#mine: ethan rayne

[starryeyesxx]

[buffygiles]

tumblr user buffygiles' buffy/giles fic rec

hi, friends. i know i said i'd do this last week but i am nothing if not a procrastinator. i've come across some wonderful works throughout my years in and out of the fandom, so i wanted to compile them into a easily read post (for my own future reference, as well as anyone who might come across this in the future and find it helpful). in order to keep everyone's dash clean, i'll be putting the recs under a read more. lastly, if there are any fics you love that you don't see on this list, feel absolutely free to send them to me so i can read them and then add them to this post! there are over 2k bg fics on ao3 and i've only just barely scratched the surface of them. not to mention the og ones on ff.net. i'm always excited about new material to read.

rec format: fic title by author (rating letter, word count) - synopsis [my own personal thoughts/ramblings]

so! in no particular order:

I Need A Bad Idea by Skyson (WIP E, 550k) - Giles finds Buffy after she’s run away into the city, and instead of a scolding and dragging her back home, he supports her. They spend a few days together, reaffirming their bond and their friendship, forging a new and more mature respect between them. In the months to follow, that has a ripple effect on how they handle the coming events in their lives. [starting out very strong here. this fic was recommended to me just a few weeks ago in the bg discord server and i happily let it take over my life for a few days. if you're looking for something long to throw yourself into for a bit, this one is perfect!]

Friends and Lovers by LadyRa (M, 30k) - An AU story of what happens if Angelus didn't kill Jenny, and how that affects, over time, the relationship between Buffy and Giles. [there's going to be a LOT of LadyRa on this rec post. i have found so much joy in their work and the way they write both buffy and giles. this fic in particular was so so cute. i love them being absolutely obsessed with each other and i love meddling joyce having to nudge them to realize their feelings.]

A Different Life by LadyRa (M, 47k) - Buffy is given the opportunity to make a wish. Then she is told she must undo it and give up the life she always wanted. [this fic didn't hit me until the day after i read it and i couldn't stop thinking about it all throughout work that i came home and reread it. i think it's so beautifully written and i love curator giles so much. someone asked me to point out soulmate au fics so if that was you, here's one!]

A Day of Surprises by littleotter73 (T, 7k) - When his niece finds herself without a babysitter, she asks Giles to step in and take care of her daughter for the day, only Giles has no experience with babies. Thankfully he has a very helpful Slayer with babysitting experience. [was in the mood for a cute fluffy baby fic and thats exactly what this is]

Moral Flexibility by LadyRa (E, 11k) - Giles gets turned into a vampire.  He’s ready to take over Sunnydale now, with Buffy at his side. [i am begging BEGGING any writers who might see this to write more vampire!giles. everything i wanted from an undead watcher. this is a good quick smutty read if you're on the hunt for one.]

Candy Man by gilesbabe (T, 23k) - Ripper turns Buffy's world upside down. [can never go wrong with a band candy au, and i personally will never ever have enough of ripper]

Second Chances by LadyRa (M, 19k) - Giles dies. Ethan brings him back, but he’s not the Giles Buffy knew. [the mixture between giles and ripper here is incredible. man of buffys dreams and honestly mine as well]

Into The Dark Ages by Sadbhyl (E, 33k) - Visiting London after her stay in Italy, Buffy makes a wish that takes her back in time. In this time, her boyfriend is Ethan Rayne, and his partner in crime Ripper seems to have a certain claim on her attention as well. [I have many mixed feelings about this one. i loved the relationship of the three of them, i will always love any glimpses of both ripper and ethan, plus the smut was great. my only downside was that i didn't love the ending. so it's on my list of rec's for everything but the ending! still totally worth the read for the rest of the story though. consider this me begging writers to also write more multi-chapter fics for giles/buffy/ethan]

With Arms Wide Open by jaybird023 (WIP 280k, E) - It's been a few weeks since Sunnydale sunk into the desert leaving all of the Scooby gang up in the air at what to do with their lives. Buffy's decided to settle down with Dawn in Rome, trying to live her own life, and forget about the things that have gone wrong between her and Giles. Just as she's settling into a routine working for the Italy branch of the new Watchers Council she finds out she's pregnant. There's only one problem… she hasn't had sex since over a year before the potentials started showing up at her door in Sunnydale! [no spoilers but the home giles builds for them all <3 i wont ever recover!!! again, to the person who asked: definitely a soulmate au!]

