RichardWhereat
Feanor did nothing wrong.
- Location
- Australia
Yeah, their insistence on calling them subterrestrials made no sense given most of them live above ground.
Something To Atone For. BtVS/AtS, Doyle SI.
- Thread starter Flightless Man
- Start date
- Pronouns
- Male
And now I don't have to do that anymore with a logical reason Walsh will go with. Vampire is two syllables, how many is Hos-tile Sub-terr-est-rial?
Poor Fred. Does she actually have any plan to help things or escape her new employment, or is she just trying to keep her head above water and expecting it all to implode?
Because I'm really not sure what she can actually do to help this situation other than get into Walsh's trust enough to save us and any innocent demons if they ever get captured. It must be hurting her ethical scientist soul to be working there as it is.
She might not mind the demon capturing as long as they're hostile ones, but super-soldier experiments using "demon bits" is highly illegal on both an international and national level - especially using US military members as the test subjects.
Because I'm really not sure what she can actually do to help this situation other than get into Walsh's trust enough to save us and any innocent demons if they ever get captured. It must be hurting her ethical scientist soul to be working there as it is.
She might not mind the demon capturing as long as they're hostile ones, but super-soldier experiments using "demon bits" is highly illegal on both an international and national level - especially using US military members as the test subjects.
Chapter 79: Revelations
- Pronouns
- Male
Chapter 79: Revelations
"It's kind of like having a lifelong disease she needs to manage." Doing my best to steer Joyce's understanding, I seem to have finally found something that works.
"Nothing we do will take away her powers. Unless you want her heavily sedated for the rest of her life of course." At least according to the Buffy. "That's always an option and will muffle her mystic signal."
Giles was very forthcoming once he started spilling the beans. Apparently, that's why the Watcher's use a very specific drug for the test, even though any mundane drug has an increased effect on Slayers.
Buffy probably could have endured the snake bites even better than I did. But even a couple beer will turn her into a spring breaker.
"The Watchers will insist she has a destiny and it's Buffy's responsibility to save the entire world..." Scorn drips from every word I utter and I stare deep into Joyce's eyes until I'm positive she understands. "They're not going to pay her either."
I never really liked the lesson learned from career day in the show. Buffy should have a life outside Slaying and the easiest way is make sure she's taken care of. "That's antiquated information and why I'm in Sunnydale."
"I thought you moved because your charge was here?" Buffy interrupts with a curious expression wrinkling her forehead.
"I can have more than one. How many other desks are in my classroom?" My off the cuff response has her satisfied for now and lets me turn back to her mother. "If Buffy chooses to fight evil, she doesn't have to worry about money. I made sure to get a few portfolios set up."
"But can't she just..." Joyce fumbles for the word. "Not be magical anymore?"
I know this is a serious moment and yet I just can't resist the opening she gave me. "The magic's inside you. Buffy can stop being the Slayer just as easily as I can change my genes. And I really wouldn't mind being something less pokey, pretty sure that's the real reason Fred dumped me."
"Did you just make a joke at your own expense?" A grin has nearly taken over Angel's face.
Darla nods thoughtfully and sighs in relief. "Sounds like the moping is finally over. Good, it was long past sad and approaching pathetic."
"Never let Cordelia be in the same room as your sister." Buffy's face contorts in fear at the thought of how much verbal damage the duo could unleash together.
"I have enough children vying for my time." The words are ironic coming from such a youthful face. "I don't need another one yapping at my heels."
Clearing her throat, Joyce brings the discussion back to her own daughter. "You're going to keep her safe?"
"I can only promise Buffy will never be alone if she chooses to fight." It's been challenging to keep any of the spotlight away from her daughter's rather huge destiny. "Lots of people who have a reason to fight, we don't need to draft a teenager." But I think I've managed to downplay it enough for both of the Summers women.
"Mom, stop worrying so much." Flippant like she was at school, Buffy seems to be getting her nerves under control. "Jesse is going to videotape the patrol and you can see it's not such a big deal. Pretty boring most nights actually." Maybe in LA with a crew who doesn't really want to fight vampires every night despite the bravado.
As much as I think it's a good idea, I can't help but worry about something unusual happening. Would be just my luck for tonight to turn into a two-part special.
"And no, we can't just try not being special." As soon as I see more arguments forming in the concerned mother, I can't stop myself from using her own future words against her. "I tried and my life pretty much fell apart. When all I had to do was accept myself for who I was, Harry already had."
The doorbell rings while Joyce is stewing over the words. "Giles can answer any of the technical questions. But we need to go if we want to get the early risers tonight."
Handing Joyce the envelope with all of Buffy's stocks, I steer her towards the door. She wastes very little time opening the packet and gasps when she sees how many companies are included.
"How much did this cost you?" She's a businesswoman herself and knows just one portfolio like this wouldn't be cheap.
"A couple years of migraines and some well placed sure bets." Really glad I got that put in motion before I had to work entirely off of memory. Really wasn't a big deal for me. But I know it's enough to live relatively comfortably." That's the least I can do for the people willing to fight evil.
