[043] - audio & action

[slaying]

Killing sprees, huh? That's so last season.

[Buffy sighs, and the journal picks up the gentle clinking of glasses.] Well, I'm a bit more used to--y'know--beating up bartenders for info but now that I am one? Hmm. If anyone's got some juicy knowledge on the murders, swing by Good Spirits and give a girl a hand with her investigating, okay?

[

Comments

[ voice ] 1/3

[univalent]

Oh, how delightfully nineties of them. [ /sarcasm. ] We doing anything about--

[ voice ] 2/3

[univalent]

[ sound of grumbling and then a door slamming. ]

[ action ] 3/3

[univalent]

[ and not too long after that, you have one slightly smoldering blanket-covered vampire stepping into good spirits. he tosses the blanket aside, not caring where it lands, and storms over to where buffy's at. ]

Just what the bloody hell do you think you're doing?

[ action ]

[slaying]

Well, certainly not being so stupid as to turn myself into some kind of glam-goth birthday candle. You probably shouldn't go leaving that on the floor--you might burn the whole place down.

[Hello, Spike.]

[ action ]

[univalent]

[ he draws in a deep, unnecessary breath, holds it for a moment, then huffs it out in irritation as he stomps back over to where the blanket lays, gives it a shake and a few beats against the nearest wall, then drops it onto a stool as he re-approaches her, giving her a "happy?" sort of look. ]

As I was saying, what do you think you're doing? Asking for information over those enchanted books, might as well be standing in the town square shoutin' about it while wearing a nice sign that says, "While you're at it, kill me, too."

[ action ]

[slaying]

I already know who the kill-happy guys are. [She answers, quickly and insistently. Her voice dropped to somewhere closer to a whisper.]

This is one of those flush'em out into the open tricks--y'know?

[ action ]

[univalent]

Right, so then they'll come out into the open in your general direction and you'll what? Throw one of those girly little punches of yours at them?

[ action ]

[slaying]

There's two of them, right? But one of them won't let that happen. He won't try and tackle me until I'm back to fighting fit. He's too peachy keen for the challenge.

[In fact, Buffy suspects that's why she wasn't one of the targeted victims.]

[ action ]

[univalent]

[ spike doesn't look as convinced. he lowers his voice as well. ]

Buffy, you're powerless. If they try anything, go against whatever this reasoning you seem to think they have is, you won't stand a chance.

[ action ]

[slaying]

Kadaj has had at least three chances to take me down, and he hasn't. I've got to use that to my advantage.

[The part she's not telling you is how one of those chances involved a love spell. And even then, the love spell chance ended in bruised ribs.]

[ action ]

[univalent]

Need I remind you that I had similar opportunities back in the day? Not really making much of a case for this Kadaj here, love.

[ action ]

[slaying]

And look how that turned out and how many time you didn't kill me.

[An undignified dig on your villain status? Probably. Buffy's getting a little worked up. Working strategics without the heat to back it up had her a little flustered. Ergo, coping mechanism:] So do you want a drink, or what?

[ action ]

[univalent]

[ that gets an unpleasant look out of him. he holds up a hand and starts counting off on his fingers. ] First off, your mother hit me in the head with an axe. Second, I had a bloody chip in my head thanks to your ex-tumble and his underground organization with answering machines at the florist. Third-- [ he stops and instead points at her accusingly. ] We're not talking about the third. Or, I could. [ and he raises his voice. ] Really loudly!

[ that drink offer goes ignored, for now. ]

[ action ]

[slaying]

Pre-chip and pre-that, you had your stint as Mister-Daylight-Vamp and you still couldn't take me down. Face it, Spike. I'm pretty much on top.

[And that innuendo was totally unexpected, unintended, and unwanted.]

[ action ]

[univalent]

Oh, you pretty much were a good ninety-nine percent of the time.

[ oh, but it was made and matched. you walked right into that one, buffy. ]

And yet, I could take you down right now if I wanted to and get a free, live meal while I'm at it. Do you see me attacking you? No. Not on that side anymore, which people are still having trouble comprehending. [ /bitter ] I'm not attacking, I'm stopping to care, angry, because I care, because I lo--

[ he pauses. not going there. that's related to that and something he's trying to work on. no need to break that resolve here of all places, nevermind at all. he clears his throat. ]

Look pet, I don't want you doing anything stupid and getting yourself into something you can't handle right now. And don't say you're not that reckless, 'cause you and I both know that you are.

[ action ]

[slaying]

[You make things so complicated, Spike. There were so many taboo feelings that sprung up, skimming across the surface of that speech. Violence and anger and caring and other things and she has to cling hard to the bar counter's lip in order to keep it all suppressed in herself, too. Her knuckles are white.]

If I'd been even at half-strength the first three times I've gone toe-to-toe with Kadaj, maybe I would've taught him a thing or two about boundaries. Specifically, whose he shouldn't cross. [Buffy maintains her strong whisper, for decorum's sake. Her underlying implication is that had she been able to stop one of the brothers earlier, perhaps no one would have been murdered at all. It's her classic martyr act. Poor bleeding Buffy, always suspecting that she's a the centre of all evil acts.]

It pays to be reckless. I know it, and I know that you know it.