(Untitled)

[theslayer_buffy]

Who: Buffy, Angel, Spike, NPC Young Slayers
When: Halloween Evening
Where: Neighborhoods near the mansion
What: Stalking Making sure the young slayers are safe on Halloween as they go trick-or-treating.
Status: Incomplete

Comments

[can_we_rest_now]

Spike darted backward as soon as he saw Buffy spin around with her stake in hand. For a split-second, he entertained the thought of a Buffy doppelgänger, or maybe some kind of spirit possession... but even that hope was snuffed soon enough. Sure, he was happy that it was still Buffy, but he'd almost gotten his hopes up for a decent tiff.

"Actually," he replied dryly, "she was busy teaching me how to sneak up on a slayer, especially in such a way to avoid the sharp bit of anything wooden she might be carrying. Congratulations, I'm sure your racing heartbeat would probably make dear old Dru right proud."

Hearing Angel's voice sound behind him, Spike rolled his eyes upward and muttered, "Oh look, here comes the moldy old root of the family tree, now." Really? Did Angel really have to be there? Just because Spike had gotten used to the older vampire actually, y'know, existing, it was no excuse for him to constantly be in his presence.

"Relax," he told him. "It seems like Summers was just taking a moment to catch her breath and lure innocent creatures of the night straight to her backside. Interesting feint, I admit, though a simple 'take me now' would have always sufficed."

He smirked as he drew his cigarette to his lips and waited for the snarkfest to really kick off. If he couldn't exercise his body, at least he'd know that Broody McBrood and Buffy the Vampire Chaser were always good for a few verbal exchanges. And though he'd manage not to take a direct shot at Angel, he knew the older vampire would jump in in response to Spike's offhand remark about Buffy. He was predictable that way, after all.

[OOC- So sorry, guys! I never got the notification for this! ;_;]

[angelxus]

"Yeah, when staying in doesn't volunteer you for the decorating committee or unofficial doorman for the night, sure." It would have been a pretty solid excuse if he hadn't immediately glanced away the second Buffy had assumed the scolding position. The real reason he hadn't stayed in was simply because she hadn't, but Buffy probably already knew that, as did little Pip here.

Apparently, besides lessons on sneaking up on Slayers in the night, Drusilla had also taught her little fledgling that babbling on and on was a necessity in any stealth operation. He could ignore the introduction Spike had allowed him, but that wasn't the case when Buffy became the target of his rantings.

It was pretty tame, considering who's mouth it had come from, but it had still sent Angel's non-breathing nostrils flaring, as he glared over at Spike, and the stupid expectant smirk he had on behind his cigarette. "Will you put that out before it sets your hair on fire?"

Angel thought that it had been pretty civil of him to ask, since he could have just snatched the damn thing right out of his hands with half the effort. He really was trying to be on his best behavior, considering, well. Buffy already looked annoyed, and he had definitely lost enough points that night from that whole stalking thing.

Speaking of stalking, although it was lucky that the young Slayers had been out of earshot of it all, they also were also getting a little too far ahead. "We should go if we don't want to lose them," Angel pointed out, eager to shift everyone's attention elsewhere. While following the girls had been something Buffy had set out to do alone, Angel had no plans on leaving her side-- not if there was any chance Spike was going to come following along as well.

[theslayer_buffy]

She nodded slightly to Angel's words, knowing that he probably would prefer skulking around in the shadows than being anywhere near the decorating and partying. But, still, he could have at least come with her, not behind her.

Buffy stared at Spike, the look of disgust, complete with a wrinkled nose, coming in to her expression at his words. It was good to know that old habits never died. And probably never would when it came to him. She rolled her eyes very forcefully and said, "You're a pig, Spike." An oldie but a goodie in her mind. Generally got her point across to him.

She was glad Angel had her back on the insult front, not that it was that rude, compared to Spike's comment, but the thought was nice. She heaved another sigh before glancing back to see the younger Slayers getting too far ahead. "Right," she said, "Now that I know vampires are hiding in the shadows all over the place, I really need to keep an eye on them."

