"Depends what you mean by 'do the thing'. The reformed vampire thing? He hardly needs it, he's already avoiding eating people and I barely even objected out loud."

"I was just wondering how soon I get an example of watching somebody light up at being reminded of your existence."

"I doubt it'll be long," says Mark.

"I'll look forward to it."

"Even his direst enemies look more alive when he's on their mind. It's a noticeable effect. Hard for him to observe directly, of course, since he doesn't make a habit of spying on his acquaintances to find out what they look like when they aren't thinking about him."

"That would be creepy."

"I suppose so, yes."

"I generally prefer my direst enemies don't look alive, so having this invigorating trait sounds like a mixed bag."

"Valid point. His allies get more use out of it by far, though."

"Convenient."

"Yes."

Bella's phone rings. "Ugh. Cop dad says don't answer the phone driving, sacred calling says do not be unreachable, Miles, can you see if it's Giles or something." She tosses the phone at him.

"It's Soph. Sleepover fell through, need the car to get home unless she wants me walking through Sunnydale alone at night. Hey are you the ray guns one or the creepy house one? I swear she said your name I just forgot."

"Wrong number, I don't know a Soph."

"She also," says Miles, lowering the phone slightly and glancing at Bella with raised eyebrows, "asked me if I was the ray guns one or the creepy house one."

"Called it," murmurs Mark.

"Call it louder next time," Miles tells Mark; and he makes a sort of half-shrugging motion with the phone at Bella, a what should I do with this, then? gesture.

"Does the phone recognize the number?"

"Yeah. Matches."

"Okay, tell her I'm almost there and then I'm asking Giles what the excessive hells."

"She says she's almost there," Miles reports into the phone.

"'kay, thanks, whichever one you are, sorry I forgot your names!"