FIVE.

[blessingone]

[Action]

[Ever since Shirley disappeared to another dimension, Fenimore hasn't been getting much sleep. The previous night hasn't been an exception, as she spends most of it tossing in her bed. Eventually, in the wee hours of the morning before it's even light out--possibly even just a few minutes before everyone returns from the Closed Space and she could stop worrying--she gives up.

Throwing on some clothes, she leaves the house to start wandering the village, keeping to the roads. She's not entirely sure what she expects to accomplish by doing so. She's come to the conclusion that Shirley has probably been mallynapped and the only other possibility she can think of is that Shirley was kidnapped by a villager. In either case, she isn't going to be able to help her any by walking through the streets in the dark, but she has spent the storm day yesterday cooped up in the house surrounded by people who were fretting just as much as she was, in their varied ways. She didn't want to spend any more time sitting in the kitchen, wondering what Shirley would be doing if she were still there.

Early dawn finds on a bench in the village centre. It seems four nights of little, restless sleep had caught up to her. She's asleep, with her head resting on her open journal, her legs curling slightly, and her arms crossing across her chest. Too tired to notice the light that filters through the clouds today, she'll be asleep either until mid-morning or until someone interrupts her.]

[Accidental "Voice"]

[It seems that before she fell asleep, she was debating asking whether such a silent mallynap as this one was normal--the only ones she had encountered were either the loud ones that made it over the journal or one that had involved a smashed window. So, with the journal half-ready for an intentional post, it doesn't take much for it to accidentally turn on in her sleep as they are wont to do.

This results in an extreme close-up of Fenimore's face and, due to the proximity, a fairly loud rendition of the normal slow breathing of someone who is fast asleep. At least she's not snoring.

The page also looks like it's getting wet, though the actual moisture is not transmitted any more than the actual ink in an ink spill would be in more standard written transmissions. Since it's not raining today, that water must be coming from Fenimore. Perhaps...tears?

...But a closer examination of its source will easily determine that it's just a little drool as she breathes open-mouthed on her journal-pillow. Her eyes are dry and there's no sign that she's upset at all as she drifts in peaceful unconsciousness.

To anyone who wakes her up, I apologise in advance. Fretting over her best friend + four nights of restless sleep = a very rude and cranky Fenimore. ...Correction: a ruder and crankier Fenimore.]

Comments

[action]

[blessingone]

[The first reaction is a mixture of anger and some jealousy. There may be some skepticism later based on the short (well, okay, so Buffy's taller than her, but in relation to other people) woman who doesn't look particularly muscular thing. And while she mightn't get the superhero reference, she knows each base word and can get an approximate understanding of it.] And then you'd just punch all of the guards and waltz right out, huh?

[action]

[herotypical]

Well, I've never been so hot with the waltzing but--basically? Yeah.

[Buffy is so rarely taller than anyone. She may have to milk this moment.]

[action]

[blessingone]

Even outnumbered? With that many people--not even Walter or Senel could do something like that!

[Enjoy those two inches! Though that may be slightly diminished by Fenimore's lofty pigtails.]

[action]

[herotypical]

I've spent my whole life outnumbered.

[It was true enough. There were always, always more vamps to replace the ones she slays in an evening. One girl in all the world.]

[action]

[blessingone]

It must be nice to have everything so easy and straightforward.

[Which is not the normal response to someone living life outnumbered, but sadly Buffy is dealing with one of the more irrational teenagers in Luceti.]

[action]

[herotypical]

[Mmhm. Because being the one teenaged girl against all the powers of Hell is exceptionally straightforward. It's really only when you fall in love with one of the bloodsuckers that things get complicated. But she lets it slide. She has had years to get used to what she is, plus a whole year to get used to this place. She is much more patient than she used to be.]

Nothing's easy and things are rarely straightforward. Especially if you choose to let them get all sticky and complicatedish.

[action]

[blessingone]

[Buffy, your patience is to be commended. But Fenimore's not the one going to be doing the commending, crossing her arms and looking sulky.]

There's almost never a choice when things get complicated...ish.

[action]

[herotypical]

What are you talking about? There's always a choice. Unless you'd rather just sit back and let the world make all those choices for you.

[An ounce of softness has left her voice--after all, this is the girl who has single-handedly refuted a few prophecies in her time. She's all about the agency, baby.]

[action]

[blessingone]

Oh? So I guess you mean you've chosen to stay trapped here, huh? Must be a nice vacation spot for you. But for those of us who can't even bend bars and fight armies barehanded, it's different, okay?!

[action]

[herotypical]

Right. Of course. This is a vacation for me.

[Buffy turns on the ubersarcasm, but doesn't defend herself. She doesn't feel compelled to.]

[action]

[blessingone]

That's what you made it sound like. [But it's hard to argue with someone not arguing back, but being fairly clear that this isn't disturbing them at all.]