Thanks for reviewing, it's very nice to hear from you.
The Dawning of Faith
Chapter 6
"I'm thinking her biggest asset in a fight is going to be her speed and agility, you figure the same?"
"Yeah. She's plenty strong, but there is no sense in pretending that she has Slayer strength. That's one reason her Scythe is so light. I think the ones for the Slayers should be heavier, you?" Buffy asked.
"Makes sense, that thing is wicked sharp though. Making the rest out of steel will save money too, that titanium shit is expensive!" Faith exclaimed.
"Sure is, high-strength steel will work maybe even better for the Slayers. Yoshi is going to make the blades heavier too, only the cutting edge will be the laminate, the rest will just be high-carbon steel, and they will be thicker too. The added mass will help on tough demons."
"Agreed, we should stick with the Lignum Vitae though, that stuff is tough!" Faith told her.
"Yup. Does it feel weird to you, us talking and planning like this?" asked Buffy.
"Only if I dwell on it. We always were more alike than we were different," Faith replied.
"I used to deny that, but you're right, we are. Every Slayer has a darkness in her, we have to, we fight the blackness."
"And we drag it out into the light to burn," finished Faith, clinking glasses with Buffy.
"Let it burn," echoed Buffy. "Did I ever tell you about the time everybody in Sunnydale was singing and dancing and stuff?"
"Do you have any questions, Dawn? I mean about the girl love stuff," Willow asked somewhat nervously. "I don't think they cover that in school."
"Not so much, no. I've read things, you wouldn't believe what sort of stuff people write about the girls in Harry Potter. I guess at least some of it must be true. There are only so many ways the pieces fit together, aren't there?" Dawn replied.
"I guess so, but I don't think I've found all of them yet," Willow answered. Dawn's eyes grew round.
"Have you ever read that stuff, Will?" she asked.
"I've written it, Ginny is hot, and no, I'm not telling you my pen name," she grinned at the younger woman, "but it's not about technique, it's about feeling, and trust. If you love each other, and you trust each other, then pretty much anything you really want to do your partner will enjoy, just because you want to do it with them. I'm not talking about stuff that injures of course, but Slayers are pretty tough," she smirked, and Dawn visibly reddened.
"I just want to feel her skin on mine," Dawn said wistfully.
"You've got it bad, sweetie," said Willow in sympathy, "I hope that's good."
"Like you said, the feeling is wonderful, and I have that no matter what."
"Yes, you do," agreed Willow as she kissed Dawn's forehead, "pleasant dreams Dawnie, and welcome to the club."
"Night Willow, and thanks for not telling me it was a phase or something."
"Love is love, het, gay, bi, or sea mammals. Some kinds are less accepted than others, but that doesn't mean they aren't real. If you sneer at love, what's left for you?" Willow softly closed the door, and Dawn drifted easily to sleep, a pair of dark eyes filling her dreams.
"We should get to bed, I think," Buffy mumbled.
"Likely you're right," agreed Faith, "anyway, Giles is out of scotch. Wanna try the gin?"
"I don't think so," Buffy gasped, "how many of you are there, anyway?"
"I can't tell. Why don't the three of you decide?"
"They aren't talking to me. Probably pissed about the hangover that's coming," explained Buffy.
"Maybe it won't be too bad," suggested Faith hopefully, "it was good booze."
"For sure, and we have that Slayer metabolism going for us, we'll be okay."
"Sure," said Faith as she swallowed heavily. "Tell you what, B."
"Whazzat?"
"I'll hold your hair if you hold mine…"
"Urp!... deal. Race you," Buffy careened towards the bathroom, Faith hard on her heels.
"This is my study, girls," said Giles to the newest slayers. "Here I keep the reference books that will guide us in our fight against evil."
"Do you fight evil with empty whisky bottles, Mr. Giles?" asked Karen.
"What? Empty? – Oh good lord!"
"I think there's a demon in your lav, Mr. Giles," said Rita fearfully. Giles tuned an ear to the sounds coming from the bathroom.
"Not to worry girls, just old plumbing, allow me to show you to your room, I'm sure you're tired. Tomorrow is soon enough to begin, and you can meet the other Slayers over breakfast."
"Will we get to meet Buffy and Faith?" asked Karen excitedly.
"I certainly hope so, but I can't promise anything," answered Giles as he cast an anxious eye on the bathroom door.
"Are they as beautiful and strong as we heard?" Rita asked.
"I'm really not sure how to answer that," Giles said frankly, "but you may safely assume that there is hardly anything that they fear to do." His gaze was rueful upon the empty bottle of his favorite single-malt.
"Cool!" chorused the girls.
"Right then, follow me please, ladies, tomorrow begins an exciting new life for you both!"
"Buffy?" groaned Faith, "I got something to tell you. Something important, kay?"
"Kay. Whaddizzit?"
"It's right on the tip of my tongue. Honesht. Shit," Faith moaned as she rolled onto her side.
"Faith?" Buffy gasped.
"What?" Faith mumbled in reply.
"Kill me. Please. Don't let me wake up after this," Buffy begged.
"You first," Faith countered, "you kill me, then I'll kill you. Deal?"
"Sure. Now hold still so I can kill you."
"I am still. Too drunk to move."
"You are not; you're all bendy and shit. And you keep turning invisible. 'Snot fair."
"I hope the two of you are happy with yourselves," said Giles severely.
Oddly enough, they were, and after Giles had picked up the dead soldiers in the study, and done a bit of adding two and two to get four, so was he.
"Cheap at the price, if this means what I think it does," he said aloud as he dumped the noble bottles into the rubbish bin.
"Sleep tight, my dear girls," he murmured as he covered them with large towels against the chill of the night. "Tomorrow will bring its own reward…" Smiling, he left for his own bed.