Parallel Conversations
by Eric Jablow
Part Three
BtVS was created by Joss Whedon, Daria was created by
Glenn Eichler, and the referred-to Bat Boy by the late
Weekly World News.
Rating: R.
Sequel to "Chiropteran", and to "Inspired
Conversations". Background and flashbacks come from
"Community" and from "Keepers in Rome," available on my
home site.
One note on timing; these stories need to be set at
specific times, so let's say that "Wicked Inspiration"
runs from March 2005 to the very beginning of spring,
"Chiropteran" is around March 28, and this story is
goes from there to the first week of April. That's
because a certain historical personage dies during this
story, around part 6 or so. I guess the first part of
"Wicked Inspiration" was a very warm late winter day,
not actually in spring. Global warming, I guess.
-----
[Above Lexington, KY]
Bat Boy glided through the night; though he slowly lost
altitude in still air, his instincts led him to enough
updrafts that he could continue his Eastward course.
He concentrated on the faint noise of cars and trucks
from the East, and aimed at a patch of light on the
ground. As he got closer, he saw what he hoped for:
the intersection between I-75 and I-64 East. He looked
around, and he found his quarry; a truck with with a
canvas-covered trailer in the right lane of I-75S. He
knew it was likely to turn East onto I-64, and so he
flapped a few times and accelerated his dive at the
truck.
He reached the intersection at the perfect time; the
truck was about to make its sweeping turn onto I-64,
the driver would be concentrating on the turn, and he
was on the truck's right side in the driver's blind
spot. He flattened his dive and reached the truck just
as it finished its turn. He dropped onto the canvas
cover, and he easily slipped through a gap in its
tie-downs. There, protected from sight, Bat Boy was
able to lie among the industrial pipes and machines the
truck carried. Before he fell asleep he thought, "I
really have to invite the pretty lady to my
welcome-home party."
-----
[Shady Rest Cemetery, Lexington, KY]
The graveyard's night watchmen stood over the grave of
Sam O'Brien. The taller one shined his flashlight over
the desecration. "Rosen, I think it's the third time
this year," said the shorter one. "Better get the
shovels, Gil," said the taller one. They walked back
to their pickup truck on the cemetery road, and they
picked up a bag of dirt, two shovels, and a rake.
Rosen opened the bag of dirt and set it on the ground.
Gil handed a shovel to Rosen, and the two started to
add dirt to the grave and to replace what fell into the
coffin; then they smoothed the dirt out and raked away
the footprints.
Rosen commented when they were done, "'There are more
things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of
in your philosophy.'"
Gil replied, "You know, somebody should do something
about this."
Rosen aimed his flashlight at the general area. They
saw scuffed grass, scraps of cloth, and a stray
crossbow bolt. "You know, I think someone has."
---
[Room 342, Lexington [KY] Marriott Hotel]
The coffee cups lay forgotten on the bathroom floor.
Xander looked wide-eyed at Buffy from across the hot
tub, and she smiled back at him. Xander suddenly
looked away in embarrassment, and Buffy said, "Relax,
Xander. This isn't like that time at the Bronze."
Xander let out the breath he was holding and faced her
again.
"What are we going to do in Lexington this week, Buff?"
"We're going to check out as many teen college clubs
and sports bars and warehouse districts as we can. I
doubt we'll find anyone; Lyle probably recruited from
out-of-town, and they've probably fled the city by
now. But we have to check."
"Sports bars?"
"Sports bars. I took down a vamp sports bar last
October. Anyhow, we'll head back Sunday; you can head
to New York next Monday." Buffy yawned. "Save the
serious stuff for tomorrow, Xander."
"Willow."
"Tomorrow, Xan."
"Actually, it's today." Xander leaned forward and
joined hands with Buffy. "Have you done this often?"
"Hot tub fun?" Xander nodded. "Not really. The
Immortal didn't have one; Riley was too vanilla, and
you don't want to hear about the others."
"That would be a 'no.'"
"What about you?"
"Anya liked it. We found a place up the coast that had
outdoor hot tubs fenced off from each other. You could
float there and look at the stars."
"Sorry, Xander."
"I've come to terms with her, and with Cordy."