She turned around and started slowly after them with Angel and Spike in tow. She glanced upward to either side of her at both vampires, wanting to suddenly laugh. Of all the times where she thought she'd have a peaceful Halloween, she was stuck in between two ensouled vampire ex-boyfriends. Not that she'd exactly call Spike her ex--but that wasn't the point.

"If you didn't want to stay in at the mansion, you could have just come with me, Angel. I wouldn't have minded the company," she told Angel softly, then shot a look at Spike, knowing the sarcasm was just ebbing on the surface of his mouth. "And why are you out here? Didn't want to help out with the party either?"

[can_we_rest_now]

Spike raised an eyebrow at Angel's comment about his cigarette. "Why Angel," he murmured sarcastically after taking another puff. "For a split second, I thought you might've been concerned over me indulging in a dirty habit. Figures you would be more worried about me mucking up my hairdo." He tacked on a rather condescending look towards the older vampire's hair, just because he could.

With a smirk to Buffy, he told her, "You wouldn't have me any other way, pet. Or maybe you would, but I'm not very concerned with your preferences these days." Especially not since he didn't seem to rate all too high on that list, not when he was compared to Poofy McPoof over here.

If they were going to follow the young Slayers at a closer distance than Spike had been trailing before, maybe it'd be smart to be rid of the cigarette. Plucking it from between his lips after a final drag, he flicked it towards the sidewalk, perhaps a little bit closer to Angel than was entirely necessary. It was just one of the little quirks of their friendship, after all.

His hands in his pockets, he followed after Buffy and was almost surprised when she said that they would have been welcome to tag along... except he soured when she clarified that she had been talking about Angel. "Oh, I'm wounded," he muttered flatly. "Maybe I should just head on back if you're not keen on me ruining any fun brooding times. I just thought, 'Well, Spike, two's company, and three's a ménage à trois; which would Buffy consider more entertaining?'"

Shrugging, he added, "Besides, I had enough of a party planning with the Fearless Leader and the Jolly Green Giant. The only way I'll help with a party is to get rid of any excess liquor."

I think my crown of late postiness is safe~

[angelxus]

Angel pointedly dodged the cigarette butt that suddenly came flying his way--because hey! Even though he didn't subject his hair to the harsh levels of chemicals Spike did, hair gel wasn't exactly the most flame retardant substance out there, either. And yes, he had found that out the hard way. More times than he'd like to admit, even.

Hearing Buffy insult Spike was always nice to hear, but not when it seemed to make the latter downright pleased. Then it just made it all seem like some twisted form of foreplay, which was more unsettling than anything Spike could ever possibly say.

"I could have, but then that would have made sense," Angel admitted, a wry smile visible at the corner of his lips as he glanced Buffy's way. And this was why it was easier to stick to the shadows, because now he wasn't looking out for her, so much as looking at her.

That was mostly an awkward problem for him these days when he caught himself alone with Buffy, which he most definitely wasn't at the moment. Spike seemed to have made it his personal responsibility to remind Angel of that any chance he got. His last attempt had been enough to stop Angel in his tracks, as he gazed forward with a look of utter bewilderment. "You must be suicidal. This isn't some desperate cry for help is it?"

Or, the guy had already started working on doing his share to help with the party. He hadn't smelled it on the guy earlier, but it was always hard to tell with him. When did Spike not smell like a bar?

Whatever his reasons, Spike was going to earn himself on the receiving end of one of the season's hottest trends if he kept it up. Angel hated to steal a decoration someone had obviously spent a lot of time on it, but he was very close to snatching up the nearest Jack o Lantern, and holding a pumpkin coronation for King William here.

Aside from being bad for the person who had spent the time to carve the pumpkin, he highly doubted the young Slayers would continue to overlook the fact that they were being followed, especially if a vampire on vampire brawl were to break out a handful of yards behind them.

