[ buffy catches him on the couch channel surfing one fine evening when the team is largely scattered to the four winds doing their things. she'd walk in to his face lit by the glow of the screen as he clicks through the channel with all the listings of what's playing and he hovers over the title 'assassins' as she's standing in the doorway ahahaha. he shares an angsty moment with his remote. ]
Buffy:Yeah, I generally prefer Master Chef, but hey. Who am I to criticize a little over-identification.
[ he's so caught up in staring angstily at the screen that he barely notices, and she plops down next to him. he starts a bit as she plops down, blinking and only just registering what she said. he gives her a sheepish little smile.
Rafael: There is very little else on. Buffy: Yeah, why watch people screw up in infomercials when Stallone could be blowing something up. [ It's a gentle sort of teasing. She reaches over him to go ahead and select that on the remote so he can stop having decision paralysis or PTSD or whatever has him staring deadeyes at the TV.
Mentioning explosions seems to relax him, actually. We won't get into the ramifications of that. He just cuts her a grin that's almost a real person smile, so that's nice. And then slouches back into the couch. ]
Rafael: I hope this whole thing is not in black and white... Buffy: It's like you're in my head. [ Buffy looks absolutely disgruntled by the black and white tbh. SHE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO APPRECIATE THIS SHIT. Rafael: [ as it fades to color ] Ah, see. They heard you. Buffy: No, don't take your shoes off, don't - And, there you have it. Rafael: I do not think he will be needing them soon. Buffy: … Oh. So, he's - [ Buffy shoots Rafael a sidelong glance. She gulps. Of course he'd realize that quicker. He's just staring, his smile dropped down, his jaw tight. Clearly this is the best idea ever. Buffy: Are you sure you don't want to go with the infomercials? Rafael: [ And he lets out a sigh, and looks down. ] No, it is fine. [ He looks back up. And just watches the moment with a grim sort of understanding as Stallone hands the other assassin his gun so he can kill himself. He looks lost in contemplation for a long moment, sort of half registering the screen. Buffy breaks the awkward silence by cracking up at the sight of the old fashioned laptop. Buffy: I - Sorry. I just - I mean, come on. Rafael: [ That vaguely shakes him out of it and he snorts. ] May as well be black and white, si? Buffy: I'm pretty sure professional killers had to be some of the first to move past the days of dial-up. [ Which is supposed to be a joke but Rafael would probably know ... ] Rafael:[ absently: ] One of the perks of having high tech contacts.
[ Buffy just bugs her eyes a bit, tilts her head, and lets that one drop into silence. So that happened. It's clear that he doesn't seem like uncomfortable saying any of these things, which is something because he never talks about it. She wants to ask. She really, really wants to ask about the things that aren't necessarily clicking with her as far as assassin protocol and why the hell that guy would be circling what she assumes is his mark's eyes. But as much as Rafael might not be uncomfortable, Buffy doesn't want to drag those parts of him up without prompting. He looks less grim already, just watching with interest now. It seemed like the opening sequence shook him a bit but he's good now. ]
Buffy: Okay, just because you're a criminal doesn't need your fashion sense needs to be criminal, too. What is with sniper guy's hair?
[ He laughs loudly and then runs a hand through his. Because it looks pretty similar actually. Oops. He cuts her an amused Look. She returns the look with a quirky grin of her own, and her gaze flickers to her hair like she almost wants to reach up to run a hand through it too but is resisting. She turns her attention decisively back to the screen. Epic will save. (19) It probably takes like a DC 17 to resist playing with raf's hair ok. ]
Rafael: That is something I have never been unfortunate to have happen: someone else after the same mark. Buffy: What's the biggie? I mean, he wanted the guy dead, now he's dead. Everybody goes home happy right? Well. Everybody except the dead guy. Rafael: Only the one who put the bullet in him gets paid. But it is more than that. They are, however, a different.... class of assassin. It is about the money, and the status. Sort of a brand of honor, in their interpretation. It is... different from what... from having political motivations. But I have known men of that sort. Buffy: [ Buffy's confusion softens into a grim, sympathetic sort of look. She leans her shoulder against his. ] I've met my share of sleaze, too. [ Because while he might see where they get honor out of it, Buffy only sees amoral self-interest. ] Rafael: [ He looks down at her for a moment, and gives her a little understanding smile, pressing his shoulder against hers too in a sort of show of solidarity. ] They exist in all walks, I'm afraid. Buffy: What's the point of trying to kill him? He already stole your stupid money and assassin-points. Rafael: Well... he is kind of a, how do you say... [ he bobs his head back and forth a bit. ] A dick.
