FOOLS FOR LIFE:
CHAPTER 11: THINGS LOOKED UPON
Spike lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling of his crypt. He'd done so for most of the day. Hadn't slept much. Not that vampires really needed sleep, unless they were wounded or underfed, but it was a habit.
Not now though. He had a lot to think about.
She'd come to him.
She'd been right outside his crypt, checking things out. Checking him out. Why? He'd love to answer that question in a certain way. His tired, lovesick mind knew exactly how to interpret all her actions as proof of affection. "Oh she cocked her head to the left today right before she punched me in the nose and told me to bugger off! That means she really wants me!!" had been an old favorite in the beginning. Before she even knew of his..feelings.
Yeah the desperate mind will find clues and evidence in anything. But it rarely had so much to work with as this time! She had told him it was over. And he had felt the truth in it. And she hadn't come to him once after that. Then the thing with Anya, not his brightest move. Well he was drunk and...she had told him to move on. But he really hadn't and really couldn't.
He had contemplated going to her, just to tell her he was sorry for that thing with Anya, and that he was going to leave town or something. But he really couldn't do that either. Well, going to her and telling her sorry was definitely in the cards. And the "I'll just go now" SOUNDED nice and dramatic in his head, but only because in his head there'd be scenarios where she'd somehow go 'Spike, no, don't go!' or something.
Whereas in real life she'd most likely go: "Ok, don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out." Ok probably not. Probably more something like a sad sigh, a non-committal impossible to read-look, and a 'I understand, I think it's for the best." Or something.
Which wasn't really the idea. Because he then wouldn't leave town and he'd look even more stupid. If that was possible.
But then there was last night. Definitely something to work with for the desperate lovesick mind. She had come to him. Hid out on his doorstep. Could be any number of reasons, but...he was pretty sure that when he'd heard her voice and discovered she was there, she'd said 'they're on a date' or something. And she didn't seem all that surprised to see Halfrek. And even better, she seemed annoyed by her presence.
Of course that could just be having a witness to an embarrassing moment, but still....his mind had certainly had less to work with in the past.
And Halfrek. Cecily. There was something he'd never figure would happen. What a small world. And it had been nice actually. Just hanging with her, and her clearly enjoying the tales of his exploits was, if nothing else, at least a nice way to eradicate that old, old humiliation. He felt a little vindicated. He knew it was silly after so long but still. And she'd become quite the demon lady he had to say. Still a little uppity, and he still didn't care for that 'flayed-face' look that vengeance demons sported sometimes but, otherwise, quite a lady.....
And of course the things he'd talked to her about he could never tell Buffy. Even if she decided he was a thing in her life that she liked to keep around these were the things he'd keep his mouth shut about. Had felt good to just talk about it and get a pretty smile instead of a disgusted look.
"Well, I was due," he mumbled to himself and lit a cigarette. "Already had Ms. Halfrek's most disgusted look once." Still, life was strange. He'd had two women whom he'd worshipped and had been rejected by, come to him. Practically at the same time. What a week!
He chuckled to himself. Things were looking up a bit.
Well, in the long run things hadn't changed that much. He was still in love with Buffy and the things of the recent past weren't going anywhere.
But still....she had come to him.
He took another drag from his cigarette and put his hands behind his head. Harsh reality would inevitably butt in again, but for now he let his desperate, lovesick mind wander freely....
** **
Halfrek looked at the people walking past her in the mall. Who to pick? Who to pick...there was a child crying. But no, no good. It was only because he didn't get the ice cream he wanted. No good, she'd been there. It was actually pretty easy to make him wish mommy was buried under a ton of ice cream or something, kids hardly knew what they were saying anyway at that age. But it had been....pointed out to her that as vengeance goes, this was pretty sad. "Not true vengeance. Not worthy of our effort. Not even to up our quotas a bit." D'Hoffryn had said. Giving her a look with that last line.
So she was a little competitive. And she sneaked a few of those kind of wishes in every now and then. Well, not anymore. And it was true, it was a bit pathetic. She was a talented, experienced Vengeance demon in the prime of her life! She could do better. And would, too.
