12824/Last Minute Clean-up!

Last Minute Clean-up!
Date of Scene:	11 March 2021
Location:	Brendan Cemetery, Sunnydale
Synopsis:	Buffy gets to know Alex a bit better.
Cast of Characters:	Phobos, Buffy Summers

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Phobos has posed:
    A moonlit night, wisps of clouds drifting in front of it, the chill of Winter still hanging in the air, the palpable eeriness of the night sky casting a cemetery with a subtle haze of the light from Earth's largest satellite. It's picturesque in its own way, fitting the tableau of what one imagines when they consider the setting of a horror film, or perhaps a coming of age blockbuster that depicts life in the fifties. It's replete with the slow sorrowful view of tombstones with old moss and stone and snow upon it, broken only by the principle individuals there and alone in the night.
    One is tall, blond, settled on the stoop of a tomb with his arms crossed and his gaze tilted to the side, a faint puff of steam coming from between his lips as he breathes. The other is in black and grey, an elaborate seeing evening garb fit for the Winter, though no steam or breath comes from him. Though he does have the severe brow of an angered vampire, yet in this moment... he doesn't seem too angry at all.
    "So is it really a soul that is lost in the transition, or perhaps it's simply empathy?" The youth's voice is heard as he leans there and slouches on the stoop, the vampire stalking back and forth in front of him. "Since, I've known a few vampires in my time who supposedly didn't have a soul, sure they were distant, but they weren't. You know. Jerks. No offense."
    To which the tall vampire in the great coat frowns as he stalks, "No no, I understand. It is more the transition from one frame of reference to another. Hell, the abyss, limbo. Then seizing what you wish from the host body and making it your own. A melding perhaps. But what do I know?" The tall vampire grimaces.

Buffy Summers has posed:
It is indeed a nice night for star gazing, or maybe just making out under a romantic moonlit night. But of course Buffy doesn't usually having time for things like that, and with a vacation planned soon, naturally she had to be a workaholic and do one last sweep of Sunnydale before heading out of town for a couple of weeks.

It's not quite warm enough to waltz around in a tshirt and shorts, so she's in her black leather jacket, white sweater and jeans underneath that and thin stretchy gloves on her hands. She didn't pack any fancy elaborate weapons other than a couple of stakes. Mostly because she wasn't expecting to run into anything big tonight.

Afterall, the Scoobies DID recently clean up most of the ghouls who were lurking about the old ruined church when Willow sealed up the summoning circle. And likely there would be a few stragglers, but so far tonight, things have been quiet..

Maybe TOO quiet..

And it doesn't take her long to hear two voices chatting..Not overly amicably, but certainly not at each others'...

Waaaait, that one guy sounds familiar..Hazel eyes narrow as she listens in on their conversation, and..Oh right, it's that strange guy who was chatting up Willow the other night. She smirks, stepping out of the brush, striding casually towards the two of them. "Okaay, maybe I'm just sliiightly paranoid, but seriously, WHY are you discussing philosophy with a vamp? I mean, the only thing that's missing now are tea and crumpets. Should I go grab you some of those? Make you feel a bit more comfy as you socialize with the enemy in the middle of the night?"

Of course, she's waving her stake around with each word, totally non-threateningly.

Phobos has posed:
    "In any case, you understand I have to kill you," The vampire says sternly, clawed hands grasping his sleeves as he crosses his arms over his chest. "I can't let it get out that Moukali the Grim spent what, ten minutes? Chatting with a blood bag?"
    "C'mon man," The blond youth leans there, taking a deep breath and looking sidelong towards the creature. "This is a bad idea. You never know who you are going to run into, or how the situation is going to change. Maybe I'm an X-Man or something. Or maybe my uncle works for Tony Stark? The more ripples you make in the world doing crazy stuff, the more likely it's going to come back and bite you in the ass. You know how fast information travels these days? Everyone has a cellphone."
    The vampire scowls as he straightens, "Are those the small boxes people speak into? Horrid things. Horrid." He says as he shakes his head, "But you understand, it has been pleasant to speak with you. But you rush off and tell your friends you had a lovely conversation with Moukali. Well. I would never hear the end of it."
    The vamp spreads his talons, "All I would hear from then on, The Grim Has Gone Soft, and suddenly from then on it's work work work. I can't have it."
    It's in that moment, however, that Alexander is about to reply. For indeed, it is that blond youth she had chatted with that time. He's wearing the same jacket, still with his hair looking just as wild and needing a good combing as when she saw him last. And that smile he gives her, it's the same casual thing.
    "Oh hey."
    But Moukali is having none of it, "And now another? In my day mortals were more respectful, they kept their heads down. They cowered properly. None of this... this... whatever it is." He motions with one talon toward Buffy.
    But the Olympian with the pale eyes, he smiles and gives a small shrug as he tells perhaps both of them. "I mean. I do kinda like crumpets."

