Owner	Pose
Ares	Sunnydale? That little known suburb of Bludhaven? That's where they're having the Construction Workers of America convention? The man known as John Aaron crinkled his nose at the invitation and frowned to himself. Then he had shrugged and tossed it aside onto the kitchen counter, forgotten until the day before the weekend upon which the convention was to start.     At first he wasn't going to go, but then his boss had made noises about them needing to represent the Union in a more flattering way since the recent upheaval and corruption scandals. So it was with a twinge of reluctance that he accepted and drove his black SUV up the interstate, heading towards this Sunnydale. It was only a few hours and Alexander was well on his way to Summer Camp, so he had time on his hands.     He crossed the city limits, heading towards the local Ritz Carlton, driving and stopping only occasionally. Little did he know that when a being of his particular lineage and power crosses certain boundaries... a warning is sent out to those in the know. A warning that a being of great threat has arrived and carries with it ill portent.     As he pulled up to the Denny's parking lot, Mr. Aaron wasn't aware of the forces being arrayed against him.
Buffy Summers	Denny's. The restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner, 24/7. It's not a place she frequents but every once in a while, a gal needs something greasy before going out and killing monsters. That is what brought Buffy here tonight. The Jalapeño Bacon Sriracha Burger specifically. With extra srirach and jalepenos. She'd go for garlic if that stuff actually worked. She's sitting at a booth the back corner, where she has a good view of the door and no way for anyone to get to her back. Paranoid much? It's only paranoia if they weren't out to get her. And there were a lot of monsters who would like to claim they had been the one to take down the Slayer. She's dressed casually, wearing a pair of jeans and a black tank top with a light leather jacket thrown over the top. Not because it's cold. Got to have a place for all the toys. There is also a messenger bag slung slantwise across her torso. It's in place although the bench she's seated on supports the weight of the bad and whatever is inside. As she takes a bite of her burger, quickly using a napkin to wipe at the grease dripping down her chin, her senses go off. She flicks her gaze to the door, trying to figure out who, or more precisely what, set it off. It's just a sinking feeling in her stomach but this time, her normal warning system is giving off different vibes. Whatever it is, it's not a vampire or demon on the level she's used to dealing with. She sets down her burger, wiping her hands clean on the napkin and taking a last sip of her Coke. Time to get back to work.
Ares	Outside, the being that is making all the alarms go jingle jangle jingle seems entirely oblivious to what his arrival has wrought. He is standing there beside the black SUV, the man's dark silhouette visible in the halo of the streetlamps. Whatever he is, he's clearly showed up with the informal option ticked on his admittance sheet to whatever evil society he must be attending. He's wearing jeans, black sneakers, a black t-shirt, and a brown leather bomber jacket that looks like it may have actually been used in a bomber back in World War II.     But what is he up to, standing there checking some of the luggage on the roof of that vehicle? What sort of nefarious implements could he have hidden there and... gosh he's tall. Well not taller than everyone she assuredly has met, but a good half foot taller than the local gym coach and that's saying something. He's also got the build of a man as if he were carved by Leonardo da Vinci in a slab of marble.     Then he turns away from the car, pocketing his keys and starting his grim advance upon the Denny's front door, looking like some sort of indomitable force with a desire for a burger. Maybe a chili burger.
Buffy Summers	She had dropped a few bills on the table and headed for the window a moment later. There are a few people in the parking lot but one stands out by his height alone. He's heads above anyone else out there. Most of them are intent on going into Denny's or making their escape back to the world of suburbia. As Buffy heads for the exit, the giant heads for the door. The warning becomes almost painful, a clenching of muscles in her abdomen as he walks closer. At the entrance, she gives him a look over, clearing sizing him up. Well, not literaly because he's way up there above her height. But just the way he carries himself. She's not going to start something in Denny's. They might banish her for life if she left a body on their welcome mat. And then where would she get her birthday cake milkshakes? She continues out the door, just another person heading back to their house after a hard day of work. She walks directly to his vehicle, noting the tag isn't local, peeking inside then moving to the door away from the building. She tries to handle. If it's open, she'll poke around. If it isn't and the alarm goes off, she'll be able to have a chat with the visitor.