[ That gets a real laugh out of her but his face falls as Antonio Banderas takes aim at a child. ]
Rafael: ... Well, now he has a reason to kill him. Buffy: That'll do it.
[ in the thrilling car chase that follows, he laughs as stallone gets an upper hand and starts ramming antonio against a bus as he's hanging out the back window his taxi. Antonio Banderas' pain is hilarious to him. And then he sighs. ]
Rafael: I miss my car. Buffy: You could always import it. You know, uh, when you can leave the hotel again. [ She looks over at him, thoughtful. ] But it'd probably just wind up like Des' did ... Rafael: [ He shudders. ] I think it is safer at my palazzo, even with men attempting to destroy my home. Buffy: I realize I can't exactly … I mean, I can't ever remember really having a home, I've never spent enough time in the castle for it to feel that way. But the way I look at it, it's not the place. It's the people. And Isabella and Hiro, well, they're gonna be fine. Rafael: [ He glances down at her. ] ... si. I feel much the same. ... But it would still be a shame about the car. [ He smirks grimly again, looking forward. ] Buffy: [ That gets a laugh and she tips her head. ] Yeah, it kinda would. Rafael: Would not it be more dramatic to be checkmate? Ah, I see. Buffy: I'm more curious why chess is triggering his PTSD, personally. Rafael: Do you not see? [ His mouth flattens into a line and says dully: ] His friend. His friend became a mark. Buffy: [ Buffy's expression softens and she glances down. ] No wonder it seems like he wants out. Rafael: ... Si. [ He gets really quiet. ] .... Buffy: [ as the female love interest hacker cat lady is introduced, Buffy is clearing her throat, tilting her head a little. ] That's … unexpected. Rafael: Do all hackers.... enjoy their cats so much? [ he looks over his shoulder, as if kat is gonna pop out and say boo. ] Buffy: Well, look at Kat. [ shrugs ] Rafael: Ah, this must have been before reality TV, no? Buffy: [ She holds out a hand toward Rafael. ] Twenty bucks Stallone falls madly in love with her, and can't go through with it. Rafael: [ He stares at her hand. ] I may be a daring man, but not a fool. Buffy: [ Another laugh at that one, and she drops her hand back to her lap. ] Touché. Rafael: Is she... Hissing at her... Buffy: Maybe she brought her cat. Rafael: [ He laughs, and then the cat appears ] How did you know?! Buffy: [ Buffy scratches her head in a way that indicates SHE WASN'T SERIOUS BUT OK, ASSASSINS. OK. THIS ROUND TO YOU. ] And that's why you don't pull your gun out at an airport. Rafael: Why would he pull his weapon on him in public... I believe this was also before the Twin Towers. Perhaps before assassins developed common sense, as well. Buffy: I'd kinda hoped that given the nature of the job that was always a requirement. Rafael: Banderas does not seem to have been held to such high standards. Buffy: [ re: his hair ] Yeah, slicking it back doesn't make it any better. Eugh. Rafael: I will keep that in mind. Buffy: Dial-up and floppy disks. Was hacker even a profession then? Rafael: Always with the ducts. Buffy: Of course the crazy cat lady thing is what gets her nailed. Rafael: Why it is bad to have a calling card that is not misleading. Buffy: Maybe she should have gone with the puppy paw clipart instead.
[ He laughs. Now that the movie's reached a lull of sorts where action replaces the plot, she turns her attention more fully on him, considering the laugh. As much as she might get uncomfortable and delicate about the assassin thing, he … seems totally at ease with it. Almost like the lack of pretense is easier than the alternative. He gets to talk about what he knows. In fact, he even makes a comment about how sloppy Antonio's string of subsequent murders are. ]
Buffy: Sometimes, you just have to know when to leave the cat behind. He probably isn't going to kill it. Probably. Rafael: I don't know. He seems the type to take collateral where he can get it. Buffy: [ Buffy shrugs and gives a nod of acknowledgment. ] He's so annoying! Just shoot the stupid receiver and get on with your life! [ as antonio taunts stallone about how ~shooting a woman is different~ ] Oh, please. Dial-up and bad hair, I can handle, but can we not with the sexism?! Rafael: I would have lost the bet, I see. ... Now she leaves the cat. ... How did he find that in the entire town? Buffy: Movie magic. Don't ruin it. [ She nudges him with her elbow. ]
buffy & rafael ♔ .part 1
Buffy:Yeah, I generally prefer Master Chef, but hey. Who am I to criticize a little over-identification.
