trying to make the pieces fit ((Buffyverse plot))

[slayers_desire]

There was a small gathering of people in the room, doing things that might seem normal. Drinking coffee. Reading a book. Checking sites on the computer. Talking with their neighbor.

But this wasn't a normal day. And despite appearances, these people were all preparing to help save their world.

Most of the 'Scoobies' were here... Xander, Connor, Wes, Lorne, Spike and even Willow had come down for the event. There were others there too... Victor Allen, Clark Kent and Edward Elric.

They were all here to figure out how to create a new Seed. They already had a few clues to go on... but there were still a lot to discuss.

The most recent revelation came after Illyria had deceived the group, and put Clark and April right into the heart of the White Room. Where their memories were taken from them. They had fought free... and now April was more determined than ever to find a way to save her world.

((posting order: April, Clark, Victor, Ed))

Comments

[slayers_desire]

"The spell is only the beginning Ed. I am sure all of our abilities will be needed." April replied.

She thought about Clark's point for a while. "I don't know. But we still have to try... right?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark nods. "Of course. It's the best lead we have so far. If it doesn't work, we haven't lost anything. We'll just know that this wasn't it. If it does..."

[victormakesart]

"If it even opens a sliver of a door... we're in business," she finishes for him, searching in her backpack. Among the first-aid kits, the extra changes of clothes, the alcohol swabs, the test tubes full of plant matter that seems to quiver in the light (don't ask), stones so full of color it's like peering into a kaleidoscope, and her five extra PINpoints (you can never be too careful), she has a small set of acrylic paints, and a smaller set of watercolor pencils, four different sizes of brushes, and a babyfood jar to wash them out in. Yes, she carries all that and more with her everywhere.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed smiles, closing his eyes for a moment. Then he reaches up and grabs his journal and a second can of Coke from the table. While he checks one of the many flags and slips of paper marking certain entries in the little book and opens it up to a page about two-thirds of the way into the journal, he remarks, "If it opens up a sliver of a door, then we pry the thing open the rest of the way." Which probably says quite a lot about his mindset right there: if at first you don't succeed, barrel right on ahead until you do. "What's our next step?"

[slayers_desire]

April bends down to pick up the set of acrylic paints and watercolour pencils. "This will be perfect."

"I am thinking that as I cast the spell, maybe Ed can trasmute the wood to give us an extra push at create the wood?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark smiles as he sees the endless items Victor has in her bag. She was definitely a boy scout in a former life. "Is there a way I can help, or should we just keep an eye out for any... outside interest?"

[victormakesart]

"And I have my notebook and a pen, I could draw." As for Clark... that's a harder question. Victor's always considered what Clark does to be an art, though she knows that might be stretching the bounds of normal definition. She chews a little at her lower lip. "Some sort of protection... I think would be really good to have."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed's smiles broadens and becomes a bit more self-satisfied, and he snaps his journal shut and rises to his feet, tucking it back into his coat. "You want me to actually make the door, huh? That I can definitely do."

Then, he gets another idea, and he asks April, "Hey... how important is symbolism to magic in this reality? Because... I was thinking I might incorporate a Mercurial Cross into the surface of the door when I transmute it." The Mercurial Cross, which is printed on the back of Ed's coat in black, has personal significance to him, but it's also an Alchemical symbol... of rebirth. And what they're doing, at least in Ed's mind, will hopefully result in the rebirth of the Seed of Wonder, and of hope and creativity.

[slayers_desire]

"I was thinking that we both could draw the door, Victor. Against that wall..." April pointed to the south wall of the room.

"Then we cast the spell... Ed transmute the wall into an actual door. And symbolism is very important..."

"Clark can ensure no one comes up from behind."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I can handle that," Clark says, full of self-assurance. The list of people who have been able to sneak up on him unnoticed is a very, very short list.

[victormakesart]

She takes her cane and uses the top of the table to help her stand. "Absolutely! Just tell me what to do; my hands are your hands."

[fmalchemist160]

"As are mine," Ed agrees with a smile, raising his hands so that he's ready to clap them together and initiate the transmutation at any moment.

[slayers_desire]

Wes set down his scotch glass. "I will get the spell."

Lorne smiles as the girls start to paint on the wall, and cocks his head with interest at whatever Ed is doing. He has never seen anything like it.

He raises his head suddenly... "This will light up the world... Clark be ready. Connor... Spike you also take point."

April works with Victor to create a very real door on the wall. "I already feel inspired."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"That sounds... either very good, or very bad," Clark says, but attunes all his senses to the world around them. Superhearing will alert him to any new sounds, and he's constantly looking around them, with and without x-ray vision, to spot any soundless approaches.