Ares	That man that walks past her doesn't pay her any mind. There's no second glance beyond the initial, just a tall fellow walking in to a Denny's to get a bite to eat and then to depart. To anyone else it probably wouldn't be worthy of remark at all, but her guy tells her otherwise.     Yet outside in the parking lot she's able to get a good eyeball of the SUV. The tag has New York plates, and there's nothing that stands out terribly. There are no bumper stickers, no visible refuse in the drink holders. Only thing of remark that she might notice would be a plastic pirate sword that is probably left over from a child or the like. All told there are very few clues to be discerned for this particular member of the Scooby gang.     The door is tried and she'll hear that chirp of the car alarm, a sound of a warning meant to ward off anyone trying to do exactly what she's doing. It doesn't set off the alarm, but if she tried again it most likely would.     Meanwhile, inside the Denny's she might see the man standing at the counter with a menu, probably placing an order. A to go order most likely considering he's standing at that register. So whatever happens she most likely won't have long to wait.
Buffy Summers	Nothing. The car is a bust. She can catch his scent but nothing stands out there to her. No famliarity with the type of creature he is. There's no bags of blood laying around in plain sight nore a body in the back. At least, not visibly. No stench though so probably no body. Even fresh, her senses would be able to pick it up. Thus far, nothing to build off of. Other than he's from New York which isn't criminal. So she opts to wait. There are some manicured bushes that edge the property, meant to make it pretty. They'd be a good spot to hide. Or take her place on the blindside of the vehicle. But no, Buffy opts to do something else. She hops on the hood of the SUV, feet dangling as she sits on the side furthest from the door. That way if he ends up in front of her, he's away from the door and the witnesses that would be recording for YouTube through the windows. She really doesn't need that sort of press. Maybe she should follow him. But no, better to get this over with quickly so she can get to patrolling. Just another day in the life.
Ares	It doesn't take long, maybe eight minutes? Nine? This Denny's is at least efficient, that's for sure. After he takes a bite of that chili burger, though, he'll not be able to say much more than that about them. Be that as it may, he emerges from the double doors, holding it open for a moment for a couple that's entering after him. He then steps away and starts the stroll across the black top parking lot, his footsteps even and precise.     And then he looks up at the apparent teenager who is sitting on the hood of his car. For a moment his pace slows, a furrowed brow marks the trepidation in his expression as he looks one way... then the other, as if to make sure he's not being filmed or ambushed or whatnot. None of that is apparent, however, so he continues on the way and then meets her gaze evenly.     The man's features are definitely severe, and the way he stands with such broad shoulders and grim expression she could easily imagine him riding a black horse and waving around a sword over his head while chasing after elves or hobbits or whatever. But then he lifts his voice, that rumbly baritone as he says to her, "May I help you?" Not exactly what a villain starts a monologue with.
Buffy Summers	At least sitting up here, Buffy doesn't look quite as short. Although she's still not able to look him in the eyes. But as everyone knows, size doesn't matter. Oh wait, that didn't sound right. The bigger the tree, the harder it falls. Yeah, that's a much better one. "Maybe," she says in a cheerful tone of voice. She's kicking her legs like a four year old sitting in a grown-up size chair, heels lighting hitting the tire beneath her with a little thud-thud of sneaker backs to rubber. "Trying to figure out why you're in Sunnydale." As though it is normal for a teenage girl to be questioning someone visiting her hometown. "See, we have certain rules here and being in my territory, I really need to know your intentions."
