Scraped from here.
Taking a walk each day is good for you. Even just 30 minutes or so does...
Taking a walk each day is good for you. Even just 30 minutes or so does...
The Multiverse is a Big Place(SI)
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Scraped from here.
Taking a walk each day is good for you. Even just 30 minutes or so does wonders for your system. Statistics clearly show that people who take walks are much more likely to live longer and healthier lives than people who don't.
However, I am pretty sure the people doing the statistics haven't taken into account the health issues involving a train to the face while on your walk.
My normal walking path goes along the curve of a railroad that normally carries cargo trains loaded with logs.
I was about halfway along my walk when I could hear the train coming. Now this was nothing unusual, it usually passes by at around the same time I take my walk.
What was unusual however was the clanging noise and incredible rumble when it jumped off it's tracks and went towards me down the small hill.
I had just enough time to realize that I was about to become about a molecule thick, scream and wish to be anywhere else. At this point Nazi Germany would have been a step up.
But half a second before the wall of metal smashed me into a pancake, there is a flash in my vision and I was suddenly falling through darkness.
Something smashed into my side, knocking the breath out of me as I tumbled through the air and then I slammed into the ground.
I don't know how much time has passed when I slowly open my eyes again, clawing my way back into the real world.
The room looked...blurry. When I reached up to slide my right hand over my face. My glasses were missing...and my right arm did not want to move the way I wanted too.
I tried to look at it only to find it in a white rigid cast, the movement revealing that something is also wrong with my ribs.
Now, I am pretty sure moving your body slightly should not feel like somebody just slammed a knife into your right side.
"Ow..." I whimpered softly and tried to not move.
Somehow, I survived being hit by a train. All my parts seem to still attached and other than some pain, I seem to be doing pretty well for a man who was about to die.
Moving around as little as possible, I looked around as well as I could without glasses, before taking a chance to reach out and feel around on the small table next to what I can only assume, is a hospital bed. Sure enough, I managed to locate my glasses and slid them back onto my nose.
A bit crooked but the lens are whole. Nothing that couldn't be fixed easy enough.
I adjusted them the best I could and took a new look at the room.
Mostly white, bland. A painting of a boat on the wall. Typical hospital design.
It didn't take more than a couple of minutes before a nurse entered the room through the door to the right "Hello, How are we doing today?" she asked. She looked like she was in her forties and had brown hair, slightly overweight.
"I am in a bit of pain." I answered, now feeling more than a tad confused "May I ask where I am?"
"Oh, you don't remember?" she asked as she walked over to check the chart before nodding. "You were brought in here last night by a local. She said she found you in a graveyard. Looked like you where assaulted by a gang on PCP."
I just stared at her "I...don't remember anything like that. Where am I? I...seem to have a bit of a memory loss..."
She sighed, "It's no wonder, you took a bit of a bump on the head. You are at Sunnydale Memorial in Sunnydale, California."
"I...see." was the only thing I could say and she nodded, putting my chart back down.
"I'm going to tell the doctor you are awake, he is going to want to check you over. Try not to move, you have a couple of broken ribs." she said before walking out.
That sounded like sound advice, no matter how nuts this situation is. So I relaxed the best I could in my bed.
Sunnydale Memorial. Completely impossible, that kind of thing only happens in my bad stories. Much more likely is that somebody here is either messing with me or I hit my head harder than I thought.
"Good Morning, I am Doctor Malmberg." a tall man in a doctors coat said as he walked inside "I understand you have some memory loss?"
I looked at him for a moment before I nodded "I...yes it seems I do. I do not remember even going to America."
He nodded and walked over, checking my pupils "Hmm signs of a light concussion. This kind of memory loss is normal, you should regain your memories soon enough. There were no signs of any real brain damage when we went over you last night. Your accent sounds Scandinavian?"
"Yes...Swedish." I answered, resisting the urge to nod as he listened to my heart "My clothes and things..."
The Doctor smiled and put the stethoscope away "All in a box beneath your bed. Now, I want to keep you here for a couple of days for observation, just to make sure you are okay."
I slowly nodded "I...okay. I'm not sure how paying for this works in the US. I don't really have any insurance here..."
He smiled "Don't worry. The mayors office cover all hospital stay for tourists for free. All in the name of increasing tourist flow to the town. After all, if someone came here and gets hurt due to our crime problem, it's only right that we set things right, don't you think?"
"That sounds like a very nice policy to have, Doctor." I answered.
Malmberg smiled and then turned to make his way towards the door "A nurse will be here with some food in a little while. I'm sure you are hungry. I'll make sure she give you something to read as well...Sorry for the lack of TV, we are out of TV rooms." and then he shrugged "Like this...at least you have the room to yourself." before he left, leaving me with my own thoughts.
This is impossible. There is no way this is actually real.
A younger nurse soon arrived with a small cart and left a tray with some food and a newspaper on it.
The date on the paper said August 6, 1997.
AN// Big thanks to edukated for betaing this part.
The date are mean to match the start of season 2 of Buffy. As far as i have been able to figure out, it's a match but if anyone know the lore better, please, feel free to correct me.
Update index thanks to kclcmdr : http://forums.spacebattles.com/thre...rs-comments-stats.88160/page-25#post-10280766
Taking a walk each day is good for you. Even just 30 minutes or so does wonders for your system. Statistics clearly show that people who take walks are much more likely to live longer and healthier lives than people who don't.
However, I am pretty sure the people doing the statistics haven't taken into account the health issues involving a train to the face while on your walk.
My normal walking path goes along the curve of a railroad that normally carries cargo trains loaded with logs.
I was about halfway along my walk when I could hear the train coming. Now this was nothing unusual, it usually passes by at around the same time I take my walk.
What was unusual however was the clanging noise and incredible rumble when it jumped off it's tracks and went towards me down the small hill.
I had just enough time to realize that I was about to become about a molecule thick, scream and wish to be anywhere else. At this point Nazi Germany would have been a step up.
But half a second before the wall of metal smashed me into a pancake, there is a flash in my vision and I was suddenly falling through darkness.
Something smashed into my side, knocking the breath out of me as I tumbled through the air and then I slammed into the ground.
I don't know how much time has passed when I slowly open my eyes again, clawing my way back into the real world.
The room looked...blurry. When I reached up to slide my right hand over my face. My glasses were missing...and my right arm did not want to move the way I wanted too.
I tried to look at it only to find it in a white rigid cast, the movement revealing that something is also wrong with my ribs.
Now, I am pretty sure moving your body slightly should not feel like somebody just slammed a knife into your right side.
"Ow..." I whimpered softly and tried to not move.
Somehow, I survived being hit by a train. All my parts seem to still attached and other than some pain, I seem to be doing pretty well for a man who was about to die.
Moving around as little as possible, I looked around as well as I could without glasses, before taking a chance to reach out and feel around on the small table next to what I can only assume, is a hospital bed. Sure enough, I managed to locate my glasses and slid them back onto my nose.
A bit crooked but the lens are whole. Nothing that couldn't be fixed easy enough.
I adjusted them the best I could and took a new look at the room.
Mostly white, bland. A painting of a boat on the wall. Typical hospital design.
It didn't take more than a couple of minutes before a nurse entered the room through the door to the right "Hello, How are we doing today?" she asked. She looked like she was in her forties and had brown hair, slightly overweight.
"I am in a bit of pain." I answered, now feeling more than a tad confused "May I ask where I am?"
"Oh, you don't remember?" she asked as she walked over to check the chart before nodding. "You were brought in here last night by a local. She said she found you in a graveyard. Looked like you where assaulted by a gang on PCP."
I just stared at her "I...don't remember anything like that. Where am I? I...seem to have a bit of a memory loss..."
She sighed, "It's no wonder, you took a bit of a bump on the head. You are at Sunnydale Memorial in Sunnydale, California."
"I...see." was the only thing I could say and she nodded, putting my chart back down.
"I'm going to tell the doctor you are awake, he is going to want to check you over. Try not to move, you have a couple of broken ribs." she said before walking out.
That sounded like sound advice, no matter how nuts this situation is. So I relaxed the best I could in my bed.
Sunnydale Memorial. Completely impossible, that kind of thing only happens in my bad stories. Much more likely is that somebody here is either messing with me or I hit my head harder than I thought.
"Good Morning, I am Doctor Malmberg." a tall man in a doctors coat said as he walked inside "I understand you have some memory loss?"
I looked at him for a moment before I nodded "I...yes it seems I do. I do not remember even going to America."
He nodded and walked over, checking my pupils "Hmm signs of a light concussion. This kind of memory loss is normal, you should regain your memories soon enough. There were no signs of any real brain damage when we went over you last night. Your accent sounds Scandinavian?"
"Yes...Swedish." I answered, resisting the urge to nod as he listened to my heart "My clothes and things..."
The Doctor smiled and put the stethoscope away "All in a box beneath your bed. Now, I want to keep you here for a couple of days for observation, just to make sure you are okay."
I slowly nodded "I...okay. I'm not sure how paying for this works in the US. I don't really have any insurance here..."
He smiled "Don't worry. The mayors office cover all hospital stay for tourists for free. All in the name of increasing tourist flow to the town. After all, if someone came here and gets hurt due to our crime problem, it's only right that we set things right, don't you think?"
"That sounds like a very nice policy to have, Doctor." I answered.
Malmberg smiled and then turned to make his way towards the door "A nurse will be here with some food in a little while. I'm sure you are hungry. I'll make sure she give you something to read as well...Sorry for the lack of TV, we are out of TV rooms." and then he shrugged "Like this...at least you have the room to yourself." before he left, leaving me with my own thoughts.
This is impossible. There is no way this is actually real.
A younger nurse soon arrived with a small cart and left a tray with some food and a newspaper on it.
The date on the paper said August 6, 1997.
AN// Big thanks to edukated for betaing this part.
The date are mean to match the start of season 2 of Buffy. As far as i have been able to figure out, it's a match but if anyone know the lore better, please, feel free to correct me.
Update index thanks to kclcmdr : http://forums.spacebattles.com/thre...rs-comments-stats.88160/page-25#post-10280766
Walking around town was more than a bit surreal. It looked like what I remember from the show... the streets, the architecture. The school.
After being released from the hospital with a prescription for painkillers, I spent the next couple of hours just... walking around. Looking.
I grunted and held my ribs softly, instantly regretting it as I leaned my back against the wall.
"Well... I better just accept it. Unless somebody rebuilt the entire town, knocked me around, got a few thousand actors... all just to mess with me, I am in Buffy, The Vampire Slayer."
I resisted the urge to sigh. "Ok, reality check. Dangerous fictional world with no assets, likely no legal identity. I don't know exactly what is going to happen... This is bad. Current belongings consist of a winter jacket, a set of clothes... what look like a good fake Swedish drivers license... or what would be one if it wasn't printed over ten years into the future. About fifty bucks in Swedish currency, also unable to use due to wrong printing date."
I glanced up at the still rising sun. Unless I went somewhere safe before sunset, I'm dead. Or worse.
