coricopat opened his mouth to agree as a scream echoed through the halls. Mistoffelees' head whipped around at that from where he'd been standing by the stage.

Grids was already on her way out of the auditorium via one of the back routes. Shortly, Mistoffelees and Tugger joined her.

She paused outside the girls' locker room, glancing at them. "Well?" Mistoffelees asked.

"Well, most of the school heard that and..."

"And you weren't thinking of going in there, were you?" Snyder's voice came from behind them.

"No," Mistoffelees said.

"Good." He headed toward the locker room.

Cori spoke from where he was behind Snyder, "Sir, perhaps it is best to wait for the police to arrive?"

Mistoffelees glanced between them, moving back and trying to make himself less noticeable, which was somewhat hard in the lime green shirt he was wearing. Snyder turned and looked at Cori, finally nodding, "Agreed. I'm leaving you in charge of making sure no one messes with anything in there."

Coricopat nodded, "Of course, sir."

That got an eyebrow raise out of both teenage boys but they quickly curbed the expression. Grids blinked, but stayed quiet.

Snyder turned to the three students, "Don't you three have class?"

"Right, yes, class," Mistoffelees said and dragged Tugger with one arm, and Grids with the other. "Getting right on that." Grids almost protested, but allowed herself to be dragged.

"You can skip once he's gone away," Mistoffelees told her. "You have a free actually, right?"

"I do, yeah...And you've been excused from lab, right?"

"Yes. Which means we wait until he leaves and hook back up with Cori, only ignoring the phrasing of that sentence."

She arched an eyebrow. "Okay. Tugger, you joining us?"

"I actually have class, you two wild skippers," Tugger replied primly. "Just keep me updated over lunch, okay?"

Grids nodded, "Will do."

Tugger nodded and strolled off to class. The smaller teen leaned against the wall and looked over at Grids. "How long should we give them?"

"Ten minutes?"

"Sounds good," he nodded, running a hand through his hair. "So, any news with you beside, oh god, the talent show?"

She shook her head, "No, not really. You?"

He shrugged. "Same old, same old. All part of living in Sunnydale."

"Yeah, guess so."

He paused for a moment, considering. "I just... things are adjusting. Again."

"I'm glad to hear that. So things have been settling a bit?"

"Slowly. Surely. I think I should spend less time in the library on a general day to day basis but... otherwise yeah."

"So still not heading toward getting over him, then?" Grids asked, watching him.

"Nope," he replied. "It got a bit worse actually."

"Oh?" she asked, a little surprised.

"Well, there was that whole episode of clinging that happened about a week back..."

"...Right."

He shrugged. "It comes, it goes. You see Mac lately?"

She sighed, shaking her head, "No. Not recently. Which I guess could be considered a good thing?"

"Suppose so," Mistoffelees said softly. "Do you miss him though?"

Grids nodded a bit, "Yeah, I guess I do."

The smaller teen sighed. "Do you think if we moved our of Sunnydale our lot in love lives would improve at all?"

"Well, I probably wouldn't be in love with a vampire..."

"I don't know, don't other towns have vamps too?"

"Yeah, just not as many, and probably none with souls."

"True," Mistoffelees replied. "Unless he followed you."

She looked at Misto for a long moment, "I thought the point of moving was to get away from our love lives?"

"Well, that would be our point. Not sure about theirs. Or, rather, Mac's. Cori would probably not do the following thing but I could see him doing it."

"Ah, yeah..." She sighed, "I guess that's true."

Mistoffelees looked down the hallway. "Think we can risk it?"

"I think so."

"Good," Mistoffelees said, approaching the scene again.

Cori was finishing a conversation with a detectives as they approached. He moved over to them, glancing back at the locker room. "Any news?" Mistoffelees asked.

The librarian sighed, motioning for them to head to the library as he answered, "It was Emily, the dancer. They think it happened last night, just after rehearsals. There was a cross-country meet at Melville. Her-her coach says she never made it."

Mistoffelees swallowed. "How?"

Cori hesitated, taking a deep breath, "Her heart was removed."

The dark haired teen's eyes widened and he took half a step back. "God..."

Grids paled at that, glancing at Coricopat, "Is there significance to that?"

"Well..." He glanced at Misto before answering, "There are some demons which feed off of human hearts, but..." He shook his head, "The police found a large kitchen knife that matches the incisions."

