CLOSED ♔ the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows

[behindcloseddoors]

holding onto heaven (acoustic) - foxes

WHO || Buffy, Michael
WHAT || Buffy gets a surprise visit
WHERE || London
WHEN || January [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

[ Considering that her best friend lives in a shitty hotel in London, presumably Buffy gets out every now and again. The Holly House doesn't even have its own parking lot, so she has to park up the block where she can find a space.

It's en route back to her car that she would get the distinct feeling that she's not alone. It's not the menacing feeling of being watched, but a strange sensation, as though someone were announcing themselves without words.

When she looks across the street, she'd see him, standing in the trellised entrance to a tiny roadside garden. he's dressed just as before, his expression mostly neutral, making it difficult to discern exactly what he's here for - but presumably, the Archangel Michael doesn't show up for matters that are less than grave on some level.

After catching her eye, he simply turns, hands digging into the pockets of his jacket, and heads into the wintered garden, a clear invitation. ]

Comments

[slay]

[ Despite her conversations with Dean, when Buffy sees Michael strolling into the garden, a peaceful look settles into her expression. The angels have that harbinger of season finales discord thing going on, but she also feels a measure of gratitude and trust for each of them for different reasons, Michael most of all.

She glances up and down the sidewalk to ensure that she isn't being followed, then crosses the street and heads after him in no particular rush. She makes her way around the snowy shrubbery to seek him out once she enters the garden. ]

Phones work too, you know.

[condemnatory]

[ he's stopped in front of a small frozen pool, standing next to a carved birdbath, and a small wry smile curves up his cheek at the comment. ] Call me old fashioned.

[slay]

[ Her eyebrows raise, and her lips purse in a look of muted amusement. A nod follows, evaluative. ] Funny.

[ The oldest of old-fashioned. She folds her arms beneath her chest, shoulders hunching. ]

But I'm betting you didn't drop in to run your stand-up routine by me.

[condemnatory]

I wish it were something so harmless. But unfortunately, you're right. Rarely in my line of work do I get to deliver any of the harmless news.

[slay]

Good news usually comes with a side of the other kind, anyway. If it were harmless, you'd just have me waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[ She waves a hand in a beckoning gesture, ready to just jump into it. ]

One of these days, though, you're gonna have to swing by for a wedding or a cocktail party or karaoke night. Just for a change of pace.

[condemnatory]

One of these days.

Hell's been busy. Busy enough to give us some leeway, at least. Even if they hadn't, I was at a point of breaking the rules at the risk of allowing them more freedom, because we're running out of time quickly.

We need to talk about Des.

[slay]

[ Confusion settles in by the end of that. Buffy's brow furrows, and she waits a beat before clarifying: ] Des, who ... you were worried about turning into Hell's evil immortal buttmonkey, who is now happily married and no longer immortal?

[condemnatory]

The very same. [ he frowns deeply, turning to regard her more fully ] I hope you didn't come to the conclusion that any of that had changed Hell's desire to claim him.

The truth is rather unfortunately the opposite.

[slay]

Yeah, getting that impression.

[ Which is only more perplexing. ]

I don't get it. What's the appeal? Don't get me wrong, Des is one in a million, but even that means there's like ... eight thousand of him in the world. [ Math isn't her strong suit, but she'll not mince the estimate. ] He's just a regular guy. Why keep their sights set on him?

[condemnatory]

Hell's greatest weapon isn't a demon. It's the strength of the convictions of those who serve it. It's that strength that allows them to sway hearts and minds so easily, to enact such a foothold in this world.

Have you spoken to Des, about how he's handling his newfound mortality?

[slay]

Sure. [ Innocuous shrug. ] I mean, he was freaked at first, waiting for Final Destination around every corner, but he seems fine now.

[condemnatory]

[ as gently as possible: ] I'm not sure you've exactly been listening to what he's had to say about it.

[slay]

[ Bristling to the defensive, Buffy straightens her back. ]

I'm sorry, are you here for friendship counseling, or to warn me about Hell's next move?

[condemnatory]

I'm not certain the two are mutually exclusive, in this case.

All Des thought he ever wanted was mortality. The moment he got it, however, well. That changed.

[slay]

[ Things Buffy doesn't like: where this is going. Quickly losing patience, she snaps, ] What's your point?

[condemnatory]

If you think they aren't willing to exploit that, then you're wrong.

You've been speaking with Sam and Dean Winchester. I imagine the word fiend has cropped up in those conversations.

[slay]

No.

[ She holds up her hands, turning and pacing a few steps away, refusing to hear it. ]

No, Des is not like Sam was. He won't do that to himself, no matter what they promise him.

[condemnatory]

And you're willing to stake his soul on their not finding some crack in his armor?

Has anyone given you a clear idea of what it means, to become a fiend?

[slay]

[ Whether it's defensiveness over her relationship with Des, negative reaction to the responsibility of having to save Des' soul, or seeds planted by Dean's animosity, Buffy doesn't look particularly thrilled. Her words are clipped and impatient. ] Feels an awful lot like you're about to.

[condemnatory]

Because you need to understand exactly what the danger is.

Those mortals who agree to serve Lucifer, whatever their individual reasons for doing so may be, cannot maintain their mortal forms if they wish to be of any use to hell. A mortal body cannot withstand the climate, so to speak, below, nor would a mortal lifespan be much use to the long game that Lucifer plays.

When they swear allegiance, they also agree to let Lucifer kill their mortal body, and replace it with one of his own creation. One that may be... sturdier, in several ways, but also twisted, given that Lucifer does not possess the perfect power of creation that Ao does.

[slay]

Well, lucky for Heaven that Des is so vain, then. No way he'd let Lucifer turn him into some slimy hellbeast.

[condemnatory]

Assuming that he hasn't found something of more value to him than his vanity.

Something that he would desire the immortality offered by such a form in order to keep.

[slay]

[ Processing

processing

processing.

Her eyes steadily widen and her gaze drops to the icy pathway, dread welling in her expression as it sinks in. ]

Zarad.

[condemnatory]

Love is a powerful motivator. It can break curses, offer strength --

But the darker side of love is obsession. Fear of losing someone who you have placed above yourself, above everything else.

Above even your deepest convictions.

[slay]

Okay, but turning yourself into a monster just to live forever with your boyfriend? [ Buffy's head tilts to the side, bobbing a bit as her eyebrows arch—mocking the notion. ] That's crazy. Des could hardly stomach how postal Rafael went—he'd never let something like that drive him to Lucifer.