Title: One Time At The Magic Box, chapter 4
Author: Brin Londo5
Email: ogreblood@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: All Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel: the Series characters belong to Joss Wheadon, all hail the Joss-meister. Whoever owns American Pie and its characters, sure isn't me. No cash is being made, so there. Music is by Billy Idol, the Sex Pistols, the Bangles, Bonnie Tyler, and the Bloodhound gang. Any other music you imagine is being mangled by the patrons of the Bronze this night is owned by their prospective owners, and is probably being sung off-key, to boot.
"Don't need a knife to violate my life, It's all so insane,
Oh, but when the other man has none You don't need a gun; Yes, and Russian roulette's no fun, I don't need a gun, I just need someone. . .
I don't need a gun"
Spike roared into the microphone as the crowd at the Bronze cheered at his Billy Idol impersonation, before he slipped into the Sex Pistol's Anarchy In the UK. Then the punk fans in the crowd went entirely wild, while the Lillith Fair crowd got bored.
"Hmph. I take it back, Buff, he's actually pretty good." Xander winced at the grin she gave him, then he shook his head and turned to where Chris Ostrieger and Stifler stood looking over the karaoke list. "Hey, what do you guys think?"
"Yeah, he's good. Y'know, this place has a pretty varied tune list. Not bad." Jim said, an arm around Michelle.
"Dude, you see what I see?" Stifler asked with a grin.
"Yeah, I do. You up for it?" Chris counter-asked.
"Do monkeys fling shit? Damn straight, Lacrosse Boy!"
Spike gave a cocky smirk as he returned to the group, wedging himself between Buffy and Xander.
"Bloody well like to see any o' you lot top that." The vampire grinned, tousling the construction worker's hair, and ignoring his outraged 'Hey!' "Sometime's, a sense o' showmanship's what it takes to keep minions in line."
"Sure, Spike. Personally, I think you're a massive ham." Buffy said, sipping on her rum-and-coke. Before Spike could come up with a comeback, more music started up, and a familiar voice came from the stage.
"I love it in your room at night
You're the only one who gets through to me
In the warm glow of the candlelight
Oh, I wonder what you're gonna do to me?"
Willow's voice rang out through the room, and Buffy, Xander, and Spike all stared at the stage where Willow and Tara stood, crooning into the microphone to the Bangle's.
Tara- "I love it in your room all day When you're gone I like to try on all your clothes You won't regret it if you let me stay I'll teach you everything that a girl should know."
Michelle and Jim hooted and cheered at the pair, and the audience joined in, roaring in approval. Willow blushed, but Tara caught her eyes until she joined back in again.
As the song ended, Stifler and Oz climbed up onto the stage as a crunching guitar riff began jamming in the background, then both adopted kung-fu poses at each other, then Chris mouthed "You must DIE! I alone am best!" in a perfect bad chop-sockey dubbing imitation.
"I hope ya flip some guy the bird
He cuts you off and you're forced to swerve
In front of the Beatles' tour bus
A Bookmobile and a Mack truck
Hauling hazardous biological waste
The light turns red you have no brakes
And "Hard Copy" gets it all on tape
So you can see the look on your face!"
The crowd cracked up as the pair began performing the Bloodhound Gang's 'I Hope You Die' with an insane relish. Stifler took the next verse, and then Jim jumped onto the stage, causing the crowd to roar with laughter as he sang the last verse, finishing with
"And when you finally regain consciousness
You're bound and gagged in a wedding dress
And the prison guard looks the other way
'Cause he's the guy ya flipped the bird the other day!"
Spike spilled half his drink as he pumped his arm up and down, cheering the trio on. "Y'know, M'chelle, you and your lot ain't so bleeding bad, know? Takes a lot o' guts to get up there and expose yourself to public ridicule, and yet your mates are up there in front of a bunch o' complete strangers, yellin' their lungs out. In my old days, I'd've turned the lot o' ye, minions that ballsy are hard to find."
