madimpossibledreamer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
madimpossibledreamer) wrote2020-07-13 04:44 pm
madimpossibledreamer) wrote2020-07-13 04:44 pm
On to Phase Two
I don’t entirely remember if the “voodoo doll” thing came up in Gabriel Knight, but couldn’t resist including it here anyway, one because it’s set in New Orleans (N’awlins to the natives) and second because in one version the main character was voiced by Tim Curry. You can buy it on Steam, which I did after watching a playthrough years ago, though full disclosure have yet to play it again. Fortunately, Xander’s foggy memory works in my favor here, because I don’t have to be right because he doesn’t have to.
(brb upgrading boss fight)
i'm sad that dreamwidth doesn't retain the "shadow" option for Xander's DT speech. bolding works okay here, but when he hasn't fully gone spiky yet but is on his way I'm going to struggle to come up with an option that captures that.
Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry
Chapter Summary: Xander meets with his client to give her an update on the case.
Word Count: 1439
Rating: Teen
Warning: not Last Man's Dead which is the piece I think I'll compare warnings in this series to, but Elaine does make a few implications about potential violence in that vein, so viewer discretion advised. I honestly think that it's mild (as it's just subtle implication) but figured a head's up was fair.
“Was it really necessary to come out here for the report?” is the first thing Elaine asks, and if Xander was the type to sweat he’d be sweating already. (Honestly, he doesn’t know if he even does that anymore.) She looks so out of place here, designer dress and heels in the middle of a hiking trail.
“Tristan would intercept anything else.” he replies, refusing to show weakness. It’s there, but he can’t show it. “I wasn’t followed. Were you?”
“So I was right. He’s not human?” There’s a sort of eager ugliness there, and the worst part is, she could probably sell it if she answered his question, showed a little paranoia here and now. He still can’t feel anything, but all doubt is gone. If she was fully human, she’d mention how ‘I wasn’t imagining things; it was real’ and maybe ‘what do we do now?’, heartbreak in her voice. She’d played at concern, but thanks to whatever’s got her in its grasp she can’t hide the hint of the inhuman within her, not anymore. She believes things are going the way she wants, so she’s getting sloppy.
“Yes and no. That is your little brother, but it appears he was snatched by Fae when he was a child.” He’ll still keep playing his part, and unlike her he’s still kept enough humanity to pull it off. “He means you no harm, though I can’t say for sure what his intentions are beyond that.” A message to the listening Tristan. Maybe it’ll make him think. Probably it’s just going to make him amused.
Power of some kind builds, just a little, though at least this time it doesn’t show on her face. “How can you be sure?” she whispers, and well, that’s certainly a better performance.
“Part of the process. I’d explain it all to you, but I’m afraid the principles wouldn’t be too familiar to someone who’s not versed in magic.” Actually, the basics are pretty clear to everyone, he’s pretty sure, given the growing size of the fantasy section in the bookstore when he’d visited last looking for something else for Willow. He’d flipped through a few and some of them seemed pretty realistic, though admittedly a lot of them focused more on vamps which he hadn’t fought all that much. From what he remembers from the Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers game he’d played, the whole voodoo ‘one part has magical connections to the whole’ deal was getting more mainstream, anyway, and the more complicated parts he doesn’t get mainly because he tries to not be on hand when Giles or Will are doing their magic thing, seeing as magic tends to go wonky when he’s involved. But there’s no real point showing that weakness or trying to explain. “If you remember the older English gentleman, he’s the one that confirmed it.”
“And some of the other staff that have been hired on? I don’t feel particularly comfortable with them, either.” Clever. Hoping he’ll treat it as more black-and-white, those non-humans without a shred of humanity (though he’d bet a few of them were similar to Tristan, if they were planning to do the whole ambassadorial thing) as pests to be removed.
“Fae as well, though it seems they’re under his direct control.” Or he’s pretty sure the butler would’ve liked to do more than just hand him over to the police.
