[Locked to Residents]

[malnosso]

[The following message is written in typeset, like it was from a computer. It appears on the 25th, at roughly 1PM.]The following subjects will report to the tunnel system tomorrow at 9 AM to provide additional reinforcements. Failure to comply will be dealt with accordingly

Comments

[univalent]

No.

[ there are not enough words for how much he disapproves of dawn being on that list. ]

[slaying]

...I'll be out there.

[ barely a modicum of comfort, but it's much better than dawn going without her sister. ]

[univalent]

Don't let her out of your sight.

[ welcome to the spike version of freaking out. ]

[slaying]

You don't have to tell me twice. Hell, Spike -- you don't even have to tell me once.

[ to the untrained ear this tone is very insulted and blunt; however, to those versed in buffy's particularities it becomes clear that the anger is directed not at all towards spike. instead, she is banging her fists against an unwanted situation and (truthfully) spike's voice concern is the one thing she is appreciative of in the moment. ]

[tehoniongirl]

You can't do this! They don't even have time to prepare!

[there aren't words for how upset she is at this. Jack and Archie. On top of all the others going from the first round. It was the Vietnam draft all over again, except...this time... it was all of her friends, instead of the scattered few]

[noprevaricating]

...At least I don't have to ask you to guard my flat while I'm gone. I think all my enemies are coming with me.

[He tries to sound light and doesn't quite succeed.]

[tehoniongirl]

Archie...

[his name is strained... this isn't fair]

[noprevaricating]

Don't worry about me. Even if the worst happens, I'll only arrive around a week later than everyone else, at the most.

[Okay, yeah, the humor is weaksauce. But he's trying.]

[tothelibrary]

Wait, what?

[noprevaricating]

[He can't say anything. He tries. It doesn't work. He's not taking much comfort in the fact that he'll be going with her, either. Eventually, he manages to get out three words, as if he's decided something.]

Not you. No.

[tothelibrary]

Not like I'm totally looking forward to it, but... I don't think we get a choice.

[noprevaricating]

No, I meant-- [He stops, pinches the bridge of his nose and grinding his teeth for a moment.] At least I'm going as well. [Therefore, he can actually do something. Potentially. Between him, Buffy, Jack, and everyone else who looks out for her, nothing bad will happen to her. He has to tell himself this. Between her, Bones, and Sayo, he's just pissed off.]

[seemssoslow]

Huh..? Wait a second. Didn't you say that only people compatible with the whole shifting thing are allowed to go? Minimal risk? What's that supposed to mean?

Can't we get some straightforward answers just once?

[my_yoke_broke]

...

Eh?

[Maybe he should have read about the Malnosso and the draft and all that instead of wandering the forest like an idiot.]

[cuttingedges]

[Knowing that Ian is a non-combatant but a pretty useful asset, Kriz is just going to speak up here.]

I will have your back. [A beat, then a touch of humor in his voice.] Without ice spikes this time.

[my_yoke_broke]

E-ehehheheh .... heh...

[sigh]

I really don't wanna go do this fighting thing, though...

[Yeah, he's looking into this whole 'draft' thing, finally.]

[cuttingedges]

Unfortunately, it seems we don't have a choice. Hopefully, there will be some who will protect the non-combatants.