A day in the life of Mr Casey

Air Date: 25/7/2001

5 Sep 2000, Tuesday 6:52pm, geek house

Faith is dragging Casey outside.

"You wanna know whats happening? I'll tell ya then." Scrambling to keep up to the grasp dragging him along, Casey looks as the living room flashes past. Neo is absorbed playing Dead or Alive loudly in the front room.

"Hey! I.."

"Shut up." Faith pulls the front door open and pushes Casey through. Casey stumbles slightly down the stairs and turns round, questioningly. "We have to talk." She points down the street "Walk." After walking for a bit in silence Faith starts. "Im not sure I want you to get involved in this Slayer stuff. I like you and.. well if you get involved in this its just going to end badly. I just know it."

Casey sighs. "You could have just said 'lets walk and talk'." He stops. "Look, that whole 'like' thing you mentioned? Its mutual. And you are involved in the Slayer stuff, and the others are involved in the Slayer stuff, and I can't see a way that I won't be in the end - I mean, even just staying here and thinking up ways to help. And if I can help out with not getting you hurt as well as all the others... well, that'd be nice. But sooner or later someone's not going to give me the full situation... ok, maybe not full, but enough of what's happening - and I'm going to give you bad advice and you're going to get mashed." ...he runs out of breath. "Blergh. Confusion."

"I shouldn't have asked you about the sword thing. Stupid. If you get sucked into the slayer stuff then... well... we'll just end up enemies. It always happens like that. So just forget about it." She looks over at Casey, "Please?"

Casey blinks. "Dude, that isn't fair. And it doesn't make sense."

"Screw fair. When is stuff ever fair? The Slayer stuff... its just taking over and screwin' up my life. I want something normal. Something non slayer. I dont care if it doesnt make sense. You get involved in the Slayer stuff and we'll end up on different sides. Dont ask me how, I just know. I feel it. You're a white hat and... well I'm just not."

"I'm not sure I get it... you don't want to stop slaying but you want something normal? Oh. ah. You want to be able to escape it and chat to me?"

"Yeah. I just want to be able to forget about Slayers, Watchers, vampires, fighting and killing and... just, you know, find the fun. You're sort of the guy that I can do that with. You don't freak me out, and their aint many people I can say that about. I feel sort of normal around you. Sometimes, anyway."

Casey sighs. "I dunno if... look, I know what's happening, right? At least the basics... and I'm not the sort of guy that can just not know about stuff - I wann know how it all works. But I'll make you a deal - no Slayer talk unless you start it, ok? I'd like you stick 'round. And normal up :)"

Almost paniced, Faith snaps "NO!" Faith shakes her head. "I can't take the chance. You get involved with the vamp stuff, then sooner or later it'll be you and the scooby gang and Watchers and..... I dont know exactly... I just know that when it comes down to it you'll chose them and I couldn't take that. Better you just stay out of it and we'll just pretend that none of it is happening. Maybe we can be friends that way or something." Faith is rubbing her hands nerviously, obviously upset.

Casey sits down and runs his hands through his hair. "Um. I dunno if I can promise that."

"Figures. Im just so.." Faith shakes her head and looks round. She points to a park over the street. "So, whats it gunna be? I'll show you a vamp and so you can get all X-men on 'em or you just wanna forget it and go do something normal?"

Casey shrugs. "I'm not really interested in the vampires per se. Its the other weird stuff. And how it all fits togther. And how I can fiddle with it. Just gets a bit weird when I only get told about it in passing.... " Casey drifts off for a few seconds.

"Yeah, that sucks, huh?" Faith stares at you for a little while, "What do you mean fiddle? You wanna be... nah. Huh? I dont get it."

"I wanna know how and why I guess. Just... I do." Casey looks up at Faith "But it can wait until another night. You want to do a movie?"

"Movie!" Faith snaps quickly. Faith is quiet for a while as they both start to walk towards the multiplex.

(Movies for that week: 1. Bring It On, $14.5 million; 2. Cell, The (2000), $9.1 million; 3. Space Cowboys (2000), $8.3 million; 4. Art of War, The (2000), $7.6 million; 5. Highlander: Endgame, $6.4 million; 6. What Lies Beneath (2000), $6.2 million; 7. The Original Kings of Comedy, $5.9 million; 8. Replacements, The (2000), $4.4 million; 9. Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, $3.8 million; 10. Crew, The (2000))

"I thought you wanted... you know... to learn some super powers. When you said fiddle with stuff, I mean. But that'd be... a bad thing." Somehow that last statement doesnt seem to have the conviction that it should have.

"I dunno. I want to know more stuff first... why would it be bad? Maybe I could learn stuff to help y'all out? I know a lot of stuff already..."

"It'd be wrong because... " and again with the uncertain voice, "there's always a price for stuff. I mean sure, you can live to be a couple of hundred years old or zap things round like Willow or whatever, but you gotta pay for that, or someone does. You couldn't do that, now could ya?"

"Oh. That sort of price. Um. Not at the cost of someone else, no."

"Yeah, didn't think so. You know I almost..." she sighs "I was going to offered to set you up with the dark side of the force, case. I... my bad."

"Dark side... you mean dark magic or something?"

"Yeah. Like the Mayor back in SunnyHell. You know, rich, owned the town, everyone worked for him, vamps and stuff and was like 140 plus. I still got contacts with his crew. They are sort of just crumblin' down with out a boss." She puts her hands in her pockets. "You sort of remind me of him. Er, not in a bad way. More, you know, smart, nice."

