Well, I imagine it's inherited the way being a firefighter or a circus clown is inherited. You grow up seeing it done; it's a slightly insular culture; you follow in your family's footsteps.

Giles' line in Restless, "Blood of the lamb and all that," always made me wonder if there was more to it.

But being a slayer is like being the Pope. Being a soldier at least has the glimmer of hope, and an end-date, if you're fortunate enough to make it. This is apples and oranges, John. You're the slayer until you die. There are plenty of retired soldiers. There was never any such thing as a retired slayer, because of the nature of the beast. You stop fighting the forces of darkness, and they gain in numbers and kill you anyhow. That was the only way to get a new slayer.

How is it oranges? They are soldiers, she is a soldier. They are forced to go to war, she is coerced to go to war. They both could flee to Canada, and while we suspect the Council would try to kill her to force the line to continue, they didn't hunt her in LA between Becoming and Anne/DMP, so clearly there is slack. Soldiers who retired from WW2 and other big conflicts were the exceptionally lucky ones. How many units were completely wiped or suffered enormous casualties?

The Slayer gets to be a "hot chick with superpowers" to take the load off. Post-traumatic stress, amputations, Gulf War syndrome -- very very few come back unharmed to a "normal" life even if they live.

Yes, the Slayer gig is an unlucky roll of the dice, but it also means being Chosen to serve in an extraordinary manner. In a way that will help many people's lives. You make a difference in a daily way. Sure, the forces of darkness might keep coming, but like a cop or a firefighter, you can change a life right now.

Yes, the Slayer gig is an unlucky roll of the dice

Is it, necessarily? Imagine being a girl in a culture where women are expected to shut up and bear children for the husbands their parents picked out for them at age 5. Compared to that, a more assertive woman might see the Slayer as an attactive option.

How is it oranges? They are soldiers, she is a soldier.

She is alone. They have bands of brothers.

They are forced to go to war, she is coerced to go to war.

They have at least a promised end date, while she does not.

They both could flee to Canada, and while we suspect the Council would try to kill her to force the line to continue, they didn't hunt her in LA between Becoming and Anne/DMP, so clearly there is slack.

Faith had already been called by the time Buffy fled to LA. It was an unusual situation to have even two soldiers.

Soldiers who retired from WW2 and other big conflicts were the exceptionally lucky ones. How many units were completely wiped or suffered enormous casualties?

How many more died than lived? Do you have stats?

Signed,

Daughter of a WWII and Korean Navy Veteran, granddaughter of two WWI army veterans

What I am saying is that they are signed up under completely different circumstances, fight in completely different ways, and one goes in with the hope of getting out (and knows plenty of others have before him) and living the rest of his life a free man.

The slayer is called, told she's the only one, and is in it until she dies.

How do you like them apples? :)

Or was, when Wesley and Giles weren't the only watchers on this earth (to my knowledge).

Interesting question. Just how many Watchers ARE left? Wes, Giles, Robson, that guy that works for W &H...

cereal...

The Slayer gets to be a "hot chick with superpowers" to take the load off. Post-traumatic stress, amputations, Gulf War syndrome -- very very few come back unharmed to a "normal" life even if they live.

And if she lives to 25, she's damned lucky, and nobody in her world can know what she does, she doesn't get pay. She doesn't get a pension. She doesn't get a parade.

Is it, necessarily? Imagine being a girl in a culture where women are expected to shut up and bear children for the husbands their parents picked out for them at age 5. Compared to that, a more assertive woman might see the Slayer as an attactive option.

Yes, in individual circumstances, I would imagine there were always slayers who were grateful for the rescue from their culture's expectations and demands, but what about the traditional women who wanted to live those lives? What about the women who were ostracized because of their strength?

We don't know that Giles really bothered to tell the Council that she'd taken off. My assumption would be that he didn't.

Or was, when Wesley and Giles weren't the only watchers on this earth (to my knowledge).

IIRC, the guy Giles went to see is still around, as is Sirk, the ex-Watcher at W&H.

So at least four, probably more.

Over-posty c'est moi...

Interesting question. Just how many Watchers ARE left? Wes, Giles, Robson, that guy that works for W &H...

A.) This leads me to a question I've had for you Victor, since my lurker days. You wrote a BtVS story or possibly script. I happened upon while lurking. Do you still have it online? I never finished it, and am working on something in my WIP, and want to make sure I'm not copying your story.

• eta* It featured Giles' grandmother, I think.

B.) Do we know if Giles' father and grandmother are dead? We know Wesley's dad is still alive. They might all be retired, but could be pulled back in.

Interesting question. Just how many Watchers ARE left? Wes, Giles, Robson, that guy that works for W &H...

Victor, stop READING MY MIND!

Confession: the only fanfic I have ever written is about Giles' grandmother. It has to do with my Giles-in-hell theory.

Hey! - Who wants to hear my Giles-in-hell theory again!!!???

t crickets