❖ 013 // [Action]

[crisisrain]

[Raven's been at that wine in the fountain for a good hour or so now. When life gives you lemons take them, they're free lemons right? He's pretty out of it - hugging anyone who happens to pass by, even the guys. Yeah there's birds being lovey-dubey and some flowers he keeps treading on, not to mention the fountain itself. But he's occupied with getting wasted, because you know, he has priorities. Fortunately for you guys he was affected and taken about 3 days ago.]

Comments

[herotypical]

Very much a past tense kind of thing. But, I'm pretty sure the reason why me and him didn't work out? It won't be a problem for you. It was kinda specific.

[crisisrain]

As much as I wanna believe that, I can't shake the thought that my feelings might be part of some experiment. Just like this fountain.

[herotypical]

But...they can't be. That's just--they can't mess with things like that, can they?

[crisisrain]

A kid called Emil told me that last year, people started fallin' in love around Valentines Day... just like now.

[herotypical]

No, Raven. You don't get it. It can't be that--I mean, I've always--[she cuts off, shaking her head rather strongly.]

[crisisrain]

Ya feel like you've loved them forever right?

[herotypical]

I feel like...like we've been three boat-wrecks and a hot air balloon crash for forever.

[crisisrain]

[He doesn't want to admit it, but now he's almost certain this is an experiment messing with their feelings.]

Then don't tell anyone. If ya do have someone special to ya, spend every moment of this time together with them! No matter what!

[herotypical]

[She...doesn't respond. Instead, her other hand gently moves to the places along her abdomen where she can feel the bad bruising. Spending every moment of this time with Kadaj would probably end in her death. And that's not a cycle she feels like rinsing and repeating.]

[crisisrain]

Are you alright? Ya look like yer in pain...

[herotypical]

[She slides away from his shoulder-arm-wrap and steps in front of Raven. In a gesture of amazing trust--one she would never show except for the exhilarating side-effect of the drink--she lifts the hem of her sweater away and exposes just a wide strip of skin. It was discoloured, cut, and badly bruised.]

Can I just offer a suggestion? Sparring on the first date is kinda not as fun as you might think.

[crisisrain]

[Oh damn Buffy, are you turning into a masochist?!]
Heh funny ya say that. I'm sure everyone heard my little lover spat over the journals.

But seriously, we need ta get ya to the clinic with an injury like that! They can help ya you know.

[herotypical]

[Nope. Just managed to fall for a psychotic who's desperate for Buffy to get her mojo back so they can have epic battles together. Except..maybe there's a little bit of self-destruction involved. She did ask Kadaj to hit her, after all.]

I'll be fine. I live with a doctor...and I'm not exactly super cozy with clinics in the first place.

[crisisrain]

Are ya sure? I know we don't know each other that well, but I don't wanna see ya gettin' hurt like this. [And he gives you a hug, making sure not to touch anywhere near that injury of yours :( ]

[herotypical]

I'm sure. [Annnd she has no intention of telling Bones. It's not the worst she's had, anyway.] Believe me, pain is one of those occupational hazards, too. Along with the creepy cemetery company.

[crisisrain]

Creepy Cemetary Company is yer way of sayin' Vampires I take it? I've heard of quite a few bein' here in Luceti.

[herotypical]

Too many, for my liking. But...the guy I talked about earlier? He used to be here.

[crisisrain]

I take it he got sent home then? Lucky fer some.

[herotypical]

We were already very much exes before I showed up here, of course. But yeah, he got sent home. Which was good. Home needed him.

[crisisrain]

Some kinda anti-hero vampire then? Ya've got weird connections I'll give you that.

[herotypical]

A vampire with a soul. Kind of a big thing, in my world. He fights for the good guys.

[crisisrain]

Can't say we have real vampires where I'm from. Read about them in books before but, I didn't realise them havin' a soul was such a big deal.

[herotypical]

Having a soul means they some humanity. It means they feel guilt. It means they know enough to fight the good fight.

[crisisrain]

So if ya don't feel guilt, it means ya don't have a soul?

[herotypical]

It's not really that simple. A vampire, right? It's a demon. A monster that takes over a person's body. If you return the soul to the body then they gotta wrestle it out for control. The soul's forced to remember all the havoc the body caused while the demon was at the steering wheel.