Casey hmms. "So, Watchers - evil or what? Should I be subverting my friends away from them, or creating a giant spy network to keep them under tabs? You know, we just cabled half the Uni, which could just as easily be turned on them as used by them, and I don't think they'd even notice, judging by comments they made today"

"The Council and me are gunna throw down sometime in the future, so from my point of view, enemy. Not sure about evil. I dont know any more. Alex seems fine. I'd get rid of Conrad but. Guess I can see why he'd want to... geee, whats the word? "Farm" me, I guess. From the Council's point of view its peachy keen idea, lots of nice little Slayers under their thumb again and no annoyin' evil Slayer or pesky little Buffy. That make them evil? I guess they seem to wanna do good and not destroy the world, but its sort of *&*!ing with other people is what makes you evil isnt it? Some of them, like Giles or Liz or Alex seem nice, but others like Conrad or Travers are evil I guess. Others, like Mrs Post I really dont know about. Maybe after B's finished with them, they learned their lesson and will leave your scoobies alone. I cant tell you Case. If it were me, I'd toss 'em out but then I almost..." She smacks her fist into her other hand. "Well, I dont much like Conrad." Looking over at Casey, Faith suddenly snorts a little laugh "Ha! Hey, neat subject change. Ah, look, I'm not going round offering scary, super Slayer powers to everyone, 'K? Just you. Its just hard sometimes. I just feel, hmf, well sort of uncomfortable round you sometimes, 'cause I cant figure out what you want and why you're even botherin'." She holds up a hand an looks puzzeled. "No, let me finish. I think I'm onto something here. I mean Neo's about 10 seconds from callin' 911 everytime he sees me, 'cause he thinks I'm a psycho. Conrad wants my skin and I'm hardly his number 1 fan. Jonathan, I mean I can smell the fear on him whenever I'm round. Mary scared of me, but she'd kick me out in a flash to get rid of the competition, whatever you think, man. Figure that Gemma's in the Mary camp. Im just a potential problem to Jayde, or a possible ally, I really dunno sometimes. Them I mostly get. You I dont get. I know its not for my brains and there are safer people to bone if you just want to screw," she gives Casey a sly grin, "even if I am *#!$ing incredible. I mean I can understand you bonin' me while Mary wont put out, but we both know that once Mary gets her ass into gear and figures out what you want I'm screwed. I mean you'll fool round, but you'll never leave Mary. So the only reason that you're here can only be the Slayer stuff, right? If thats the case then you either want to save the world or your friends and they wont let you play, right? That puts you in the Jayde camp eventually when the @#()$ hits the fan. Or you want something else from me just because I'm the, err, a Slayer." She calmly looks at you. "If thats the case then I figure you either cant leave it alone and you gotta Nancy Drew all you can on the spooky stuff like Willow, or you want some of the dark mojo for yourself like the Boss, 'cause you wanna be able to *poof* zap up money, live forever, explode your enemies or fly or somethin'. Either way its not really me you want to hang round for, is it? You know, even if I did show make you like the boss of this town, I'd just be... still sod all. Man, that makes so much sense. You know, I thought that I'd be angry now, but I'm not. Wow! Im more chilled at this making sense now than I am pissed off! Man, isnt that just weird?"

Casey walks along, not looking at Faith, going a bit slower, a bit surprised at being hurt. "You're damn right, that fits all the facts. I'm just using you for temporary sex and to get all the mystic intel from you that I want. Hey, how about when I've got what I want I go to Jayde and Gemma and pretend you were threatening me and raving and you need to be taken out for your own good? Cos by then Mary should be up to speed and I'll be able to suck info out of her instead."

"Give it a couple of months atleast, OK? Its still way too easy for me to beat Jayde at the moment. And if I capped her, then I'd have to do the rest of you too and then Id have those Ikea dept collectors on my back and they scare me way more than the council. No look, I'm not pissed off. Really." She points at you. "Look! You still got all your limbs! Anyway can you honestly tell me that we'd be here if I wernt a Slayer? Huh? You think we'd be here if I was just plane ol' Jane with no super powers? No offence, but your friends aint really the kind that hang round with my kind, even sans the rap sheet, I know what they say behind my back. Look me in the eye and tell me that you'd have invited me to stay if I wasnt hooked up in this supernatural crap."

Casey shrugs "I thought I'd invited Faith to stay, not the Slayer. Cos she seemed like an interesting person in need of somewhere to stay and we needed someone who wouldn't freak out at the house. You keep assuming that what they think and do is what I think and do"

Faith turns to stare at Casey for a bit. "Well... ah *(@#&. Look Casey, I really need to understand why you're here. I need to make some decisions soon and... I need to know where we stand and why. For the Mayor's sake that sounded like we're goin' steady. It's not that, I just need to know why you're goin' this 'cause I'm way screwed up these days and I dont want you ending up like.... " she shrugs, "Wes I guess. Yeah, you're more a Wes type guy. I just need to understand where you're coming from."

"Who's Wes?" Casey is still faintly frowning in concentration.

"Wesley. Third, err hold on, Liz, Giles, Post, yeah, fourth Watcher. Tried to pack me off to Watchers Council back in England after I killed that guy." Faith slaps her right arm "He sort of ended up with this big 'F' carved in..... hmf." Faith pokes Casey in the arm, "Im serious Case, I need an answer."

Casey looks down and starts to say something a couple of times. "How about I'm here because I think you're interesting, if not unique? Or, if it has to be in terms of wanting stuff - I'm here because I want to spend time in your company, because I want to see you able to stop and take some time to relax and be Faith, not the Slayer-on-the-run... or..."

