The school bell rang, signaling the end of the school week!  Friday, that blessed end of toil and harbinger of fun!  Well, at least for everyone except one Buffy Summers.  Clive Whitlock and Coach Cordova had other plans for the Slayer!  Plans which involved a summons to the gym and a long overdue conversation about Watchers & Slayers...

OOC:  Buffy's friends can feel free to tag along!

BJ sighed as she hefted her bag of gear and padding over her shoulder as she checked the time. She had told  Clive and Buffy that she had found a discrete place to work out in. It was an old boxing club that she had gotten on the sly cheap. She wanted to see what the Slayer could do and having that goal in mind meant she definitely didn't want her student tossing world record weights around in the school gym

"So, where are they? I told them I was heading towards the gym 20 minutes after." She growled

Luthien was around, leaning casually on a wall. After all, he figured he'd have to help with pushing her to her limits. He was in his white outfit...apparently a new one he'd just gotten hold of, as the old outfit was slain by the treachery of Gabrielle. Or more specifically, sewer water.

"Patience. They'll show up soon enough."

He wasn't in a hurry. It was enough for him that they were getting down to business at last.

"Yeah, she could be on time for a change. This last minute thing is so old. We need to assess Buffy's abilities so we can help her out. And I'm SURE some others will be along to put in their two bits." She said with a grin. "I know the type of person who gets involved in these things. We tell the kids to mind their business, they'd do it anyway.. instead I imagine some physical training and basic lessons in lore would be better for everyone involved. Care to help me train a handful of highschool students in the fine art of surviving vampires and other things in the shadows of the world? Because I'm quite sure at least TWO of them will show up."

Normally Watchers performed the whole intro the occult and one's destiny speech.  Clive had the unfortunate task of sharing said moment with two others.  Luthien, while he was starting to trust a little had enough floating questions around the man to make the trust shaky at best.  The last sort of thing that should be left hanging around the slayer.  Bonita, whom apparently had run ins with zombies, vampires, and werewolves before was still for all intents and purposes a regular gym teacher, an innocent bystander.  The last sort of person that should be drawn into a situation that could get her killed.  Too late on both those counts.

And now the talk was leaning on preparing kids to help Buffy, although when it came down to it the slayer was as much a youth as the rest of them.  It was a cluster and Clive couldn't help but feel responsible.  But they were better company than the tweed wearing sort that normally dove into these matters.  "Now, now a smile is always more lovely on your face than one of those patented scowls.  Luthien is right Bonita, not everyone was raised with military punctuality.  I am sure your twenty minutes will be Miss Summers thirty."

Outside

Buffy sat on a bench across the street from the gym. She'd actually rushed right over from school. The hallways had been buzzing with all sorts of talk. Of the weekend. Of who was going to what movie. Of who was going on a date with whom. Of being free for two short, sweet days. Buffy had blown past it, singularly focused. Coach Cordova had given her the address, but now that she was here...Buffy was nervous.

Not because she was scared of training, or fighting. But she was scared of what it meant. It meant that she'd be acknowledging, officially, what she'd spent years running away from. That this was all happening. And that terrified the Slayer more than any creature she'd come face to face with. Buffy stared hard at the old gym, as though if she glared hard enough, it would disappear, along with all her problems. Instead, the rundown structure sat there, unyielding, mocking her in its solemness. And so Buffy sat staring at it, trying to work up the courage to cross the street and step through those doors.

Luthien nodded.

"When you prepare workouts, don't spare the civilians. This is hard, dangerous, life threatening work. Weight training and cardio, every day, work 'em towards that goal. But don't forget the weapons training. The civilians will be involved, sooner or later. They need to know how to put the stake in the vampire's heart. Don't forsake research training either. The more varieties of demon they know how to kill without looking it up, the better off they'll be.

He paused, and said, "As a rule, make it a goal that each of the civilians can destroy a fledgling vampire on their own by this time next year. Those that are already strong may be able to do it in less time then that. Make allowances for fighting styles...if someone wishes to fight with magic or ingenuity, that's perfectly fine. Only results matter."

