Owner	Pose
Buffy Summers	It's been a while since the whole body swapping craziness, and things in Bludhaven have been relatively quiet, peaceful even. But of course that was not meant to last. Lately, Buffy had been hearing rumours of commando style soldiers who were lurking in the shadows, hunting demons, even experimenting on them. Of course, Spike was only one of their latest victims but certainly not their only victim. This time, Buffy had invited Willow to join her for patrol as she strides through the cemetary, dressed in her familiar black leather jacket, red pants and black tshirt underneath. As always she is loaded with stakes and holy water, her battle axe strapped in a nylon violin back over her back just in case, and a silver crucifix gangs from her neck, just in case. "Soo that guy Vitali, did he move in yet? You were thinking of having him as a new room mate, right?" so far it's been quiet and as always, conversation lingers on their more normal every day life.
Willow Rosenberg	Willow kept along with Buffy. It really was so long since she came out with her bestest friend, that she was smiling, even though they were on the hunt for vampires or ghouls or whatever.. "Not yet, but shortly! I think he's a little bit frightened to see the big city. I'm working on him." She thinks about it, and declares, "I like him. And his other friend Xiang Zhao. Though I am not too sure about if he's Xiang, or Zhao." She pauses. "Why?"
Hellequin	A pleasant clear sky suddenly darkens, the very few birds still chirping in the night just went quite. Replacing the natural sounds of the night, comes a low rumbling at first, which intensifies gradually to a rather loud, encompassing, rumbling filling the sky. As the rumbling increases, a greyish ghostly silhouette of what appears to be a horseman, appears in the now cloudy sky. As he approaches Buffy and Willow, the horse comes to a halt, rearing. From where the horseman stands, floating in the night sky, his booming voice can be heard, as he brandishes a large menacing sword. "Most Merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray You, By the agony of Your most Sacred Heart, And by the sorrows of Your Immaculate Mother, To wash in Your Most Precious Blood, The sinners of the world who are now in their agony, And who will die today." Then the horseman clearly turns his attention to Willow, his sword pointed directly at her. "Willow Rosenberg!" he declares, "Repent now! May God have mercy on your sinful soul, when you join the witches' cohort in Hell!" And on that, the horseman charges towards Willow, sword swirling, clearly intent on dispatching her to the afterlife.
Buffy Summers	Buffy Summers smiles and nods, "Well that's good, I felt bad leaving g you alone in the apartment.I mean, you never know when rent will go up and all.." she shrugs, "Can't say I know much about Vitali, but he seems like a nice person..Soo I guess he's just living in the forest? What's he doing here when he seems to miss him homeland so much?" As for Xiang Zhao, she chuckles and nods, "He seems nice too, much like Vitali, he seems displaced out of time and country though, that's curious." So far, their patrol has been pretty quiet and uneventful. They e been out here for maybe 20 minutes though, and the light is still young. And of course, just when she's thinking it'll be a quiet night, Buffy both senses and feels the unnerving rumbling and ghostly figure in the sky. "What the...?" eyes narrow, tensing slightly at the sight, shivering a bit at the slight breeze. "Okaaay, either the super spicy ghost pepper chicken taco salad I had tonight totally didn't agree with me, or..." Orrr that's like, the headless horseman. Or something. She draws a deep breath, rubs her eyes, then as he starts reciting some wacko poem and points his sword at Willow, Buffy's eyes narrow, grabbing her axe, stepping between Willow and the horseman, who hopefully at least has a head but anyways, with a snarl, she slashes at the legs of the creature with her axe, trying to knock it off its feet.
Willow Rosenberg	"You know," Willow admits. "I seem to have a penchant for meeting odd balls. You don't believe that I send out to the universe something that brings them all to me, do you?" Which is almost all she got out before the 'crazy' started to yell at her, *demanding* she repent.. She was Jewish, and a pagan to boot. What does she know about repentance in order to go to heaven? Or in this case, hell. (Mind you, she knows about guilt. Her mother was an expert at it!) Now, Buffy has told her to run, and run fast. Unfortunately, Willow did not listen.. "Huh?"
