#I got trapped in the shadow realm of bad dreams; waking up with bad vibes; and then falling back asleep to bad dreams

[alectoperdita]

God I'm so fucking groggy and only getting out of bed now after a morning of repeated nightmares/stress dreams. Someone please give me the ability to make it through the day somehow.

Whelp, turns out I missed a meeting too. This is going great.

[nodesiretogrowup]

I LOVED THIS EPISODE! It was nice to have a kid-focused episode. The past few have focused a lot on the adults, so it was nice to see the kids in the spotlight again. It was SO COOL to see the kids playing off each other. We NEED more of it next season. Lena is my daughter, so I was happy to see her back, though I’d rather she not have to suffer.

Spoilers and more detailed thoughts below:

YAY NERF GUNS! Also, it was super sweet of the boys to reassure Lena that they know she’s a good guy now. 

LOVED all the different jammies on display. I usually rock something similar to Lena and Violet. Dewey in the footie pajamas gives me LIFE. And Huey with his hat. I’m surprised he didn’t say something along the lines of “Warm head, warm dreams.”

Super cute that Lena set this all up. My baby wants friends.

“Self defense weapons, all manner of booby trap.” I feel like Violet would have suggested having those no matter what. I love my slightly feral nerd daughter.

Beakley for BEST bodyguard.

“Nothing weird is gonna happen at this slumber party.” Webby, babe, you’re just ASKING for trouble.

Lena’s little song and cake! MY HEART! I think Huey may have drawn some inspiration from that cake, lol

“Time loses all meaning in the infinite night of the shadow realm.” HELP THIS CHILD! And again, I think Donald would be the perfect parent for her.

“You are a wordsmith!” Webby LOVES her shadow gf.

THE FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS! AND THEY MATCHED EACH KID! HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS GIRL!

Of course Louie is suspicious. He was wary of his mom AND just spent the last episode getting betrayed by Goldie.

“You literally sound like that now.” Huey, you need to learn how to read a room.

“That’s just my voice, I can’t help it!” I feel ya there. And a nice bit of foreshadowing

“I’ve found it’s clearer to convey no emotion whatsoever.” Also not a good way to talk to people.

Aw, Lena. Like Webby said, you don’t have to prove yourself. That seems to be a running theme this season. Dewey wants to prove himself to his mom, Louie wants to prove himself to anyone, and Della wants to prove that she is a good mom and fits into this family.

“That makes you super-extra-good, right?” “Math checks out.” You two share one (1) brain cell and that’s adorable.

Webby has no table manners and that is valid.

“LET’S EAT PURE SUGAR!” That is just a bad idea in general, much less for Huey.

What happened to Huey? Why was his mouth all grey?

“You know who my best friend is?” “Me.” “Sleep.” A.) Mood, B.) Dewey’s face is PRICELESS! You can’t win them all.

Sleeping Beakley is TERRIFYING.

“It might be sleepy-time.” Webby, you are TOO PRECIOUS!

Anyone getting some Nightmare on Elm Street vibes? Specifically the third one? I guess that was what they were going for, what with the title and all.

Concerned girlfriend is concerned.

MY POOR BABY! HASN’T SHE SUFFERED ENOUGH?!

“Do you need, *whispers* you-know-what paper?” Not sure if Beakley told her toilet isn’t something you should go around saying or if Webby doesn’t want to embarrass anyone. Either way, cute!

Lena pulls of Dewey’s do well.

One of the most precious moments ever! And a reminded that they are still pretty young.

WEBBY IS SUCH A GOOD FRIEND/GIRLFRIEND! *happy tears*

LOVED the shot of Lena with the stars reflected in her eyes.

Heck, the animation for all the dreams is AMAZING! I love how you can INSTANTLY TELL whose dream we’re in.

I’m glad they figured out that they were in a shared dream early. Gives us more time for wacky dream shenanigans!