Closing my eyes, I tried to think clearly. I needed money and a place to stay. I could try and find and Giles. I should be able to pass for a seer of some description, but it would also put a massive target on my back. Which brought back the need for cash, somewhere that doesn't require a legal identity.
A few moments later, I opened my eyes, knowing my best option for now.
Resisting the urge to sigh, I pushed off the wall, groaning as it made my ribs smart something bad before I went of to locate the only possibility for now.
Willy's Bar.
It took some finding, it was almost noon when I found it. The sign was small and the place was out of the way. The sign said closed but when I felt the handle, the door swung open so I walked inside.
"Hello?" I called out and seconds later someone poked his head out from the back room.
"We are closed!" Willy said.
"I know, I saw the sign. I'm looking for work... Got any available?" I asked.
He stepped out from the back room and looked me over. "This isn't your normal bar, kid. Beat it."
I shook my head. "I know what kind of clientele you serve. I have no problem with that, just looking for some work. Somewhere safe."
He frowned. "Safe? Here? And you know what kind of... people that I serve?"
I smiled slightly and nodded. "Yes. After all, they come here to look for a drink and to relax... Eating the people working here would disrupt that, wouldn't it?"
Willy leaned against the ball, smiling. "Figured that out, did you? You a hunter? You look like you went a round with a Polgaran."
I shook my head. "An accident if you would believe it... and no, I'm not a hunter. Don't have a death-wish. Bog standard human here."
I shrugged my good shoulder. "So, need some work done or not?"
He eyed me for a moment before he slowly nodded. "Nine bucks a hour, tips are split evenly. Don't stare at the clientele and don't drink the stock. What's your name?"
I tilted my head slightly. "Call me Hiver. Names are too important to just give out."
He frowned. "Like Winter in french?"
I shrugged. "If you wish."
He shook his head. "Anyway, you are not hired yet. Consider tonight as test... If you pass... and survive, you might be hired. Now get out of that ridiculous jacket and sort the blood in the cooler. Expiration date and type, toss any that's over two weeks old."
I smiled and shrugged out of the winter jacket. "Sure thing, boss."
As I made my way behind her bar, I could just about hear him mumble to himself.
"Boss... Boss Willy. I like that."
I groaned as I dropped on my back on the bed at eight in the morning the next day, and then I saw stars as it felt like someone slammed a sledgehammer into my ribs. "Bad...idea..."
The evening and night was... interesting. I froze the first time I saw a demon but then I simply focused on my job, mostly playing fetch for Willy.
Honestly, the crowd wasn't that bad for evil hell-beasts. The vampires kept to their drinks and yelling at the match on the TV. The demons just wanted their very strange drinks and those whole baked onions we made in the back room.
All in all, Willy getting a employee was less interesting than the football on the big screen.
Still, hard work through the entire night. With one working arm and busted ribs.
I moaned as I pushed myself back onto my feet to slide the dresser and then the bed in front of the inwards swinging door of the motel room.
No threshold in a motel but locking the door and blocking it should work just as well... Especially as it's daytime. I quickly set my alarm at three in the after noon and undressed before very careful collapsing on the bed.
I needed to purchase some new clothes before tonight.
AN// Big thanks to hpackrat for betaing this section.
After being released from the hospital with a prescription for painkillers, I spent the next couple of hours just... walking around. Looking.
I grunted and held my ribs softly, instantly regretting it as I leaned my back against the wall.
"Well... I better just accept it. Unless somebody rebuilt the entire town, knocked me around, got a few thousand actors... all just to mess with me, I am in Buffy, The Vampire Slayer."
I resisted the urge to sigh. "Ok, reality check. Dangerous fictional world with no assets, likely no legal identity. I don't know exactly what is going to happen... This is bad. Current belongings consist of a winter jacket, a set of clothes... what look like a good fake Swedish drivers license... or what would be one if it wasn't printed over ten years into the future. About fifty bucks in Swedish currency, also unable to use due to wrong printing date."
I glanced up at the still rising sun. Unless I went somewhere safe before sunset, I'm dead. Or worse.
Closing my eyes, I tried to think clearly. I needed money and a place to stay. I could try and find and Giles. I should be able to pass for a seer of some description, but it would also put a massive target on my back. Which brought back the need for cash, somewhere that doesn't require a legal identity.
A few moments later, I opened my eyes, knowing my best option for now.
Resisting the urge to sigh, I pushed off the wall, groaning as it made my ribs smart something bad before I went of to locate the only possibility for now.
Willy's Bar.
It took some finding, it was almost noon when I found it. The sign was small and the place was out of the way. The sign said closed but when I felt the handle, the door swung open so I walked inside.
"Hello?" I called out and seconds later someone poked his head out from the back room.
"We are closed!" Willy said.
"I know, I saw the sign. I'm looking for work... Got any available?" I asked.
He stepped out from the back room and looked me over. "This isn't your normal bar, kid. Beat it."
I shook my head. "I know what kind of clientele you serve. I have no problem with that, just looking for some work. Somewhere safe."
He frowned. "Safe? Here? And you know what kind of... people that I serve?"
I smiled slightly and nodded. "Yes. After all, they come here to look for a drink and to relax... Eating the people working here would disrupt that, wouldn't it?"
Willy leaned against the ball, smiling. "Figured that out, did you? You a hunter? You look like you went a round with a Polgaran."
I shook my head. "An accident if you would believe it... and no, I'm not a hunter. Don't have a death-wish. Bog standard human here."
I shrugged my good shoulder. "So, need some work done or not?"
He eyed me for a moment before he slowly nodded. "Nine bucks a hour, tips are split evenly. Don't stare at the clientele and don't drink the stock. What's your name?"
I tilted my head slightly. "Call me Hiver. Names are too important to just give out."
He frowned. "Like Winter in french?"
I shrugged. "If you wish."
He shook his head. "Anyway, you are not hired yet. Consider tonight as test... If you pass... and survive, you might be hired. Now get out of that ridiculous jacket and sort the blood in the cooler. Expiration date and type, toss any that's over two weeks old."
I smiled and shrugged out of the winter jacket. "Sure thing, boss."
As I made my way behind her bar, I could just about hear him mumble to himself.
"Boss... Boss Willy. I like that."
I groaned as I dropped on my back on the bed at eight in the morning the next day, and then I saw stars as it felt like someone slammed a sledgehammer into my ribs. "Bad...idea..."
The evening and night was... interesting. I froze the first time I saw a demon but then I simply focused on my job, mostly playing fetch for Willy.
Honestly, the crowd wasn't that bad for evil hell-beasts. The vampires kept to their drinks and yelling at the match on the TV. The demons just wanted their very strange drinks and those whole baked onions we made in the back room.
All in all, Willy getting a employee was less interesting than the football on the big screen.
Still, hard work through the entire night. With one working arm and busted ribs.
I moaned as I pushed myself back onto my feet to slide the dresser and then the bed in front of the inwards swinging door of the motel room.
No threshold in a motel but locking the door and blocking it should work just as well... Especially as it's daytime. I quickly set my alarm at three in the after noon and undressed before very careful collapsing on the bed.
I needed to purchase some new clothes before tonight.
AN// Big thanks to hpackrat for betaing this section.
"Another plate of chicken wings!" the wrinkly demon called out causing me to frown.
"You sure Clem? You already had two." I answered while sliding a glass of beer to a red demon sitting by the bar.
The wrinkly grey demon nodded "Yes. I'm hungry."
I shrugged "Your stomach, mate." and went and heated up another one.
After working here for a couple of weeks I managed to talk Willy into introducing some more bar food than simply baked onions. In this case spicy chicken wings. The crowd loved it.
I returned to the bar a minute later and put the plate on the bartop "Wings are ready." I said and Clem got them as the door opened to reveal a newcommer.
Spike.
"Barkeep, pint of blood and a scotch." he said as he sat down by the bar "And none of that cheap pig's blood. O negative."
"May I interest you in a cheese onion? It's free if you fill in a review of it. It's something new we are trying." I told him as I heated up a pint of blood while serving the wiskey.
Spike the Bloody. One of the four scourges of Europe. Sitting about a meter away from me.
He raised a eyebrow "Do I look like the kind to fill out sodding reviews, mate?"
I shrugged "Can't say you do. Just saying...for a couple of ticked boxes on a paper, you get some snacks for free."
I put down his drinks and he snorted "Give me one of those onions...and a pen."
Willy rolled his eyes, manning the other end of the bar as I grinned on my way into the back room to ready the meal. Nobody resist free stuff...this is America after all. Not even evil hell beasts.
We did the same thing with the chicken wings and they bring in as much income as the blood now!
As I heat the onion up I took a long swing from my bottle of water. Holy water actually.
When I had picked up clothes, priority two was protection. In this case a cross to wear around my neck, a stake, a small water pistol and holy water.
Lugging a 24 pack of bottled water into the biggest church in town and getting it blessed...drew a lot less looks than it should have.
The priest just gave me a sad look. The second time I did it the look was more surprised than anything.
I put the bottle back down and brought the meal back to the waiting scourge of Europe along with a pen and a review paper. If drinking holy water actually works or not...I had no idea. But it sure as hell couldn't hurt.
Giving Spike a quick look I returned to the rest of the customers. Killing him would actually be relatively easy. Nobody suspect the guy serving the food.
I mentally shrugged and continued my work. Not only would it likely get me fired and/or killed, there is no telling what it would do to the timeline.
The next day after getting some sleep I headed out onto town. I did see something a couple of days ago, a store called Uncle Bob's Magic Cabinet. It looked like the Magic Box magic store.
I leaned against the tree outside and frowned slightly as I looked it over. Possibly a sign of alternate reality.
I shook my head and then headed inside, feeling more than a bit thankful that my ribs are quickly getting better.
The inside of the store was smaller than I remember from the show, but otherwise it's at least a partial match.
"Yes, can I help you?" a old man asked as he exited the back room at the sound of the door's bell.
"Just browsing. You wouldn't have any books?" I asked and he nodded.
"In the back of the store, two shelves."
"Thanks." I said and headed back there only to locate two shelf's of new age crap. I spent a minute looking through the selection before I shook my head and headed back to the counter.
"Not exactly what I was looking for. Got any of the 'real' stuff?" I asked and he frowned.
"I got no idea what you are talking about." he protested and I pulled my stake from me pocket, putting it on the counter.
He eyed it and then nodded "Looking for something in particular?"
"Something...simple and cheapish." I said and he frowned.
"Hmm, simple AND cheap? Not a easy thing to do. But I think I can find something..." he said and headed into the back.
I slowly tapped the counter as I glanced around while waiting. Apparently this owner was not quite as open about magic as the other owners...if this really is the 'right' reality.
The old man, who I assumed is named Bob returned with a small book, putting it on the counter "May I ask exactly what you are going to use this for?"
I sighed and then nodded "Protection. I'm a human and live in 'this' town."
He watched me for a moment before he nodded "Fair enough." and slid it over to me "That will be sixty dollars."
I gave him a wide eyed look at the price before glancing at the title. 'To harness the arcane arts'.
