Had to Find Gold
Apr. 27th, 2020 02:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerJossing the thing Xander said in the questionnaires about not being able to fly (actually that happened last ch but shhh), because that was an important part of the Christmas special that I don’t feel like changing.
Snake Gulch was actually the first thing that had me actually caring about the one part of America's history that's a unique mythological setting, the Wild West. (Then I discovered Westworld...the movie I still have to get to the show...)
~dreamer~
Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry
Chapter Summary: Xander visits one of his local haunts.
Word Count: 1280
Rating: Teen
“Cop lady was in here asking about you,” Gabriel tells him as he slides in to the counter, placing one of his favorite strawberry sodas in front of him before he’s even said a word. Not the traditional saloon style drink, but then, he’s not even of age.
Interesting. So, yeah, he had managed to make a good impression, but she was following up anyway. Which, of course, is what he’d do. And given that she’s got a car and he had to speed walk the whole way (which, sure, faster than your average human; still not outrunning a car without flying, which would be a dumb idea since he’s already drawn more attention than he’s comfortable with today), of course she'd beat him here. “Sullivan?” he asks, just to be sure, and takes an appreciative sip.
“That was the name she gave, yeah. Want me to call the owner? You in some kind of trouble?” The big guy’s voice has no interest, like he’s not at all invested in the answer, but honestly, he wouldn’t be asking if he didn’t care.
“Might be if I don’t call my roomies. It’s fine if I head to the back, right?” he responds naturally, letting the rowdiness of the place mask his voice from all but the nosiest of listeners.
Gabriel nods. “I’ll watch your drink,” he promises, which is one of many reasons why Xander loves this place so freaking much. He stands and walks toward the restroom, ducking into what looks like a small alcove across from the two. It’s close quarters, but not a squeeze, and he’s soon facing the very nice phone.
Now to see if his latest repairs held up. He dials the number. At first, there’s no tone, and he winces. He’d really be in trouble if this doesn’t work. Then—
“Hey, Xander, do you need some big fancy rescue or what?” Thank goodness. Buffy.
He chuckles. “Nah, I’m still relatively in one piece. Didja manage to find the G-man in all of that?” Because he is still kinda worried. They’re…okay, well, they’re not the only people that he knows, but still. They’re important.
“Yeah, we’re both back at the hotel. Where are you?” That…actually is worry, and he’s touched.
“I’ll debrief you both when I get back. Willow back yet?” There’s the other half of it.
“Not yet, but the library only just closed—you said that’s where she was, right?” Right, oh yeah. He’s been trying to keep in mind all this stuff about when stuff’s open, but it’s hard since it matters so much less for him than it does for everyone else, particularly when he doesn’t pay. He’d feel happier if everyone was accounted for, but there’s no helping it.
“Right, okay. I’m going to finish my drink, ‘cause it’d be rude not to, and then I’ll be on my way, okay?” He tries to soften his tone, tries to sound as reassuring as he can.
“…Drink?” she asks, and she sounds halfway between amused and scandalized.
“See ya, Queen Buffy the Third,” he responds with a grin and hangs up.
He wanders out casually, hands in his pockets. “You know anything about fae or fairies?”
That almost gets an expression out of the big guy. “I take it you’re not just being crass.”
Xander chuckles, taking another appreciative sip. He’s got no clue how they’re managing to source fresh strawberries now, but he’s not one to argue with delicious. “I’d be one to talk. Nah, new case.”
“Hmm. I’ve heard a thing or two, but not had any direct dealings.” Neither of them flinch as something smashes, though Gabriel does raise his voice. “Do I need to throw anyone out?” The saloon settles back down to the normal level of rowdy. “Main thing I’ve heard, assuming you’re not looking to directly fight them, is you’ve got to stay polite, though I’m not sure how easily you can manage that.”
The half-devil grins, at ease. “Hey, I can be couth if I try.”
“They consider themselves honorable, and they’re not the kinds to fight without a cause. Problem is, their concept of honor is just as alien as your usual style of criminal.” That fits with what he’d observed. They’d almost seemed…threatened? ‘Course, it could be just because he’s in a position to expose their leader as a fraud, but that seems almost too easy? Occam’s Razor, even if it’s the little known ‘simplest supernatural explanation’ corollary, Xanman. The bartender busies himself cleaning a glass, though Xander knows he’s paying attention despite his seeming lack of it. “If you’re not looking for a fight, iron is considered a faux pas. If you are looking for a fight, iron would be helpful.”