Webby/hamburgers is otp

I like that they used the “you can’t read in dreams” thing. Nice touch. It looks like at least Launchpad, Scrooge, and Donald had a corresponding emoji.

“Why are you dialing a banana?” DREAM LOGIC!

SWORD HORSE!

Webby CANONLY kins Scrooge!

EXTREMELY EXTREME OBSTACLE COURSE

Louie putting a stop to unicorn shenanigans before they begin.

Those directions. Better than Penny’s at least.

Violet is blunt and to the point. She’s probably a Virgo.

LIVING for all the cartoony sound effects!

POOR LENA! AND YAY SUPPORTIVE WEBBY! Also, love Louie in the background being confused as fuck.

That cute little smile! I WOULD DIE FOR LENA!

I don’t think the whole “don’t wake a sleepwalker” thing is actually valid in real life, but here it’s probably a goodish idea. Magic is weird and unpredictable.

“LET’S FLY, BECAUSE WE CAAAAAAN!” I like the way you think. I love that Louie’s wings have dollar signs. And Lena’s bat wings are DOPE.

“I HATE WALKING!” Louie is MOOD.

Huey and Dewey crashing, lol

That unicorn got DEEP. And I now crackship him and Manny.

Lena walked into Snow White.

“I probably grew horrible bat wings for non-evil reasons.” It’s because you are a baby goth.

“I ATE A BUG!” Dewey, you are a special boy and that’s valid.

“Ew, Webby, why is there a school in your dream?” Again, Louie is MOOD.

Ugh, I wish I could make out what the sign in front of the school says. I see EXCELLENCE though.

Dewey CONFIRMED HSM fan. And I’m getting some Saved By The Bell vibes. He’s binged ALL the high school classics. This is probably how Mabel dreamed high school would look like before the crushing slap of reality hit her.

His hair and jacket. Too cute, expect for his hair being alive. That was freaky. I fear for him when he learns what high school is actually like.

His song. Dewey is in for HEARTBREAK. LIVE YOUR DREAM WHILE YOU CAN!

I know most people are going with Dewey is bi after the whole romantic interest thing, but I feel like he might be aro/ace. Dewey is threatened by choosing a romantic partner. I’ve kind of always seen him as ace though, so it might just be me. Or it could be him trying to figure out his sexuality, which is cool. I love that the crew threw that in. The boy is not straight in any way though.

I love that Dewey’s singing rivals are Beagle Boys.

“Who knows what that’s about?” “I have some theories.” SYMBOLISM!

Dewey Dude is upsetting even BEFORE it turned into Magica.

The balance between comedy and STRAIGHT UP HORROR was handled well.

Lena has watched Wizard of Oz.

“You ruined my big dance!” Priorities, Dewey. Louie looks relieved though.

Dewey’s hair looked super cute when it was wet.

Why did he and Lena taste the water? Is there some sort of significance there?

“I just failed a class called Dew-ology.” “Well I’m the class Dew-torian.” That’s stretching it, Dewey.

“I gotta get outta here.” Haha, Dewey’s dream is Huey’s nightmare.

Louie-field. I WANT PLUSHIES. Also, Louie confirmed furry?

“This is your dream? To be even lazier?” Don’t be a hater, Huey! Louie’s got the right idea.

Wonder if Beakley taking care of Louie-field means anything.

Seriously, Huey is SUCH a hater! He wants out of Dewey’s dream and he mocks Louie’s.

“HOW ARE YOU SLEEP-SLEEPING?” Don’t hate cause you ain’t. Also, I have napped in a dream once so....

Louie’s sleep face is MAJESTIC. HE’S BEAUTY, HE’S GRACE.

“I just am.” Louie is so wise.

Wolf Lena is BEST

Violet, there is a better way to talk about people’s psychological issues.

Why would you choose the litter box?

“WHY, HUEY, WHY?!” No arguments here.