[theslayer_buffy]

Buffy desperately tried to ignore the hint of amusement playing at the corner of her lips at the mention of a ménage à trois. Yes, Spike was a pig, but she couldn't deny what occasionally featured in her sadly, non-prophetic dreams. And there would always be oil of some kind involved.

She shook her head to shake herself out of the thoughts that suddenly reddened her cheeks and returned to her annoyed expression. "Gross, Spike," she said, quickly recovering in a mostly likely not-too-convincing tone. To emphasize her point, she jabbed a quick slayer-strength elbow at his side. "You're just in top form tonight," she said, heaving an exasperated sigh.

She found a smile for Angel, "Yeah, it would have, but not much I can do about it now." She'd rather keep an eye on the both of them, anyway. Spike may have a soul, but he could still get into mass amounts of trouble. And really, she liked keeping an eye on Angel, just because she enjoyed literally keeping an eye on him; painful past of not.

"When do you not come to drain the party of booze?" she said, "Then again, if I'm forced to go, I might have to do the same. Partying with the newbies just isn't my thing, especially when they're all so gung-ho."

She could sense Angel's mounting tension that Spike's presence caused and realized that she might soon see a vampire fight break out. Would she stop it? Of course she would, but maybe after a few punches were thrown. Oh jeez, she needed desperate help. She really needed to get out more. And get out more without Angel and Spike.

She reached over and placed a soft hand on Angel's arm, "Relax, Angel, he's just egging you on," she said under her breath, knowing full well Spike's vampire hearing would hear her no matter how low she spoke.

[can_we_rest_now]

Spike raised his eyebrows in Angel's direction, only all too happy to take out a bit of his restlessness on his beloved grandsire. He'd have to hold back, of course, because he didn't much fancy Buffy coming to Angel's aid... especially not when she elbowed him nearly hard enough to bruise his ribs. With a cough, he gave her a reproachful look and muttered, "You're the reason I'm glad I don't have any wind to get knocked out of me."

As much as he could pretend otherwise, it wasn't as though Spike didn't pick on the fact that he'd never be to Buffy what Angel was to her. Oh, he'd long given up the thought of her being in lvoe with him; hell, he was almost willing to believe that she was absolutely incapable of actual love. But that fact that he'd never amount to as close of a friend, after everything he'd done for her, well, that was just shitty.

"I happen to be perfectly content with my unlife, thank you," he nevertheless responded to Angel. "If I ever did wanted to find someone to do me in, I think I can find someone much more worthy to do the job. Maybe even someone worthy of a scuffle."

He smirked at Buffy's whispered comment to Angel, replying, "Now why on Earth would I do that, pet? Not when I know the big bad Slayer's here to put an end to my happy fun times, anyway. Heaven knows you'd be only too eager to give me a wallop for punching in his handsome face."

Okay, so maybe he sounded a bit more bitter than he had intended to be, but Spike never was one to shy away from his feelings. Unless they proved embarassing, that is.

[angelxus]

Spike sure did have a way with words. A way that made him want to punch the guy right in the face. Not that Angel actually could at the moment, not with Buffy here, anyway. So far, she seemed to be in his corner, but throwing the first punch in a neighborhood spanning brawl wouldn't exactly guarantee the girl's favor.

"Heh, of course. Why turn to someone like me, when you're practically the favorite pet of demon royalty?" Illyria would probably consider it some sort of warped duty to put Spike down if he needed it. Not that he ever would, because how long did this guy spend feeling the grief from over a lifetime of murderous mayhem? A few months in a basement?

Yeah. He was just a bit jealous of all that. Of how easily Spike seemed to have transitioned to living with a soul. Angel had spent well over a century, listlessly wandering from place to place, and coming damn near close to giving up completely.

Despite a momentarily glance down at Buffy's touch, it wasn't long before Angel's glare was focused back on Spike.