"I want that too, Case. I aint exactly been Mz Fun these last while. I just feel so old, like I've done everything, you know, killed, tortured, lay in a bed waitin' to die. It's hard to relax when you know you're going to Hell once you die, see, thats the thing, Casey, I know I can't make up for what I've done. But I like you. You're like the Mayor was, you make me laugh, you listen and... well to be really honest, I don't really care about good and evil, Orme, Jayde and Watchers and stuff. Screw 'em all. But I like hangin' round here with you, it feels sort of like home should. Makes me think 'bout my sister and the Mayor and stuff. Trouble is that stuff doesn't last and I know I'm a sore loser, so when I @*#($ this up I just feel its gunna end badly. Badly and bloody."

"Hmmm. I dunno about that not being able to make stuff up, or going to Hell. I mean, I guess the jury's out about there being a Hell if there are vampires and such, but most people seem to have this "do good stuff and its ok" kind of religion.... I'm still thinking about that stuff too - will let you know if I have any good ideas". Casey grins into the darkness. "I think that's what I want - everyone to have a good time of it."

"Case, Angel's been to Hell. I've seen creatures come out of the Hell mouth when it opened. The Boss believed it and he had all these groovey powers and then he turned all Demonic. Well so I heard anyway. Look, Im not gunna do the Angel 'wo is me, tortured soul thing'. Screw that. Yeah, yeah, a good time, thats what Im gunna have. Thats what I want from you Case. You in or out? Can I count on you? I wanna know if you're gunna flake out on me like Buffy did."

"Errr. Ok, I guess that's a yes on Hell then. Yeah, I'm in - I'll keep trying to talk you out of going to hell though, if that's ok by you", he says, looking sideways at Faith.

"Well theres a Hell for people like Angel and me anyway. I guess I dont see you as the goin' to Hell type, so you shouldnt worry about your little soul. I mean, sure, you can try and talk me round, but I dont see me bein' Mz Repentance 2001. I mean I all but offered to make you some sort of super boss. For the Mayor sake, I sorta wanted you to too, you know? Just imagined the two of us, roamin' round or findin' some little town to take over, or even tossin' out Orme and takin' this one. Coulda been peachy, huh man? You as mighty mojo man, surfin' those mystic powers and me as innocent little slayer bad girl. Just wrong, huh?" Faith meets your look with an almost sad smile. "Like I said," she points down, "Im goin' to burn. Down where its nice and toasty. I mean even just thoughts are bad, right? Hey, dont worry, I'll be nice for ya, while I can, anyway. If I aint scared you off already."

Casey scratches his nose. "Y'know, you've got a conscience... maybe do what it suggests for a while, and we'll see how things go? I'm not saying that I know better than you do, right - lets face it, I'm only just learning how little I know" He grins. "But yeah, I'll sit and watch with ya as we see how things go. You never know, tomorrow the hand of God could reach down and touch you and you could be Faith of Arc or something" Casey leaps up on a bench, miming hold a sword and gazing into the Eternal Light. "Slaying the baddies for God. Ahhhhhhhh". He jumps down again. "Or not. Either way, we can have a laugh or two, or if you're being a dick, I'll let you know."

She snaps round quickly and taps Casey chest maybe a little too hard. "There is NO God, Ok? Just a bunch of #@*(ed up powers #@*&$#@ing with people's lives. #@*($ that! #!@* them Burn it. Burn.." she seems to snap out of her little rant and then looks at the startled Casey, "Er, sorry. Its just I know their aint no God, ok? Well not one who gives a damn, anyways. Hey, you're ment to tell me when I'm bein' a dick." She softly punches Casey in the arm. "Anyway, somethin' already did do that, Case. The Hand of somethin' anyway. Slayer powers and all. But the Boss said we all got free will but few of us ever use it. I chose not to do that stuff Casey. I Slay 'cause I.. want to, not 'cause I wanna save the world or help others or crap like that. I just want you to know that... that I'm bad inside. Cant... don't wanna keep secrets from you. I need you to know that I'm evil and bad and rotten inside and that I'll either suck you down with me or #@*$& you all over when you finally realise it. If you wanna clear out I'll understand, but you gotta do it now, before.... soon."

Casey is quiet for a while. "I have a hard time believing you're irrevocably evil. A violent fruitcake, maybe - the jury' still out there". Casey's face is innocent and wideyed. Before Faith can continue - "I mean, I'm not you, and it pisses me off when people tell me stuff about me that is just not ... when they do that whole 'I know better' schtick, so maybe i'm making a way wrong call here... but if you look at it from the whole 'want' side of things, why would you want to hang about with a bunch of geeks, especially the one who keeps needling you about good and evil, or the guy who is on the verge of calling the police, or.. Y'see? I mean you have cash, you have eerie if concerning powers, why are you listening to me rabbit on about good and evil?"

"I... I dunno. I guess 'cause you actually give a #@*&$. Thats a pretty rare thing, Casey." Faith looks thoughtful and for a short while. "Lil' sis, the Boss and you. I mean I thought, you know, Buffy and me had a connection, Chosen Two against the world, but, well that didnt really work out too well now, did it? It's the same with Jayde I can feel stuff, but its just.. well, nothin' I guess. We just prowl around each other, watching and waitin'. You're different, like the Boss. You know." She cheers up and gives a little laugh, but something obviously on her mind, "Hey did I ever tell you that he got me in some preppy little floral number? Man did I feel stoopid......" Faith starts to regail her story... "I'd just come back from visitin' some guy the Boss wanted..."

The Mayor is talking out loud, walking round Faith's expensive apartment back in Sunnydale. "..and everything went smoothly with Mr. Worth?"

Faith's voice comes through a door beside the bed, wryly commenting "Not if you're Mr. Worth..."

