16. Voice

[stakesthings]

I was thinking. It's about time I got out of the community apartment and struck out on my own. It's important for... independence and... the right to change the color of my walls, because seriously? I think I can do better

Comments

PRIVATE

[atonementsucks]

I'll be there. Fully expecting the place to be crashed by a big slimy Hell beast once we're all in the same room together, but there.

[that's a joke. kind of. ...he'll bring a sharp thing just in case, okay.]

I'm doing all right. Just glad I could help with the-- uh. w-wiggling. I mean, it's...

Being back on the streets, in the middle of things. I kinda missed it, honestly.

PRIVATE

[stakesthings]

If a slimy Hell Beast must occur, I can't think of a better crashing place than the Foxhole.

[...yeah, her too.]

But yeah, I can see the missing. You were always a more hands on kind of guy.

[!!!]

I mean, with demons.

Or... elves. Or, you know. Killing things. I mean killer-type things.

[Gosh. She rubs her face.]

I just mean. I can't see you in an office. It's kind of.. brainbreaky.

PRIVATE

[atonementsucks]

Assuming it's not just a customer.

[wow that is a whole mess of awkward talking there Buffy.]

I...

Well. It was a really nice office. Evil architecture notwithstanding. If I hadn't needed it, though... It's just good to get back to my roots.

[...]

Not... too far back, though. The good roots. With all the helping people.

PRIVATE

[stakesthings]

It's like that old bar back in Sunnydale all over again.

...the architecture was evil?

PRIVATE

[atonementsucks]

I remember that place. I guess there's... not much point in asking whatever happened to it, huh.

...

It was a law office. I assume it was structurally immoral.

Plus they had that extra-dimensional room with a contact for the Senior Partners and... without getting too much into it? Evil.

Really liked the windows, though.

PRIVATE

[stakesthings]

Down into the Hellmouth with the rest of the town. Kaboom. Gone.

[She pauses for a moment, thinking about that.]

You know, I never much figured you for a windows kind of guy. Uh, probably the whole... thing where I once pulled the drapes open and you started steaming.

Kind of sticks with a girl.

[...]

...then again, I never figured elves for cannibals either, so I guess that shows what I know.

[...]

If you're a bat, what kind of animal is Spike?

PRIVATE

[atonementsucks]

They were specially made. The windows. Kind of important to keep the boss from--

[...hang on.]

...being a bat? What?

What does Spike have to do with me being a bat-- which, by the way, I'm not. Still.

PRIVATE

[stakesthings]

What about an albino bat? It's fitting.

PRIVATE

[atonementsucks]

Is this a vampire thing? I thought we'd been over this.

...I'm not albino!

PRIVATE

[stakesthings]

Not you. Spike! Because of the hair.

You get to be a normal bat because, you know, you're all billowy. That coat is almost like a cape which could, in theory, be used as a substitute for bat wings. Plus your hair sticks up.

Like ears.

[She makes a gesture on top of her head to indicate vertical hair.]

PRIVATE

[atonementsucks]

[Now he looks confused and he's trying to pat his hair down. Thanks Buffy.]

Why?

PRIVATE | 1/???

[stakesthings]

Spike mentioned otters. Something about less ambiguous than humans and-- OH.

He meant the food! I...

PRIVATE 2/??

[stakesthings]

[Face of shock.]

PRIVATE | 3/??

[stakesthings]

[Face of dismay.]

PRIVATE | 4/???

[stakesthings]

[Face that says she's skipping lunch later, thanks Spike.]

PRIVATE | 4/5

[stakesthings]

[Face that says exactly what she says, herself, which is...]

Wow. Talk about your unpleasant reminder of the kingdom of the elves. You know what? Let's talk about something else.