Hellequin	Buffy's axe swirls and hits the horse' legs... then nothing. The Slayer's weapon hits nothing, swinging through the ghostly animal as it would through mere smoke. This action, nonetheless, gets her the attention of the Hellequin, who is not usually interrupted in his duty. "Buffy Summers," he says in a low, strangely not menacing voice, "I did not come for you. Do not be alarmed. Return to your abode." Now, the horseman returns his attention on the witch. Witches must - and will - be punished and sent to Hell. Willow should have heeded her friend's command, and run. By staying just there, she makes a perfect target for the Hellequin. The horse having been distracted by Buffy, sidesteps just about out of reach of Willow, the large sword barely missing her neck. Without the Slayer's intervention - interruption - there would be one witch less in God's world. The sword, though, touched Willow's clothing, tearing it lightly at the shoulder, and its starts burning instantly where the blade made contact. The fire will expand quickly if it is not extinguished right away. Closer now, it might be easier to see that he is - or was? - a man, of which he has the traits. His general appearance tho is more like one of a ghost. He's wearing what looks like Medieval attire, and weapons. "Witch!" he warns, "It is time to repent and die. I promise you, in God's name, that death will be swift and merciful."
Buffy Summers	Buffy Summers blinks slowly as her axe swings through the air, and passes right *through* the ghostly apparition. "..The heck? You're saying your a freaking ghost? How am I supposed too....?" Eyes narrow in anger as he focuses his attention on Willow, shaking her head as she moves to try and step in between him and Willow again. "What are you talking about? She may be a witch but that doesn't make her evil..And how'd you even know my n--?" Annnd that's when he slashes at Willow again, causing her jacket to catch on Fire. "Willow!" Buffy pulls off her summery scarf, using it to try and gently but firmly swat at the fire starting to spread on Willow's jacket, assuming it actually connected and caught on fire.
Willow Rosenberg	"Dang nabbit!" Willow does not swear. "You.. you.." In order to keep him away, she began a freeze spell. Which was unusual. She should have cast a spell to dissipate his ghostly form, but Nooooo, she cast a time freeze. And began to pat out the flames. Who was he, and ouch! He had got a hole in her favourite jacket! (Never mind it was her *only* jacket!)
Hellequin	The Hellequin stops his horse, slowly lowersing to ground level, although he doesn't dismount. That's when he displays some surprise as the witch's spell hits him. Standing still for a moment - did the spell work? - he then leans forward over to pat the horse's neck. The spell might have affected him, to a degree "Your diabolical spells have no dominion on me," he declares, but it is true?. "Repentless sinners are an abomination in God's eyes, and witches must burn in Hell." He then falls silent, looking up at the stars as he recites a prayer. " Ave Maria, gratia plena Dominus tecum Benedicta tu in mulieribus Et benedictus fructus ventris tui. Amen. " He then lowers his gaze back to stare at Willow - and Buffy. "Buffy Summers, why do you protect a witch? Have you turned to the Malin? "
Buffy Summers	Buffy Summers takes time to check on Willow and make sure that fire is out out, before turning to face the ghostly horseman again. "If you know who I am, then you know what I do. I'm sworn to protect innocents like Willow against demons, warlocks and other creatures of evil. As I've said before, she may be a practitioner of magic but that does not make her evil..You on the other hand, do you typically just judge everyone without just cause? Don't you know, it's what you do with the abilities you are granted that matters, *not* the abilities themselves.." As she speaks, Buffy pulls out a vial of holy water from her belt, steady gaze never leaving the ghostly apparition. "If you're a ghost, then maybe I can help avenge your death. If you're some sort of demon, we have nothing more to discuss...Which is it?" of course, that whole prayer bit though, doesn't seem very typical of demons of course. Just what is she dealing with?
Willow Rosenberg	Willow still wasn't happy about the hole in her jacket. And she mostly definitely did NOT appreciate him yelling at her. The only thing that doesn't make sense is his prayerful words. "Buffy, something is weird." Normally ghosts wanted them *all* dead, not just her. And they most definitely didn't say such things as prayers. She stays away from him, but still in the general area.
Hellequin	Buffy's questions seem to give pause to the horseman, for a moment. The Slayer has good questions, one he's asking himself for about... how long yet, he lost count. 800 years or so. Who he is though, is clear. "I am the Hellequin," he says, and for a nice touch, the thunder can be heard in the background just after he pronounces his name. "My abilities were granted by God, and so is my mission. I will eradicate all evildoers, the scourges and sinners, repentless miscreants and send them where they belong, to burn in Hell." He pauses once again - like someone who is in no hurry - happens when you are immortal. Or maybe, he's thinking. When he speaks again, his voice is almost natural, less booming, and tainted with a French accent that his previous declamations didn't convey. "Buffy Summers, you say that this wretched witch is not evil. Prouvez-le!" His gaze, more menacing now, turns to Willow. "Witch, do you pretend to do good deeds? How dare you say this, you just used your diabolical magic on me." Alright, maybe Buffy's questions hit a spot, where her weapons were useless, and the Hellequin is asking. There might be a witch that won't die tonight. They better speak good on her behalf, if they expect the Hellequin to not finish what he started.