A flicker of guilt hits me as I remember something about this very woman's relatively soon future. "And since we're on the topic of the future, you should probably book a full physical."
Questions start to fire from everyone involved and I do my best to provide answers. But sadly, I only watched those episodes once because of my personal reasons and can't provide anything better.
Giles and the teens are let in to discover a very tense room as answers are pried from me. "All I know is it's something about your brain and it happens when Buffy's in college. I'm honestly not even sure if an early warning will do anything but stress you out, just figured you should know."
"Is everything alright?" The British accent comes out awkwardly as none of the teens with him seem willing to start the greetings.
"Just more bad news." Tapping my arm to give him a clue towards the topic's personal nature, he thankfully nods in understanding.
"I believe it's my turn to answer questions?" Giving me an out, Giles pulls out the book with the very blatant title 'Vampyres'. "I believe it's best if we start with this book. Would you prefer if we go to your place or mine?"
"Let's go before she changes her mind," hisses an eager to hunt Buffy. "I really want to see if Sunnydale is all talk."
"We have three cemeteries to hit before we drop Darla off at work." Willow holds up a spreadsheet she printed off at home. "Four expected to rise according to the coroner's code phrases."
"Well..." Snorting at my own dumb idea, I decide it couldn't hurt to share it. "If any of you ever want to apply for a job at the place, it would really make our job a whole lot easier."
It was just a spur of the moment idea. But the more I think about it, the more I consider its viability. Stake the corpse or misfile the body for cremation and we could cut the fledges in half.
Jesse is quick to grab the fire axe he's been using lately while Willow is content with the Stun Gun and pepper-spray Fred got her for Chanukah. The other four stick with stakes and the required holy water, letting Buffy have her choice out of my rather small weapon collection.
"This one I guess." She eventually grabs a shorter blade with a pout. "... Merrick has way nicer ones."
"So do I in fact." Giles doesn't give me any slack and glances at the rack with surprise. "And I just have the basic field kit right now. My own collection is still a few months from being delivered."
"Russel and Jenny aren't coming tonight." It's left unsaid that they have a date. But Jesse is quick to put the pieces together and smirk in support of his coach. "And since it's a school night, Darla and I will take over after curfew."
That part was mainly for Joyce. Since most of the vampires retire once the teens are back inside, we don't actually have to stay out the whole night.
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RichardWhereat
Feanor did nothing wrong.
- Location
- Australia
I know this is a serious moment and yet I just can't resist the opening she gave me. "The magic's inside you. "Buffy can stop being the Slayer just as easily as I can change my genes. And I really wouldn't mind being something less pokey, pretty sure that's the real reason Fred dumped me."
The middle quotation mark is confusing. I don't got nothing else yet, my brain is dead atm.
The middle quotation mark is confusing. I don't got nothing else yet, my brain is dead atm.
Chapter 80: Night on the Town
- Pronouns
- Male
Chapter 80: Night on the Town
Coughing as the last cloud of ash plumes around me, laughter comes out of most of my companions. It's so loud, it sounds like the noise is echoing through the entire cemetery. Only Darla keeps silent, her glare sliding past me to land on one of the rambunctious teens in particular.
"Why are you laughing?" Her disappointment is disguised by sheer annoyance that Jesse isn't going to see through. "You left so many openings tonight that I'm ashamed to admit I had a hand in training you. The Slayer had to save you twice."
"The Slayer prefers to be called Buffy." Shaking her head, Buffy's own frustration with the vampire is showing. "Unless you want me to start calling you the Corpse?"
Before the bickering can turn into anything more, the three of us hear a branch snapping nearby and freeze in place. My eyes swivel a fraction of a second slower than them. But none of use catch sight of whatever has been stalking us all night.
Tense at the new surroundings, Buffy has had more than enough of the hide and seek. "We all heard it this time, right?"
"Smart enough to stay downwind..." Darla growls as the budding argument is dismissed.
Nodding in annoyance, I have to agree when my nose finds nothing. "Only caught a whiff of the thing once and I have no idea what it is."
"We're cutting it pretty close," Dennis blinks twice as his internal clock reminds him of the time.
"Don't worry Menace," teases Jesse in an attempt to diffuse some of the tension. "This was the last one on the list."
"I'll do another sweep of the area and see if I can pick up any clues." It's still too weird for me to just go hang out at either of the teen clubs socially. "Just make sure to swing by the Bronze on the way home."
A derisive snort greets my comment as Darla can't hold back even a drop of scorn. "Are those ideas getting stupider?"
"You're the one who said we have to use the buddy system when patrolling..." Jonathan clears his throat nervously as he gathers the courage to point out my hypocrisy. "Why are you allowed to go alone?"
"Yeah, that's dangerous." An out of place smirk appears on Jesse's face and it takes me a second to place the reference.
"How about we go look for our stalker and you can drop me off at the Sunset Club once it's dealt with." Not letting me off the hook, Buffy is firm in pairing me up.
Not letting the opportunity slip by, I can tell Angel's comment to is really directed towards me. "If it takes long enough you might just be able to convince Allen to come in until closing time."