"But mom!" it sounded from a clothing store. Well, couldn't harm to check it out. She could assume the guise of a sales woman or something. Maybe there was some deeper trauma than her not getting the jeans she wanted.
Before she could move, however...
'HALFREK'
It startled her, as ever. She was uneasy on her feet for a moment. A passerby asked her if she was alright. "Oh fine thanks." She said in her sweet voice. Then walked on and sighed. Oh dear. Better find a nice quiet spot. And she'd better hurry, he didn't like it when he had to send a second call.
She walked into the ladies toilet and went into a booth. She sat down and closed her eyes as she started the incantation. "Blessed be, in the name of D'Hoffryn. Let this space be now a gateway ..."
Before she was finished, the world around her had gone dark, and then into pitch black, and she felt the void. She opened her eyes and before her stood the Lord of Vengeance in his robe. His white beard and calm ancient face gave him the look of a wise teacher, but the darkness of his eyes and the horns on his head reminded any who saw him his teachings could only be of the darkest kind.
"You called me D'Hoffryn?" she said, hesitantly.
"Yes, Halfrek, I'd like to have a word with you, if you're not too busy."
"No, no, of course not. Is it...is it about my quota? I know it's not what it should be. This town is just so..happy. And far less creative in their thoughts of revenge than you would hope considering it was built on a Hellmouth." She swallowed.
"I know, Halfrek I know. And I believe I warned you about it when you said you wanted to visit Anyanka and do some work around here at the same time. And that you would have no problem meeting your quotas. Are you telling me you are having problems after all?"
She hesitated. "Well...maybe.."
He sighed. "Halfrek, I always tell all of you, once you pick a spot, go for it. But don't give up so easily when it's not working out, and the pastures weren't as green as you hoped. I appreciate self-confidence but when you commit yourself to a choice I expect you to see it through."
"Yes, I know."
"And I had warned Anyanka when she came here. People living on a Hellmouth are just of a certain breed. Either they like it there, in which case they're not so easily coaxed into something or they're so capable of not seeing the things around them you can barely reach them. And things are fickle and unpredictable in such a place. But no, she knew better, and it cost her all her power. And we lost her for a few years." He sighed. "Well thankfully she rejoined our fold, even though she's still living there." He looked at Halfrek again.
"And now you seem to join her. And I have two of my demons trying their luck there. I wonder sometimes if anyone ever listens to me."
"We listen. And..we're fine. I mean, Anyanka is back on track, and I've just...hit a bit of a snag. It will be fine, I promise."
D'Hoffryn just gave a little 'hm' to that. "Well, we'll see. But that's not even what I wanted to talk to you about, though it is part of it, in a way."
"Oh? What..what is it then?"
"Well now, Anyanka is still in a bit of an 'off-state'. Her failed attempts to get anyone to curse Xander Harris frustrated her only further, and then I see her have a liaison with a vampire!" He looked at Halfrek. "And then I see you seek out that same vampire not a day later. What are you doing Halfrek?"
"D-doing? Nothing, really, I-I just...."
"I appreciate competition between my demons Halfrek, but only to a certain extent. I know you and Anyanka are friends but I also know you two have been trying to outdo each other on more than a few occasions. For a recent example, a certain Slayer's birthday party comes to mind."
Halfrek fiddled with her hair and looked like a little girl. "I-I.."
"Now I sincerely hope you two are not playing some game which has you both involved with the vampire and dragging the Slayer and who knows what else into it. These things get messy. Just seek out people in need of vengeance and give it to them. And stay uninvolved with those people."
"No, really D'Hoffryn! I, I have plans. There is vengeance here. Really. And Spike is the key. That's the only reason I sought him out!"
D'Hoffryn raised one eyebrow. "Really, Halfrek? No other reasons?"
She shuffled her feet, fiddled with her hair again and avoided his eyes. "No, 'course not." she said quietly. "What other reason could there be?"
D'Hoffryn looked on her sternly.
"The fact that he once loved you perhaps?"
She looked up at him as her eyes grew big and she bit her lip. She drew breath to say something but nothing came out. D'Hoffryn folded his arms inside his sleeves as he looked at her.
"Did you really think I wouldn't know?"
** **
TBC!