Griddlebone frowned, "But demons have claws. And teeth. They wouldn't need a knife."

"Are we thinking human then?" Mistoffelees asked softly. "And I can't believe I just said that, I don't think I'll sleep for a week, but are we?"

Cori sighed, pushing open the door to the library, "The evidence certainly indicates that."

"No, wait. I-I'm not buying, you guys. Remember the Hellmouth? Mystical activity is totally rife here. This to me says demon," Grids protested, shaking her head.

"I'd like to think you're right. A demon is a creature of evil, pure and very simple." Coricopat moved over to some of the lower shelves of books, "A person driven to kill is...well...more complex."

"Not to mention the creep factor is way heightened. I mean, it could be anyone. It could be me... it's not of course, but the fear that a human killer brings to the mix is much worse."

Cori nodded, "Precisely. Whatever it, or he, or she, is though, we have some investigating to do. I suggest we start with the other students in the talent show. It's possible one of them saw something yesterday."

Mistoffelees sighed. "Oh that sounds great. I'll round up Tugger during lunch, start seeing about some people, and maybe we could do a bit more during rehearsal? Interview people, see what they know and stuff."

Grids nodded her agreement, "Sounds like a plan. We can meet back here after rehearsal, see what we've found out."

Mistoffelees nodded, shuddered once more at the thought of what was going on, and turned to go. Grids hesitated a moment before going to walk with him. He glanced back at her. "How you doing?" he asked as he closed the library doors.

"I...rattled. It would be easier if it was something rather than someone..."

"It would be. But when has life been easy?"

"Never? I can hope though, right?"

"Hope, yeah, you can always hope..." he didn't sound like he believed it would ever work.

"How are you doing?"

"I'll feel so much better once this is sorted out, one way or another. Between now and then..." he shuddered again.

She nodded her agreement, "Well, guess I'll see you at lunch?"

"Yeah," he said. "Lunch... we'll see in a few hours if I can stand the thought of food."

"Take care, Misto."

"You too," he murmured. They parted ways toward their second period classes.

o.o.o.o

Mistoffelees and Tugger showed up at the library at about the same time that afternoon. Grids entered a few minutes later, "So, how'd it go?"

"Next time we split up?" Tugger said. "Someone else is on Bomba duty. Five more minutes with her and we woulda had another organ donor."

"Well, everyone I talked to seemed to point their finger at the same person," Mistoffelees said quietly.

Grids glanced at him, "Morgan?"

"Morgan," Mistoffelees agreed and Tugger motioned his arms.

"We have a winner!"

Cori spoke from where he was coming down the stairs, "From what I heard, my conclusions were the same."

"Well, what do we do?" Tugger asked as Mistoffelees sat on the edge of the table. "We don't wanna slay him right?"

Grids shook her head firmly, "All we know is that he's a grad A weirdo. We don't even know it was him. Besides, what about the 'it's a demon' theory?" She glanced at Cori who shook his head.

"I'm looking into that, but my investigation is being rather...hampered by the theater at the moment."

"Priorities?" Mistoffelees offered and Tugger jumped in.

"Yeah, we can't do the talent show! It's unthinkable. I'm unable to think it!"

Cori removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes, "I am well aware. Principal Snyder insists that it be continued 'in Emily's memory' and is watching all of us very closely. If he chooses he can make our lives extremely difficult, and we can't afford that. We will find the murderer, but while we do" he shrugged, "the show must go on."

"That is so unfair," Tugger said, aghast and Mistoffelees squeaked.

Cori shrugged, "No argument there, but it is what it is." He glanced at Grids, "Keep an eye on Morgan, check his locker. See if there's anything there."

"Like a heart?" Mistoffelees asked.

"Or something." Cori replied.

Grids nodded, "Okay, I just need to know his locker number."

"I can look it up," Mistoffelees said after hesitating for a moment and moving toward the computer.

She glanced at him, offering him a grateful smile, "Thank you."

He returned it. "Looking up stuff is fine, it's just picking up something already there. Not quite prepared to add or change anything on the net yet though. But I can totally be the go to guy for looking up."

Grids nodded, "Okay, as long as you're sure."

"Yup," he said a bit brightly, getting the computer started up.

Grids left as soon as she had the locker number. She returned not too much later, "Well...no hearts."

"That's good... that is good right?" Mistoffelees asked, looking around.