Nodding I handed the cash over "If this turn out to be a fake..."
He smiled "It is not. No guarantee you can actually use any of it though...no amount of teaching or books will make up for zero talent. And don't blame me if you get yourself killed."
I shook my head "I don't plan to go undead." and grabbed the book before making my way back to my motel room.
On the way I saw someone.
Trying not to stare I watched Buffy, Willow and Xander cross the road in front of me. As they rounded the corner I shook my head and continued on my way.
Buffy is hot...but she are also 16. That's creepy.
Something suddenly hit me and I can't help but laugh as I walk inside and lock the door behind me.
I am neither old enough or evil enough for her to be attracted to me anyway. She should have one of those height measuring things they have on amusement parks next to her that say 'You must be this evil to ride'.
Chuckling I locked the door and pushed the dresser and bed back in front of the door before sitting down to open the book.
Time to see if any of this shit are going to help in any way....or if opening this book is going to suck my soul out.
Oh well...some chances needed to be taken.
AN// Big thanks to Vlad III for betaing this section.
"You sure Clem? You already had two." I answered while sliding a glass of beer to a red demon sitting by the bar.
The wrinkly grey demon nodded "Yes. I'm hungry."
I shrugged "Your stomach, mate." and went and heated up another one.
After working here for a couple of weeks I managed to talk Willy into introducing some more bar food than simply baked onions. In this case spicy chicken wings. The crowd loved it.
I returned to the bar a minute later and put the plate on the bartop "Wings are ready." I said and Clem got them as the door opened to reveal a newcommer.
Spike.
"Barkeep, pint of blood and a scotch." he said as he sat down by the bar "And none of that cheap pig's blood. O negative."
"May I interest you in a cheese onion? It's free if you fill in a review of it. It's something new we are trying." I told him as I heated up a pint of blood while serving the wiskey.
Spike the Bloody. One of the four scourges of Europe. Sitting about a meter away from me.
He raised a eyebrow "Do I look like the kind to fill out sodding reviews, mate?"
I shrugged "Can't say you do. Just saying...for a couple of ticked boxes on a paper, you get some snacks for free."
I put down his drinks and he snorted "Give me one of those onions...and a pen."
Willy rolled his eyes, manning the other end of the bar as I grinned on my way into the back room to ready the meal. Nobody resist free stuff...this is America after all. Not even evil hell beasts.
We did the same thing with the chicken wings and they bring in as much income as the blood now!
As I heat the onion up I took a long swing from my bottle of water. Holy water actually.
When I had picked up clothes, priority two was protection. In this case a cross to wear around my neck, a stake, a small water pistol and holy water.
Lugging a 24 pack of bottled water into the biggest church in town and getting it blessed...drew a lot less looks than it should have.
The priest just gave me a sad look. The second time I did it the look was more surprised than anything.
I put the bottle back down and brought the meal back to the waiting scourge of Europe along with a pen and a review paper. If drinking holy water actually works or not...I had no idea. But it sure as hell couldn't hurt.
Giving Spike a quick look I returned to the rest of the customers. Killing him would actually be relatively easy. Nobody suspect the guy serving the food.
I mentally shrugged and continued my work. Not only would it likely get me fired and/or killed, there is no telling what it would do to the timeline.
The next day after getting some sleep I headed out onto town. I did see something a couple of days ago, a store called Uncle Bob's Magic Cabinet. It looked like the Magic Box magic store.
I leaned against the tree outside and frowned slightly as I looked it over. Possibly a sign of alternate reality.
I shook my head and then headed inside, feeling more than a bit thankful that my ribs are quickly getting better.
The inside of the store was smaller than I remember from the show, but otherwise it's at least a partial match.
"Yes, can I help you?" a old man asked as he exited the back room at the sound of the door's bell.
"Just browsing. You wouldn't have any books?" I asked and he nodded.
"In the back of the store, two shelves."
"Thanks." I said and headed back there only to locate two shelf's of new age crap. I spent a minute looking through the selection before I shook my head and headed back to the counter.
"Not exactly what I was looking for. Got any of the 'real' stuff?" I asked and he frowned.
"I got no idea what you are talking about." he protested and I pulled my stake from me pocket, putting it on the counter.
He eyed it and then nodded "Looking for something in particular?"
"Something...simple and cheapish." I said and he frowned.
"Hmm, simple AND cheap? Not a easy thing to do. But I think I can find something..." he said and headed into the back.
I slowly tapped the counter as I glanced around while waiting. Apparently this owner was not quite as open about magic as the other owners...if this really is the 'right' reality.
The old man, who I assumed is named Bob returned with a small book, putting it on the counter "May I ask exactly what you are going to use this for?"
I sighed and then nodded "Protection. I'm a human and live in 'this' town."
He watched me for a moment before he nodded "Fair enough." and slid it over to me "That will be sixty dollars."
I gave him a wide eyed look at the price before glancing at the title. 'To harness the arcane arts'.
Nodding I handed the cash over "If this turn out to be a fake..."
He smiled "It is not. No guarantee you can actually use any of it though...no amount of teaching or books will make up for zero talent. And don't blame me if you get yourself killed."
I shook my head "I don't plan to go undead." and grabbed the book before making my way back to my motel room.
On the way I saw someone.
Trying not to stare I watched Buffy, Willow and Xander cross the road in front of me. As they rounded the corner I shook my head and continued on my way.
Buffy is hot...but she are also 16. That's creepy.
Something suddenly hit me and I can't help but laugh as I walk inside and lock the door behind me.
I am neither old enough or evil enough for her to be attracted to me anyway. She should have one of those height measuring things they have on amusement parks next to her that say 'You must be this evil to ride'.
Chuckling I locked the door and pushed the dresser and bed back in front of the door before sitting down to open the book.
Time to see if any of this shit are going to help in any way....or if opening this book is going to suck my soul out.
Oh well...some chances needed to be taken.
AN// Big thanks to Vlad III for betaing this section.
I glared at my arch enemy "You will not defeat me this time. I am invincible! You can not win! Give up already!"
The pencil said nothing, it just laid there on the table.
"Oh come on!" I groaned and then closed my eyes again, focusing my mind and power like the book described, breathing slowly.
According the book there are two ways to use magic. Internal and external.
The first is Internal magic. This is not something anyone can do. Even if everyone technically has the power, many don't have enough to do anything with it. What I was attempting to do was the basic test for it...focus your power and move that pencil. It came with a warning that it could take a good long while to learn to get right, especially when learning from a book.
Willow in the series could fly a pencil around the room in a week or two. Almost two weeks into training and mine have yet to sodding move at all.
I calmed myself back down and then I opened my eyes, focusing once more at the pencil.
The second method is external. It is fueled by a external source, like a god, goddess or a demon, often in return for prayers or sacrifices. Anyone can do this. This is where spells come in...think of them as a macro for calling on the entities power. If the entity approve it will supply the power. Same thing with rituals but they are used for more powerful things.
This is also the cause of magic addiction, other than the thing of 'power corrupts'. Channeling more power than you can naturally handle is addictive.
You can however grow your internal power with use and practice, like a muscle, making it possible for you to handle more external power.
It didn't take long for me to decide to keep the hell away from external magic. Not only for the risk of addiction, but also because it put you at the mercy of some supernatural dick that can cut you of from your spells at pretty much a whim.
"Move." I commanded the pencil and it just laid there.
I sighed and glared at it, simply willing it to move...and it rolled over.
I almost fell out of my chair in surprise before I resisted the urge to face desk. All this time I have been thinking 'move'. The word move.
Not 'wanting it' to move.
Shaking my head I got back in position and tried it again...and a couple of minutes it rolled over once more.
Smiling happily I packed my stuff up and headed out to find a restaurant somewhere. I just broke the laws of physics so I decided that is worth some celebrating. No saving money by cooking my meals on a camping kitchen in my room today!
That's when I passed by Ethan's costume shop. I stopped outside and looked for a moment before continuing on my way in the search for food, now in deep thought.
I forgot I was in season 2...It's hard to think of it like that when you are actually living it. Not as a main character, but what equals to a NPC in the other end of town.
Halloween was coming.
I walked into the restaurant, found myself a table and ordered a big steak. I then leaned back on my chair, idly tapping a finger on the table as I thought.
It all depend on if I was in canon or not. The magic store indicate it wasn't...or at a minimum only the name of the store was different. If itwas the canon time line, I would just end up with some memories and skills.
If this is some kind of fandom one, I could get powers...
I smiled and thanked the pretty waitress as my meal arrived before I dug in happily...and almost choked on a piece of potatoes when a horrible thought hit me.
Something that's more than a possibility due to me being in this reality. Someone put me here to fuck with me because I liked writing SI fiction. Something powerful.
What if this is the version of the Buffyverse that is going to turn into Halloween world?
Swallowing I looked down at my plate, suddenly not feeling hungry anymore as I realized what I must do.
I couldn't risk it.
I need to somehow stop Ethan Rayne.
AN// Big thanks to Harish for betaing this part.
The pencil said nothing, it just laid there on the table.
"Oh come on!" I groaned and then closed my eyes again, focusing my mind and power like the book described, breathing slowly.
According the book there are two ways to use magic. Internal and external.
The first is Internal magic. This is not something anyone can do. Even if everyone technically has the power, many don't have enough to do anything with it. What I was attempting to do was the basic test for it...focus your power and move that pencil. It came with a warning that it could take a good long while to learn to get right, especially when learning from a book.
Willow in the series could fly a pencil around the room in a week or two. Almost two weeks into training and mine have yet to sodding move at all.
I calmed myself back down and then I opened my eyes, focusing once more at the pencil.
The second method is external. It is fueled by a external source, like a god, goddess or a demon, often in return for prayers or sacrifices. Anyone can do this. This is where spells come in...think of them as a macro for calling on the entities power. If the entity approve it will supply the power. Same thing with rituals but they are used for more powerful things.
This is also the cause of magic addiction, other than the thing of 'power corrupts'. Channeling more power than you can naturally handle is addictive.
You can however grow your internal power with use and practice, like a muscle, making it possible for you to handle more external power.
It didn't take long for me to decide to keep the hell away from external magic. Not only for the risk of addiction, but also because it put you at the mercy of some supernatural dick that can cut you of from your spells at pretty much a whim.
"Move." I commanded the pencil and it just laid there.
I sighed and glared at it, simply willing it to move...and it rolled over.
I almost fell out of my chair in surprise before I resisted the urge to face desk. All this time I have been thinking 'move'. The word move.
Not 'wanting it' to move.
Shaking my head I got back in position and tried it again...and a couple of minutes it rolled over once more.
Smiling happily I packed my stuff up and headed out to find a restaurant somewhere. I just broke the laws of physics so I decided that is worth some celebrating. No saving money by cooking my meals on a camping kitchen in my room today!
That's when I passed by Ethan's costume shop. I stopped outside and looked for a moment before continuing on my way in the search for food, now in deep thought.
I forgot I was in season 2...It's hard to think of it like that when you are actually living it. Not as a main character, but what equals to a NPC in the other end of town.