Now do that R&R thang...
CHAPTER 11: THINGS LOOKED UPON
Spike lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling of his crypt. He'd done so for most of the day. Hadn't slept much. Not that vampires really needed sleep, unless they were wounded or underfed, but it was a habit.
Not now though. He had a lot to think about.
She'd come to him.
She'd been right outside his crypt, checking things out. Checking him out. Why? He'd love to answer that question in a certain way. His tired, lovesick mind knew exactly how to interpret all her actions as proof of affection. "Oh she cocked her head to the left today right before she punched me in the nose and told me to bugger off! That means she really wants me!!" had been an old favorite in the beginning. Before she even knew of his..feelings.
Yeah the desperate mind will find clues and evidence in anything. But it rarely had so much to work with as this time! She had told him it was over. And he had felt the truth in it. And she hadn't come to him once after that. Then the thing with Anya, not his brightest move. Well he was drunk and...she had told him to move on. But he really hadn't and really couldn't.
He had contemplated going to her, just to tell her he was sorry for that thing with Anya, and that he was going to leave town or something. But he really couldn't do that either. Well, going to her and telling her sorry was definitely in the cards. And the "I'll just go now" SOUNDED nice and dramatic in his head, but only because in his head there'd be scenarios where she'd somehow go 'Spike, no, don't go!' or something.
Whereas in real life she'd most likely go: "Ok, don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out." Ok probably not. Probably more something like a sad sigh, a non-committal impossible to read-look, and a 'I understand, I think it's for the best." Or something.
Which wasn't really the idea. Because he then wouldn't leave town and he'd look even more stupid. If that was possible.
But then there was last night. Definitely something to work with for the desperate lovesick mind. She had come to him. Hid out on his doorstep. Could be any number of reasons, but...he was pretty sure that when he'd heard her voice and discovered she was there, she'd said 'they're on a date' or something. And she didn't seem all that surprised to see Halfrek. And even better, she seemed annoyed by her presence.
Of course that could just be having a witness to an embarrassing moment, but still....his mind had certainly had less to work with in the past.
And Halfrek. Cecily. There was something he'd never figure would happen. What a small world. And it had been nice actually. Just hanging with her, and her clearly enjoying the tales of his exploits was, if nothing else, at least a nice way to eradicate that old, old humiliation. He felt a little vindicated. He knew it was silly after so long but still. And she'd become quite the demon lady he had to say. Still a little uppity, and he still didn't care for that 'flayed-face' look that vengeance demons sported sometimes but, otherwise, quite a lady.....
And of course the things he'd talked to her about he could never tell Buffy. Even if she decided he was a thing in her life that she liked to keep around these were the things he'd keep his mouth shut about. Had felt good to just talk about it and get a pretty smile instead of a disgusted look.
"Well, I was due," he mumbled to himself and lit a cigarette. "Already had Ms. Halfrek's most disgusted look once." Still, life was strange. He'd had two women whom he'd worshipped and had been rejected by, come to him. Practically at the same time. What a week!
He chuckled to himself. Things were looking up a bit.
Well, in the long run things hadn't changed that much. He was still in love with Buffy and the things of the recent past weren't going anywhere.
But still....she had come to him.
He took another drag from his cigarette and put his hands behind his head. Harsh reality would inevitably butt in again, but for now he let his desperate, lovesick mind wander freely....
** **
Halfrek looked at the people walking past her in the mall. Who to pick? Who to pick...there was a child crying. But no, no good. It was only because he didn't get the ice cream he wanted. No good, she'd been there. It was actually pretty easy to make him wish mommy was buried under a ton of ice cream or something, kids hardly knew what they were saying anyway at that age. But it had been....pointed out to her that as vengeance goes, this was pretty sad. "Not true vengeance. Not worthy of our effort. Not even to up our quotas a bit." D'Hoffryn had said. Giving her a look with that last line.
So she was a little competitive. And she sneaked a few of those kind of wishes in every now and then. Well, not anymore. And it was true, it was a bit pathetic. She was a talented, experienced Vengeance demon in the prime of her life! She could do better. And would, too.
