Chateau Grief 11

Thought(Xander): Get the idiot out of my presence. Isn't that what you expected me to say? But no one is ever out of my range.

Grant: He's your responsibility! You wanted a son, a companion. I said get a puppy but you didn't listen. You never listen. Well here he is! If you turn him cruel, then it's not my fault and it's not my affair. But don't say that humanity never gave you a chance. He's not like you, Eugene, but that doesn't mean that he won't tolerate the telepathy better than the rest of us.

Grant: He's a retard, and probably wouldn't even realize you're different. If only you're bright enough to swallow your pride and treat him like a human being.

Xander: I told you to get him out of here.

Thought(Grant): I wonder if he'll finally kill us all today. I know you can hear me. Why can't you listen, idiot!

Thought(Swordfish):Goodnight Mr. Evil Overlord...snort...must put this wretch to bed. I've gotta tell Grant that this job sucks. Ask for a raise. He's sympathetic.

Grant: You have a responsibility towards these castaways! You can't just kidnap them!

Grant: People have rights! God-given rights! We're Americans! You can't treat people like this!

Xander: I get to have things I want. It's in the settlement agreement. And I wanted a companion.

Grant: Well Merry Christmas! Look what you've done to him!

Xander: I suppose you'll persist in your superstitious observance at the end of the month, but it does you no credit. I'll remind you that the holiday is not celebrated in order to promote religious equality.

Grant: Don't give me that old line. You just can't stand sharing your birthday with anyone, that's why! And I'll remind you that I get to mention anything i want. That's also in the settlement.

Grant: Mr. Shane is exhibiting telepathic tendencies like gangbusters, just because he's not perfect, does not relieve you of your responsibility toward him.

Narration(Xander): Shane has been cast in the role of Macguffin in this little play...or Chekhov's gun. I won't spoil by saying. Grant can play at Inspector Lestrade all he likes. it won't make a difference. That Greek goddess in my laboratory is about to rise up on wings she never even knew existed. Me, I'm typecast as the villain, a fire-breathing dragon. But for once in my life, I'd rather sing tenor. And don the role of the white knight.

Xander: Come on, Rhelan. All this talk. We both know you're itching to follow me to the lab to see what I've done to the girl.

Xander: Are you coming? Or will you stand on principle and refuse to participate?

Author Notes:

Bottle = empty. Gas tank of evil plan = full.

Episode Recap:

Yell at Grant? Yell at Grant will you?! Grant delivers a salient, and pointed lecture about how if Xander doesn’t want everyone to hate him he’s got to treat people better than he does. Xander keeps the threatening dialed up to eleven. Not an argument Grant is going to win. So why does Grant bother? Grant even thinks Xander might wake up one day and decide to kill him. Even Swordfish is derisive. Xander…returns to the solace of the bottle as Grant launches into another tirade and starts flag-waving. Xander makes some half-hearted sallies, but Grant rapidly gets to the heart of things, this is all because Xander’s got a birthday coming up. He’s getting old. He’s having a midlife crisis. Xander meanwhile tells us that he’s set everything in motion in classical style, and he wants to be the good guy for once. Kore, which is another name for the goddess Persephone, will be the princess to save. Shane will be the Macguffin. Xander is usually the villain, but he wants to be the hero this time. Grant curiously has not been given a role, I’ll leave you to figure out where he belongs in all this. At the end of Grant’s philippic, Xander invites him to come along to the laboratory and see how Kore’s coming along. And of course this is phrased in a way that doesn’t leave Grant a choice. Xander’s got some work to do on his people skills, but ya can’t say they aren’t effective.