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madimpossibledreamerAbout half the chapter was actually written by Beta-senpai, thanks!
Main Points:
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure/Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Chapter Summary: Styx might have the name of the enemy.
Word Count: 1688
Rating: Teen
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS
Wait...maybe that’s redundant. He’d held the job for a pretty short time, among the stint of ‘attempted jobs’ way back, but he does vaguely remember ‘keeping people calm’ to be part of the expected job description.
“I apologize for the abrupt message, but it couldn’t wait. I’m afraid the backup generator only has the fuel for the protection spell I have already cast to consecrate the ground and this single phone call, so from here on out you’re on your own, I’m afraid.”
Xander’s sitting up abruptly, feeling a pit in his stomach. “Father, are you safe?
He sounds exactly as welcoming as he had when they’d first showed up—but then, hardly anything fazes the guy, does it? “Ah, young Johan. I heard of your own predicament. I’m praying for a miracle for you. On my side, yes. Some of your alterations to deal with the vampire Dio Brando were useful, and Pixie’s ability to flood the land, while destructive, was likewise helpful, though I also regret to announce that our efforts, while they have rendered us safe from harm, have also essentially trapped us, rather like an old-fashioned moat.”
“So, whatever you’re being menaced by doesn’t use water.” Kakyoin clarifies, wary, watchful, and after what they’ve been through Johan can’t blame them. Hearing about all of this, he’s got a pit in his stomach, but he keeps having to remind himself not to let his imagination go wild with the theories making unproven connections. It’s all he can do—all he’s been allowed to do, rather—but even so, he shouldn’t get ahead of himself, when assuming is a great way to get people killed. (And, he realizes with a shiver, there’s the weirdest part about Pretender. It’s not that big a deal when he’d been dealing with all new people, and the distance of a phone call was enough to keep him out of the situation, but it’s disconcerting, for example, to hear Kakyoin talk and think best friend-helpful young man-cool friend of Jotaro-san’s-uncle and have none of those words apply to himself.)
It’s a fair assumption—they don’t know for sure this is the water demon, who thus far has proven to be very, very deadly. From the slightly amused tone, Styx was anticipating the question, though. “He does, and I’d suppose he has some means of spying, or he would not have acted so swiftly once I’d discovered the relevant data—not an easy task, mind. Not, I’d suspect, a computer virus, though that might be hubris on my part. We’re dealing with an old threat.”
“How old?” Jotaro asks, intense and absolutely preparing for a fight.
And before he can answer, Buffy also interrupts sharply. “How are you alive?”
“Just like Mr. Brando, he appears to have some difficulties with holy water. It doesn’t seem to hurt him badly, but he cannot cross it or at least cannot do so without weakening his powers. I suspect he heals, but the water is thick enough that wading through to get to us would leave him vulnerable. It also ensures he cannot control it in the slightest. Given the age of the information I’ve found, his true identity as an ancient demon is highly likely.” It’s clear he’d anticipated that question too, but then, given how much planning had to go into all of this beforehand, basically laying booby traps to protect the town (maybe they’d inspired him, Jojo thinks with a slight pang), that’s just the kind of priest he is.
And then a thought occurs to Johan. A really, really terrible thought, one he doesn’t want to think about, but. “...Could he be a Pillar Man?”
“...I...cannot rule out the possibility.” It’s a weight, but the Father doesn’t want to dwell on mere speculation any more than Xander does. (And goddess he hopes he’s wrong.) “Let me share what I know for certain. I fancy it should be difficult to uncover any more—I would help, but there are obvious difficulties there, so I regret the legwork must be yours. Fortunately, like my wine cellar, my literature collection is extensive, and I have access to some scanned databases. The first three matters I uncovered myself, as they are more or less in my canon. Other details I cannot speak to. In the 17th century, Galileo Galilei had few visitors in his tower, but, based on my own discoveries, he received one of note several weeks before his death. This man passed into his tower unobserved by the guards placed to watch him, and Galileo claimed afterwards that the man plied him with questions regarding his theory of gravitation and outer space.”
