Third Cycle [Video]

[survivethesiren]

[Gem is sitting outside, holding an umbrella over herself as shade. She is attempting to get used to the sun; she still finds it strange, but it seems here to stay so she will adapt.

Looking at the journal, she purses her lips, and finally speaks]Many people seem curious or confused as to what I am. I thought perhaps I should explain to all; I am

Comments

[ is action viable? ]

[slaying]

[ normally? buffy would have totally risen to that dig. but she just spent the last week hunting and battling one of her closest friends in luceti as he slipped over to the vamp side. she hasn't the inclination or the energy to get into a cat fight.

but if you're game for it? as she passes where gem sits outside under her umbrella, she nods. tired-looking and fightless. ]

[ action ] yep!!

[survivethesiren]

[Gem quirks an eyebrow as Buffy passes. She isn't one who normally speaks to women...or anyone who passes really. Especially someone she had a hard conversation with early on. But still, she speaks, once.]

Trouble?

[ action ]

[slaying]

...There always is.

[ she slows -- what jack had to say about gem sticks in her mind and she at least doesn't have to work hard to be standoffish. the horror of the last week does that for her. ]

[ action ]

[survivethesiren]

Truly?

From what I've seen, this place is much more peaceful than where I hail from.

[Out of all things, that was something she liked about this place.]

[ action ]

[slaying]

It feels that way, at first.

[ action ]

[survivethesiren]

[She watches Buffy, tilting her head.]

Perhaps compared to some worlds. But in worlds where war is in full force, or a dictator has made everyone fearful...this place is better.

[ action ]

[slaying]

Yeah, well? I come from one of those full-force wars. But terror is still terror no matter what the context. Here, there. Somewhere else. I'm not gonna settle for a lesser of two evils just 'cause someone says I have to.

[ and yet she does every day. ]

[ action ]

[survivethesiren]

We all make deals with devils.

[She did once, and she would do the same again.]

If the lesser of two evils gets you closer to your goal, the compromise must be taken.

[ action ]

[slaying]

That's the difference. Me? I don't compromise. And I don't deal with devils.

[ but she will sleep with vampires. ]

[ action ]

[survivethesiren]

Somehow I don't believe that.

And I don't think you do, either.

[ action ]

[slaying]

Hope you're used to getting things wrong, then.

[ because, gem? she genuinely does believe it. that's the problem. ]

[ action ]

[survivethesiren]

Ahh. So you don't see it.

[Gem shrugged slightly.]

I am an observer, a watcher. I simply state what I see.

[ action ]

[slaying]

Watcher, huh? I've already had enough of those. Most of them border on the incredibly useless.

[ most of them. ]

[ action ]

[survivethesiren]

I may be many things, but useless is not one of them.

[She brushes a piece of grass off her knee.]

You live with Leonard, do you not?

[ action ]

[slaying]

[ buffy crosses her arms; here is an incredibly tender subject. bones is one of her most preciously guarded friends in luceti. ]

He doesn't like being called that. [ not unless you're emony, at least. ]

[ action ]

[survivethesiren]

[She shrugs]

He has never corrected me. When he does, I will stop.

[She observes and quickly processes the way the woman is standing, her facial expressions. And in a rare move, Gem decides to swallow her pride.]

He is a friend to me, and I am sure he would not like knowing we...quarrelled.

I am willing to start over.