The mayor chirps up, "Well, that's swell. You know how I feel about loose ends. And the big day is so close. You can smell the excitement in the air." Looking over at the door, "Say, are you ever coming out of there?"

"I don't know..."

"Come on..." Faith steps shyly out of the side room. She is wearing a lovely, girlie, floral print, sundress, and is clearly a quite shy and uncomfortable. The Mayor beams proudly. "Well. Aren't you a vision?"

"I feel wicked stupid in this."

"You look lovely. Perfect for the Ascension. Any boys that manage to survive'll be lining up to ask you out."

"Yeah, but it's not really me."

"'Not you'. Let me tell you something. Nobody knows what you are. Not even you, little miss seen-it-all. The Ascension isn't just my day, it's yours too. Your day to blossom, to show the world what a powerful girl you are." He has comes over to her slowly, eyes locked on her. "I think of what you've done, what I know you will do..." He gently moves a strand of hair from her face. "No father could be prouder."

Faith looks down, suddenly very uncertain, "I hope I don't let you down."

"Impossible. Come on. Change back into your street clothes and I'll buy you an icy."

"Guess thats the thing, isnt it Casey? He got me that stupid dress cause he thought it looked nice, not just because he wanted easy access to my goodies. Same with you." She gives a little shrug, "Well you know except we're bonin' and stuff, but its not about that is it. Thats not why you're hangin' round, is it? See thats what I dont quite get.. about you or the Boss. I did let him down you know. Buffy... she used.. I wasnt strong enough, she found out and killed him with it." She reaches behind into her back pocket and pulls out a letter. "And he doesnt blame me. I dont get you and I dont get him." She hands the letter to Casey.

(handwritten or scrawled would be a better term on a dirty piece of brown paper)

Ovvvvaaooaooacwe..welllllll

Well gosh, it just cuts me up to see my little girl like this. That institution you find yourself in is, well, just so gloomy and depressing, not to mention so darn grimy and unsanitary. Well that certainly makes a mockery of the notion of a reform based prison system. I imagine that being stuck in that dank old cell with a down right unfriendly and not very socially adjusted cell mate, ontop of your little adventure with our old friend Angel, you must be feeling alone as well as, well, pretty darn low.

First off I want to clear the air and assure you that I don't blame you at all for what happened on Assention day. I know you must be feeling that had you have been there, all would have worked swimmingly, and gosh, I guess that's right, but that wasn't your fault. It was my mistake for letting you go so near to our special day. And well geee, it was a pretty darn low tactic of that little blonde to take advantage of my little Faith's situation like that. I mean I'm Evil, but that was sure a pretty low thing to pull.

I feel sort of responsible for your current situation. I know that I said to you that there would be no place in the world for you without me. That was just plain wrong on my part to say that when you were probably still so upset after waking up and discovering what happened. You'll always have a place, Faith and that place is by side, because thanks to that Asention, I'll be here for a darn long time yet. We made such a great team in our attempt to bring some sanity to Sunnydale and the world, dispite the fact that our great plans for that little town failed, I know that we could make a great team again.

I understand that you are trying to redeem yourself for your actions and wrestling with the ideas of Good and Evil, but let me assure you that Good and Evil are not the point here. This is about being your full, bright, shining self or being something less. I know that you can be something really special, Faith, I saw that inside you and that is why I know that, when you finally decide what it is you want to do, you will be much more sucessful than even I was in my 170 years running that swell little town.

Well, gosh, I'll let you in on a little secret. When I was young I strayed from my path a couple of times and I doubted I was strong enough or that I could possibly do what I set out to achive. Yet I came back and each time I jumped any pesky hurdle that was in my path. I questioned if my actions were worth the cost and the things that I would have to do, but I suceeded beyond what I ever dreamed and I brought order to so many. On a personal level, I Assended, and while limited in my time on Earth, the Asention itself was one mighty fine sucess and my only real regret is that you were unable to be there by my side for that mighty fine day.

You have to find your own path now and you are going to have to work this out for yourself. I wish I could be there to guide you and show you how the world worked, but you have to look inside yourself and decide who and what you want to be and what you want to make with your life. Look inside yourself Faith. Listen to your self. You must know that you are so much more than just the Slayer. I know that you can do just about anything but you just need to find what that is for yourself.

You will always have my support and be welcome by my side, even if you decide to try and follow that pesky path to redemption. Should you follow this path, I know that you can make it. It's going to be hard to make up to all those people you hurt, but maybe it'll help if you know that this old demon is wishing you all the best and knows that you can do it. I know from experaince that it will hurt and make you feel pretty darn low, but once you get it done, you'll be able to start anew, even though that seems so far away and impossible now. Once you make up your mind I know you can do that and I wish you all the sucess that redemption can bring. And look on the bright side, should you fail, you'll already have a friend down here waiting for you.

If you decide that you want to leave your mark on this little world in more than just a few old Watcher diaries, then Im sure I can help you become the wonderful, special creature that I know you have inside you, whatever side you end up on. I am trying to find some less pesky form of comminication and I shall contact you again, assuming that that's fine with you. 'Geee, is it ok if I write?'

I still have some contacts that can help you harness the occult powers that can be so very useful. And pay no heed to people who say the whole thing is unnatural. Most of these powers have been around from before the world was given form. The real problem is that people can just be so darn judgemental.

I will urge you that whatever you decide, dont cut short your time where you are. You still have plenty to do alive, whatever you decide and gosh there is all the time in the world. As my old daddy used to say, 'You're a long time dead'.