“You’re sure of this.” Giles is, Johan knows without even being able to see it, doing that thing he does where he gets really excited and skeptical at the same time and is probably itching to go through his own books right now. Not that it’s his usual area of study, but, like he’d said before, nerd.
“It’s possible he could have made it up, certainly. Galileo was indeed a fantasist at times, but there are other incidents that compel me to a different conclusion.” And he’s probably really good at sermons, too, because he’s got that sense of when to pause for dramatic effect in storytelling, too.“Isaac Newton, a well-known follower of the church, reported a similar incident. And there is an account from a Roman soldier which claims that a similar figure, hooded and masked, was present on the day of the Crucifixion. But these claims are few indeed compared to the ones I have received from my fellows in other countries. This figure is claimed to have appeared at the height of Babylon by one of my comrades in Sumer. He is in Venice in the 1600s, discussing with the Doge. He is in Greece in a lesser-reputed tale by Homer; he is in the Incan lands discussing terrace farming with a local; he is in Egypt, watching the rising and falling of the Nile. And that is only the human cases. According to my Japanese colleagues—those who deal most with youkai—the youkai have met with him too, and my shamanic friends tell of similar things. There is one story, though I cannot entirely give it credence, that he was present at a nuclear test in Yucca Flats.”
“Like some sort of modern-day boogeyman?” Okuyasu asks, probably scratching his head. And sure, it makes sense to be a skeptic, but from the sound of it he’s fought actual demons and hell Ojiisan was friends with a ghost for a bit. They should know all this stuff is possible. (And he doesn’t have to see to know Josuke isn’t taking this kind of spooky twist without a shiver, either.)
“There are certain commonalities that make it difficult to dismiss for me.” Styx sighs. “First, I’ve been unable to find a single instance of them claiming to have photographed or sketched his face, but they describe roughly similar features—somewhat tall, pink or purple wavy hair, dark skin, et cetera. The best representation I’ve been able to find is here.”
“It’s a cave painting, and yeah that’s the ambulance man,” Willow whispers into his ear, slipping a hand into his in comfort, and he swallows. Apparently his tear ducts might still be kinda functional, who knew. Just that little bit of comfort where she’s not wallowing in her own guilt. It’s nice to have a best friend.
“Second, going back to that Roman soldier, he was proto-Germanic—as best I can tell, he was recruited from the local populace and promoted several times. That soldier called him ‘Rusk’, a phrase referring to the rushes of his native land, because of his hair. That hair waved like the rushes in the wind.” He pauses again. “After that period, at least some time in between, the figure we’re talking about seems to have always referred to himself by ‘Rush’. Perhaps it amused him, but at any rate, both Newton and Galileo referred to him by that name. Regrettably, the trail goes cold in the modern era—I can’t find anything after the Yucca Flats incident.”
“Anything else you can share?” Giorno, just as intense, but unfailingly polite about it. He’d actually sat with Johan for a bit himself, typing away and probably ruling his little empire from his phone.
“Unfortunately, that’s all I have, but it’s a start. I doubt I shall be able to keep his attention for long, either—in fact, I’m not certain he’s still there at this moment, but the surveillance is a problem, and given what I have heard about his ability to create traps, I don’t think I shall allow the town to resume contact with the outside world until I’m sure we’re no longer in danger—though, of course, I cannot maintain this forever. Six months at most. As for my analysis as to his character...clearly he does not hunt every person he encounters, but he is also clearly had a long while to consider the path he has chosen, and the intelligence to know the consequences of his actions. I don’t believe he will be dissuaded.” And from the guy who thought (apparently correctly? Maybe?) Pixie could be reformed…
“Thank you for the research,” Giles begins, shortly followed by Willow before a chorus drowns it out.
“Maybe we could acquire an old vintage for when we’re done,” Johan adds, when it’s begun to die down. Not that he’ll ever be fully comfortable, but he is pretty cool and deserves something for what is probably a really anxiety-inducing situation.
Father Styx chuckles. “I look forward to it.”
Main Points:
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure/Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Chapter Summary: Styx might have the name of the enemy.