Halloween was coming.
I walked into the restaurant, found myself a table and ordered a big steak. I then leaned back on my chair, idly tapping a finger on the table as I thought.
It all depend on if I was in canon or not. The magic store indicate it wasn't...or at a minimum only the name of the store was different. If itwas the canon time line, I would just end up with some memories and skills.
If this is some kind of fandom one, I could get powers...
I smiled and thanked the pretty waitress as my meal arrived before I dug in happily...and almost choked on a piece of potatoes when a horrible thought hit me.
Something that's more than a possibility due to me being in this reality. Someone put me here to fuck with me because I liked writing SI fiction. Something powerful.
What if this is the version of the Buffyverse that is going to turn into Halloween world?
Swallowing I looked down at my plate, suddenly not feeling hungry anymore as I realized what I must do.
I couldn't risk it.
I need to somehow stop Ethan Rayne.
AN// Big thanks to Harish for betaing this part.
"Mr Rupert Giles?" I asked while glancing around the empty street around the phone booth.
"Yes... Who is this?" A voice I recognized as his answered.
"You can call me Winter. I have information you need," I said and I could hear his frown through the phone.
"I-I am a school librarian... I am not quite sure what you are..."
I shook my head in annoyance. "Rupert Giles. A member of the Watchers Council and the current watcher assigned to the primary slayer. The information involves Ethan Rayne and the possible end of the world."
The other side of the phone was quiet for several moments before he answered. "What do you know?"
I smiled slightly. "More than I should. Less than I need. But in this case, Ethan Rayne is in Sunnydale. He has set up a costume shop and is going to cast a spell on Halloween to turn everyone that bought one of his costumes into the character in question. You can break the spell by breaking the bust of Janus he will use as the focus for the spell."
"That does sound like something he would do..." Giles said, mostly to himself, it seemed before he continued. "That would be bad, but it is not world ending..."
"Think, Mr Giles. Ethan Rayne is going to cast a chaos spell using the power of a god of change in the town on top of the hellmouth. There is NO way of knowing what kind of effects that will cause. It might cause the spell to be permanent. It might cause the spell to spread across the entire planet."
He was silent for another few moments before he answered again. "Who are you?"
"Irrelevant. My information is accurate. You have two days until Halloween. Good luck, Mr Giles... and pass a message to the Slayer."
"What is it?" Giles asked and I smiled slightly.
"Tell her... Thank you for keeping us safe." I hung up the phone and left the booth then started to make my way across town back to the motel with a small frown.
Two days until Halloween... The subject should be handled now when Ripper was on the case.
Entering my motel room, I pulled out my bag and checked the contents. Black ski-mask, black jacket, black pants, black boots, black gloves. Combat knife and crowbar.
Unless things have been handled before the night leading up to Halloween, I would be breaking in to destroy the focus.
I placed everything away again and got ready for work.
The next day I passed by Ethan's store, finding the door half open to I peaked inside. The inside was wrecked and it looked like there had been a major fight.
I slowly made my way inside, looking around carefully. When I was unable to find anyone, I headed into the back room
"Hello?" I asked as I searched the store. Other than some blood I didn't find anyone.
"Handled." I said with a grin before I walked to turn the closed sign and shut the door, locking it.
"Time to Ork out." I commented and went to the cash register first. The key was still in so I simply popped it open and pulled out a few hundred dollars in mixed bills. They went into my pocket then I made my way into the back room again to search the place.
A quick but thorough search revealed several magic books that were way over my head, a broken bust of Janus, and various crap laying around.
I walked back into the store and grabbed a bag before I started stuffing it with whatever I could quickly find that looked somewhat valuable.
Another quick look around then I left through the back door.
World was saved and I profited from it.
Then I rounded the corner and found myself face to face with Rupert Giles, resting a battleaxe on his shoulder. "Mr Winter, I assume?"
I froze for a second, my mind going a thousand kilometers a hour before I nodded. "I won't insult your intelligence by denying it."
He nodded. "I suspected you would show up here if I waited. Now, if you would be so kind to tell me where you got your information?"
"What I said was the truth, isn't that enough?" I asked and he shook his head.
"It involves the safety of my Slayer. I don't take chances with that," He said and I sighed.
"Very well. I am from another reality where this is all a TV show. That's how I knew what was going to happ..." And that was as far as I got before he slugged me on the jaw, knocking me on my ass. "What the hell!?"
He rested the battleaxe on the ground. "If you are quite done being a smart-arse, the truth if you will?"
I scowled at him and said, "I work at Willy's bar. You know where that is?"
He nodded so I continued. "Then you know what kind of... people... show up there. I hear things."
He slowly nodded. "I see. Well, if you hear something else, you know what to do."
He picked up his ax and placed it on his shoulder again before he turned around. "Until next time then."
I glared at his back and rubbed my jaw. Bloody wanker... save the earth and what do I get? A punch in the face?
By the good guys?
Sighing, I started to make my way back. At the very least, I still had a pocket full of money and a bag full of misc crap.
AN// Huge thanks to hpackrate for betaing this sectoid.
"Yes... Who is this?" A voice I recognized as his answered.
"You can call me Winter. I have information you need," I said and I could hear his frown through the phone.
"I-I am a school librarian... I am not quite sure what you are..."
I shook my head in annoyance. "Rupert Giles. A member of the Watchers Council and the current watcher assigned to the primary slayer. The information involves Ethan Rayne and the possible end of the world."
The other side of the phone was quiet for several moments before he answered. "What do you know?"
I smiled slightly. "More than I should. Less than I need. But in this case, Ethan Rayne is in Sunnydale. He has set up a costume shop and is going to cast a spell on Halloween to turn everyone that bought one of his costumes into the character in question. You can break the spell by breaking the bust of Janus he will use as the focus for the spell."
"That does sound like something he would do..." Giles said, mostly to himself, it seemed before he continued. "That would be bad, but it is not world ending..."
"Think, Mr Giles. Ethan Rayne is going to cast a chaos spell using the power of a god of change in the town on top of the hellmouth. There is NO way of knowing what kind of effects that will cause. It might cause the spell to be permanent. It might cause the spell to spread across the entire planet."
He was silent for another few moments before he answered again. "Who are you?"
"Irrelevant. My information is accurate. You have two days until Halloween. Good luck, Mr Giles... and pass a message to the Slayer."
"What is it?" Giles asked and I smiled slightly.
"Tell her... Thank you for keeping us safe." I hung up the phone and left the booth then started to make my way across town back to the motel with a small frown.
Two days until Halloween... The subject should be handled now when Ripper was on the case.
Entering my motel room, I pulled out my bag and checked the contents. Black ski-mask, black jacket, black pants, black boots, black gloves. Combat knife and crowbar.
Unless things have been handled before the night leading up to Halloween, I would be breaking in to destroy the focus.
I placed everything away again and got ready for work.
The next day I passed by Ethan's store, finding the door half open to I peaked inside. The inside was wrecked and it looked like there had been a major fight.
I slowly made my way inside, looking around carefully. When I was unable to find anyone, I headed into the back room
"Hello?" I asked as I searched the store. Other than some blood I didn't find anyone.
"Handled." I said with a grin before I walked to turn the closed sign and shut the door, locking it.
"Time to Ork out." I commented and went to the cash register first. The key was still in so I simply popped it open and pulled out a few hundred dollars in mixed bills. They went into my pocket then I made my way into the back room again to search the place.
A quick but thorough search revealed several magic books that were way over my head, a broken bust of Janus, and various crap laying around.
I walked back into the store and grabbed a bag before I started stuffing it with whatever I could quickly find that looked somewhat valuable.
Another quick look around then I left through the back door.
World was saved and I profited from it.
Then I rounded the corner and found myself face to face with Rupert Giles, resting a battleaxe on his shoulder. "Mr Winter, I assume?"
I froze for a second, my mind going a thousand kilometers a hour before I nodded. "I won't insult your intelligence by denying it."
He nodded. "I suspected you would show up here if I waited. Now, if you would be so kind to tell me where you got your information?"
"What I said was the truth, isn't that enough?" I asked and he shook his head.
"It involves the safety of my Slayer. I don't take chances with that," He said and I sighed.
"Very well. I am from another reality where this is all a TV show. That's how I knew what was going to happ..." And that was as far as I got before he slugged me on the jaw, knocking me on my ass. "What the hell!?"
He rested the battleaxe on the ground. "If you are quite done being a smart-arse, the truth if you will?"
I scowled at him and said, "I work at Willy's bar. You know where that is?"
He nodded so I continued. "Then you know what kind of... people... show up there. I hear things."
He slowly nodded. "I see. Well, if you hear something else, you know what to do."
He picked up his ax and placed it on his shoulder again before he turned around. "Until next time then."
I glared at his back and rubbed my jaw. Bloody wanker... save the earth and what do I get? A punch in the face?
By the good guys?
Sighing, I started to make my way back. At the very least, I still had a pocket full of money and a bag full of misc crap.
AN// Huge thanks to hpackrate for betaing this sectoid.
"Shotgun...check. Buckshot...check, 30 rounds. Combat knife, check, water pistol filled with holy water, check. Cross hanging from neck...check." and then I frowned "Is that a weapon or armor?" before I shook my head and continued to go through the inventory of my gear.
Getting a shotgun was anything but hard. Working at Willy's place has it's advantages. All it took was two hundred bucks and one of the vamps delivered one along with a box of ammo for me the next evening.
Granted, a double barrel sawed of shotgun might not be that effective against most demons who were armored. But at close range it should work against vampires, if only due to head shots. At that range the force would decapitate them.
Either way, I felt it was worth spending two hundred dollars out of the cash I had looted from Ethan's shop.
Living in Sunnydale was interesting, but it's like living in a combat zone. While I'm not exactly a combatant on either side, knowing exactly what my assets are, where they are and what condition they are in at all times can save your life. Or more importantly, mine. So going through it all before packing it into the backpack and heading to work with it is kind of something that you just do.
After all of it was packed I headed to work.
The next morning I was returning to the bar, yawning slightly. Sodding Willy sending me to get a shipment of blood bags at the hospital in the middle of the night. But then again, running out could be...bad. Sadly I had a flat on the way and was delayed. I pulled the crate from the back of his van and start to carry it into the closed bar when I heard talking inside.
Frowning I put the bag down and peaked inside only to see Buffy and another girl...Kendra...were pushing Willy around and then it hit me.
It's that time. Kendra's arrival, Angel's kidnapping...the order of Taraka. Willy was going to agree and take Buffy into a trap.
I rushed back to Willy's van and my back pack before pulling out my shotgun, returning to push the door open as the trio where about to leave.
"Sorry, Boss. Can't let you do that." I said, the shotgun aimed against the floor.
"Winter...what are you doing?" Willy asked, his eyes going wide as the slayers glanced at each other.
"Sorry girls, he are taking you to a trap. Order of Taraka most likely. He does however knows where Angel is."
Buffy grab his neck tighter and frowned at me "Who are you...and why are you doing this?"
