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[Faith sees Buffy die. Still sees it every time she closes her eyes. But she's been here in Reims long enough to know that that sort of thing doesn't take. And for Buffy death can't seem to keep hold of her regardless. Of course she's got her doubts. The storm is new. The way these arrivals came here is new. Maybe the way things used to work won't be the same anymore. Maybe she really is dead...?
These thoughts sink in, creeping and sickening. For all their issues, Faith cares a great deal about Buffy, not that she's ever really voiced those feelings. The idea that she might be dead? No. Fuck that. So Faith keeps a watchful eye on this of usernames that come across her device. Maybe one of them will be Buffy. Maybe...
The username 'slayer' is a hard thing to ignore, so after a few minutes to work up the courage her fingers fly over her device and she hits send.]
Buffy?
These thoughts sink in, creeping and sickening. For all their issues, Faith cares a great deal about Buffy, not that she's ever really voiced those feelings. The idea that she might be dead? No. Fuck that. So Faith keeps a watchful eye on this of usernames that come across her device. Maybe one of them will be Buffy. Maybe...
The username 'slayer' is a hard thing to ignore, so after a few minutes to work up the courage her fingers fly over her device and she hits send.]
Buffy?
[ The memories of her arrival in Reims are slow to return. She was brutally killed. Her attackers turned to dust, but not in a vampy way. There were others out in that storm... But it's not until she sees the username attached to that message that she puts together that Faith was there.
It only takes her a few seconds to reply. ]
Faith. You're okay?
It only takes her a few seconds to reply. ]
Faith. You're okay?
[Fuck. She's alive. That confirmed, she feels all sorts of other emotions filling her head. Relief, fear, happiness, self-loathing, it's all coming at once and she can't really process it all.]
Yes.
Where are you? [Regardless of how she's feeling, Faith has to just... see her. Confirm she's alive for real.]
Yes.
Where are you? [Regardless of how she's feeling, Faith has to just... see her. Confirm she's alive for real.]
[ She's okay. Either she made it through the storm and that weird attack, or... Probably best not to think about that. If the worst happened, they can talk about it sometime. Figure out what they know and where to go from here.
For now she just wants to make sure her sister slayer really is okay. ]
House #6.
For now she just wants to make sure her sister slayer really is okay. ]
House #6.
[The house Spike lives in. Faith really should have guessed that. It's actually kind of obvious.] I'm in Seven. I'll be right over.
[And she is, leaving her room and nearly running out the door to get over to House 6. She's no idea where Buffy is there, but she'll find her. And when she finally does, she stop and just stares at her. Okay. She's here, alive, but now she's at loss for what to say. Is this house sound proofed? Faith's got no idea.]
[And she is, leaving her room and nearly running out the door to get over to House 6. She's no idea where Buffy is there, but she'll find her. And when she finally does, she stop and just stares at her. Okay. She's here, alive, but now she's at loss for what to say. Is this house sound proofed? Faith's got no idea.]
[ Seven, the house right next door and she hadn't known. It seems wrong, like they should have been able to sense each other. That's not how this works though, and it's a silly thought, but it's still there as Buffy heads out into the communal part of the house to meet Faith.
Standing there in the great room, she feels the strangest urge to cry at the sight of the dark haired woman standing there, safe and sound. ]
Hi. [ Ever eloquent, that's about all she can manage to say. At least they can talk here and not have to use that phone thingies. ]
Standing there in the great room, she feels the strangest urge to cry at the sight of the dark haired woman standing there, safe and sound. ]
Hi. [ Ever eloquent, that's about all she can manage to say. At least they can talk here and not have to use that phone thingies. ]
[Faith's got the same urge, although she's not holding back the tears nearly so well. Her eyes are already glassy.] Hi, Buff. [Taking a step closer, but still leaving some distance. Faith's never been a hugger, even if she can feel the urge to put such stupid pride aside at the moment.
Her throat feels tight when she finally manages to say more.]
I'm sorry. I should have had your back.
Her throat feels tight when she finally manages to say more.]
I'm sorry. I should have had your back.
[ Oh no. She doesn't stand a chance against that, the look in Faith's eyes and the sound in her voice. And what she says -- the tears are in her eyes before she realizes it's happening. ]
It's not your fault. [ The words waver, her breath hitches, and she doesn't even think about it when she takes those steps closer and pulls Faith into a tight hug. It might be the first time for them, come to think of it. ]
It's not your fault. [ The words waver, her breath hitches, and she doesn't even think about it when she takes those steps closer and pulls Faith into a tight hug. It might be the first time for them, come to think of it. ]
[It is the first time, Faith's almost certain. She doesn't think she's ever really let Buffy get close enough to try. Always at a distance. It was better that way, right? The moment Buffy's arms go around her, a sob is coaxed out and tears start to fall in earnest.] I had to save Max. I saw her... I n-needed to.
[Her own arms go around Buffy too, needing to reassure herself that she's really there.]
[Her own arms go around Buffy too, needing to reassure herself that she's really there.]
[ It occurs to Buffy then that Faith probably isn't used to losing people. From what she knows of the other woman, she's always kept others at arm's length, not letting anyone get close enough for their loss to really get under her skin. But the two of them have always been connected, in a way no one else could ever possibly understand.
Smoothing a hand over Faith's hair, she keeps her voice soft, doing her best to offer what reassurance she can. ] It's okay, Faith. I would have told you to do it. It was the right call.
Smoothing a hand over Faith's hair, she keeps her voice soft, doing her best to offer what reassurance she can. ] It's okay, Faith. I would have told you to do it. It was the right call.
[She's lost. Her mother. Her first Watcher. But ever since then Faith's tried to keep herself from feeling it ever again. Clearly it hasn't worked.