I’m the eldest sibling like Huey and I’m the shortest of the three of us, so I get you, Huey. But there are better, cooler, less upsetting ways to manifest that dream. Like switching bodies with a tall person.

His legs make rubber band noises when he moves.

“Don’t listen to him! Follow your lame dreams.” What a supportive brother.

Huey’s dream is Dewey’s nightmare. Nice.

I too use my feet to do things, like opening doors or getting stuff off the floor. But opening jars of FOOD?! UNSANITARY AND YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER.

Someone is a Spinel fanboy.

Or is he Slender-Huey?

“And it’s my dream to be in a montage.” While it is pretty dope, why does Dewey get two dreams?! Greedy little bastard. Are we sure he’s not the evil triplet, lol.

HERE’S HOW PHOOEY CAN WIN! Liked that they implied he’s the evil one. He’s a yellow, less 90s Dippy Fresh.

JUST SAY NO TO PHOOEY! His name means the f-word.

MORE DRAGON BALL Z!

NERD ALERT! 

Huey has found a kindred soul.

I like that Violet even has Quackfaster as a librarian.

“It’s almost 6am!” Your old man is showing. Sidenote-I tend to wake up around 6. I’m old.

“Go get some jobs!” Scrooge, do you know about child labor laws?

This is the second episode of this set that Scrooge comes off as a bit of a prick.

POOR LENA! At least all the kids care about her. The poor girl needs some friends.

“She’s gonna be cold without her sweater!” His heart’s in the right place.

I love that all the kids jump in after Webby immediately. NEVER LEAVE A MAN BEHIND.

Louie just spinning in the background.

“I think this is more nightmare.” Thank you, Captain Obvious.

I want that castle as a playset.

Good lord this scene was hard to watch. It reminded me a lot of Raven in Ever After High (and Teen Titans Raven too). She’s so afraid of being predestined to become evil that it’s consuming her to the point that she can’t see anything else and feels stuck. Some of this really hit close to home for me because I deal with depression and anxiety and when a big episode hits it’s hard to find my way out. Luckily, just like Lena, I have a good support system.

 Magica gaslighting Lena was really upsetting to see.

Lena becoming Magica then a literal monster? LET MY DAUGHTER HAVE PEACE!

“Ugh, why does everything I say sound sarcastic?” Callback

Was that a hint at a Gargoyles reboot? I JOKE TO EASE THE PAIN!

#youtriedDewey

Dewey’s spinny eyes, lol

Webby is most competent fighter

Poor Louie. The past two episode have not been kind to him physically.

Lena will ALWAYS be there for Webby.

POOR LENA!

HURRAY FOR SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS!

FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC, BITCH!

“It’s fine, FINE!” Just wait for puberty, Huey. It will be slightly less disturbing.

I TOTALLY CALLED THAT THIS WAS A PLOT FOR MAGICA TO GET HER POWERS BACK! YAY FOR BEING RIGHT!

Magica is meth aunt.

“I don’t need you. You need me!” THAT’S MY GIRL!

FERAL

I bet Magica is gonna lie about still having powers so she can get close enough to Lena to regain her powers and stab everyone in the back. Whether or not she succeeds... 

Boyd and Lena should start a club. The “I thought/felt like I was a real, flesh and blood being, had an existential crises over it, and am trying to deal with my evil relative” club. Huey’s the moderator, he’s working on his consoling badge.

[buffyversefanfiction]

Tristan Tormented

Volume 4 - Trusting Tristan

Warning: I do not own the rights to the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its spin-off series Angel, its dark horse comics continuation series, or any of the characters created by Joss Whedon and others in the Buffyverse. 15 years +, Mild to Strong Violence, Sexual References F/F, F/M, M/M, Other +

