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May. 10th, 2022 11:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/The Case Files of Young Kindaichi
Summary: Xander talks to the kids he's showing around.
Word Count: 1063
Rating: Teen
That gets some giggles, which is a good start. If he can establish himself as the ‘cool one’, it’ll be worth more than any kind of power-based authority. He beckons them closer and leads them to the nearest graveyard, only a three minute walk. The park would be better in most circumstances, but then, it’s seven minutes away assuming they’re just walking, and Giles had said the supernatural takes the night off, so no spooks tonight.
They all follow willingly enough, and none of them even bat an eye at the destination. Of course, graveyards are ‘cool’ because you can do dares and stuff, and there are so many of them, and there aren’t that many other places to play. Particularly when you’re that young. You all choose a favorite and everything, and argue about why it’s the best graveyard.
He mimes unzipping his mouth, leaning against a mausoleum. That gets a few more chuckles. “I’m in charge of you, so no running off. I’ll deduct a candy tax from anyone who tries. And seriously, don’t tempt me; I’m starving.” It probably won’t hurt to tell the kids; kids have a good sense of Important Secrets that make them cool for knowing.
Two of the kids, a little goth girl who fortunately seems to be going for a twisted Alice in Wonderland look and a little boy dressed as a mad scientist, exchange glances, then pull snacks out of their Halloween bags.
“…Are you planning on running off?” he asks, as they silently offer him an orange and one of those disgusting ‘healthy’ energy bars.
“No, but if you pass out on the way, that probably wouldn’t look good,” the boy explains like he’s bored. The glances tell a different story. Aww, he’s worried about me but he doesn’t want to admit it. Kids can be sweet when they’re not being complete selfish jerks.
“Carlos’s mom gave us these and made us promise to eat them. I don’t like oranges but she makes us eat them anyway,” the girl adds, elbowing her friend, and he smiles, taking them. “We’ll get in trouble if they’re not gone by the time we get back.”
“I’ll keep it a secret if you keep the fact that I am not silent a secret.” More pleased smiles, good. “That doesn’t absolve any of you from wandering off, though,” he tells them, scarfing the bar before making a face. It tastes terrible, but he can’t afford to be picky right now. “Roll call,” he adds as he starts trying to peel off the skin with short fingernails.
“Carlos.” He still sounds bored, but he looks a little happier.
“Shanae,” his friend introduces herself, adding a “…Pleased to meet you, Mister, uh…”
“Xander,” he manages, mouth full of orange.
Michelangelo turns out to be Michael, actually, which is kinda funny, and it’s Princess Ashley. Michael-angelo keeps dropping his nunchucks trying to show off, though.
“If you don’t want to lose those, maybe you keep them in the plastic pumpkin until you need to fight,” he suggests, and Michael-angelo pouts but follows his advice.
“You’ve probably learned that your expressions are the key to getting candy. Your costumes factor in, yeah, and if you play up your part sometimes they’ll think you’re adorable and increase your haul, but you really want to try that on people who know you and like you.” They all nod seriously, little faces scrunching up in concentration. “From the moment they open the door, you’ve got a very small window to spot whether or not you want the candy and want to go all in. A pout ups the ante; tears are the ace in your deck. You only want to pull that out for the good stuff. You probably already know what that means for you.”
Princess Ashley raises her hand shyly. “Yes, your royal Majesty.”
“Do we get to trade?” Ah, a fair question.
“Yes, but if the other kid doesn’t want to trade, you’re not allowed to force it. Failure to conduct business effectively will result in taxes as well. Note that increasing the number of candies you’re willing to trade for a high-value candy sometimes makes a difference.” Carlos is raising an eyebrow at him. “Yes, Mad Scientist Carlos.” Two can play at that game, even if they’ll end up looking ridiculous staring at each other like this.
“Are you supposed to be a gambler?” he asks, and—well, it’s a deduction.
“I’m supposed to be the grandson of a detective.” Which, he realizes, doesn’t answer the question, but he’s not that motivated about correcting the record here, either.
The line about his jii-chan was so brilliant, he’s going to reuse his own material. It’s not like the kids are going to know any better. “In the name of my grandfather, we’ll definitely get the most candy!”
At least they’re a good audience, because they actually cheer, even the skeptical Mad Scientist. They don’t have a clue who Kindaichi Kosuke is, but they don’t have to know. He’s only got a vague idea himself.
“Since the one at the front has an advantage, you’ll rotate who’s in front, who’s at the sides, and who’s in the back. I’ll kind of stay nearby.” Twisted Shanae grabs his hand, Mad Scientist Carlos grabs hers, and Princess Ashley grabs his other hand. Michael-angelo runs ahead and falls in his haste, but he does actually stop at the first house and waits for the deployment pattern. He’s still in sight, so Xander privately decides that doesn’t count as running off, even as he gives the kid a warning.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/The Case Files of Young Kindaichi
Summary: Xander talks to the kids he's showing around.