One Wish by LadyRa (M, 16k) - For revenge, Ethan makes a flippant wish of Buffy’s come true. [great hurt/comfort read. TW: mentions of SA but no actual SA]

And It Shall Come to Pass by LadyRa (M, 52k) - The Council wants a Slayer again at its beck and call and Buffy's not interested. Will Giles pay the price? [it was fun to read an evil faith one (as much as i love her!!) and i would also consider this one to be a soul bond au]

♡

and as im finishing up, im realizing this is mostly a shrine to LadyRa's writing. please like and reblog if you've found this rec helpful, and again, if theres any fic you think i should check out please send it my way. happy reading!

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, September 1st

KATE: "What rumors?" KENDRICK: "You know what I'm talking about. This girl supposedly has some kind of supernatural powers?" KATE: "Really." KENDRICK: "Come on, Kate. Everybody knows you've gone all Scully. - Anytime one of these weird cases crosses anyone's desk - you're always there. What's going on with you?" KATE: "Scully is the skeptic." KENDRICK: "Huh?" KATE: "Mulder is the believer. Scully is the skeptic."

~~Sanctuary~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

What Do You Say? by madeingold (Buffy/Cordelia/Spike/Angel (Coffy/Spangel), E)

Truce Or Dare by NautiBitz [and multiple other uploads originally from 2001 and 2002] (Buffy/Spike, M)

Your eyes match the sunset by underfallingstars (Buffy/Faith, G)

His Dark, Angry Childer by EustasiaVye13 (Angel, Spike, Penn, T)

Epiphany by Scratchmeout (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The hill shouldn't have been there. by secretlyasummers (Buffy/Faith, unrated)

[Fuffy prompt fill] "33. Can I ask you something?" by explosionshark (Buffy/Faith, unrated)

[Fuffy prompt fill] "20. all the clothes you own and you still insist on wearing mine." by explosionshark (Buffy/Faith, unrated)

[Fuffy prompt fill] "5. my mother adores you." by explosionshark (Buffy/Faith, unrated)

[Fuffy prompt fill] "37. getting turned on by the other's jealousy." by explosionshark (Buffy/Faith, unrated)

[Fuffy prompt fill] "22. I thought we were past this." by explosionshark (Buffy/Faith, unrated)

[Fuffy prompt fill] "17. I was so worried." by explosionshark (Buffy/Faith, unrated)

[Fuffy prompt fill] "21. Of course I liked you." by explosionshark (Buffy/Faith, unrated)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion Chapter 391 by madimpossibledreamer (Xander, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure xover, T)

Don't Stop - Ch. 9 by NautiBitz (Buffy/Spike, E) COMPLETE!

Gladiator's Penanace across the Multiverse - Ch. 1 by HRwriter897 (Willow, Buffy, multi-xover, T)

To Be Hers - Ch. 1-2 by faefawn (Buffy/Spike, Dawn, Scoobies, Not Rated)

Season 1, Episode 11: Memento Mori - Ch. 1 by Emcee (Connor/OFC, Andrew, T)

Tell Me I Can Have It All - Ch. 1-14 [2014 work] by BuildMeUpButtercup_x (Buffy/Angel, M) COMPLETE!

Finding the Path - Ch. 18 by acekoomboom (Buffy/Spike, Dawn/OMC, M) COMPLETE!

Dream - Ch. 53 by Dusty87 (Buffy/Spike, T) COMPLETE!