"Promise me this, Xander. Next time we fall in love,
it's with someone we can grow old with."
"Amen."
---
[The Convent of Saint Stephania, outside Naples]
"Mother Superior?"
"Yes, Sister Constance. How may I help you, child?"
"I am curious; who are the sisters Elizabeth and Dawn
that we have been praying for?"
The Mother Superior's expression froze for a moment.
Constance began to back away, and she said, "I am
sorry, Mother Superior. I shall retire to my chamber
and pray I may learn obedience."
The Mother Superior raised her hand, and Constance
stopped. "No, Sister Constance, do stay. We are not
here to deny human curiosity. In fact, you are the
first of your Sisters to ask; I was waiting for that."
The Mother Superior rose and took a book from a shelf.
"Please read Chapter Three of Frattiani's Commentaries
on the Prophets. Pay special attention to the section
on Deborah. Tomorrow, I shall answer your question."
---
"Remember Graduation Week, Buffy?"
Buffy smiled. "Sure. We were all surprised that you
and Cordy made up."
"The day after graduation, we went out for breakfast.
Then, we drove to the coast and found a beach. It
turned out not to be a normal beach."
"Not normal. Demons?" Xander started to laugh.
"Xander!"
"You're so single-minded. No, not demons; just naked
people."
"You and Cordelia went to a nude beach?"
"We didn't mean to."
"Cordy must have been furious. I mean, she hated when
you stared at me or Willow."
"Actually, she was the first of us to strip."
"Never would have expected that," said Buffy.
"It was pretty brave of her. You know how she hated to
show that scar."
"That would be a no. You enjoyed it, didn't you."
"Yeah." Xander released Buffy's hands and slipped back
to his side of the tub.
---
Los Angeles, Anne's Shelter [The Hyperion]
"You're looking better."
"Thanks, Anne. This cycle really took a lot out of
me."
"Well Nina, we'll always have a cage in the basement for
you, if you need it. Up for a road trip next month?"
"Depends. Where to?"
"Buffy just sent me an invitation to the '2005
Sunnydale Memorial Service and Slayers' Picnic' on May
15. She also asked me to invite you."
"Oh, great. Buffy and the Council have been after me to
be their 'Emissary to Werewolves.' She just doesn't
quit."
"They're also checking up on you. Buffy's always going
to be pissed at you, you know."
"Then, why does she want me there?"
"You know the saying, 'Keep your friends close, but
your enemies even closer'?"
"Not subtle, are they?"
"I never knew any of them to be subtle. There's a ruin
downtown that testifies to that. Do you want some
cocoa?"
"Thanks. I wish you had something stronger."
"Not with the teenagers here. I'd probably drink too
much myself."
Nina thought for a moment. "Okay. I'll go. I'll come
back before the next week's full moon."
"I'll let them know."
---
"I just want some time for us to think. Since Dawn and
I came back here, we've spent all our time on missions
and getting the Slayers organized."
"And getting Slayers organized is an impossible job
anyway."
"We don't get a chance to plan. We just react."
"We do a pretty good job of it."
"It's time for us to take the initiative." The two of
them frowned; that word aroused superstitious dread in
both of them. "I want to talk to you this week about
that."
"Okay. It'll be good to get away and do some work."
"We can have some fun too."
"Um, are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Buffy suddenly moved toward Xander's side
of the tub, ending atop him. His body begin to slide
deeper into the tub, and she floated above him.
"Besides, we have slept together, you know."
"Yeah, you, me and Willow watching Bollywood and falling
asleep at 3AM."
"Or covering me when I climbed out the window to
patrol. Actually, I was thinking of the day Cordy
left, after the memorial service."
"You looked so lost there."
"You did a good job of cheering me up."
"I'm glad you let me come home with you. I couldn't
face mom and dad."
"Dawn teased me for the next month about falling asleep with you on the
floor."
"We were fully clothed."
"Well, 'We can be heroes,' Xan. We can have peace,
even if it's just for one week."
Xander kissed her lightly, and they got out of the
tub. They helped dry each other, and they walked out.
Xander mumbled something about having to get something
out of his luggage. "I'm always prepared, Xander."
They sat on Buffy's bed, and Xander turned off the
lights.
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