"But mom!" it sounded from a clothing store. Well, couldn't harm to check it out. She could assume the guise of a sales woman or something. Maybe there was some deeper trauma than her not getting the jeans she wanted.
Before she could move, however...
'HALFREK'
It startled her, as ever. She was uneasy on her feet for a moment. A passerby asked her if she was alright. "Oh fine thanks." She said in her sweet voice. Then walked on and sighed. Oh dear. Better find a nice quiet spot. And she'd better hurry, he didn't like it when he had to send a second call.
She walked into the ladies toilet and went into a booth. She sat down and closed her eyes as she started the incantation. "Blessed be, in the name of D'Hoffryn. Let this space be now a gateway ..."
Before she was finished, the world around her had gone dark, and then into pitch black, and she felt the void. She opened her eyes and before her stood the Lord of Vengeance in his robe. His white beard and calm ancient face gave him the look of a wise teacher, but the darkness of his eyes and the horns on his head reminded any who saw him his teachings could only be of the darkest kind.
"You called me D'Hoffryn?" she said, hesitantly.
"Yes, Halfrek, I'd like to have a word with you, if you're not too busy."
"No, no, of course not. Is it...is it about my quota? I know it's not what it should be. This town is just so..happy. And far less creative in their thoughts of revenge than you would hope considering it was built on a Hellmouth." She swallowed.
"I know, Halfrek I know. And I believe I warned you about it when you said you wanted to visit Anyanka and do some work around here at the same time. And that you would have no problem meeting your quotas. Are you telling me you are having problems after all?"
She hesitated. "Well...maybe.."
He sighed. "Halfrek, I always tell all of you, once you pick a spot, go for it. But don't give up so easily when it's not working out, and the pastures weren't as green as you hoped. I appreciate self-confidence but when you commit yourself to a choice I expect you to see it through."
"Yes, I know."
"And I had warned Anyanka when she came here. People living on a Hellmouth are just of a certain breed. Either they like it there, in which case they're not so easily coaxed into something or they're so capable of not seeing the things around them you can barely reach them. And things are fickle and unpredictable in such a place. But no, she knew better, and it cost her all her power. And we lost her for a few years." He sighed. "Well thankfully she rejoined our fold, even though she's still living there." He looked at Halfrek again.
"And now you seem to join her. And I have two of my demons trying their luck there. I wonder sometimes if anyone ever listens to me."
"We listen. And..we're fine. I mean, Anyanka is back on track, and I've just...hit a bit of a snag. It will be fine, I promise."
D'Hoffryn just gave a little 'hm' to that. "Well, we'll see. But that's not even what I wanted to talk to you about, though it is part of it, in a way."
"Oh? What..what is it then?"
"Well now, Anyanka is still in a bit of an 'off-state'. Her failed attempts to get anyone to curse Xander Harris frustrated her only further, and then I see her have a liaison with a vampire!" He looked at Halfrek. "And then I see you seek out that same vampire not a day later. What are you doing Halfrek?"
"D-doing? Nothing, really, I-I just...."
"I appreciate competition between my demons Halfrek, but only to a certain extent. I know you and Anyanka are friends but I also know you two have been trying to outdo each other on more than a few occasions. For a recent example, a certain Slayer's birthday party comes to mind."
Halfrek fiddled with her hair and looked like a little girl. "I-I.."
"Now I sincerely hope you two are not playing some game which has you both involved with the vampire and dragging the Slayer and who knows what else into it. These things get messy. Just seek out people in need of vengeance and give it to them. And stay uninvolved with those people."
"No, really D'Hoffryn! I, I have plans. There is vengeance here. Really. And Spike is the key. That's the only reason I sought him out!"
D'Hoffryn raised one eyebrow. "Really, Halfrek? No other reasons?"
She shuffled her feet, fiddled with her hair again and avoided his eyes. "No, 'course not." she said quietly. "What other reason could there be?"
D'Hoffryn looked on her sternly.
"The fact that he once loved you perhaps?"
She looked up at him as her eyes grew big and she bit her lip. She drew breath to say something but nothing came out. D'Hoffryn folded his arms inside his sleeves as he looked at her.
"Did you really think I wouldn't know?"
** **
TBC!
Now do that R&R thang...
