WHO IS LESS AFRAID
A 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' story by P. J. Dickinson
SEVEN
Sisposutas sat back down on the cap. He was feeling foolish. It was difficult enough to explain all this to a canny sorcerer who may have laid a trap to attain his wish but to have to explain the machinations of the Evermore to a child who had caught him by accident was all but impossible. Only one human had ever come close to understanding its full implications and that had been centuries ago. And the poem he had written had just dealt with the death side of it all and had pretty much not rhymed and generally been shite altogether.
Why was he wasting the Universes time with this whelp? He could feel the damage done keening in his soul and the voices of his other selves; the Pluripotents also assigned to this repair, were growing anxious for him to return to his work.
But there was something about the boy that called to Sisposutas. He was entitled to his wish and until the Pluripotent had dispensed with his responsibility he was bound to Xander, but he knew himself that he was drawing this out.
He should have granted the wish and gotten on with the job at hand leaving the fallout from the magic, for there was always some form of Hell to pay for magic, to some other poor Pluripotent. It was a ridiculous state of affairs that creatures bound to the maintenance of the Universe could have so much potential destruction ay their fingertips. But then there you go. How big a list could you make of things that did make sense?
For some reason he could not yet fathom he felt that spending his time in this way was important. Why did he feel that the boy was so important? Sisposutas was sensitive to many aspects of the human's lives and he knew that Xander was a man of potential who walked a fine line between bad decisions and good intentions. Sisposutas wanted to help him, but he couldn't tell him what to do or even warn him of the dangers. The Evermore forbade it. But he did want to help the youth, somehow.
Xander for his own part was trying to forget all the Universes problems and get down to some serious wish making. However, for some reason the piece of his mind that spoke with Willow's voice would give him no peace.
'Would another cap of tea be possible?' Asked Sisposutas playing for time.
'Sure. Might just be what I need too.' The boy sounded distracted, he was troubled. Sisposutas could tell that Xander was on the verge of making a decision. He could feel new Pluripotents swarming to this point in time and space in expectation of a disaster. Sisposutas had to think of something now. It was all in an attention to detail. Xander was getting up to plug the kettle back in.
'So Xander eh? That's an interesting name. Who were you named after?'
'Huh? I dunno. Probably some guy my dad owed beer money to.' In a sudden rush it all came back to the Pluripotent. He could tell why he felt so attached to the child. It wasn't the words but the tone. He had heard it before.
'Do you know what it means?'
'Pissed upon from a great height? Loser of titanic proportions?'
'Ah hah, no. Not quite. It's short for Alexander, which comes from two Greek words, Alexin, to defend or protect and Aner, which means man. Alexander; protector of men. Why do you think you got the shortened version?'
'Do you want sugar with this?' He was trying to give him his tea. The boy had no concept of what was waiting to rush at him from the ether.
'No I have to return to my work.' Sisposutas stood up quickly. He could help no more. The rest was up to Xander. All around the man Pluripotents were swarming with their needles drawn. A sudden silence descended on the room as the moment arrived. All possible outcomes became apparent and the gathered Pluripotents multiplied exponentially to cope with the anticipated chaos. There was nothing Sisposutas could say that would change anything nor would he.
'Your wish please. I can tarry no longer.'
Xander looked at him.
'Forget it.' He said.
SPROING!!!!!!!!
Disorder reigned amongst the Pluripotent. What had the human said? Was he declining his wish? Was this possible?
Xander slurped the tea oblivious to the mayhem around him. Sisposutas fought to be heard.
'I want to clarify that you are reneging on your entitlement to your hearts desire. Do you truly decline your right to unparalleled happiness and set this Pluripotent free to return to its eternal duty?'
'Yeah. Knock yourself out.'
Xander finished his tea and getting up said,
'Look it's been a blast but I'm going home. Let yourself out okay?' Sisposutas watched the extraordinary youth as he left.
Xander paused in the doorway of the office for a moment and surveyed the damage to the library shaking his head.
'Magic,' he said in a voice reeking with contempt and then was gone.