“Fortunately or unfortunately, all I’ve got is demon steel.” He hadn’t known the difference for ages. “...Unless I steal…I don’t know. One of the hotel fixtures or something? I swear I’ve got iron around somewhere…” But the hotel is huge, and he hasn’t even gotten around to a proper inventory or anything.
If he’s not wrong, one of the corners of Gabriel’s mouth twitches upward, just slightly, which is a major victory considering the stoic man. “They’re big believers in the power of names,” he continues slowly, handing a tiny little champagne glass and a giant mug of something over to “Lorraine” (which probably isn’t even her real name).
“Howdy, pardner!” she smiles cheerfully, ruffling his hair before heading back to work. Xander’s seen her take on men who thought a saloon meant easy pickings in the dress (seriously impressive) and who quickly found that wasn’t true then or now.
“Well, that’s not much trouble. I don’t even know my full True Name.” He hadn’t told them the full story even after that knock-down drag-out fight with the nasty poltergeist that had unfortunately been kind of like a rampage of the Ghostbusters—exorcised ghost, wrecked establishment—but he hadn’t held his cards super close to his chest, either.
“Usually, in the stories, they don’t spend a lot of time in the human world, merely going after a few unhappy victims.” So this wasn’t normal behavior. Not that he needed Gabe to tell him that. “Sometimes they patronize an upper class person or take a spouse.” Xander mulls that one over. If they are trying to bless the family as some sort of gift, than someone constantly acting suspicious would be considered rude. Still, he’d think they’d just clear out, cursing the family as they do so. None of this threatening another person who doesn’t feel completely human and might at least cost them a few good warriors stuff. He wouldn’t exactly call them cowards, and as he keeps saying he’s not an expert in this stuff, but when researching demons he hadn’t found any mention of Fae and demons fighting. Picking a fight seems like a big deal.
“Oh, yeah, I think Thalia also mentioned something else—while you’re being polite, figure out a way not to show too much gratitude or thank them for any favors they do. They will take it as a sign that you owe them a debt.” He’d had that feeling, but that’s gonna be a little trickier.
He pulls a face, and while that doesn’t get an expression, he has the feeling he’s amused the big guy again. He downs the rest of his soda instead of responding to that one, though. “Thanks, and see you around. Lemme know if Sullivan pops up again.”
He just gets a quiet nod and exits, letting his inner geek jump in joy about those goofy saloon doors before he heads out into what is rapidly turning into night.
Snake Gulch was actually the first thing that had me actually caring about the one part of America's history that's a unique mythological setting, the Wild West. (Then I discovered Westworld...the movie I still have to get to the show...)
~dreamer~
Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry
Chapter Summary: Xander visits one of his local haunts.
Word Count: 1280
Rating: Teen
“Cop lady was in here asking about you,” Gabriel tells him as he slides in to the counter, placing one of his favorite strawberry sodas in front of him before he’s even said a word. Not the traditional saloon style drink, but then, he’s not even of age.
Interesting. So, yeah, he had managed to make a good impression, but she was following up anyway. Which, of course, is what he’d do. And given that she’s got a car and he had to speed walk the whole way (which, sure, faster than your average human; still not outrunning a car without flying, which would be a dumb idea since he’s already drawn more attention than he’s comfortable with today), of course she'd beat him here. “Sullivan?” he asks, just to be sure, and takes an appreciative sip.
“That was the name she gave, yeah. Want me to call the owner? You in some kind of trouble?” The big guy’s voice has no interest, like he’s not at all invested in the answer, but honestly, he wouldn’t be asking if he didn’t care.
“Might be if I don’t call my roomies. It’s fine if I head to the back, right?” he responds naturally, letting the rowdiness of the place mask his voice from all but the nosiest of listeners.
Gabriel nods. “I’ll watch your drink,” he promises, which is one of many reasons why Xander loves this place so freaking much. He stands and walks toward the restroom, ducking into what looks like a small alcove across from the two. It’s close quarters, but not a squeeze, and he’s soon facing the very nice phone.
Now to see if his latest repairs held up. He dials the number. At first, there’s no tone, and he winces. He’d really be in trouble if this doesn’t work. Then—
“Hey, Xander, do you need some big fancy rescue or what?” Thank goodness. Buffy.
He chuckles. “Nah, I’m still relatively in one piece. Didja manage to find the G-man in all of that?” Because he is still kinda worried. They’re…okay, well, they’re not the only people that he knows, but still. They’re important.
“Yeah, we’re both back at the hotel. Where are you?” That…actually is worry, and he’s touched.
