"Tales of D'Hoffryn…"
Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .com...
Summary: While saddled with the job of tending the discombobulated First Evil, the Lord of all Things Vengeful tells a few tales of his (well, his people's) exploits with some old friends…
"Sunset…"
Part VII…
Buffy put up a hand as they neared a collection of smashed, burning cars at an intersection about eight blocks from her home and William moved to see…Leave it to me…She hurried over…
"No one alive, just a body…" she called. Frowning as he came over after cautioning Willow to stay put on the street corner…
"I said to leave it to me…" she said, annoyed tone. "I might be soulless, if all that's not nonsense. But I'm still the Slayer and capable of handling a minor reconnaissance. Please go back and wait for me…There might be something dangerous here…"
He eyed her stern look. Glancing uncertainly over to the cars…
"What? You think soulless me would let the innocent roast?" she coldly stared. "I still have a heroine's reputation to maintain, you know…"
"Sorry…" he sighed. "And I'm grateful you still want to protect me. It's just…"
"I love you more than my own life…" she said, simply. "That doesn't change, even without soul. And I begin to suspect, even without memory…But if you're wondering would I abandon people to protect you?. Yes…Absolutely…And don't be too sure that's a quality owing to the current absence of soul. But there's no threat to you so long as you don't start trying to prove this soul business the hard way…William? Surely you can sense no human's alive over there. So don't worry and lets go back…I've no intention of throwing my life or yours away to rescue charred bones…"
Please…? Her face not relenting but he sensed the plea under the unflinching look…
"Thanks…" he nodded. They went back to Willow…
"We have to stop this before more die, Buffy." he looked at her…
"Particularly you…" she said, resuming her pace… "Come on, then…" He signaled to Willow to follow them and moved to join Buffy… "So D'Hoffryn is involved in this? Interfering in our lives again?" she frowned…
"Yeah…" Will nodded… "Though, and I'm sure utterly unintentionally, he seems to have actually done us a favor this one out. Though…" he managed to hold the thought on Dru's essential help…
Not the time to bring her up just now, soulless Buffy/Cics seeming in a fairly good if possessive mood…
"He's obviously plotting to bring me down, somehow…" Buffy reflected. "It must have been his game in 1880 as well. I played into his hands…And Simon's."
"Simon?"
"You remember Dr. Farris, my old friend…White hair, slightly arrogant mannee? He was my Watcher…"
"Farris? The old antiques dealer?..."
"He set up the first contact with D'Hoffryn's girl. The one who took my form that night. Halfreck…" Buffy…Suddenly grim…Dark look…
"Was she the one? Here…?" she asked.
"If she was, she changed her look as well as name, drastically. Anya...Human name…Anya Jenkins, to be precise…"
"Pretty?" clipped tone…
"It wasn't that sort of encounter, Buffy…"
"Then if I rend her limb from limb on encounter, it won't bother you…?"
"I'd help…If it will change things…"
"No…" she paused suddenly…Mood changing immediately… "If she were destroyed…You may revert immediately. No, if we can capture it, we bargain with her boss. Offer…I don't know…" hand wave… "The lives here for your soul's permanent installation? And mine's return, I suppose…"
"You wouldn't want that, Buffy…"
"I'm sure I'd have a few sleepless nights. They'd pass…In your arms…" she said, quickly at the end…Wan smile… "And it's my decision. You've nothing to regret…Soulless me can take the blame…"
"No, love…But no need to be quite so ruthless yet…" he noted to her angry look. "We've got your Council coming, I hope. Perhaps they can help persuade our friend to help us…"
"The Council?!" Buffy frowned. Halting, hand on hip…Christ Jesus!
Uh-oh…Ultra-glare level, he noted…
"William, are you a fool?" she fumed. "They won't help us! They murdered us! All they'll do is kill you and try to make me forget everything, if they can. Or replace me asap…How could you have been so foolish? Oh…Shit!" she stamped a foot…
"Damn…This foul-mouthed era…" she fumed again. "My apologies, William…" briefly sheepish look…
He waved a hand…"No offence taken…Cics, I needed some help. Lives, remember?...Including yours. I knew Mr. Giles was a good egg, as Watchers go. And cares about you…"
"Giles…" shake of head, eye roll… "Eh, he's a dedicated Watcher. Probably knew all about you. Well, that settles it. We leave…Now…" she insisted. "We'll find someone who can help us. In Los Angeles or somewhere…But we go…Now…"
"We can't leave. And even if I were willing…We've less than eighteen hours before I revert, much of which I'll have to spend indoors or wrapped like the invisible man. The Council or D'Hoffryn's bird are our best hopes, Cics…"
She frowned but considered…
"I suppose if we could capture Giles…Hold him…Oh, but they'd never care about a single Watcher's life…"
"I'm flattered…" he smiled. "Really…" he eyed her stern look…
No time for nonsense, Walthrop…
"It's nice to know it wasn't all a dream. I thought a long time, perhaps it was…"
"What? This? Tonight?" she frowned.