Ares	The white paper bag already has a bit of grease slickening the bottom of it, and the longer this takes the worse it's gonna get. But he doesn't seem to notice for now. Instead those brilliant brown eyes are level on hers as he looks down at this... to him /tiny/ young woman. His brow quirks as he looks again to the side as if to make sure that this isn't some sort of thing from the Youtubes, some channel about being shaken down by lil childrens or something.     But then he looks back at her and says, "Oh?" Pointedly, as if that was all the judgement he needed and a world of condemnation is able to be filled into that single syllable. Yet he steps past her somewhat, if only to cause the car to chirp once as he pulls open the door and tosses his bag inside, then closes it. Now from that angle he leans a hand against the roof of the car, body language clearly a bit riled. "And what if I tell you, girl, that my intentions are none of your business?"
Buffy Summers	Buffy heaves a tragic sigh, overacting at it's finest. "See, that's where you'd be wrong. And we'd be starting out on the wrong foot. If your intentions don't involve sacrificing babies or sucking out people's brains, we probably could just shake hands--figuratively cause I am not letting you touch me--and go on our happy ways after singing Kumbaya." She tilts her head to the side, regarding him with that half smile still on her face. "We only just met so maybe you just don't get it. Sunnydale is protected. By me. I don't like your kind around here and it's my civic duty--why is it civic? I mean isn't that a car? Where was I. My duty is to put down things like you. Yeah, I know you aren't human. So don't waste my time and yours trying the whole 'oh but I don't know what you are talking about I'm just a mild mannered insurance salesman' schtick, mm-kay?"
Ares	"Well," Ares tilts his head towards her, "I do like to leave my options open..." He says at the comment about sacrificing babies and brain sucking. But then he listens to the rest of her spiel and his brows remain furrowed with this expression on his face that is entirely epic level incredulity to being 'intimidated' and dressed down by this young woman sitting on the hood of his car.     "Why are you protecting a place like Sunnydale?" He asks of her, not exactly answering the questions she's asked. Probably entirely out of spite. But then he adds, "And civic, you wonderful example of our school systems, means having to do with a city or town. Derived from the latin word Civis." That's right, he said that. What a jerk.     A breath is taken, more like a rumbling hint of a growl as he then adds, "And I work in construction."
Buffy Summers	"Now you sound like Giles," she mutters at the answer to what was purely a rhetorical question. Yeah, rhetorical. She knows big words so there. At his claim of what he does for a living? That earns a roll of the eyes. "Construction. Okay, if you insist on playing it that way." Buffy hops off the hood of the SUV, landing lightly on the ground. She puts her hands on her hips, staring up at him as though he isn't twice her size. There isn't a bit of intimidation in any line of her body. She knows she can take him. The confidence oozes out of her. "Let's see. Now I'm supposed to say 'oh construction? How wonderful. Please, go on your way and enjoy your time in my town'." Unfortunately for you," she says, actually raising her right hand to point at him. Yes, point. Right at the center of his ginormous chest. "I have a problem with doing what I'm supposed to do. Ask anyone. I'll give you one chance here. Get in your construction mobile," she points at the SUV. "And leave town the same way you came in." The she goes there. "Or else."
Ares	That look of incredulity slips towards the confounded as his eyebrows climb. "I can show you my union rep card..." He almost even starts to reach for his wallet, as if that would prove sufficiently to this little creature that he does what he says he does. But then she hops down and he's being faced down by this blonde girl, his gaze holding hers steadily. "Do you happen to perhaps have a badge of some sort? Not one you found in a cereal box I mean." Oh what a zinger. A dad level zinger probably, but still.     But then she's pointing at him, and he sort of takes it as she rails at him, and then she hauls out the final statement of, 'or else.' And he just sort of looks at her like she's a lunatic driven wild by the moon.     "Alright, sweet child, I am going to get in my car. I am going to go to my hotel. I am going to sleep. And I will put this from my mind, only reminded of it perhaps in the unlikely event that I am harangued by a bunch of stuffed animals."
