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12 Days of Ficlets
12 days of Ficlets Day 9: Despair. Giles in the Wishverse. Littttle bit of Giles/Oz.
He doesn't attend the funerals any more. He sits with the dwindling faculty at the monthly memorials and listens to Snyder recite the names, and he tries not to guess how many more will be on the roll-call come another four weeks.
He has been officially AWOL from the Council since he refused to return to London, more than a year ago. It was evident then that the Slayer was staying in Cleveland, but by then the Harvest had begun and he couldn't abandon the ragtag group of children who had taken it upon themselves to fight.
Then, he was humbled by their bravery. Now he is too exhausted for anything beyond acceptance, and when he looks at them all he can wonder is which one will be next.
The Council don't believe there is a Hellmouth in Sunnydale. It's unheard of, Quentin Travers has explained to him at length and with increasing irritation, for two to occur within the same continent. His suggestion that the esteemed council fucking well come and investigate for themselves was met with a dialtone, and a curt conversation with a secretary next time he tried to call.
He should go to London, he knows. At least have it out with Travers in person. Even take a trip to Cleveland; his sources at the Council, before they stopped answering his calls, were able to tell him that Roger Wyndam-Pryce's son had been assigned to the Slayer. But he doesn't want to leave the children, even for a short time - in his absence they would need another leader. Larry is a good fighter, but too headstrong. He can't imagine Nancy, or Scott, or Jonathan, leading the group. Oz, never an extrovert, has become so quiet since Devon's death that Giles often thinks he's alone in the library, until he lets his head sink into his hands and the barely-there touch on his back or shoulder alerts him to the boy's presence.
This is what's left: four living children and one who is half a ghost already, and Giles can't leave them, because he's terrified that if he sets foot out of hell, he will never be able to make himself come back.
He doesn't attend the funerals any more. He sits with the dwindling faculty at the monthly memorials and listens to Snyder recite the names, and he tries not to guess how many more will be on the roll-call come another four weeks.
He has been officially AWOL from the Council since he refused to return to London, more than a year ago. It was evident then that the Slayer was staying in Cleveland, but by then the Harvest had begun and he couldn't abandon the ragtag group of children who had taken it upon themselves to fight.
Then, he was humbled by their bravery. Now he is too exhausted for anything beyond acceptance, and when he looks at them all he can wonder is which one will be next.
The Council don't believe there is a Hellmouth in Sunnydale. It's unheard of, Quentin Travers has explained to him at length and with increasing irritation, for two to occur within the same continent. His suggestion that the esteemed council fucking well come and investigate for themselves was met with a dialtone, and a curt conversation with a secretary next time he tried to call.
He should go to London, he knows. At least have it out with Travers in person. Even take a trip to Cleveland; his sources at the Council, before they stopped answering his calls, were able to tell him that Roger Wyndam-Pryce's son had been assigned to the Slayer. But he doesn't want to leave the children, even for a short time - in his absence they would need another leader. Larry is a good fighter, but too headstrong. He can't imagine Nancy, or Scott, or Jonathan, leading the group. Oz, never an extrovert, has become so quiet since Devon's death that Giles often thinks he's alone in the library, until he lets his head sink into his hands and the barely-there touch on his back or shoulder alerts him to the boy's presence.
This is what's left: four living children and one who is half a ghost already, and Giles can't leave them, because he's terrified that if he sets foot out of hell, he will never be able to make himself come back.
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mmm. Giles...
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Excellent Wishverseness...
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Wishverse Gile
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