Jessica blinked. "You think your mother is being coerced to join a sex cult… Because people from the more risqué professions have joined up with Doe Park?"

The short blond was blushing but stubborn it out. "It just sounded suspicious, all right!? Some new place opens up and EVERYONE starts heading over here!? I KNOW there is something going on here!"

Alright, fair enough. "But, again: Your first thought was sex cult?"

The boy Xander was grinning like a loon in his chair on the other side of the table. "Buff-ster, just so you know: I support your dreams and ambitions."

Willow, still partially clung to his arm and mentally checked out of all this entirely, giggled for… Likely for some unrelated reason. Apparently magic oversaturation had hit her HARD and she was still working it off.

Buffy GLARED at the boy! "ZIP IT! Shh! You no talkie!"

The librarian Giles sighed. "Ms. Doe… Such concerns (And many others, most of which are far more reasonable) are why we decided to visit your facilities before the advertised opening day. That and to better discuss potential cooperation and so forth that we mentioned earlier."

Xander nodded, waving at the nearby Iron Golems. "Yeah, keeping people safe would be TONS easier with metal people around… Assuming, you know, that they aren't your personal army about to dominate the state and attempt to control the world."

Jessica leaned back and hummed. "I mean, they are less my personal army and more so near fanatic followers of my little brother. John made them and… Well, that has certain consequences when it occurs in a world like this one."

She raised a finger. "That said: They are all individuals. While they are happy to follow our suggestions and John's requests… They are not enslaved and they are not mindless. They are literal avatars for newly born spirits of guardianship and defense and protection. Any attempt to force them to go against their core beliefs and… Well…"

One of the nearby Iron angels flexed her arm, wings fluttering.

…Causing other things to jiggle as well, causing most of the teenagers to gulp.

Jessica coughed. "Well! Needless to say: Doe Park will remain a bastion of safety for the town for the foreseeable future. And probably beyond that, considering how sturdy each of these defenders happen to be."

She accepted a report from one of the nearest guards. "As for your mother, from what I see here she is still organizing the new shop stall over in the Fleeless Market to display her art pieces and some such."

Looking up at the concerned daughter, she sighed. "If she joined any of the sex clubs, groups, cults, or the Church of Lust itself… Then she has done so on her personal time and not during work hours. I'm afraid you will have to actually ask her in person to find the truth in this matter."

Buffy jerked back! "I am NOT asking my mom about her sex cult! That is TOTALLY 'Eww' territory! Mom's can't have… They can't do… They can't! Parents can't do stuff like that! Giles, you're old! You tell her!"

Damn girl, that's harsh.

Giles for a moment looked a bit too sharp… Then sighed and began to clean his glasses once more. "My young charge's opinions set aside for the moment, we would like to examine the facilities and so forth for our own peace of mind. Not that I am attempting to doubt your claims or some such… After all, if I hadn't felt the risk of actual danger in this scenario was already fairly low I would have handled the situation with a few much more efficient and dangerous scenarios and options."

Checking her schedule, she shrugged. "Well you can certainly look around all you want and ask anything you wish, but honestly I won't be free to join up with your group until much later today or early tomorrow. While I don't MIND the unexpected rescheduling of our meeting, I am in the middle of doing a grand opening of our facilities on Monday and both I and my brother are very, VERY busy."

So busy she missed the inner issues of her sibling as he tried to handle so many unexpected social situations all at once.

No, berate yourself later Jessica: Handle current issues first. "Feel free to explore around, talk to whomever, and whatnot. If you get lost, just ask any Iron Golems around and they can show you about."

Oh, and uh… The Underpark. "I also request that if you MUST visit the Underpark, which I'm sure you all will, that you stay with Giles as a minder. It is NOT G rated down there, nudity is only the BEGINNING of the things they will be exposed to and… Well, I'd just request a certain level of maturity and professionalism. No one down there will be Hostile to any of you but…"

Remembering her last, very enjoyable visit, she sighed. "There will be teasing and flirting and other some such. From my Security staff and the locals. Just… Just so you know."

Willow giggled in her chair.

Giles adjusted his spectacles. "Yes, the magical statues… I couldn't find any references in any texts that match their form or function, even to a remote degree. How EXACTLY are they created?"

From his expression, she could almost taste the suspicion that impossible science or sacrificial acts or costly rituals were involved but… "My brother made them all while I was trying to get paperwork done."

The librarian blinked. "I'm sorry?"

Jessica grumbled. "Yeah, we only had a few dozen at first but I left to go meet up with the potential employees at your school, then visited the Mayor's office… Speaking of which, NONE of you go into politics, something is REALLY wrong with him and I can't tell what it is... Anyway, while I was out doing that and then finding people to bring their stores down to our Fleeless Market? John got into a groove making more golems and it got out of hand."

Xander blinked, absently hugging the girl that was half wrapped around him. "Wait, you mean that kid from earlier just magicked up all these hot women in an afternoon!? How is that even possible!?"

