Third Floor Common Room, Sunday Morning

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn was wearing the same jeans and sweater she'd been wearing yesterday, not wanting to head back to her room and too tall to borrow Molly's. She was also freezing, which had led to her mixing up a very large pot of oatmeal. The fixings were in the cupboard if anyone wanted them, but she wasn't setting them out.

Instead, she was sitting with her bowl of healthy goodness (once you ignored the raisins and brown sugar she'd added to her own) and a very, very large mug of hot cocoa with mini marshmallows. She read through a large pile of books and scrolls she'd brought with her and that Giles had sent since May (not all of which were in English), trying to find anything that explained what was going on.

She made occasional notes on a pad as she worked.

Comments

[swerval_zero]

"And who might you be?" Zero asked gleefully.

[demonbelthazor]

"I am Belthazor, demon of love and joy," Bel said, beaming at Zero.

Somewhere, the Source was quietly contemplating suicide.

[swerval_zero]

Zero shut off her camera for a moment and looked up at Bel for real, instead of on the viewscreen, and said in a heartfelt tone, "Oh my squall, you just made my squalling day."

[demonbelthazor]

"I did?" Bel said. "Wonderful! Is there anything else I can do for you? Would you like a hug?"

[swerval_zero]

"...sure. And then?" Zero held up the camcorder. "I could interview you for my documentary?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Of course," Bel said, holding out his arms for a hug. "What would you like to ask me?"

[swerval_zero]

Zero hugged him quickly, then stepped back and turned the camcorder back on. "Okay, so, Belthazor, Demon of Love and Goodness," and yes, she was never going to get tired of saying that, "tell the folks watching this a bit about yourself."

[demonbelthazor]

"I serve the Source of All Goodness," Bel said. "It is my duty to share love and joy wherever I go and to drive back darkness and evil."

[swerval_zero]

"That is just so swerval, you have no idea. So you must be a very happy person, huh?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Oh yes," Bel said. "I am very loving as well, if I say so myself."

[swerval_zero]

"You don't say. So is there a special someone in your life? Tell me about her. Or him. Whatever, I'm nondiscriminatory."

[demonbelthazor]

"I give my love to all who need it," Bel said earnestly. "But there is one person...but I shouldn't talk about it."

[swerval_zero]

"So does that mean you're like a ho? An', oh, c'mon. What could it hurt?" she wheedled.

[demonbelthazor]

"Ho is such a disrespectful term for those who share their love," Bel scolded. "And...it's complicated. She's an evil witch, and I shouldn't share my love with her, but...."

[swerval_zero]

"Oh, no, I didn' mean it in a judgemental way," Zero assured him. "Evil? How terrible. You must love her very much to be able to see beyond that. I think it's sweet."

[demonbelthazor]

"I am trying to bring her to the side of light with my love," Bel said. "I'm certain one day I will be successful."

[swerval_zero]

"I'm sure you will!" Zero said brightly. "Any words of wisdom you'd like to share with us? Something about love and joy, perhaps?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Mortal lives are short," Bel said, beaming at the camera. "You should enjoy them to the fullest by helping those around you, spreading joy, and sharing your love."

[swerval_zero]

"That's so very true. Okay, thank you for your time, and I have just one more tiny thing to ask of you before I go find more people to blackma--interview. Could you to do that sparkly thing again so I can videotape it? Pretty please?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Of course," Bel said happily. He shimmered away, disappearing in a swirl of sparkling white lights. And maybe a little pink.