[043] - audio & action

[slaying]

Killing sprees, huh? That's so last season.

[Buffy sighs, and the journal picks up the gentle clinking of glasses.] Well, I'm a bit more used to--y'know--beating up bartenders for info but now that I am one? Hmm. If anyone's got some juicy knowledge on the murders, swing by Good Spirits and give a girl a hand with her investigating, okay?

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[derek_bliss]

[He's been hearing things, of course, but being out at the desert fort for the past week pretty much kept him from doing anything useful about it. But he's back now, and hey, if people are going to show up to talk about it...well, there's a nice quiet corner of the bar, out of the way, but where he can still definitely hear what's going on.

So, between one moment and the next, Derek manages to pull a trick worthy of the mutual prey he shares with the slayer and just be there in that seat. Right there.

But he'll also stay quiet and simply watch the world around him (and be putting his sensitive hearing to good use) until he's noticed.]

[slaying]

[At a lull in the action, Buffy stops by with a tall, icy glass of drink. It's her new special--a McCoy. It's really just Southern Comfort, lemon soda, and lime juice...but it's pretty good.]

Hey, stranger.

[derek_bliss]

[Derek gives her a smile and takes the glass from her with a thanks. He can smell the ingredients, and that earns a second smile.]

Hey. How's it going?

[A careful sip tells him he likes it enough to be willing to nurse it to the last drop.]

Pretty good, there.

[slaying]

Oh, you know. Trying my hand at a new job. [She grabs a seat next to him--just for a short break.] How're things with you?

[derek_bliss]

All right. Finally got a nap in. [That lasted for three days. But he's not going to mention that part.]

Thinking about my next career move. That sort of thing.

[slaying]

Oh? What's the plan, Stan?

[derek_bliss]

Not sure yet. Part of it involves more of that talking to spirits thing.

Need to get a better lay of the land, I think.

[Derek is quite for a minute while he takes another drink.]

...You happen to know if there's any graveyards? Or burial grounds?

[slaying]

[Of course. Ask the girl who's known to hang out in cemeteries.]

Death doesn't last, remember? But there might be some personal shrines.

[derek_bliss]

Doesn't last for us, no. Gotta wonder about the real Filial, though.

[Derek frowns a little, settling the glass to the counter top, with his hand carefully cupping it and running his fingers along the moisture droplets. His voice is low--just barely loud enough to hear over the noise of the bar.]

They want their brother back. They think eventually, if they kill enough people, the Malnosso will give him back. They'd probably kill everyone, if they could. And they'll probably try it.

You and I know they couldn't though, even if they wanted to accommodate them. S'not how the whole thing works, from what I understand.

[slaying]

Kadaj is throwing a hissy fit. A particularly evil, deadly one. I don't know anything about the other brother--but, yeah. He's gotta be stopped.

[derek_bliss]

From what little I saw of them on the battlefield, they're pretty much hive minded. Makes 'em a nice solid fighting machine, but it also means that if one went 'round the bend, the other isn't far behind. Provided he didn't get there first.

And they have a crazy I doubt death is going to cure. Reasoning doesn't work, either. Already seen a few exchanges on that score.

[Yes, he does pay that much attention. Nasty habit of his, apparently]

[slaying]

Lock them up. That's what I say. Throw them in the tunnels until a solution can be found.

[derek_bliss]

[Derek smiles slightly at that, remembering a conversation he'd had with her about this very thing in regards to someone else a few months ago.]

...You don't think they'd be able to get out? They're crazy, not stupid.

[slaying]

A few guards and charms, and it should be tight. They're only as much of a threat right now because people can't seem to get a hold of them. It's not like their Gods.

[derek_bliss]

[Derek chuckles this time.]

And yet when I suggested the same for myself, you were convinced I'd be able to get out. Don't these guys have access to some extra skills, above what I could do, even as a vampire?

[slaying]

These guys are no vamps. Kadaj thinks he's all that, but he isn't. I'm not afraid of him.

[Yes, Derek, most of this bravado comes from the disaster that was the love spell. She is comfortable with double standards.]