John gulped more cool Essence Milk, Xander nodding along. "Anyway Xander, I know Buffy is NOT going to be happy about this so I already sent her to my sister. Just wanted to tell you too."

The Hawaiian dude sighed. "No, the local fang buddies going legit for cookies is STRANGE, but that isn't the real issue here, not why she is so on edge… I think it is more stress related."

Huh? "In what way?"

Xander shifted his own milk glass back and forth. "Doe Park made an impact like a meteor, and all the dino's of adventure are going extinct. Our last few patrols have been… Lacking… In the combat department."

John blinked at the idea behind the issue. "And this is a problem for her?"

Xander shrugged. "Well, we are all teenagers… Getting to kill something after a frustrating day without any moral problems or concerns was a way for Buffy to destress. But now?"

The guy idly tapped the table. "Something's shifted in the town. People don't just wander about after dark, I've heard far less people needing 'Just one thing' and running out 'real quick' to become something's snack. The few monsters in the night are not so much prowling for prey these days, as they are struggling to keep territory and keeping low… And outsiders are avoiding the entire area until stuff settles down."

Um. "Which… Is good, yes?"

Xander shrugged. "Mostly, but the ones left over for Buffy to smash are all cowardly, smart, or both. Heck, even with a near 100% fatality rate, vampires normally would just normally smash into Buffy without care, but THESE guys?"

He chuckled. "I once saw six vampires fleeing FROM EACH OTHER in some sort of messed up giant ring. Each one believing they were secretly following the ones in front to find safety from whatever horror was chasing the poor bastard behind them."

John blinked. "I'm sorry, what? How would that even work!?"

The loudly dressed teenager grinned! "I know, right!? Every time they slowed down I would yell 'OH NO, THEY ARE GAINING ON ME!' and off they went! I wish I had a camera or something, Wills was SURE I was messing with her when I told the others…"

His good mood shifted down. "But then Buffy caught up with me and squished them all. Normally if something this odd popped up she'd at least humor me a bit, maybe help me taunt the idiots, but with how slow the nights have been recently she hit them like I'd hit an all-you-can-eat twinkie bar."

That sounded pretty tense… But it should be fine, right? "I'm sure my sister can talk her down, and I know that the new Bill's are trustworthy. Mostly. At least when surrounded by other cookie obsessed security staff."

Oh, right, had he mentioned that? "I told you guys that we hired a bunch of people and demons and Bills and stuff into some new security teams, right?"

Xander froze, shifting to look at John more closely. "...No?"

What, really? "I'm sure I did, I told you guys that we were hiring all sorts of help for like dozens of positions and all that!"

The guy's look focused. "...And said help includes vampires."

John held his fingers close to gether. "A little bit? They work REALLY hard to get extra snacks, and since they don't need to sleep or whatever they do an AMAZING job on the night shifts. Also in the Underpark, because apparently some of the many people moving to Sunnydale came specifically for fetish related reasons, but that's something my sister is handling that I am trying to avoid being involved with."

Cuddling with Grace and Temptation was a mixture of embarrassing, thrilling, and fun mixed with an atmosphere of care and warmth.

Walking into the Underpark unprepared on the other hand was worse than being smashed in the face by ALL the hormones. Never again.

Anyway, back on topic. "Point is, we now have a bunch of local people and monsters and stuff on our security staff. Defender golems lead any teams working here in the park, just in case, while the groups securing the local area around here are always a mixed of members to keep eyes on each other."

Xander slumped. "Why?"

John blinked. "Because it is easier to protect people if we hire the threats and monsters to protect the people who would normally be eaten. Plus it earns them money so they don't need to go out and stab someone to buy more stuff from our park."

Doe Park could certainly afford them easily enough, considering almost all costs were down near zero and the massive amounts of profits they were generating showed no signs of slowing.

Xander groaned as he slowly stood and then slugged back his milk. "Then I better find the other scoobies so that Giles doesn't freak, Buffy is given a heads up, and Wills doesn't accidentally erase part of your security staff from existence or turn them into frogs or something."

Oh, alright then ."No problem, I understand."

The guy paused halfway out the door. "Anything else I should know before I head out? From you or your sister, or about the park in general?"

Probably not. OH, wait! "My slightly torn Soul and all the other damage from fleeing an existence beyond my ken has mostly healed up now, so we both might be heading on to the next world soon. If you guys need anything just talk to our Head of Security or any other Iron Golems, or mail a letter to our [[Home]], and I'll get back to you. Or one of me will, eventually or already or at the same time. Ignore anything he/I/we/us/they say though, just to avoid any potential paradox scenarios."

Xander blinked. "...What?"

John sipped his milk. "Mmm… Yeah, don't think about it. Anyway, I'll send you a letter eventually/already every now and then. See you later!"

Xander blinked. "...What?"

Thankfully John's [[Home]] had shifted so now he was now lounging on a couch, work done and finally alone in his altered meeting room.

Warm metallic hands gently and cautiously held his left hand catching his attention… Then Temptation squished herself happily into his lap when he was caught off guard by Grace's blush.

…Mostly alone.

It was close enough.

Grace gestured with her other hand as she held his… "Of course you two will be coming with us! I already got sis's permission and everything! You both will have fun, I promise."

Temptation wiggled with a smirk.

Nope. "Next body will be underage, I'm not backing down on this! I need time to adjust and not just bounce between the extremes of 'Eternity trapped in a nightmare of solitude and madness' and 'Surrounded by an infinite army of sexy ladies'!"

