[Thread] I put a spell on you

[inked_wiccan]

Characters: AU!Willow Rosenberg, OPEN
Where: The library, perhaps the fountain later
When: Dusk
Summary: Willow goes to the library to pick up some books as she awaits the shipment of her altar.
Warnings: None yet. If Layla pops up, there'll be redheaded shipping!

Comments

[papa_high_lord]

Organizing the books in the library was a habit of Saetan's. Even with the care the residents here took to replace them many often ended up left on tables or in the wrong locations and putting them back in order gave him something to do with his evenings. Operating on a nocturnal schedule meant there were rarely people around to socialize with, after all.

Tonight was clearly an exception, he reflected hearing the door open and glancing up. It took him a moment to place the girl who entered but then he saw those green eyes that had given her away the last time they had met; she had been transformed into Dorothea, and it was those distinctive eyes that had saved her from his rage.

"Good evening, my dear." He greeted with a mild smile. "I thought you had left us. It's lovely to see you again."

[inked_wiccan]

Willow stopped when she heard the greeting, remembering the chill that had gone up at her spine at his rage. She flashed him a bright smile. "I did leave, for a time. Two months, but to me it was as if I'd blacked out. I'd say it's terrible to be back, but...I have reasions to be glad I'm back."

Willow remembered her manners and nodded. "It's a pleasure to see you as well. How've you been?" Willow asked, looking at the much older gentleman.

[papa_high_lord]

"How odd." Saetan remarked softly, looking thoughtful. He had always wondered what happened to those who vanished from the compound, but there were no clues in Willow's memory to help solve that particular little puzzle.

"Well enough." He replied, reaching for another book and returning it to it's home on the shelves. "Do you mind if I ask what you're reading, darling?"

[inked_wiccan]

Willow glanced down at the stack of books in her arms, turning them onto their sides so she could read the spines. "Oh, um, Discoverie of Wicca, Witchcraft, Theory and Practice, Advanced Candle Magick, Cunningham's guides to crystals, gems, metals, and herbs, and The Little Engine that Could. You know, the basics," Willow said with a giggle.

"I'm just kidding on the last one," Willow reassured him.

[papa_high_lord]

Saetan's curiosity was instantly aroused as she listed the titles of the books. They were different from any of the Craft books he was used to, and it certainly sounded like things were different in her world. He suspected the book's definition of gems would not include Jewels, but perhaps their use of candles was similar to the way they opened Alters in his home.

"You're studying, then." He replied with a smile. "Tell me about what witches can do in your world."

[inked_wiccan]

Willow shifted the armload from one crook to the other, looking down at them for a moment. "It's not like they are as impressive as yourself and Surreal, but...from what I've learned, they can do all sorts of things. People don't believe they're real. The most commonly practiced craft is Wicca. They've actually made it a religion, the government has. But a lot of people don't respect it, like they should. They think the Wiccans are a bunch of tree-hugging, granola-eaters who want to worship the plants and dance around naked and stuff like that."

Willow frowned a little. Despite how far they'd come, segregation-wise, they're still so far behind on tolerance. "But witches can do...just about anything. I'm not saying they can turn back time, but...when they're powerful enough, or if there's enough of them, they can do...amazing things."

[papa_high_lord]

"Here, let me help you with those." Saetan offered as she shifted the books, reaching out to take a few from the large pile for her. "And please don't assume I'm impressive just because my magic is different. I assure you, that is hardly the word for my power."

He frowned a little at the idea of magic being looked down upon in such a way, setting the books down on the nearest table and taking a seat to begin flipping through them absently. "And just what can you do, Lady? How much power and training do you have?"

[inked_wiccan]

"Thank you," Willow said with a small smile as he took several, setting them on the table. Willow followed him, setting the rest of the stack, arranging them from largest to smallest. There wasn't much of a difference but there was one.

"Well, I got interested in Wicca in high school. The very first spell I performed was to reensoul a vampire, Angelus. He was here, for a time. I haven't heard much from him lately, so I'm not sure if he's still here. Anyways, um, all through the rest of high school, I studied more. I got pretty good at moving stuff with my mind. Small stuff like pencils at first. I'm still working on that. I even got a tattoo after I turned eighteen, to celebrate my power," Willow said, pride evident in her tone.

[papa_high_lord]

Saetan listened intently to her story, mentally comparing her powers to the ones common in his world and coming up with plenty of similarities. It always interested him in this place to find out what he could about different forms of magic. "Vampires have no souls in your world?" He asked curiously. Certainly in his world they used the term Guardian instead but as far as he had been able to gather they were the same thing. This was an interesting difference.

Realizing he had been sidetracked, he added "Did you have a teacher? Or did you learn all this on your own?"

[inked_wiccan]

Willow shook her head. "No. When a person becomes a vampire, their soul is...basically replaced by the vampiric essence. But there's a gypsy curse that reunites the vampire's soul with his body. They're still a vampire, but they're extremely aware of all the horrible things they've done and they mourn for the people they've murdered

[papa_high_lord]

"In my world, the soul never leaves to begin with." Saetan murmured thoughtfully, looking away for a moment before turning his attention back to Willow. He had never been like most demon-dead or Guardians, preferring to survive mostly on animal blood and any willing offerings made. After the things Luthvian had accused him of centuries ago, he had stopped even that much. The only exception was the blood gathered during a formal Execution, but thankfully those happened rarely.

"No need to apologize for rambling, my dear." He informed her with a smile. "Its the best way to get details, I always feel. You must be very clever to have taught yourself." He added, already knowing where he was going with this. Adopting and tutoring young witches had become more than a hobby over the past decade or so since he had Jaenelle and she had brought the coven to the Hall.

[inked_wiccan]

Willow turned over the idea of vampires turned with their souls and wondered if the vampires in her world would have been any different if that were true. Would they stick to feeding off criminals and animals, or would they embrace their nature and feed on the person irregardless of who they were?

Willow breathed a small chuckle, ducking her head sheepishy. "Well, I was the student with the highest GPA in high school, and I was one of the brightest freshman the University of Sunnydale had, or so the Dean told me, last time I spoke with him." Willow looked up from the books, meeting the older man's golden gaze. "When you really don't have that many friends, you tend to throw yourself into your studies. And that's what I did," Willow said with a shrug.

[papa_high_lord]

Saetan gave her a sympathetic nod. 'Yes, I've often found books to be a good cure for loneliness myself." He smiled faintly, then, after another little pause, "Tell me, my dear, have you found a tutor here? Or are you still learning on your own?" It seemed a shame for such a bright and talented young lady to have to get on without any assistance, in his opinion.

[inked_wiccan]

Willow scrunched up her nose as her head tilted from one side to the other. "Hard to say, Surreal helped me with a few things, but I haven't seen her in so long. Been pretty much stickin' it out by myself for a while. Reminds me of when I was just starting out," Willow replied with a small smile.

[papa_high_lord]

Saetan decided to get right to the point. He had beat around the bush and tried to drop subtle hints long enough. Obviously it would be better just to ask. "Would you like my help?"

[inked_wiccan]

Willow's eyes widened as she met his gold orbs once more. "Y-you...I..."

Willow swallowed hard, stopping herself from throwing her arms around his neck again and gushing her thanks. She, instead, tried to go the calm, cool, but totally in awe route. "Thank you. Thank you so much, I...I would be honored."