Hi Ho The Sunny'O...

[_gia_]

We're back to the Hellmouth. To serve and protect, that's us, I mean, when we actually get visions of people in the same freakin' country as us. Des's (tele)vision must be on the fritz, because this time she got sound, but no picture. But there were voices of some of the people in Sunnydale, including the slayer. We're on bodyguard duty and we'

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[_giles_]

*checks their water guns and other weapons. kisses Anya on the check and heads out with Gia, noticing her hesitation*

I am quite certain we shall be alright.

*starts heading towards Ruggers Field*

We can patrol the park and make a pass around the hospital area.

[_gia_]

*raises an eyebrow* She looks half your age. I bet you get looks.

I'm sure we'll be fine, I'm a fighter. Sure, park, hospital, fine.

*lets the silence sit in for a while, before it becomes too uncomfortable, fiddles with a stake* Still a watcher?

[_giles_]

*smiles* I assure you, she is very much older than I. By 1000 years give or take. However that is not a fact I mention in her presence.

*smiles politely*

Yes, from what I understand, you are a very skilled fighter.

Yes, I am again a watcher, though Buffy does not need me as much as she used to.

[_gia_]

*snorts* I like Anya, she speaks honestly.

Yeah...something certain people like about me a little too much.

I bet. She's strong and brave, died twice everyone says. Watchers are highly overrated.

*changes the subject* Anyone know why people are burning to a crisp because they've been swept up in the Sound of Music?

[_giles_]

*smiles* That she does.

That you are a skilled fighter? I'm certain Dylan and Connor are just relieved that you have the skills to defend yourself. I do not believe they would ever exploit your abilities. That is just not their way. They care very much about you.

*smiles* Buffy is so much more than the strong and brave slayer. She is s good friend. Has been a surrogate mother to Dawn since their mother passed on. *chuckles* Yes, I believe you are right, watchers are very overrated.

The theory is that whatever this thing is that is causing this induces people to sing and dnace and when they are so overcome with their feeling that is when they combust.

[_gia_]

Not them. Other people. Generally stuffy old British people.

She does it all...*quietly* I wish I could be like her. *clears her throat* Then why do they always have to be so up in your business?

Joy, a whole new meaning to 'dancing 'til you drop.' That's great. What is it? Demon, natural phenomena, pissed off choreographer...

[_giles_]

Well you can't judge all stuffy old englishmen the same way.

*proud smile* Buffy is rather remarkable. But she is not perfect. She would be the first to tell you so. She struggles with her demons, figuratively, as much as the next person.

*confused* Who is always up in you face?

*thoughtful* My theory is that it is a demon of some sort. Willow has been researching as has others. Though a pissed off choreographer is a rather good theory on its own. *smiles at her*

[_gia_]

Why not? That's how slayers are. Champions are. Judged the same way. Treated that way. Made to be--*cuts herself off, tries to check her temper*

Yeah, but she does it. She gets through everyday and she deals and she lives.

*annoyed* People. No one. That theoretical demon. Where are all the damn vampires?

[_giles_]

No one made Buffy or Faith the people who they are today but themselves. The same applies to Angel and Connor. They were given these special circumstances, however the choices they made is what lead to to where they are today.

Perhaps you should speak with Buffy, ask her how hard it is to get through some days. Or Faith.

*looks around* Young Gia, it is never a good plan to ask where all the vampires are when walking about the hellmouth at night. That is usually when they appear in droves. Hopefully, though, they are all down at Ralphs singing a rousing number of Waltzing Matilda, and have decided to take the night off.

[_gia_]

No, but they try. The watchers. They take them and force them to do this duty their way, like it or not, because out of all the hundreds of hundreds they were different. There is no choice. Even Angel! Even Connor. The Powers, striking Des with visions that aren't even visionary, *ranting now, angry, upset* and forcing them into saving who when and where they see fit. How can you say we make ourselves when everything we do revolves around saving someone else?

Let them come. *music cues* Sh--*tries to fight singing, but feels it crawling up her throat, rolls her eyes and lets it out*

Bury me softly in this womb
I gave this part of me for him
*dances to the baseball field in the park and kicks the dirt hard in time to the drum beat, slides to ground at third base*
Sand rains down and here I sit
Holding rare flowers
In a tomb...in bloom

*onto her feet again, she jumps into a dugout*
Down in a hole and I don't know
If I can be saved
*grabs ahold of the chain link fence*
See my heart I decorate it
Like a grave*dances out of the dug

[_giles_]

I am not going to deny that some watchers have used barbaric approaches to training their slayers. I would like to tell you that each of them had only the intentions of keeping their slayers alive. However you and I both know this is not true. That some of them have had ill intentions towards their slayers. All that I can tell you, Gia, is that not all watchers are the same.

I also know that the choice in becoming a slayer is not one the slayer gets to make. However she has to choose to fight. She has to choose to accept the calling. Angel and Conner have to choose to get out of bed to save those people in Destiny and Cordelias visions. Faith, Buffy, Connor and Angel have the choice to fight or ignore their calling and each of them for their own reasons choose to fight.

*looks up at her.*

"Don't be afraid to be weak

[_gia_]

*looks down at him, shaking her head*

I've eaten the sun so my tongue
Has been burned of the taste
I have been guilty.
I have been guilty
Of kicking myself in the teeth

*hops down, trying to stop singing*

I will speak no more
Of my feelings beneath

*tries to quell the music, the song, but feels it hot under her skin and the music changes tempo*

Take the shade from the canvas and leave me the white
Let me sink in the silence that echoes inside
And don't bother leaving the light on
'cause I suddenly feel like a different person

*turns away from him when she hears a vampire, dancing-stalking behind her*

From the roots of my soul come a gentle coercion
And I ran my hand o'er a strange inversion

*runs her fingers over the wood of her stake when the vampire leaps for her, side-stepping and grabbing his arm, throwing him forward with his own momentum*

A vacancy that just did not belong*ducks his swing when the vampire finds his feet, and plunges the the stake into it's heart, the dust exploding dramatically around her with a swell

[_giles_]

*grabs her by the arms*

Gia, you are guilty of nothing except having the will to be alive. Perhaps you can no longer be a child and it was taken from you too soon. However that does not make all lost.

*looks to see if he is reaching her*

[_gia_]

*stares up at him*

I just don't know who I am anymore. Things change too fast and I can't keep up.

[_giles_]

*smiles understandingly at her*

Gia, everyone suffers that at some point. People change, life changes, at a moments notice everything is different and its a struggle for average people to keep up, let alone the extraordinary people like you who have these enormous responsibilities placed on your shoulders at such a very young age. Most people your age have no understanding of who they are, there are some people my age that still have that trouble.

*looks at her*

I have faith in you, Gia. That you'll find your way.

[_gia_]

*looks away, uncomfortable* Thanks.

*clears her throat a little* You're not so bad...for a watcher. *shrugs a little* For anyone.