I sighed slightly "Because I have no intention of getting eaten. Until now I have been able to stay neutral, but...sorry, Boss. Cant let you give the slayer to Spike. Tell us where they are."
He glared at me and I raised my eyebrow "Boss, I rather not harm you. You have paid me good money and have been fair to me....But allowing Drusilla to be raised can not be allowed. For one thing it would likely end up with me being eaten. So, how about you simply tell the nice slayers and I don't need to shoot your kneecaps of?"
He gave me a betrayed look before he sighed "Church on Redway street."
I sighed and then nodded as Kendra frowned "He speaking the truth. I can tell."
"Yeah. Me to." I said and sighed "I assume I can consider myself fired?" I asked and he just glared at me so I nodded "Yeah, I figured. Ladies, we better get going then..."
Buffy frowned and then knocked Willy out "And you think you are coming? We don't even know who you are!?"
I shook my head and turned to walk out, putting my shotgun back into his van "I'm the guy with the gun and the car. Get in the fucking car if you want to get there in time."
A moment later Buffy got into the passenger seat "Drive." and I looked at her.
"And the other slayer?" I asked and she shook her head.
"She are going to my watcher."
I nodded and hit the throttle.
"Seat belt." I commented and she frowned at me before putting the seat belt on.
It was a five minute drive and I slid the van to a stop outside of the church "What's the plan?" I asked as she removed her seat belt and opened the door.
"I go in, kick ass and get Angel back." she said and slammed the door closed again, causing me to let my head fall back against the headrest for a second.
"Oh for..." I mumbled and removed my own seat belt before grabbing my stake and water pistol, putting them into my pockets along with a handful of shells before I grabbed the shotgun and quickly followed her.
The first door was broken down and I could hear sounds of fighting inside.
As I entered the main chamber of the church there where two dust piles already and Buffy where fighting Spike across the area to the left. Watching a slayer fight, it was not like the show...it's more like a dance. A deadly, deadly dance. Like watching River Tam.
In front of the altar I saw Angel and Drusilla tied together, one of their hands pierced by a part of the Dulac cross.
I bit back a curse and I ran across the room, pulling my stake from my pocket and slammed it into Drusilla's back.
As she turned into dust as heard a scream behind me of "NOOO!" and I barely had time to turn to see Spike rush at me. I managed to shoot him in the shins with my shotgun but it was useless.
He screamed in rage and pain but he didn't stop from rushing at me. He slammed into me with all the gentleness of a enraged elephant.
The first hit knocked the breath from my lungs and broke my ribs. Again.
As he started choking me, screaming in rage his eyes suddenly went wide and he turned to dust, revealing Buffy standing above me with a part of a broken church bench in her hand.
I looked at her for a moment before she sprung into action to get Angel released as the rest of the gang and Kendra ran inside.
I only had a single thing to say and on my mind.
"Ow."
AN// Big thanks to Harish for betaing this section.
Getting a shotgun was anything but hard. Working at Willy's place has it's advantages. All it took was two hundred bucks and one of the vamps delivered one along with a box of ammo for me the next evening.
Granted, a double barrel sawed of shotgun might not be that effective against most demons who were armored. But at close range it should work against vampires, if only due to head shots. At that range the force would decapitate them.
Either way, I felt it was worth spending two hundred dollars out of the cash I had looted from Ethan's shop.
Living in Sunnydale was interesting, but it's like living in a combat zone. While I'm not exactly a combatant on either side, knowing exactly what my assets are, where they are and what condition they are in at all times can save your life. Or more importantly, mine. So going through it all before packing it into the backpack and heading to work with it is kind of something that you just do.
After all of it was packed I headed to work.
The next morning I was returning to the bar, yawning slightly. Sodding Willy sending me to get a shipment of blood bags at the hospital in the middle of the night. But then again, running out could be...bad. Sadly I had a flat on the way and was delayed. I pulled the crate from the back of his van and start to carry it into the closed bar when I heard talking inside.
Frowning I put the bag down and peaked inside only to see Buffy and another girl...Kendra...were pushing Willy around and then it hit me.
It's that time. Kendra's arrival, Angel's kidnapping...the order of Taraka. Willy was going to agree and take Buffy into a trap.
I rushed back to Willy's van and my back pack before pulling out my shotgun, returning to push the door open as the trio where about to leave.
"Sorry, Boss. Can't let you do that." I said, the shotgun aimed against the floor.
"Winter...what are you doing?" Willy asked, his eyes going wide as the slayers glanced at each other.
"Sorry girls, he are taking you to a trap. Order of Taraka most likely. He does however knows where Angel is."
Buffy grab his neck tighter and frowned at me "Who are you...and why are you doing this?"
I sighed slightly "Because I have no intention of getting eaten. Until now I have been able to stay neutral, but...sorry, Boss. Cant let you give the slayer to Spike. Tell us where they are."
He glared at me and I raised my eyebrow "Boss, I rather not harm you. You have paid me good money and have been fair to me....But allowing Drusilla to be raised can not be allowed. For one thing it would likely end up with me being eaten. So, how about you simply tell the nice slayers and I don't need to shoot your kneecaps of?"
He gave me a betrayed look before he sighed "Church on Redway street."
I sighed and then nodded as Kendra frowned "He speaking the truth. I can tell."
"Yeah. Me to." I said and sighed "I assume I can consider myself fired?" I asked and he just glared at me so I nodded "Yeah, I figured. Ladies, we better get going then..."
Buffy frowned and then knocked Willy out "And you think you are coming? We don't even know who you are!?"
I shook my head and turned to walk out, putting my shotgun back into his van "I'm the guy with the gun and the car. Get in the fucking car if you want to get there in time."
A moment later Buffy got into the passenger seat "Drive." and I looked at her.
"And the other slayer?" I asked and she shook her head.
"She are going to my watcher."
I nodded and hit the throttle.
"Seat belt." I commented and she frowned at me before putting the seat belt on.
It was a five minute drive and I slid the van to a stop outside of the church "What's the plan?" I asked as she removed her seat belt and opened the door.
"I go in, kick ass and get Angel back." she said and slammed the door closed again, causing me to let my head fall back against the headrest for a second.
"Oh for..." I mumbled and removed my own seat belt before grabbing my stake and water pistol, putting them into my pockets along with a handful of shells before I grabbed the shotgun and quickly followed her.
The first door was broken down and I could hear sounds of fighting inside.
As I entered the main chamber of the church there where two dust piles already and Buffy where fighting Spike across the area to the left. Watching a slayer fight, it was not like the show...it's more like a dance. A deadly, deadly dance. Like watching River Tam.
In front of the altar I saw Angel and Drusilla tied together, one of their hands pierced by a part of the Dulac cross.
I bit back a curse and I ran across the room, pulling my stake from my pocket and slammed it into Drusilla's back.
As she turned into dust as heard a scream behind me of "NOOO!" and I barely had time to turn to see Spike rush at me. I managed to shoot him in the shins with my shotgun but it was useless.
He screamed in rage and pain but he didn't stop from rushing at me. He slammed into me with all the gentleness of a enraged elephant.
The first hit knocked the breath from my lungs and broke my ribs. Again.
As he started choking me, screaming in rage his eyes suddenly went wide and he turned to dust, revealing Buffy standing above me with a part of a broken church bench in her hand.
I looked at her for a moment before she sprung into action to get Angel released as the rest of the gang and Kendra ran inside.
I only had a single thing to say and on my mind.
"Ow."
AN// Big thanks to Harish for betaing this section.
"Actually...what I told you before was the truth, Mr Giles. Some of it at least." I said as I swallowed a pair of painkillers I had saved up in my bag with a glass of water, while sitting on Giles couch and the rest of the gang spread around the room.
Giles frowned and sat down on his chair. "Which part?"
I grimaced. "A bit of this and a bit of that...I really am from another reality. I honestly don't know how I ended up here. Maybe I fell through a rift or something...either way, I woke up at the Sunnydale hospital. I had no idea how I got there, last I knew I was home in Sweden."
Giles tapped the arm of his chair. "And what make you think you really are in another reality?"
Sighing I prodded my ribs. According to Giles they were cracked, not actually broken. Turns out the shotgun blast actually slowed Spike down, or they would be shattered instead. Makes sense Watchers would have at least some medical training. "Well, the demons and undead leeches kind of tipped me off. I was lucky to survive long enough to figure things out. Nothing like that exist in my world...no magic either."
Xander grinned. "Or you simply didn't notice before. Most people never do..."
I raised my eyebrow. "Also, there is the small fact that in my world the year was 2013 and parts of history of this world don't match. For example the US in my time had a different president at this time."
Buffy crossed her arms. "Let's say you are telling the truth. You find out about vampires and demons...so you took a job serving them drinks them in Willy's bar!?"
I shrugged, something that immediately made me groan in pain. "No ID...no cash. I needed a job that didn't require one so I could get off the street. Sleeping outside in Sunnydale didn't seem like a brilliant idea once I figured out what kind of place it was. Besides, they were unlikely to eat the one serving them food and drinks. After all...Willy is still alive."
Giles slowly nodded. "That do makes some degree of sense, if a bit morally ambiguous" and I gave him a look.
"And what would you have done in my situation?"
"What's your name, anyway?" Willow asked.
"Call me Winter. My world might not have magic that I know of, but I do know that in the legends Names got power. Now when I know magic is actually real, I'm not telling anyone my real name."
They glanced at Giles who frowned but nodded finally. "Names do have power, but you need more than a name to put a spell or curse on someone."
I shrugged again and winced as a twitch of pain from my ribs went through me again. "Well, not taking any chances. I'm still learning the stuff."
Kendra frowned. "You are learning the magics?" and I snorted.
"Yes. I'm a human living in Sunnydale, I need every edge I can get just to survive. Best I can do yet is to roll a pencil across a table though. I'm not exactly at the 'throw fireballs' stage."
Giles shook his head, an unhappy look on his face. "I would warn you away from magic. It is dangerous. Corruptive as well if you are unwary."
I nodded. "I know. The book mentioned this. Which is why I am staying away from external magic to minimize the risk."
The Watcher looked at me for a moment in silence, before nodding. "I wish to review this book of yours."
I nodded "Very well. But I want it back. It was kind of expensive..." before I groaned. "Speaking of money...any ideas where I can get a new job? I am pretty sure I am fired."
Giles stood up "We can deal with that later. Now I think we all require a bit of rest. You can have the couch." he said and I hesitated before accepting.
"Thanks. I'd rather not...you know...move. At all." I said before pulling my bag closer with one hand, digging through it before tossing my book over to him "And here is the book for your reviewing pleasure. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to pass out now."
The next day I and Giles were back in his living room. "First of all, I talked with the council. They approved to hiring you as a freelancing demon hunter....if you agree" he said, and I just stared at him.
"And why would I possibly want to fight demons!?" I asked and he smiled slightly.
"A paycheck for one thing. A fake ID for another" he answered and tossed the book back to me. "This is a good book."
I frowned. "You trust me enough to have me watch the Slayers back? Just like that?" and he snorted.
