So after my Rhett Butler impression we get outside and she perks up. So I
help her stand up and we go across to the hotel. I sit her in her room with
a coke from the mini-bar, and go next-door to write a note to Giles. Not an
easy one, what with worrying about all that weird stuff. It takes a while.
But I know he needs to know what happened to help her. I take the hat and
return to my girl.
The coke's worked. She laughs.
"It's purple! Why are you wearing a purple hat?"
Grr.Arggh. "Blame Watcher-Boy, he insisted. Incognito and no sunburn an all that! Besides you don't get away scot-free!" I pick up a headscarf draped over the chair and put it on her. "Dad's fault, right luv?"
"No fair!"
"Least we agree on something. Come on. Lunch!" Girl needs a bit of meat on her bones. I need a fag…badly.
"Fresh air first?"
"OK, pet. Nile sound good to you?"
It did and we braved the traffic and slavering hoards of pedestrians, hawkers and there it was. The Nile.
"You know luv. Done most of the big rivers in my time. Played dominoes on the river boats of the Amazon. Had fun with the 'gators and voodoo priestesses on the Mississippi. Lived and died near Old Father Thames. Danced on the bridges over the Seine. Even went for a dip in the Ganges."
"Knew you were nuts!"
"Upper reaches, pet. Still pretty fast. Not totally gone. But this is special. You being here, an all. Walk with me?" I offer an arm like Mama taught me so long ago. Surprises don't stop. She takes it and we walk beside the river.
"It's bluer in daylight."
"Colours change. Lot's of things change." I certainly have.
"You have. I still can't get over seeing you in daylight, and no flaming blankets in sight! Though that hat!"
"Certainly have luv. Much prefer this to last time we were in the sun though. Said some nasty things. They weren't fair. Was jealous of that tosser, I 'spose. Didn't realise it at the time."
"S'OK. Maybe my thing about you losing a bet to be with Harmony was a bit…harsh? No. Not the right word. But, hey, not good at being talky girl"
"You were pretty right about it though." Really must swear off drinking too much at some point. Especially after being dumped. That was a bad hangover to wake up to when combined with excessive Harm perkiness.
"Not the worst though."
Oh bugger. Don't think I can do that part of the talk. Not ready, nope, definitely not ready. But, if I have to get down on my knees right here on the Corniche in front of everyone I'll do it.
"The Judge! Spike what were you thinking! Especially with all the Acathla helpage. I've never understood that one."
There is a deity looking after de-chipped, re-tuned vampires with issues.
"I was depressed!"
She's just looking at me. Enormous eyes she's got.
"Dru wanted the bits. Could never bear to let the woman I loved down. Couldn't do it for 147 days, spent over a century doing it for Dru. Besides, knew you'd take Big Blue Smurf down. Would have loved to see you with the grenade launcher! Hey! Why didn't we use it on that bitch Glory?"
"Xander took it back to the base, and he can't remember the access codes anymore."
"Always knew he was a waste of space."
"Play nice!"
"OK, I'll try. Come on luv, lunch! Local cuisine an all that. Then prezzie shopping for the bit!"
I hailed a cab and told the guy to take us to the Khan el Khalili bazaar. We drove past the skyscrapers and a traffic island with a huge statue of Ramses. Pretty sure must be Ramses - most statues in Egypt seem to be, least they were when I was down in Luxor last time I was here. She's holding hard onto my arm. No seatbelts and her first experience of third world driving conditions she's doing well. Hasn't started gibbering yet.
A number of missed lights, near misses with pedestrians and donkeys later we get there. The roads got seriously narrow. With all the stalls and people milling around driver did a good job, and achieved a zero body count. Will deserve a little baksheesh.
I tell the guy to stop at a tea-house first. Gonna need some caffeine before introducing Buffy to the delights of haggling as an integral part of the shopping experience. Don't want her breaking her "I don't kill humans except as self defence from loony Knights, duck. Or worse, me.
We get a table. She's still stressed and hasn't let go of the leather yet. Got the thousand yard stare of culture shock. It's not easy but I manage to get her sat down. Bit of a change from the Sunnydale Mall though, must admit. Love it!
It's all men sitting in the café, overlooking the busy shoppers. Women must be out doing all the work. Way the world's always worked I suppose. Not fair neither. Blokes in here, and on the streets, are wearing a mixture of western clothes and the long robes and headgear. Since it's bloody hot must be cooler in the robes. Donkeys and cars both taking over the narrow street, but there seems to be an underlying order to the wonderful chaos. Can't see any tourists. Should be able to get some good stuff if I can get Buffy to be patient enough to haggle properly. That might be tough.