“Dante?” Tristan asked a man like shadow figure within the corner of a basement with hope in his undead heart as he woke up to find himself on a single prison like bed locked up in a cage within a basement, knowing it could not be his dead lover but somehow feeling it was not out of the realm of possibility for some reason. “Actually, I am Joyce Summers your mother’s mother which makes me your grandmother.” Joyce replied as she stepped out of the shadows and began walking towards her grandson’s cage door. “I can tell you really loved him; I am sorry you had to go through the pain of losing him.” “Are you not supposed to be dead?” Tristan wondered, as he began to think he was either losing his mind or seeing a ghost, either of which was perfectly plausible. “Yes, I am,” Joyce laughed off innocently, “but then again so are you!” “You got me there,” Tristan responded with a reluctant smirk on his face. “You have a beautiful smile when you allow yourself too but then again, I guess you have not had many opportunities to smile.” Joyce informed her grandchild making him uncomfortable with her compliment. “Is this hell?” Tristan asked his grandmother but before she had a chance to answer she had disappeared within the blink of an eye and it was now Rupert Giles who stood in front of him, cleaning his glasses with a handkerchief. “No this is not hell Mr. Summers although I have been told on numerous occasions that Los Angeles is as close to hell as it gets.” Giles answered as he put his glasses back on and slipped his handkerchief back into his pocket, meanwhile Tristan tried to understand what exactly was happening around him. “Have we not been here before Giles?” Tristan questioned the former watcher as he began to think seeing Joyce was nothing more than a trick of the mind. “Yes, well I made a rather mess of things then and this is my chance to make right.” Giles replied after finishing cleaning his glasses and putting them back on. “Your recent transition into vampirism has not been what you expected has it?” Tristan’s interest was immediately peaked not only was this his first visit since waking up in a cage following days of being drugged asleep after losing a fight against Spike but Giles had touched upon the topic of his vampirism and how it had not been as expected which he knew all too well. Although he was not going to admit this to the former watcher but instead stay silent and see how the conversation turned out, hoping for some information about his current state or at the least a chance to tease Giles once again before working out how to escape his latest prison. “Yes, I did conclude that you admitting to having a soul would be tiresome even before you became a vampire.” Giles responded to Tristan’s silence. “I have something of an answer to your recent complications although I am awaiting more information…” “Unless this is going to end with your joining me in this cage for a good old rattle I am not interested, soul or no soul that shit does not phase me. I am not Angel!” Tristan interrupted him, wanting to know what Giles knew but refusing to let him know he was remotely interested. “You are his son though and Buffy’s which means you cannot be entirely evil it is not possible for none of their goodness to be inside of you, your parents have saved the world time and time again and continue to do so and yet so far all I can see you care about is sex, murder and blood.” Giles told him, making it clear he was not convinced by Tristan’s words whatsoever. “Although that is not entirely true there are people you do care for, they are just not with us, anymore are they?” Tristan once again answered with his silence as he tried to look as emotionless as possible refusing to show Giles any sign of the grief he still felt for the loss of his adoptive parents and his recently departed vampire boyfriend. “Give it up G, this one is a hard nut to crack but lucky for us all so am I.” Faith declared as she walked down the stairs to the basement. “Well if it is not the rogue slayer who turned out to be a loss less bride of chucky and a lot more bride of Buffy.” Tristan retorted with a sinister smirk, almost looking pleased to see the slayer. “I am going to take that as you missed me!” Faith replied with great sarcasm as she walked over to stand by Giles before turning her attention to the former watcher. “Actually, there was a lot more I had to discuss with Tristan.” Giles answered Faith, only for Tristan to mock him with a loud fake yawning sound as he rolled his eyes. “I say we just let him out the cage and force him to see things for himself.” Faith suggested to Giles, instantly shocking Tristan who could not believe she would set him free and it was in that moment Tristan realized none of what he had just experienced existed. This was not the real world to that Tristan knew with certainty but what he did not know was whether this was a dream, nightmare, vision quest or hell dimension all he did know was he would have to play it out to find his answers. “Yeah let me out already, I promise to behave.” Tristan lied to Giles and Faith, before Faith all too eagerly opened the now suddenly unlocked cage door. “I am ready to see whatever wants to be seen.” He did not know why he had been plucked from the real world nor how long he would be here wherever he was but he knew he wanted to get some answers and so he decided to play along, not realizing the answers he would get by doing so would be the kind that he may not necessarily want to know.

