The inmates are running the asylum.

[druci11a]

Drusilla cackled as she felt a wild energy fill her.  She was an old vampire, and powerful in her own right, but this took her beyond that, into another realm.  The chains that held her to everyone around her snapped and fell to her feet, leaving her a burning brand, standing in the middle of the road.

Vampires!  To me!  She shouted, the voice

Comments

[buffy_slayer]

As the vampire disintegrates under Buffy's stake, she steps out of the way of another panicky human.

"How close are we to the Wolfram & Hart offices, Giles?" She brushes back loose strands of hair that are sticking to her forehead, breathing a little heavily. They'd been moving along in the streets for what felt like all night, with no sign of sunrise quite yet.

[ripper_in_tweed]

"Hrrrrrm...." he ponders, spraying another vampire with holy water. He pulls his map out of his pocket with the other hand and glances at it.

"Not far. Certainly no more than... oh..." He pauses and squirts again, then glances at the map, without missing a beat. "...four miles?"

[buffy_slayer]

She finishes off the vamp, who is scrabbling at his smoking skin and screaming.

"Four miles? Really?"

Buffy stands on tiptoe and looks down the street one way, and then the other. It's a chaotic tumble of humans and vampires, running every which way.

"We've got to fight our way through four miles of this. No problem, right?" Buffy tries to look chipper, but as she's covered in dust and sweaty, she fails.

[enterxandman]

"We could take the bus, but.. it's probably safer to walk. Out here, it's just vampires to deal with."

Xander's got a crucifix in one hand, and a stake in the other, and he's looking a little nervous.

[druci11a]

She hasn't been resting on her laurels.

She knows how good Buffy is, she knows how quickly vamps turn to dust. She knows that somewhere, Daddy is out there as well. The other Slayers were always kept isolated by the Watchers council. It was just this one, rebellious, blond bitch that refused to play by the rules.

So, Dru was going to change the rules.

She'd sent out half of her vampires to kill Buffy, and the other half to go recruiting.

This was going to take a *lot* of muscle.

Drusilla worked on a plan.

[whedon_bigbad]

"Here, your worship," a vampire came running up to her, carrying something wrapped in a linen cloth that looked older than Rome. "Just what you wanted," he added, trying to curry favor

[buffy_slayer]

They're still fighting. And still coming at them, wave after wave.

Buffy can see the Wolfram & Hart building from where she stands - so very close, and there's still a sea of vampires to wade through before they can get to what might be freedom.

Or might not be.

She takes a quick assessment of those close to her.

Xander is bruised, but still going. Once he stops quipping, she'll worry about him.

Giles is limping, but still fighting.

She yells over her shoulder at Samantha, "How're you guys..." One vamp down, and then another. "... doing?"

[ripper_in_tweed]

"I'll make it," Giles sighs, opening his book. His squirt gun is nearly empty -- best to save the last few squirts until he's really sure he needs it.

Now to find a spell that will help.

[whedon_extras]

Long out of arrows, and separated from the supply chain, Sam has traded her crossbow for a stake. The mobile command center they arrived with has proven slower, and Sam agreed with Buffy's assessment that Wolfram & Hart is as good a direction to move in as any, although hearing the name made her glower a bit, too.

She's not mentioned Riley once she arrived on the scene, nor has Graham, who insists on continuing to fight despite a massive shoulder injury. He looks like he's in agony, but doesn't stop.

The soldiers that accompany them occasionaly stop and glance at Buffy, one of them even saying something out of earshot, for which Sam seemed to put him in his place for. It's obvious there's something going on, but Sam seems to have it under control. For the moment.

[enterxandman]

"So, things are on fire, the undead are running the streets, and the normal people are fighting for their lives. That means we're allowed to start the looting, right? I really have had my eye on an iPod.."

Yeah, he's still got a few left in him.

[druci11a]

Things are falling into place.

Her soldiers have recruited, and she has a fair amount of them now. Scouts, heavies, infantry and cavalry, all hers to command.

She has her plan. She's made it clear who is to be taken out immediately, and who can be picked off at leisure later. She knows those she is up against are incredible fighters, but even the best can be worn down. Humans are also very fragile to bullets, and she's gotten a hold of some guns for her men.

And then, there are her visions. Visions that she's been using to check up on her foes. They're in-fighting. Delicious. Drusilla cackles with delight and runs a hand over the stake. It radiates power, calling for blood.

It hasn't seen enough.

[lovesbitch]

Spike has been watching the fighting, growing more and more agitated as he does so. He can't do anything. He can't fight, he can't punch, rip, tear shred....

".... Buffy..."

He should have known she'd be here.

He should have known.

Seeing her, the frustration, the anger and the anguish he's been feeling all come together in a moment of action he hopes is inspired.

He hopes it is even possible.

"Sorry Fred."

With that, Spike leaps into the body of the woman who has been his companion on this vigil on the rooftop.

[whedon_angel]

Fred looks confused for a moment, when Spike apologizes to her. She can't even get out a, "For what?" before he possesses her. It feels like someone's thrown cold water on her body, and she gasps as her consciousness is knocked backwards, into the passenger seat of her brain.

What's going on? she shouts into the black nothingness that is all she can see. Hello? SPIKE! She wanders around, trying to get a feel for how large of a place she's in. It seems limitless.

don't leave me in the dark..

[lovesbitch]

You're not alone, pet. Spike reaches out a 'hand' and grabs her arm. We're going to go save the day. As he pulls her closer, she can hear the grin in his voice. Or at least help.

Spike looks down toward the ground, taking a few moments to get used to this body. The balance is different... and... He's not going to think about that for too long.

And now... It is time to get to the ground.

Fast.

[whedon_angel]

Oh, thank you, Spike, There's a movement she makes, as though she's pushing glasses up her nose. Even though she has no glasses, and not actually a nose here, either. What did you DO? She looks around, confused, but much less lost.