“I’ll debrief you both when I get back. Willow back yet?” There’s the other half of it.
“Not yet, but the library only just closed—you said that’s where she was, right?” Right, oh yeah. He’s been trying to keep in mind all this stuff about when stuff’s open, but it’s hard since it matters so much less for him than it does for everyone else, particularly when he doesn’t pay. He’d feel happier if everyone was accounted for, but there’s no helping it.
“Right, okay. I’m going to finish my drink, ‘cause it’d be rude not to, and then I’ll be on my way, okay?” He tries to soften his tone, tries to sound as reassuring as he can.
“…Drink?” she asks, and she sounds halfway between amused and scandalized.
“See ya, Queen Buffy the Third,” he responds with a grin and hangs up.
He wanders out casually, hands in his pockets. “You know anything about fae or fairies?”
That almost gets an expression out of the big guy. “I take it you’re not just being crass.”
Xander chuckles, taking another appreciative sip. He’s got no clue how they’re managing to source fresh strawberries now, but he’s not one to argue with delicious. “I’d be one to talk. Nah, new case.”
“Hmm. I’ve heard a thing or two, but not had any direct dealings.” Neither of them flinch as something smashes, though Gabriel does raise his voice. “Do I need to throw anyone out?” The saloon settles back down to the normal level of rowdy. “Main thing I’ve heard, assuming you’re not looking to directly fight them, is you’ve got to stay polite, though I’m not sure how easily you can manage that.”
The half-devil grins, at ease. “Hey, I can be couth if I try.”
“They consider themselves honorable, and they’re not the kinds to fight without a cause. Problem is, their concept of honor is just as alien as your usual style of criminal.” That fits with what he’d observed. They’d almost seemed…threatened? ‘Course, it could be just because he’s in a position to expose their leader as a fraud, but that seems almost too easy? Occam’s Razor, even if it’s the little known ‘simplest supernatural explanation’ corollary, Xanman. The bartender busies himself cleaning a glass, though Xander knows he’s paying attention despite his seeming lack of it. “If you’re not looking for a fight, iron is considered a faux pas. If you are looking for a fight, iron would be helpful.”
“Fortunately or unfortunately, all I’ve got is demon steel.” He hadn’t known the difference for ages. “...Unless I steal…I don’t know. One of the hotel fixtures or something? I swear I’ve got iron around somewhere…” But the hotel is huge, and he hasn’t even gotten around to a proper inventory or anything.
If he’s not wrong, one of the corners of Gabriel’s mouth twitches upward, just slightly, which is a major victory considering the stoic man. “They’re big believers in the power of names,” he continues slowly, handing a tiny little champagne glass and a giant mug of something over to “Lorraine” (which probably isn’t even her real name).
“Howdy, pardner!” she smiles cheerfully, ruffling his hair before heading back to work. Xander’s seen her take on men who thought a saloon meant easy pickings in the dress (seriously impressive) and who quickly found that wasn’t true then or now.
“Well, that’s not much trouble. I don’t even know my full True Name.” He hadn’t told them the full story even after that knock-down drag-out fight with the nasty poltergeist that had unfortunately been kind of like a rampage of the Ghostbusters—exorcised ghost, wrecked establishment—but he hadn’t held his cards super close to his chest, either.
“Usually, in the stories, they don’t spend a lot of time in the human world, merely going after a few unhappy victims.” So this wasn’t normal behavior. Not that he needed Gabe to tell him that. “Sometimes they patronize an upper class person or take a spouse.” Xander mulls that one over. If they are trying to bless the family as some sort of gift, than someone constantly acting suspicious would be considered rude. Still, he’d think they’d just clear out, cursing the family as they do so. None of this threatening another person who doesn’t feel completely human and might at least cost them a few good warriors stuff. He wouldn’t exactly call them cowards, and as he keeps saying he’s not an expert in this stuff, but when researching demons he hadn’t found any mention of Fae and demons fighting. Picking a fight seems like a big deal.
“Oh, yeah, I think Thalia also mentioned something else—while you’re being polite, figure out a way not to show too much gratitude or thank them for any favors they do. They will take it as a sign that you owe them a debt.” He’d had that feeling, but that’s gonna be a little trickier.
He pulls a face, and while that doesn’t get an expression, he has the feeling he’s amused the big guy again. He downs the rest of his soda instead of responding to that one, though. “Thanks, and see you around. Lemme know if Sullivan pops up again.”
He just gets a quiet nod and exits, letting his inner geek jump in joy about those goofy saloon doors before he heads out into what is rapidly turning into night.