"I can always just strong arm him..." Staring me down over the freshly disturbed grave my coating of ash emerged from, Buffy flexes her arms like a professional body builder.
"We're never going to be cool if you keep trying to hang out with a teacher in public you know." Marcie's look makes it clear the words are mostly a joke.
With his chest puffin out with bravado, Jesse coughs loud enough to draw all eyes. "Speak for yourself. I'm on the swim team, that means the cheerleaders will have to watch me now."
"Not until you start winning." Willow douses his good mood with a roll of her emerald eyes.
"Can't believe even jocks have losers." Grins Jon as he considers the irony and starts heading towards the club. "Really never even considered that they might be screwing with each other too."
"People are insecure and like to deflect anyway they can." It doesn't excuse, just something we can't avoid in life. "It's basic social behaviour and will probably endure long past the day humans are among the stars."
"Just make sure someone stays within arm's reach of Angel." Would be just her luck to get a concussion.
Jonathan frowns at the command. "Any particular reason?"
"This is going to go terribly, and we probably aren't ever going to see each other again." My voice is flat and my face expressionless. "So have a great night, Buffy will meet you after I get eaten by something."
Gasps of horror answer my declaration, with Willow looking about ready to faint. "What are you talking about? Is this a pink slip night?"
"Was just trying to do whatever the opposite of jinx us is." I'll know better for next time.
"Just wish us good luck next time." Even Dennis isn't amused by my attempt at humour, his frown really making me feel small.
The teens are quick to agree and follow the phantom to the club. The creased brow finally relaxes when the group is out of earshot and Buffy sighs with relief.
"I really thought dinner was going to end with my mom calling the cops. But it's going to be so much easier not having to lie to her about everything." And it's a relief to me that you aren't turning Slaying into everything you are. "Thanks for helping."
"If you ever have to convince someone, at least show them you're strong enough to bend steel." Really not sure why Buffy expected her mom to believe her in the season two finale.
Not when the cops had just talked to Joyce about her daughter being wanted for murder. Include having already been institutionalized for psychotic delusions in that version of events and Buffy needed more than just some wild claims.
"What do you think we're looking for?" My partner squints at the hedges in an attempt to make out movement.
"I have a few guesses." Most likely something I forgot to take care of. "Probably just one of the Master's leftovers." Maybe the fork arm vampire? "Still have no idea what happened to Luke."
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RichardWhereat
Feanor did nothing wrong.
- Location
- Australia
And also, screwing with each other is how you build better social bonds. In Australia anyway. I keep trying to use Spanish to communicate with my Brazilian buddy.
TheatrclBarristr
Not a barrister
- Pronouns
- He/Him
This chapter was very confusing to me. I have no idea why most of them seem to be acting like jerks to each other. Some of it was good natured ribbing, but a lot of it just seemed mean.
- Pronouns
- Male
They're having a hard time holding the friendship together. Willow and Jesse have tension between themselves not that Xander is gone. Jon and MArcie feel guilty/are getting a few sidelong looks about almost quitting. Amy is working closely with Jenny and her Romany style magic teachings.
Doyle's not a peer, so he's missed a lot of the tension growing (as well as his own funk.) This is him starting to realize the teens aren't doing fine and need some good therapy. Any time the Scoobies get mean to each other in the show, it was because something hadn't been addressed among themselves.
They also don't really have a mission right now (aside from standard patrols.). The teens are having a hard time finding reasons to hang out when they all have such wildly different interests.
Darla isn't a nice person, Marcie and Amy are both pretty snarky themselves. Willow is really feeling the stress from Vander's notes (and she's probably the most vindictive character in the series). I tried to have Angel, Jon, and Jesse keep the ribbing all innocent. While the rest had different levels of rudeness.
RichardWhereat
Feanor did nothing wrong.
- Location
- Australia
Yeah, Willow's a straight bitch at times. Worse than Cordelia.
Chapter 81: Snickerdoodle
- Pronouns
- Male
Chapter 81: Snickerdoodle
Trying to keep the conversation going once most of the group is gone, I fumble for something casual to talk about. "... You seem to be getting along with everyone."
"Do they normally bicker so much?" Her eyes widen when I let my demon side out, carefully taking in my appearance.
Probably so she doesn't attack me in the dark. Since it's been so long since she saw this face, I can only assume I'm setting of her Slaydar.
"Today was really the first day I poked my head above water since Fred moved out. I'm not really sure what's gotten into the lot of them." I should probably start with Angel when I get home. See if she knows what's eating everyone before I blunder into the middle of something simple.
She gives a noncommittal hum and crinkles her nose. "I was thinking I should join the school paper."
"It would give you a reason to be sleuthing around." Impressed with the idea, I don't raise a stink when she starts leading us around the graveyard in search of our stalker.
A proud grin flashes her pearly whites. "Thanks, I'll be my very own Clark Kent. Now I just need a Lois."