A Phoenix Rising - Ch. 1 by babylove969 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

What's Inside - Ch. 1 by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Wayward Girl - Ch. 1 by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Nips! - Ch. 9 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

California Sun - Ch. 6 by To Be Hers (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

More Found Family Ties - Ch. 15 by Julikobold (Buffy/Spike, G)

Dawn the Vampire Slayer - Ch. 19 by LJ94 (Buffy/Spike, R)

The Neighbor's Point of View - Ch. 39 by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, PG)

In The Dark With You - Ch. 19 by Geliot99 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Hold My Hand Even Though I’m a Sinner! - Ch. 38 by CheekyKitten (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

He used to be Mine - Ch. 12 by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

He Who Hunts Monsters! - Ch. 2 by Bubbajack (multi xover, Xander x harem, FR21)

When Ethan Rayne made Rambo - Ch. 6 by SplitEnz (Rambo xover, Xander, Giles, FR15)

Rewinding The Clock - Ch. 59 by budrick (multi xover, FR18)

Haunted - Ch. 1 by scratchmeout (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Spooky Dates - Ch. 1 by Tessa (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

What's Inside - Ch. 1 by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Wayward Girl - Ch. 1 by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Mommy...? - Ch. 1 by Grief Counseling (Buffy/Spike, R)

the Eyes - Ch. 1 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

the broken gates of kingdom come - Ch. 2 by disco-tea (Buffy/Spike, R)

The Nips! - Ch. 9 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

A Call from Home - Ch. 10-12 by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

More Found Family Ties - Ch. 15 by Julikobold (Buffy/Spike, G)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Poster: Spooky September Movie Poster by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy, Spike, Maggie Walsh, Ethan Rayne, worksafe)

Artwork: This is another one where I loved their outfits... by pocketsizedann (Willow, Tara, worksafe)

Artwork: wip. want to do that hairstyle meme with buffy. shes so cute .... by spikedru (Buffy, worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy and Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer for... by sofya-creations (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Photos with lyrics: If I should fall, on that day I only pray, don't fall away from me... by spikedaily (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Manip: Playing with turning my own pictures into Buffyverse horror art... by pass-the-dynamite (worksafe)

Gifset: AtS & BtVS - When they fall to the ground by mycatismyfriend (various, worksafe)

Gifset: 40 FICTIONAL FEMALE DYNAMICS 1. Buffy Summers & Willow Rosenberg by cobiesmlders (Buffy, Willow, worksafe)

Gifset: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Alphabet ↳ P ✫ Prophetic Dreams by buffysummers (various, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

The Buffy Re-watch: S2E9 (part 2) by jvstheworld

In "The Journals of Rupert Giles," Giles is trying... [novelization] by oveliagirlhaditright

mind blown while the credits to 4:16 Who Are You? are playing? by classified12345

I made this chart in my bullet journal. [grades for all BTVS seasons, movie, and comics] by donoho-59

PODCAST: Angel S3E16: Forgiving by Booze & Buffy

Reaction Video: Family: Buffy the Vampire Slayer 5x06 Reaction by Dakara

[Recs & In Search Of]

ISO: Prudent-Memory-6129 seeks Fancy dress ideas [cosplay suggestions]

[Community Announcements]

thespangelkink: Kink of the Month ~ September [voyeurism and exhibitionism]

btvscrackships: September 2023 Pairing and Prompt [Spiles and unlikely rescue]

Sunnydale After Dark (SAD) News: Spooooooooky September has begun!

[Fandom Discussions]

Kink prompts [explosionshark is accepting prompts for a future Fuffy fic] by explosionshark

I love the idea of Angel as the latest of Faith's proxy fathers... by secretlyasummers

But one very dark and sad thing, if you choose to consider the Buffy and Angel books canon is this... by oveliagirlhaditright

I appreciate the comic Buffy/Faith in The Vampire Slayer, I do! [but...] by isagrimorie

HA! I'm not the only one who's ever been on the Buffy/Oz train! by gh-0-stcup

POLL: buffy fans, what's your main buffy ship? [Buffy x who?] by evilwickedme

POLL: Best Episode Poll (Poll 1/11) by dailyats

Ask: How well (and/or poorly) would a Fuffy Cangel double date go? by cangelgifs

Buffy hiding/keeping Spikes lighter by sushibananawater

Buffy has my least favorite crossover appearances in Angel by The810kid

People who've read the (Dark Horse) comics: how much of them did you read? by TimeCubePriest

