NOTE: Much of the second part is taken directly from Entropy, written by
Drew Z. Greenberg.
"That's when life was simple," Anya moaned. "You knew the way things were supposed to be. People got what they deserved."
"No luck with Xander I take it?"
"No, they're all, oh, poor Xander, it took so much out of him, all that running away he did. I just don't understand what's wrong with these people."
"Did you really think they were the ones to help you?"
"But-"
"Do you want retribution, Anyanka?"
"I want Xander good and cursed."
"Then you know what you have to do."
"Get a wish from someone who doesn't freaking love him."
"Exactly."
"Yeah, but my social circle is a little limited here. What I am supposed to do? Just stumble upon someone who doesn't give a fig's ass if Xander gets hurt?"
The bell rang, the door opened, and there he was. She would play it cool, see how he reacted.
"Hey. I need a thing."
"So…what's your pleasure?"
"Fresh out of pleasure. That's why I'm here. I need something. Numbing spell, maybe?"
"Uh huh. Hang on."
She pulled Halfrek aside. As usual, Anya's thoughts had strayed to herself.
"Oh my God. He hates Xander. Maybe I could get him to wish – dammit! If only he were a woman." She paused for a moment. "Okay, got it! If I can somehow get someone to wish that Spike were a woman, then I go to him, well, he'd be a her by then, go to her and get her to go-"
"Anyanka. There's an easier way. I know you've got this whole Female Power, Take Back the Night thing, and I think that's cute, but I've been telling you for decades men need a little vengeance now and then, too."
"Oh."
"Maybe this is your chance to try it out." She walked towards the door. It was getting late. "So, you know. Good luck. With that whole…thing."
Outside it was dark and damp and far from the warmth of "The Magic Box." After leaving her only friend, she felt more alone than she ever had before. She's always known that she will never fully be accepted. There is nothing she can do to change her past. But maybe there's hope. Maybe one day, he can truly forgive her.
"I'm sorry," she said to her toes.
It was a start.
"That's when life was simple," Anya moaned. "You knew the way things were supposed to be. People got what they deserved."
"No luck with Xander I take it?"
"No, they're all, oh, poor Xander, it took so much out of him, all that running away he did. I just don't understand what's wrong with these people."
"Did you really think they were the ones to help you?"
"But-"
"Do you want retribution, Anyanka?"
"I want Xander good and cursed."
"Then you know what you have to do."
"Get a wish from someone who doesn't freaking love him."
"Exactly."
"Yeah, but my social circle is a little limited here. What I am supposed to do? Just stumble upon someone who doesn't give a fig's ass if Xander gets hurt?"
The bell rang, the door opened, and there he was. She would play it cool, see how he reacted.
"Hey. I need a thing."
"So…what's your pleasure?"
"Fresh out of pleasure. That's why I'm here. I need something. Numbing spell, maybe?"
"Uh huh. Hang on."
She pulled Halfrek aside. As usual, Anya's thoughts had strayed to herself.
"Oh my God. He hates Xander. Maybe I could get him to wish – dammit! If only he were a woman." She paused for a moment. "Okay, got it! If I can somehow get someone to wish that Spike were a woman, then I go to him, well, he'd be a her by then, go to her and get her to go-"
"Anyanka. There's an easier way. I know you've got this whole Female Power, Take Back the Night thing, and I think that's cute, but I've been telling you for decades men need a little vengeance now and then, too."
"Oh."
"Maybe this is your chance to try it out." She walked towards the door. It was getting late. "So, you know. Good luck. With that whole…thing."
Outside it was dark and damp and far from the warmth of "The Magic Box." After leaving her only friend, she felt more alone than she ever had before. She's always known that she will never fully be accepted. There is nothing she can do to change her past. But maybe there's hope. Maybe one day, he can truly forgive her.
"I'm sorry," she said to her toes.
It was a start.