Romantic sensibility…All very well and I chose him for it but just right now…Well, thank God the Slayer's now in charge here to inject a little iron…
"No…The whole shebang…Our being married, you coming to care for me. After that Halfreck, and finding myself a bit dead and something of a monster…I figured…"
"Ridiculous…" she snorted…Then glared "Are you saying you doubted my love for you?"
"Actually no…But I did wonder if I was in love with a fantasy. I mean, given the circumstances…Being dead and condemned after being rejected by your clone…"
"No fantasy, you silly twit…" annoyed tone. "Admittedly it was a bit difficult for you to have faith, I appreciate that. I'm sure it was a terrible experience and all…" pat on arm…
"But I've got everything in hand now. And no more nonsensical worries on my part about whether you can survive or no. You've proven yourself admirably. We'll set this right, William…I promise…"
"Thanks…" he smiled. "But I've never lost faith, you should know that…"
"Of course you didn't…You're here, aren't you?" she shrugged. "That confirms that…Now, as to our next move. Lets see to my mother and then perhaps I can make for Giles' and see what he might have at home. You can stay with her in the house…"
Cut to shot of William securely chained in the cellar…The wandering husband problem temporarily settled…
"I think I might be a better one to do that end at Giles'. I do have a bit more intimate knowledge of the occult."
"William…" frown… "This Yank girl may be a bit of an airhead as they say now but I was no fool and a good researcher. I'll bring anything useful back. Besides, you'll want to be there to guard my mother and poor Willow here…"
Of some use after all…Bringing my nerdy best friend to safety…She noted to herself.
"I'd prefer to stick with you…You're not fully aware of the effect the soul lack is having, Cics. I don't want you to do anything you may regret later…"
"I wouldn't kill Giles. If that's what you're thinking…He's much too valuable as a hostage…"
"I'm speaking generally…But good point, glad you brought it up. There might be other Watchers with him who aren't so valuable…"
"Oh, botheration…William, I love your kind heart and all that but…" his phone rang…
"Oh, hi…" he told the phone…
Her face turned suspicious and dark, listening to his guarded tone…
I think I can guess who this is…
"Yes, I'm with Buffy…She's…"
"I'll talk to her…" Buffy snatched the phone…
"Cicely…" he frowned.
"Hello, whore. Yes, he's with me…For good…And you are…What?...Oh, yes, of course he's fine. What are you suggesting you murderous…?!" red-faced rage…
"Cicely, give me…"
She tossed him back… "Sorry…Busy…" she eyed him on the ground. She resumed…
"You heap of…!..What? Oh…Well…Thank you…Yes, I'm very pleased as well. Well, you should be ashamed, you vicious…Hmmn? Oh, yes, we were discussing it. Yes, he told me. Eighteen hours, more or less…Indeed, not a moment to be lost…"
On his feet again, he stared at her…She putting up a hand…Just a mo…Talkin' here…
"But fortunately…And I suppose I must give you credit for that, Dru. Cicely is here to deal… What? No, I haven't asked him. But you can be sure he's pleased as well…" she pulled the phone away, covering…
"Yes?" she asked…Slight plea in tone…
"Sure…" he nodded, wry smile.
"Thought so…" she returned to the phone. "Yes, he's overwhelmed with joy. Now, as to your charges? Really? That's good...Well done…But, what I would like, Dru, is for you to have a few choice specimens…Attractive or plump…Or both…Brought over to my house? They may be useful in bargaining with any otherworlders for a more permanent cure for Will…"
"Buffy…" he stared. She gave him a frown. No time for such sentimental nonsense, boy…
"What?" cold tone entering… "Hardly the person to be taking such a moral tone, Miss Drusilla…" grimly… "No, I will not put him on the phone. Just bring…What do you mean you'll do no such thing, you foul little murderess?!"
"Give me the phone, Cicely…" he grabbed for it, she shoving him back…
"I said I'm busy, William. Now, you listen, you adulterous, scheming whore of a…Hmmn? Hmmn…Well…Perhaps…I suppose the offer could be made without the victims present…Yes…" sour look at William who glared at her…
Gonna be very annoyed with you, Cics, in a min…
"…I suppose soul boy here would prefer that approach…" she pulled away again… "William, I'm handling this…" she returned to phone.
"Very well…We'll just offer the victims…And lure anything we find to the city center, where naturally we'll turn the tables and force it to help…So you may rest your newfound moral sensibilities…Satisfied?" she eyed him as well, clearly the argument meant for both.
He frowned…Girl…He shook his head but shrugged and nodded…
"Yes, it works for our romantic hero here as well…Yes, I suppose my dear little soul would prefer it too." shrug… "Oh say, what about the Watchers? You do have scouts out and about, I trust? Good…All right, we're heading to my house…William's concerned about his mother-in-law…Call immediately if you or your people encounter anyone. All right, then…" she closed phone.
"Girl has a degree of sense when not utterly demonically insane…" she noted. Heading off, then pausing with annoyed look back…
"Well? Come along, William…We have a lot to do." she turned back to him… "And bring Willow…I suppose she'll be useful…"
I can just imagine the "usefulness", he thought, sighing.