Oh, mytitiiiiimmmmee (handwriting scrawls off into meaningless scratches)

"I dont know what I wanna do. Im so confused. I miss him. I dont want to be alone again. I want him back. I want to make him proud. I want Buffy to pay. I never want to be powerless again. I want to be stronger, faster, smarter, better, unstoppable, more of a god than I am now. I want the Mayor back." Her nose is making that runny sound and you know she's close to tears. "I feel so lost and stupid and alone. I'm this monster inside and it so wants to get out. I want to kill Orme, and become the Boss here. I want to bring the Boss back and I to lay waste to the Council, and the whole #@*$(ing England or world if they won't come out and face me." She swallows, "But I dont want to be alone. I want to come back home and be able to talk to you too. I want you to like me. I need you to like me." Her voice drops to a whisper, "'Cause I couldnt stand it if you went like Buffy or the scoobies.... because I think... I..." her voice lowers even more to barely audible "I'm..... maybe.... in... ... with you." Suddenly runs ahead and into an alley and a second later there is a metal smashing sound.

Casey quietly says "oh boy." This could end badly - as much as he likes Faith, he feels a bit concerned for the physical safety of some of the people around him. He looks around for something to sit on and drops into deep hack mode....

• Faith's hair trigger. Not solvable quickly
• Did this mayor guy actually like Faith or was he deftly manipulating her. Casey has the uncomfortable feeling that if he wanted Faith's support that would be how he would try and get it - boosting her ego and acting as a patron. On the otherhand, some of the stuff he was saying was pretty smart... Casey is uncomfortably aware of how easy it is to use the darkside of smart. In either case, does it matter - or is it more important that Faith thinks that he was on her side. Probably.
• Watchers. The crack about using the cable against them is not a bad idea. Its ... aggravating to not have enough information. (like what the hell we were cabling :). I can check it out and maybe bug Alex and all. Literally. Not figuratively.
• Faith again. Well, magic stuff. Faith says there is a price. Mary is learning it. Mary is perhaps not aware of a potential price. Must quiz Mary. Must find out what price.
• Faith. And mystic stuff. She needs a break from it. How about ice cream. Ice cream makes a good break. Too much icecream is impractical however. So I'll need some more ways of being normal at her for a while. Weird free zone? Not really practical. Ask what she was like preSlayer.
• Why her? Why Jayde? Why the Slayer and not everyone with a bit of oomf against the Vampires? Why vampires? How about the rest of it - all true? Figuratively true?
• Faith is in front of you and arms crossed defensivly

"..fine too." Casey's eye blink open and he's looking up at Faith who isnt really making eye contact with Casey but rather is looking up and down the street.

"Waaagh!" Casey startles backwards. "Huh?"

"I said, 'cause that's fine too." she shrugs, "Just not really a big fan of the waiting round."

"Um. " Casey desperately wracks his brain to see if his ears were listening. No luck. "Um. Sorry? Can you go back a few sentances? I was in deep hack."

"I said, what are we doin' now? You know, dinner and a movie... conversation... not such a good idea, right? Cause," she pulls 'fake happy' face "ya know, the rest of the evenings gone so well." Shaking her head and returning to normal, "If you wanna go home, thats cool. I can go hit a club then go find me some bag guy booty to kick. So im off to a club and if you wanna come, thats frosty too." She pauses but then quickly adds "Look, Case, can just forget this whole thing, huh?"

Casey is still trying to get his brain to work "You don't want to see a movie?"

"Not really seein' the point here. I'm not really the dinner and a movie type, ok? Save ya money." She perks up a bit "Hey, Better yet take M out." She gets cheeky grin "Could be worth a shot, huh?"

"Dude, I'm way lost now. Shall we just do the club thing?"

"Cool. I like clubbin' more anyway." She checks her watch. "Er, it's a little early aint it? We could, er... usually its just me and I'd go try and snag some newbie vamps or somethin' or go train or something."

Casey wonders if he's actually caught up or whether he's miles behind still "o-k then. Um. Air hockey? Food? Sneaking up behind strangers?"

"Huh? Air hockey? Err, I guess we should grab a burger or something."

"Every played the game where you see how many burgers you can stuff in your mouth at once? ... or is that just a guy thing?"

"Yeah, played it back when I was a kid. Tryin' to look cool an' all. Just ended up spittin' pickle all over myself."

Casey nods sagely and then laughs. "Sorry, I'm just not sure I can picture you doing that. Where'd you grow up? Not California, I guess"

"Boston." She looks puzzled, "Why cant you picture it?"

"I dunno - maybe you just project too much with-it-ness... a young Faith in her jeans with pickle-riddled drool running down her chin and burgers hanging out her mouth doesn't really gel with the here and now. " Casey laughs. "Although its a good image"

"Yeah, I've grown." She puts her hand on her heart "Mum'd be so proud." Shrugging "A bunch of us used to blow off school and hang out. Yeah, it was pretty funny. Everyone laughed. Almost choked to death, but hey, lived to fight again another day."

"A tale of which legends are made. You dropped out even before the Slayer thing?"

"Yeah, great, Faith: shorted mayo out her nose. Write it on my #@*$&ing grave. I am ledgend. Not really a thinkin' sort o' girl, Case. School and me just didnt work. Plus it was more street knowledge that I needed. I mean like I care who invaded paris or how to work out the... you know.. length around a circle." she shrugs "So I just started hangin' round the streets and stuff."

"'s cool. Just wasn't sure. I always found it a laugh, so I stuck about. Dunno about college yet."

"A laugh? Always sucked for me." Nice uncomfortable silence.

"Ah well. Bummer. So what were you doing, y'know, just before?"

"Before becoming 'the other' Slayer? Oh man, that seems so long ago now. Err, just stuff. Mostly spunging off friends. The odd bit of petty crime."

