Behind the Curtains

[slayers_desire]

((this scene follows the thread, where Victor is lied to by the Furies, a day or so after Victor has her late-night talk with Clark. For your reading pleasure, April talking to NPCs))

The Transunding Furies hardly ever have visitors to their dimension, and thus they are a little curious when one day April shows up, accompanied by Lorne. There has been a lot on the vampire's mind since the night that Victor and April had discovered that a Greed Demon was syphoning the Furies powers, to help a demon child who had an illness similar to what plagued Lorne.

And the end result of the night had nearly destroyed Victor.

So April was here to ensure that her friend truly received something from these woman... come hell or high water... that some resolution could be found to help ease the suffering of a good person.

Comments

[buffyverse_npcs]

"How did you get here? This is a closed dimension!" The Furies were quite upset to have an unexpected guest.

"I am a Key. I unlocked closed dimensions..." April replied firmly. "And I am here, in your home, to ensure you follow up with that favor you promised my friend."

"That rude little person? We don't think so..." The Furies crossed their arms, all three making the motion at once.

[slayers_desire]

"Now now ladies..." Lorne coughed into his shoulder, a blanket wrapped around him. "You were a little rude yourselves."

"She demanded something we could not provide..." The Furies replied.

"You never explained that there was a limitation on your powers," April reasoned.

"We didn't think it was necessary... we didn't need an explanation of a limitation on your actions."

[buffyverse_npcs]

"The limitation of our actions?" April questioned their wording.

"You found out who took our power, but did you ensure they wouldn't do it again. Really, we should have been brought a body... a head... proof that our power was safe. And you neglected that."

"Besides, if we could heal Lorne, don't you think we would have long before being asked? He is the one who pays us..." The Furies gave their best 'pity-me' pout.

[slayers_desire]

"You stay because of the songs, luvs, not because of any connection to me. And you hurt a friend, who does have a deep connection," Lorne gently pointed out.

"Quite simply, you could have stated that it was beyond your power to heal a sickness. You knew what she was going to ask for... and you let her believe you could give it to her..." April added.

[buffyverse_npcs]

"Nothing can be changed now..." The Furies insisted.

"Yes. It can. You can show your appreciation by doing something for her, by providing the favor you promised." April insisted.

"She refused it." The Furies countered.

"And I am here to insist that she receives it..."

[slayers_desire]

"We don't feel that she deserves it anymore..." The Furies pouted again.

"Well then ladies... I don't feel you deserve to work for me anymore." Lorne was quiet, but very serious in his comment.

"But we provide you with protection!"

"April can give the bar the same level of protection. And I trust her more... she doesn't cheat me, or my friends."

[buffyverse_npcs]

The Furies could tell that Lorne was serious about his statement. And they could also tell that they were in serious trouble. The Caritas was their home... in a fashion.

"I would still allow you as guests, but not as employees," Lorne set out his guidelines, in a very clear fashion. "And there would be no expectation that the new owners of the Caritas, when I die..."

"If you die," April interjects.

"If I die, would want you employed either." Lorne smiled, a brief sense of amusement on his lips, "Besides, the majority stock is going to go to Victor. The Initiative will run the place, but as minority shareholders."

[slayers_desire]

"Imagine that... that rude little person would be the new boss... if something happened to Lorne." April just smirked at the confession by Lorne. She had no idea that Lorne thought about his sickness this far ahead... but figured that he would have some plans made.

[buffyverse_npcs]

The Furies were quiet for a long, long moment. Lorne continued, "I could not imagine Victor wanting to work with you lot, after the hardship you put her through. But an honest, true fulfillment of your promise might help ease the situation."

"We don't have the power to do what she wants." The Furies whispered.

[slayers_desire]

"Then use the power that you do have, to give Victor something amazing, to make up for this error." April stated simply.

"And if you are able to sense anything that could help Victor, or any of us, in aiding Lorne into getting better... well that would be a pretty good return on your favor."

[buffyverse_npcs]

"Our skills are based on protection and luck spells. Nothing more. Nothing less."

April closes her eyes, focusing for a moment. She knows it is pointless to remind the Furies that they could have simply told Victor that fact from the start, and avoid all this drama. They don't seem to truly understand.

"Then cast a protection spell or luck spell on her children. All of them." April knows that Victor would not accept anything for herself, if there were others who could use the gift.

"It will only last a week..."

"Another thing you could have told us from the start..." Lorne grumbled.

[slayers_desire]

"The end result will not change, Furies. Your job at the Caritas will still eventually be in Victor's hands some day when Lorne's destiny takes him on a new path. Hopefully, you get the guts to apologize for your lack of empathy, and lack of communication..."

"But I doubt you will."

[buffyverse_npcs]

"And right now, I don't want you around my bar. So consider yourself unemployed, until you make things right," Lorne was feeling tired already. But satisfied he was still able to battle injustice, in a fashion.

[slayers_desire]

"It is still a safe haven, so if you are in danger... we don't turn away guests." April clarifies softly. She knows her friends would just feel guilty if the Furies had their powers drained again, and no where to turn. She knows her friends would offer a second chance too.

"Make things right..." And with that, she and Lorne left the Furies alone to their own decisions.