"Since my love life was laid bare earlier, I think I'm allowed to ask..." Waiting until she turns back around with curiosity in her eyes, I carefully approach the topic. "What happened with Pike?"
A stormy expression takes over her face and wipes away any trace of a smile. "He couldn't handle this being an all the time thing and left me a letter. At least Fred told you face-to-face."
"Heartbreak all wrapped up in guilty relief?" Snorting to myself, I can't help but empathize.
"Pretty much." Buffy nods stiffly.
She suddenly freezes in place a mere second before I catch a whiff of the pungent aroma. "It's running!"
Dashing ahead of me, Buffy charges towards the rustling bushes while I struggle to keep up. A dark shape on all fours bursts out of the foliage and slams into her.
The pair tumble across the grass and towards away from me. Digging in my heels, I manage to stay on my feet, only to nearly lose my footing when I see exactly what we caught.
A hyena gnashes its fangs just inches away from my arm and I have to slam my elbow down with all my might. But it barely phases the beast, making me repeat the attack a half dozen more times.
When Buffy manages to grab her dropped sword, the strangely intelligent animal finally decides it's had enough of us. With the choice between giving chase and offering a hand, the decision is simple.
"You alright?" Grabbing her wrist, I pull Buffy to her feet. "Really wasn't expecting that."
"Now you're stuck in the dark just like the rest of us." The playful tone lets me know she's fine. "How are you going to manage?"
That's the question, isn't it? "Probably going to screw things up a lot more."
"What was that? I could barely sense it." Her confused question makes me frown.
"That was a hyena." And if it set off a Slayer's senses, that confirms it's one of the Primals. "And I thought I took care of this already."
But as we follow the trail of blood straight towards the zoo, I realize nothing permanent was actually done about the zoo keeper. I just grabbed his book and got distracted!
"We need to call the others..." I can't stop a frustrated groan from escaping my lips. "This wasn't random."
Thankfully it's the nineties and payphones are everywhere, letting me drop a quarter in one not even halfway down the block. My warning is taken by Diego who swears to pass it on to the others.
Once I'm able to focus on the mission, I can only hope the delay was worth it. My stomach churns at the idea of the animal running into someone and I ignore the burning in my lungs. Really need to start working out again.
Just when I think it's impossible to go even another step, a mass of snarling fur and teeth slams into my side. The only reason my fallen body isn't turned into a snack, is Buffy's even quicker reaction time.
Her own attacker is skewered on the sword, making her to kick mine off instead of repeating the quick kill. Like last time, the surviving hyena dashes away as soon as we have our bearings.
"These things are a lot smarted than any animal I've ever seen." Buffy returns the favour and hauls me up. "You sure they aren't demonic."
"Primals." I'm not really sure what that means, 'Shaman's Drum' isn't covering them until June's issue. "All I know is they're some kind of ancient magical animal spirits."
Do humans have Primals? That thought spurs itself into a train that gets a little carried away. Is that what the Slayer Spirit used to be, before the Shadowmen twisted it?
Shaking that thought away for later research, I pull a second dagger out. "Thanks, I owe you one."
"I think I still have a couple more to pay off." Buffy flips the gratitude back on me. "Don't worry about it until I do it a few more times."
"It's incredibly sad in our life that's a when and not if." And probably isn't even going to take a whole year.
I've always felt the Primal stuff appearing once very early on as a one-off and never popping up again or being referenced was a bit of a waste. It'll be fun to dig into it a little more in this story.
It's basically old school shamanism and a really important part of humanity's magical development, but Buffyverse focused almost entirely on the Wiccan/Pagan stuff and entreating various classical gods, instead of more tribal or animal-revering magic.
It's basically old school shamanism and a really important part of humanity's magical development, but Buffyverse focused almost entirely on the Wiccan/Pagan stuff and entreating various classical gods, instead of more tribal or animal-revering magic.
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RichardWhereat
Feanor did nothing wrong.
- Location
- Australia
Yeah. I liked that they didn't do what every other american supernatural thing did and say "every myth is right, but christianity is most right." However, it'd have been nice to see more of the Primal stuff.
Unfortunately it seems in this fandom when we do see it, it's only to give Xander a power up.
- Pronouns
- Male
I completely agree. Lots of stuff from season 1 got dropped because of how campy it was. But they really should have gone back to more of that stuff. ADAM should have been the remnants of Moloch that was steering Walsh to build him a new body for example.
I don't really like redundancies. It's a big part of why I'm spreading out the disciplines people focus on. I really wish Sunnydale wasn't just Christian or New age hippie.
I'm kind of going the opposite way actually. And I do have an answer for why Crosses repel vampires and other symbols don't (At least we aren't shown it).
It's another episode I wish got more fanfics. Do what they do for Halloween and change the animal spirit/who gets possesed (or have all of the Scoobies possesed and Giles/Angel have to stop it). Loved the Silverback ape on and the Lion one, wish they both went longer.
I also wish we saw Band Candy fics where the candy did different things to distract the adults. Coma Candy that lasts a few days, Senility chocolate, Rage enducers, Misery munchies, Magical ecstacy, or have Wilkins hire the Beer Bad guy to make the parents Cave People.