Word Count: 1063
Rating: Teen
He half wishes he could team up with Willow or Buffy, but no, he’s charged with chaperoning what looks like an uncomfortably large flock of kids on his own. Okay, so four isn’t all that much, but he knows how quickly that can go off the rails because he’s been that kid that breaks everything he touches. He needs to assert dominance now, because he knows that without it they’ll never listen and it’ll just be chaos and a kid will go missing and he’ll be blamed and probably arrested. Of course, the admonition not to talk to them makes it harder (probably impossible, but then, he wouldn’t be surprised if Snyder’s setting them up to fail), so he mimes zipping his lips when the Troll’s not looking.
That gets some giggles, which is a good start. If he can establish himself as the ‘cool one’, it’ll be worth more than any kind of power-based authority. He beckons them closer and leads them to the nearest graveyard, only a three minute walk. The park would be better in most circumstances, but then, it’s seven minutes away assuming they’re just walking, and Giles had said the supernatural takes the night off, so no spooks tonight.
They all follow willingly enough, and none of them even bat an eye at the destination. Of course, graveyards are ‘cool’ because you can do dares and stuff, and there are so many of them, and there aren’t that many other places to play. Particularly when you’re that young. You all choose a favorite and everything, and argue about why it’s the best graveyard.
He mimes unzipping his mouth, leaning against a mausoleum. That gets a few more chuckles. “I’m in charge of you, so no running off. I’ll deduct a candy tax from anyone who tries. And seriously, don’t tempt me; I’m starving.” It probably won’t hurt to tell the kids; kids have a good sense of Important Secrets that make them cool for knowing.
Two of the kids, a little goth girl who fortunately seems to be going for a twisted Alice in Wonderland look and a little boy dressed as a mad scientist, exchange glances, then pull snacks out of their Halloween bags.
“…Are you planning on running off?” he asks, as they silently offer him an orange and one of those disgusting ‘healthy’ energy bars.
“No, but if you pass out on the way, that probably wouldn’t look good,” the boy explains like he’s bored. The glances tell a different story. Aww, he’s worried about me but he doesn’t want to admit it. Kids can be sweet when they’re not being complete selfish jerks.
“Carlos’s mom gave us these and made us promise to eat them. I don’t like oranges but she makes us eat them anyway,” the girl adds, elbowing her friend, and he smiles, taking them. “We’ll get in trouble if they’re not gone by the time we get back.”
“I’ll keep it a secret if you keep the fact that I am not silent a secret.” More pleased smiles, good. “That doesn’t absolve any of you from wandering off, though,” he tells them, scarfing the bar before making a face. It tastes terrible, but he can’t afford to be picky right now. “Roll call,” he adds as he starts trying to peel off the skin with short fingernails.
“Carlos.” He still sounds bored, but he looks a little happier.
“Shanae,” his friend introduces herself, adding a “…Pleased to meet you, Mister, uh…”
“Xander,” he manages, mouth full of orange.
Michelangelo turns out to be Michael, actually, which is kinda funny, and it’s Princess Ashley. Michael-angelo keeps dropping his nunchucks trying to show off, though.
“If you don’t want to lose those, maybe you keep them in the plastic pumpkin until you need to fight,” he suggests, and Michael-angelo pouts but follows his advice.
“You’ve probably learned that your expressions are the key to getting candy. Your costumes factor in, yeah, and if you play up your part sometimes they’ll think you’re adorable and increase your haul, but you really want to try that on people who know you and like you.” They all nod seriously, little faces scrunching up in concentration. “From the moment they open the door, you’ve got a very small window to spot whether or not you want the candy and want to go all in. A pout ups the ante; tears are the ace in your deck. You only want to pull that out for the good stuff. You probably already know what that means for you.”
Princess Ashley raises her hand shyly. “Yes, your royal Majesty.”
“Do we get to trade?” Ah, a fair question.
“Yes, but if the other kid doesn’t want to trade, you’re not allowed to force it. Failure to conduct business effectively will result in taxes as well. Note that increasing the number of candies you’re willing to trade for a high-value candy sometimes makes a difference.” Carlos is raising an eyebrow at him. “Yes, Mad Scientist Carlos.” Two can play at that game, even if they’ll end up looking ridiculous staring at each other like this.
“Are you supposed to be a gambler?” he asks, and—well, it’s a deduction.
“I’m supposed to be the grandson of a detective.” Which, he realizes, doesn’t answer the question, but he’s not that motivated about correcting the record here, either.
The line about his jii-chan was so brilliant, he’s going to reuse his own material. It’s not like the kids are going to know any better. “In the name of my grandfather, we’ll definitely get the most candy!”
At least they’re a good audience, because they actually cheer, even the skeptical Mad Scientist. They don’t have a clue who Kindaichi Kosuke is, but they don’t have to know. He’s only got a vague idea himself.
“Since the one at the front has an advantage, you’ll rotate who’s in front, who’s at the sides, and who’s in the back. I’ll kind of stay nearby.” Twisted Shanae grabs his hand, Mad Scientist Carlos grabs hers, and Princess Ashley grabs his other hand. Michael-angelo runs ahead and falls in his haste, but he does actually stop at the first house and waits for the deployment pattern. He’s still in sight, so Xander privately decides that doesn’t count as running off, even as he gives the kid a warning.
