[ TLV | Video ] 006

[reactivates]

[Yes, it's taken Claudia a while after port ended to get this up, but. Hopefully no one's been too worried about her. When she turns the communicator on, she's sitting on her floor with her guitar in her lap, though she moves it and sets it aside, leans back against her bed and sighs a little. There is no streak of color in her hair this time, and the black paint on her nails is chipped... She doesn't seem too concerned about it.]

Yeah, I pulled a stupid. Sorry about that. [Some may find that insincere, may even think it's sarcastic (she does have a tendency towards sarcasm), but in truth she feels quite like a five-year-old having run off on her own into a dangerous situation, without even really thinking about it. She is sorry.] I'm fine, though. And I'll... try to be more helpful at port next time. [She seems a little iffy on that. To be honest right now she's feeling like maybe she doesn't even belong here.]

[She reaches her hand up to pull a file down from on top of her bed.] Looks like I got a little assignment to do in the meantime. Guess who's been handed an inmate? Is there any surprise at all in who it is?

[She flips the file open, lips tilting just slightly as she reads over it, then looks back up at the screen.] Willow Rosenberg. I've been working on a little present for you since I got back from port. We need to meet up so I can give it to you. [And by "present" she means a bracelet with an ability to shock the wearer, starting at 20k volts and tune-able up to a (insert much higher but non-lethal volt charge here, mun will figure out later, too lazy to research at this moment). Claudia has a matching bracelet that will turn the other one on at a press of a button. She's already wearing this bracelet, but among her other bracelets and rings, it would be hard to tell that it was made for such a purpose.]

[Filtered to Wardens PLUS Dracula]

[She runs a hand through her hair. She looks... tired. Maybe even sort of depressed, if you're any good at reading emotions on people's faces.] So apparently the type of vampire Willow is doesn't have an actual soul. And from what I've heard and read... She's probably going to need her soul back, if I want any chance at all in redeeming her. Basically, what I'm asking here... Is there anyone that could help me with doing that? Is it as simple as asking the Admiral for her soul back, or do I need... some sort of spell? Magic?

[Private to Buffy]

At some point I really think I need to talk with you, about... Well, yeah, you know. But there's really no rush at all. Just... whenever you think you'd be.. more comfortable, I guess? With talking about that.

Comments

[Video]

[unweeping_willow]

I like presents. [There's a small smug, smile on her face. Claudia's hers now.]

[Video]

[reactivates]

[You wish, Fangs.]

What about jewelry? [She's... not her usual snarky self. She's kind of monotone, actually.]

[Video]

[unweeping_willow]

[And Willow's almost worried.

Almost.]

Is it shiny?

Filter

[buywithme]

She doesn't have a soul?

[Pauuuuuuuse]

Are you certain that she needs one to get better?

Re: Filter

[reactivates]

Well, she's from Buffy and Faith's world... And both of them have kinda made it sound like she would need it?

Filter

[buywithme]

[Pauuuuuuuuuuse.]

Buffy and Faith. One of whom completely hypothetically might have recently murdered a hypothetical inmate who remained entirely nameless?

[Yeah, he saw Willow telling someone the slayer had killed her. Colour him less than impressed by Buffy's input in how to warden Willow.]

Most of the people here have done extremely evil things, presumably while fully equipped with souls. I don't think it should be taken as impossible for somebody to do good things without one, if they exist at all.

Private

[takeyouapart]

I've heard of spells like that. [Mildly uncertain though since they're generally used for purposes of containing the souls of exceptionally bad dudes. Still, maybe structurally similar.]

It wouldn't hurt to ask the Admiral just in case, but...I can look into it.

[A beat.]

By the way, I should - I didn't introduce myself last time we talked. I'm Merlin. Hello.

Private

[reactivates]

I plan on checking to see if the Admiral can do it first, yeah. The simpler the solution the better, but whatever it's gonna take, really...

Oh. Oh. Merlin. Hi. Uh. You... did the sleeping potion thing for Tim, right? Thanks for that, by the way.

Private

[takeyouapart]

Yes, I did.

Let me know what he says. I can talk to Buffy in the meantime.

Have...you spoken to Willow about it?

[private]

[nolongerhollow]

[Dracula looks worried.]

I cannot help you with the magic itself. However, I can give you some ideas on what to expect once it happens, and help both of you cope, if you wish it.

[private]

[reactivates]

That.. That'd be great. Thanks. [And that was quite obviously sincere. Dracula's come a long way with Claudia in a very short time. She's definitely grateful for him.]

So.. what should I be expecting? [His looking worried is... uh, worrisome?]