She's eases her grip long enough for me to give the order to the waiter. Order her a mango juice, can't be healthy drinking all that coke all the time. and get coffee and a sheesha for me.
As the drinks and water pipe arrive the stirr we caused by walking in passes and the blokes return to chatting, smoking, and playing backgammon.
"You're smoking a bong!"
"Sheesha pet, not a Hookah. Tobacco soaked in honey and taken through a water pipe. Lovely and smooth. Haven't had it for years. Can try if you want?"
"World of no. Is it good?"
"Superb, and was in dire need."
"Hooker? Strange names here?"
"No pet. Hookah with an h. Hash smokin' toy, rather than lady of easy virtue."
"It's all so strange. All the people, those thin towery things"
"Minarets luv."
"The smells."
"Takes me right back."
"Uh"
"Eau de donkey here. Horses and carriages when I was growin' up. Look pretty on the telly, but…"
"All the stalls! All those herbs and spices. Tara…"
Tearing up again. Know how she feels. Glinda would enjoy herself here, I think. Loved art and remember talking with her over the summer about some of the places I'd been, and some of the things I've seen over the years. She'd have loved the museum and been in her element browsing the heaps of spices. Made great cakes too. Miss her.
"I know. Miss her too. We'll enjoy it for her, pet. Tara." And we raised our drinks to the good witch.
"Watcha drinking. Not beer and doesn't look like tea. Neither a Spike nor an Englishman drink?"
"Turkish coffee luv. Strongest in the world, they say. Dunno. Tried cafezinhos in Brazil, expressos in Milan, might be right. Tea's too strong and too sugary here. Besides Brits don't just drink tea! That's cultural stereotyping! That is! But this sets you right up. Try some?"
"UH, Grit!" She grabbs her juice and drains it. I motion the waiter for more.
"Gotta take it slow. Sip, Let things settle down. Then it's great. Lots of shopping energy."
"Great, hyper-caffeinated Spike. But that means lots of bag carrying energy right?"
"Yep, but food first. Some nice kebabs ok?"
They were, so we munched away and soaked in the atmosphere. No more fainting fits, now we were away from the museum. Hope Rupert got the note. Hope he's gonna be ok. This thing with Anyanka ain't gonna be easy on his worldview, and the practicalities are gonna be tough too. Know he loves her though. See it every time he looks at her. But I hope they can make it. We're gonna. Eventually.
The coke's worked. She laughs.
"It's purple! Why are you wearing a purple hat?"
Grr.Arggh. "Blame Watcher-Boy, he insisted. Incognito and no sunburn an all that! Besides you don't get away scot-free!" I pick up a headscarf draped over the chair and put it on her. "Dad's fault, right luv?"
"No fair!"
"Least we agree on something. Come on. Lunch!" Girl needs a bit of meat on her bones. I need a fag…badly.
"Fresh air first?"
"OK, pet. Nile sound good to you?"
It did and we braved the traffic and slavering hoards of pedestrians, hawkers and there it was. The Nile.
"You know luv. Done most of the big rivers in my time. Played dominoes on the river boats of the Amazon. Had fun with the 'gators and voodoo priestesses on the Mississippi. Lived and died near Old Father Thames. Danced on the bridges over the Seine. Even went for a dip in the Ganges."
"Knew you were nuts!"
"Upper reaches, pet. Still pretty fast. Not totally gone. But this is special. You being here, an all. Walk with me?" I offer an arm like Mama taught me so long ago. Surprises don't stop. She takes it and we walk beside the river.
"It's bluer in daylight."
"Colours change. Lot's of things change." I certainly have.
"You have. I still can't get over seeing you in daylight, and no flaming blankets in sight! Though that hat!"
"Certainly have luv. Much prefer this to last time we were in the sun though. Said some nasty things. They weren't fair. Was jealous of that tosser, I 'spose. Didn't realise it at the time."
"S'OK. Maybe my thing about you losing a bet to be with Harmony was a bit…harsh? No. Not the right word. But, hey, not good at being talky girl"
"You were pretty right about it though." Really must swear off drinking too much at some point. Especially after being dumped. That was a bad hangover to wake up to when combined with excessive Harm perkiness.
"Not the worst though."
Oh bugger. Don't think I can do that part of the talk. Not ready, nope, definitely not ready. But, if I have to get down on my knees right here on the Corniche in front of everyone I'll do it.
"The Judge! Spike what were you thinking! Especially with all the Acathla helpage. I've never understood that one."
