Fifty more like her get off the bus every minute

[summers_day]

RP to ConnorBuffy couldn't help thinking of the old show business cliche as she stepped into the terminal at LAX. There were way too many pretty people in this town and, considering her desperate need to shower, and burn all her clothes, she didn't feel like one of them

Comments

[abetterlie]

As well as making him sure she's here about supernatural business, her reply makes him smile.

"Well, then I promise I won't make you die of boredom,"

Connor quips back, then gets more serious. And risks plain talk.

"Okay. On the level. If you've got problems of the non-human kind, I can help you with that. If the problems are human, it depends. But then the options are sort of limited."

Meaning he can't kill humans, as opposed to demons.

[summers_day]

"My problems are strictly of the nonhuman variety," Buffy assures him. "Let me explain. I made a chart."

She looks down at the legal pad, with its interconnected web of roman numerals and bullet points. She concentrates on remembering which sections of the graph represented which parts of her plan, then finally heaves a sigh. "Screw it, I suck at this." Looking up at Connor, she says hopefully, "Could I just show you?"

[abetterlie]

The chart bewilders him. Even Wesley didn't do that. So he's really relieved at her question.

"Let's go,"

Connor says, then recalls he hasn't eaten since early morning - those long drives to and from college don't make for long breakfeast time - , and if it is reconnaissance and/or instant action, it might take a while, so he adds hopefully:

"Can we grab a sandwich on the way out?"

[summers_day]

In her nervous preparation for the meeting, Buffy realizes, she forgot to actually eat anything. Plus, that coffee's going to go right through her.

"Good idea. can you pick me up, um, do they have something with chiken and um, sprouts?" She doesn't remember what you can order in a diner in California. "I gotta pee." She paused. "Sorry. That's what my friend Willow calls a public service announcement." Then she flexes and pokes her bicep, silly from the caffeine and the prospect of a fight. "Then I'll be all ready to kick butt."

[abetterlie]

Now she's babbling again. It seems that either one of them is doomed to do that during this conversation. The "kicking butt" part still doesn't clue Connor on to the fact that she's a Slayer. He has seen both Cordelia and Fred fight, and fought with them, and of course has been a fighting team with Justine for months now, so he's quite familiar with non-superpowered females holding their own. However, they usually need weapons. He has some stuff in the convertible, but he doesn't know what she's familiar with. Except that she doesn't like guns, which is fine with him, because he doesn't, either. Who needs guns? He nods, and by the time she's back, is equipped with sandwiches and a bag. It does occur to him that she just made him pay for both, despite being the client, but it's not that much of an expense. T

[summers_day]

Buffy had every intention of paying for the sandwich when she ordered it. But Connor just hands it to her without noting the price, and she accepts. She's gotten used to the casual, communal style of the backpacking culture, and so she smiles and takes a bite.

"Thanks," she says, around the edges of her mouthful. "Is good." Then, in response to his question, she opens up her REI windbreaker and shows him a row of stakes concealed in the mesh lining meant for hiking gear. "I'm an old-fashioned girl." Another bite. "Not that I say no to a good crossbow." One bad thing about the past year's nomadic lifestyle, for all its openness, has been a few too many instances of Can I help you carry that? for her liking

[abetterlie]

Obviously, someone at his age would not be able to afford such a car unless he had rich parents.

(Or a rich boyfriend, Angelus comments sarcastically in his head, which Connor really doesn't need right now.)

"It was a gift,"

he says hastily.

"From the guy who used to do this job here before me."

True, and it avoids any terms that have to do with family. Her stakes show Buffy is a true professional, so he gets the crossbow and hands it to her. He has some stakes himself, and isn't sure whether or not to take the axe. It depends on whether...

"We don't have to drive, though, if it's not far. Your problem, I mean."

He looks up at the sky. Perhaps twenty more minutes, and the sun will have set. But walking around with an axe in your hand for long could attract undue attention by civilians, that's why he asks.

"Are we talking about a nest here or streetgangs?"

[summers_day]

Buffy nods. Connor is smart. Cars increase speed but they limit mobility; they can turn into traps. That's why Buffy never learned herself. That and the whole "steering in reverse moves your car the opposite way than you think" thing. Stupid cars.

She takes the crossbow and starts to move in the general direction of the shelter. Connor keeps pace with her, which Buffy isn't used to and didn't expect. But then, his legs are longer

[abetterlie]

At this point, Connor is starting to suspect Buffy isn't the usual human variation of demon fighter, because the only other people whom he didn't have his walking speed to adjust for have been Angel and Faith. But what she says prevents him from commenting on it. This is a more than serious problem

[summers_day]

"I didn't think of that," Buffy admits, then nods at him. "Smart. I was in a situation like that before. . .well, several and. . ." The 'hey it's daylight!' trick only works once, unless it actually IS morning; when Spike had Ford and Anne, she was able to distract him by holding Drusilla hostage herself. But you couldn't exactly count on your run of the mill vampires having those kinds of attachments, and even if you could, you would have to know them better to exploit them.

Without a concrete plan of her own, she's willing to listen to Connor's ideas. But first, he has to know she's not just talk. In response to his question, she says, "Race you to the corner" -- and off she goes.