The demoness pouted and gestured toward Grace who huffed at her metallic sister.

John rolled his eyes. "But she wouldn't ASK me to do that because she wants me to have time to adjust and stuff."

Which was good, because saying no to that girl was HARD.

She did this whole 'I accept this but it hurts' expression that just tore John up inside and made it really tricky to NOT go full 'PROTECT WOMAN' caveman nuts on any random issue.

Even worse? It wasn't intentional.

It was lucky that Temptation was there to temper Grace's tendency to just… Give in, or give up. To stand up for both of them when she felt John was accidentally missing some important social queue or not treating them right.

After all, he was NOT an expert at this. Or being human, or a child, or male. This was a learning process, after all!.

Of course, the sinful woman was attempting to CORRUPT that learning process as far down the lewd railroad as fast as that sexytrain convoy can choo-choo along, but thankfully Grace tended to act as a deterrent to all that.

Her warm hand gripped his as she smiled at both him and her sister hugging from his lap. Innocently happy that the three of them had some time to just be together.

To a degree. She acted as a deterrent to a certain amount. Sort of.

Then again, wholesome and selfless love was dangerous in its OWN way, really.

…Wait. "Temptation, are you nibbling my shirt?"

Crap, her hands were starting to wander too. "OH LOOK AT THE TIME! We need to quickly go talk to the staff about that meeting with the team of lawyers about that thing I mentioned earlier even if neither of you know what I'm talking about! Let's go do that."

Oi! No pinching!

~~~Pocket System~~~

Joyce tried to calm herself. "It isn't a sex cult. It's just a friendly group of people who like to get together and… 'Relax'."

It totally wasn't a sex cult.

Right?

Not that it mattered! She was an adult, a mother, and had a successful career! She was allowed to have a bit of personal time, and no one, not even her daughter, had the right to judge her for any of that!

She checked the fit of her newly purchased bra and then stared into the mirror one more time.

Don't add too much, just… A touch of makeup. Nothing big, nothing that was messy.

Not that it would matter, this wasn't a sex cult.

Just a bunch of potential friends.

Right. "I can do this. I can DO this! Stay calm, stay cool. Plus, there was that time in college… Those times… Yeah…"

How WAS Betty and Charleen these days? She hadn't thought of the girls since the mess with Hank, how long since she had even contacted ANY of them?

On the other hand, time passes fast when you lose focus.

The 'experimental times' back then were likely glossed over, all the stress and hard work and horrible stuff slowly stuffed away from her memories as idealized and airbrushed sex goddesses replaced her mental images of those attentive classmates.

…No, focus. "Not that it matters what makeup I wear! Because I'm just going to visit and find new people to hang out with off shift. I'm just… Putting my best foot forward."

And wearing the thinnest lace delicates she owned and maybe these jeans were a LITTLE tight, and her shirt showed off the girls best as possible, but… It was a first impression!

Those were important!

Besides, this was just a get together. A chance to talk and gossip and such with the friendly (VERY friendly) men and women who also had shops and stalls at the Fleeless Market.

Not a sex cult. Probably.

How was her breath? It was fine, right? Should she get a mint?

No, it would be fine!

Perfectly fine!

~~~Pocket System~~~

"One second, the door must have closed!" A vision of Heaven opened the door, her dress shimmering and slit up to the hip or higher to perfectly frame her divine legs. "Sorry about this, the door stop keeps slipping and… Oh. My. God! Is that YOU Joyce!? My little JoyJoy!?"

Joyce felt her mouth dry. "Eep."

The door opened wide "JoyJoy, it's me, Charleen Springer! Oh I can't BELIEVE it's you after all this time! And you look FABULOUS darling, if anything you look even MORE gorgeous than back in school! You give off this powerful 'MILF' vibe and… Oh."

Charleen (HOW IN THE HELL!?) Springer blushed bright red. "Sorry, sorry. Uh just… Come in, come in! I have to introduce you to ALL the girls, they are going to love you! Susan, Judice, come meet Joyce! We were a thing back in the day and…"

Just like in those younger years, Joyce felt pulled into the whirlwind of this woman as the two were pushed into a swirling tour of… Somewhere.

…To be perfectly honest, it uh… It might be a sex cult.

As one of the many new faces touched her arm or gave hugs or happily welcomed her into this large mess of chaos, Charleen barely paused as she rambled along. "And don't feel pressured into ANYTHING JoyJoy, fun's only fun when it's with everyone you know? I didn't even take my shoes off the first week or so after I joined, and that was even BEFORE our group moved down here to the Underpark!"

Another vision of beauty was gently turning Joyce's face. "Your hair is divine, girl! Charleen, where've you been hiding such a treat!"

Her friend/angel/damn girl, those legs/companion just beamed! "I know, right!? She didn't even use special care products either back in college! Anyway, we'll be right back, I want to show her around everywhere first and it's probably too early for her to join in on naked twister anyway."

Wait, WHAT!?

Even as she was being tugged away, she could hear clothing being tossed to the side behind her, making this situation fairly clear even to HER at this point.

…If ANYONE asked, she was going to claim this mess was a movie club or something.

Charleen bounced her way towards another set of rooms! "I'm so glad you showed up on girls night, I tend to avoid the meetups with the guys and stuff these days. I know, I know: Some guys are hot, and we did have those nights with invited guys back in the dorm, but honestly they just don't give me that special zing we had back then… Oh, let me show you the snuggle nook, it's my favorite one!"

A very ACTIVE movie club. Gulp!