Buffy Summers has posed:
"Moukali, huh, is that like, a made-up name, or are you just sooo out of synch with the latest fashion that you didn't even think to update your name..And seriously, that wardrobe is just terrible, you really need a new taylor!" she wrinkles her nose in disgust as she steps towards him, giving him the once over.

Alex is given a slow nod, and a slightly appraising look as she realizes he's not even remotely afraid of this vampire. Which means, he's either really stupid, or really powerful and doesn't even perceive this 'Moukali' as a threat. She's betting on the latter. "'Sup? Going' for a late night stroll with a totally unfashionable vampire or you thought you could just chat him to death?"

To Moukali, she yawns and shrugs, playing with her stake. "Well y'know, these days, mortals just like to talk you to death....I mean, you DO know who I am, right?" she smiles sweetly for the soon to be pile of dust.

Phobos has posed:
    Poor Moukali, who had lived the high life in Bavaria some many hundreds of years ago. Who upon a mighty steed had vanquished the Mongol invaders who threatened his small fiefdom. Who had stealthily made his way through the modern world, adrift on a freighter, hugging the floor of the ocean, and then finally wending his way to the hellmouth some time ago. Only now, recovered, risen, and beset upon by knavish mortals. The shame!
    "Wenches that speak out of turn should not be allowed the privilege of their tongue." The way he says that is simple, easy, and yet he gestures to her. "Off with you, lest you feel my eternal wrath." Which, apparently he doesn't know who she is.
    Though he doesn't attack, not yet.
    Instead Alexander pushes himself to his feet and he says, "Look man. There are threads that join all of us together. Threads of fate if you will. They go off in all sorts of directions. Sometimes when one thread meets another, one of them gets cut. It's a crummy thing. Right now, might be best for your fate if you take off. Maybe... I dunno. Go to Tibet? Is there still a Tibet? Take up peace, man. Since right now. Your threads are fraying a lot. Right?"
    Yet that just causes the pale demonic looking vampire with its ridged brow and bright fangs to just /look/ at Alexander and then asks Buffy. "Is it me, or do /you/ have no idea what he speaks of as well?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers gasps, bringing her hands to her face in mock-fear. "Oooh, I'm sooo scared! I mean, how DARE I speak out of turn with the 'Almighty Moukali, whom time forgot! Where'd you say you were from again? Just crawled out from underneath a misplaced dinosaur fossil or something? I mean, seriously though, how could you NOT know who I am? It's really rather insulting actually.."

Why, that makes her pout even. I mean, anyone who's anyone, at least in the supernatural world, has heard of the Legendary Slayer.

And then of course Alex goes of into another weirdo philosophical rant and she makes a face at him. "Well, I mean, he's probably confused by your flowery jargon just as much but.." She yawns a bit, pointing her stake at the guy. "Sooo, shall we do this the easy way or the hard way? Orrr, would YOU rather do the honours?"

Buffy smirks at Alex, nodding and stepping back. "Go on then, why don't you put him out of his misery?" Of course this is just a challenge to see what he's really capable of. You know, just in case he turns against her next, or unwittingly opens a hellish portal full of refuse demons.

Or something.