"Wasn't that long ago, was it? A year or so? ... er, on the otherhand, I remember what I was doing a year ago... yeah, I see what you mean. No plans then?"

"Nah, its longer than that. I got called when I was, what, a couple of months off 16. Just about to turn 17 now, ah, no make that 18. I keep doin' that." she laughs a rather bitter little laugh. "Plans? Are you serious?"

"Wow, that's wicked. Before you were 16. I'd love to see the selection criteria. ... So did you just wake up feelin' weird or was there a flash of light, or? ... or would you like me to just shut the hell up?" Casey grins.

"I had this freaky dream thing and when I woke up I just felt different. I was still trying to work it out that day when Liz, my watcher contacted me. Killed my first vamp that night. Liz wanted to train me and stuff, but I wasnt interested in the beginning. Took her a while to talk me round. 'World needs you' and all that crap. Anyway, she trained me a bit, but she didn't last long. Their aint no selection critter that I know. I think its just random, although I'm seein' a pattern in Buffy and Jayde. Preppy cheerleader types. Maybe its a fashion apoclypse thats comin' and thats why I'm like Mz Rogue Slayer. "

Silence for a while.

"So, Casey, about the scoobies thing... what do you say? Can you ignore it and lets just be Joe nobody? Pretend it doesnt exist?"

"Not happy with that. I cant just ignore it."

"Hmmf. Ok. Well how about you bein' my personal scooby then? You know, Jayde's got her little troop, how about you can be mine then?"

"That'd be cool, as long as you don't mind me sharing ideas with the others."

"Well actually I do. I mean its ok most of the time, but what happens when Jayde and me dont want to go in the same direction, huh? No prizes there. Yeah, well maybe they can get along without you. I mean Gem, Mary and J should be enough, shouldn't it?"

"Hmmmm. I meant ideas like the vampire tracker thing, actually."

"Yeah, fine. Lets just go to a club then, huh?"

"Suits. Screaming or jazz?"

"Somewhere with loud dance music." She nods, adding as an after thought, "And a bar."

"Stupid question time: you got fake id?"

"Yeah, and boobs and a nice smile. How can I lose?"

Casey laughs. "Ok, nearest is place is Blah's - lets go"

"Great. Lets go." She starts to drag you off. As you turn the corner the sound of dance music starts to build (atleast in the bass end of the spectrum). Approaching the small queue (its still early) outside the club, Faith studdenly stops and looks round, alert.

From over the road, somewhat familiar raised voices can be heard "..complete pig! I hate you!"

"Just shut up and get in the car."

Looking over, Casey spots Dustin and Belinda, two of Jayde's friends who used to ignore him at school causing the fuss.

*slap* Belinda slaps Justin and he pulls back to hit her back but hesitates and just shover her against the car pulling the door open. "Just get in the car!"

Faith relaxes from 'combat mode'. "Come on, Case, lets go."

"That's not good... hangon... there was... something about them at Gem's party..... um. Dammit, my mind's all fuzzy from that. Er... I guess it can wait till tomorrow."

Dustin is storming round infront of the car to the drivers side, pointing at Belinda and shouting "In!".

Belinda stares back and opens the passanger door. "@#*($& you Dustin! Everyone's going to hear about this. Dont think you can..." the rest is muffled as she gets into the car.

"Like him?" Faith says, tilting her head towards Dustin. [Dustin being the all American football star at highschool.] Faith seems to be tensing up again ready for action.

Casey looks at Faith a bit nervously. "Not particularly either way. Resist the urge to tear his arms off for the moment. I wanna find out what's happening first."

"Fine." Faith relaxes and crosses her arms. Faith turns and looks down the street.

"So you feel like dancing, or just rockin'?"

"Dancing." Faith's eyes track the oncoming traffic "Losing myself." She seems distracted, almost robotic "Just letting go and letting it out."

"Shut it!" Dustin shouts, stepping out onto the road and pulling open the door. "Why do you think I'd care..."

Casey sees she's still watching and sighs. "Wait here." Faith still follows Casey over to the car. He trots over to Belinda's side of the car and taps on the window, wearing his best "I'm oblivious and happy" face...

"What!?" screams Belinda spinning round from abusing Dustin. Obviously still angry, she snaps. "What do you and your trailer trash girl friend?"

Faith whispers "boom" behind Casey.

Casey twitches a little. "Jayde was looking for you earlier, wasn't sure if you'd caught up. Thought I'd..."

BOOM!

The car jolts forward and there is the sound of smashing of metal, glass and something squishy. Belinda is thrown around inside the car and sprayed in glass as the front windscreen smashes. The car lurches forward and Belinda is thrown back then forward into the dash board as the sound of twisting metal stops as suddenly as it started. Slowly Casey's mind clears and he looks around, smelling burnt rubber.

Looking over to the drivers side of the car, there is another car parked touching the side of Dustin's car. The driver of the car and his passanger look shocked and pale. The other car has come along and glanced along the side of Dustin's car, jolting it sharply forward and removing the drivers side door and Dustin with it.

Casey does a quick two-arms, two-legs, only one-head check and once he's sure nothing has fallen off, he leaps to help Belinda. Belinda is shaking and wide eyed when Casey pulls her out of the car she is making little wimpery noises. Checking her out, she seems to have a split lip and maybe a bump on the head, but seems physically alright. Faith has backed away towards the club and out of Casey's view [as Im assuming hes off to check on Dustin next or is focused on Belinda].

[Casey has subconsciously written Dustin off as roadkill] Once Belinda is free of the car and obviously not suffering from death, Casey will nick her phone and call emergency services and head towards Dustin... but he knows enough about emergency medicine to know he doesn't know enough about emergency medicine.

