[video]

[abominable]

[There's Anders, trying to pull the chipper, annoying rambler thing he usually does but it's pretty obviously strained.]

So, there we go, the drama is over- well, most of the drama. The plague drama at least. Of course there's our Sith friends- [He stops, rubbing his forehead.]

Oh sod this whole blighted thing. [He sighs] I wanted to- just...

Comments

[slayerdom]

Anders ... [ This is conflicted Buffy. She feels responsible. ]

[abominable]

Sorry about that, must have been focusing too much on the blowing up bit rather than the healing. [... actually he is not at all ready to joke about this, he's just going to hastily continue.]

... so, is that drinking ourselves silly thing still open? Not sure I can do it in celebration but drinking would be nice about now.

[slayerdom]

I should be the one -- [ She stops, though. And her expression is pained because seeing him like this physically hurts. Grimly, she nods, mustering up a smile. ] Yeah. Drinking to the point of silly can happen. I can meet you somewhere.

[abominable]

[He offers her a smile, maybe not the best smile ever but he really doesn't want her to go getting guilty or upset. She was the one who made it possible for them to even have a cure now.] Should be the one who's sorry? No, I don't think so. We all signed up for this knowing what could happen, it's hardly your fault it actually happened. I'm pretty sure Hawke would be thanking you for helping her make sure Aveline isn't going to go ghoul again, in her own, snarky way.

Tonight, that seedy bar near the apartments? Drinks are on me.

[slayerdom]

[ Her eyes widen a little at that, and she has to blink back some wetness in her eyes from the flood of emotion that brings out. She clears her throat and nods. ]

Give me a few minutes, I'll head down there. You know me, sucker for 'free.' [ She's trying to make a joke. But it just falls a little flat, all things considered. ]

[abominable]

[Aw Buffy 8( He tries his best to keel the light heartedness up as well but between them it's pretty pathetic :| ]

Show me someone who isn't and I'll show you a liar. [He rubs the back of his neck] I might be a little late, but I'll be there soon. [If Carver doesn't come kill him first B( ]

[slayerdom]

I can wait. Take your time. [ She gives him a comforting smile, but it's thin and weak. ]

action; unless you want to assume sad drinkings happened?

[abominable]

[And eventually Anders makes it to the seedy bar, entering, looking tired and glancing around for Buffy.]

action; like i'd pass up the chance to thread with you for longer pfff

[slayerdom]

[ She spots him when he comes in and she gets up from the bar to wave him over to an empty seat beside her. She's been there awhile already, camped out with a glass of soda instead of alcohol. She r responsible. ]

action; PFF I don't want to impose B(

[abominable]

[She r silly B( Anders heads over, weak smile and all, taking the seat next to her.] Cosy, isn't it? My first night here Hawke and I came and got hideously drunk. All I can remember is something about the ale being poisoned and somehow gaining a feathered boa along the way.

... how are you? You have that look.

action; you never impose, baby

[slayerdom]

Less worried about poison, more worried about roofies. [ The bartender gives her a flat look for that but she ignores it. ] Which you've probably never heard of. [ So, she'll move on. ] What look am I lookin'? There's no look.

action; aw 8) ty

[abominable]

[Anders gives the bartender his most winning smile and gets a blue ale shoved roughly at him for his trouble.] Rude. [He glances back to her.] No, sounds... well, not all that troubling, sorry to say.

[He takes a drink] Ah, blue ale, will wonders never cease. And yes, there's a look. I'm a Warden, Sunshine and Daisies, I know that look. It's one of those post mission, heavy, 'but at what cost' sort of looks.

action; <333

[slayerdom]

[ She gives a half-smile at that, like 'oh, you.' ] One day, I'm gonna stop hanging around you psychoanalyzey types, and then where will you be? [ There's a tired sigh and she reaches up to rub the back of her neck. ] I'm glad. I'm -- I'm happy. Victorious, even. It's just hard to see the -- It's hard. That's all.

action; <3~

[abominable]

Oh, perish the thought. I'm just criminally clever. [He manages a smirk for that, raising his drink before the solemnity kicks in.] No, I understand. It's silly in a way, isn't it? It's not like they won't be back in a week. Still...

[mmm blue ale] The Wardens are all about sacrificing- always suspecting being a leader was the same. Not something you ever get used to, is it?

action;

[slayerdom]

[ Buffy gives an awkward look, shifting and shrugging her shoulders. Talking about this -- it's not something she's used to. Being the Slayer means being alone. It means no one else understands what having to make those calls is like. But, being a Warden -- that seems pretty close. So, she'll try. ]

Being a leader -- being a Warden, a Slayer, a -- all of it. It means being responsible for death. Sometimes you save people with it. Sometimes they're casualties. You can prepare yourself for it, rationalize it, you can know that in the end it was for the greater good. But, no. You can never get used to it, and it never gets easier.

action;

[abominable]

The greater good- that's what it's always about, isn't it? You know where I'm from the Wardens are a grand kind of story, all the heroics and riding into battle and slaying horrible beasts and stopping Blights. Those stories never tell you about the other bits, like needing to do horrible things sometimes to get the job done, innocent people getting caught in the crossfire, people you can't save.

[He frowns, taking a drink.] Not sure I'd have joined, if I had the choice. I'm guessing Slayers aren't really a career path you can refuse either.