What songs remind you of specific BuffyVerse characters? by AllHailMyFace

Season 1 [praise] by Ah08619

Willow [6x22] by Ok-Cardiologist7371

Wait, do folks see "Bored now..." as a strong feminist moment, or a tragedy for Willow? by kipcarson37

Question about The Slayer and magic [immunity?] by mvp2418

Demon-vampire-human bigotry in the Buffyverse by Tuxedo_Mark

Xander and Spike in Season 6 [pro Xander] by kipcarson37

POLL: Which Angel Character Do You Hate The Most Part 4? [and other similar polls] by Khalesssi_Slayer1

Is buffy worth watching? by fuckitall03

Memento Insights, Buffy the Vampire Slayer | August 2023 by various for Remarkist

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

J. August Richards [who played Gunn] on Instagram: "WE GOT MARRIED, Y’ALL!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾♥️♥️♥️ For my 50th birthday...

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[confusedguytoo]

I suppose your take is possible, though I still think the older magic using bad guys make it seem questionable.  You’d think messing with a force like that for decades would mess you up. Name me one consequence of any spell Ethan Rayne did on the show. Could be because a lot of their magic is calling on beings vs Willow seeming to do more point and want it, I guess.

See the funny thing about the conversations between Willow and Tara or Willow and Giles or Willow, Tara and Giles, yeah they do have a right to have them.  But I also feel like they don’t want to have the conversations.  They want to say “Willow, you shouldn’t be doing this.” and have Willow say “You’re right, I’m sorry. “  I mean they have had multiple years doing this and that’s basically all they’ve ever tried to do.  All Giles would say it “It’s dangerous” and then despite Willow’s growing power he said nothing else and came to rely on her for the dangerous.

That’s why I actually feel like Willow was a bit more respectful, until she wasn’t; obviously once she wasn’t she went full bore.  But look at her and magic and them.  She starts out frequently trying to get Giles to show her stuff, come up with ways to use magic to help.  But eventually, once it’s clear he won’t, she stops  Okay, he doesn’t want to be her teacher, he doesn’t have to be.  She goes through his books, but she’s already called on to do that when helping with research.

And Tara and her did all kinds of magic together.  It was an intimate experience for them.  But Tara doesn’t want to participate in a lot of the magic Willow is doing this season.  So Willow does it herself.

And then of course she never actually attempts to stop them from leaving.  People say that’s because she’s still not a monster, but both times she does the memory alteration is after she says something she regretted saying.  Again you point out you don’t get to do that, but Willow’s trying to strike a balance(and the show has already screwed with the idea memories are sacred).  So it’s like Tara and Giles are trying to be Willow should only do what we approve of, and Willow is like You guys can do your thing and I’ll do mine

I get that the writers ‘needed’ Tara to die to get their surprise Big Bad of season 6 in Dark!Willow, but it destroys one of the better parts of season 6 for me. Which is -

Tara going back and trying with Willow is the culmination of one of the main conflicts I see in season 6; that being fear versus trust, and how various characters fail (or succeed) when confronted with a fork in the road. “Understand we’ll go hand in hand but we’ll walk alone in fear” is there for a reason. I think Willow acts out of fear for a lot of season 6, before starting to work on herself and trusting herself. Xander doesn’t go through with his marriage due to his fear. Giles *leaves the country* because he fears he’s holding Buffy back (and sub-textually, losing her again). But Tara comes back because she has spent that time alone, and chooses to trust in Willow, and to trust that letting go of the past is the right move. She triumphs where the others falter.

And she does so again and again in season 6. She becomes wholly realized as a separate character from Willow, with bonds with other members of the Scooby Gang (mostly Buffy and Dawn, but still) outside of Willow in a way other romantic partners don’t get to have. She has a life outside of Willow and outside of their group, and has more firmly found her place in that group.