[victormakesart]

She has paint in her hair because of her terrible habit of painting with her fingers to get more direct lines (and then running her hand through her hair, forgetting), her cane is leaning against the wall away from the painting, and she's feeling pretty ecstatic herself. Something about art... it's an energy giver.

[fmalchemist160]

Wait until Lorne sees the actual transmutation... Ed's still holding himself ready, waiting for the ladies to finish painting the door. He usually considers Alchemy to be more science than anything else, but right at the moment... he's seeing much more of the artistic side of it, and the kind of beauty his craft might be able to create. It feels pretty damned good to think of it like that, somehow.

[slayers_desire]

There is a crash from above them... Connor swears softly. "Our hideout is compromised now."

"Doesn't matter kid. This is more important." Spike vamps out, ready. "You going to try for the take out Kent?" He remembers how his son-in-law feels about killing.

Wes returns to the room, spell in hand, and starts chanting as the girls finish their painting. April gives a nod to Ed to start transmuting as soon as he is available. Lorne is on his feet now, weaving slightly, as in a trance to all the energy around him.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark still doesn't approve of killing, even if it's the undead, though he won't stop them from doing what they need to do. And that doesn't mean that he's just going to stand by and watch, either. "Nothing will get past me."

[victormakesart]

"Oh my God." Her hands shake as she wipes her fingers on a rag.

Please don't be zombies, please don't be zombies, please don't be zombies.

Even under ideal conditions, zombies scare the life out of her. This is not ideal. She can't physically run. Well, she can, but it'll hurt like the dickens and she wouldn't be able to get very far.

Zombies. Good heavens, she's going to die again.

She's used to being able to swallow down her fear, make it into something constructive, but she's pale now, and trembling, and trying so hard to suppress that feeling, to be tough, to stop being such a wimp, please don't be zombies, please no one notice that she's on the edge of a freak out that would be so embarrassing.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed hears the crash and immediately tenses up. He brings his hands together in a loud clap a split second after April gives him the nod, and plants both of his hands against the painting. There is a flash of blue light, a burst of blue static, and a brief cyclonic gust of wind that tosses Ed's coat and braid around for a moment as the painting is suffused with the same blue light. A second later, it's not a painting anymore, but an oak door with a gold Mercurial Cross set into its surface. (And yes, Ed deliberately chose to make the door out of oak; he knows the oak tree is Clark and April's symbol.)

That done, he whirls to face the same direction as the others, clapping his hands together and jerking his left hand in a sharp pass over his right arm and transmuting the cover plate of his Automail arm into a blade. He plants himself firmly between April and Victor and whatever's headed their way, but stays at their side. "If this goes FUBAR," he says to April, "do you want me to back up Clark and your dad, or stay here with you and Victor?"

[slayers_desire]

Lorne and Wes both give a sharp gasp at the trasmutation. They know it wasn't magic. But the oak door... is glowing with magic. It worked. They can feel it in their bones.

April stares at the door, getting glassy-eyed for a moment. "I need all four... everyone."

There is a scrape of noise and another crash. The first thing seen is a huge demon that seems to be made out of metal. Behind him... are creatures that move slowly. They have fangs like vampires, but aren't vampires.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Heads up," Clark calls, and the moment he gets a clear shot, lets loose with his heat vision. He doesn't know if the intruders are aware enough to be scared off by fire, but he can at least push them back with the force of it until he can see what effect it has.

[victormakesart]

She barely looks twice at the door, she's too busy thinking of zombies, biting down hard on the inside of her cheek.

She curses in a whisper when the other door opens, fingernails biting into her palms. Then she grabs for her cane, fingers curled hard around the handle.

She feels cornered... what can she do against metal? What can she do against the undead? She forces herself to take a very deep breath.

"Okay," she says, in a voice that's far higher than it usually is. "There's a door. Let's open it."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed has gone into Fight Mode, too focused on the incoming threat to do his usual internal preening. He looks back at April, nods, and shouts to the others, "Clark! Spike! Connor! We need you back here!" He sees the metal demon and immediately begins trying to figure out what he might be able to transmute the thing's skin into to weaken it. He's not sure about the Zompires, but reckons decapitation might work well enough—it works against both vamps and zombies in his reality, at least.

He can hear the fear in Victor's voice. He turns toward her a bit, sees the cane in her hands, and quietly offers, "I can transmute that into a weapon for you, if you want."

[slayers_desire]

April touches the door knob, she can feel a strong power behind it. She opens it and there is a glowing portal there.

"Only four can pass." She whispers. "Victor... go ahead. We will be right behind you."

The fire from Clark's powers hold back the zompires, but not the steel Demon. It charges forward, where it is greeted by Spike and Connor. Spike laughes when he hears Ed's command. "Little busy here."