third staking ✝ [ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ] ✝ count bodies like sheep ✝ { SUPERbackdated. to the 21st. got mod's okay }

[slayery]

That makes numero tres for death count. And again with the lack of permanence.

[ It's not really... clear where she's sitting, but she's sitting with her device on the ground next to her feet, angled up toward her, arms resting loosely on propped up knees, just kind of... looking off and trying not to think too hard. And, so far? Death's got like

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locked;

[idolstolemylook]

Buffy.

[He looks awful. And like he's going to cry. But also been on a bender.

Which he has.]

Buffy, d'you need me? I'll come get you. Don't... don't move.

locked;

[slayery]

[ She sees him. Hears him.

... Broken. Just like last time. Only this time, it... really means a lot to her. A lot more than it did before. Souls are a big factor for her, okay?

Buffy shakes her head. ]

I'll be fine. [ Pause. ] Maybe some coffee for when I get home?

locked;

[idolstolemylook]

[He tries to pull himself together, because no, it's not pretty, he knows that. And he doesn't want her out of his sight.]

Yeah. Could probably figure that out.

[He swallows.]

You're okay.

locked;

[slayery]

Filter. Grounds. Water, preferably hot. [ She gives him a sheepish smile. ]

... I'm alive. And surprisingly lacking in big gaping wounds that I should probably still have.

locked;

[idolstolemylook]

Oh. Well, that's good.

[There are too many things going on, he can't just switch it off because she seems to be fine.]

Yeah I'll... make coffee. Seen it done, a few times. You just... be careful, yeah?

locked;

[slayery]

I'm just walking home. I'll be fine. [ She even gets up and starts moving, and gives him a tiny smile, just to make him feel better. ] See? No sudden re-death.

locked;

[idolstolemylook]

[Spike looks a little unable to take her joking right now, but he pushes that away.]

I know, love, I just... Want to make sure I'm not dreaming.

locked;

[slayery]

You're not. I promise you're not. [ Okay, sorry, it's serious time. ] ... How long?

locked;

[idolstolemylook]

Two days. Three. I think. I'll...

[Spike gets up, starts looking around.]

Clean up before you get here.

locked;

[slayery]

... Clean up? [ :( ] Spike, what happened? What did you do? [ And we're walking, we're walking... ]

locked;

[idolstolemylook]

Nothin', nothin'. Everything's fine.

[Spike leaves the device where it is and there's the clink of bottles being gathered. And there might be just a little blood on the sofa, from when Spike was too gone to care about his own wounds. He's gotten very good at functional alcoholism so he can tidy--he's not entirely sloshed right now, just the edge off.]

Didn't touch your stuff, 'f that's what you mean.

[Better toss that t-shirt back into her room, then. Might be a little blood on that, too.]

locked;

[slayery]

Why don't I believe you? [ Because it sounds like you brought a bar home. B| ]

That's not what I mean. I mean you. Are you okay?

locked;

[idolstolemylook]

[Spike stumbles back into view, peering at the screen.]

Fine, Slayer. Fine. Just, ah. Entertainin'. While you were away.

locked;

[slayery]

[ Entertaining. ... Right. So that stings a little, but they're not a thing. Right? Okay right. So she just defaults to sarcasm. ] Who, Kurt Cobain?

locked;

[idolstolemylook]

[Yeah, and it stings a little that she doesn't know what he's been through, doesn't know what all this means, and he's not going to spell it out.

Not yet, anyway. Let him have his moment of spite amidst the relief.]

Yeah, he got here while you were away, been trashin' up the place. Didn't think you'd mind.

locked;

[slayery]

Spike. [ That mom voice. ] Be serious. Are you okay?