chikaidestroyer | ∞ 90: Snowy springs [action]

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∞ 90: Snowy springs [action]

[Takes place on the 28th.

Part of him is still surprised he made the suggestion a few days ago. If he tried to look for excuses, he could think of many -- the season, the new arrival of an ocean, the constant talk about holidays and good cheer. But whatever the reason, he had suggested to his housemates that they take their gift exchanging to an admittedly strange location: the mountain hot springs. And they had all agreed to it.

So in the early morning, he can be found in the clothing store looking for ... a pair of slippers. By noon, he will be on the way to the rec center to try out the teleporter and scope out the mountain hot springs for the first time.

And by mid-afternoon, he will be up in the mountains with his brother and Raine. Belatedly celebrating a holiday they don't know. Perhaps even celebrating the plaza fountain returning to normal after being shifted to resemble Bil for four days.]

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[He meets Buffy's gaze knowingly.]

An open taunt to make you emotional. He knows that defeating you during your next meeting would be significant blow to our morale.

[ a message through a dead friend. well, it worked. she got emotional. but in the wake of that and giles' letter...? something else has replaced that emotion. a kind of motivation. ]

It sounds like he would've, if I was out there. People've been throwing around the whole unkillable adjective.

Unless they have shifts that render people immortal, I doubt it. There are still the wings to take into consideration, regardless of anything else.

[ she knows he's right -- so what scares her more is the upsurge in the general's strength. not unkillable but simply too, too strong. a hard swallow.

she chooses a booth near the back. ] I wonder if he can be contacted -- not...not in person. I'm not suicidal. I just wonder if he could be talked with in some way that forced the non-violence factor. Long distance.

[He slides into the seat across from Buffy, resting his folded hands lightly on the edge of the table.] There are many obstacles, unfortunately. The lack of a communication device, the Organization's surveillance, the barrier and any interference it may cause.

But yes... Given the opportunity, I would like to speak with him as well.

I've still got his locket, you know.

A tool for emotional bargaining, if you wish to use it that way. More importantly, the only hint to something beyond what we know of the Third Party on the battlefield.

Emotional bargaining. [ a pause for consideration. ] That's assuming he has emotions. Don't get me wrong -- I hope he does. That means we might have a bit of leverage.

Considering you found the trinket on him, it likely has meaning to him -- or someone he took it from. It isn't much, but we certainly are not in the position to trivialize what little we come across. [A small sigh.] It's only a matter of awaiting opportunities, since we cannot really make our own opportunities.

I wonder who she is. Or was. [ quietly. she traces the edge of the table with her fingertip. then, looking up at albert: ] So, Giles left me a letter. [ she reaches into her pocket, pulling out a piece of paper. ]

Would you read it? [ she has offered it to no one else. she simply...understands that to show albert the letter would be easier. he'll get that she is getting anxious in not doing anything better than if she tried to use her own words. she wants to shake the complacency. ]

[He silently takes the letter as Buffy offers it, his eyes flitting from the letter, to Buffy, and back before he begins reading. He comments as he reads.] Letters make these farewells ... difficult. You are left having to live up to standards you were not aware were placed upon you.

You'd think that -- by now -- I'd have totally adjusted to being Buffy-from-whom-everyone-expects-something.

[ huff. ] But I can't help but think he's right, you know?

[He slides the letter back to the middle of the table after he has read it twice over.] There is a reason you have listened to the man for several years.

Because there's something so undeniably authoritative about tweed jackets and a nervous glasses-cleaning habit? [ she reaches out and takes the letter back, snapping its spine twice against the edge of the table before pocketing it. ]

I don't want to disappoint him, even if he isn't here. And not disappointing him means making a move. I'm done waiting.

[ these last three words are ones she has said before, at another critical point in her slayerdom. ]

Making a move. [He muses over Buffy's words with a slight frown, nodding.] I presume, by your tone, that you have something in mind.

Maybe something not so much with the specific. Just the -- inspiration. Kinda why I wanted to talk to you before anyone else.

[He manages a wry chuckle, eyes averting to the rest of the bar without looking specifically at anyone.] It is good, to remain motivated. Better still to have a goal with tangible progress. You were assisting those who wished to learn how to fight, correct?

Things with the combat training have gotten a little mushy and out-of-shape since Goroh left. But -- yeah, in theory? That's me.

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∞ 90: Snowy springs [action]

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