"Oh bloody hell no. But this way I have another sword on our side here. And I'll know where I have you."
I looked at him for a moment before I nodded in acceptance. "Fair enough. I do got a couple of questions though..." I said and Giles nodded so I continued. "Does drinking holy water help? Are guns effective?"
He leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "Drinking holy water has been tried in the past, to no effect. Bathing in it has limited effect for a couple of hours after, however. For guns to be effective they need to be of a rather large caliber, similar to that shotgun of yours. Even then, only headshots take out vampires."
I slowly nodded. "Well, that was a waste of time drinking all that water then...So what about different forms of ammunition? Silver bullets and such?"
Giles shook his head again. "The council has had continuous research projects on the subject since muskets were invented. Silver is a bad material for bullets in any case, it fractures too easily. There is also the problem with law enforcement...even in a town like Sunnydale, gunshots in the night tend to attract attention. Especially when using the caliber required to have any real effect on vampires or demons."
Sighing I leaned back in the couch. "I see...and the alternative is going hand to hand with a being that is at the very least four times my strength and three times my speed?"
He sighed as well. "There is no real easy fix. There is Buffy...and there are force multipliers like holy water. We are not helpless, we can fight. If we couldn't, we would not be alive still. But it is an uphill battle."
I turned the book over in my hands. "And magic. If I take this job, what kind of training can I expect? I am not exactly a marine."
Giles nodded. "You do require training to be of real use, and you will get it. Same as a watcher trained in the field."
I put the book away in my bag before struggling onto my feet. My ribs reminded me they were still hurt. "I'll think about it" and then I started to head towards the door, before stopping at the threshold. "And...thanks."
He frowned and stood up "For what?" and I smiled slightly.
"For the chance...and for not dismissing my story out of hand" before I turned to walk out. "You will have my answer in a couple of days."
AN// Massive thanks to Saksak for betaing this one. And some people say i always stick to canon in my stories
Giles frowned and sat down on his chair. "Which part?"
I grimaced. "A bit of this and a bit of that...I really am from another reality. I honestly don't know how I ended up here. Maybe I fell through a rift or something...either way, I woke up at the Sunnydale hospital. I had no idea how I got there, last I knew I was home in Sweden."
Giles tapped the arm of his chair. "And what make you think you really are in another reality?"
Sighing I prodded my ribs. According to Giles they were cracked, not actually broken. Turns out the shotgun blast actually slowed Spike down, or they would be shattered instead. Makes sense Watchers would have at least some medical training. "Well, the demons and undead leeches kind of tipped me off. I was lucky to survive long enough to figure things out. Nothing like that exist in my world...no magic either."
Xander grinned. "Or you simply didn't notice before. Most people never do..."
I raised my eyebrow. "Also, there is the small fact that in my world the year was 2013 and parts of history of this world don't match. For example the US in my time had a different president at this time."
Buffy crossed her arms. "Let's say you are telling the truth. You find out about vampires and demons...so you took a job serving them drinks them in Willy's bar!?"
I shrugged, something that immediately made me groan in pain. "No ID...no cash. I needed a job that didn't require one so I could get off the street. Sleeping outside in Sunnydale didn't seem like a brilliant idea once I figured out what kind of place it was. Besides, they were unlikely to eat the one serving them food and drinks. After all...Willy is still alive."
Giles slowly nodded. "That do makes some degree of sense, if a bit morally ambiguous" and I gave him a look.
"And what would you have done in my situation?"
"What's your name, anyway?" Willow asked.
"Call me Winter. My world might not have magic that I know of, but I do know that in the legends Names got power. Now when I know magic is actually real, I'm not telling anyone my real name."
They glanced at Giles who frowned but nodded finally. "Names do have power, but you need more than a name to put a spell or curse on someone."
I shrugged again and winced as a twitch of pain from my ribs went through me again. "Well, not taking any chances. I'm still learning the stuff."
Kendra frowned. "You are learning the magics?" and I snorted.
"Yes. I'm a human living in Sunnydale, I need every edge I can get just to survive. Best I can do yet is to roll a pencil across a table though. I'm not exactly at the 'throw fireballs' stage."
Giles shook his head, an unhappy look on his face. "I would warn you away from magic. It is dangerous. Corruptive as well if you are unwary."
I nodded. "I know. The book mentioned this. Which is why I am staying away from external magic to minimize the risk."
The Watcher looked at me for a moment in silence, before nodding. "I wish to review this book of yours."
I nodded "Very well. But I want it back. It was kind of expensive..." before I groaned. "Speaking of money...any ideas where I can get a new job? I am pretty sure I am fired."
Giles stood up "We can deal with that later. Now I think we all require a bit of rest. You can have the couch." he said and I hesitated before accepting.
"Thanks. I'd rather not...you know...move. At all." I said before pulling my bag closer with one hand, digging through it before tossing my book over to him "And here is the book for your reviewing pleasure. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to pass out now."
The next day I and Giles were back in his living room. "First of all, I talked with the council. They approved to hiring you as a freelancing demon hunter....if you agree" he said, and I just stared at him.
"And why would I possibly want to fight demons!?" I asked and he smiled slightly.
"A paycheck for one thing. A fake ID for another" he answered and tossed the book back to me. "This is a good book."
I frowned. "You trust me enough to have me watch the Slayers back? Just like that?" and he snorted.
"Oh bloody hell no. But this way I have another sword on our side here. And I'll know where I have you."
I looked at him for a moment before I nodded in acceptance. "Fair enough. I do got a couple of questions though..." I said and Giles nodded so I continued. "Does drinking holy water help? Are guns effective?"
He leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "Drinking holy water has been tried in the past, to no effect. Bathing in it has limited effect for a couple of hours after, however. For guns to be effective they need to be of a rather large caliber, similar to that shotgun of yours. Even then, only headshots take out vampires."
I slowly nodded. "Well, that was a waste of time drinking all that water then...So what about different forms of ammunition? Silver bullets and such?"
Giles shook his head again. "The council has had continuous research projects on the subject since muskets were invented. Silver is a bad material for bullets in any case, it fractures too easily. There is also the problem with law enforcement...even in a town like Sunnydale, gunshots in the night tend to attract attention. Especially when using the caliber required to have any real effect on vampires or demons."
Sighing I leaned back in the couch. "I see...and the alternative is going hand to hand with a being that is at the very least four times my strength and three times my speed?"
He sighed as well. "There is no real easy fix. There is Buffy...and there are force multipliers like holy water. We are not helpless, we can fight. If we couldn't, we would not be alive still. But it is an uphill battle."
I turned the book over in my hands. "And magic. If I take this job, what kind of training can I expect? I am not exactly a marine."
Giles nodded. "You do require training to be of real use, and you will get it. Same as a watcher trained in the field."
I put the book away in my bag before struggling onto my feet. My ribs reminded me they were still hurt. "I'll think about it" and then I started to head towards the door, before stopping at the threshold. "And...thanks."
He frowned and stood up "For what?" and I smiled slightly.
"For the chance...and for not dismissing my story out of hand" before I turned to walk out. "You will have my answer in a couple of days."
AN// Massive thanks to Saksak for betaing this one. And some people say i always stick to canon in my stories
"Well, well. Appears we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us?" I asked Buffy as we arrived, just as three vampires cornered a girl in an alley.
She gave me a strange look, "Not too late?" before running to her rescue as the vampires turned to meet her.
I sighed and raised my crossbow "I miss my own time." I pulled the trigger, aiming at the heart of one of them...and completely missed, hitting him straight in the face instead. He dropped like somebody cut his strings.
I dropped the crossbow onto its sling and pulled my water pistol, quickly following Buffy in. As she engaged the undead, I sprayed them with holy water. Thirty seconds later they were dust in the wind.
I walked over to the downed vampire and prodded it with my foot. "What do you know...my hypothesis was correct. They do need their central neural system to function."
"Will you just stake it already?" Buffy asked as she joined me and I shook my head.
"This is an opportunity for science. Mind standing guard for a moment?" I asked and pulled out my notepad and a pencil.
She rolled her eyes and looked around, as I drew a cross on the paper and pressed it against the bare arm of the vampire. It formed a nice burn at the spot so I continued drawing and testing all holy symbols I could think of.
The 'real' ones worked, but the fictional ones didn't. Even the hammer of Thor caused burns. But a normal hammer...didn't. Neither did the Admech seal...but that might have been my abysmal drawing skills.
In the end I sighed and started going through its pockets, ending up with about a hundred bucks and a rather nice watch.
"Experiment two..." I said and pulled my combat knife, the blade and handle of which had crucifixes etched into them and washed with holy water.
I then slammed it into the heart of the vampire. It jerked and twitched, but no dusting.
"Well...damn. Bet that hurt like a bitch though." I continued before I replaced the knife with a stake, making it turn instantly into dust. I stood up and counted out the money, handing Buffy half. "Your share."
She stared at me and the money before frowning "You robbed it?" and I shrugged.
"Technically, I think destroying money is a federal crime so...I followed the law? The money on a vampire goes dust with them. Not saying the watchers pay me badly, just that I earned about 10% more working at Willy's bar." Since she wasn't taking it, I pushed her half of the money into her hand. "Besides, you are killing them anyway. Nothing says you can't make money off of it, sacred duty or not."
She frowned "Just...feels wrong." But she did put the money into her pocket.
I shrugged. "If you are worried about it being blood money, think about the pair of shoes it can get you."
She groaned at my joke and we started to make our way from the site.
As we got closer to her house I frowned slightly, deep in thought. "Mind if I ask a question?" and she glanced at me before nodding.
"Go for it."
"How does your mom handle the slaying? She must be worried sick every time you go out..."
She shook her head. "She don't know" she said, as I had predicted, and I stopped.
"She...doesn't know?" I said in a disbelieving tone. "She doesn't know you are a Slayer...and she doesn't know about the nightlife?"
Buffy nodded. "Yes and I want to keep it like that. She isn't involved."
"Isn't invol...Slayer, do you have a life insurance you are looking to collect on or something? What the hell!?" I said as I caught up with her.
She shook her head. "She doesn't need to know. I can keep her safe."
"The bloody hell you can! She lives in Sunnydale. She is wandering around in ignorance and invites people in after dark. In this case, what she doesn't know can definitely hurt her!" I said and grabbed her arm to make her look at me.
"Let me go!" she said, and brushed me off without trouble. "She is not to be involved!"
"The fuck she isn't! She is the mother of a Slayer. Any monster with half a brain would realize what would happen if they grabbed her." I continued and she shook her head.
"They wouldn't dare."
I sighed. "Buffy...you really think that would have stopped someone like Spike? Someone worse than him? They would take her, torture her, and maybe turn her...just to hurt you. Just to make you see red and lose your ability to think. And then you both would die and you wouldn't be alone, you would drag your friends along with you."
She glared at me and I sighed. "I'm sorry Buffy. But she really needs to know...I don't know what Giles is thinking, not having informed her already. I need to discuss that with him....but if you don't tell her, I will."