Buffy Summers	Buffy Summers nods slowly to Willow, "Right. This guy, whoever, or whatever he is, is using prayers, almost..Like a weapon..? But This whole 'All witches must burn!' deal is totally outdated!" Glancing back at the ghostly horseman, as he states his name, she can't help but burst out laughing suddenly at his name in spite of the seriousness of the situation. "I'm sorry, just..Hellequin? Like Harlequin but of..A hellish variety? I mean, does that make you..What, a hell clown?" she's really trying to be serious but Buffy's having trouble keeping a straight face right now. Drawing a deep breath, she clears her throat a but as she tries to compose herself. "Oookkkaaaay, sooo...You're a hell clown or uh..A holy hell clown chosen by God to fight evildoers? Am I getting this right? Only.." She glances back at Willow and sighs, "Okay, firstly, Willow was only defending herself against you. Secondly she's saved countless lives using her magic. For good. Besides.." Wary eyes focus on him again, still grasping the axe tightly in one hand, the holy water vial in the other, tensed still as if she hasn't yet decided if she should attack, defend or just run. But she seems slightly less tense than before. "Besides, if using magic makes one automatically evil, what does that make you with your immaterial form and your fire weapon? Hmm?" yeaaaah, answer that one, tough guy!
Willow Rosenberg	"You hit me first!" Willow blinks. "Prove it? How?" She never had to prove before. Didn't she prove by her actions? Heck! She didn't even swear. Don't people who were going to H E double L hockey sticks swear?! "Oh!" She blushes, and removes the spells (not that it did any good). "Sorry." "Well, if he's been granted by Yahweh it's not in the same vernacular as the plain old magic user. Really, he would be using divination." She nods. "Yeah, divination."
Hellequin	Godly mission or not, the Hellequin has pride! Nothing in the mission said he had to stand still while being insulted. "The Devil took possession of your tongue, Buffy Summers. I do NOT use magic," he replies, frowning. As he speaks, he slowly places his sword on the saddle, only to retrieve an equally ethereal - but way more menacing - halberd. "In mocking me," he booms, "You are mocking God!" Alright, this is a good indication, if any, that the Hellequin doesn't like to be made fun of. Nope, no sense of humour. It might be advisable to change tactic in dealing with him. At Willow's comment on divination, the halberd is raised, ready for action. "I do NOT use the means of Satan! You cannot even recognize prayers to our heavenly God! Wretch!" He pauses, looking between the two of them, as if deciding which one to attack first. But he remains still. "You say she saved lives. Name names! If I sent them to Hell, you will follow them now." In other words, if you saved sinners, it doesn't count! Yeah, those are his rules, it seems.
Buffy Summers	Buffy Summers blinks at Willow, "Divination? With a name like 'hell'in it? I dunno, but you know how these things work better than me.." but looks like Hellequin has no sense of humour as he gets all riled up and looks ready to charge. Buffy grits her teeth, gripping her axe more tightly, "Gee, no one has a sense of humour anymore.." she sighs. "Okaaay, well, like I've said, she's saved my life multiple times, Xander's, Anyas, Giles..Hmm, Cordelia, Angel....Tons of un named people we saved from vamps and other demons on the streets, like those college students who were about to be sacrificed by that demon out by that burnt out church.."
Hellequin	The halberd is lowered, resting on the ground by the horse, still held by Hellequin. Names are finally offered, and the horsenman consider them for a moment. Does he know them all? Hard to say. At least one of them elicits a reaction from Hellequin. "Ah, oui, Angelus," he grunts, "I'll have his head on a pike, and personally delivered to the gates of Hell. Once my dogs are done with him, that is." Nothing more is said about what might be a chase that has been going on for centuries now. Back to the business at hand, the Hellequin considers the /proof/ provided of /some/ good deeds. "Saving life can have diabolical motivations," he replies. "You said she helped you inihilate evil as well, which can also be motivated by the Malin." All things considered - but the thing is, they aren't all considered. This case is different, in the fact that witchcraft - a mortal sin - is mixed with good deeds. "The decision will me made another day," he simply announces. Yes, that simple. So maybe he is /not/ that closed minded. Which also proved that weapons are not always the best defence, when words can be used.
