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

[victormakesart]

"I'm really sorry you all had to see that mess, but especially that Clark had to go through it," she says.

She approaches Drusilla's table, glancing at the teacups. She plays pretend with her daughters all the time, so she's not thrown by this sort of thing. "What kinda tea do you have there?"

[fmalchemist160]

Ed continues to smile at Clark. "That's why you're family," he tells Clark quietly.

When he spots Drusilla having her little tea party, his expression immediately changes to something much more suspicious. "She is creepy as Hell," he mutters under his breath.

[slayers_desire]

Drusilla smiles up at Victor. "Care to join us? We get so lonely. Miss Edith was being naughty... so she is not allowed any cookies."

April watches from her spot in Clark's arms. A little unnerved herself, just by their whole experience, that she is not quite ready for something else.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Why the games?" Clark asks Drusilla, still holding both April and the glowing ball that holds courage.

[victormakesart]

"Sure," she says, taking a little sip from her empty cup, lowering herself to the seat across from her. "Understandable. Sometimes you've just gotta give 'em natural consequences."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed doesn't say anything. There's really no need to at this point. He just keeps wary eyes on Drusilla.

[slayers_desire]

Drusilla pours Victor a glass of tea. She leans in, whispering softly, "It can be any kind you like. That is the magic."

Looking up at Clark's question, she cocks her head as if confused. "Why do you breath? Why do you fly? Why do you protect others?"

"Somethings are just the way they have to be..."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"And sometimes, we choose." Her answer does make sense though.

[victormakesart]

"That is the magic of it," she says, softly, picking up an invisible cookie. She thinks mint tea, and takes a sip.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed wouldn't have nearly as much patience with Drusilla as Victor does, if he were in her place. Then again, maybe that's why Victor's humouring her, and Ed isn't. He remains quiet, still watching Dru and Victor, making sure nothing... untoward happens.

They have Hope. They have Courage. What more do they need...? Clearly it's something, or they would've moved on by now.

[slayers_desire]

"Sometimes choice is taken away too..." Drusilla pierces Clark with a slight glare.

She pours three more glasses at the table. Then leans to whisper at Victor. "They don't like me much. Do they still get cookies?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Who are you, really?" Clark knows it can't really be Drusilla. Though she's certainly acting like her, from what he knows of her from April.

[victormakesart]

She leans in, whispers back, "They totally get cookies. But then, I'm very, very fond of them."

She takes three 'cookies' and places them on three little plates.

Sip-sip. "We need to do something else, I know. Can I go next?"

[fmalchemist160]

Ed doesn't move to join Victor at the table; he'd prefer to stay as far away from Drusilla as possible. Dru's right—he doesn't like her much. He glances over at Clark when he asks her who she really is, then frowns back in Dru's direction, watching for her reaction.

[slayers_desire]

"I can be whoever I need to be, and am who I am because of the need." Drusilla answers softly.

She smiles at Victor. "Aren't you a smart little lamb. You are next. The task might be easy on your own, but you don't travel alone."

April listens for a while. Then speaks softly. "I think she is the conduit for the White Room. This room was used by Wolf, Ram and Hart to communicate with mortals through a conduit. But since the Demons fled when the Seed of Wonder was destroyed... the conduit must be acting for something else."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark doesn't look down at April, though he's sure that Drusilla, or the conduit that looks like her, will know he's communicating with her. Because of the need... I wonder if the form she's chosen is part of the tests. You're the Key, and she was your mother.

[victormakesart]

She wraps both hands around her tea cup, nods her head. "It's been very good to meet you and Miss Edith. I hope she starts behaving soon. I think it might be time for us to go to the next door, though."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed blinks, spotting the connection immediately: April's the Key, and Drusilla was her mother. The Conduit apparently decided to go for something symbolic. "The Mother," he says. "The Conduit is acting for the Mother. That must be why it's chosen to look like Drusilla."

[slayers_desire]

April smiles. Clark was pretty close to realizing what Ed just blurted out. That must be it. The Mother has chosen Drusilla to test us for a reason.

Drusilla blinks for a second. Then states simply to Victor. "There is no door for your turn. You are already in the woods."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

More of her metaphors. Clark's been listening to what Drusilla has been saying, and he's not seeing the same sort of thing as they've experienced so far. Nothing has come back from the past to haunt them just yet. "I don't see any 'wolves.'"

[victormakesart]

Her eyebrows shoot up, her lips twitch into a smile. "Rock and roll, then. How do I start?"

Clark says exactly what's on her mind, so she looks attentively to Drusilla for the answer.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed frowns a bit. "Who said all of the tests would be the same?" he tells Clark. "Maybe there are no 'wolves' this time. Maybe the goal this time is different." He looks over at Drusilla. "The... illusions, I guess, we experienced when we first came through the door. That was one of the tests, wasn't it?" He lays his left hand on the Alchemically-sealed pouch containing the hope gem. "We—" he stops himself, remembering how Clark had been singled out for the Courage test, and what Drusilla had told Ed about it 'not being his turn anymore' when they broke free of the illusions. "—I had to find reason to hope in the darkness, didn't I?" he finishes.

[slayers_desire]

"The lambs would have stayed lost if they did not have hope. They showed courage by facing their wolves. No more wolves." Drusilla pours Miss Edith another cup of tea. "There is no start button."

"Their tea is getting cold..." She pouted softly.

April approached the table, then carefully sat down. "Everything we faced was for a reason... I think this table is here for a reason."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark follows suit, not sure why, but trusting April's feelings. He meets Ed's eyes for a moment and nods towards the table in silent invitation. "We might as well." He isn't sure what this test is going to produce, but he's willing to see it through, and that seems to mean playing along with the 'tea party.'

[victormakesart]

A flood of disappointment. Ed had to find hope in the most dire circumstances, Clark had to face their very worst memories with courage and dignity and... she has a tea party to conduct to prove her worth.

How very... feminine.

"So, Miss Edith, what do you do for a living? Are you a lady of leisure?"