"The hell you will!" she said and was suddenly in my face.
I stared down at her and shook my head. "I will not risk the security of the sodding world just so you can avoid some in family conflict, slayer. If she dies because she doesn't know what is real, you'll likely break down. If you break down, many, many people will die...and perhaps the world, if it is at the wrong time. But I will discuss the matter with the Boss first."
She gave me another glare. "Stay away from her!" and then she stalked off.
I sighed and shook my head before walking away, making my way towards Giles house. I had a bone to pick with him.
AN// Big thanks to SakSak for betaing this section.
She gave me a strange look, "Not too late?" before running to her rescue as the vampires turned to meet her.
I sighed and raised my crossbow "I miss my own time." I pulled the trigger, aiming at the heart of one of them...and completely missed, hitting him straight in the face instead. He dropped like somebody cut his strings.
I dropped the crossbow onto its sling and pulled my water pistol, quickly following Buffy in. As she engaged the undead, I sprayed them with holy water. Thirty seconds later they were dust in the wind.
I walked over to the downed vampire and prodded it with my foot. "What do you know...my hypothesis was correct. They do need their central neural system to function."
"Will you just stake it already?" Buffy asked as she joined me and I shook my head.
"This is an opportunity for science. Mind standing guard for a moment?" I asked and pulled out my notepad and a pencil.
She rolled her eyes and looked around, as I drew a cross on the paper and pressed it against the bare arm of the vampire. It formed a nice burn at the spot so I continued drawing and testing all holy symbols I could think of.
The 'real' ones worked, but the fictional ones didn't. Even the hammer of Thor caused burns. But a normal hammer...didn't. Neither did the Admech seal...but that might have been my abysmal drawing skills.
In the end I sighed and started going through its pockets, ending up with about a hundred bucks and a rather nice watch.
"Experiment two..." I said and pulled my combat knife, the blade and handle of which had crucifixes etched into them and washed with holy water.
I then slammed it into the heart of the vampire. It jerked and twitched, but no dusting.
"Well...damn. Bet that hurt like a bitch though." I continued before I replaced the knife with a stake, making it turn instantly into dust. I stood up and counted out the money, handing Buffy half. "Your share."
She stared at me and the money before frowning "You robbed it?" and I shrugged.
"Technically, I think destroying money is a federal crime so...I followed the law? The money on a vampire goes dust with them. Not saying the watchers pay me badly, just that I earned about 10% more working at Willy's bar." Since she wasn't taking it, I pushed her half of the money into her hand. "Besides, you are killing them anyway. Nothing says you can't make money off of it, sacred duty or not."
She frowned "Just...feels wrong." But she did put the money into her pocket.
I shrugged. "If you are worried about it being blood money, think about the pair of shoes it can get you."
She groaned at my joke and we started to make our way from the site.
As we got closer to her house I frowned slightly, deep in thought. "Mind if I ask a question?" and she glanced at me before nodding.
"Go for it."
"How does your mom handle the slaying? She must be worried sick every time you go out..."
She shook her head. "She don't know" she said, as I had predicted, and I stopped.
"She...doesn't know?" I said in a disbelieving tone. "She doesn't know you are a Slayer...and she doesn't know about the nightlife?"
Buffy nodded. "Yes and I want to keep it like that. She isn't involved."
"Isn't invol...Slayer, do you have a life insurance you are looking to collect on or something? What the hell!?" I said as I caught up with her.
She shook her head. "She doesn't need to know. I can keep her safe."
"The bloody hell you can! She lives in Sunnydale. She is wandering around in ignorance and invites people in after dark. In this case, what she doesn't know can definitely hurt her!" I said and grabbed her arm to make her look at me.
"Let me go!" she said, and brushed me off without trouble. "She is not to be involved!"
"The fuck she isn't! She is the mother of a Slayer. Any monster with half a brain would realize what would happen if they grabbed her." I continued and she shook her head.
"They wouldn't dare."
I sighed. "Buffy...you really think that would have stopped someone like Spike? Someone worse than him? They would take her, torture her, and maybe turn her...just to hurt you. Just to make you see red and lose your ability to think. And then you both would die and you wouldn't be alone, you would drag your friends along with you."
She glared at me and I sighed. "I'm sorry Buffy. But she really needs to know...I don't know what Giles is thinking, not having informed her already. I need to discuss that with him....but if you don't tell her, I will."
"The hell you will!" she said and was suddenly in my face.
I stared down at her and shook my head. "I will not risk the security of the sodding world just so you can avoid some in family conflict, slayer. If she dies because she doesn't know what is real, you'll likely break down. If you break down, many, many people will die...and perhaps the world, if it is at the wrong time. But I will discuss the matter with the Boss first."
She gave me another glare. "Stay away from her!" and then she stalked off.
I sighed and shook my head before walking away, making my way towards Giles house. I had a bone to pick with him.
AN// Big thanks to SakSak for betaing this section.
"Son of a!" I started as I clutched my hand and landed on the floor. "Bloody Hell, Watcher. This is not training, this is an excuse to hit me with a stick!"
He gave me an amused look and smiled, "Not at all. This is a very good way to learn how to use a sword in a hurry. Something you need."
I rolled my eyes and got back onto my feet. "And it has nothing to do with me talking you into disclosure when it comes to Mrs Summers?"
It took several hours to bring him around, but in the end I managed to get him to see that while it was possible the entire thing would blow up in our faces, it would at the very least happen at the time of our choosing, not when it risked the entire world.
The Watchers have a policy to keep the parents of the slayer out of it, if at all possible, which is why they usually take in potentials early if they can find them.
But in this case, disclosure is kind of needed.
He grinned and put the wooden swords away "Not at all. You being required to be present at that meeting, that's the revenge."
I grimaced and rubbed my wrist before I sighed, "Well, if you are done hitting me with sticks, I need to go discuss magic with Miss Calendar. Curses, more specifically."
Giles frowned. "Curses are always at the very least dark grey if not black magic," he said, and I nodded.
"Oh, no worries, I have no intention of using them. Hell, I don't even know if I could, I'm barely at the 'Fire from ice' stage of magic. Simple transmutation stuff. Besides...it's almost all external magic stuff, which I won't touch," I said and leaned against the table in the library. "No...I was reading up on them last night and something hit me. All curses have a break condition...they have to or they don't stick."
He nodded. "Yes, that's correct, it's a law of magic. Was there something specific you were thinking about?"
I tapped my finger on the table and nodded "Yes. Angel was cursed with a soul by gypsies, right? Meaning that there is a way for his curse to be broken."
Giles frowned and nodded. "Yes...Angel loosing his soul and letting out Angelus would be...Bad beyond belief."
"Yeah...that was what I was thinking. I flipped through the information I could find about him in the library and Angelus was one sick puppy, even for a vampire. Even worse, he was smart, competent. Which is why we need to find out how his curse can be broken so we can prevent it if possible...if not find out what the curse was so we can shove it back in if not. Which is why I plan to take it up with the resident magical expert, techno-pagan or not."
He nodded "I-I think you might be right. This should actually be researched at depth...Perhaps I can find something in the books," he said, and then he turned to wander deeper into the library.
"Have fun," I said and turned to walk out in search for the undercover gypsie.
"Miss Calendar?" I asked as I poked my head into the computer lap before I walked inside, looking around.
Ugh, 1995 age computer tech. Raised button keyboards, CRT monitors...16MB RAM...Ball mice. Fuck this shit is primitive.
She wasn't there but her computer was on so she was likely to return soon, so I sat down and booted up one of the other ones to surf the net while I waited.
After ten minutes of frustration at the speed I simply shut it down again with a sigh. I hate the past.
Luckily she arrived just a couple of minutes later. "Miss Calendar..." I said before I continued, "We need to talk about Angel and his curse."
She froze and her smile went away slowly. "What do you know?" she asked and I blinked, trying to hide my 'surprise'.
"Well...He was cursed by Gypsies around a hundred years ago for killing one of their girls. That's the entire problem actually, the curse. Curses can be broken."
"Oh god..." she said "Don't tell me..."
I shook my head "No. It hasn't, but as you are the resident expert in the subject I thought I would ask you what could make it happen. If his curse breaks...Well, the phrase "Minor Apocalypse" comes to mind. We also need to find a way to shove it back in if it does happen."
She narrowed her eyes and then she sighed and nodded "Well, I guess it couldn't last forever. Does Giles know?"
"He is doing research into the matter right now." I said and got up "Shall we go and talk to him?" I asked, and she nodded. "We...we might as well get it over with," she said, and then turned to walk out, so I followed her, feeling a bit pleased with myself.
With some luck this should prevent Angelus showing up. Without revealing any future knowledge.
AN// Big thanks to Ckirk for betaing this section.
He gave me an amused look and smiled, "Not at all. This is a very good way to learn how to use a sword in a hurry. Something you need."
I rolled my eyes and got back onto my feet. "And it has nothing to do with me talking you into disclosure when it comes to Mrs Summers?"
It took several hours to bring him around, but in the end I managed to get him to see that while it was possible the entire thing would blow up in our faces, it would at the very least happen at the time of our choosing, not when it risked the entire world.
The Watchers have a policy to keep the parents of the slayer out of it, if at all possible, which is why they usually take in potentials early if they can find them.
But in this case, disclosure is kind of needed.
He grinned and put the wooden swords away "Not at all. You being required to be present at that meeting, that's the revenge."
I grimaced and rubbed my wrist before I sighed, "Well, if you are done hitting me with sticks, I need to go discuss magic with Miss Calendar. Curses, more specifically."
Giles frowned. "Curses are always at the very least dark grey if not black magic," he said, and I nodded.
"Oh, no worries, I have no intention of using them. Hell, I don't even know if I could, I'm barely at the 'Fire from ice' stage of magic. Simple transmutation stuff. Besides...it's almost all external magic stuff, which I won't touch," I said and leaned against the table in the library. "No...I was reading up on them last night and something hit me. All curses have a break condition...they have to or they don't stick."
He nodded. "Yes, that's correct, it's a law of magic. Was there something specific you were thinking about?"
I tapped my finger on the table and nodded "Yes. Angel was cursed with a soul by gypsies, right? Meaning that there is a way for his curse to be broken."
Giles frowned and nodded. "Yes...Angel loosing his soul and letting out Angelus would be...Bad beyond belief."
"Yeah...that was what I was thinking. I flipped through the information I could find about him in the library and Angelus was one sick puppy, even for a vampire. Even worse, he was smart, competent. Which is why we need to find out how his curse can be broken so we can prevent it if possible...if not find out what the curse was so we can shove it back in if not. Which is why I plan to take it up with the resident magical expert, techno-pagan or not."
He nodded "I-I think you might be right. This should actually be researched at depth...Perhaps I can find something in the books," he said, and then he turned to wander deeper into the library.
"Have fun," I said and turned to walk out in search for the undercover gypsie.
"Miss Calendar?" I asked as I poked my head into the computer lap before I walked inside, looking around.
Ugh, 1995 age computer tech. Raised button keyboards, CRT monitors...16MB RAM...Ball mice. Fuck this shit is primitive.
