And... a round up to my take on dreamtree's challenge.

- - -

"See the lion over in the corner?" Clem said, a slightly curved fingernail pointing the way.

Spike peered, found that no, he couldn't see it, and slipped into his game face without thinking. "Yeah," he said. "What about it?"

"Don't you think it looks a bit like Angel?" Clem asked. "Big brow, hair stood up on end like that, ever so serious all the time?"

"I see a certain resemblance," Spike admitted. "But how long have you known Angel?"

"Oh, ever since I got here," Clem said. "Arrived in the big new city, no idea of how to find my way around, and I figured that one of Buffy's friends was as good a place to go as any. They're running some sort of law firm now, I think—I haven't been involved much."

"Oh," Spike said, and then, "We're in LA?"

"Unless we ran so far we made it to… wherever's next up the highway," Clem told him. "Anyway, it's your turn. What about that lioness in the middle?"

Spike looked at the lioness in the middle, and all she reminded him of was Buffy. "Can't think of anyone. Look- it's nearly dawn."

Clem looked, and indeed, the sun was starting to rise. "We'd best be going, man. I don't want to have to… you know, sweep you up."

"No going to be a problem, actually," Spike said, beginning to realise for himself what things meant. "I'm human. I'm human—doing stupid human things, like breathing and going to the zoo; and not dusting in the sun."

"Oh," Clem said. "Oh. Oh, well, then. We can have more ice cream, and without stealing it, this time."

"You're on," Spike grinned. "If you're paying."

I may be wrong on this, Deb, but:

considering that Olivia kept yelling "Celare" whenever she broke a bit off the bracelet, this must be essentially a cloaking spell? Otherwise, she'd hardly keep yelling "hide!" in Latin.

"Celare" would mean "to hide." I think it would be "cela" to be "hide," though I can double check this evening.

Deb, Restoration Hardware gives *me* a woody.

Likeing this muchly!

Oh, Deb, that is scary creepy and I don't like it. More please.

Am, nice! I like your Clem. I want more of that, too.

Now I have to run off to LJ and read Connie's V!Giles, so you have a few minutes to post.

"Celare" would mean "to hide." I think it would be "cela" to be "hide," though I can double check this evening.

Ha! I knew someone would pick up on it, around here.

SA, you smart woman, you, goodonya for the catch. But the form is deliberate because she isn't calling out a command, she's calling out a result. The spell isn't quite what Giles thinks it is - remember, she's committing an action with a bit of gold, in conjunction with her spell.

In the final section. You'll see.

Whoo! Am, so both pieces are corkers.

But the form is deliberate

Ah. Okay. You'll excuse me if I still feel smart for saying something, as it means my two semesters of Latin and my upcoming TA position hasn't gone to waste.

Hee! SA, if I'd had you for those semesters of Latin, I might not have run screaming from conjugations.

Question, though, since now I am shaken with doubt. If the spell is in three parts (yes, I did this in Pensioner and Needfire, following the magic of the number 3 for spells) - the initial action of sacrificing a jewel, calling out the desired result, and then the physical channelling itself - would that form still be the correct one?

I think if the intent was clear behind the words, than breaking the jewel and saying "to hide" would be appropriate. Of course, you could also do the form for "I hide" which is...celati, I think.

Yup, "celati" sounds right, although the rust on my Latin skills could frighten off the contestants on "Junkyard Wars." But she - in this instance, Fred or Olivia - isn't doing the hiding.

Tell you what, let me leave the form as is, and if you feel it needs changing after the final section, tell me and I'll go with your change in a heartbeat.