"Thanks. . . I think." The redhead peered around the bar, then asked the bleached vampire "Where's Buffy?"
"Around somewhere. Prolly went off to use the loo, or stake any minions that wandered in for a quick snack."
Just then a piano rhythm began through the sound system, and Michelle tugged on Spike's arm, then turned him towards the stage.
Buffy stood in front of the mike, head bowed, then looked up and over to where Spike and Michelle (and the others) stood looking at the Slayer in shock. Tara stood next to the stage, almost out of the light, as back-up.
"(Turn around,) Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round, (Turn around,) Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears, (Turn around,) Every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by, (Turnaround,) Every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes, (Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart, (Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart,
(Turnaround,) Every now and then I get a little bit restless and I dream of something wild (Turnaround,) Every now and then I get a little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms (Turnaround, ) Every now and then I get a little bit angry and I know I've got to get out and cry (Turnaround, ) Every now and then I get a little bit terrified but then I see the look in your eyes
(Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart (Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart And I need you now, tonight, And I need you more than ever,"
Spike walked like one of Drusilla's mind-tipped victims to the stage, vaulted up, and grabbed the other microphone, as Buffy sang, "And if you'll only hold me tight We'll be holding on forever And we'll only be making it right Cause we'll never be wrong"
And Spike chimed in, "Together we can take it to the end of the line, Your love is like a shadow on me all the time!" For a brief second, the blond vampire slipped into 'game-face', then struggled back into his human-seeming guise. "I don't know what to do, and I'm always in the dark, We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks!
I really need you tonight! Forever's gonna start tonight, Forever's gonna start tonight!
Once upon a time I was falling in love, But now I'm only falling apart, There's nothing I can do; A total eclipse of the heart;
Once upon a time there was light in my life, But now there's only love in the dark;
Nothing I can say,
A total eclipse of the heart"
The instrumental solo surged through the speakers, and Spike and Buffy both looked at each other with such visible longing and regret that damn near everyone in the audience felt the tension between the two, and even Xander was shook by it. He turned to the bar to order another re-fill on his drink, to cover up his instinctive 'this is NOT what I wanted to see!' reaction.
More voices in the audience chimed in with the fill-in chorus- "Turn around, bright eyes, turn around, bright eyes' and Jim realized that Michelle, Willow, and Anya, had joined Tara in the back-up chorus on the floor.
Buffy-" (Turnaround,)
Every now and then I know you'll never be the boy you always wanted to be;"
She sang, gingerly touching one side of Spike's face, as he tried to turn away, "(Turnaround, ) But every now and then I know you'll always be the only boy who wanted me the way that I am"
Spike-"(Turnaround, ) Every now and then I know there's no one in the universe as magical and wondrous as you, (Turnaround,) Every now and then I know there's nothing any better, there's nothing that I just wouldn't do, (Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart"
Buffy-"(Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart"
Both- "And I need you now tonight And I need you more than ever, And if you'll only hold me tight Well be holding on forever, And we'll only be making it right Cause we'll never be wrong, together We can take it to the end of the line, Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time, I don't know what to do, I'm always in the DARK, We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks! I really need you tonight! Forever's gonna start tonight! Forever's gonna start tonight!"
Tara and the others sang the final chorus, as the pair on the stage drew closer to each other. "Once upon a time I was falling in love, But now I'm only falling apart Nothing I can do, A total eclipse of the heart.
Once upon a time there was light in my life, But now there's only love in the dark; Nothing I can say, A total eclipse of the heart"
The entire crowd at the Bronze stood and cheered at the pair, roaring as the blond vampire pulled Buffy close and into a kiss. The petite Slayer tried to push away briefly, then melted into the kiss, much to Xander's shock. Then, Anya slid up to Xander, and it was like old times for a second, as she curled into his side.
"Mmm, maybe this wasn't so bad after all," Xander thought, pulling his Ex into a hug.
End.