Phobos has posed:
    "I..." Moukali says with no small amount of exasperation in his voice, "Am just going to kill both of you. Hold still." And as he says that the great coat he wears /flares/ forth from the back, a pair of large wings manifesting with the sound of rustling leather, great spined monstrosities as his face shifts into a more bestial cast, eyes flaring crimson and fangs jutting wickedly.
    It's only a moment before he /leaps/ high into the air, limned against the moonlight as he flaps the wings once then dives straight down onto both of them, great taloned hands reaching out to grasp and snarl and tear, all while accompanied by a shriek of a voice launching into wild laughter.
    Which might be the moment that Buffy will finally see Alexander move at slightly faster than a snail's pace. For he breaks to the side, rolling forward as he darts behind a tombstone that intercepts the slash of a large talon, causing four wicked claw marks to appear as the stone is neatly torn asunder.
    Then it spins, sharp spiny tail lashing out and... when did he get a tail? The jerk. Even as it lashes right at Buffy.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers just smirks as she watches him, almost boredly. But she's no fool. And underneath the seemingly innocent blonde bimbo guise she often uses to confuse people, her muscles tense, ready for the slightest threat..

It's those wings that catch her attention first, almost throwing her off-guard. "Okaaay, not your typical vampire then. Actually those are pretty cool wings, why cant I have wings too?" she pouts a bit, rolling effortlessly to the wide as he rushes at her, moving pretty fast herself, not quite eye-blurring speed but always somehow managing to keep up with even the fastest of vampires.

"Ooh and a spikey tail to boot, huh. Shiny!" Oh, of course it's coming right for her. Eyes narrow as she gracefully leaps to the side again, attempting to grab the tail and pull on it hard as she tries to redirect the momentum of the swing to hurl him off-balance, preferrably into a nice tree or tombstone.

Phobos has posed:
    For Moulkai, the whispers of a Slayer was something that concerned other vampire lords. He had never met one, though he had heard of them. Myths to him and his clan, so there was no cachet to the title. Yet there was something about her, something palpable that set him at unease and on edge simply from her presence. Something he could not put his finger on.
    Yet the killing time was here, and he slashed with that tail...
    Only for her to catch it and feel the bony ridges under her grip. Something alive and yet dead in that skin that crinkles as she grasps, twists... and hurls him straight into the old oak that has stood sentinel over the graves for the last thirty years. With a crack he impacts into the trunk, hissing angrily.
    Only for suddenly there to be a brilliant crimson blade held against his side in the hands of the youth she had met at the Bronze. He held stance perfectly, Kendo training most likely, the point of the katana pressing against the ribs of the creature. His off hand rested upon the pommel ready to push it home as he says calmly.
    "In circumstances like this a lot of guys I know would spend a good chunk of time telling you about their sword for some reason. That's totally not me. Just. Come on man. I'm in a good mood. I'm trying to buy your life here with reason. Even if your life is pretty shitty when all things are considered."
    Since, well, he /is/ a vampire.
    "Of course." Moulkai says, "I have seen the light, let me go." And slowly the sword starts to ease back. But Buffy, she might well see those talons in that hand he hides out of sight from Phobos growing longer, the bat-like monstrosity's arms tensing making ready to leap again.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers takes her time to stride towards the trunk, having put away her stakes briefly when Moulkai went all wingy on them. But now, as Alex holds his katana against the creature, she pulls out one of the stakes again, arching a curious brow at him.

"Seriously, WHY are you trying to talk reason with him? he's a vampire, a souless demon, if you spare his life tonight, he'll just come back to finish the job..Or heck, later.."

And while Alex is apparently very generous and merciful towards demons, Buffy is not. Not against evil demons anyway (Is there really such a thing as a *good* demon!?). Buffy is still curious to see what else Alex is capable of, of course, but when those talons are once again unsheathed, she narrows her eyes.

"Look out!" and she flings the stake with expert precision towards the vampire's heart.

Phobos has posed:
    There is a shriek, a rush of movement, and then that stake /slashing/ home with a wet slick sound before suddenly the entire body of it seems to embrace a flash of energy or power that combusts almost instantly... leaving the creature of Moulkai little more than dust upon the ground, spattering to earth with little fanfare and leaving the Slayer and the Swordsman there, at peace. At least for now.
    For a moment the pale-eyed youth frowns, looking at the fallen remains of the monstrosity, then says over his shoulder. "Don't you guys, like, hang out with a bunch of vampires?" As he asks this he looks over his shoulder toward her, gaze slipping down then back up as if taking her measure all over again.
    As he does that, however, the crimson-bladed sword in his hand seems to flicker with a curl of silvery energy that kisses the long edge of the weapon and roils over it, causing the weapon to fade out of existence as if the fires consumed it. This does not seem to concern Alexander.
    He turns back to her, "But yeah, just. Wasn't in the mood." There, perhaps she'll accept that explanation.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers steadily watches the vampire, not relaxing til he's totally dustaed and gone, vanishing from existence. With a shrug, she wipes the dust off her jacket and moves to retrieve her tossed stake.