Word Count: 1688
Rating: Teen
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS
Giles and Willow are interrupted in their little nerd-out session by a beep. It’s not the tech he’d been using out in the field—it’d always been just the phone or a video spell when that wasn’t enough—but he’s pretty sure it is tech, judging by the fact that Giles gets frustrated almost immediately and Willow and Andrew team up to try to keep him calm and act as tech support at the same time.
Wait...maybe that’s redundant. He’d held the job for a pretty short time, among the stint of ‘attempted jobs’ way back, but he does vaguely remember ‘keeping people calm’ to be part of the expected job description.
“I apologize for the abrupt message, but it couldn’t wait. I’m afraid the backup generator only has the fuel for the protection spell I have already cast to consecrate the ground and this single phone call, so from here on out you’re on your own, I’m afraid.”
Xander’s sitting up abruptly, feeling a pit in his stomach. “Father, are you safe?
He sounds exactly as welcoming as he had when they’d first showed up—but then, hardly anything fazes the guy, does it? “Ah, young Johan. I heard of your own predicament. I’m praying for a miracle for you. On my side, yes. Some of your alterations to deal with the vampire Dio Brando were useful, and Pixie’s ability to flood the land, while destructive, was likewise helpful, though I also regret to announce that our efforts, while they have rendered us safe from harm, have also essentially trapped us, rather like an old-fashioned moat.”
“So, whatever you’re being menaced by doesn’t use water.” Kakyoin clarifies, wary, watchful, and after what they’ve been through Johan can’t blame them. Hearing about all of this, he’s got a pit in his stomach, but he keeps having to remind himself not to let his imagination go wild with the theories making unproven connections. It’s all he can do—all he’s been allowed to do, rather—but even so, he shouldn’t get ahead of himself, when assuming is a great way to get people killed. (And, he realizes with a shiver, there’s the weirdest part about Pretender. It’s not that big a deal when he’d been dealing with all new people, and the distance of a phone call was enough to keep him out of the situation, but it’s disconcerting, for example, to hear Kakyoin talk and think best friend-helpful young man-cool friend of Jotaro-san’s-uncle and have none of those words apply to himself.)
It’s a fair assumption—they don’t know for sure this is the water demon, who thus far has proven to be very, very deadly. From the slightly amused tone, Styx was anticipating the question, though. “He does, and I’d suppose he has some means of spying, or he would not have acted so swiftly once I’d discovered the relevant data—not an easy task, mind. Not, I’d suspect, a computer virus, though that might be hubris on my part. We’re dealing with an old threat.”
“How old?” Jotaro asks, intense and absolutely preparing for a fight.
And before he can answer, Buffy also interrupts sharply. “How are you alive?”
“Just like Mr. Brando, he appears to have some difficulties with holy water. It doesn’t seem to hurt him badly, but he cannot cross it or at least cannot do so without weakening his powers. I suspect he heals, but the water is thick enough that wading through to get to us would leave him vulnerable. It also ensures he cannot control it in the slightest. Given the age of the information I’ve found, his true identity as an ancient demon is highly likely.” It’s clear he’d anticipated that question too, but then, given how much planning had to go into all of this beforehand, basically laying booby traps to protect the town (maybe they’d inspired him, Jojo thinks with a slight pang), that’s just the kind of priest he is.
And then a thought occurs to Johan. A really, really terrible thought, one he doesn’t want to think about, but. “...Could he be a Pillar Man?”
“...I...cannot rule out the possibility.” It’s a weight, but the Father doesn’t want to dwell on mere speculation any more than Xander does. (And goddess he hopes he’s wrong.) “Let me share what I know for certain. I fancy it should be difficult to uncover any more—I would help, but there are obvious difficulties there, so I regret the legwork must be yours. Fortunately, like my wine cellar, my literature collection is extensive, and I have access to some scanned databases. The first three matters I uncovered myself, as they are more or less in my canon. Other details I cannot speak to. In the 17th century, Galileo Galilei had few visitors in his tower, but, based on my own discoveries, he received one of note several weeks before his death. This man passed into his tower unobserved by the guards placed to watch him, and Galileo claimed afterwards that the man plied him with questions regarding his theory of gravitation and outer space.”
