Chapter 31: The Empty Sheath
Sep. 3rd, 2024 12:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Bleach (I Hope Tomorrow's a Better Day)
Chapter Summary: Shunsui and Ukitake want to investigate the scene, so they ask Xander to show them where it happened.
Word Count: 610
Rating: Teen
“Eh, yeah, but I don’t know if the timeline got compressed since I’m human, so it’s like...dog years. And I get the feeling the spirit is kinda impatient.” He sighs. “So, how can I help you?”
“We were wondering if we might see the location you were investigating yesterday.” He’s polite...but that isn’t a request. They’re going to do it with or without him, and probably the best way this can go is with, so he stands, stretching. He’s had to do that a whole lot more, lately, but then there’s probably a very good reason for that, in that he’s been doing a whole lot more than just getting thrown into various things in graveyards.
“Thought you said not to go places on yer own,” Spike comments, and despite himself Xander glances over, and wow okay he has, for some reason known only to chipped vampires, decided that the most useful thing he can do right now is lean up against the wall on full display. Like, there is the entirely predatory ‘I will drain you of all your fluids and am ready to do so violently’ part of his stance that is honestly kind of intimidating, and then there’s also like, thanks Spike, everyone knows you look good, you don’t need to show off.
The Soul Reapers barely react. Which, yeah, okay, besides vaguely liking them, earns a bit of respect, because that’s confidence. It’s the same type of thing that lets you pull off taunts mid-fight. They’re paying attention, sure, but they don’t need to get their swords ready or anything, because they absolutely believe they’ll be ready if they’re attacked.
And—hang on, they might actually be able to be attacked, because they’re not human. Not that they know about that part, not yet, and given that they’re getting the ‘provisionally trusting them’ treatment just like the Initiative, they probably won’t be told about that for a bit, either. Sure, Buffy and Giles might not like him, but Spike is one of their better fighters, and the element of surprise is huge when it comes to fighting. “The more the merrier. Isn’t that a saying in the Living World?” Shunsui asks brightly, and Ukitake hides a laugh behind a sleeve.
That is interesting, Xander reflects. The fact that they’re not in their usual outfits. At least, he assumes his Fighting Ghost form is dressed like they should be. “I don’t know how partyful this is going to be, but sure.” Particularly if Spike is going to be glaring the entire time, but whatever. “It’s a good thing for you that it’s a weekend, or you’d have to wait.”
“We would probably just tour the town ourselves,” Ukitake answers, confirming that too. It’s admirable, in a way. Xander would describe that as gentle steel, maybe? Hopefully he doesn’t end up having to fight them.
“There’s not too much to see, but, sure, I guess. Maybe you’ll spot something I missed,” he responds, standing and stretching and putting the Asauchi away in its sheath. It’d be weirder to say that if he wasn’t actually half-convinced he is missing something, because it feels like he’d noticed something or remembered something that’s gone now.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Bleach (I Hope Tomorrow's a Better Day)
Chapter Summary: Shunsui and Ukitake want to investigate the scene, so they ask Xander to show them where it happened.
Word Count: 610
Rating: Teen
“Simply staring at the Asauchi won’t give you its name, you know.” Shunsui announces his presence with a statement. For someone who can’t sense much of anything at the moment, he’s sure sneaky. Xander tries not to let on how startled he is. By the face the shinigami makes, he’s unsuccessful, but apparently Shunsui hadn’t meant to scare him that much, either. And Ukitake is amused and concerned and apologetic all at once, confirming that read.
“Eh, yeah, but I don’t know if the timeline got compressed since I’m human, so it’s like...dog years. And I get the feeling the spirit is kinda impatient.” He sighs. “So, how can I help you?”
“We were wondering if we might see the location you were investigating yesterday.” He’s polite...but that isn’t a request. They’re going to do it with or without him, and probably the best way this can go is with, so he stands, stretching. He’s had to do that a whole lot more, lately, but then there’s probably a very good reason for that, in that he’s been doing a whole lot more than just getting thrown into various things in graveyards.
“Thought you said not to go places on yer own,” Spike comments, and despite himself Xander glances over, and wow okay he has, for some reason known only to chipped vampires, decided that the most useful thing he can do right now is lean up against the wall on full display. Like, there is the entirely predatory ‘I will drain you of all your fluids and am ready to do so violently’ part of his stance that is honestly kind of intimidating, and then there’s also like, thanks Spike, everyone knows you look good, you don’t need to show off.
The Soul Reapers barely react. Which, yeah, okay, besides vaguely liking them, earns a bit of respect, because that’s confidence. It’s the same type of thing that lets you pull off taunts mid-fight. They’re paying attention, sure, but they don’t need to get their swords ready or anything, because they absolutely believe they’ll be ready if they’re attacked.
And—hang on, they might actually be able to be attacked, because they’re not human. Not that they know about that part, not yet, and given that they’re getting the ‘provisionally trusting them’ treatment just like the Initiative, they probably won’t be told about that for a bit, either. Sure, Buffy and Giles might not like him, but Spike is one of their better fighters, and the element of surprise is huge when it comes to fighting. “The more the merrier. Isn’t that a saying in the Living World?” Shunsui asks brightly, and Ukitake hides a laugh behind a sleeve.
That is interesting, Xander reflects. The fact that they’re not in their usual outfits. At least, he assumes his Fighting Ghost form is dressed like they should be. “I don’t know how partyful this is going to be, but sure.” Particularly if Spike is going to be glaring the entire time, but whatever. “It’s a good thing for you that it’s a weekend, or you’d have to wait.”
“We would probably just tour the town ourselves,” Ukitake answers, confirming that too. It’s admirable, in a way. Xander would describe that as gentle steel, maybe? Hopefully he doesn’t end up having to fight them.
“There’s not too much to see, but, sure, I guess. Maybe you’ll spot something I missed,” he responds, standing and stretching and putting the Asauchi away in its sheath. It’d be weirder to say that if he wasn’t actually half-convinced he is missing something, because it feels like he’d noticed something or remembered something that’s gone now.