And season 6 rips that away from us, for what to me is a lackluster exploration of Willow’s grief and insecurities and fears. The show that has as a running theme the tragedy of girls being used as tools for a greater “good” commits the same sin.

[aenslem]

+ bonus

[monsoonhazard]

Some progress shots for one of my favourite pieces. Remember that episode in S4 where Giles and Ethan went on a nice date that ended happily? Yeah, me too.

✨ DO NOT REPOST ✨

[plasticonobandana]

just thought of giles calling music bebop and immediately launched myself into an au that i did not ask for

[51kas81]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 Episode 6: Halloween (1997)

[cortexifansquint]

[ivressesdhier]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Challenge

Day 11: Minor Villains

“I've really got to learn to just do the damage and get out of town. It's the stay-'n'-gloat that gets me every time.”

[starryeyesxx]

[ex-vengeancedemon]

30 Days of Buffy Challenge

Day 7

Favorite Spell: Ethan Rayne, Band Candy

Another tough one, but I've gotta go with Ethan Rayne's cursed chocolate in Band Candy. Joyce and Giles regressing to their young rebellious versions of themselves cannot be topped. Plus, Snyder was actually super funny here. Ethan himself is a favorite little weasel man of mine and his and Giles' interactions are always great to watch and I wish we would've had more of them. Add to that the fallout of Giles and Joyce getting down on a police crusier and having to face the awkwardness of that forever after and this has got to be my favorite spell 🤣

Close runners up would be Willow’s Will be Done spell and the Tabula Rasa spell (I know it was bad but it was also hilarious).

[moireia]

Hello there, BINGO participant! Could you please share 3-5 songs you think best fit for Darcy? :)

Thank you so much for this ask! I love creating playlists for my ocs and have a lot of feelings about lyrics that apply to them. So I’m going to share a few songs and the lyrics from them that fit Darcy the best.

1) Burn it Down by Daughter - I can’t be bothered with the teachers/always trying to shape the way I act/ burn it down, burn it down...I’ll set fire to the whole place/ I don’t even care about our house.  Darcy’s magic first manifests as fire, and even as she learns more and more magic, pyromancy is the most natural to her. It fits her passionate, volatile character. These lyrics also rekate to Darcy’s arc when she has extreme bitterness/resentment/anger towards her mother for the secrets Esther kept from Darcy and all the things Esther did to prevent Darcy from learning about the supernatural and accessing her magic. 

2) Which Witch by Florence and the Machine -While tried and tested it’s mine...And it’s my whole heart/burned by not buried this time/ I’m on trail  The fire imagery alone is very Darcy, but these lyrics also connect to her s2 arc, where Darcy is only focused on growing her magic and that puts her at odds with the Scooby Gang. Darcy prioritizes her magic because it is hers and she doesn’t want anyone to tell her what to do with it. On different occasions, she works with Ethan Rayne and Angelus to grow her magic because they offer to help. She refuses to be part of any of their nefarious plans, but her even talking with them causes the Scooby Gang to worry she is becoming evil. Darcy has to defend herself and her motives to them.

3) Used to the Darkness by Des Rocs - I’ve made mistakes...Caught in a landslide, lost underground/I hear them gates, swing open loud....And then my eyes got used to the darkness/ And everyone that I knew/ Was lost and so long forgotten. Another song about Darcy’s s2 arc, but it expands into s3. Darcy is not wrong for wanting to control and own her magic for herself, but she does make mistakes in who she trusts. She becomes so focused on her magic and her own hurt that she looses sight of the people who do truly care about her, even if they don’t really understand. S3 really deals with the consequences, both good and bad, of Darcy’s magic arc in s2. 

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Tuesday, February 8

ANDREW: We're talking about murder. WARREN: No, we're talking about staying alive, and since this is my mom's house, I think what I say goes. ANDREW: But aside from the moral issues, and the mess, we can get in trouble for murder. WARREN: Duh! You know, the last I checked, the authorities also frowned on bank robbery too. Genius! JONATHAN: I don't even know if we could kill Buffy. She's got super-strength. ANDREW: And, you know, killing people, this is not why we got together in the first place. JONATHAN: Yeah. We teamed up with one clear, super-cool mission statement. Remember? Flash-cut to the three of them in the basement, sitting around a table with cans of soda, playing a board game. WARREN: So ... you guys wanna team up and take over Sunnydale? ANDREW/JONATHAN: (unison) Okay.

