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There's a new high school librarian. The old "high school librarian" was a cash-strapped student aide of sorts; apparently it's hard to keep staff working on the Hell Orifice. His name is Mr. Giles. He is British. And sort of old. And sort of crusty. And when Bella takes out certain books he looks at her with certain scrutiny.
"Is my new librarian a Watcher?" she asks Sherlock the day after Mr. Giles joins the faculty.
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cross_and_bow
cross_and_bow
Yes. This works better. Much better.
He's still better. But she's approaching him.
Half a dozen thirty-second-sequences worked through, abstracted, and turned into heuristics for installation later, she is able to fight him to a standstill on the first try at a new one.
It's not perfect - she catches one blow across her shoulder and has to do something inelegant to get away from a kick - but they wind up with her sitting on his back and both his arms pinned in place.
He's still better. But she's approaching him.
Half a dozen thirty-second-sequences worked through, abstracted, and turned into heuristics for installation later, she is able to fight him to a standstill on the first try at a new one.
It's not perfect - she catches one blow across her shoulder and has to do something inelegant to get away from a kick - but they wind up with her sitting on his back and both his arms pinned in place.
cross_and_bow
"Yeah," she says, grinning and releasing his hand to prod her shoulder. "This is good stuff. Hell yes revision-friendly Slayer powers."
She comes up with solutions to the rough patches, repeats the sequence, and winds up in a different but still victorious position on the second try. She makes and installs another high-level revision. "I feel like I'm doing computer programming on my brain," she says. "I mean, I've always described it kind of like that, saying 'hack' and stuff, but this is a whole 'nother thing. Call it a night? Shoulder's being annoying."
She comes up with solutions to the rough patches, repeats the sequence, and winds up in a different but still victorious position on the second try. She makes and installs another high-level revision. "I feel like I'm doing computer programming on my brain," she says. "I mean, I've always described it kind of like that, saying 'hack' and stuff, but this is a whole 'nother thing. Call it a night? Shoulder's being annoying."
cross_and_bow
She rolls her shoulder and laughs and collects her things with her better arm. (Not that it's perfect. One of those middle bits had her landing on her elbow funny. She'll be fine in the morning.)
And home she goes. "Thanks," she says when they get close enough that if she steps any nearer the house the porch light will come on. "You're really helpful - I would not be at all pleased about having to work on this with live ammunition, so to speak."
And home she goes. "Thanks," she says when they get close enough that if she steps any nearer the house the porch light will come on. "You're really helpful - I would not be at all pleased about having to work on this with live ammunition, so to speak."
cross_and_bow
"See you tomorrow," she grins, and she shoos him away before she lets the light come on.
She likes him, she wouldn't want him cooked.
She likes him, she wouldn't want him cooked.
eversomuchfun
There is a minor commotion at school the next day. Something to do with cheerleaders.
cross_and_bow
Bella doesn't really pay attention to cheerleading. (Although she could probably be awesome at it now, if it didn't strike her as utterly inane.) She goes about her day as usual, using her study hall to catch up on delinquent homework though she'd rather be working on exciting new subroutines.
At dusk she goes outside with Sherlock's jar of blood and the usual clothespin on her nose.
At dusk she goes outside with Sherlock's jar of blood and the usual clothespin on her nose.
eversomuchfun
"Ah, breakfast," he greets cheerfully.
Slurrrrrrp.
"Any word about Mr. Giles and the errant witch?"
Slurrrrrrp.
"Any word about Mr. Giles and the errant witch?"
cross_and_bow
"I didn't notice anything that was definitely that. The only notable event at school today was something about one of the cheerleaders quitting abruptly." Pause. "Was the evil body-switching mother being a cheerleader under her daughter's identity, by any chance?"
cross_and_bow
"That sounds promising, then. Most people aren't going to be able to tell what I am just by how I walk, are they? I could ask Mr. Giles about magic lessons without letting on and see how he is in that capacity, if he's up for it at all. I don't suppose a Watcher who doesn't know he's got a Slayer under his nose has a lot to do in his spare time."
eversomuchfun
"No, most people are not. Not even most vampires. And given everything we know about Mr. Giles, I think that would be a very wise plan."
cross_and_bow
"I shall go conspicuously take out more books on magic at school tomorrow and then approach him about it if he gives me the least reaction to work off of," Bella decides. "But for tonight, let's carry on with what worked last night, that was fun and productive."
eversomuchfun
"Extremely productive," Sherlock agrees. "And extremely fun. If you keep pinning me to things I am going to become very attracted to you."
cross_and_bow
This startles Bella enough that she stops walking cryptward.
cross_and_bow
"Shall I be optimizing for arranging to fling you into walls or something instead, or does it not matter either way? Is that going to be - awkward?" she asks. Slowly. Awkwardly.
eversomuchfun
"Will it be awkward," he muses. "Between the two of us I'm not sure I am the one best equipped to answer that question. If you would rather not make it your business at all, you needn't."
cross_and_bow
"So you're not going to make a big deal about it and you're just letting me know FYI," says Bella. "...Okay. That is a reasonable behavior." She resumes walking. "You didn't answer about the flinging-you-into-walls alternative."
eversomuchfun
"Successfully flinging me into walls is also an attractive behaviour, yes."
cross_and_bow
It occurs to Bella to ask as they approach the crypt, "Would anything meaningfully improve about the practicing if I took off the crucifix? I don't know how much of your attention not reacting to it takes, and there's always some possibility it'll pop out of my shirt and hit you in the face or something."