[ he's so caught up in staring angstily at the screen that he barely notices, and she plops down next to him. he starts a bit as she plops down, blinking and only just registering what she said. he gives her a sheepish little smile.
Rafael: There is very little else on.
Buffy: Yeah, why watch people screw up in infomercials when Stallone could be blowing something up. [ It's a gentle sort of teasing. She reaches over him to go ahead and select that on the remote so he can stop having decision paralysis or PTSD or whatever has him staring deadeyes at the TV.
Mentioning explosions seems to relax him, actually. We won't get into the ramifications of that. He just cuts her a grin that's almost a real person smile, so that's nice. And then slouches back into the couch. ]
Rafael: I hope this whole thing is not in black and white...
Buffy: It's like you're in my head. [ Buffy looks absolutely disgruntled by the black and white tbh. SHE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO APPRECIATE THIS SHIT.
Rafael: [ as it fades to color ] Ah, see. They heard you.
Buffy: No, don't take your shoes off, don't - And, there you have it.
Rafael: I do not think he will be needing them soon.
Buffy: … Oh. So, he's - [ Buffy shoots Rafael a sidelong glance. She gulps. Of course he'd realize that quicker. He's just staring, his smile dropped down, his jaw tight. Clearly this is the best idea ever.
Buffy: Are you sure you don't want to go with the infomercials?
Rafael: [ And he lets out a sigh, and looks down. ] No, it is fine. [ He looks back up. And just watches the moment with a grim sort of understanding as Stallone hands the other assassin his gun so he can kill himself. He looks lost in contemplation for a long moment, sort of half registering the screen. Buffy breaks the awkward silence by cracking up at the sight of the old fashioned laptop.
Buffy: I - Sorry. I just - I mean, come on.
Rafael: [ That vaguely shakes him out of it and he snorts. ] May as well be black and white, si?
Buffy: I'm pretty sure professional killers had to be some of the first to move past the days of dial-up. [ Which is supposed to be a joke but Rafael would probably know ... ]
Rafael:[ absently: ] One of the perks of having high tech contacts.
[ Buffy just bugs her eyes a bit, tilts her head, and lets that one drop into silence. So that happened. It's clear that he doesn't seem like uncomfortable saying any of these things, which is something because he never talks about it. She wants to ask. She really, really wants to ask about the things that aren't necessarily clicking with her as far as assassin protocol and why the hell that guy would be circling what she assumes is his mark's eyes. But as much as Rafael might not be uncomfortable, Buffy doesn't want to drag those parts of him up without prompting. He looks less grim already, just watching with interest now. It seemed like the opening sequence shook him a bit but he's good now. ]
Buffy: Okay, just because you're a criminal doesn't need your fashion sense needs to be criminal, too. What is with sniper guy's hair?
[ He laughs loudly and then runs a hand through his. Because it looks pretty similar actually. Oops. He cuts her an amused Look. She returns the look with a quirky grin of her own, and her gaze flickers to her hair like she almost wants to reach up to run a hand through it too but is resisting. She turns her attention decisively back to the screen. Epic will save.
(19) It probably takes like a DC 17 to resist playing with raf's hair ok. ]
Rafael: That is something I have never been unfortunate to have happen: someone else after the same mark.
Buffy: What's the biggie? I mean, he wanted the guy dead, now he's dead. Everybody goes home happy right? Well. Everybody except the dead guy.
Rafael: Only the one who put the bullet in him gets paid. But it is more than that. They are, however, a different.... class of assassin. It is about the money, and the status. Sort of a brand of honor, in their interpretation. It is... different from what... from having political motivations. But I have known men of that sort.
Buffy: [ Buffy's confusion softens into a grim, sympathetic sort of look. She leans her shoulder against his. ] I've met my share of sleaze, too. [ Because while he might see where they get honor out of it, Buffy only sees amoral self-interest. ]
Rafael: [ He looks down at her for a moment, and gives her a little understanding smile, pressing his shoulder against hers too in a sort of show of solidarity. ] They exist in all walks, I'm afraid.
Buffy: What's the point of trying to kill him? He already stole your stupid money and assassin-points.
Rafael: Well... he is kind of a, how do you say... [ he bobs his head back and forth a bit. ] A dick.