To Alex's comment she frowns softly, shaking her head. "It's not the same thing. Angel's a vampire with a soul. Thomas is a Incubus who had free choice, and he chose not to kill those he preys on.." well...Mostly he 'preys' on Buffy but that's neither here nor there.

"And Spike? Well...He's got a chip in his brain that prevents him from hurting or killing anyone. Not without severe pain backlash as a result. Soo...Yeah, exceptions to the rule. That guy however? He's a souless demon, plain and simple. No humanity left in him whatsoever."

The whole 'not in the mood thing?' she's totally not buying it though. "Orrrr maybe you were hoping to make a deal with him, get him to work for you. Or perhaps you're really much more powerful than him that you didn't even perceive him as a threat? am I right?" there she goes again, grasping at straws, trying to figure him out.

"Nice sword by the way. Was that some kendo? You're clearly quite skilled.."

Phobos has posed:
    "Or, orrrrr." Alexander says as for some reason he finds this whole thing amusing, when he offers another explanation from her. "Perhaps it's not I didn't perceive him as a threat, because I am so awesome and powerful, and more that. Well." He takes those few steps back towards where he had been sitting and lowers himself onto that stoop again.
    "As a psionic representation of a societal zeitgeist with a sphere of influence involving primarily fear and terror, that I as such a manifestation can't feel fear nor terror."
    That said he tilts his head at her and smiles a little. "Look, I can fight reasonably well. I'm immortal. The sword answers my call. And yes, fear is my purview."
    Then he lifts a hand to point at her, "Now if you have a problem with me, let me know. Ask what you want to know, or what you suspect. You're a friend of my dad's though. So I have no intention of crossing you."
    His lip twists, "If only because I'd hear no end of it."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers peers intently at him, seeming to be scrutinizing him carefully. "Soooooo...Basically you're like, uh, the god of fear or something?" she smirks, "Well, that's kinda cool and kinda creepy. And really? You cant feel fear at all? I mean, are you really so powerful that there is nothing that could kill you, or is it just that you would stare death even, in the face and not even care?"

Really though, Buffy finds it hard to be simply physically unable to feel fear at all. "Hehe, funny thing, Thomas can feed on fear, if he chose. Kinda creepy, huh?" well. That would be interesting...In theory, anyway.

"Problem with you? Nah, I mean, I hang out with all sorts of supernatural people..Although..I wouldn't exactly say Ares and I were...'friends'. Allies, acquaintances at the most, maybe but..No offense, that guy was a little...Creepy."

Another shrug as she cleans off her stake and slips it back into her belt. "I guess the thing is, when Ares came to Bludhaven, it's like his mere presence interacted with the hellmouth, brought with him a host of problems." she shrugs, "I mean, now that you're in town, does that mean there will be more...Monsters, or something?"

Phobos has posed:
    That same finger remains where it is as he points at her again. "Ahh, you're gathering intel. In case I'm a threat." His eyes slip to the side, scritching the side of his cheek with a fingertip. His lip twists up, "Probably a good idea."
    Looking back at her he uncurls his hands, "Perhaps the best way to get through this, then, is for you to ask what you want. My dad thought pretty decently of you. Good warrior, nice conviction. Hah, creepy." That causes him to grin again, shaking his head. Perhaps he can't wait to tell the old man he's a creeper.
    He takes a deep breath then says, "I mean no harm to you and yours. But here..." That smile slips wry, amused as he offers a bit of a game. "I'll give you five questions you may ask, and I'll answer them as truthfully as I can unless a prior oath holds my loyalty. So ask what you will."
    Then he holds that pointing finger upwards, "However. I get five questions of my own with the same stipulations. Though I intend to save mine for the future. Deal?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers shrugs and smirks. "Heey, can't blame me for being cautious. You're clearly more powerful than you're letting on, especially if you're the son of Ares. What, would that make you Phobos then?"