Willow Rosenberg	"I once helped Superman escape from death. They were trying to use his blood to attempt to bring back an old god from Apokolips." Willow remembers that.
Buffy Summers	Buffy Summers blinks blinks, "Wait, wait! Angelus is not Angel! Angelus is the demon that possessed Angel.But that monster is good as dead. I won't allow you to harm Angel, he's a good person who can't help that he's sharing his body with a demon, and he has some much to atone for his sins.." As for Willow, she sighs exasperatedly, "Cmon, let's not split hairs here. She's saved many lives, asking for nothing in return and risking her life to do so." She frowns, folding her arms as she glares at him. "Look, there are greater threats out there that you should be focusing on right now, besides isn't it a sin to kill?"
Hellequin	The Hellequin frowns a bit, not menacingly but rather pensively, at Willow's mention of saving Superman. Another good deed to take into account. "Willow Rosenberg, witch. The time that is now given to you until I return at such time as I decide, should be used to repent your sinful ways of witchcraft." Then the Hellequin shakes his head, slowly, decisively at Buffy's attemps to cover for Angel. "Even if the demon is gone, Angelus is a living-dead. Only the Malin can be the source of such abominations, and I do eradicate this God's creation of all ungodly wretches. So he will be dealt with. In time." That said, with a subtle command, the horse steps back, rearing, as if to announce its departure. But the horseman doesn't leave. Although the question of killing was raised, he decides to not adress it. The mention of greater threats is intriguing. "Greater threats than diabolical ones, do not exist. But pray tell, what threats?"
Willow Rosenberg	Willow didn't know any others, at least *immediately*. But she know that they walked the street at night *preventing* the monsters of getting ahold of the innocents that were asleep in their beds. She frowned.
Buffy Summers	Buffy Summers frowns still, eyeing the Hellequin warily. But she is careful not to take anymore wisecracks at him. Of course she'll have to warn Angel, but she's not even sure how to stop him. Best not to tell him of her intentions though. Buffy just sighs, shaking her head slowly. "Well..You can try.." no need to finish that sentence. "Ohh, well aside from the usually vampires that roams these parks on a regular basis, Yknow, living on a hellmouth and all, there have been recent rumours of demons being captured and experimented on. To augment them or tame them, I'm not sure yet, as they don't leave many clues behind, but we're investigating it.."
Hellequin	A frown can also be seen on the Hellequin's face. Demons! They keep spawning everywhere. "If these sinners use magic on the demons, I will locate and annihilate them all, sinners and demons!" he declares, not explaining how he can detect magic. Yes, he's decidedly focused on annihilitaing. Although this present encounter also proves that the Hellequin is capable of reasoning. Even if he has like /zero/ sense of humour. "I am not going anywhere," he says, "For the time being. Vampires, zombies, witches," he stares at Willow for a moment, "Sorcerers. This city of sin will be cleansed."
Willow Rosenberg	Willow just shakes her head. "We are not all like that. Even if someone like you believes the wrong things about us, we'll still do that very best we can do to make the world a better place. Even when nobody cares about us and the things we do. *Especially* when nobody cares. Instead we'll fight and smile inwards, knowing that the innocents haven't a clue, because we're doing our job correctly. Otherwise we might as well give up."
Buffy Summers	Buffy Summers smiles at Willow and nods, "Willow's got a point, you should listen to her. I mean, not that I mind help in fighting demons, but, you really gotta differentiate between good and evil. I mean, I have a few friends of the vampire, witch, werewolf, zombie variety, but like I said, their nature as supernatural creatures is not what makes em good or evil, so much as what they do. I certainly can't have you running around killing everything without prejudice."
Hellequin	Now the horse steps back, and then turns so its magnificient muscular shape can be admired. "The Hellequin is not deaf," he says, signifying that he is listening to some of the points made. "I have no prejudices, only God's directives. You," he points at Buffy, "Like it or not, /you/, cannot stop my arm. I will strike those who deserve to be." Then the horse rears, and swiftly trots arouns the women, briefly stopping closest to Buffy. "I am /no/ clown from Hell, and you'll know that the Harlequin is indeed based on me." On that, the ethereal horse and its horseman ascend in the sky, and are gone in an instant.