I had a hankering for the Xander Power up fics until the S6 finale. That really made me satisifed and not seek them out as much.
You likely already know, but Angels canonically exist in the Buffyverse. They're not as powerful as the Bible would claim and they're technically just pretty, winged demons who serve the Powers and have some blessings and magic as a culture, but they're one of the few times Buffyverse gives a nod to the Abrahamic faith having weight.
I was always fairly certain that holy symbols other than crosses did work, but there had to be faith behind it - either a strong faith personally or through a historical weight of humanity's collective belief?
That's why Earth's sun destroys vampires, yet Pylea's sunlight doesn't and why technological UV-lights don't work right, because it's down to the sun and its natural light being the holiest thing in our dimension.
Humanity was worshipping the sun since the dawn of time as the source of all light, life, and power on the planet and "the sunlight chasing away the monsters in the night" - to say nothing of how many gods are tied to the sun and its power as their chief domain.
Or at least that's always been my explanation for it, because otherwise it's a bit of an odd inconsistency in a universe that explicitly calls out Christianity as wrong multiple times.
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- Pronouns
- Male
I think technically Whistler is an Angel in some of the canons.
That's pretty much the accepted fan understanding of it. I subscribe to it myself normally, I just want to try giving an alternative (but plausible) answer.
The sun I'm just tying into fire burning vampires and the sun is a huge ball of it. As the ozone weakens, Vampires can't even go out in the shade. The sun in canon is probably because of long held worship. I'm just making them seperate symptoms.
Chapter 82: Feral
- Pronouns
- Male
Chapter 82: Feral
Inside the walls of the zoo, the stench of the hyenas is everywhere and it's fresh. Did the pack spray the whole place down tonight?
Admitting my help will be pretty much useless, I turn to a snickering Buffy. "You hear anything or you just want to keep laughing at my misery?"
"You look like my aunt when she has to change her litter box." Her expression morphs into a mockery of my own. But hopefully she's exaggerating a little bit.
The jokes trail off when we get within visual range of the hyena house. We exchange serious nods and make sure our weapons are ready.
Her sword makes a few test swings through the air as I clench my own daggers tight in anticipation. "Not sure how big the pack is and they can crunch bone with those jaws."
They also like going for the genitals. Really starting to wish I wore a cup.
"So we fight back-to-back?" Fully confident in our odds, Buffy's eagerness starts to flow into me.
"Exactly..." I allow myself to grin smugly as I think about the beasts scientifically. "These pussy ass bitches are going down."
Buffy gasps at my crude language. "You just swore."
"No I didn't. That was all proper terminology." Winking at my student's confusion, I explain exactly what I mean. "Hyenas are part of the cat family genetically hence the pussy part. But socially they act almost like wolves and that covers the second half."
Creeping into the dark building it takes a while for my eyes to adjust even a bit. Downside of having a fantastic nose is that my eyes are barely average.
Once we reach the enclosure room a bone chilling cackling starts echoes from every direction. The dreadful sound is joined by a condescending slow clap as the zookeeper reveals himself.
Just like in his final showdown, he's wearing animal skins and has painted his face with bloody markings. "I thought he was just trying to get rid of a shared annoyance. But it seems my source knew exactly which buttons to push."
From the shadows, a hulking predator emerges. The hyena is at least twice the size as is natural, snarling at me me specifically.
"Adebiyi so eager to sample something other than beef. I hope you don't die too quickly, the screaming is my favourite part." He doesn't seem to realize the real threat is the petite girl and not the spiky headed demon. "If you give a good enough show, I might even let the girl go home."
My eyes lock onto the carnivore that is preparing to pounce and my lips fumble for more time. "What happened to the rest of the pack?"
"What happened to the rest of your team?" Lips curl into a cruel smirk as the zookeeper mocks me. "The ones who helped you steal from me should be begging for it to end..." He glances up at the red numbers of the clock. "Right about now."
How did he know about them? My chest tightens at the same time the hyena lunges towards me. I was the only one who went inside.
"Once I've dealt with you, it's just the pet vampire and robot we have to worry about." The taunt is barely heard as the beast brings me to the ground with it's weight.
Her teeth gnash at my face. Rancid breath coats my skin and is accompanied by a shower of a warm drool.
One dagger has slipper from my grip in the tussle. But the second weapon in my left hand slashes into the animal's flank.
If I thought the saliva was gross, the spray of hot scarlet is stomach churning. A yelp of pain follows my attack but the beast barely even seems to weaken. I think I just pissed her off!
Thankfully I'm not alone in this fight and Buffy is quick to react. Her sword proves sometimes size really does matter and skewers the hyena with a single thrust.
She must have severed the spine. Because the animal drops like it's strings got cut and not even a whimper escapes it's maw.
"What..." Shock pours out of the shaman as his greatest weapon was just felled by a teenage girl. "How?"
"I really should be thanking you." Buffy pulls her blade free and shakes off the crimson. "This is twice in one night I got to save Doyle. A couple more like this and I'll finally be even."
