shatterverse | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Xander was currently not a happy guy. This was now two end of the world places he's been to, and BOTH have to have the messed up version of his oldest friend. First the vampire version, and now scary veiny black magic Willow was here. This was not good. He was already trying to find some yellow crayons, and hoping she didn't find some old temple to destroy the world with.

In the meantime, he was on the farm, and scavenging pieces of wood for more chests to build.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oliver's expression cycles between confusion, concern, and disbelief. Is he being mocked? Is Xander mad? Oliver really can't tell.

"You have some unusual friends," Oliver eventually says.

"My hometown was over a Hellmouth, you either get used to the wacky, or you break out the aluminum foil pyramid hat," He shrugged.

"Least I haven't seem any vampires around here. Now them? That's a problem."

The term 'Hellmouth' is descriptive enough that Oliver catches the gist.

"I don't know of those - some sort of demon, I assume?"

Oliver resolves to go fox hunting sometime. And build more Wards. He'd at least be able to figure out if Xander is telling the truth then.

"If Giles was around, he could draw you a really detailed lecture with pictures that would take several hours. I'll try to sum it up. Person runs into vampire, vampire sucks on human, human sucks on vampire. As Buff would say, it's a big sucking thing. They die and somewhere in it, a demon possesses the body. Boom, new vampire."

Oliver brightens. See what he meant about their possibly having something in common?

"Much like how a demon devours the soul of a human to make a beast-skin in my land."

Except without the dying bit.

"Sort of. Werewolves aren't demonic in my world. Just you get infected if bit by one, and then you're stuck with hair in not just weird places, a bad overbite, and a nasty temper during the full moon. That's all."

"Some beast-skins pass their curse on by bite, others by demonic rites.

"You mentioned Slayers, before. I assume they slay vampires?"

"Yep, used to be one girl in a generation, but we uh... kind of modernized it recently. Not just a single Chosen One. And sure, they slay vamps, demons, just about anything nasty that goes bump in the night or the day."

"The job description sounds similar to my own - the combat duties, at any rate. Every 'Sworn has their own parish that they visit when they're on leave, to attend to duties of the faith.

"It seems in your land, power is not quite as tied to God's laws." Obviously, if women have supernatural abilities, though he says this with no value judgement. (Still wondering if Xan's crazy, but it no longer shows on his face.)

"Congratulations on creating more Slayers, though. What a joyous aid to your cause."

He shook his head,"Nope, it's not so churchy."

He then wondered, and there was some bitterness after seeing so many fall even before he came here, "And what else you got? Volunteer, or does it pick you? Got super strength and stamina too? And how about the lifespan? And when did you get picked for it? Adult or kid?"

Oliver notes the bitterness of the reply, and responds factually.

"It depends on what we're good at. All Godsworn have magic, channeled through the Eight Holy Disciplines which enable healing, control of beasts, warding against demons, Godflame, discerning truth from lie, and other abilities.

"Godsworn are usually born of 'Sworn fathers, their mothers the Sacred Women, those who take vows to God. It is quite rare that men outside the bloodlines possess the talent - although I am an example of that. It made Godsworn life more of an adjustment than it is for most.

"But when the Lord calls, a man answers. Else he will be branded a mage." Oliver's tone says that this is not a good thing.

"So you get drafted into service anyway. Sounds more like the Watchers. They train and guide Slayers."

Oliver nods. "Watchers to train Slayers," he repeats. "And perhaps Godsworn are like them, I cannot say. Godsworn train each other and are guided by the Holy Book.

"From what I've heard, your system seems to manage well. Though I imagine it's rather crowded now."

He's not connecting Xander's negative mention of 'Council' to the name 'Watchers' - and to him, it sounds just fine.

"Yeah, I'd say some Watchers like the Council sound exactly like them. Only they don't use some book as an excuse to be holier than thou and pompous, they just act like it on their own." Xander is not man of tact at times, and religious dogmatic tendencies was reminding him of Caleb a little.

"Or did, not so crowded on their end since the Council got blown up."

Oliver frowns a little as his entire society is decried as holy and pompous. However, it's an argument he's heard before, so it doesn't rattle him too much.

"I am sorry for your loss.

"However, any pomposity you find in my description of the Church must be attributed to my delivery, not the Church I serve." He gives a quick, wry smile; Oliver can joke about his speechifying.

"I've yet to meet humbler or kinder men than I've found within the abbey walls. As for being holier than thou - why, all men are imperfect, sinners in the sight of God. The best 'Sworn know that better than any."

Xander then pointed to his eyepatch, "Sorry, having some trouble 'seeing' the difference. And nobody really missed the Council that much. Just means there's a lot more Slayers than Watchers now."

Oliver looks a bit confused at the reference to Xander's eye. So he skips to the latter part.

"Ah, the Watcher's Council. They lead your Slayers astray with bad teachings, I assume?"

"The last guy who was going about religion and dressed like a priest thought I needed mandatory eye surgery. Only he used his thumb instead a scalpel."

Xander then replied harshly, "Less teaching, and more thinking that Slayers are weapons not people."

Oliver looks both startled and concerned. "How terrible." He frowns deeply. "Any man that could think of doing such is no true man of God - unless your land has a vastly different version of God than mine."

He listens to the news about the Council's policies with a grave mien. What Godsworn hasn't had that complaint about the Church, even if he never voices it?

"In times of war, vision narrows to the next battle. I am sorry that this happened to your Council. It has happened to my Church far more often than many care to admit. I am glad your way of life is changing."

"We're trying, still got a few of the same leftover. Guess they were out of town that day. And yeah, got that impression since he didn't think much on women in general by the look of him. But my friend got him to split." Small laugh at that.

"Very good for your friend," Oliver replies.

"Yeah she was pretty happy about it." Yes, many of his friends are girls. So what?

"This was the Slayer, then?"

Oliver would like to meet this woman - it would be interesting to compete with her. (Oliver is sure that he'd win when it came to demon-killing, though not world-saving.)

"Yeah, the original of the modern ones. That's Buff." Grin on his face, and he's pretty sure she could kick Masterpiece Theater's ass easy.

"Buff," Oliver repeats, masking his slight shock. Does everyone in Xander's world have an odd name? And what's with the lack of surnames?

"So, all in all, you work with Slayers, a werewolf, a few Council members, and your friend who currently is mad and evil to fight demons at a Hellmouth. Do I have that right?"