[ the first thing she notices is cupcake mewing low and lonely in the hall. buffy clucks her tongue and stoops to spoil the cat, caressing the soft strip of short fur along the feline nose. a small smile and a few gentle words; from this angle, she can see that mccoy's door is open. ajar. was he home...?

she calls out a friendly greeting and regains her feet, pushing the door more widely open. buffy so very rarely knocks, you see. but the room is eerily empty and ice enters her veins. the world seems to crash into the sun and the stars fall. buffy can't remember how she made it once again to the floor but there she kneels. struck. cupcake wanders in and nudges against those fingers now splayed against the floorboards. attention-seeking.

a half hour later, buffy doesn't bother with a filter for one pointed message over the journals: ] Jack. House Seven. Now.

[ the afternoon passes with little other note until the sun is sinking. she addresses the village at large. her voice is firm but artificially so. ]

Luceti. [ the slayer takes over; she keeps a steady grip on her control. ] Bon -- no -- Doctor Leonard McCoy has been sent home.

[ a long pause. ] S-sorry.

[ a muffled sound. control breaks. ]

( ooc; buffy has asked jack to help her respond to those reacting to the announcement. expect to be tagged either by buffy or jack or perhaps both -- but both separately rather than as three-ways. )