Once the 911 call is made, Casey pops round to Dustin, but already some people have collected around. Someone is there seemingly checking him for breathing and stuff. "Call an ambulance! Stand back." They seem to be doing something for him but its hard to make out exactly with the crowd around him. Someone else starts clearing people back and a bouncer from the club has come over and joined the guy looking at Dustin. "He's breathing, but we shouldnt move him."

"Ambulance is on the way."

People are cleared back but there is a nice gawking crowd around the accident.

Casey figures that Faith + police don't mix so she's sensibly faded away. He also figures that they'll want to talk to Belinda, so she shouldn't leave. If he still has her phone on him, he'll go back to her, flicking through for her parents/home number to call. He finds the number easily and calls, telling them that Belinda is ok, but has been in an accident and they should come and get her. Other people have come over to help and to start checking on Belinda, giving Casey a chance to fade back a bit before the cops arrive. The cops and ambulance arrive and they start to bundle Dustin into the ambulance and check out Belinda. Its probably a hospital visit for Belinda too. Dustin is very seriously hurt but still apparently alive.

Before the ambulance leaves, Belinda's parents roll up and rush up and start asking the medics all sorts of questions and fussing over their daughter. Belinda seems mostly ok, but they are going to take her to the hospital to check her out. The load her into the ambulance and drive off, her parents go to the car and follow. Police are starting to interview people who saw the accident now and not surprisingly Faith is nowhere to be see.

Casey also fades asap, especially once Belinda's parents are here. He might poke about for Faith, shrug and then decide whether to go home or not. Prob home.

Fading into the back of the crowd, Casey looks around and after a little bit of a search finds her watching from the shadowy doorway of a closed store. Spotting Casey she walks over. "Still up for clubbin'? Or maybe a stiff drink?"

"Er. How about one then the other? That was a bit of a surprise."

"Sure. Know a little club in the grimier part of town if you're up for a bit more of a walk to get here. Its a bit on the manky side, but noone asks any questions and they leave you alone."

"Yeah... yeah, a walk might be good."

"So, your first, you know, accident then? You ok and stuff?"

"Huh? No, I've been around a few others but they were ... not as out of the blue I guess. You know, with no warning." Casey gives Faith a weird glance.

Faith shrugs. "Uh-huh, as long as your cool. Man, I'm all pumped for action now. Man, they better have a good DJ tonight."

Casey takes a deep breath. "Yeah, I'll be ok. Walking, having a shot of something, dancing for a bit, everything's fine."

Faith is silent for a bit. "You sure you're ok? You didnt seem really bud's with them at the party or anything'."

Casey wrinkles his nose "I usually just ignore them when they're being dicks. They're just caught up in that whole social programming thing. You know, monogamy, put down the geeks, football is the world."

"Yeah, I know the kind."

He takes a deep breath. "Its just that instant transition from everyone's peachy to dead, or badly hurt freaks me out. I've got a stack of things to do, and I don't want to rush any of them, but I know I won't live forever. Just kind of makes me panic for a bit." Casey chews his lip. "Um. Why did you say 'boom' just before the car hit?"

"Er, I just.. sort of knew." she says lamely. Obviously changing the subject she continues "I know what you mean about dieing though. Living forever... be nice, huh?" Atleast she has the good grace to look uncomfortable at that neat subject change.

Casey is willing to go with the flow. "Its on my List of things to work out how to do. I'm figuring that by the time I'm 40 or something, I should be able to be virtual or have a robot body, but there's something to be said for meat."

Faith stops and grabs Casey's arm "Huh? You wanna be a robot?"

"Well, not literally. Although it might be cool to be able to redesign your body as you go along. No more trying to find a can opener" He puts his hand to his side and flicks a finger our "*shpoing!*. No canned vegatables can stand before me now.... er, although if you're a robot you don't need to eat, making it a little redundant. Ok, imagine your a robot who likes cats. *shpoing* Fluffy no longer goes hungry! Tada! Or you could add wheels. *boing* Instant rollerblades. Or... " Casey stops rambling. "Um."

Faith looks at Casey like he's from Mars. "Er, right. Ok. I thought you were serious or somethin'." She whispers "'Cause its possible apparently."

"I guess. I was reading some watcher diaries and apparently the SunnyHell scoobies managed to put some demon into a robot or a computer or somethin' so I guess you can put a person in one too." She breaks eye contact and continues walking. "If you know who to ask that is." Shaking her head, "That'd freak me out, being a robot I mean. No super powers. Yuck."

"Wow. That's sort of neat. Er. Eventually. I think I'd want to let computers get better first. Matrix like, dig? So you think you're in the real world, or at least can't tell the difference. Like not now, but at, I dunno -35? when the meat starts to break down..."

"Er, sort of. I guess. Thats just weird, Case. Man, and I thought I was freaky."

"Why's it weird? If it looks real, and feels real and tastes real, why isn't it a banana? Runnin' your own world might be neat. Or maybe only going cyborg? Like having computer bits built in? Virtual light display? Would be cool. I mean, I think I'd prefer the body staying in one piece for as long as I can. On the other hand, if we can read minds from brains, then maybe we'd be able to write them back in, so as my body falls to bits, get read out, make a new body, write back in. Might be cool to be able to design your own body. You know, try being female, or taller or something."

"I know there's definatly Mojo to do that. I swapped bodies with Buffy a while back and took her bod for a test drive. Man that was just such a weird feelin'. Yours body but not really. Hadnt thought to try a guy. Oh, that would have been so cool. Bring a new meaning to swapping, huh? I wonder if my Slayer powers would go with me or not. Be a nice way to dissapear, huh? Swap with some smuck and then off into to another state."

