Help from a Surprising Corner Who: Giles & introducing Lilith Ravenwood Where: Giles' flat. When: Friday evening.
For the first time in days, Giles was having a quiet night at home, alone with his books. His slayer, Faith, was out (hopefully on patrol, but realistically, probably with her 'boyfriend'), and so the Watcher sat in his recliner, a cup of hot tea in one hand as he perused a tome on anti-vampire incantations. Lilith had been up since sundown, grabbed a quick "breakfast" and sought out the flat of one Rupert Giles. She watched from the shadows for several hours until she made her move and after a while when Giles had settled, he heard a knock at his door. "Hm?" Giles perked up a bit as he heard the sound, wondering who'd be visiting now? He looked out the peephole in the door, and did a quick once-over of what appeared to be a bizarre-looking young woman. "Can I help you?" Dressed in a cropped black knit shirt, dark pants, and boots that contrasted sharply with her neon red hair. Her skin was pale, her make-up dark as darkly painted lips curved into a smile, revealing slightly longer canines than an average human, "Hello Rupert, I hear you've been reading up on me." She said with a British accent. He blinked, taking a visual inventory of her. Aside from the more... modern garnishings, she indeed fit the description of the vampire he'd been studying... but how did she know he'd been doing so? And to just suddenly appear here... "Dear lord... Lillith?" "I believe it is as they say ... Jackpot?" Giles looked down at his book again... it claimed Lilith was one of the oldest vampires in existence.. that she'd grown beyond petty bloodlust and evil, and seemed to work on her own agenda, that had little to nothing to due with wanton violence. And that her power was impressive, if one could convince her to use it for you. "P-Please... come in." Giles knew that, if the prophecies he'd studied were correct, Lilith meant no harm to good people. She moved over the threshold of his home with no trouble, keeping her light gray gaze on him, "Such the gentleman." Lilith chuckled at her own joke. Giles watched her enter with awe and a bit of fear. If the prophecies were wrong, if she WAS going to hurt him... there was nothing he could do. "H-How did you know I'd been looking for you?" Another delightful sounding chuckle came from her as she studied his living room, "I have been awake for the past 30 years after sleeping for a hundred, Rupert," She glanced to him and then went back to studying a row of books, "I have my sources." "Then you know what's going on here... what's about to happen in this city." The Englishman looked her over with a slight bit of mistrust... prophecy or not, he'd never actually met a 'good' vampire. And the amusement in her voice died away at what he said to her, "Yes ... the Killing Frost has thrown in her lot with a group of idiots bent on ruining everything." "What we're worried about most is the eradication of the Slayer lineage." Giles figured this was no time for lolligagging. "A Slayer from... well, from the future... somehow came here, and warned us that Frost and the gang shes fallen in with could very well lead to the destruction of the entire line." "I have heard this much already." She turned to Rupert, "If they are successful, it will unbalance things without someone to keep vampires and other evil at bay." Lilith moved slowly toward the Watcher, "You mortals are not prepared if things revert to what they once were." "No... we're not." Giles removed his glasses, slowly rubbing the bridge of his nose. The constant research since the death of one of his fellow watchers was finally starting to get to him, and he'd been having constant headaches. "Can... can we count on your assistance?" She was only a mere foot away from him when she paused in her step. Her lips curved into a grin, revealing fangs, "Yes ... for a price." "Ah. A price." Giles crossed his arms, and stared daggers at her. "And what would this price be, pray tell?" "No interference when I drink from a willing donor." The watcher sighed there... while not a fan of 'vamp brothels' as some referred to them, Giles knew such places existed, as did many other people who got off on being fed upon. And he had far more important things to do than save people who had no desire to BE saved. "I can speak only for myself when I say I can agree to that." "Very well." Lilith casually offered her hand, "We have an accord." "We have a... family... of lycanthropes assisting us as well... we're hoping this will all even the odds more..." Giles stated, his eyes still locked on hers. "Perhaps give us some sort of edge." "It will be a start, of course." Her grip tightened on his hand, pulling him close. Yet, she did not attack him as he was probably thinking, but whispered in his ear, "Do. not. underestimate her by any means, Rupert. You will all regret it if you do." Lilith pulled away, and the Watcher glimpsed a spot of fear in the vampire's eyes before schooling them again. "Can he really control her? This vampire master? He seems to think she's his attack dog... but can even he really control her?" Giles asked, already fearing the answer. "No," Lilith shook her head, turning away from the Englishman. She moved to a window, looking out of it, "Whatever control her "master" think he has, is an illusion." The vampire hugged her arms around her, "Frost will eventually lose interest in being his pet." "Do you know any other vampires who might be willing to help us? If so... it would be a great help if you could track them down." Giles couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine as they spoke of Frost. 1:47 AM me: "I will see if I can convince a few more to your cause." Giles nodded, feeling both terrified... and more hopeful than he had in at least a week. "We have to do this. We... simply have to." "Yes ..." Lilith turned back to stare at the Watcher again, "Indeed, for your kind and mine."