Growling with frustration, the shaman grabs a pouch of powder from around his neck. "Even if you brought the vampire with you, that just leaves the rest even more likely to be dinner."
Before I can get back to my feet or Buffy get more than two paces towards the guy, he throws a handful of yellow powder at the floor. It explodes in a cloud of foul smelling gas that completely blocks my vision.
Two sets of footsteps begin, only for one to be cut off by a painful sounding thud. Buffy's coughing comes from below me and lets me know which of the two got out of building.
"That hurt." Groans Buffy from the floor. "And I really hate this guy now. I'm never getting this stink out of my clothes."
Unable to stop myself, I let a nerve wracking question enter her ears. "What about your hair? Will you have to cut it?"
An inarticulate scream of rage emerges with such vehemence, I actually take a few steps back from the furious Buffy. Her rage quickly turns into something useful though and she hops to her feet.
"The rest!" Her rage is contagious and fills me with a fire that burns away any aching in my body. "We have to protect your pack!"
Wait... What?
Note: Adebiyi is Nigerian for 'the royal one'.
Well... this could prove a very interesting and dangerous development if Buffy -a Slayer- has been possessed as I suspect it's hinting. They barely managed Xander in canon, she'd be a downright demigoddess if the strength-boost stacked with her Slayer boosts.
Also we really need to prioritize killing Vander. I'm not sure why that's not running through Doyle's head more, because he's actively driving Willow mad, screwing over their plans, trying to kill/turn the younger ones, and is actively recruiting "villains" to point at Doyle using his inside knowledge.
Also we really need to prioritize killing Vander. I'm not sure why that's not running through Doyle's head more, because he's actively driving Willow mad, screwing over their plans, trying to kill/turn the younger ones, and is actively recruiting "villains" to point at Doyle using his inside knowledge.
- Pronouns
- Male
I couldn't think of anything more predatory than killing the Primal's host (except eating the body). For reasons that have been hinted at, Buffy isn't going to get a super boost. More of aa 25-50% one, but more feral instinct like Sineya would have been.
Partly Doyle's own guilt and it really not being that easy to stake someone with a friendly face. Partly Doyle just getting out of his funk and realizing he's let things slide to much, and partly it's Vander actively hiding from everyone except Willow/Jesse. Willow is really only talking to Fred about the "love" letters and Jesse is ignoring it/taking it as a sign some part of his friend remains. This "two parter" is Doyle and the team realizing Vander is an actual player and needs to become top priority. He can't just be a back burner project like all the filler stuff.
Interlude 17: Best Served Cold
- Pronouns
- Male
Interlude 17: Best Served Cold
After the newest employee locked up, Lex watched the Brit mutter to himself the entire way to the parking lot. The frustration directed towards his former teacher is all that spared the man. But the last part made him frown.
"Why does Buffy ring a bell?" Unable to place the name, Lex dismissed the problem for after his revenge.
With the clothing he snatched out of his friends' lockers after school, Lex had ensured both of them would have no one left to turn to. Weirick had assured him the pack would spare those two and leave keep them captive until Lex arrived.
"Wait a second..." He growled as the answer suddenly struck him. "Isn't she the girl Doyle is waiting for? The Slayer!"
Rage filled Lex's cold body at his plans being screwed with yet again. Storming up to the museum, Lex torn the door clean off it's hinges and tossed the cheap metal aside.
"Good thing we're not the only people pissed off at you." From memory he retraced his steps into the Inca exhibit and his newest recruit. "Just hope you aren't mad about our little date."
Once he smashed through the glass case somebody installed since his last visit, Lex grabbed the stone seal to the sounds of alarms. But that wasn't the noise that interested the vampire.
Raspy breathes came from the sarcophagus as Cathryn Madison got used to her very old body. "What did you do to me?"
Clearly she remembered Lex's face and raged at him. Her arms swung upwards in an attempt to grasp her fellow smirking corpse.
"You don't have long before you need to feed. Probably shouldn't waste it on screaming at me." Before his eyes the mummified flesh started to crumble with each movement.
"Why are you here? Mock me in my final moments?" Shrewd thoughts flickered inside the witch's mind.
Shaking his head, Lex refused to reveal anything important just yet. "You're even crankier than I was when I first woke up. So let's just wait for your midnight snack before we get down and dirty."
"Unless you brought me a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader to switch into, I'm still out of your league." The mummified mother rolled her eyes. "Unless of course you have that magic jacket somewhere."
"Why don't you feel my heartbeat, see how scared of you I am." Lex placed her desiccated fingers on his chest and waited for the proper reaction.
An amused snort escaped the witch. "You're dead too."
"And I want the one responsible to suffer just as much as you do." He explained everything about the plot to trap her in the mummy and how little he had to do with planning anything. "That was all Amy and the English teacher. But if she somehow survives the night, I promise you can have your revenge on the piggie."
"You seem to have things well in hand. Why bother waking me except to gloat?" Feeling herself fall apart, Cathryn was starting to get desperate.