“You said you didn’t know his intentions, but surely you have some idea of what they want. Since we spoke, Tristan’s manservant appeared in my room when I was sleeping. Even if my little brother is still friendly, can he really keep control of the others? What do they want him to do?” All reasonable questions, and his direct answers are something along the lines of Probably and something something diplomacy between different supernatural forces, but there’s a reason he’s not acting as an ambassador himself. However, that’s not where he’s going to go with it. He’d agree that’s a little sketchy and he definitely thought the butler was a jerk. Vaguely remembers Willow getting all excited about some fairy marriage story that was basically a kidnapping, but if nothing else assuming Tristan was on the level and really is in control (which, seriously, lying about that probably is suicide) he’s pretty sure any mistreatment of his sister wouldn’t really fly and the perp would probably be lucky to stay alive and in one piece.
“They’ve still got a medieval type society, with lords and all, and acting against your ‘superiors’ is a big no-no. Tristan did express interest in something you found, so they were probably looking for it. Fae like treasure, sure, but they’re more fond of the power that a gold coin can give you. They’re drawn to power.” This had better work. It's physically difficult to just stay indifferent to this, to not respond to her worry, but if she is the villain, she's counting on that.
“I don’t have anything they might be interested in, unless it’s my ability to see the supernatural. There are so many of them, and if they’re watching me sleep, who knows what else they’ll do? If they do something, will you protect me? I don’t feel safe in my own home!” It’s slightly shocking she’s going the seduction route, and he’s suddenly very uncomfortable as she reaches out to caress his chest, but she’s honestly better at that role, at this point. Because he can completely believe that she’d sleep with him to get what she wants.
“Of course, if they attack you, I’ll protect you. All part of the job, ma’am.” Refuse to engage, but friendly enough.
“But you don’t think they’ll hurt me, do you?” She sighs, then seems to make a decision. “Well, if you’ll refuse to destroy non-humans, then what use are you, mongrel? I’d heard good things about your extermination service, but it seems if you want a job done right, you have to do it yourself.”
Gotcha.
“Fortunately, you’ll give me all the power I need.” He’s actually kind of impressed she’s not blathering about what she has planned. She’s evidently done some studying up. She pulls a bloodred crystal out of her handbag (makes sense, do you know how many jewels over the centuries have been cursed, because the answer is a lot), pressing it to his skin. And that—
That hurts.
It takes a moment or two to realize he’s lost some time and is now standing in a pool of his own blood. His throat is a little sore, so he’s been screaming, probably, and his neck is a bit sore from how hard he’d thrown his head back.
“Sorry about th’ wait, Master. Seems th’ gem’s another blood-type artifact. Two of a kind, we are.” It’s a little odd to hear Spike’s voice coming from Elaine’s throat, but it’s a good feeling, because it means the plan went as expected. Well, this part of it, anyway.
“Nah, it’s fine.” Though it’s on to step two, because they’re not sure how long Kryvi can hold the hijack with her already kind of possessed. “Pass the baton, wouldja?”
Kryvi does so with a smirk, and then he’s off, running his latest acquisition to Giles, who’s standing with a dozen or so Fae among the trees.
“You know your part. Get rid of the curse. Don’t die,” he instructs, and Giles makes a face.
“Your accessories, sir,” Buffy throws Kryvi (for now, the hollow shell of a sword), plus Arawn (who’d really wanted to come along) and Kalvul. Gjallar screeches in to perch on his shoulder. “Oh, and Alisha had what I think is a really good idea. I’m going to grade our fights from now on. Creativity and stylishness earns you points; getting hit loses you points, so don’t get hit, okay?”
That’s completely and utterly ridiculous. He loves it. “Got it.” And then there’s the screech of anger, which indicates they’re fully into phase two. “Try to keep up.”
Buffy rolls her eyes, Eghira in one hand and Asmosaos in the other. “I don’t think you were even listening.”
