Friday Afternoon, Noonish, Preserve

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Figuring that it was as out-of-the-way place as any, Dawn (and her luggage) were standing in the middle of the clearing, waiting for everyone else (and their portal) to show up.

She might have been a little nervy about being around a portal after the last one had almost sucked her in for good, but it was largely overwhelmed by the idea of seeing her friends and family again.

[ooc: For Fandomites going to Scotland. Radio: This post is for broadcast, but Scotland isn't, because, uh, Scotland 2004. Thanks!]

Comments

[cantjossme.livejournal.com]

Mel was there. Possibly early. Possibly with a bag full of mostly weapons and little else.

"Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?"

"Portal here yet?" she asked bouncing just a little on the balls of her feet.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"No, not yet," Dawn said, laughing at Mel's enthusiasm. "Um, you sure you want to go? I mean, I wouldn't want to force you to go somewhere..."

[cantjossme.livejournal.com]

"You're funny," Mel laughed. "Like you could keep me from coming with you?"

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Snickering, Dawn said, "Hey, it could happen. I could pout at you until you stayed here."

[cantjossme.livejournal.com]

"I don't thinks so Summers," Mel said shaking her head while grinning. "That only works on the boys. Besides I'd just pout right back and negate your pout calling it a draw."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"We could have a pout-off," Dawn said, "but not puppy eyes, because that's cheating."

[cantjossme.livejournal.com]

"Eh. You'd win," Mel said with a grin. "I'm more likely to punch someone to get what I want anyway."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"You're such a slayer."

[likethegun]

Sam hoisted his duffel bag over his shoulder as he headed towards Dawn, wondering if he was really going to need as many knives as he was bringing. "This is going to be a really safe portal, right?" he asked.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Willow and Giles are making it, I think." Which didn't really answer the question. She didn't reach for his hand yet, though.

[likethegun]

"Okay. Now, if we don't come out in one piece on the other side, I'll know who to blame," he teased. "I bet everyone's really looking forward to seeing you."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"I hope so," she said, a little bit worried.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River appeared, glancing around as the preserve now seemed both familiar and strange at the same time. It felt odd being back in Fandom and the weeks on Serenity felt a lot longer than they actually had been. Still, she wouldn't be staying long this time, as the destination was a new exciting place. She waved to Dawn and the others, placing her bag on the ground.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"River!" Dawn waved at her cheerfully, "I'm glad you could make it! Ready to kill non-space vampires? Plus, Scotland has lots of cool stuff to see, I think."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't want to miss either Scotland or vampires," River replied with a grin.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly ran up, bag in hand. "I'm here! I'm not late, am I?"

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"No, you're not late. How was the d-, er, horseback riding?"

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"Swoop bike riding," Molly corrected, "and it's barely started I think it went well."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Er, that's what I meant. And good," Dawn smiled, "Ready to go kill stuff? Oh, and meet all the people you already know?"

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly chuckled. "Very ready. This is going to be so awesome!"

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"I hope so! Nothing worse than a lame trip."

[notajar]

Door has a small bag over her shoulder - she might have accumualated a lot of things since she got here, but she doesn't feel obliged to carry them all with her. She's used to travelling light.

"We're not..." Well, she can't say that among those who might not know, she realizes. "Travelling the way we did before, are we?" Door finishes, looking to Dawn. "With Rikku?"

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no," Dawn answered quickly, "This is totally a different kind of not-us magic. You just get to relax and walk through like the rest of us."

[notajar]

"Oh, good." She hadn't really thought Dawn wanted to try that again ever soon, but she also hadn't been certain how hard it would be to get to Dawn's home. "That went very well, but the side-effects aren't something I'd look forward to dealing with again."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Heh, yeah, me either," she agreed. "Plus, um, they don't really know much about that, so it wasn't so much an option."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec had a pack with his things in it over one shoulder as he walked up, trying not to look too excited. "Looks like I haven't missed the train," he said as he approached, grinning despite himself.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Portal," Dawn corrected, "and we wouldn't leave without you."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean had his duffle thrown over his good shoulder. "Y'know, portals aren't really all that much higher on my fun ways to travel list than flying," he pointed out.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, not so much with me either," Dawn admitted, "but unless we have a better way to travel across space and time, we're kind of stuck with it."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Just as long as we don't get stuck in it." Dean grimaced then took a deep breath. "But I guess the payoff's worth the risk, huh?"

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Well, not if we go poof, but I really don't think that's going to happen," she decided.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"And hey, on the bright side, if we do go poof, we won't be around to notice we've gone poof."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"That's not completely reassuring." Dawn's expression clouded briefly as she remembered the feeling of dissipation into the portal, of becoming non-existent. Despite the heat, she rubbed her arms for warmth.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Hey," Dean said, reaching out and touching her shoulder. "We're going to be fine. I mean fate's not going to want to wipe out all of us -- that's just way too much pretty to lose at once."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Her lips quirked up in a smile. "And the universe don't kill pretty?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"This much at once? It would leave some kind of black hole of lack of pretty," Dean continued.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"We can't have that. So obviously you and I will be just fine. And Alec and Door and Molly and River and Mel..." she whispered, obviously teasing, "Y'think we'll get lucky with Sam? Maybe the universe won't notice?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean shrugged. "All he's got to do is flash those puppy eyes."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Those things are lethal," Dawn grumbled. "He better not be able to use them in football, or we're going to have a problem."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean shook his head. "Doesn't work in that kind of situation," he said knowingly. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have won a sparring session since he was 8."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Excellent," Yes, Dawn rubbed her hands together, "Did you know that we're on the same team? Molly told me."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah?" Dean grinned. "Cool. So I know I've got one good teammate at least."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

She snickered, "You do realize I've never thrown or caught a football, right?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"I've got faith in you," Dean assured her.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Awwwwwww," Dawn said, right before she wrinkled her nose at him. "Thanks."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"I'll work with you if you need help getting up to speed," Dean promised. "Though I don't think you'll need a lot."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"You're so good to me," she grinned, then spotted the portal forming over to their left. She took a deep breath and released it. Sure she could do this. "Um, and if you wouldn't mind holding my hand while we go through so we're both sure we won't get lost?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't want that." Dean held out his hand to her with a smile.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," she took his hand and squeezed it.