Part 10: Of Saints and Sinners
The motley crew entered the kitchen behind Xander and Faith. Waiting for them was the Cleveland tribunal, which was crowded behind Giles.
"First off, we've decided to hear your case," Giles said.
"Harris-r…I mean…Alexander already told us," Catherine said.
"However, it is quite late and we are quite tired, so we think we all need a good night's sleep before we hear details of your problem."
"Good idea," Catherine agreed.
"But what about…" J'Nal began.
"You're half-zonked out on drugs, Catherine is ready to drop, and I could do with a day or two with or sleep," Charlie interrupted.
"I'm not tired," Ruda said.
"We don't have an internal fission engine that keeps us going," Charlie said. "Besides, I think the moment your head hits the bed, you'll be sleeping."
"Too excited to sleep," Ruda insisted.
"Hey, kid. Tell ya what. I'll tell ya a bedtime story," Faith grinned.
"Faith…" Robin began.
"Really? About you?" Ruda bounced.
"Unh, sure. Why not?" She turned her grin on Robin. "I'm not objecting."
Robin sighed. "Giles? I really could use some sleep. Much as I love kids…"
"That's quite alright, Robin. If you wish, we could make other arrangements," Giles said. "My room is your room, as they say."
"So, tomorrow then?" Buffy asked. "Great. I have to battle the bags under my eyes."
"Just one moment. I am curious about something," Giles interrupted.
"I'll answer if I can," Catherine said.
"Well, we understand the meaning of –rah, but I am intrigued by –rahsen," Giles said. "It indicates another level of, well, leadership if you will, so…"
"Unh, we really don't need to get into this, do we?" Xander interrupted.
"Shush. I wanna hear this," Faith said.
"Well, I don't know if…" Catherine began. She looked helplessly back to her crew, who all responded with a shrug. "I suppose…"
"Okay, if I'm gonna get burned, I'll start," Xander said. "Harris. That's me. Right?"
Catherine's group solemnly nodded.
"-Rah means leader," Xander said.
"Yes," J'Nal said.
"Ooooh, boy. You got the wrong guy," Xander insisted.
"Not to mention the wrong gal," Faith added. "I'm allergic to leadership. It makes me go all 'boom.'"
"Boom?" Catherine asked.
"Big boom," Kennedy elaborated. "I was there."
"Interesting reaction," Ms. Tikri said as she scribbled with a stylus on a slim object that looked like a translucent plastic square.
"That's what it means," J'Nal insisted.
"Fine. Won't argue." Xnader's voice sounded strangled. "Your language. You should know what the hell it means." A moment of silence. "You know, that makes me really afraid to ask the next question."
"No net cast, no catch found," Catherine said.
"Riiiiight. Guessing that translates to: 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained.' Got anything that equals curiosity killed the cat?" Xander asked.
J'Nal's eyes looked like they were going on tilt while he translated the question. "Not certain. Perhaps, bearbies seeking nectar get stung?"
"Sounds good. I'll go with that," Xander nodded.
"So what does -sen mean?" Faith asked.
"Oh god, you had to ask, didn't you?" Xander groaned.
"Yes, well, that is difficult to translate," J'Nal frowned. "It's only used by adherents to Slayer religious sects to designate a spiritual as well as temporal leadership."
"Slayers have their own religion?" Giles asked "Are you sure that's wise?"
"You want to tell them no?" Catherine asked.
"I'm going to be sick," Xander commented.
"Hoooo-leeeee shit!" Faith exclaimed with a raucous grin as she elbowed Xander in the ribs. "I think we're patron saints or something."
"I vote 'or something,'" Xander said. "Please?"
Faith held her spread hands up, as if picturing her name in lights. "St. Faith Lanoire, Patron Saint of Hot Chicks With Bad Attitudes and St. Alexander Harris, Patron Saint of Carpenters Who Can Wield One Mean Hammer."
"You frighten me," Xander said with awe.
"You're frightened?" Buffy asked. "Does this mean that I have to light a candle and pay you a dollar every time I need you to fix something?"
"If you did that, you'd burn the house down and I'd be rich," Xander said.
"Lanoire-rah, sorry, Faith is not wrong, though," J'Nal pointed out. "Or, rather, it's as close as a translation as you can get without an extensive background in Slayer religious belief."
Faith gulped. "I'm right?"
Xander blinked. "And both me and Faith get these fabulous, shiny titles."
"Well, the -rah is for everyone, but -sen to only a blessed few," Ruda reverently said.
Three hours later Faith and Xander were still laughing.
TBC….