“You’re sure of this.” Giles is, Johan knows without even being able to see it, doing that thing he does where he gets really excited and skeptical at the same time and is probably itching to go through his own books right now. Not that it’s his usual area of study, but, like he’d said before, nerd.
“It’s possible he could have made it up, certainly. Galileo was indeed a fantasist at times, but there are other incidents that compel me to a different conclusion.” And he’s probably really good at sermons, too, because he’s got that sense of when to pause for dramatic effect in storytelling, too.“Isaac Newton, a well-known follower of the church, reported a similar incident. And there is an account from a Roman soldier which claims that a similar figure, hooded and masked, was present on the day of the Crucifixion. But these claims are few indeed compared to the ones I have received from my fellows in other countries. This figure is claimed to have appeared at the height of Babylon by one of my comrades in Sumer. He is in Venice in the 1600s, discussing with the Doge. He is in Greece in a lesser-reputed tale by Homer; he is in the Incan lands discussing terrace farming with a local; he is in Egypt, watching the rising and falling of the Nile. And that is only the human cases. According to my Japanese colleagues—those who deal most with youkai—the youkai have met with him too, and my shamanic friends tell of similar things. There is one story, though I cannot entirely give it credence, that he was present at a nuclear test in Yucca Flats.”
“Like some sort of modern-day boogeyman?” Okuyasu asks, probably scratching his head. And sure, it makes sense to be a skeptic, but from the sound of it he’s fought actual demons and hell Ojiisan was friends with a ghost for a bit. They should know all this stuff is possible. (And he doesn’t have to see to know Josuke isn’t taking this kind of spooky twist without a shiver, either.)
“There are certain commonalities that make it difficult to dismiss for me.” Styx sighs. “First, I’ve been unable to find a single instance of them claiming to have photographed or sketched his face, but they describe roughly similar features—somewhat tall, pink or purple wavy hair, dark skin, et cetera. The best representation I’ve been able to find is here.”
“It’s a cave painting, and yeah that’s the ambulance man,” Willow whispers into his ear, slipping a hand into his in comfort, and he swallows. Apparently his tear ducts might still be kinda functional, who knew. Just that little bit of comfort where she’s not wallowing in her own guilt. It’s nice to have a best friend.
“Second, going back to that Roman soldier, he was proto-Germanic—as best I can tell, he was recruited from the local populace and promoted several times. That soldier called him ‘Rusk’, a phrase referring to the rushes of his native land, because of his hair. That hair waved like the rushes in the wind.” He pauses again. “After that period, at least some time in between, the figure we’re talking about seems to have always referred to himself by ‘Rush’. Perhaps it amused him, but at any rate, both Newton and Galileo referred to him by that name. Regrettably, the trail goes cold in the modern era—I can’t find anything after the Yucca Flats incident.”
“Anything else you can share?” Giorno, just as intense, but unfailingly polite about it. He’d actually sat with Johan for a bit himself, typing away and probably ruling his little empire from his phone.
“Unfortunately, that’s all I have, but it’s a start. I doubt I shall be able to keep his attention for long, either—in fact, I’m not certain he’s still there at this moment, but the surveillance is a problem, and given what I have heard about his ability to create traps, I don’t think I shall allow the town to resume contact with the outside world until I’m sure we’re no longer in danger—though, of course, I cannot maintain this forever. Six months at most. As for my analysis as to his character...clearly he does not hunt every person he encounters, but he is also clearly had a long while to consider the path he has chosen, and the intelligence to know the consequences of his actions. I don’t believe he will be dissuaded.” And from the guy who thought (apparently correctly? Maybe?) Pixie could be reformed…
“Thank you for the research,” Giles begins, shortly followed by Willow before a chorus drowns it out.
“Maybe we could acquire an old vintage for when we’re done,” Johan adds, when it’s begun to die down. Not that he’ll ever be fully comfortable, but he is pretty cool and deserves something for what is probably a really anxiety-inducing situation.
Father Styx chuckles. “I look forward to it.”
