[Accidental Voice // Action] 018

[silvergeneral]

[the journal cuts in with the steady crunch of boots on gravel--and then a quicker, lighter step following; Sephiroth's voice starts up]

"You know I don't need your help, yes?"

[and then... Faith?]

"Help hell. You are ten ways worth of creepy just showing up at my window and asking after borrowing an axe, you know that? Girl's gotta keep an eye

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[slaying]

[Whoa, and what a day for Buffy to actually choose to leave the house and venture into the cold. She is picking up a few necessities and steps out of the shop only to be confronted with this sight.]

I'd watch out--that girl behind you? Kinda dangerous when you get into the snubbing department.

[Buffy has directed her conversation directly at Sephiroth, with an undecided and rather hesitant half-smile as an aside to Faith. What are you up to now, Miss Other Slayer?]

[silvergeneral]

[he pauses to look at the new voice and nod politely]

"Then I suppose it's a slightly more comforting worldview to know that the woman racing after the raging axe-murderer she doesn't know at least knows how to take care of herself."

[and Faith just rolls her eyes]

"Oh come on. B, weigh in. Isn't it a Slayerly duty of all that's good and fluffy to make sure people who just waltz up to your window and demand weapons like it's drive-through day at Guns'R'Us aren't using them for the mass-slaughter of babies and small animals?

I mean have you seen this guy? He's straight off the printing presses of Cloud's danger li--ps. You know. Constantly talking about him. And. Stuff."

[flustered!Faith isn't keen on revealing Cloud's latest attempt at playing leader-san and Sephiroth can't resist a brief smile since he already knows:]

"I don't suppose anyone has ever told you that you can't keep a secret to save your life."

[slaying]

Him? [Buffy addressed Faith entirely, now.] That guy, a villain? I mean I get the black leather thing, sure--but the hair? So much more glam rock than gloom.

[She tries to resize up Sephiroth.] Why so axe-happy, L'Oreal?

[silvergeneral]

[snark snark snark; don't take it personal, B, this guy walks way too fast and even Slayer chicks can not help short legs--well. And maintaining dignity, anyway.]

"This from the girl who goes way back with a once evil, bloodsucking, Slayer-killing, railroad-spike-happy vamp who buys his pretty nail polish from Hot Topic."

[And alas that Sephiroth has never heard the words "Because I'm worth it." and he just looks at her blankly.]

I beg your pardon?

[he hasn't even gotten on the axe thing, yet]

[slaying]

[Well, Faith? We'll just have to show this guy what it means to deal with two Slayers. The original kind, not the press-ganged by a certain wiccan's spell kind.]

Of the two choices you could have gone with there, you just had to pick Spike? [Vague eye roll.] You could've given me a break and gone with the less embarrassing ex-squeeze.

And as for you--[She rounds on Mister Worth It now.]--didn't your mother ever teach you it was bad manners to steal a girl's weapons?

[silvergeneral]

"Well I couldn't very well use Angel. So far's I've seen 'im, he's never gone mall-goth or Bowie."

[Speaking of Sephiroth, he's got a funny look on his face, as he's briefly reminded of his Mission. And then he has the grace to look affronted.]

"There was no question of stealing, my lady. Just one of borrowing, which she fully agreed to before she took it upon herself to follow me."

"You were carrying a sword seven freaking feet long, what, you didn't think I'd let you downsize your weapon-of-choice first before you went off to do your dirty work?"

"I did swear to you upon my honor that no one was going to get hurt through the use of it."

"And how does that circumvent-y talk just not reek of suspicious?"

[slaying]

Look, axe-guy, there aren't many things to do with that kind of axe that don't involve hurting someone. So what's your deal? Wood-chopping? Fire-fighting? Maybe a really big roast dinner that needs to be carved up?

[Hands on hips--she's getting serious. Faith? You've seen this look before even if he hasn't.]

[silvergeneral]

[Eesh, what is it with you B that has you all succint and make-sensey all the time?]

"...What she said."

[There is a moment where Sephiroth frowns, and considers the two of them ve-e-ry closely in the impending doom kind of way. But that moment passes and he shrugs.]

"My name is Sephiroth. And my business is to try and get through to my mother."

[Of course that doesn't sound any better, and this time, he's fully aware of that fact because he sighs.]

"Perhaps it's better for you to see first, receive explanation afterwards."

[so he sets off again; Faith follows throwing a bewildered look at Buffy that says "what, should I Hulk out on him now?"]

[slaying]

[It's all the arguing with Sunnydale's vamped teenagers. Hones a girl's rhetorical abilities.

Still, Buffy hangs back a moment to quietly mention to Faith:] Let's go with the benefit of the doubt, here. Tail, observe, and confront if it looks like big silver here's got major momma issues and is looking for a little literal severing of the family ties.

[silvergeneral]

[Oh Buffy, you and your actual planning business. This is why Faith (secretly) fangirls you. But only sometimes.]

"Ten-four."

[But of course Sephiroth can hear you, young lady, and he glances over his shoulder.]

"What you're thinking has been done before. It's not enough to stop her, even if that were my intention, which today it is not."

[slaying]

[And your lack of planning and free-spirit just might be why Buffy secretly envies you, Faith. The grass is always greener, right?]

Jeez, what's the momma's boy got? Vamp hearing?

[She shouts up after Sephiroth:] So either your mother is stuck in some horror-movie style cellar and you've gotta chop her free or your family reunions might have something to do with forty whacks the surname Borden?

[silvergeneral]

"Something like that, actually. The first part, in any case. I don't know what you're talking about regarding the second."

[And so he and his mighty quest have led their diminutive parade right through the doors of... Community Housing Building 2. Very intimidating. And he heads for the stairs.]

"But you'll see once we get there."

[slaying]

[Buffy attempts to exchange a look with Faith as they enter. Not only have they ended up playing follow-the-leader with someone who looks like they belong in a Queen tribute band, but he clearly has no sense of humour. Fantabulous.]

[silvergeneral]

[He actually has plenty sense of humor, but your particular brand just goes way over his head, alas.

Meanwhile, Faith's fingering the hilt of a knife with a dubious look on her face as they finally approach one of the doors on the second floor. Unlike most other buildings, this place, this floor is silent and it wigs her out.]

"And you're saying what part of this isn't creepy?"

"Oh, it's creepy. But it's not of my own doing. It might also be dangerous, though that's less likely. I can't know for certain though, I've never taken this approach before. Either way, please keep to the side."

[he levels a serious look at both of them]

"And don't overreact."

[he reaches for the doorknob; if you look closely at the door, both Slayers can see it's already straining at the hinges]

[slaying]

[So not enjoying this. Buffy takes a measly, tiny, horrible excuse for a step back. If there's action? She'll be in on it.]

This has gone beyond creepy. This is like the next town over that everyone from Creepsville thinks is too creepy and avoids.

[silvergeneral]

"And yet you still came along. I might almost admire your bravery."

[Better than nothing. Of course, just as he's about to grasp the knob and turn, the door ups and gives way and explodes outwards, blasting him into the opposite wall.

...Ow.

Faith's got a knife in her hand now, but she's swearing a blue streak at the wall of dark red... what? Coral-looking stuff? spilling out of the door. It's not doing anything, but it is... growing.]

"Ew. Dude, what the hell is that?"

"The reason for the axe."