Tristan walked out of the basement and straight into the 1950s or at least that was the theme of the atmosphere around him as he walked into the lobby of the Hyperion Hotel knowing that this hotel was the base of his father’s operations but also knowing this had to be years in the past due to the hotel looking five star worthy instead of rundown ruins. He took in the elegant style of the residents within the hotel, the whispers of conversations they were having and the general happy vibe that only convinced him more he was in hell as he walked over to the reception area where he was met by a beautiful brown haired receptionist with a transcending smile spread across her face. “You must be the boss’ son, you’re a lot more psychotic than the last one and considering he was raised in hell by a wacko hunter intent on raising him to kill his father that is sure saying something.” Cordelia Chase greeted him as she stood up to face Angel’s second son. “Still you’re not as bad Angelus so I guess that is something.” “I’m guessing if I made a run for the front doors it will not lead me to anywhere or it will lead me to somewhere worse than the 50s.” Tristan responded to her. “I do not mind the 50s there are far worse eras believe me!” Cordelia replied before picking up a set of keys from her desk. “I reckon if I was born in this era, I’d totally killed the acting game but hey ho I guess settling for being a higher being will just have to do.” “You are Cordelia Chase; I have heard about you and despite the whole wacko demon possession pregnancy saga I like your rise from rich princess to broke but brave queen.” Tristan admitted, “I was told stories about Angel, Buffy and the lot of you for years…you were my favorite character but I am guessing that is largely due to the fact Drusilla worked so hard on making me hate my parents that if anyone was going to be my favorite it was either going to be you and Faith and considering that bitch helped kill my boyfriend I am sure not a fan in real life!” “Do you know I was never much of a fan of her either but hey she helped my guy when I couldn’t, and I’ll always owe her for that.” Cordelia revealed as she handed over the keys to Tristan who reluctantly took them from her. “I guess I am checking into this room?” Tristan questioned the higher being, already knowing the answer. “Yes he is waiting for you oh and just a little word of advice from a former demon to a current demon you just got to trust Tristan through all this the complicated part being which Tristan to trust but I guess that is up to you.” Cordelia cryptically informed him, making Tristan more confused than ever as he began walking towards the stairs, wondering who was in the room he was currently heading towards. He had already met two ghosts; one from his mother’s past and one from his father’s, so he began to wonder if the third ghost would be from his past, that’s if the person in the room was even a ghost, a ghost being a better option than someone of the living considering all the people Tristan truly cared for were all dead, well almost all of them.