Faith is trying to catch her breath, to pull it all back together, but it's hard now that she's let the floodgates open.] People come back from the dead here, but i didn't know what would happen. With the storm and everything. Maybe it would be different.
Faith is trying to catch her breath, to pull it all back together, but it's hard now that she's let the floodgates open.] People come back from the dead here, but i didn't know what would happen. With the storm and everything. Maybe it would be different.
[ Faith can take as long as she needs to get a handle on her emotions; Buffy's not about to judge her for needing to let it all out. If anything, it's making her feel more connected to the other woman, and might even be helping to repair some of the damage done over the years. ]
Even if it was supposed to be, you know me: just can't stay dead. [ It's meant to be a joke, there's even a hint of humor in her tone, but it's a joke based on something that still makes her ache inside. ]
Even if it was supposed to be, you know me: just can't stay dead. [ It's meant to be a joke, there's even a hint of humor in her tone, but it's a joke based on something that still makes her ache inside. ]
[The damage done to their relationship isn't really a thing Faith ever truly believed could be repaired. But after the First, they'd really started to have a connection again but it still felt so fragile.
THere's a small laugh between sobs as Faith works to collect herself again. Maybe Buffy doesn't mind the crying, but she's never been very good at letting that side of her show.] Yeah, really, I should have just assumed there was no keeping your ass down.
THere's a small laugh between sobs as Faith works to collect herself again. Maybe Buffy doesn't mind the crying, but she's never been very good at letting that side of her show.] Yeah, really, I should have just assumed there was no keeping your ass down.
[ Fragile and strong all at the same time. Kinda like the two of them as individuals, really.
Buffy finally leans back a little to look at Faith with a watery smile, giving a little shrug. ] You'll know better next time. [ Because there probably will be one, with her luck. ]
Buffy finally leans back a little to look at Faith with a watery smile, giving a little shrug. ] You'll know better next time. [ Because there probably will be one, with her luck. ]
Let's maybe try to avoid that. For like... ever, yeah? Or at least a couple weeks, at least. [Faith scoffs, finally starting to pull it all back together. Wiping off her face, she starts to extract herself from Buffy.]
How are you doing? [She's not the one who died after all. Buffy shouldn't be comforting her about it like she is, right?]
How are you doing? [She's not the one who died after all. Buffy shouldn't be comforting her about it like she is, right?]
[ At least a couple weeks. Yeah, that sounds like a plan she could get behind. Letting Faith go, she gestures back toward the family room - her room, where they can talk more comfortably. ]
I'm okay. Weird is what we do, right? Just another day on the job. [ Ah yes, watch her deftly avoid the real question and go for the much easier interpretation. ]
I'm okay. Weird is what we do, right? Just another day on the job. [ Ah yes, watch her deftly avoid the real question and go for the much easier interpretation. ]
[She eyes the living room, feeling almost bad that she's basically got two rooms and Buffy's stuck sleeping in a living room.] Yeah, so it is. [Denial is a plan Faith is all too happy to get on board with although she wishes she had it in her to push further. She's just not so great at addressing important issues either. Add to that she's exhausted.
She finds herself eyeing the room some more before blurting out.] You know what? If you ever find yourself needing some privacy, I've got a private apartment I've been using to build my own gym. There's a cot there. Fully sound proofed and everything... [It's the least she can do for letting you die, right?]
She finds herself eyeing the room some more before blurting out.] You know what? If you ever find yourself needing some privacy, I've got a private apartment I've been using to build my own gym. There's a cot there. Fully sound proofed and everything... [It's the least she can do for letting you die, right?]
[ Yeah, the whole sleeping in a living room isn't... It sucks. Each night reminds her more and more of those weeks she'd spent in LA after Angel died, or that horrible night she'd been kicked out of her house. They aren't good memories, and she can feel it all starting to slowly eat away at her, but no one will hear a word about any of it. Not even Spike is privy to that information.
So it kind of takes her by surprise when Faith extends the offer. It's not what she would have expected from the other woman, but she's genuinely grateful for it, as evidenced by the smile that appears. ] Thanks, Faith. Really.
So it kind of takes her by surprise when Faith extends the offer. It's not what she would have expected from the other woman, but she's genuinely grateful for it, as evidenced by the smile that appears. ] Thanks, Faith. Really.
[Look. Faith's like grown as a person and shit. She gives stuff to people. She's not just a taker anymore. Maybe Faith doesn't know what Buffy is going through, but she definitely knows what it feels like to want to be alone. That sleeping somewhere that someone else isn't going to disturb you can be a godsend.
And, yeah, it's good to see Buffy smiling at her and have the knowledge it's because of something she's done. It's helping her build the confidence that maybe they'll be alright here. Stuck in this place together.] No problem. Just don't bust my punching bag-! [She points an accusing finger at her while smirking.] I literally just got it.
And, yeah, it's good to see Buffy smiling at her and have the knowledge it's because of something she's done. It's helping her build the confidence that maybe they'll be alright here. Stuck in this place together.] No problem. Just don't bust my punching bag-! [She points an accusing finger at her while smirking.] I literally just got it.
[ Buffy can't even remember the last time she's had an restful, undisturbed sleep by herself. It's been a long time, that's for sure. ]
Oh come on, would I--? [ She stops, thinks for a second, then nods and holds up her hands. ] Okay, okay, you break it, you bought it, I get it. Is there anything I can beat up around here then?
Oh come on, would I--? [ She stops, thinks for a second, then nods and holds up her hands. ] Okay, okay, you break it, you bought it, I get it. Is there anything I can beat up around here then?
[ hotdog? Really? ]
Same ones she does. Probably a few more, actually.
Same ones she does. Probably a few more, actually.
[ She's really not that concerned with it, to be honest - she's friends with someone named Spike. ]
I might be. Teaching who?
I might be. Teaching who?
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