In an attempt to prop up her ego, Lex had no problem complimenting the mummy. "I need protection and you're the only one I know more powerful than the witches Doyle has on hand. So I make you beautiful again and you make sure I'm safe from any pesky soul."
A battle of wills was held between two sets of scowling eyes. But in the end, Cathryn couldn't afford to waste anymore time and bowed her head.
"Fine." Her hiss was full of venom. "Now keep your promise."
"Just a few more seconds..." As he watched the shadowy hallway, Lex pointed to the flashlight now approaching. "Look at that. You get Italian food."
Seeing two teens, the security guard approached with a sense of short lived relief. "This really isn't the place to be hanging out you two. It's not safe around here at night."
"We know, thanks." Face now distorted by vampiric ridges, Lex grabbed the terrified man around the throat and offered him to Cathryn. "I'm a demon of my word."
Frantic to feast on the font of life force, Cathryn pulled the struggling man to her. "You could have at least broken his arms first."
The words are followed almost immediately by a pair of snaps from each said limb. With screams filling the room as the custodian begged for his life.
"Only one of those to go around and sorry. But it's mine now." Snarled Cathryn as she pressed her withered lips to the man.
In seconds the process was over and the state of both involved had been swapped. Laying as nothing but dry bones and paper thin skin, the custodian was sealed inside the stone sarcophagus."
"Really should have called in sick tonight." Grinned Lex, as he took in the restored Cathryn's new appearance. "You look better."
"But it isn't permanent..." Frowned the now beautiful witch. "Already I can feel myself falling apart."
Weighing the odds of the gang being present, Lex allowed himself to chuckle darkly. "How about we hit the Bronze? It should be completely unguarded right now."
"And on the way you'll tell me about the others." Cathryn doesn't ask and demands the answers with a cold smile. "I need to know who I'll be working with."
"Claw is of my bloodline and serves as my second for now," explained a flippant vampire. "And though Doctor Weireck has proven a useful shaman, I believe you shall make him redundant. But I hope you can take Tucker under your wing and help him summon something bigger than a gargoyle."
"I guess they aren't very useful as guards when they sleep at the same time as you." A smirk grows at the irony of the fearsome looking creatures being bound to humanities will so many centuries ago.
"A demon hunter is being steered towards the teacher and should at least prove an amusing diversion." Lex thought back on the notes he had started leaving in Morgan's locker along with the ones for his beast friends. Should probably leave one for Cordelia and thank her for the name.
Something interesting I'd meant to mention earlier and quite relevant to the Vander situation right now:
Half-Demons apparently don't generate a threshold, they need to live with a pure human in order for their homes to be defended from vampires.
In fact quite a few mystical effects that would effect demons also affect them, while simultaneously things that would affect humans have decent odds of working on them too most times, so they've got the worst of both worlds in that respect.
You may well have already known that, but the situation when he was living alone without Harry might've been enough for the threshold to dissipate if she no longer considered it a home.
Though on that note, what are the rules for thresholds in this universe? I can't find anything solidly canon about them beyond spells that empower or redefine them, so the circumstances by which they form or dissipate are murky.
I think canonically Faith's motel room wasn't "home enough" to develop one - or at least not a strong one if they can have varying effectiveness beyond on/off.
Half-Demons apparently don't generate a threshold, they need to live with a pure human in order for their homes to be defended from vampires.
In fact quite a few mystical effects that would effect demons also affect them, while simultaneously things that would affect humans have decent odds of working on them too most times, so they've got the worst of both worlds in that respect.
You may well have already known that, but the situation when he was living alone without Harry might've been enough for the threshold to dissipate if she no longer considered it a home.
Though on that note, what are the rules for thresholds in this universe? I can't find anything solidly canon about them beyond spells that empower or redefine them, so the circumstances by which they form or dissipate are murky.
I think canonically Faith's motel room wasn't "home enough" to develop one - or at least not a strong one if they can have varying effectiveness beyond on/off.
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We only have two cases in Angel that prove this. Connor (Son of Angel and possibly had some of those same bloodline exemptions).
And Billy I have to dismiss as evidence... that episode has a few goofs. Angelus definitly felt hatred during season 2 of Buffy. He said she made him feel again and that was unforgivable. And DArla enters a shaman's tent without an invitation (which implies the writer, Bill Norton just forgot that part of being a vampire.).
Just to be clear, I'm not trying to argue because I agree with you and that's how it is in this fic. Just wanted to point out it's more of a 75% true answer and not a concrete one.
As soon as Harry took off the ring and moved out of her mom's, the last of the protections would have vanished (at least my headcannon of it). So it's a really good thing Angel is still living at the house. Otherwise it would be about as safe as the library.
Honestly, not very well defined in either show. All we really know is someone alive needs to call the building home. What that means though. Is left to interpretation.
Motels don't only charge by the day. I lived in one for a few months and you can do a monthly thing (normally in the off season). But now that we bring up rent, why wouldn't the Motel count as long as Faith doesn't have another homebase? Most people don't rent a place thinking they'll stay forever.