“I’ve been expecting you,” The Master said upon opening his hotel room door to Tristan who reluctantly walked in, knowing who The Master was by his appearance alone, The Master only having his vampire form and wearing clothes far older than the current 1950’s which Tristan had found himself trapped in. “You look more like Angelus than the slayer, which is kind of disappointing, Angelus was a true beast do not get me wrong, but your mother was the only one to ever best me. I long for a reunion with her, merely so I can kill her once again only this time I would make sure that death took.” “Her second death held a lot longer than the one at your hands so I guess master of vampires does not hold up to a goddess from a hell dimension but then again are you really a master when Dru did more of a number on Buffy than you ever did.” Tristan replied, mocking the master. “Now why the hell are you here considering I have never met you?” “Your attitude is beyond ratchet and you somehow believe your invincible despite being beaten time and time again…I like you.” The Master told the newbie vampire. “I may not have been alive while you were but the demon inside of you is the same demon inside of me…I am the sire of Darla, the grand-sire of Angelus and the great-grandsire of Drusilla which means you come from me.” “Yeah Drusilla told me all about the undead bloodline a long time ago but what the hell has that got to do with me being stuck in the 50s with a bunch of ghosts from my parent’s past?” Tristan complained, clearly growing sick of whatever was going on around him. “Well duh it’s a quest you see, their trying to make you choose a path, desperately hoping you’ll choose the righteous one instead of well the one you’re on now.” Anya chimed in as Tristan turned around to see her now standing at the opened doorway of The Master’s hotel room, only for Tristan to turn back around to see The Master had vanished out of sight, as if he was never there. “What kind of path? And who the hell are you?” Tristan shouted at the former vengeance demon. “This is starting to piss me off really quick!” “I am Anya formerly Anyanka known to some as a ruthless vengeance demon and others as the bride Xander Harris left at the altar.” Anya replied, clearly still not over becoming a jilted bride. “I knew your mother not so much your father but that is not why I am here…I’m here to give you a choice of living.” “A choice of living?” Tristan scoffed, “I seriously doubt you could take me Anna.” “It’s Anya and I am not here to fight I am here to grant a wish…I know seriously on the nose for a former vengeance demon but hey I do not control this quest thingy I am just showing up and doing my job.” Anya informed the son of the slayer. “I can grant you a undead life with your beloved which will not doubt end in the both of you proper dead at some point when the apocalypse comes because let’s face it whether your meant to be important or not Buffy always wins…or I can grant you a life as a slayer with your sordid past erased and the chance to do good for once in your life and possibly still dying when the apocalypse comes around because we do not all get out of those alive.” “So, you are some kind of demonic genie?” Tristan asked her, more confused than ever before as he struggled to deal with all that was going on around him, not knowing if any or all of it was real.

After coming across three ghosts from both his mother and father’s past there was only one thing Tristan was certain of; his parents had a lot of ghosts. He had no idea if these ghosts were real or if any of what he was experiencing was real but after being giving an ultimatum from former vengeance demon Anya he started to care less and less as he pondered taking her up on her offer. There was no question on his mind which choice he would take but despite that he wanted time to think it over, he did not want to give up hopes on being reunited with Dante only for this to be some kind of trick after all Anya did claim to him that this was some kind of vision quest. As he walked into the busy hotel bar he took in the beautiful music being played by a live band of musicians as he walked across the dancefloor and towards the bar where a beautiful and bewitching barmaid awaited to take his order. “I have a feeling you think you know what you want but that deep down you have no idea although you would never want to admit that!” Tara said to him as she poured Tristan a drink, confusing him further as he guessed he was now speaking to another ghost. “Well at least you are a ghost with a bar which instantly makes you my favorite so far.” Tristan replied as Tara passed him a whisky on the rocks, to which he quickly downed in one gulp. “So, what is your name and what makes me think you’re an expert on me?” “My name is Tristan Summers but the manifestation I am taking on right now is that of Tara Maclay, you see everyone you have saw so far has been you taking on a different manifestation guiding you along whichever path you wind up choosing.” Tara revealed, blowing Tristan’s mind once more. “Well not all of the ghosts were not real, but we should save that for another time.” “Let me guess the person who is real is the one who put me on this quest?” Tristan asked the witch, as he wondered who and what was real in all of this. “More like they decided to intervene with a quest already taking place to ensure they did the best their could do for their guy.” Tara admitted to Tristan. “So, tell me do you really think you can go back to being with Dante? He has been dead a long time and things are no longer as black and white for you as they were when you were with him.” “I must admit that did make me paused with the whole deciding thing,” Tristan said with a sigh as he made a gesture towards his glass, making Tara know he wanted a refill. “I was so scared for so long and he made me strong…Dru too! The truth is I’ve not felt strong since he was gone and then finding out Drusilla was to blame for my parents’ deaths…I used to revel in the darkness but now I feel it’s full weight by being alone in it.” “You do not want to back to being Dante’s naïve other half and that does not mean you do not still love him it just means you have grown to much to go back to being someone who is not you anymore.” Tara advised him as she refilled his glass with more whisky and handed it back to him. “But your clearly not the hero type either so both choices are kind of a fail for you.” “But if I do not pick one or the other, I may be stuck here.” Tristan moaned before downing his second drink. “I’m sick of prisons both in the literal and mystical sense.” “This is not a prison, this is a chance for you for the first time in your life to decide what path you want to be on without manipulation by vampires or hopes of parents who never raised you, this is your chance to be you whoever that may be.” Tara told him honestly. “There’s a big problem there…I have absolutely no idea who that is.” Tristan admitted, being more truthful than he had been in years, forcing himself to admit to the startling truth that he had no sense of identity or personality beyond the monster he had created to soothe a broken man.

