Draft Log #3: During v. 2.0

[lucetimods]

Who: Everyone on the draft
What: Day 3-5
When: August 27th-August 29th
Where: ONCE MORE INTO THE-- ...BEACH
Summary: Like it says above. The draftees reach the beach.
Rating: V FOR VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR!!


Once again, That Handy Useful Information Link. Also a link to the previous draft log!

Comments

[herotypical]

[ hmm. comfort be damned -- buffy takes a seat in the shallow waters next to the hunter. ]

We used to talk for hours, Derek. [ perhaps the middle of warzone isn't the best locale for this but buffy was never picky about her heart-to-hearts. ] When you told me I'd done right by you, I thought... [ thought that things would really be okay again between them.

in yet another poor show of logic, buffy mistakenly believes that derek's reticence is her fault. not his. ]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

You did, Buffy. Don't even doubt yourself on that.

[And it's certainly not her fault that part of the price of becoming completely human again was losing that part of his soul that had already been devoured.

He'll continue to pick at the sock.]

...You ever feel like your skin doesn't feel right any more?

[herotypical]

Only once...well, twice. Once home and once here. But it lasted so much longer, here.

[ and then it wasn't just her skin that felt wrong. it was her muscles. her bones. her eyes and ears and the parts of her brain that should have known how to react better. twice in her long Slayer life has she been denied her mystical birthright. and twice, it's felt like haunting some other tiny girl's body. ]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

[Derek nods. For his part, he's not quite aware of what he's missing, just that he's missing something, and it's that something that's been driving him away from all but the most casual of friendships. It's a pain, and a block, and almost feels like its own sickness.

But he doesn't quite have the words for that, so...]

That's where I am, Buffy. It doesn't feel right. It's not you.

[herotypical]

...The disease is gone but the symptoms linger. [ her head bows; she doesn't want to betray all that sadness. ] Derek, I'm so sorry.

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

[Derek takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly.]

It's all right. I'm alive and not a risk to others anymore. There's time to work it out, now.

[If it can be worked out.]

[herotypical]

And are you? Working it out?

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

Best I can, yeah.

[It's a lot like trying to get out of the bed in the morning when you;re depressed, though. Sometimes it takes more effort than he wants to make.]

[herotypical]

...Can I help? Is there anything -- anything -- I can do?

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

...Don't think it's your fault, all right? That's all I ask. It's something inside me and nothing you did. I'd actually be worse off if you hadn't helped. Don't forget that.

[The words feel like ashes in his mouth, but they're the truth. And even though he doesn't feel how grateful he was for her help, he knows he is grateful...or at least that he would be if that part of him wasn't so numb.

So...dead feeling.]

[herotypical]

Right. Here's me, never forgetting.

[ she reaches out for one of derek's hands. ]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

[He'll let her take it, and squeeze her fingers gently. The simple gesture of comfort is not as hard to express for him.]

[herotypical]

You've always been there for me, thick and thin. It's only fair I return the favour.

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

[Derek nods and gives her hand another squeeze before letting go. He's still stuck for words, although he understands the sentiment.]

We're friends. [As if that explains everything.]

[herotypical]

And colleagues. Don't forget that part. Friendly colleagues. Colleague-y friends.

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

[That will earn her a slight smile.]

That too.

...You'll probably want to oil that scythe. Salt water's not all that great for metal weapons.

[herotypical]

Oh, I will. Any other blade and I'd say screw it -- but this one? It's a beauty.

[ she touches her fingers along the blade. lovingly. she's never felt so much attachment to one weapon before this one. ]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

[Derek has to agree. It's too big to be practical on his own world, but it is well made and well balanced from what he can tell.

His socks clean, he turns his attention to his jeans. At this point, they're mostly clean from being in the water for so long, but there's still a few spots that could stand a sand scouring.

It'll be a while before he can get them off, now--long after they've dried, but in mixed company, it's an uncomfortable inconvenience he's willing to put up with.]

So does it change looks with each Slayer, or is it the same each time?

[herotypical]

I...I don't think so. To be honest? I'm the first Slayer who managed to find it. The first Slayer who was up to her neck in so much apocalypse that it was needed.

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

Just like you. Nothin's ever done on a small scale.

[herotypical]

I'm go-big-or-go-home Buffy, Derek. And I'm not going home so I'd better go big.

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

Just don't go out. In a blaze of glory or any other way, for that matter.

[herotypical]

Quietly and in my bed at the age of a hundred and three is my goal.

[ she doubts she'll reach it. ]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

You never know. Might actually happen.

[And about as likely as Derek living much past where he is now when he goes home]

[herotypical]

...It's a pretty thought. A fairy tale.

[ she's become so fond of telling herself those recently. ]