He lets Arawn loose his “dogs of war”, one after another, slinging him right back on his shoulder in favor of Kalvul and Kryvi. He slides into the shadows, timing it to appear right after the missiles strike, diving into the horde of Shaede she’d been commanding (she’d probably been trying to put him in a fighting mood with that little stunt leading to the Stabbing Incident) with a wide, fangy grin and the reminder that yeah, maybe think about dodging sometimes.
(brb upgrading boss fight)
i'm sad that dreamwidth doesn't retain the "shadow" option for Xander's DT speech. bolding works okay here, but when he hasn't fully gone spiky yet but is on his way I'm going to struggle to come up with an option that captures that.
Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry
Chapter Summary: Xander meets with his client to give her an update on the case.
Word Count: 1439
Rating: Teen
Warning: not Last Man's Dead which is the piece I think I'll compare warnings in this series to, but Elaine does make a few implications about potential violence in that vein, so viewer discretion advised. I honestly think that it's mild (as it's just subtle implication) but figured a head's up was fair.
“Was it really necessary to come out here for the report?” is the first thing Elaine asks, and if Xander was the type to sweat he’d be sweating already. (Honestly, he doesn’t know if he even does that anymore.) She looks so out of place here, designer dress and heels in the middle of a hiking trail.
“Tristan would intercept anything else.” he replies, refusing to show weakness. It’s there, but he can’t show it. “I wasn’t followed. Were you?”
“So I was right. He’s not human?” There’s a sort of eager ugliness there, and the worst part is, she could probably sell it if she answered his question, showed a little paranoia here and now. He still can’t feel anything, but all doubt is gone. If she was fully human, she’d mention how ‘I wasn’t imagining things; it was real’ and maybe ‘what do we do now?’, heartbreak in her voice. She’d played at concern, but thanks to whatever’s got her in its grasp she can’t hide the hint of the inhuman within her, not anymore. She believes things are going the way she wants, so she’s getting sloppy.
“Yes and no. That is your little brother, but it appears he was snatched by Fae when he was a child.” He’ll still keep playing his part, and unlike her he’s still kept enough humanity to pull it off. “He means you no harm, though I can’t say for sure what his intentions are beyond that.” A message to the listening Tristan. Maybe it’ll make him think. Probably it’s just going to make him amused.
Power of some kind builds, just a little, though at least this time it doesn’t show on her face. “How can you be sure?” she whispers, and well, that’s certainly a better performance.
“Part of the process. I’d explain it all to you, but I’m afraid the principles wouldn’t be too familiar to someone who’s not versed in magic.” Actually, the basics are pretty clear to everyone, he’s pretty sure, given the growing size of the fantasy section in the bookstore when he’d visited last looking for something else for Willow. He’d flipped through a few and some of them seemed pretty realistic, though admittedly a lot of them focused more on vamps which he hadn’t fought all that much. From what he remembers from the Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers game he’d played, the whole voodoo ‘one part has magical connections to the whole’ deal was getting more mainstream, anyway, and the more complicated parts he doesn’t get mainly because he tries to not be on hand when Giles or Will are doing their magic thing, seeing as magic tends to go wonky when he’s involved. But there’s no real point showing that weakness or trying to explain. “If you remember the older English gentleman, he’s the one that confirmed it.”
“And some of the other staff that have been hired on? I don’t feel particularly comfortable with them, either.” Clever. Hoping he’ll treat it as more black-and-white, those non-humans without a shred of humanity (though he’d bet a few of them were similar to Tristan, if they were planning to do the whole ambassadorial thing) as pests to be removed.
“Fae as well, though it seems they’re under his direct control.” Or he’s pretty sure the butler would’ve liked to do more than just hand him over to the police.