Author: Brin Londo5
Email: ogreblood@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: All Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel: the Series characters belong to Joss Wheadon, all hail the Joss-meister. Whoever owns American Pie and its characters, sure isn't me. No cash is being made, so there. Music is by Billy Idol, the Sex Pistols, the Bangles, Bonnie Tyler, and the Bloodhound gang. Any other music you imagine is being mangled by the patrons of the Bronze this night is owned by their prospective owners, and is probably being sung off-key, to boot.
"Don't need a knife to violate my life, It's all so insane,
Oh, but when the other man has none You don't need a gun; Yes, and Russian roulette's no fun, I don't need a gun, I just need someone. . .
I don't need a gun"
Spike roared into the microphone as the crowd at the Bronze cheered at his Billy Idol impersonation, before he slipped into the Sex Pistol's Anarchy In the UK. Then the punk fans in the crowd went entirely wild, while the Lillith Fair crowd got bored.
"Hmph. I take it back, Buff, he's actually pretty good." Xander winced at the grin she gave him, then he shook his head and turned to where Chris Ostrieger and Stifler stood looking over the karaoke list. "Hey, what do you guys think?"
"Yeah, he's good. Y'know, this place has a pretty varied tune list. Not bad." Jim said, an arm around Michelle.
"Dude, you see what I see?" Stifler asked with a grin.
"Yeah, I do. You up for it?" Chris counter-asked.
"Do monkeys fling shit? Damn straight, Lacrosse Boy!"
Spike gave a cocky smirk as he returned to the group, wedging himself between Buffy and Xander.
"Bloody well like to see any o' you lot top that." The vampire grinned, tousling the construction worker's hair, and ignoring his outraged 'Hey!' "Sometime's, a sense o' showmanship's what it takes to keep minions in line."
"Sure, Spike. Personally, I think you're a massive ham." Buffy said, sipping on her rum-and-coke. Before Spike could come up with a comeback, more music started up, and a familiar voice came from the stage.
"I love it in your room at night
You're the only one who gets through to me
In the warm glow of the candlelight
Oh, I wonder what you're gonna do to me?"
Willow's voice rang out through the room, and Buffy, Xander, and Spike all stared at the stage where Willow and Tara stood, crooning into the microphone to the Bangle's.
Tara- "I love it in your room all day When you're gone I like to try on all your clothes You won't regret it if you let me stay I'll teach you everything that a girl should know."
Michelle and Jim hooted and cheered at the pair, and the audience joined in, roaring in approval. Willow blushed, but Tara caught her eyes until she joined back in again.
As the song ended, Stifler and Oz climbed up onto the stage as a crunching guitar riff began jamming in the background, then both adopted kung-fu poses at each other, then Chris mouthed "You must DIE! I alone am best!" in a perfect bad chop-sockey dubbing imitation.
"I hope ya flip some guy the bird
He cuts you off and you're forced to swerve
In front of the Beatles' tour bus
A Bookmobile and a Mack truck
Hauling hazardous biological waste
The light turns red you have no brakes
And "Hard Copy" gets it all on tape
So you can see the look on your face!"
The crowd cracked up as the pair began performing the Bloodhound Gang's 'I Hope You Die' with an insane relish. Stifler took the next verse, and then Jim jumped onto the stage, causing the crowd to roar with laughter as he sang the last verse, finishing with
"And when you finally regain consciousness
You're bound and gagged in a wedding dress
And the prison guard looks the other way
'Cause he's the guy ya flipped the bird the other day!"
Spike spilled half his drink as he pumped his arm up and down, cheering the trio on. "Y'know, M'chelle, you and your lot ain't so bleeding bad, know? Takes a lot o' guts to get up there and expose yourself to public ridicule, and yet your mates are up there in front of a bunch o' complete strangers, yellin' their lungs out. In my old days, I'd've turned the lot o' ye, minions that ballsy are hard to find."
