When a Plan Comes Together
Dec. 10th, 2018 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerPlayed DMC3 for the second time, and, uhm. I did manage to get through yet another mission. (Only by red orb farming in order to buy blue orbs.)
Buuuut I forgot that Cerby was at the end of Mission 3, so that put a halt to all of my stuff. (It didn't help that my controller has apparently entirely stopped accepting 'backwards' input, so I was half playing with a keyboard and half with my controller. I really need a new controller.)
Giles' pronoun use is very deliberate.
~Dreamer~
Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry Crossover, Buffy AU
Chapter Summary: Giles and Buffy discover one of Xander's biggest secrets.
Word Count: 1531
Rating: Gen
“Buffy, for someone in hiding, you are far too trusting—” he cuts himself off in the middle of a familiar lecture that she will no doubt just ignore as she always does. If he listens closely…
“What’s—” Buffy begins, and he waves for her to stay silent.
“How long ago was that?” It’s the demon, and his voice is coming from the main room. Swiftly, Giles strides in, to see…
The demon is sitting casually on one of the couches, facing a complete stranger—a woman with an expensive-looking dress and purse. He looks up and waves, as if he’s not putting them all in danger or possibly selling them all out.
The stranger also looks up, a slight look of surprise on her face. “Are you Mr. Xander’s colleagues?”
“Not exactly. They’re staying here for their own safety,” he states with a smile, and—well, that’s a little shocking.
Not to the stranger, apparently. She nods as if that’s entirely normal.
“Do you want them to leave?” he continues.
She hesitates. “Would they help?”
Giles opens his mouth to shut down the idea entirely. The demon opens his mouth, though who knows what he’s going to say. Buffy beats them both to the punch. “Absolutely.” At the death glare Giles gives her, she explains, “I’m sick of hanging out in this hotel. I’m not a stay-at-home kinda girl.”
The demon chuckles and looks back at the lady. “You heard her. I can guarantee they’re trustworthy.”
That’s…another surprise.
“All right. I’ll repeat what I said before, then. I’ve heard of Mr. Xander through rumor. It seemed like a long shot, but then, this whole situation is…odd, and I didn’t know who else could help.” She hesitates, and the demon places a hand comfortingly over hers. “When I was little, my little brother Tristan went missing. He finished his piano recital, and wasn’t backstage afterward. The police were, of course, called in, and Father also employed a detective like yourself, but no real clues ever turned up. He’d simply vanished. This was…what, about seventeen years ago now? I was seven, so…yes.”
Buffy bites her lip. “Yes, but why now? Something had to have changed.”
The demon glances over with an approving smile.
The client glances down at the hand and seems to take comfort from it, strangely. “Because recently, he came back to us. He told us that he’d had amnesia and had ended up in an orphanage. He’d been adopted by a moderately wealthy businessman, who died when he was eighteen and left the company to his adoptive mother. She just died this year, so he inherited the business, and, feeling lonely, decided for the first time to check into his birth family.”
“I assume you had this checked into,” the demon comments, and she nods.
“Yes. We paid for everything—DNA tests, further investigation into his identity—everyone else accepts it.” Her lip trembles a little.
“But you think something’s wrong,” the dark-haired demon finishes, appearing sympathetic.
“Tristan was sweet. It’s entirely possible that time and growing up elsewhere changed him, but…he can be cruel, and sometimes, when we’re alone, I catch an odd look in his eye. It makes me uncomfortable. He has a birthmark no one remembers—though everyone just says ‘we didn’t notice at the time’. Still, there’s no way he would’ve changed from being right-handed to left-handed, even though no one else finds that suspicious either.” She shrugs helplessly. “They keep telling me I’m imagining things. I’m the only one in my family who has felt anything at supposedly haunted spots, so they tend to think of me as a scaredy-cat.”
Despite himself, Giles finds himself leaning forward. That sounds like—
“And you’re currently in your Colorado home?” the demon clarifies.
“That’s right. I told them I was coming down to do some shopping. I don’t think Tristan believed me, but I should get some done, just for appearances.” She stands gracefully, and the inhuman one stands with her.
