everyonelives | only death can part us now

Ah-hah. That makes more sense. Orb doesn't work for anyone without a soul.

[So naturally the vampires couldn't make use of him. That's lucky. He doesn't think that it was the Winterrose's intent, not to have him be made use of by terrible people, but magic does what magic does and he is grateful for it.]

Of course, where are my manners? Please convey my pleasure at making her acquaintance. My name is Simon Torquill.

[And this would be the part where you introduce yourself, Xander.]

I have a soul.

( He's not an Angelus or a Spike! Or a vampire! He has a soul, he has just made some selfish decisions and said some selfish things. But, he cares. He's human. )

He's -- says it's a pleasure to meet you. ( Is he going to be a translator now? But then he realizes, oh, it's his turn. Because, manners with invisible men. )

Xander - is me. Alexander. Harris.

( Let's not speak of middle names (Lavelle.) )

A pleasure as well, then, Xander.

[And he nods as he continues.]

And yes, you do. Which is why we're speaking now. Otherwise, I would just be another rock and you would have tossed me away for someone else to find me.

Well, lookit that, first thing you've gotten right in all this.

( He's soulful. )

Not looking to get any vengeance over on anyone. I actually have vengeance experience with an ex. Wasn't my schtick.

Then it seems we will be stuck with each other for quite some time, then. Until you make use of me, it will be difficult to sever the connection.

[As the only other means is breaking the spell on the orb and as he already said that is incredibly difficult. His two very powerful spellbreaker children have been trying for quite some time and the only option seems to be bargaining with the Ludiaeg.

And he won't let anyone do that. Not for his sorry soul.]

Make use of you?

(Like get one over on something else? He brings his hands up, not really knowing what breath he should waste here. )

Look, Simon, is it? I should be doing my job. It may not be the flashy, exciting, dangerous job I used to have, but these are still cataloguable. So, let me just put all of this on hold.

( His hands go up and down to indicate Simon's body. )

Lucia, I believe you also have gloves. We've got some relics to relic.

( If Simon continues to hover nearby, Xander just goes about his business. It's not that he's trying to ignore him, except, he is trying to ignore him. They go about their business and eventually, the narrative assumes Simon isn't a part of it. Though, if he remains, he'll find Xander to be professional, good at assessing, measuring, a former strike leader, former construction foremen, former friend.

Later that night, orb tucked away in his bag, he attempts to send Willow a question about vengeance people. He gets the READ ✔️ notification immediately, but no bubbles, no response.

With a sigh, he goes to wash off vampire crypt off his body and changes into something light, but comfortable. He works on the window that always sticks, but tonight, it budges and pushes open. A warm wind pushes through the window.

He has a brief thought, now dressed, wondering if Simon's presence is ... all around. Because he's like, locked in to this vengeance contract. But he doesn't see him anywhere right now. So, he probably didn't see him change. Or the unread text message from his friend. Or, the leftover Chinese still half eaten by the bed.

He leads quite the life doesn't he. )

[As Xander's attention does shift more to the matter at hand, Simon does get sent back to the orb. It's a tenuous connection, not wanting to push too hard, and blessedly for Simon, the ability to afford his various masters their privacy.

Not that some haven't tried to make use of the rapt attention of a handsome man. Oleander was ... well, that mostly seemed to be a carryover from when Simon was corporeal. But she's dead now. Best not to think about it too hard. Regardless, when Xander's thoughts do turn back to Simon again, he makes an appearance at a respectable distance away, as though to not crowd him in.]

Forgive the intrusion, but my proverbial ears were burning.

( He sees him in the corner of his eye this time, so he doesn't startle. )

Isn't that an out-loud thing?

( Because he hadn't been talking. )

Well, I'm invisible to everyone but you, so I think everything is a bit ... flexible?

[It's hard to really say. He's still working through how a lot of this works.]

I think the intention was so that I could be summoned to fulfill a task but magic will as magic wont.

And he's with the tasks again. Trust me, I bear no ill vengeance on anyone. Can anyone still want vengeance after a hot shower?

( Get over this whole task thing. Also, great. He's magical now. Accidentally. )

You'd be surprised.

[He pauses because where does he begin in explaining this. How a lot of time of the last few decades has been spent wishing for things to be over.]

And forgive me for having a singular focus, but for the past few ... decades at least, I have had little agency in my actions beyond the tasks I'm given or being put to sleep and waking up with a whole new master to manage. Very few of them cared to have an actual conversation.

Trust me, Orb-guy, very little surprises me.

( He lets the pause go, because it looks like he's revving up for something. Well, not that action-y. )

To be fair, I'm not asking for anything. I manage myself just fine. I've managed myself since I was in high school.

( But, his tone could give away that managing himself hasn't gotten him everywhere and has had him drop into a few pitfalls. And then his latest. )

So... you don't have a choice in all this?

Thus is the nature of a curse.

[You don't really get much of a choice in the matter.]

It's not that terrible. I spend most of my time sleeping, unless I've been found. But there are certainly other things I would rather be doing.

Than sleeping or instilling vengeance.

( Obviously. )

Or, talking to a one-eyed guy.

The last one isn't as much of an ordeal as the first two.

[He offers him a small smile.]

But at the same time, I was quite the extrovert once, and it isn't fair for you to bear the full weight of my need to socialize.

Everyone's got the need, right? Or, is it the right. Or, most, I guess. You only get your seldom right. When you have your -- let's just call him Xander. I have spine shiver for last time I used the word master. ( A beat. ) Dracula. Surprisingly? Racist.

[He pauses, before tipping his head to the side.]

Bram Stoker was struggling with a lot when he wrote it. But he also was incredibly British and loved his country.

[Then there's a pause.]

Unless you meant the actual Dracula in which case ... he is very old. Some people truly do get set in their ways.

Actual. Not living, not breathing. Liked the word, swine.

( And hates the color yellow. Problematic? Yes. Old world? Also yes. )

But, yeah, please don't refer to me as your master. I'm not Jeannie. Or, that'd make you Jeannie. Not that you're Jeannie. No one in this scenario - is Jeannie.

Fair enough.

[It doesn't quite change the machinations of the curse, however, but since they're going to be stuck with each other for a bit:]

Is there a preference for how you would like to contextualize this then?

You, guy in the orb. Me, crazy guy who can only see the guy in the orb.

( Crazy because if anyone sees he'll be talking to himself. He's going to have to start having fake phone conversations. )

Unlikely friends? Anything that doesn't jump to the "vengeance" conclusion. But, I'm open to discussing the semantics.

[Friendship is complicated in a situation like this, but Simon has no interest in litigating the matter, so he nods.]

We'll play it by ear, then.

[He can't promise vengeance won't come into play at some point, as that is his purpose, but so long as Xander minds his thoughts or inadvertant commands, they should be fine.]

As it seems we will be ... together for some time.

One could say then we are both lucky. I have a sounding board, you have a me.

( He's trying to see the best in this, at least. )

When you're not out of the orb, are you like... existing inside it? Like a genie lamp?

[He shakes his head, moving to lean against the nearby wall.]

I sleep through it, mostly. I find I prefer it. I think if I were stuck alone staring at the walls of the orb when no one had need of me, I likely would have gone mad long ago.

That's gotta be disorienting. Reappearing like that.

( He frowns. )

Save for, like, you know - private time, I don't just want to send you back to sleep like a button I can push. Can you interact with things? Like, touch them?

[Simon shakes his head.]

Handling them, no. I'm more of an illusion than anything else. But should you use me for my intended purpose, I can cast spells on things.

[But you seem to not want to do that.]

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