~~Buffy Season 6 Episode #104: "Flooded"~~

The Sunnydale Herald is currently looking for a few good editors! Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Learn more here!

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Wrong (OC, T) by apachefirecat

Singing My Life (Buffy/Giles, T) by TheScholarlyStrumpet (equipoise)

She’ll Tell You (Buffy/SPike, unrated) by oveliagirlhaditright

Little Stranger (Faith/OC, unrated) by thewanderer-000

Untitled (Ensemble, unrated) by confusedguytoo

[Chaptered Fiction]

The Ratchet Effect Ch. 5 (Ensemble, T) by michael t

38 Hours (Xander, T) by Chunk127

Die and Live This Way Ch. 9 (Spike/OC, T) by Cynder2013

Keeping Up With the Scoobies Ch. 8 (Buffy/Spike, T) by Takara Phoenix

All But One, Chapter 12 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Jws1993

Enemy Mine, Chapter 42 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Blade Redwind

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork:Willow/Tara () by captainjackspoilers

Artwork:spike dru outfit swap () by sunnyhellcalifornia

Artwork:Spike () by mamonna

Artwork:mermaid/pirate Calendiles () by flummoxedangel

[Reviews & Recaps]

BUFFY REWATCH - S06E12 - Doublemeat Palace by girl4music

PODCAST: Episode 77 - Untouched / Dear Boy / Guise Will Be Guise (feat. Michael Holland) by Conversations With Dead People

PUBLICATION:I Hate It When They Drown Me (Go Fish) by herinsectreflection

[Fandom Discussions]

Xander/Willow will always be such a realistic teen version of cheating to me. by initiumseries

What if in season 2 Cordelia was like “I’m not giving up my popularity for Xander. I’m dragging this bunch of losers up to my level.” by confusedguytoo

I'm wondering if you think Xander and Cordelia could have also worked as adults, especially given Cordy's visions by kyliafanfiction

What if Dark Willow had pointed out that Buffy had threated to kill them the previous year to protect Dawn? by confusedguytoo

Don’t think I’ll ever be over that scene in A Hole in the World by disco-tea

I love the episode ‘Family’ by girl4music

my fellow spuffies what was the Moment you started shipping them by buggerthis

30 Days of Buffy Challenge Day 7: Favorite Spell: Ethan Rayne, Band Candy by ex-vengeancedemon

30 Days of Buffy Challenge Day 5: Favorite Scooby Moment: Giles and Scoobies, Hush by ex-vengeancedemon

Angelus and Faith are back in season 4, and I heard it’s a bad season! Why? by Richar_16

So what generation watches Buffy? by IllustriousNovel7841

Why does everyone dislike Dawn? by roccopacetta

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #3 Preview: Together Again by Bleeding Cool

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

[aenslem]

Rupert & Ethan in BTVS: 2x08 ‘The Dark Age’

[acaseofthewiggins]

Reverse Charge Call (Giles/Ethan)

Summary: After the incident with Eyghon, Rupert's back with his parents and has almost got his life back on track. And then he gets a call from Ethan.

Length: 1637 words

Also available on AO3 here.

This is based on a prompt from left_handed_moth, who’s no longer even on Tumblr that’s how long ago I got it. Better late than never? Anyway the prompt was “things you said over the phone” + Giles/Ethan.

----

“Yeah? Er, that is, Giles residence, Rupert speaking.”

 “Good afternoon, sir. This is Miriam from the telephone company. Will you accept a reverse charge call from an… Ethan Rayne?”

“%*@#$!”

 “I’m sorry, sir?”

“Yes, yes. Put him through.”

 “Hello, Ripper.”

“My name is Rupert. And I thought I told you not to call me here.”