“That’s fair. How do you want us to proceed?” he asks, and she smiles for the first time.
“They’re planning a celebration for his return. It’ll be easy to get you in as workers,” she explains, and sighs gratefully. “Thank you. For helping out, for not thinking I’m crazy.”
He smirks a little. “Well, we haven’t gotten any results yet, but you’re definitely not crazy, and soon, we’ll be able to tell you whether your suspicions are correct.” And he opens the door for her like a gentleman.
When he turns around and sees them staring at him, he continues to smirk. “What, with this,” he gestures at his face and body, “…you didn’t get that I was Face?”
That’s…
“Hey, you could be Hannibal,” the demon continues with enthusiasm.
…an A-Team reference. That he cannot mention, because he’s supposed to be the mature one here, and also he’s trying not to encourage the thing.
“Who am I?” Buffy asks, curious—stop engaging, really—and the demon cocks his head on the side.
“I haven’t seen you fight, but you might be B.A.,” he suggests.
“You’re crazy enough, I think you’re Murdoch,” she disagrees, and he laughs delightedly.
“What, I get to be the most interesting character? That’s no hardship, m’lady,” he bows, and Buffy smiles.
“That sounded like a Changeling,” Giles interrupts.
The demon pouts. “Spoilsport,” he accuses, before becoming more serious again. “That’s what I was thinking, but fae aren’t my strong suit. I mostly know of the demons—their habitats, habits, and how to fight them.”
“What is this?” Rupert continues, curious as to how the monster will explain its actions.
Instead of answering, the dark-haired one turns to his Slayer. “What does it look like?”
“A supernatural detective agency crossed with the A-Team,” she answers easily.
He leans back against the wall near the door, crossing his legs and arms, and nods casually to the blonde.
“…Why?” Giles wonders out loud. Of course, that has been what he’s been wondering this whole time about this demon.
“You’re not good at listening, or maybe you just have trouble taking a ‘half-breed’ like me at his word, huh?” Other than his reaction to the Watcher’s Council, he hadn’t shown his anger before. Perhaps he’d been avoiding it to try to avoid angering Giles—a concept that almost makes him feel guilty. It’s showing now, a relentless, burning anger kept in check. “I kind of mentioned it when we first met—I’m trying to help people out, stop them from feeling the same pain I did. Plus, I’m half human, and would like to keep my humanity. True, my devil powers are awesome, and they’re what helped me survive and help others, but your humanity is what stops you from hurting the people you care about.” He shrugs his shoulders without uncrossing his arms. “I won’t deny, either—I’m not a homebody, any more than Buffy here is, and the devil in me craves violence. If, in the course of helping other people, I happen to be attacked by a bunch of demons, well, the more the merrier, right?” The grin, complete with teeth, despite the human appearance is more a baring of fangs than anything. “You’re one to lecture me on dark powers. You stink of chaos.”
Giles swallows. But then, if he really is sincere—and his non-Council sanctioned studies suggest it’s at least possible—of course he would’ve done his research, looked further into them to determine the truth of their story. “And this won’t lead to our discovery?”
The harsh look in Xander’s eyes softens. “I’ve been doing this for a while now, and thanks to one of my Devil Arms, I’ve been able to extend that protection to the two of you—and Willow—as well. I can’t guarantee, because this is a new situation, but—if you want to hear my opinion—hiding like mice in a hole for the rest of your lives isn’t really living.”
For the first time, Giles allows himself to relax in their host’s presence. “What about the girl?”
There’s a sheepish look suddenly on Xander’s face. “Uh, well, currently she’s at the library, but I’ve only been letting her research. She’s a little squishier than a Slayer, I’d assume, and she’s my childhood friend.” He sighs. “I’m a little worried about how manic she is, but I’m guessing she’s squirreling away some sort of caffeine stash that I haven’t been able to confiscate. And I never thought I’d say this, but I kind of miss school. It gave her something else to pay attention to and spend her energy on.”
There’s an awkward moment of silence that threatens to stretch on. “Go team!” Buffy yells brightly, throwing one hand in the air, and Xander laughs.