He continued on, "Buffy, in turn, needs all of that...plus training in how to defend her less powerful allies. Because civilians helping will get overwhelmed sometimes, and she needs to watch for that, and step in when necessary, while simultaneously knowing when NOT to help, because there's a certain confidence that comes only of overcoming the monster in front of you without assistance. And yet, having her friends around her...not doing this kind of thing alone, will probably lengthen her lifespan. Slayers rarely live to the Cruciamentum. Slayers that can legally drink are nearly unheard of. Slayers with many friends around them can live to see those things, isolation only contributes to their more normal mortality rate."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:19, Mon 30 Dec 2013.

"You assume I'm some novice at this?" BJ asked Luthien as she had listened to his speech. "How old were you when you saw your first vampire? I was younger than any of these kids. I hid. I lived. My family has been dealing with the other worldly for generations." BJ stopped talking for a moment. What was it with men in the supernatural world, they all assumed you didn't know your job. Fight, use pack tactics, never fight a vamp on it's terms. She stopped and looked at him intently as she replayed his words in her head. There was something off in them.

"What is this.. Cruciametum? Slayers were just another legend to my folks.. like the boogie man or the tooth fairy."

Luthien shook his head.

"I did not say you were a novice. You have already proven your ability. We all watched you do it. Do not take offense where none was intended. I merely reminded you the kids we are about to bring into this world have none of your experience. It will take them time to learn, and care to see to it they survive long enough to learn in the first place."

He blows off the 'how old were you' question as if it were Rhetorical.

"Fair enough, but don't mistake inexerperience for ineptness. I don't expect these kids to be vampire slayers out of an old Hammer flick but I do think that they will surprise you. We have a few athletes, one certifiable genius.. in several twists of the phrase.. and all of them didn't do anything outright stupid. I don't think they'll go looking for trouble but I intend to show them how to survive it coming to their door"

She looked at him.

"You didn't answer my last question either."

Luthien turns the floor over to Clive.

"That is for him to answer, for it is a tradition of the Watcher's Council. He will go into the details."

Clive balked as Luthien mentioned the Cruciamentum.  The fact that he knew about it was strange enough, but to mention it so matter of factly did nothing to alleviate his questions he had about the man clad in white.  Of course it wasn't the sort of thing one brought up when reassuring a Slayer.  "How do you even?  No matter.  The Cruciamentum is...well it's Watcher business that I would much rather not go into.  A tired tradition best left in the past that if at all possible I'd rather avoid actually consider putting her through when it comes time.  What was that phrase you used the other day?  It is need to know." Clive gave a cheeky smile in response.

"I was old enough to know I didn't want to see another vampire again.  Unfortunately, not everyone is allowed a choice in that matter."  He sighed for a moment before continuing.  "It's why I hope you're wrong about her not coming alone.  Even if Luthien is right in that the more the merrier for her survival chances.  They still have a shot at normal lives, fate did not deal them such a grim hand, a band of teenagers shouldn't be marching off to their deaths on a whim.  The notion is bloody insane."

BJ really hated this 'we bow to traditions' crap. A lot.

She looked over at Clive with the same strangely serpentine gaze she gave the crock-man just before she shot him out of hand. She waited about two heart beats before speaking.

"Okay Mr. 'Watcher'. What is this Cruciamentum and how does it apply to my student." His blase attitude made her more than a bit angry. "I think that the adults will need to be doing a little training as well. Mr. Whitlock, I would like to see your hand to hand skills. Luthien, I would like you to explain the basics of weapon use to any strays that show up. You showed a bit of skill with it and while I do well with my blades I doubt many will want to use them on a vampire."

BJ picked up her pack and laid it on a table, unrolling it to show a variety of weapons. Several stakes, a few blades, her pistols (unloaded), a pair of massive machetes, and a trio of silvered throwing spikes as well as her own kurkri blades.

"I'll have to get some targets for bow and crossbow work next week and a few more weight sets, but the gym is mostly set up."