 “It’s nice to hear your voice too. Not sure about the new accent, though. Can’t say that it suits you.”

“This is my real accent.”

 “Still doesn’t suit you.”

“Why are you calling, Ethan? I thought we agreed to keep our distance while we sorted our lives out.”

 “As I remember, most of the agreeing was on one side.”

“A-and I’m quite certain that I’m not in the mood to have this conversation again. I’ve got a lot of studying to do—”

 “Oh? Back in uni already?”

“No. Though, if all goes well, I should be by Michaelmas term.”

 “Michaelmas term? Oxford, then? Only they’d be too snobby to just say ‘autumn.’ I wonder, have your posh old school chums missed you?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I imagine some have moved on by now. It’s been several years. And, as for those who are still there, I imagine they’ve more or less forgotten about me.”

 “Yeah, easy enough, isn’t it? Making new friends and forgetting old ones? You were struggling with it when we first met, but you’ve always been such a quick study.”

“I wasn’t planning on forgetting you, Ethan. I’ll be out of London for a few years, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still meet occasionally.”

 “Oh, yes. I can just see it. You, me, and your fancy Oxford mates… No? Maybe something more like this: you call, I bus up to Oxford, we meet in some towny bar where you don’t run too much risk of being seen by anyone you know. Or, if that’s still too much for you, you can always pop down to London during a school break, meet me in some dive, and finish up the evening by buggering me in a filthy alley—”

“Ethan! I am at my parents’!”

 “Ah yes, and how are the ‘stodgy old hypocrites’ now anyway?”

“My parents are fine. Now—”

 “Remember when you took that scabies-infested slag home for Christmas, just to piss them off? Now that was a laugh.”

“The look on their faces was—Er. Th-that is to say, it wasn’t particularly funny in the end. It took Mum months to get rid of the infestation.”

 “Come now, you laughed harder than any of us when you told that story.

The funny thing is though, you never had to pick up some twat. You could have taken me up on my offer. Scabies may itch, but I could have really gotten under their skin.”

“...”

 “Oh. Bad choice of words. Does your mark ever bother you? Mine does sometimes. Prickles in the middle of the night, keeping me awake. And then I’ll start thinking about what it was like. When he was inside us. That feeling of freedom. All the worry and pain, just sliding away. It’s enough for me to almost want him back. Even remembering—”

“Yes. Well, I do have quite a lot of studying to do, so if there’s nothing else…”

 “Wait! I didn’t call just to catch up.”

“What do you want?”

 “I wasn’t lying when I said I was happy to hear your voice. But the thing is… I’m in a spot of trouble.”

“Ah. And what have you gotten yourself into this time?”

 “Mmm, nothing much. A slight complication. I’d agreed to do a job for a clan of Kelroth demons. Just a spot of chaos magic. Meant to make the members of the rival clan lose all their hair. No small feat considering how the buggers are covered in the stuff.”

“So your spell failed?”

 “Oh, it worked perfectly. A little too well really.”

“It affected all of them didn’t it?”

 “Both clans, yes. And you how vain the Kelroth are about their hair. Now that I’ve seen what’s underneath, I can understand why.”

“Ah. And now the Kelroth want their money back? Money which you, of course, no longer have?”

 “Er, yes. Plus extra for ‘loss of dignity.’ Really, I can’t see why I should be blamed for the vagrancies of chaos magic.”

“Why indeed? Honestly, Ethan, don’t you think a little more caution would be warranted? Kelroth demons are notoriously hot-tempered and chaos magic is—”

“Dangerous? Unpredictable? You might be able to afford caution. You’ve got your parents and your destiny to fall back on. But me? At least Janus won’t turn his back on me. I’m not even sure if that’s even possible given his two-sided nature.”

“You’re worshiping Janus now? Have you completely lost your mind? When did this start?”

 “A few months ago. I didn’t have you or the others to back me up anymore. I needed power, and Janus offers plenty to his worshipers.”

“And mental instability and early death.”

 “I’m touched by your concern. Really. It’d be a little more believable if you hadn’t vanished the instant things got difficult.”