Buuuut I forgot that Cerby was at the end of Mission 3, so that put a halt to all of my stuff. (It didn't help that my controller has apparently entirely stopped accepting 'backwards' input, so I was half playing with a keyboard and half with my controller. I really need a new controller.)
Giles' pronoun use is very deliberate.
~Dreamer~
Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry Crossover, Buffy AU
Chapter Summary: Giles and Buffy discover one of Xander's biggest secrets.
Word Count: 1531
Rating: Gen
“I’m telling you, he’s dangerous, but he doesn’t mean us any harm,” Buffy insists, and Giles adjusts his glasses again as they walk to the dining hall. True, he hasn’t taken any clear actions against them, but trusting a demon is not in his nature, and it shouldn’t be in Buffy’s either. Simply because he’s not from the Council does not mean he’s not plotting against them.
“Buffy, for someone in hiding, you are far too trusting—” he cuts himself off in the middle of a familiar lecture that she will no doubt just ignore as she always does. If he listens closely…
“What’s—” Buffy begins, and he waves for her to stay silent.
“How long ago was that?” It’s the demon, and his voice is coming from the main room. Swiftly, Giles strides in, to see…
The demon is sitting casually on one of the couches, facing a complete stranger—a woman with an expensive-looking dress and purse. He looks up and waves, as if he’s not putting them all in danger or possibly selling them all out.
The stranger also looks up, a slight look of surprise on her face. “Are you Mr. Xander’s colleagues?”
“Not exactly. They’re staying here for their own safety,” he states with a smile, and—well, that’s a little shocking.
Not to the stranger, apparently. She nods as if that’s entirely normal.
“Do you want them to leave?” he continues.
She hesitates. “Would they help?”
Giles opens his mouth to shut down the idea entirely. The demon opens his mouth, though who knows what he’s going to say. Buffy beats them both to the punch. “Absolutely.” At the death glare Giles gives her, she explains, “I’m sick of hanging out in this hotel. I’m not a stay-at-home kinda girl.”
The demon chuckles and looks back at the lady. “You heard her. I can guarantee they’re trustworthy.”
That’s…another surprise.
“All right. I’ll repeat what I said before, then. I’ve heard of Mr. Xander through rumor. It seemed like a long shot, but then, this whole situation is…odd, and I didn’t know who else could help.” She hesitates, and the demon places a hand comfortingly over hers. “When I was little, my little brother Tristan went missing. He finished his piano recital, and wasn’t backstage afterward. The police were, of course, called in, and Father also employed a detective like yourself, but no real clues ever turned up. He’d simply vanished. This was…what, about seventeen years ago now? I was seven, so…yes.”
Buffy bites her lip. “Yes, but why now? Something had to have changed.”
The demon glances over with an approving smile.
The client glances down at the hand and seems to take comfort from it, strangely. “Because recently, he came back to us. He told us that he’d had amnesia and had ended up in an orphanage. He’d been adopted by a moderately wealthy businessman, who died when he was eighteen and left the company to his adoptive mother. She just died this year, so he inherited the business, and, feeling lonely, decided for the first time to check into his birth family.”
“I assume you had this checked into,” the demon comments, and she nods.
“Yes. We paid for everything—DNA tests, further investigation into his identity—everyone else accepts it.” Her lip trembles a little.
“But you think something’s wrong,” the dark-haired demon finishes, appearing sympathetic.
“Tristan was sweet. It’s entirely possible that time and growing up elsewhere changed him, but…he can be cruel, and sometimes, when we’re alone, I catch an odd look in his eye. It makes me uncomfortable. He has a birthmark no one remembers—though everyone just says ‘we didn’t notice at the time’. Still, there’s no way he would’ve changed from being right-handed to left-handed, even though no one else finds that suspicious either.” She shrugs helplessly. “They keep telling me I’m imagining things. I’m the only one in my family who has felt anything at supposedly haunted spots, so they tend to think of me as a scaredy-cat.”
Despite himself, Giles finds himself leaning forward. That sounds like—
“And you’re currently in your Colorado home?” the demon clarifies.
“That’s right. I told them I was coming down to do some shopping. I don’t think Tristan believed me, but I should get some done, just for appearances.” She stands gracefully, and the inhuman one stands with her.