Chapter 83: Fading (Marcie)
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Chapter 83: Fading (Marcie)
For a new girl from the Hills, Buffy doesn't seem nearly as snooty as I expected." Willow gives our friends a cautious look as they arrive at the Sunset Club just as the sun gets low enough to cast long shadows everywhere.
"I was expecting someone just as bad as Cordelia." Quick to agree, I have an obviously relieved tone to my voice. "But she actually listened to me. Kind of hard to believe she's a superhero." Cordy would have been a way better choice.
"Even harder to believe we helped save the city." Jonathan's voice doesn't waver as much as it did last year.
Eyes shining with realization, Jesse snaps his fingers happily. "That kind of makes us all sidekicks, doesn't it?"
"Think we should all get costumes?" The comment is just snarky enough that even McNally can catch on.
"Ha." Arms cross as Jesse stares me down. "Ha."
"Mister Doyle's right, she really is the Slayer of dating." Willow winks at me, sharing her own amusement at the rumour that has been spreading.
The words make Jesse go slack jaw in shock though. "What do you mean?"
"Word is the gossip started in the teacher's lounge." Letting a smirk appear, I turn it full force on the swimmer. "And I know I've been repeating it to everyone I know."
"Is that why the guys on the team are all talking her friends up right now?" Conflicted feelings clash on Jesse's face as he tries to decide if this is good news or not.
"No one wants to take a chance that they're just this week's flavour." Green eyes shimmer with mischief as Willow hints at her own aid in spreading the gossip. "Cordelia might even get desperate enough to look at you pretty soon. I heard it's been two weeks since she had a guy buy her drinks at the Bronze."
Hearing that, Jesse has to call his best friend out on what he believes to be fibbing. "And how would you know that? You haven't gone since November."
"Science club friends." Warren reminds us all they have them. "Chris' brother used to date her and he's been keeping an eye out for her."
"Wait a second." Face paling, Jon turns to me with that adorably confused expression. "... Isn't he the one who pulled a Frankenstein?"
That sensation of feeling fully present in the moment is rare. But it never fails to arrive when Jonathan gives me his full attention.
"Says the guy still trying to move stuff with his mind." Ever since Doyle said everybody was a little bit psychic, he's been searching for a way to make himself stand out among our very special friends. "Seems like most of us could have a horror movie made about us."
My comment is basically ignored by everyone and the conversation turns back to Buffy by the time we've reached the club. Like usual, I can feel something strange tingling just beneath my skin.
It's kind of crowded tonight. What do you think is going on?" Jesse has to clear us a path to a corner with enough room for all of us.
"We've been invaded." Over dramatic as always, Diego appears beside us in his green face paint and blue toothpicks. "Apparently Cordelia found out Lorne is here most nights and her friends have taken over the dance floor."
'Dance floor' is stretching it. I don't think I've ever seen people do anything but sway in sync down in the pit.
"Cordelia is here?" Jesse pathetically twists to get a better look at the crowd below. "Where?"
"The middle of all that." Annoyed like I've never seen before, Diego's glare could cut steel as he peers at the bodies in motion. "But she hasn't broken any rules yet so I can't even get Darla to kick them out."
"Well if she keeps acting like her usual self, Cordelia is going to end up even lonelier than all of us." Of course no one but Jon even seems to notice my words and I feel fade a little more into the background.
Willow doesn't seem to realize I said anything and practically repeats my words only a few seconds later. When she says it, that's when everyone finally lets out chuckles of laughter. At least they listen to me sometimes.
"I heard you." Like the amazing guy he is, Jon whispers sweet words of support into my ear. "I always will." The confidence he helps me find in myself pushes back the haze of self doubt once again.
"What do you think was watching us?" Breaking off from the larger group, Marcie follows her strangely confidant boyfriend to down the stairs. "At the graveyard I mean."
His face twists into an uncomfortable wince. "I'm guessing it was Vander. He's still leaving Jesse and Willow notes almost every night."
"Willow's at least still sharing when she gets a really bad one." Guilt churns at the thought of how much more I could be doing. "But Jesse's too 'manly' to talk about it with anyone I guess?"
"Pretty much. I only found out when I spent the night last weekend and caught him sneaking it out of the mailbox before his parents woke up."
"When are we actually going to do something about the ass-hole?" It's been months now and it seems like nobody has a plan to deal with him.
Jon shrugs uncomfortably as we start moving to the music, forced closer than we usually dance in public. "Doyle and the others feel too guilty. I don't think they want to come up with a plan."
"Buffy never knew Xander." I feel I have to point out the obvious. "Why don't we ask her to take care of it? She can pay Doyle back and nobody has to feel like they killed a friend."
"Why don't you suggest it when she finishes up? She seemed to listen to you earlier." His grin makes my heart beat even faster.
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My hopes were too high for Vander
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In which way? The scope of his plans(I thought he was doing a good job being a legitimate threat)? His moral direction seeming to fall more in line with stereo typical evil(He's really caught up in his revenge right now and aside from that is pretty tame.)? Or because it sounds like his time is limited?