“I told you. I needed some time to see my parents, a-and get my life sorted. That didn’t give you the right to start worshiping chaos.”

“The right? And you’re the authority on what I have the ‘right’ to do?”

“That’s not what I meant. But… you can’t seriously think that Janus is the answer.”

“What I think is that, if I don’t get the Kelroth their money, they’re going to tear my fingers out one by one and give them to their spawn for teething toys.”

“And how much money are we discussing here?”

 “Well, the advance was around three hundred quid—”

“Three hundred?! That is, no. I’m sorry, Ethan. I can’t.”

 “Why not? Your family’s not exactly short on dosh.”

“My family. Not me. And I can’t ask them for money, not after everything I’ve already put them through.”

 “There must be something you can do.”

“No, but maybe there’s something you can do. Leave Janus behind. Find a more legitimate use for your gifts. Th-the council maybe. They could always use a sorcerer of your talents. They’d protect you. My word may not count for much with them right now, but maybe if I could convince my father to vouch for you—Don’t laugh, this isn’t a joke!”

 “Your father? Hah, well you’ve got to admit it’s a bit funny. You weren’t willing to take me to your parents even to piss them off.”

“This is different.”

 “Yes. It certainly is. Tell me. How exactly would you introduce me to your father?”

“As a friend. And a competent mage.”

 “Right. I’d rather take my chances with the Kelroth.”

“Of course. Why should I expect anything else from you?”

 “Look, Ripper. Surely everything we’ve been through together is worth a couple hundred quid?”

“It’s Rupert. And everything I own doesn’t add up to more than a few hundred. Look, Ethan—”

 “Hmm. Well, I wonder how your dear Mummy and Daddy would respond if I were to turn up at your doorstep.”

“What?”

 “Oh, just imagine the chaos I can make. Not to mention all the things I could tell them. Some of which I’m sure you didn’t mention when you pulled your prodigal son routine.”

“Oh. I see.”

 “I can think of a few particularly juicy anecdotes right now. For example, there was the night we started at the King’s Head and ended in the rubbish dump—”

“Ethan, stop. I’d been about to say, before you tried to blackmail me, that I can try to get your money. But it won’t be easy. You said 300 pounds?”

 “Er, better make that an even 500. I’ll need a little extra, don’t-rip-out-my-extremities money.”

“500? Jesus, Ethan.”

 “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t serious, you know that. It’s just, you should see how angry this lot is and—”

“Shut up. I’m thinking. My father keeps too close of an eye on the books and artifacts. But my nan collected a lot of stuff on her travels that hasn’t seen the light of day in decades. I bet I could nick some of her things and fence them downtown without anyone being the wiser. … Er, that is, items that aren’t too dangerous to put on the market.”

 “I knew I could count on you, Ripper old chap.”

“It’s Rupert! Ripper was an idiotic nickname from the worst part of my life. And I won’t be called by it.”

 “The worst? You can’t mean—”

“How can I not mean it?! Randall died, Ethan. Have you already forgotten, or do you just not care?”

 “…”

“I’ll get you your 500 pounds. But on one condition.”

 “That I’ll get on the straight and narrow and never touch another drop of chaos magic as long as I live?”

“No. We both know you’ll keep looking for your next thrill till it kills you.”

 “And you’re any different?”

“I bloody-well am! … Or at least, I’m trying to be.”

 “What then?”

“Give me one week to get your money. And after... You will leave me alone. You will not call, you will not scry, you will not write. You will not happen to run into me on the street or turn up suddenly on my door. Our association will be over.”

 “But, surely there must be some way we can still be—”

“Be what, Ethan? We’re… we’re not on the same path anymore.”

 “I just… don’t want to lose you too.”

“Then don’t make me steal from my family. Tell me you’ll get the money some other way.”

 “…”

“I thought not. Give me a week. I’ll contact you through the old channels when I have the money. Now, is there anything else?”

 “No. No, I suppose there isn’t.”

“Fine. Goodbye, Ethan.”

 “Goodbye. Rupert.”