Buffy Summers	He just called her a teddy bear. Or a fluffy unicorn. Or a Velveteen Rabbit. Or something equally insulting. That's the problem with these monsters. They judge the book by the cover. Buffy is so much more than a pretty face. "No badges. What I do isn't authorized by the cops. It's a matter of being Chosen. Ugly mole club and stuff. Nevermind." Like he needs to know about that mole she had removed back in the beginning before all the mess that her life has become. "You had your chance." When she moves, it's with blinding speed letting him know that this is no human in front of him. Whatever she is, she moves in a flash, bringing a silver coated dagger up out of the messenger bag right there by his car door with his burger leaking grease probably through to his seat by now. Too bad, so sad. He won't be around to pine for it. She steps right in, going for a stab to his stomach.
Ares	It's a blur of movement, and she'll feel the weight of the impact of the dagger into his gut. And it's a hit, firm, she's felt it before, though with vampires it's been easier since parts of their anatomy are more fluid than a human's. But she can feel the blade go in about an inch... perhaps a smidge more, not the rather good stab she's used to. It might cause a moment of trepidation. Since in that moment of the stabbing one of that man's large hands went to her shoulder and took a firm grip, as if trying to keep her at arm's length.     "What..." He winces and takes a step back, pushing her away instead of doing anything more terrible. If she had any doubts about him being a normal person, well that attempt at the initial stabbity probably resolved them.     There's enough distance between them now that he's stepped back a stride, perhaps two. He touches a hand to his abdomen and pushes a finger through his torn t-shirt, a faint blood stain darkening part of it as he scowls. "You need to get a hold of yourself..." He starts to say.
Buffy Summers	That really should've gone better. Usually she would at least get to the crossguard on the blade before it stopped. Tougher than he looks. Because, yeah, he's not intimidating or frightening in the least. As his hand comes to her shoulder, pushing her back, she withdraws the dagger but she isn't even close to being done. She brings up her hand, spinning her body away with a strength that is not that of a teenaged cheerleader. No, she could probably bench press his car. Well, maybe not that much but it's still impressive. He's put a little distance between them which works just fine for her. She makes a grab for his arm, tring to spin it into a hold. She steps in close, ducking under the arm whether the hold works or not and going for a stab to the lower back, right around the kidney. She's not scared yet but she is realizing this won't be an easy kill. The fact he keeps trying to talk down the situation is irritating. It's like she's just a gnat, annoying instead of threatening. She really hates that.
Ares	"Look, just calm..." But then she's darting in towards him and grabs his arm, using her strength and leverage to spin around and try and twist it about, bringing that blade up and around and then /slash!/ there's a spatter of blood and that brown leather is torn asunder by the force of her strike and the blade. It's enough to get him to grimace and to abruptly turn to the side, that arm she thinks she has a hold of suddenly just /blasts/ out of that hold with a strength she might find intimidating, the power of it very strong and capable of sending her sprawling if she isn't entirely focused on the moment.     But _again_ it lets him back up and gain some distance between them as he scowls. "Look, I'm warning you." He says sharply, voice rumbling with a growl that most beings in various continuums would find oh so terribly intimidating.     He turns his head to the side and scowls, "Do you realize how old this jacket..." He starts to say, taking his eyes off her for just a second.
Buffy Summers	Never take eyes off an opponent. Lesson one in the book on combat. He probably wrote that book, not that Buffy knows it. "What the hell are you?" she demands as she pulls the dagger free and faces off with him again. No, not done yet. She's just getting lined up. Hopefully he blocks because she leaps, Slayer strength and speed exhibited as she goes for his throat. Not with her teeth. That's Spike's thing. Or Angel's. No, she's coming in with that blade, figuring that without a head, most things stop fighting. Not all. That was a rough lesson. Back to this fight, she is intent on taking his head off which will start with a blade going into the hollow of his throat should she hit her target.