"If I just need to take a punch or two to be able to see that happen, sign me up, but why are you so damn eager for that to happen? For her to beat you up." Because, really, had anything out of his mouth tonight said otherwise? If he wasn't looking for a punch in the face from him, he was saying something to get one from her instead.

Or maybe, the guy just needed a drink. Maybe they all did.

[theslayer_buffy]

She suddenly felt like she was attending a pretty lame tennis match. She looked back and forth between the two ensouled vampires as they hit retort after retort back at each other. This was getting exhausting. Buffy felt like she should just clonk their heads together to knock them out and pick them up post-trick-or-treating. Of course, that really wouldn't help matters. Both would be sore at her and she'd have some even more annoyed and bickering vampires on her hand.

"If anyone is meant to put either of you down, I'd be the one to do it, okay? It's kinda my job, anyway," she said, slowly realizing she had technically done the job for both of them already. She ran Angel through with a sword to save the world and she unintentionally ended Spike's unlife by giving him the necklace that burned him inside out. Honestly, she was surprised they didn't mind being within fifty feet of her, especially when she was almost always equipped with a stake.

Her eyes rolled at Spike's comment. She could hear the clear bitterness in his voice. Yes, she and Spike had shared a close bond. A mostly physical bond, but still a bond. She still cared about him, whether he would believe it or not. But, she knew now she was treating him as though he was a piece of gum that got stuck to her shoe. It wasn't intentional, but when Angel was around, especially lately, she failed to see anyone else. Or listen to anyone else's side of things. And she knew Spike knew it. And it was probably the reason he was giving the both of them such a hard time. So, maybe she needed to even the playing field.

Although Angel was stooping to his level, he was also right. Spike was begging for it. Then again, so was he. "You know what? Fine, beat the crap out of each other for all I care," she breathed out, annoyance ringing in her voice, "I'm not going to stop you. I'll just watch. I should have brought some popcorn." She looked up at the both of them, "What? It's what you want ,right? All out battle. Angel verses Spike. Have at it," she said, waving her hands out in front of her.

"Or I'll punch you both in the nose and you guys can stop acting like bickering little old ladies. Which would you prefer?" she asked, her hands finding their way to her hips.

[can_we_rest_now]

Though he didn't know how, Spike managed to repress a growl at the back of his throat when Angel brought up the whole "demon royalty" nonsense. Pretty Boy had never even bothered to understand Illyria quite the same way Spike had. She was more than just a familiar-looking shell with superpowers. She was a familiar-looking shell with superpowers who could probably destroy the world at the slightest whim, and taking out her aggression on someone that she considered (almost) an equal saved people from a whole lot of bloodshed. Spike was doing the world a favor by gracing Illyria with some dim semblance of friendship.

"I'm nobody's 'pet,' you ponce, and don't you forget it," he contented himself with saying. "Then again, you've got a nasty habit of using your mouth before you fully understand the consequences. Reckon that applies to your use of a few other bits, too." He was obliquely referring to Angel's history of losing his horribly weighty soul when he got a bit of action, and not discovering that until he achieved - what was it the kids were calling it those days? - 'perfect happiness' with a certain blonde, but hell, Spike could understand if Angel didn't get it. He rarely ever did.

Before he could answer Angel's facetious question, Buffy started in. For once, she wasn't swooping in to her knight's defense, leaving Spike to stare at her steadily. What, Buffy Summers, admitting that the great and perfect Angel could actually stoop to the petulant levels of a little old lady? True, the simile was meant for Spike just as much as it did Angel, but Spike had a way of ignoring little details like that.

After a beat, he looked at Angel and cocked a thumb over in Buffy's direction. "On the one hand, she did just give us permission. On the other, knowing that she'd enjoy watching us go at it enough to want to pop some corn cheapens it somewhat. Would you rather call in a raincheck, or give the lady her jollies? And mind you, there are children present."

Glancing in the direction of the ever-disappearing Baby Slayers, he amended, "Well, in a manner of speaking, anyway."