"Thanks. . . I think." The redhead peered around the bar, then asked the bleached vampire "Where's Buffy?"
"Around somewhere. Prolly went off to use the loo, or stake any minions that wandered in for a quick snack."
Just then a piano rhythm began through the sound system, and Michelle tugged on Spike's arm, then turned him towards the stage.
Buffy stood in front of the mike, head bowed, then looked up and over to where Spike and Michelle (and the others) stood looking at the Slayer in shock. Tara stood next to the stage, almost out of the light, as back-up.
"(Turn around,) Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round, (Turn around,) Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears, (Turn around,) Every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by, (Turnaround,) Every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes, (Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart, (Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart,
(Turnaround,) Every now and then I get a little bit restless and I dream of something wild (Turnaround,) Every now and then I get a little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms (Turnaround, ) Every now and then I get a little bit angry and I know I've got to get out and cry (Turnaround, ) Every now and then I get a little bit terrified but then I see the look in your eyes
(Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart (Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart And I need you now, tonight, And I need you more than ever,"
Spike walked like one of Drusilla's mind-tipped victims to the stage, vaulted up, and grabbed the other microphone, as Buffy sang, "And if you'll only hold me tight We'll be holding on forever And we'll only be making it right Cause we'll never be wrong"
And Spike chimed in, "Together we can take it to the end of the line, Your love is like a shadow on me all the time!" For a brief second, the blond vampire slipped into 'game-face', then struggled back into his human-seeming guise. "I don't know what to do, and I'm always in the dark, We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks!
I really need you tonight! Forever's gonna start tonight, Forever's gonna start tonight!
Once upon a time I was falling in love, But now I'm only falling apart, There's nothing I can do; A total eclipse of the heart;
Once upon a time there was light in my life, But now there's only love in the dark;
Nothing I can say,
A total eclipse of the heart"
The instrumental solo surged through the speakers, and Spike and Buffy both looked at each other with such visible longing and regret that damn near everyone in the audience felt the tension between the two, and even Xander was shook by it. He turned to the bar to order another re-fill on his drink, to cover up his instinctive 'this is NOT what I wanted to see!' reaction.
More voices in the audience chimed in with the fill-in chorus- "Turn around, bright eyes, turn around, bright eyes' and Jim realized that Michelle, Willow, and Anya, had joined Tara in the back-up chorus on the floor.
Buffy-" (Turnaround,)
Every now and then I know you'll never be the boy you always wanted to be;"
She sang, gingerly touching one side of Spike's face, as he tried to turn away, "(Turnaround, ) But every now and then I know you'll always be the only boy who wanted me the way that I am"
Spike-"(Turnaround, ) Every now and then I know there's no one in the universe as magical and wondrous as you, (Turnaround,) Every now and then I know there's nothing any better, there's nothing that I just wouldn't do, (Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart"
Buffy-"(Turnaround bright eyes,) Every now and then I fall apart"
Both- "And I need you now tonight And I need you more than ever, And if you'll only hold me tight Well be holding on forever, And we'll only be making it right Cause we'll never be wrong, together We can take it to the end of the line, Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time, I don't know what to do, I'm always in the DARK, We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks! I really need you tonight! Forever's gonna start tonight! Forever's gonna start tonight!"
Tara and the others sang the final chorus, as the pair on the stage drew closer to each other. "Once upon a time I was falling in love, But now I'm only falling apart Nothing I can do, A total eclipse of the heart.
Once upon a time there was light in my life, But now there's only love in the dark; Nothing I can say, A total eclipse of the heart"
The entire crowd at the Bronze stood and cheered at the pair, roaring as the blond vampire pulled Buffy close and into a kiss. The petite Slayer tried to push away briefly, then melted into the kiss, much to Xander's shock. Then, Anya slid up to Xander, and it was like old times for a second, as she curled into his side.
"Mmm, maybe this wasn't so bad after all," Xander thought, pulling his Ex into a hug.
End.