http://1inageneration.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] 1inageneration.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] tampered2009-02-28 01:31 am

log; ongoing

When; Er. The 27th?
Rating; G. Come on.
Characters; Buffy Summers and Rupert Giles [livejournal.com profile] everheardoftact
Summary; The Watcher and the Slayer discuss some serious things.
Log;

The last couple of days- and more importantly, the encounter with Wesley, had definitely opened up her eyes to more than a few things. More so to the fact that there was almost nothing she could do here, in the City. Any baddies she beat would just respawn the next day like a sick real-life game of pac man. And that was even before Buffy realized the fact that sixty percent of the City could most likely kick her ass.

It was more than a little disheartening.

Not to mention the fact that Dawn was gone and Sam was avoiding her ever since- well. It was starting to feel like the small cozy niche she'd made her was starting to fall apart. No, scratch that. Crash and burn.

Buffy shows up to training on time- if a little bit absentminded and Giles would surely notice that. Mostly because she just nearly walked into a wall.

"Giles? One Slayer, reporting for training duty."

[identity profile] everheardoftact.livejournal.com 2009-02-28 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Giles had been readjusting the armguards over his forearms when he saw Buffy coming into the small room below the Library that he had absconded with for such things, noticing almost immediately the way her body was here but her mind seemed to be lagging a few yards behind. He slid his glasses off his face, brows knit, squinting.

Should he ask?

"You're very punctual today, Buffy. Disturbingly so, actually. Is something wrong?"

[identity profile] everheardoftact.livejournal.com 2009-03-01 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
There was a large sword on a nearby table, blunt-edged, and Giles picked it up, leaning forward slightly from the weight which was just slightly too much for him to handle, but which would be near perfect for Buffy's purposes. He paused for a moment, staring across the small distance to the Slayer before setting the tip of the weapon against the marble floor and sliding his glasses off, rubbing at his eyes with the sleeve of his free arm.

"Of course it's working, Buffy. Of course it's helping. We're keeping you in form, and...Drusilla is here, so."

[identity profile] everheardoftact.livejournal.com 2009-03-01 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Not every longsword is a Claymore, Buffy. This one is--" Giles paused for a long moment, considering the worthwhileness of the argument he was starting, or the lecture-- it was usually a combination of both, with Buffy. At the moment, the opportunity cost of correcting her was far too high. Buffy had something on her mind, and as distant and polite as he could be at times, he always wanted to know what she was feeling and why.

If his-- if she was upset, Giles wanted to know why.

He cleared his throat and leaned the heavy weapon against the side of the table, stepping closer to her with arms folded behind his back.

"There is a use. Discipline is a reward all on its own, but you know what, it doesn't matter. Why don't you tell me why you're feeling so unenthusiastic about your training today? I know how much you are naturally disposed to disliking drudgery, but...well, usually you do so look forward to leaving me with giant bruises."

[identity profile] everheardoftact.livejournal.com 2009-03-01 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
He could tell-- as plain as anything else --how flimsy her front was, how she was trying to put up a brave and strong face for him, and for Willow, like she always did; she was the Slayer, strength was what she had most to offer. But not right now, he couldn't stand it, and she didn't need to pretend to be a pillar. So Giles shook his head and nearly rushed forward bodily to wrap her in a hug, the kind that he doled out rarely but always with a kind of physical and emotional desperateness. He needed them as much as she did some days.

So Giles tucked her head under his chin and swallowed thickly for a moment, rocking her back and forth and making shushing noises before speaking, well aware that she was a grown adult now and frankly not giving a damn.

"Buffy. Listen to me. We are always working toward something, even if we end up sliding a little down the mountain. But your life is not and will never be futile, even if your power is. And every effort that you make counts toward something, even if it is only defending yourself from muggers or something. Or helping me to retain a sense of relative normalcy for...well, all of us, now. You can. And we will."
Edited 2009-03-01 18:38 (UTC)

[identity profile] everheardoftact.livejournal.com 2009-03-02 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
Giles cleared his throat, smoothing Buffy's long blonde hair down with the palm of his hand and patting both of her cheeks before moving slightly away, holding her by the shoulders at arm's length and giving a small shake.

She could cry all she wanted.

"I'm not going anywhere. Where would I go? We'll manage this, and while we manage, we will live our lives just as we have been. You may not be able to hold a candle to some of the creatures here, but you're still a hero, Buffy."
Edited 2009-03-02 04:04 (UTC)