BtVS Ficlet: "Socratic Dialogue I"
Oct. 31st, 2005 03:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alixtiiTitle: Socratic Dialogue I
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Characters: Lydia Chalmers/Reginald Kilroy (OMC)
Summary: Lydia Chalmers compares notes with a young Watcher-in-Training. Part of The Watcher's Diary of Lydia Chalmers for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
fanfic100. Prompt is #089, "Work."
Socratic Dialogue I
"Well, at least your subject is still on this plane of existence. And evil. How does that look for me? I write a long thesis, even impressed Travers, the poor late bastard. Incredibly dangerous, was the gist of it. Do not underestimate. And then what happens? He sacrifices his life to close the Hellmouth."
"Well, you were right about one thing; he wasn't to be underestimated. Lydia, what happened was extraordinary circumstances. It in no way reflects upon the quality of your research."
"I didn't even get his age right. But that's not even the point. If extraordinary circumstances can happen once, Reginald, they can happen again. Don't you understand? This is going to change everything about the way we work."
"Hmm. And I thought the First Evil blowing up the Council HQ did that."
"Don't jest, Reg, it's in bad taste. A vampire, choosing on its own accord to search out a soul, go through whatever trials necessary—"
"He was obsessed, Lydia. It doesn't change what he was: amoral, consciousless, a mindless predator."
"No, that's your subject. And even she, insane as she is, could feel love. Reginald, I've studied William the Bloody for over a decade. He's passionate, yes. But he's more than a predator. But that's enough of that. My thesis is written, defended, accepted years ago. It might have blown up with the other half of the archives—the ones not stolen by Sirk or Giles, bless their thievish souls—for all the good it'll do us now."
"It's lucky I had already checked these out, or I would really be up the creek without a paddle, as the Americans would say."
"Have you had any success? Any idea where she might be?"
"Returned to Europe, certainly. I have some sightings in the Czech Republic which might be her. And then there are the reports from Romania."
"Romania? Isn't that where Angelus was ensouled? What does she want?"
"There's a method to her madness, that much I am sure about that. But what?"
"Maybe she wants a soul, too."
"And then the entire Order of Aurelius will end up getting souls. Besides, what would she do with a soul? She's mad."
"Then she won't have to worry about going crazy when the guilt falls onto her. Hmm, what if we're looking at this the wrong way? ‘Wax on, wax off.’ If someone can insert a soul, he can remove it as well."
"You think she is trying to de-ensoul Angelus?"
"It fits her M.O. It's worth looking into."
"It's worth more than that—if that's the case, we have to move fast. Where's the Slayer? In Spain?"
"Which slayer? We only have a few hundred on our hands."
"You know the one I mean. The first one—the experienced one. The Summers girl."
"In Italy, I think. Rome, with her sister. Your best bet is Rupert Giles."
"You should call him, Lydia. You have more superiority than I do."
"Hmm, last time Rupert and the Council parted it wasn't exactly on the best of terms. But I'll do my best."
"Have him get in touch with the Summers girl, and see what he can do with the other slayers he has under his wing. The second Slayer in particular should know about this; she was able to bring down Angelus just last year."
"And then she'll have to deal with Dru too, no doubt. Hmm—Faith versus Drusilla. Two criminally insane, preternaturally strong brunettes locked in mortal combat. Sort of poetic, don't you think?"
"You might want try to get a call in to Wyndam-Pryce's son, too, at Wolfram and Hart, while you're at it. The more people aware of the situation, the better."
"Yet another person with whom parting was not a sweet sorrow. You know, Reg, we'd better be right about this."
"Do you have any idea what'll happen if we are right and don't do anything?"
"I know, I know. But here's hoping, nonetheless."
Go to The Watcher's Diary of Lydia Chalmers masterlist.
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Characters: Lydia Chalmers/Reginald Kilroy (OMC)
Summary: Lydia Chalmers compares notes with a young Watcher-in-Training. Part of The Watcher's Diary of Lydia Chalmers for
fanfic100. Prompt is #089, "Work."Socratic Dialogue I
"Well, at least your subject is still on this plane of existence. And evil. How does that look for me? I write a long thesis, even impressed Travers, the poor late bastard. Incredibly dangerous, was the gist of it. Do not underestimate. And then what happens? He sacrifices his life to close the Hellmouth."
"Well, you were right about one thing; he wasn't to be underestimated. Lydia, what happened was extraordinary circumstances. It in no way reflects upon the quality of your research."
"I didn't even get his age right. But that's not even the point. If extraordinary circumstances can happen once, Reginald, they can happen again. Don't you understand? This is going to change everything about the way we work."
"Hmm. And I thought the First Evil blowing up the Council HQ did that."
"Don't jest, Reg, it's in bad taste. A vampire, choosing on its own accord to search out a soul, go through whatever trials necessary—"
"He was obsessed, Lydia. It doesn't change what he was: amoral, consciousless, a mindless predator."
"No, that's your subject. And even she, insane as she is, could feel love. Reginald, I've studied William the Bloody for over a decade. He's passionate, yes. But he's more than a predator. But that's enough of that. My thesis is written, defended, accepted years ago. It might have blown up with the other half of the archives—the ones not stolen by Sirk or Giles, bless their thievish souls—for all the good it'll do us now."
"It's lucky I had already checked these out, or I would really be up the creek without a paddle, as the Americans would say."
"Have you had any success? Any idea where she might be?"
"Returned to Europe, certainly. I have some sightings in the Czech Republic which might be her. And then there are the reports from Romania."
"Romania? Isn't that where Angelus was ensouled? What does she want?"
"There's a method to her madness, that much I am sure about that. But what?"
"Maybe she wants a soul, too."
"And then the entire Order of Aurelius will end up getting souls. Besides, what would she do with a soul? She's mad."
"Then she won't have to worry about going crazy when the guilt falls onto her. Hmm, what if we're looking at this the wrong way? ‘Wax on, wax off.’ If someone can insert a soul, he can remove it as well."
"You think she is trying to de-ensoul Angelus?"
"It fits her M.O. It's worth looking into."
"It's worth more than that—if that's the case, we have to move fast. Where's the Slayer? In Spain?"
"Which slayer? We only have a few hundred on our hands."
"You know the one I mean. The first one—the experienced one. The Summers girl."
"In Italy, I think. Rome, with her sister. Your best bet is Rupert Giles."
"You should call him, Lydia. You have more superiority than I do."
"Hmm, last time Rupert and the Council parted it wasn't exactly on the best of terms. But I'll do my best."
"Have him get in touch with the Summers girl, and see what he can do with the other slayers he has under his wing. The second Slayer in particular should know about this; she was able to bring down Angelus just last year."
"And then she'll have to deal with Dru too, no doubt. Hmm—Faith versus Drusilla. Two criminally insane, preternaturally strong brunettes locked in mortal combat. Sort of poetic, don't you think?"
"You might want try to get a call in to Wyndam-Pryce's son, too, at Wolfram and Hart, while you're at it. The more people aware of the situation, the better."
"Yet another person with whom parting was not a sweet sorrow. You know, Reg, we'd better be right about this."
"Do you have any idea what'll happen if we are right and don't do anything?"
"I know, I know. But here's hoping, nonetheless."
Go to The Watcher's Diary of Lydia Chalmers masterlist.