"I'll take it as a good point," Tugger replied.

"Mostly, yeah," Grids managed to agree.

Cori arched an eyebrow, "I hear a 'but' in there."

"But Sid's case was there, and there was no dummy in it."

"That doesn't have to mean anything though, right?" Tugger asked, glancing around. "Just that Morgan has the dummy and might still be at school? Ooooh, late at school, creepy."

"We're late at school," Mistoffelees pointed out.

"Yeah, but that's different 'cause we're researching and stuff," Tugger replied, the irony going right over his head.

"Yeah, so Morgan's staying late at school and carrying the dummy around with him? I dunno if that makes sense. He doesn't seem the sort to stick around," Grids replied.

"Yeah," Mistoffelees said and shook his head. "Alright, it's def odd behavior, but I don't think it's enough to condemn him yet."

"Granted, but it is cause to keep a close eye on him," Cori said.

"Are we gonna spy?" Tugger asked. "Can I wear a wire?"

Cori arched an eyebrow and shook his head, "I don't think that's necessary."

"Damn," Tugger muttered.

"No more spy movies for a while, I think," Mistoffelees told him.

Cori glanced at the clock, "It's getting late. I can give you all rides home if you'd like?"

"Sure!" Tugger said and Mistoffelees paused a moment before nodding.

Grids shrugged, "Sure, thanks."

"Perfect. Give me a couple of minutes to get things closed up here."

"Do you need any help?" Mistoffelees asked.

"If you could check to make sure the windows are locked?"

Mistoffelees nodded, going around the library and checking, rearranging a couple books as he went. A few minutes later they were set. Cori waited until they'd exited to shut off the lights and follow them.

It took until after they'd dropped the others off for Mistoffelees to realize he lived both the farthest away from school, and that he was going to be left alone in the car with Coricopat. And also, the fact that his uncle wasn't home.

Cori pulled up to Misto's house, frowning slightly at the distinct lack of light, "Is no one home?"

Mistoffelees glanced over the fairly large house. "I suppose not. I mean, I'm sure he'll be home later..." he lied.

Coricopat glanced at him, "Do you want me to wait until he is?"

The teen blinked at the librarian for a long moment. "Um..." If he said yes, the librarian would be there all night, as it was unlikely Jones was going to be home. "No, th-thanks, I should be fine."

The Englishman frowned, "Considering the latest turn of events I'm not certain I'm comfortable leaving you alone tonight."

That got another blink. "You have other suggestions...?"

He considered for a long moment, "I have a couch. You could call and let your parents know you're alright, or I can stay here until one of them comes home."

Mistoffelees swallowed hard. "I... I mean... there..." That had unexpectedly hurt. He knew he'd never mentioned it to Cori, though both Tugger and Grids knew by this point, but having it said aloud still hurt. "There isn't actually one of them to come home, I live with my uncle."

Cori flinched. Damn it. "I..." He drew a deep breath, "I'm sorry, I..."

The teen shrugged after a moment. "You didn't know."

"Still." He looked out of the car at the house again.

Mistoffelees shrugged. "Well, anyway, I'll be fine, I mean..." It's not like I haven't been home alone many nights before this.

"Does this happen often?"

"... Yeah," Mistoffelees admitted quietly.

His frown deepened, "I see. Are you sure you're going to be alright tonight?"

"Is there a reason this night would be different?" Mistoffelees asked softly.

"I..." Cori sighed, "I suppose not. I'm just not certain I'm entirely comfortable with you staying alone." He hesitated for another moment, "If...if you ever need a place to stay, I do have space."

"... Thank you," the teen said softly.

"Of course." He glanced toward the house again, "Well, then..."

"Well then, I should probably get inside, and let you get home," Mistoffelees said, glancing from the empty house back to the tweed wearing librarian. "He'll be home shortly I'm sure."

Cori sighed, nodding very slightly, "I suppose you should. I"ll see you int he morning."

"Yup. Just in time for more talent show and hijinks and research," Mistoffelees said brightly and paused. "Good night, Coricopat."

The librarian offered him a bit of a smile, "Good night, Mistoffelees. Take care."

"You too," he said, finally slipping out of the car, and heading for the large empty and dark house. He sighed, getting his keys out and opening the door, turning on lights as he went through to the kitchen. Cori sighed before pulling away and heading home.

Oh, the talent show...