"Cooool - that might be fun. Was it hard? " Casey sort of winces "Bit rough on the schmuck you jump into though - I mean, wanted by police and everyone else."

"Mayor gave it to me. Said I could go out with a bang. It just got too freaky in the end though." She shudders a bit. "He said that now he was gone there wouldnt be anywhere in the world for me. He gave me this magic gizmo to switch bodies with Buffy when we did big the end of level fight. I used it and the cops then the watchers dragged Buffy off and I thought I was home free, but stuff just started to go weird. People started to treat me different. It was #*$&ed. Freaked me out. Anyway, if its ok for Conrad to do, then I guess its ok for me as long as I pick some evil prick to do it to. Plenty of them 'round."

"Ew. That Conrad dude does it? Like jumping from person to person? Now that's spooky. I meant growing a different meatbag and using the blank - we should be able to do that in a few years."

She snorts "And people say I'm a psycho. Yeah, Conrad's on my list. I figure when stuff gets all @#$ed up here I may as well do a public service and top Conrad before I go."

She gets a wicked smile, "So, you wanna give it a go, huh?"

"I'm game - what's involved though?"

"Well, I guess I just have to use the Mayor's contacts and get me another one of them little gizmo's. Probably should anyway as a escape route. Anyway, then we put it on and *zap*."

Casey looks a bit uncomfortable. "Maybe not contacting the Mayor's dudes is a plan? The idea sounds cool-" Casey grins at Faith "- I'm just worried about the means. Hey, if Conrad can do it, maybe there's some info around on how to do it..."

"Sure there's info round on it, Case, wait here and Ill just go check the extensive library in my room, hold on wait, I dont have one. Duh. Nothin' wrong with contacting the Mayor, it's not going to make me evil, infact I sorta want to. Going a bit stir crazy here during the day. Really, it'll be cool. But if we swap bodies and I dont have my powers, then we're swappin' right back, 'K?"

Casey mimes laughing. "It is to laugh." He sticks his tongue out and laughs. "I was thinking more long term." "Um." Casey looks a bit concerned. "Ok - this is your expertise, not mine, so I'll believe you. .. what, I don't get to play at being superwoman... I always did have a thing for batgirl..."

She shrugs, "Long term Im going to end up with the Mayor anyway, Case. Im not really Mz Repent girl, so Im destined for a trip down to visit him anyway. No biggie. Passin' time and shaggin' my own brains out just keeps me amused while I wait. Hey, if you want I can dress up as batgirl. I make a pretty sexy school girl too." Her smile dissapears, "Im @#*($&ed without my powers Casey. Just a nothin'. Im not sure I could handle that again."

"Schoolgirl? Ew. Hentai land." Casey looks a bit bemused. "I'm still not sold on this 'Faith will go to Hell' thing - as silly a word-construct it is, I just don't see it as being an absolute." Casey sighs. "I don't think you cut yourself enough slack dude. But I don't want to sneak off with your superpowers." Casey looks a bit uncertain. "Ok, not for very long anyway. Once curiosity is satisfied"

She snaps round at Casey, "You think you'd be here now if I thought that? No, you'd be just like Conrad and all the others..." suddenly snapping out of the anger she starts to look really uncomfortable, almost pained, "*@#$! Look, lets just drop this whole @*($&#ing thing, huh? It was a @#*#@$*ing stupid idea."

"I'll shelve it, but I still think it would be cool. There's even some fun potential if you switch people around without them expecting it." Casey laughs out loud. "Can you imagine switching Jayde and Jonathan?"

Faith is silent for a while and doesnt seem to have even heard Casey. "Oh, @#*@!. I'd need to try it before I could have it as an escape, wouldn't I? Unless I switched with Jayde."

Casey grabs at Faith's arm "Faith, preppyness is part of the brain - if you went all Valleygirl, I'd have to kill you." Casey tries to keep a straight face. "Fuck it, lets test it - what could go wrong?"

"Only my nightmare. Me in a room, stuck in your weak little body." Faith shudders.

Casey rolls his eyes "Thanks."

"Huh? No, no! I didn't mean it like that. It's just I couldn't go back to being like that again. You know. Weak. My life sucked before Casey. Big time! Noone can make me do anythin' now and I... Mayor on a cruch, I think I trust you, or atleast I wanna, but if we did that body swap thing, I think I'd be screamin' if you touched me."

Casey smiles. "Its cool dude - it'd be like me blind or something. I'm faintly jealous, but I'm guessing if its some mystic weirdness, the powers go with the person who has them." He grins. "Funny. Swapping Jayde and Gemma. Give Gemma a chance to run and not fall over" Casey shakes his head. "We're supposed to be being all mundane and dancing and stuff, aren't we?"

"Er, yeah, sure. Its just round the corner here."

Casey and Faith spend the rest of the night in the dingy club. The first DJ is pretty average and they both spend a fair amount of time downing drink after drink. Faith explains that she this is her 'I want to be alone' hangout because the club is quiet and people dont mess with her and the staff are happy to supply drinkies. After an inital burst of heavy drinking, the two of them end up on the dance floor. (Ah, the Ladies of the Dance...) Naturally, having super powers seems to make one of them able to drink like a fish and dance like an energiser bunny and the other end up slumped on a table exhausted and dehydrated.

[Oh and I found a picture of The Spooky Knife]

Assuming that Faith drags him out of the club at about 1:30 because she wants to go patroling. She'll walk him home ;) and then go off and slay.

continued later

roll credits

Lawyers take note: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel and all characters related belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and fox.