Ares	She can almost see the transition in him in the moment she's making that leap, darting forwards with her blade catching the light of the streetlamp just so. It's there in his eyes and the set of his features as he scowls most sternly, his expression entirely grim as one moment she's in the air and then the next he is meeting her in mid-flight, a hand /covering/ her hand with the dagger, uncaring that it's cutting into the ridge of his hand. Yet she might not even notice that as his other hand /grabs/ her by the throat and he carries her with him as he _slams_ her into the pavement with this tall man glowering at her.     "Girl, I want nothing to do with your home!" He roars, his features contorted with a ghost akin to rage. "I had no intention of harming /ANYONE/ in this forsaken place! And you are DAMNED lucky that this is not any other epoch than this one or I would burn this entire place around your knees, and keep you alive only long enough to decide what is more important, holding your innards in your body or staunching the flow of blood from your broken skull!"     And then there's silence between them as he looks at her wild-eyed, breathing heavily, and perhaps for a moment she might /see/ the monster that is hidden behind the facade John Aaron presents to the world. "Damn your eyes!" He says simply and then, if she allows it, he'll take that knife from her as he stands up and removes his grip from her throat.
Buffy Summers	That was unexpected. He attacked when she was already in midflight, showing a level of strength and speed she should've been ready for. She wasn't. It's a moment later she finds herself slammed into the pavement, a hand on her throat, held there like a butterfly pinned in a collection. She has her hands on his wrist, tugging and pulling with all her Slayer strength and he just ignores it. Like it's nothing. Her eyes widen a little bit as she hears his words, realizing he is much more dangerous than anything she has already faced in her handful of years as a protector. She finds herself wishing she'd paid more attention to Giles when he was droning on monotonously about creatures and how to kill them. Looking into those eyes, there is no doubt he's a monster. His words prove it as well. When he releases her, taking her knife in the process, she forces air into her lungs and flips up to her feet, watching him with narrowed eyes. "What. Are. You."
Ares	"I am a man." The bleeding warrior says levelly, quietly. His brow is furrowed, and his manner is more subdued, as if he were partially ashamed for this break, this loss of control. "It's what I used to be that most likely sets off whatever warnings you have of me." He looks at the knife for a moment, examining it as he twists it under the glow of the streetlight. A grimace is given, then he says softly, "This is a good blade."     A breath is taken, pushed down as he scowls and then looks at her from across the way. "If I give this back to you, will you promise to at least wait until our conversation is over before trying to kill me again?" He asks of her with an eyebrow inclined. But as he speaks she can tell that wounds that had torn his clothes asunder, they're no longer bleeding. And a glance at the ripped cloth and leather, she'll see that his sharply defined musculature is no longer marred with an open wound.     "I have no intention to hurt anyone, and will be gone by Monday. But if you press me on this..." He frowns and tosses the blade back to her, "Then I turn around and leave as you wish."
Buffy Summers	Okay, this has just gone into 'Danger Danger' area. He's healed. Completely. There's a little blood on his clothes and skin but the wounds? Never existed it looks like. "I'm listening." She catches the blade easily in the air, eyes never leaving him. Buffy's body language shows she's ready to move if he tries anything. Although, he isn't he one that tried in the first place. He just stood there and got stabbed. Repeateadly. Who does that? She absently flexes and relaxes her hand on the handle.
Ares	A short exhalation of air is heard, a scoff that borders on a laugh as he shakes his head. But he turns away from her partially to start taking off his jacket. He frowns to himself as he unslings it and then pushes one hand through a sleeve, fingertip sticking through the hole she made. He scowls to himself, "Seriously, this jacket is older than you are and probably has more hours logged in combat." That scowl twists then he looks at her.     "Alright, so let's start with you. You claim to guard this place? What are you, a druid of some kind? A sentinel? I had thought all of them had been killed." He tosses these terms out there expecting her to recognize them when chances are she might not. But then he waves a hand, "No matter."     "I am here to go to a convention. I have my invitation if you want to look at it. I have my itinerary. Heck I can even show you that my hotel reservations are just for the weekend. I don't know what you want."
