I liked that very much, LJ -- more, if you can!

The Resurrection Gambit

Part Twelve: To Die and Live in L.A.

Los Angeles, 2003: Drusilla was mad north, northwest, south, southeast and upside down and diagonal, but even she could tell a hawk from a handsaw. Most of the time. The hawk, for example, was the porcelain doll she glimpsed in a dream, the one with its hand wrapped around and dust to dust her ex-lover’s throat. And this is the part of the song where the chorus is stars, and what lies beyond the finger-painted canvas?

She watched from the alleyway. The neon of the street signs pulsed like a heart. Everywhere shone with electric blood. Spike bad dog had beaten the captured vampire to a pulp before it sang such exquisite songs, those screams and revealed Azra’s location. The boy, Xander, she had loved him once, a little, but that was in a dream, but isn’t it always and the Watcher his blood was a symphony were back to back with the man called Gunn. They were making dust that swirled in the air like screams, like ghosts of anger. If they didn’t have souls, what became of them when they were…

Spike bad dog, too much like daddy was angry too angry and howled at the moon as his fists sang songs and how could you use a there were no bodies what becomes of us when there is no spark? “Soon there would be no more of us,” she said, beneath her breath.

Angel was not burning. Azra wore the gem on a chain around her neck "I am hunted,” thought Drusilla. “These mad thoughts are mine” Azra could incinerate them all, save for the spark, which resisted her. Only a handful could command the gem.

Angel shook off his attackers and advanced on Azra. A vampire leapt on him, and in a desperate gambit, Azra ignited it. Angel fell to the ground in agony, desperate to extinguish the flames. He tore off his duster, a casualty of fire. We are all casualties of fire, in the end.

Wesley fired bullets at Azra, and they forced the vampire backward, but didn’t kill her. Angel rose and advanced on her again. Outnumbered, and running out of fodder, Azra darted for the alleyways.

Drusilla was waiting.

In her panic, Azra slammed straight into Drusilla. Drusilla smiled, her gaze sinking deep into Azra’s. “Shhh!” said Drusilla. “It’s a surprise.”

Horror is not a common expression on a vampire’s face, but that’s the only word for what overtook Azra at that moment. If she had thought for a moment, Drusilla would be hers to command, but she was running scared, and Drusilla’s eyes were an abyss not easily turned away from. Azra stared, transfixed, as Drusilla ran her fingernail across the vampire’s throat. Wordlessly, Drusilla snatched the gem, and Azra burst into flame.

At that, Drusilla laughed so long and loud that the battle abruptly halted. Her hands drenched in Azra’s it was borrowed anyway blood, Drusilla strode into the street, where all were staring at her.

Drusilla clapped her hands in childlike glee. “What fabulous ribbons and bows we will decorate the party with, what streamers and gilt and the sound…”

And the world flashed white in front of her, like snow had engulfed everything, and suddenly Drusilla was somewhere else.

Plei! Don't think I'd seen that last chapter before! The last two sentences are quite a punch to the gut.

Is the title of that bit from "Rattlesnakes"? That's my favorite cover off Strange Little Girls. Haven't heard the original though...

Ooo, more Victor yummies! One nit this time.

He through off his duster

Should be 'threw,' no?

Your Drusilla is wonderful.

Should be 'threw,' no?

Yep. Fixed it almost instantly.

Your Drusilla is wonderful.

Thank you.

Drusilla was mad north, northwest, south, southeast and upside down and diagonal, but even she could tell a hawk from a handsaw. Most of the time.

Dru! Psycho twisy Dru! Funky Hamlet!

I looooove this.

I love the Drusilla voice.

I love Victor's Dru.

Is the title of that bit from "Rattlesnakes"? That's my favorite cover off Strange Little Girls. Haven't heard the original though...

Chapter 5? Yep. It's mine, too. I love Lloyd Cole, but somehow also fail to have the original. Not sure how that happened.

The title of the whole is from "Virginia", and I'm listening to a live version of it right now, AIFG. The live version of Rattlesnakes on my playlist is also incredible. (Whoa. Two weeks until the show! Keen.)

The last two sentences are quite a punch to the gut.

Oh, good. I was a little worried about them, because I liked them, but I wasn't sure if they worked for People Not Me.

I'm sort of emotionally dividing it into thirds, where the first third has me listening to Virginia a lot, the second is Rattlesnakes on repeat, and I have no idea what song I'll be playing when I write the last act.

(Whoa. Two weeks until the show! Keen.)

Ours is Aug 30 and I need to buy tix. Tori AND Ben Folds. Wheee!

People Not Me

I Am a Person Not You. And it works for me.

(WRT Strange Little Girls -- I have to skip Bonnie and Clyde usually. I have never heard the original, and I actually like Eminem - sometimes-, but I feel pretty certain that her version is waaaay creepier)

Her version is way creepier, but I don't really bother to listen to it.

I skip a lot of the songs. Esp. Enjoy the Silence, which was just... uninspired. Given the stated "purpose" of the album, to take the male-focused songs about women and examine them through the female gaze, I'm not sure why one of M. Gore's pieces ended up there, as he's Mister Sensitive Feather Boa man.