ninth slay ❊ ⊰ voice ⊱ ❊ and every single verse can make it that much worse

[stakes]

[ There's a groan from the other end of the bracelet, a not-all-that-happy type of groan. ]

I took the bracelet off again. So, um... I'm back. What'd I miss? Anything funtastic and spooky? Or is it mostly just the same old taking-everyone-you-love-away-from-the-city, impending-doom Asgard it was before?

PRIVATE; arthur pendragon.

I'm sick of living in Thor house. Got any openings in New Camelot, by chance? 'Cause I need a change of scenery. Or something. Or maybe a change of everything.

END PRIVATE;

Comments

[madcuriosity]

Funtastic? What a most interesting word! I quite like it! Did you make it up?

[stakes]

[ Of all things to pick out of that entire phrase, this girl went with funtastic... A day in the life of Buffyisming. ]

Um -- Not... really. I guess? Sort of? But it's kinda common where I'm from.

[madcuriosity]

[Alice does that. You get used to it.]

Well, it's a very lovely sort of word... even if you don't seem to be saying it in a lovely sort of way.

[stakes]

It can be used in both literal and sarcastic inflections. I totally went sarcastic.

[madcuriosity]

Sarcasm? [Oh a new word, although Alice actually knows it and just never knew the word for it.] Whatever is that, miss?

[stakes]

I, ah -- um. [ How to explain this? ] -- Saying something that you only sort-of... mean? [ Definitions are hard. Sarcasm is sarcasm, right? That's all the description it needs! ]

[madcuriosity]

I only sort of mean? You mean like a lie?

[stakes]

No! No, it's -- different than that. I mean, I guess it could be a lie. Like, say... If another girl looks at you and she thinks your hair's dumb, and she's kinda -- well. Bitchy. She'd say, in a voice like this -- [ She makes a snotty sounding voice ,very nasal, and exaggerated... ] Nice haaaaair. Kinda.

video;

[watchher]

[ It's a smiling Giles who turns on the feed to greet her, all pleased and relieved after the weeks of her absence. ]

Much the same, I suppose. [ He got his first experience in terms of funtastic and spooky: ] It rained, um, cursed candy. Very briefly. [ Not the de-aging kind, thank every god there is. ]

[ And then, of course, there's some more real warmth in it, because he'd been worried: ] ... welcome back, Buffy.

video;

[stakes]

Cursed candy? Oh, god, Giles, please tell me you didn't -- [ Her eyes are pleading. NO CREEPY RIPPER SEX RIGHT??? ] Really, though - everyone's okay, right?

[ She's relieved to see that he's still here, as well, and she smiles. It's a godsend, really. ] Thanks, Giles. I just needed a break.

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

You took it off knowing you'd turn grey?

video;

[stakes]

I did.

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

Why? If you don't mind me asking.

video;

[stakes]

It's um -- well, it was a bunch of stuff, but... My boyfriend. They booted him from the city. Needed a mental break from everything. Too heavy. So I gray-comaed out.

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

I wish I could do that back home... [ He's lost count how many times he would have liked to take a mental break from his life for a while. ] I'm sorry your boyfriend's gone. I know I'd be devastated if my girlfriend got sent home... But maybe he'll come back?

video;

[stakes]

[ She snorts. ] No kidding. An off button for all the crazy? Please and thanks. [ Buffy offers him a small, grateful smile - weak as it is. It's a sweet sentiment. ] I'm not holding my breath. Besides, when they come back they don't usually remember us anyway. But, thanks. I'll get through it, just like everything else.

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

Why would your boyfriend not remember you if he came back?

video;

[stakes]

Because that's how it works. When people leave, they go home. They forget everything about this place. It's really, really, super rare if they remember when they come back.

[ video || private ]

[pratentious]

I suppose that depends on if I'll have to wake each morning wondering whether you'd gone off to join the gray faces again.

[ Guess who has two thumbs, a crown, and is not hardly amused by your sudden disappearance, Buffy. Go on. Guess. ]

[ video || private ]

[stakes]

I had my reasons. You, of all people, should understand needing a break.

[ video || private ]

[pratentious]

Certainly so, but this is an extremity better left unventured. You don't simply get to stop being you when things become difficult. You, of all people, should understand that.

[ video || private ]

[stakes]

I needed a brain-freeze moment. [ Your concern is mostly angry-sounding. ] They took Sam, Arthur. On top of everything else, it was too much. I was tired. I needed rest. And look! Here I am. Rested.

[ video || private ]

[pratentious]

[ Not angry. Frustrated, maybe, but it's more like he's disappointed.

Still, he does understand, to an extent. He stops, inhales deeply with a minute shake of his head, and speaks softer. ]

They took a great many people, Buffy, and for a moment, I thought they took you too.

[ video || private ]

[stakes]

[ Buffy feels a sharp stab of guilt. Arthur... has been there for her through so much, they've been supports for each other through so much... And she just left him. Selfish. She was selfish. Her eyes drop, and she swallows. She composes herself, and prepares a heaping...

Pile of levity. ]

You think I could leave you behind? Who'd be there to make sure your ego kept in check?

[ video || private ]

[pratentious]

[ It is rather their brand of coping, is it not? Pretend nothing's wrong at all. ]

Hardly anyone at all. I'd have the city under my rule within the week.