4th Dusting

[makeitquick]

[Voice]

How many of you got demons back home? Or met 'em here? Tell me about 'em.

Comments

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[makeitquick]

[And given you're tellin' me this, she didn't

But she nods]

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[herotypical]

...The girls of the town got a little too inspired, I guess. The village elders didn't take kindly to having their pretty little patriarchy subverted by one Slayer. They burned her at the stake, for it.

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[makeitquick]

How?

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[herotypical]

They took her in her sleep. Tied her tight -- more ropes than they'd need for any non-Slayer. And then they lit the whole thing like some kind of twisted bonfire.

[ and then her voice seems to hit upon...a rhythm. recitation: ] But she was strong, so very strong. She burned up wide awake.

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[makeitquick]

So why not rip outa the rope? Couldn't do it?

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[herotypical]

I...I don't get the deets. Just flashes. Just feelings. Like being a girl too strong to pass out from smoke inhalation before the flames got too hot.

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[makeitquick]

...Sucks.


[She twitches, lightly. that would hurt]

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[herotypical]

Very. It sucks to the amount of very. Our line is filled with sacrifice and suffering -- and those things are important to remember -- but they're not the be all and end all of us.

[ hypocrite. buffy breaths self-sacrifice. ]

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[makeitquick]

Jesu, I hope not. Don't plan on dying here.

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[herotypical]

[ dear lord, why is she smiling? ]

No one plans to die, Mel.

[ oh. that'd be why. smiling 'cause she's lying. ]

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[makeitquick]

[Which is met with an uneasy sort of glare thing. But whatever, she nods]

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[herotypical]

Of course, if you do? Die here? You'll come back.

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[makeitquick]

Heard, don't wanna test. [A beat] Got another tale?

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[herotypical]

I'm guessing you probably want something a little less...dreary?

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[makeitquick]

Good for anything, Summers. You're the tale-teller.

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[herotypical]

...Have you read about Sineya?

[ the first slayer. slayerous prime. ]

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[makeitquick]

[...] Not by that name. Think you brought it up before though.

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[herotypical]

..The First Slayer. She visits -- those of us with the dreams, she visits us.

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[makeitquick]

Oh. Heard about her, but not from the diaries.

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[herotypical]

...I guess she's probably not in any. At least, none written during her time.

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[makeitquick]

Kinda was even more ancient than you.

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[herotypical]

...Kinda. [ understatement of the year. ]

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[makeitquick]

...Jest, Summers.

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[herotypical]

Don't sweat. I caught it.

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[makeitquick]

Oh, good.

[and she shifts, awkwardly for a moment. And in that moment Gates also shrieks in the ceiling with the sound of him squishing something that sounds fleshy]