There is a deity looking after de-chipped, re-tuned vampires with issues.
"I was depressed!"
She's just looking at me. Enormous eyes she's got.
"Dru wanted the bits. Could never bear to let the woman I loved down. Couldn't do it for 147 days, spent over a century doing it for Dru. Besides, knew you'd take Big Blue Smurf down. Would have loved to see you with the grenade launcher! Hey! Why didn't we use it on that bitch Glory?"
"Xander took it back to the base, and he can't remember the access codes anymore."
"Always knew he was a waste of space."
"Play nice!"
"OK, I'll try. Come on luv, lunch! Local cuisine an all that. Then prezzie shopping for the bit!"
I hailed a cab and told the guy to take us to the Khan el Khalili bazaar. We drove past the skyscrapers and a traffic island with a huge statue of Ramses. Pretty sure must be Ramses - most statues in Egypt seem to be, least they were when I was down in Luxor last time I was here. She's holding hard onto my arm. No seatbelts and her first experience of third world driving conditions she's doing well. Hasn't started gibbering yet.
A number of missed lights, near misses with pedestrians and donkeys later we get there. The roads got seriously narrow. With all the stalls and people milling around driver did a good job, and achieved a zero body count. Will deserve a little baksheesh.
I tell the guy to stop at a tea-house first. Gonna need some caffeine before introducing Buffy to the delights of haggling as an integral part of the shopping experience. Don't want her breaking her "I don't kill humans except as self defence from loony Knights, duck. Or worse, me.
We get a table. She's still stressed and hasn't let go of the leather yet. Got the thousand yard stare of culture shock. It's not easy but I manage to get her sat down. Bit of a change from the Sunnydale Mall though, must admit. Love it!
It's all men sitting in the café, overlooking the busy shoppers. Women must be out doing all the work. Way the world's always worked I suppose. Not fair neither. Blokes in here, and on the streets, are wearing a mixture of western clothes and the long robes and headgear. Since it's bloody hot must be cooler in the robes. Donkeys and cars both taking over the narrow street, but there seems to be an underlying order to the wonderful chaos. Can't see any tourists. Should be able to get some good stuff if I can get Buffy to be patient enough to haggle properly. That might be tough.
She's eases her grip long enough for me to give the order to the waiter. Order her a mango juice, can't be healthy drinking all that coke all the time. and get coffee and a sheesha for me.
As the drinks and water pipe arrive the stirr we caused by walking in passes and the blokes return to chatting, smoking, and playing backgammon.
"You're smoking a bong!"
"Sheesha pet, not a Hookah. Tobacco soaked in honey and taken through a water pipe. Lovely and smooth. Haven't had it for years. Can try if you want?"
"World of no. Is it good?"
"Superb, and was in dire need."
"Hooker? Strange names here?"
"No pet. Hookah with an h. Hash smokin' toy, rather than lady of easy virtue."
"It's all so strange. All the people, those thin towery things"
"Minarets luv."
"The smells."
"Takes me right back."
"Uh"
"Eau de donkey here. Horses and carriages when I was growin' up. Look pretty on the telly, but…"
"All the stalls! All those herbs and spices. Tara…"
Tearing up again. Know how she feels. Glinda would enjoy herself here, I think. Loved art and remember talking with her over the summer about some of the places I'd been, and some of the things I've seen over the years. She'd have loved the museum and been in her element browsing the heaps of spices. Made great cakes too. Miss her.
"I know. Miss her too. We'll enjoy it for her, pet. Tara." And we raised our drinks to the good witch.
"Watcha drinking. Not beer and doesn't look like tea. Neither a Spike nor an Englishman drink?"
"Turkish coffee luv. Strongest in the world, they say. Dunno. Tried cafezinhos in Brazil, expressos in Milan, might be right. Tea's too strong and too sugary here. Besides Brits don't just drink tea! That's cultural stereotyping! That is! But this sets you right up. Try some?"
"UH, Grit!" She grabbs her juice and drains it. I motion the waiter for more.
"Gotta take it slow. Sip, Let things settle down. Then it's great. Lots of shopping energy."
"Great, hyper-caffeinated Spike. But that means lots of bag carrying energy right?"
"Yep, but food first. Some nice kebabs ok?"
They were, so we munched away and soaked in the atmosphere. No more fainting fits, now we were away from the museum. Hope Rupert got the note. Hope he's gonna be ok. This thing with Anyanka ain't gonna be easy on his worldview, and the practicalities are gonna be tough too. Know he loves her though. See it every time he looks at her. But I hope they can make it. We're gonna. Eventually.