“You said you didn’t know his intentions, but surely you have some idea of what they want. Since we spoke, Tristan’s manservant appeared in my room when I was sleeping. Even if my little brother is still friendly, can he really keep control of the others? What do they want him to do?” All reasonable questions, and his direct answers are something along the lines of Probably and something something diplomacy between different supernatural forces, but there’s a reason he’s not acting as an ambassador himself. However, that’s not where he’s going to go with it. He’d agree that’s a little sketchy and he definitely thought the butler was a jerk. Vaguely remembers Willow getting all excited about some fairy marriage story that was basically a kidnapping, but if nothing else assuming Tristan was on the level and really is in control (which, seriously, lying about that probably is suicide) he’s pretty sure any mistreatment of his sister wouldn’t really fly and the perp would probably be lucky to stay alive and in one piece.
“They’ve still got a medieval type society, with lords and all, and acting against your ‘superiors’ is a big no-no. Tristan did express interest in something you found, so they were probably looking for it. Fae like treasure, sure, but they’re more fond of the power that a gold coin can give you. They’re drawn to power.” This had better work. It's physically difficult to just stay indifferent to this, to not respond to her worry, but if she is the villain, she's counting on that.
“I don’t have anything they might be interested in, unless it’s my ability to see the supernatural. There are so many of them, and if they’re watching me sleep, who knows what else they’ll do? If they do something, will you protect me? I don’t feel safe in my own home!” It’s slightly shocking she’s going the seduction route, and he’s suddenly very uncomfortable as she reaches out to caress his chest, but she’s honestly better at that role, at this point. Because he can completely believe that she’d sleep with him to get what she wants.
“Of course, if they attack you, I’ll protect you. All part of the job, ma’am.” Refuse to engage, but friendly enough.
“But you don’t think they’ll hurt me, do you?” She sighs, then seems to make a decision. “Well, if you’ll refuse to destroy non-humans, then what use are you, mongrel? I’d heard good things about your extermination service, but it seems if you want a job done right, you have to do it yourself.”
Gotcha.
“Fortunately, you’ll give me all the power I need.” He’s actually kind of impressed she’s not blathering about what she has planned. She’s evidently done some studying up. She pulls a bloodred crystal out of her handbag (makes sense, do you know how many jewels over the centuries have been cursed, because the answer is a lot), pressing it to his skin. And that—
That hurts.
It takes a moment or two to realize he’s lost some time and is now standing in a pool of his own blood. His throat is a little sore, so he’s been screaming, probably, and his neck is a bit sore from how hard he’d thrown his head back.
“Sorry about th’ wait, Master. Seems th’ gem’s another blood-type artifact. Two of a kind, we are.” It’s a little odd to hear Spike’s voice coming from Elaine’s throat, but it’s a good feeling, because it means the plan went as expected. Well, this part of it, anyway.
“Nah, it’s fine.” Though it’s on to step two, because they’re not sure how long Kryvi can hold the hijack with her already kind of possessed. “Pass the baton, wouldja?”
Kryvi does so with a smirk, and then he’s off, running his latest acquisition to Giles, who’s standing with a dozen or so Fae among the trees.
“You know your part. Get rid of the curse. Don’t die,” he instructs, and Giles makes a face.
“Your accessories, sir,” Buffy throws Kryvi (for now, the hollow shell of a sword), plus Arawn (who’d really wanted to come along) and Kalvul. Gjallar screeches in to perch on his shoulder. “Oh, and Alisha had what I think is a really good idea. I’m going to grade our fights from now on. Creativity and stylishness earns you points; getting hit loses you points, so don’t get hit, okay?”
That’s completely and utterly ridiculous. He loves it. “Got it.” And then there’s the screech of anger, which indicates they’re fully into phase two. “Try to keep up.”
Buffy rolls her eyes, Eghira in one hand and Asmosaos in the other. “I don’t think you were even listening.”
He lets Arawn loose his “dogs of war”, one after another, slinging him right back on his shoulder in favor of Kalvul and Kryvi. He slides into the shadows, timing it to appear right after the missiles strike, diving into the horde of Shaede she’d been commanding (she’d probably been trying to put him in a fighting mood with that little stunt leading to the Stabbing Incident) with a wide, fangy grin and the reminder that yeah, maybe think about dodging sometimes.