“That’s fair. How do you want us to proceed?” he asks, and she smiles for the first time.
“They’re planning a celebration for his return. It’ll be easy to get you in as workers,” she explains, and sighs gratefully. “Thank you. For helping out, for not thinking I’m crazy.”
He smirks a little. “Well, we haven’t gotten any results yet, but you’re definitely not crazy, and soon, we’ll be able to tell you whether your suspicions are correct.” And he opens the door for her like a gentleman.
When he turns around and sees them staring at him, he continues to smirk. “What, with this,” he gestures at his face and body, “…you didn’t get that I was Face?”
That’s…
“Hey, you could be Hannibal,” the demon continues with enthusiasm.
…an A-Team reference. That he cannot mention, because he’s supposed to be the mature one here, and also he’s trying not to encourage the thing.
“Who am I?” Buffy asks, curious—stop engaging, really—and the demon cocks his head on the side.
“I haven’t seen you fight, but you might be B.A.,” he suggests.
“You’re crazy enough, I think you’re Murdoch,” she disagrees, and he laughs delightedly.
“What, I get to be the most interesting character? That’s no hardship, m’lady,” he bows, and Buffy smiles.
“That sounded like a Changeling,” Giles interrupts.
The demon pouts. “Spoilsport,” he accuses, before becoming more serious again. “That’s what I was thinking, but fae aren’t my strong suit. I mostly know of the demons—their habitats, habits, and how to fight them.”
“What is this?” Rupert continues, curious as to how the monster will explain its actions.
Instead of answering, the dark-haired one turns to his Slayer. “What does it look like?”
“A supernatural detective agency crossed with the A-Team,” she answers easily.
He leans back against the wall near the door, crossing his legs and arms, and nods casually to the blonde.
“…Why?” Giles wonders out loud. Of course, that has been what he’s been wondering this whole time about this demon.
“You’re not good at listening, or maybe you just have trouble taking a ‘half-breed’ like me at his word, huh?” Other than his reaction to the Watcher’s Council, he hadn’t shown his anger before. Perhaps he’d been avoiding it to try to avoid angering Giles—a concept that almost makes him feel guilty. It’s showing now, a relentless, burning anger kept in check. “I kind of mentioned it when we first met—I’m trying to help people out, stop them from feeling the same pain I did. Plus, I’m half human, and would like to keep my humanity. True, my devil powers are awesome, and they’re what helped me survive and help others, but your humanity is what stops you from hurting the people you care about.” He shrugs his shoulders without uncrossing his arms. “I won’t deny, either—I’m not a homebody, any more than Buffy here is, and the devil in me craves violence. If, in the course of helping other people, I happen to be attacked by a bunch of demons, well, the more the merrier, right?” The grin, complete with teeth, despite the human appearance is more a baring of fangs than anything. “You’re one to lecture me on dark powers. You stink of chaos.”
Giles swallows. But then, if he really is sincere—and his non-Council sanctioned studies suggest it’s at least possible—of course he would’ve done his research, looked further into them to determine the truth of their story. “And this won’t lead to our discovery?”
The harsh look in Xander’s eyes softens. “I’ve been doing this for a while now, and thanks to one of my Devil Arms, I’ve been able to extend that protection to the two of you—and Willow—as well. I can’t guarantee, because this is a new situation, but—if you want to hear my opinion—hiding like mice in a hole for the rest of your lives isn’t really living.”
For the first time, Giles allows himself to relax in their host’s presence. “What about the girl?”
There’s a sheepish look suddenly on Xander’s face. “Uh, well, currently she’s at the library, but I’ve only been letting her research. She’s a little squishier than a Slayer, I’d assume, and she’s my childhood friend.” He sighs. “I’m a little worried about how manic she is, but I’m guessing she’s squirreling away some sort of caffeine stash that I haven’t been able to confiscate. And I never thought I’d say this, but I kind of miss school. It gave her something else to pay attention to and spend her energy on.”
There’s an awkward moment of silence that threatens to stretch on. “Go team!” Buffy yells brightly, throwing one hand in the air, and Xander laughs.