I'm sorry, I fail at life. And posting on time. D: D: D:

[angelxus]

Angel found himself briefly smiling, pleasantly surprised to have touched a nerve. It didn't last very long, as the pride and smile was wiped clean away once Spike countered with a low blow of own, or at least, what Angel thought could be a low blow. At the end there, that crap with the bits! He was pretty sure that was a low blow. Probably.

"A habit of mine? With all the trash you let pour out of your mouth, you've practically made that your entire lifestyle," Angel lashed back, failing to notice the sudden change in Buffy's posture until it was much too late.

Uh oh. Hands on her hips and an ultimatum? Yeah, big uh oh.

Angel kinda had a bad track record when women caught him in this position. He didn't really need to guess what would piss her off the least-- he knew damn well she wasn't really giving them permission, and that starting an epic brawl with Spike would only make her deal out the punches she had offered as an alternative, but also cause her to probably to storm off, and refuse to talk to either of them for the foreseeable future.

"Raincheck," Angel immediately decided. "I'd like to think we've grown since the Mountain Dew."

The Slayers were far along enough now that even Angel was left squinting as he craned his head to the side, trying to spot exactly which house they were due to hit next. "We could still catch up to them," he quietly offered, risking a glance back to Buffy.

[theslayer_buffy]

Buffy pinched the bridge of her nose as the bickering old ladies continued. She wasn't even going to touch the 'bits' comment from Spike, even though it was oh-so-directly aimed at the both of them and their inability to have anything more than a kissing relationship. Not that she and Angel had any kind of relationship right now, right? Ugh, this was too much for her head lately.

But, honestly, there were only so many times she could call Spike a pig before it lost all meaning.

"Jollies? Please," she rolled her eyes. Okay, maybe she was a little more obvious than she had meant to be with that. "'Cause nothing would give me greater pleasure than watching you two kick each other's ass for my sake." Okay, she really wasn't even convincing herself anymore. She should just stop trying at this point.

As they both agreed on the raincheck, she let her brow raise at the comment from Angel, "Mountain Dew?" she asked cautiously. Of course, he could explain or just let it be. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the details.

A hint of amusement came into her features as she noticed Angel seemed wary to even look her in the face after her ultimatum. Good to know she was still a little scary. Or hadn't lost some of her touch. Metaphorically speaking of course. There was never any literally speaking touch when it came to her and Angel. "Yeah, let's get going," she said, turning and heading forward after the baby Slayers, "They gotta be turning in soon," she said, then quietly mumbled, "And I could really use a drink now."

[can_we_rest_now]

Spike didn't bother to hide the rather large grin that spread across his face as Angel tried to retaliate, only to notice that his beloved Slayer was laying down the law. He would have chanted something in a sing-song voice about Angel being in trouble, but what the hell? Let Buffy deal with him as she saw fit. He'd probably enjoy that anyway.

Speaking of enjoyment, Spike shot Buffy a sideways glance as she made a failed attempt at sarcasm. "Well, at least you're honest with yourself about your pleasure points, love," he told her, wondering just how honest she actually was at this point. True, whatever flames of love he'd felt for her had long since cooled down, but that didn't mean he'd grown tired of watching her squirm. Especially not when he knew for a fact that kicking ass was the equivalent of foreplay with her. Watching he and Angel beat one another down? Hell, for all he knew, it was Buffy's twisted version of porn. Spike could live with that.

He shot Angel a glance, wondering how far he could push a detailed explanation about the Mountain Dew before Angel snapped. Much as he enjoyed watching that happen and wouldn't mind a good fight, he'd rather not get Buffy mixed up in it. Too many old feelings, both in terms of emotions and in terms of the way it'd feel to get that wildcat side of her unleashed during a fight again. Best not to stir that pot when there were mini-Slayers about.

"Beat him in a fight fair and square," Spike contented himself with saying. "And I got me a gulp of Mountain Dew as my reward. Now let's go keep watch on the kiddies and make sure they get off to bed at a decent hour."