Tristan found himself walking through the endless corridors within the Hyperion Hotel baffled with the choices Anya had handed him with, now knowing that neither vampirism or life as a slayer fitted who he was as he struggled to work out what did but the seemingly endless contemplation found itself interrupted when the first slayer walked out of a nearby room door and began walking towards him. Tristan quickly found himself frozen in fascination as he stared at the primeval being heading towards him, somehow recognizing her as a fellow slayer but not realizing her legacy of being the first of their kind. “I guess you are the kind of ghost who would be considered partly of my own past or at least the legacy I manipulated my way into.” Tristan told her only to be answered only to be met by a punch across the face by the first slayer. “Guess your not much of a talker?” The primeval slayer Sineya punched Tristan again before kicking him in the stomach with such force it caused him to fall to the ground. “You should not be!” She told him, as he tried to rise to his feet. “Slayer…you are not!” “Yeah I am a vampire no slayer now guess gossip travels slow in whatever decade you are from.” Tristan replied, looking the first slayer up and down. “Are you going to tell me something useful or are we just going to throw down?” “You were chosen long before you were born and will be chosen long after your death.” Sineya revealed to the vampire. “It is up to you how you chose your gift and you, alone.” “Okay enough with the cryptic crap, just tell me straight already!” Tristan moaned at her only to be met by another punch from the first slayer before being kicked back to the ground by her. “You are the darkness; you fight the darkness and only you can defeat the darkness.” The Primeval slayer informed him in a way that sounded more like a riddle than a reveal of any kind. Before Tristan could muster a reply or even get back onto his feet to face the slayer, she had disappeared out of sight leaving him confused and slightly wounded from the altercation as he slowly got back onto his feet. “So, what have you decided then?” Anya asked him, suddenly appearing from out of thin air, standing where the first slayer once stood. “Are you going to Spike and Dru it with your revived lover Dante or are you going for a fresh slate where nobody knows of the monster you were once with the added being alive bonus? God, I sound like a saleswoman…I suppose I kind of am…so which one will it be?” “Neither!” Tristan told her with confidence, knowing he had made his mind up and it was the right choice. “I am not who I was but nor am I going to pretend to be somebody I will never be…I choose to be me as I am right now able to choose my path however long or short that might be.” “Well that seems like a waste of a wish but it is not like I care anymore!” Anya admitted to the vampire. “If it helps you are not all evil and you do not have to pretend to be anymore, coming from a vengeance demon there’s more to the monster than people will ever understand.” “Thanks, I think.” Tristan replied with a forced laugh. “Although I am pretty sure you are me?” “Yeah just a whole lot prettier.” Anya answered without hesitation. “I guess you can wake up now but before you do there is something, I have just got to ask…” “What?” Tristan wondered, hoping her question would not throw him into a confusion he had just found his way out of. “Does money still smell as good as it used to?” Anya asked with a sense of sadness. “I really miss having money!”

Tristan found himself once again waking up in the single prison like bed, trapped within a cage located in the basement of which he now knew to be the Hyperion Hotel, and as he began to sit up on his bed he once again noticed a dark figure lurking within the shadows making him believe for just a moment it was Joyce before his father Angel walked out of the shadows.