[private]

[nolongerhollow]

Good. I wish I could be of more use, but to be honest I am only beginning to explore my condition from magical and scientific standpoints. [He just likes her. She's fun, and clearly well meaning, and she has an open mind.]

Well...if you can imagine for a moment, being a perfect sociopath. People become cyphers to you, devoid of emotional meaning, like...video game people. It does not matter if you kill them because they do not seem real to you. Then suddenly your sociopathy is cured, and people suddenly grow faces and feelings and reasons to care about them...and you have to face what you did to them when you did not care.

It took me almost a year of slowly regaining my emotional self before I could truly do that. Unlike Willow, I have a soul, but it bears a demonic taint that I am dealing with getting rid of. So all in all the process was easier on me than it will be on her. She will get it all at once. There will likely be tears, rage, shame, self-loathing and possibly self-destructiveness. The worst will be over within a week, but real recovery could take months.

You will note, however, that I am not warning you off of this approach. Merely speaking of what to expect.

[ Video ]

[surfaceshine]

I dunno about the rest of everyone, but you were pretty damn helpful to me. [Hey remember that whole guard-dog act from before, Claudia? Yeah. Um. About that. He's pretty dismissive about apology, but then, he's kind of an odd one.]

[ Private ]

Whatever I can do, darlin', I will. I'm not much for magic, I don't much like the Admiral and I don't necessarily agree with either of 'em, but soulless is pretty much always directly under the Bad header in my books.

[Dean is still exhausted after port, still bearing the marks in bruises and scrapes on his face and arms and hands and ribs and back and... everything... and truthfully he's feeling a little stressed about all the stuff they came back to on the Barge on top of it, but it still pains him to see her (or anyone, but especially her) looking remotely depressed.] You like coffee? I can bring you coffee. You're gonna need coffee. And maybe some donuts.

[ Video ]

[reactivates]

[That actually gets a twinge of a smile out of her.] I hate to break it to you, but I think that was a rare occurrence of dumb luck.

[Private]

Thank you, Dean. [That smile widens some, though there's obvious concern in her expression, too.] Looks like you might need some, too. Either that or a really nice nap.

[ Video ]

[surfaceshine]

Honey if I didn't have dumb luck I'd have no luck at all. [Have a dumb grin to go with it, Claudia, because your hint of a smile is encouraging but still needs encouraged. He's going to start doing things with his eyebrows next.]

[ Private ]

I'm fine; got a couple other things I need to do before I go down for the count. If you figure out this wardening thing before I do, write me a cheatsheet, yeah?

Filter - Voice

[flashy_magic]

[She might recognize his voice; it's the same one that can be heard panicking from a nearby cell in the video Prefect shared.]

Yeah, if you do that, you might want to be careful. Keep an eye on her. Keep her from flammable materials. And...uh...you might want to put her on a suicide watch. Just to be safe. If she reacts like other people do, that is.

Filter - Voice

[reactivates]

[She doesn't immediately recognize it, there were.. too many other things on that video to be paying attention to. But what he says is enough of a clue to tell her he was involved in or at least knows about the contents of that video.

Her own voice sounds tired, quiet. But sincere.] I'm... starting to get that, yeah. Don't worry, I'm taking all possibilities into consideration. And I've already got some volunteers to help with the watching and the coping.

[most_feared]

My first one was a holiday port. [Though this almost counted as a holiday port to him.] They're not all like that.

[reactivates]

A holiday port? What was that like? ['Cause mostly she's been told: "PORTS CONSIST OF DANGER AND DEATH AND VIOLENCE AND OTHER NOT GOOD THINGS."]

[peektuttut]

What happened? [Because he's totally not a masked hero, right? Right.]

[reactivates]

I, uh... Impulsively decided to head out on my own? I'd rather not talk about it. Like I said, it was stupid. And I'm not hurt. So no harm done, right? [Please do not scold. She can not handle scolding right now, ff.]

[Warden Filter]

[bybloodandhonor]

I had help from beings from my world to assist me when I had my charge's soul returned to him. I'm not sure what it would take to return Willow's soul to her. It may depend on the nature of what caused the loss.

… I hope you're prepared to deal with how she may react to her soul being returned.

[Warden Filter]

[reactivates]

I'm... getting there. I've seen, uh, examples. Of the consequences. So... Yeah.

Private - Audio.

[some_kinda_hero]

I think she was going to attack me, for the record. In Gotham? She was wounded and found me, only it wasn't until I explained that my blood might bring her back to life that she backed off. That, and I called on Dracula, just in case.

Private - Audio.

[reactivates]

Noted. And uh, unfortunately it doesn't surprise me, either.

...Wait, what do you mean your blood might bring her back to life?