As for his dad, she shakes her head slowly, "Oh no, I dont mean it like that, I mean...Well..Maybe it was just the title he carried with him, the 'god of war' thing kinda means he carries with him this whole violence, chaos, unpredictability with him wherever he goes, I guess? To be honest, he really is a decent guy and I was honoured to fight alongside him and I consider him an ally, maybe even a friend.."

She frowns a bit. "And to be fair, he had all that power that he could have used to destroy and kill. But instead, he came there to warn us and avert disaster. For that he has my eternal thanks and respet."

She smiles at the compliment thought, "Really? He said that about me? Well..I'm flattered.." Buffy chuckles a bit. "And here I thought all I got was an 'okay fighter' compliment or something. As for what I want? I guess I just want to know what your purpose is here, on earth. I mean, don't you gods live on mount olympus or something? Why here, why Bludhaven? And can I expect another chaotic event now that you're here?"

The five questions thing gets a quick nod and smile, "Sounds good to me, I have nothing to hide.."

Phobos has posed:
    As she speaks, Alexander watches her and his eyes widen a little with amusement. Just following along with her words, smiling a touch just at the corner of his mouth. He cocks his head to the side and says, "Alright, first thing is first."
    The toe of his sneaker digs into the ground in front of him as he casually pushes around some of the dust and dirt beneath his feet that may well have been one vampire or another. Then he cocks his head and looks up at her, "My purpose, is to sort of just be me. I'm finding that purpose now. Don't we live on Olympus? Yes, sort of. For me it's different. Why here? Well honestly a touch of happenstance brought me here. As for another chaotic event. No? I mean, I don't plan on it. But you learn when you're in my family, that weird things happen around you."
    He takes a deep breath and says, "So alright, let me start with. I'm a god now. I haven't always been one. My dad has always been my dad. Just..." He lifts a hand to rub at the back of his neck thoughtfully, then opens it to her as he offers his explanation "You met my dad. He was trying to lay low, just be a normallish guy, right? That's because he took off one day a hundred or so years ago, told our family to go to hell, and decided to live life as a mortal."
    He flares his hands a little, "He met my mom, they loved each other. I was born, but unfortunately she passed. I was mortal then as I grew up. Then when I was ten, well... I was kidnapped and taken to fight a war with the gods. Because of that, after it was over, I ascended to the role of Phobos. That's where I am here today. A twenty-something god of Olympus. Cool?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers chuckles a bit and nods understandingly about the 'weirdness' thing. "Oh yeaah, tell me about it. I'm just like, a weirdness magnet. Heck, I dont think I really have any normal human friends..Well there's Karrin, but she's pretty unique for a human.."

But heck, her story is pretty tame compared to his. She just listens in wide-eyed wonder as he talks casually of being a god, his dad being several hundred years old (and heck, how old does that make him even?).

"Wow, guess you're a lot older and more..Experienced than you look. But why? Why would you or your dad forsake the life of a god to live among mortals? I mean, I'd rather be up there, in paradise."

Phobos has posed:
    "I'm..." Alexander starts to say, but then pauses and waves a hand. "When I was taken, time blurred. I was there for years. I've been back for a few years, but I've lived maybe a total of twenty five years, maybe less?" The blond Olympian crinkles his nose and looks away.
    "My dad, though. He's lived for several thousand I believe. He won't say. But the why of it? Well first off. Olympus isn't really paradise. It's... I mean sure it's beautiful. But imagine being stuck up there with a gang of these just..."
    His eyes distance as he tries to summon the right words for his family, "This pack of petty social hyenas that enjoy nothing more than giving each other trouble. All of existence is a game to them of oneupmanship." He takes a breath and looks back, "Some of them are alright, but all of them bring out the worst in each other. And at one point Olympus was threatened. They asked my dad to help, and he did, but after they were total shits to him. So he told them to fuck themselves and left. And that's why we're here."
    He takes a deep breath, then shrugs bonelessly. "Anyways."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers listens wide-eyed, quite surprised to hear that Olympus isn't the paradise she believed it to be. "Wow...Sorry to hear that. I mean, gee, I guess it's not all it's cracked up to be. Must be pretty tough.." The whole thousand year thing makes her grimace. "Gee, he looks pretty good for a thousand year old guy. i mean, I guess death and age doesn't mean anything to a god. But, do you really enjoy living here among us mortals? I mean, humans can be pretty petty and cruel too.."