Buffy Summers	Druid she knows. Close enough to Wiccan and she's got a few of those in her life. Sentinel? The concept is there by definition but otherwise, no clue. She shakes her head a bit at all the titles but then he dismisses things as quick as he started them. Buffy frowns and crosses her arms, hostility radiating out from her like a heatwave. "A convention? For construction?" She actually thinks she's seen a few signs around town about that, welcoming the visitors. But what the hell. Can't hurt to tell him since she still has to figure out a way to kill him. After they talk of course. "I'm the Slayer. Well the most recent one. Although that's not entirely true because--nevermind. I'm a instead of the. My job is to kill monsters and protect humanity." She gives a tight smile but it doesn't read her eyes. "Your turn."
Ares	"My name is John Aaron," The tall man folds his arms over his chest and looks at her warily. "In ages past I've answered to several names. Considering the quality of your education I imagine you probably won't recognize them." His lip twitches, amused for a moment by his own wit, the cad. But then he adds, "But I have been called, Mars. Or Ares. Or War." He takes a deep breath as he watches how she receives this information. "Of late I just prefer John."     He then tries to cut off any weirdness, to cut into her reaction or incredulity by saying. "If you insist on pressing this, continue to seek to attack me, I would rather leave than have your death on my conscience. "
Buffy Summers	Okay, she hated mythology class. She really did. But certain names did stick out. Ares aka Mars aka War aka What the Hell Did I Just Get Myself Into is one of them. Buffy realizes she may be out of her league finally but she does her best not to let it show. He probably can see it though in the lines of her posture, the slightest of changes. Her hand on the dagger stops its restless movements. A moment later, the blade disappears. As established, it didn't really help. "You are the god of war yet you are going to a construction convention? I've seen some weird sh--stuff in my day but this has got to be at the top of the list. Aren't you supposed to be all big billy badass wanting to fight and stuff?"
Ares	Another looooong heaved sigh as he looks down into the crook of his hand, fingers rubbing at his temples as if he were the most set upon man in the multiverse. He looks up and then asks her, "Aren't you a little short to be a Slayer?" Countering her question about appearances with one of his own. But that is not enough to fully answer her, since he perhaps figures if he gives her enough guff she'll flip out and go ninja again.     "We Olympians aren't exactly the most worshiped of holy figures anymore, are we?" He meets her gaze with his own, "When was the last time you or your family sacrificed an ox in my name? Had a particular good game of wall ball and thanked me for your skill? No?" He waves a hand to his side and murmurs, "But some time ago I decided to just try and live a normal life. Since then I've just been a working stiff."     He watches her as he speaks, gauging her, eyeing her reactions and hoping that she'll at least buy the possibility of it. He's not exactly looking for another nine rounds with her.
Buffy Summers	"What was with that?!" Buffy suddenly asks, grasping onto something he said. "Why did you want them to kill oxes. Oxen. Whatever," she waves a dismissive hand in the air as she continues. "Do you have something against bovines? I can understand being a carnivore and stuff but that's just on the wrong side of the sick wall, y'know?" She doesn't think he's lying. She also doesn't think she can kill him. Mainly? She doesn't think she should. He doesn't seem to be evil in the sense of the word as she knows it. He's just trying to go to a convention. What do they do at construction conventions? She has a vision of people dressed up as cement mixers and drywall and she giggles before she can stop herself. "Sorry. Inside voice."
Ares	"Sacrifice. The key is in the definition of the word." He tells her levelly, hands now upon his hips and squints at her, but then he shakes his head and holds out a hand towards her as if to stay her from any further wackiness. "Look, are we going to have any more of a problem here, or do I have your okay to go to this convention so my boss doesn't fire me and I end up having to rework my resume."     He steps back towards his car, but instead of opening the door he just leans back against the hood near where she was before, not exactly beating feet at the moment. "Or will my presence upset whatever geas is upon you to defend this area? I can understand that. Since that'd give you a reason for acting like a jerk."