[ That gets a real laugh out of her but his face falls as Antonio Banderas takes aim at a child. ]
Rafael: ... Well, now he has a reason to kill him.
Buffy: That'll do it.
[ in the thrilling car chase that follows, he laughs as stallone gets an upper hand and starts ramming antonio against a bus as he's hanging out the back window his taxi. Antonio Banderas' pain is hilarious to him. And then he sighs. ]
Rafael: I miss my car.
Buffy: You could always import it. You know, uh, when you can leave the hotel again. [ She looks over at him, thoughtful. ] But it'd probably just wind up like Des' did ...
Rafael: [ He shudders. ] I think it is safer at my palazzo, even with men attempting to destroy my home.
Buffy: I realize I can't exactly … I mean, I can't ever remember really having a home, I've never spent enough time in the castle for it to feel that way. But the way I look at it, it's not the place. It's the people. And Isabella and Hiro, well, they're gonna be fine.
Rafael: [ He glances down at her. ] ... si. I feel much the same. ... But it would still be a shame about the car. [ He smirks grimly again, looking forward. ]
Buffy: [ That gets a laugh and she tips her head. ] Yeah, it kinda would.
Rafael: Would not it be more dramatic to be checkmate? Ah, I see.
Buffy: I'm more curious why chess is triggering his PTSD, personally.
Rafael: Do you not see? [ His mouth flattens into a line and says dully: ] His friend. His friend became a mark.
Buffy: [ Buffy's expression softens and she glances down. ] No wonder it seems like he wants out.
Rafael: ... Si. [ He gets really quiet. ] ....
Buffy: [ as the female love interest hacker cat lady is introduced, Buffy is clearing her throat, tilting her head a little. ] That's … unexpected.
Rafael: Do all hackers.... enjoy their cats so much? [ he looks over his shoulder, as if kat is gonna pop out and say boo. ]
Buffy: Well, look at Kat. [ shrugs ]
Rafael: Ah, this must have been before reality TV, no?
Buffy: [ She holds out a hand toward Rafael. ] Twenty bucks Stallone falls madly in love with her, and can't go through with it.
Rafael: [ He stares at her hand. ] I may be a daring man, but not a fool.
Buffy: [ Another laugh at that one, and she drops her hand back to her lap. ] Touché.
Rafael: Is she... Hissing at her...
Buffy: Maybe she brought her cat.
Rafael: [ He laughs, and then the cat appears ] How did you know?!
Buffy: [ Buffy scratches her head in a way that indicates SHE WASN'T SERIOUS BUT OK, ASSASSINS. OK. THIS ROUND TO YOU. ] And that's why you don't pull your gun out at an airport.
Rafael: Why would he pull his weapon on him in public... I believe this was also before the Twin Towers. Perhaps before assassins developed common sense, as well.
Buffy: I'd kinda hoped that given the nature of the job that was always a requirement.
Rafael: Banderas does not seem to have been held to such high standards.
Buffy: [ re: his hair ] Yeah, slicking it back doesn't make it any better. Eugh.
Rafael: I will keep that in mind.
Buffy: Dial-up and floppy disks. Was hacker even a profession then?
Rafael: Always with the ducts.
Buffy: Of course the crazy cat lady thing is what gets her nailed.
Rafael: Why it is bad to have a calling card that is not misleading.
Buffy: Maybe she should have gone with the puppy paw clipart instead.
[ He laughs. Now that the movie's reached a lull of sorts where action replaces the plot, she turns her attention more fully on him, considering the laugh. As much as she might get uncomfortable and delicate about the assassin thing, he … seems totally at ease with it. Almost like the lack of pretense is easier than the alternative. He gets to talk about what he knows. In fact, he even makes a comment about how sloppy Antonio's string of subsequent murders are. ]
Buffy: Sometimes, you just have to know when to leave the cat behind. He probably isn't going to kill it. Probably.
Rafael: I don't know. He seems the type to take collateral where he can get it.
Buffy: [ Buffy shrugs and gives a nod of acknowledgment. ] He's so annoying! Just shoot the stupid receiver and get on with your life! [ as antonio taunts stallone about how ~shooting a woman is different~ ] Oh, please. Dial-up and bad hair, I can handle, but can we not with the sexism?!
Rafael: I would have lost the bet, I see. ... Now she leaves the cat. ... How did he find that in the entire town?
Buffy: Movie magic. Don't ruin it. [ She nudges him with her elbow. ]