[ For a terrible, disorienting moment, he reads that message and he thinks of Jinx. How much she'd taken every burden squarely upon her own shoulders, how she'd held herself responsible for every misfortune that had befallen her and those around her. Had he ever done enough to disabuse her of the notion?
It's almost enough for him to abandon the conversation entirely, but— she's here. Jinx isn't, anymore. ]
[ No one takes her side like that, without question, without judgment. No one since the Mayor died. Faith feels a jolt of her own, and it's the only reason she doesn't counter that she might have at least slowed Angelus down. ]
nah you get chosen it's supposed to be some big honor sacred duty or whatever one girl in all the world versus the forces of evil
and i haven't even told you about the council of geezers that tells us what to do
buffy was first you only get a new slayer when the last one dies, but she got resuscitated then there was kendra, and then me after kendra got taken out
[ An unbidden spike of fondness, a combination of a familiar nature and the memory of what had bound them together in the dark of the night, back at the commune.
After a pause, a reiteration: ]
Don't linger on it. On Angelus. But if you need time off, it's yours.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-19 05:34 am (UTC)It's almost enough for him to abandon the conversation entirely, but— she's here. Jinx isn't, anymore. ]
What makes you think that?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-19 06:20 am (UTC)vampire slayer
i could've killed him in december but i let him walk away
no subject
Date: 2026-01-19 07:12 am (UTC)If you'd killed him, he'd only have come back.
It wasn't your fault, as much as he wanted you to think it was.
[ Angelus had given that truth up himself, after all, making it clear that his primary goal had been to ruin his other self's chances. ]
You didn't choose it? To become a vampire slayer?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-19 09:51 pm (UTC)nah
you get chosen
it's supposed to be some big honor
sacred duty or whatever
one girl in all the world versus the forces of evil
no subject
Date: 2026-01-20 01:35 am (UTC)[ The lack of agency. The odds. ]
You and Buffy, then, came before or after each other?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-20 06:22 pm (UTC)buffy was first
you only get a new slayer when the last one dies, but she got resuscitated
then there was kendra, and then me after kendra got taken out
no subject
Date: 2026-01-22 12:13 am (UTC)[ And no need, he thinks, to make it any more explicit what he makes of it. ]
I hope you've at least some measure of agency, here.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-22 06:04 am (UTC)i said those were the rules
i didn't say i always followed 'em
no subject
Date: 2026-01-22 07:14 am (UTC)[ An unbidden spike of fondness, a combination of a familiar nature and the memory of what had bound them together in the dark of the night, back at the commune.
After a pause, a reiteration: ]
Don't linger on it. On Angelus.
But if you need time off, it's yours.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 02:38 am (UTC)but thanks
🎀
Date: 2026-01-29 03:13 am (UTC)I'll see you at the club.