She wasn't there but her computer was on so she was likely to return soon, so I sat down and booted up one of the other ones to surf the net while I waited.
After ten minutes of frustration at the speed I simply shut it down again with a sigh. I hate the past.
Luckily she arrived just a couple of minutes later. "Miss Calendar..." I said before I continued, "We need to talk about Angel and his curse."
She froze and her smile went away slowly. "What do you know?" she asked and I blinked, trying to hide my 'surprise'.
"Well...He was cursed by Gypsies around a hundred years ago for killing one of their girls. That's the entire problem actually, the curse. Curses can be broken."
"Oh god..." she said "Don't tell me..."
I shook my head "No. It hasn't, but as you are the resident expert in the subject I thought I would ask you what could make it happen. If his curse breaks...Well, the phrase "Minor Apocalypse" comes to mind. We also need to find a way to shove it back in if it does happen."
She narrowed her eyes and then she sighed and nodded "Well, I guess it couldn't last forever. Does Giles know?"
"He is doing research into the matter right now." I said and got up "Shall we go and talk to him?" I asked, and she nodded. "We...we might as well get it over with," she said, and then turned to walk out, so I followed her, feeling a bit pleased with myself.
With some luck this should prevent Angelus showing up. Without revealing any future knowledge.
AN// Big thanks to Ckirk for betaing this section.
10
I grimaced and adjusted my new leather trench coat as Giles and I waited for the door to the Summers home to open. Honestly, I quite disliked the damn thing. Not only because it made me look like a walking cliché, but it's also heavy and warm...but sadly the pros outweigh the cons in this case.
For one thing it's leather which is a rather good material. To quote Harry Dresden: There is a reason the cows use it. The thing is bite and claw resistant.
Another reason is that with only minor modifications you can hide a ridiculous amount of weapons under it.
Also, it keeps the biker armor I wear under it during patrol from showing. And I frankly had enough of having my ribs broken.
Slayers get away with no armor, they are quite silly good at absorbing blunt force hits and to agile to get hit much. Bog standard humans...not so much. While wearing the damn thing slows me down, I simply wasn't fast enough without it to make it worth skipping.
I need to be able to absorb those that will hit me either way.
Hence, me walking around in Californian heat looking like a escapee from a Blade movie. I even needed to wear the thing during the day to get used to the damn weight. Being me sucks.
"Mrs Summers." Giles greeted when she opened the door "Do you got a moment? We need to talk..."
She smiled and nodded "Of course, Mr Giles. Come in." and stepped back to let us inside.
I gave her a nod "Hello Mrs Summers. My name is Winter, I work for Mr Giles." and she nodded
"Hello..." she said looking slightly confused "You work at the school to?"
I shook my head "Not...exactly. It's part of what need to be discussed." Giles nodded
"Indeed. Is Buffy home? It involves her."
Mrs Summers nodded and then walked to the stairs, calling Buffy down.
When Buffy arrived she took one look at us and then swallowed "Mom...can I talk to them alone for a moment?" she asked and Mrs Summers frowned before she nodded.
"Sure...but I want to know what's going on later." she said and walked into the kitchen as Buffy walked down the stairs.
"Giles...Please don't." she said, giving him a pleading look and he shook his head.
"I'm sorry Buffy, but Winter was right. What she doesn't know, can in this case hurt her." Giles said and she sighed, looking down.
"C-can it wait?" she asked and he shook his head.
"A couple of days wont make it easier, Buffy. The faster she knows what she needs to be safe..." he said and she nodded.
"Fine. But if she want to toss me into the crazyhouse again, I blame you!" and poked me in the chest hard enough to leave a bruise through my armor before she turned and stalked into the kitchen to get her mother.
I rubbed my chest and hoped I never got her actually mad at me before I glanced at Giles who turned and walked into the living room so I followed.
Soon we where all gathered, Mrs Summers looking worried "Ok, What's going on?"
Buffy looked more than a bit nervous and Giles slowly nodded before going into his 'One girl in the entire world' speech.
Mrs Summers sat silent but she clearly wasn't buying it. By the end she shook her head, looking a bit pissed "Mr Giles. I would thank you for not feeding my daughters delusions! You and whatever your name are, get out now before I call the police."
Buffy shook her head and touched her mothers arm "Mom...It's all true."
Her mother shook her head "Buffy. There is no such thing as Vampires! I thought we where through with this!" and turned to Giles and me "It's all your fault! You have star..." she started and while it's a good idea to let her rant to get it over with, letting her work herself into hysterics wouldn't actually help.
"Mrs Summers, Look at this logically. If we where just feeding your daughter's 'delusions' would we actually tell you without actual proof? We can prove everything we are saying."
She glared at me and then glanced at Buffy who nodded.
Mrs Summers hesitated for a moment before she crossed her arms and sat back down "If you can't convince me, I'm calling the police."
I nodded "That is more than fair, Mrs Summers. One moment." I said and walked out to Giles car to get one of the props, a half inch thick steel bar, half a meter long.
When I returned I handed it to Buffy "Pass this to your mother, please." and she did so.
"Mrs Summers, please confirm it is what it seem to be. That thing is made from solid high grade steel."
She frowned and tried it "It...looks real." so I nodded.
"Please, hand it to your daughter." and when she did so I smiled slightly "Buffy...do your thing."
Buffy smiled slightly and then bent it in half with a groan of twisting metal.
Her mother looked on with wide eyes "It's a trick of some kind..."
Buffy smiled slightly and then bent the bar into a pretzel while her mother looked on with wide eyes "That has to be some kind of trick..."
Buffy shook her head "No trick, Mom." and handed it back "It's real."
I leaned back against the couch "We all might be wishing it's not, but it is. Monsters are real. Vampires are real. Magic is real. Every single thing that goes bump in the night is out there and they want nothing more than to eat you. Your daughter is the one who bumps back."
Mrs Summers pulled at the steel bar and then dropped it on the floor "It cant be real."
I sighed and used a minor illusion...well, the strongest glamor I have been able to do so far to make my eyes glow blue as I slowly floated the twisted steel bar back onto the table, causing Mrs Summers to gasp as I tried not to show exactly how much it actually drained me to do so.
"It is all true, Mrs Summers." I said "But perhaps some more physical proof is required. How about we go and find a vampire?"
AN// Big thanks to Seonor for betaing this part
For one thing it's leather which is a rather good material. To quote Harry Dresden: There is a reason the cows use it. The thing is bite and claw resistant.
Another reason is that with only minor modifications you can hide a ridiculous amount of weapons under it.
Also, it keeps the biker armor I wear under it during patrol from showing. And I frankly had enough of having my ribs broken.
Slayers get away with no armor, they are quite silly good at absorbing blunt force hits and to agile to get hit much. Bog standard humans...not so much. While wearing the damn thing slows me down, I simply wasn't fast enough without it to make it worth skipping.
I need to be able to absorb those that will hit me either way.
Hence, me walking around in Californian heat looking like a escapee from a Blade movie. I even needed to wear the thing during the day to get used to the damn weight. Being me sucks.
"Mrs Summers." Giles greeted when she opened the door "Do you got a moment? We need to talk..."
She smiled and nodded "Of course, Mr Giles. Come in." and stepped back to let us inside.
I gave her a nod "Hello Mrs Summers. My name is Winter, I work for Mr Giles." and she nodded
"Hello..." she said looking slightly confused "You work at the school to?"
I shook my head "Not...exactly. It's part of what need to be discussed." Giles nodded
"Indeed. Is Buffy home? It involves her."
Mrs Summers nodded and then walked to the stairs, calling Buffy down.
When Buffy arrived she took one look at us and then swallowed "Mom...can I talk to them alone for a moment?" she asked and Mrs Summers frowned before she nodded.
"Sure...but I want to know what's going on later." she said and walked into the kitchen as Buffy walked down the stairs.
"Giles...Please don't." she said, giving him a pleading look and he shook his head.
"I'm sorry Buffy, but Winter was right. What she doesn't know, can in this case hurt her." Giles said and she sighed, looking down.
"C-can it wait?" she asked and he shook his head.
"A couple of days wont make it easier, Buffy. The faster she knows what she needs to be safe..." he said and she nodded.
"Fine. But if she want to toss me into the crazyhouse again, I blame you!" and poked me in the chest hard enough to leave a bruise through my armor before she turned and stalked into the kitchen to get her mother.
I rubbed my chest and hoped I never got her actually mad at me before I glanced at Giles who turned and walked into the living room so I followed.
Soon we where all gathered, Mrs Summers looking worried "Ok, What's going on?"
Buffy looked more than a bit nervous and Giles slowly nodded before going into his 'One girl in the entire world' speech.
Mrs Summers sat silent but she clearly wasn't buying it. By the end she shook her head, looking a bit pissed "Mr Giles. I would thank you for not feeding my daughters delusions! You and whatever your name are, get out now before I call the police."
Buffy shook her head and touched her mothers arm "Mom...It's all true."
Her mother shook her head "Buffy. There is no such thing as Vampires! I thought we where through with this!" and turned to Giles and me "It's all your fault! You have star..." she started and while it's a good idea to let her rant to get it over with, letting her work herself into hysterics wouldn't actually help.
"Mrs Summers, Look at this logically. If we where just feeding your daughter's 'delusions' would we actually tell you without actual proof? We can prove everything we are saying."
She glared at me and then glanced at Buffy who nodded.
Mrs Summers hesitated for a moment before she crossed her arms and sat back down "If you can't convince me, I'm calling the police."
I nodded "That is more than fair, Mrs Summers. One moment." I said and walked out to Giles car to get one of the props, a half inch thick steel bar, half a meter long.
When I returned I handed it to Buffy "Pass this to your mother, please." and she did so.
"Mrs Summers, please confirm it is what it seem to be. That thing is made from solid high grade steel."
She frowned and tried it "It...looks real." so I nodded.
"Please, hand it to your daughter." and when she did so I smiled slightly "Buffy...do your thing."
Buffy smiled slightly and then bent it in half with a groan of twisting metal.
Her mother looked on with wide eyes "It's a trick of some kind..."
Buffy smiled slightly and then bent the bar into a pretzel while her mother looked on with wide eyes "That has to be some kind of trick..."
Buffy shook her head "No trick, Mom." and handed it back "It's real."
I leaned back against the couch "We all might be wishing it's not, but it is. Monsters are real. Vampires are real. Magic is real. Every single thing that goes bump in the night is out there and they want nothing more than to eat you. Your daughter is the one who bumps back."
Mrs Summers pulled at the steel bar and then dropped it on the floor "It cant be real."
I sighed and used a minor illusion...well, the strongest glamor I have been able to do so far to make my eyes glow blue as I slowly floated the twisted steel bar back onto the table, causing Mrs Summers to gasp as I tried not to show exactly how much it actually drained me to do so.
"It is all true, Mrs Summers." I said "But perhaps some more physical proof is required. How about we go and find a vampire?"
AN// Big thanks to Seonor for betaing this part