She shrugged. "The creation process is stupid easy… Just stack four blocks of iron plus a pumpkin. It's the materials that are stupidly powerful and special in this case."

Giles blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry? A… A pumpkin?"

Jessica nodded. "Each one is Crafted of impossible materials from a non-existent location into a partially unreal final product, somehow embodying the pure Essence of the Concept of the material in a stabilized form… But yes. Four blocks of Iron and a Pumpkin creates a nearly immortal avatar of protection and guidance in the idealized vessel shaped of famous legendary people and local heros."

They looked at her like an onion was growing out of her nose. "...And I guess a magical torch too? Yeah, there's a magic generating and wide area purification enhanced stick of wood that is endlessly on fire inside the pumpkin. So uh… I guess it is technically four Iron blocks and a jack-o'-lantern."

Another awkward pause.

Wonderful. "Any questions before I leave for my next appointment?"

Xander raised his only free hand. "I heard something about our Mayor wigging you out?"

Ah! Good point. "He triggers my danger sense, and might be wearing his former body as a flesh suit or something. I don't think he's a robot or a zombie or a Bill but… Yeah. Just… Just keep an eye out for that sort of thing."

Xander blinked. "Huh. Good to know, I guess?"

Buffy groaned as she slumped to the table. "Can… Can we go investigate the Mayor or something instead of talking to my mom about her sex cult? Or go stab some vampires or do extra ungraded homework or…"

Willow half woke up. "Flurple?"

She calmed down quickly though as her friend ran his fingers through her hair. "Shh, Wills. Everything's alright."

The girl nodded, snuggling up. "'Kay."

Daww.

Oh shit, she was already late! "Like I said, schedule a meeting with my assistant, she's the one almost wearing a skirt, and we'll meet up later. Hey [[Home]], can you somehow get me a door to talk to… Oh, thank you! Right, you three follow me, there shouldn't be any issues this time but it's best to be sure."

And they were off!

~~~Pocket System~~~

Xander watched the elder Doe sister sweep out of the meeting room with style and a small group of VERY attractive moving statues.

Not that it was super easy to focus with… "Hey Wills, you alright?"

She murmured, refused to let go of his arm, and snuggled tighter. "Dibs."

Sigh. "Just… Let me know if you feel worse, alright? Or better or…"

His friend grinned something super goofy and just kept on being adorable.

"...Can YOU do it, Giles? Please?"

"You are asking me to talk with your mother about her potential decision to join a…"

"Mup mup mup! Don't say it, I don't even want to think about it, I just… Could you?"

Xander looked up at the group. "Hey, just a suggestion here, and none of you have to listen or anything… But maybe we should just talk with her first about some of the OTHER strange stuff first? Like the magic moving statues and the obviously impossible layout of this whole place and… All this supernatural junk first?"

Having caught the attention of the group, he shrugged his one free shoulder. "I mean, by now she will probably have LOTS of questions about the crazy things down here, and it would probably be a good chance for you to talk with her about OTHER stuff we have hidden from Mrs. S, since this time we have some proof that is both safe to share AND easy to demonstrate. A whole lot of it!"

Giles held his chin, surprised at himself for considering this new point of view, but Buffy seemed shocked at the very idea! "I can't tell Mom about the crazy stuff that goes on here! She won't believe me! I'll be put away or something!"

Xander blinked and nodded to the side at one of the nearby security golems. "Being able to interview one of the 'unbelievable crazy lies' in person seems like it would be pretty convincing to me."

She huffed! "But then she'll ask about OTHER stuff and I'd have to tell her about all the dangerous fights I have to survive each night and…"

He nodded once more. "And unlike my folks, your mom would care about your health and safety. Fair."

Buffy blinked… And winced. "Ah… I didn't mean… I mean, I'm not just avoiding talking to Mom about this mess because I'm worried I'll get grounded or something! I'm worried about her! What if she gets hurt?"

Xander absently scratched Willow's scalp as she hummed contently. "We've already had a few close calls to begin with… I'm not entirely sure being in the dark is a safe thing to begin with. Especially not here in Sunnydale."

Giles nodded in agreement. "While there is actually some protection from a variety of threats when one is unaware of risk… A lot of my arguments fall away considering your mothers new location of employment."

The G Man gestured at the impossible underground world they had entered. "Compared to before, your mother is vastly more protected in this place… Assuming it is on the up and up. But regardless… Working here? In this place of raw magic and impossibilities? I'm afraid the chances of her remaining unaware of the actual scope of the world may no longer be feasible."

Buffy blinked at… Whatever the hell her personal Watcher just said. "Huh?"

He sighed. "Keeping her unaware is likely impossible. It may be best to open up to her now while subtly inquiring about any… Other… Activities you may be concerned about."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, that." Now… "Can one of you help me pry Wills a bit loose from my arm? She's… Well, she's like a baby koala right now and I don't think I can stand up like this without both of us falling over."

Willow happily mumbled at his side, her closed eyes softly glowing. "Dibs. My dibs."

Don't blush, Xan man! NO BLUSHING ALLOWED!