Buffy Summers	"I don't think we're going to have any more of a problem but I'll have to check in with my Watcher to be sure. Give me the info on where you're staying in case I need to come kill you later?" Is she kidding? She doesn't sound like she's kidding. Yet there isn't a threat to it. Just a random thought verbalized in a conversational tone. She watches him lean against the SUV, taking in his size and those holes in his clothes. She can heal but man, his is outstanding. It must rock to be a god. Instead of a... "What?! I was not acting like a jerk! I was doing what I'm supposed to do," she says, hands on her hips again as she glares at him. "I sense things that are not human. You happen to be a thing! I tried to just talk to you but nooooo, you had to be all macho and act like I was suffering from sunstroke or something instead of taking me seriously. So who was the jerk?"
Ares	"Did you suffer from sunstroke a lot? That would explain much." The tall man replies as he leans there, but he shakes his head, exhaling a rough snort of a laugh. "That's not entirely true and you know it. If anyone was acting macho it was you."     He then points at her, "Who was the person that told the other, 'Git yer butt outta mah town pahdner OR ELSE.'" He paraphrases what she said to him, badly, but she probably gets the point. "And here I was walking along, just wanting to eat my chili burger when out of nowhere you stab me. Repeatedly."     He squints at her, "You are lucky I am not one to hold grudges anymore." Though something about his countenance might seem to incline that he could very well start.
Buffy Summers	"Yeah, but that was right after the whole 'noneyabusiness little bug now go away' bit," Buffy says, frowning a bit. "If you would've just answered my questions, I wouldn't have had to get physical. You think I like killing things? Okay, don't answer that" she adds quickly. Because there are times she really likes her job. Hopefully he can't tell that. Y'know, being a god and stuff. What can he do? Does she still have her mythology book at home. She's going to do some reading tonight. Hit the library first though, probably better data there. "I thought we were trying to get past all the stabby you ruined my jacket stuff and now you're the one sounding like you're making a threat," she points out helpfully.
Ares	"Oh now, _why_ would I perhaps not want to confess to a teenage girl hollaring at me in a parking lot that I'm an ancient deity who wants to do nothing more than to eat my burger and go to my hotel? Heavens forfend my transgression." His tone of voice rises as they both start snapping at each other, but then he grimaces as she makes a point.     "You're right. I'm just... displeased." He pushes off of the hood of the SUV and tells her, "I understand, perhaps you were just doing your job. I understand that these are difficult times." He takes those few steps needed to close the distance with her and then offers his hand to her, "Perhaps we can call a ceasefire for now? I'll be at the Ritz/Carlton in town if you still want to draw my blood later."     Those dark brown eyes meet hers and he then asks as he awaits her to shake his hand, "Are we at peace, miss?"
Buffy Summers	She doesn't like to give her name. She doesn't like to shake hands with creatures. He isn't a creature though. He seems to be genuine in what he wants now in his life. He seems to want peace. Despite being of war. He could've killed her. She knows that deep inside. She went down like a bug on a windshield hit at 60mph. So yeah, she knows when she's outmatched. Like the last time she was in a conundrum, she goes with her gut. Placing her small hand in his, her handshake is firm. "Buffy Summers."
Ares	"Buffy," He says that quietly, the expression on his face saying 'of course you're named Buffy' but he at least doesn't say it out loud. A pause then he gives her a nod as his own handshake is firm, but not aggressive. Just a pair of pumps then let go as he then steps back from her. "If something comes up you'll know where to find me."     John steps to the car door and pulls it open, the interior lights coming on even as he reaches in to put the keys in the ignition before crawling inside. "Don't take this the wrong way, Ms. Summers. I hope I never see you again." And with that said he gets into the SUV, turns on the lights and then begins to back out of the parking spot.