Shadowing Ivy
By A Shot of Amber
* ~ * Session 10: Show Fall Recluse Part 1 * ~ *
I'm not even sure how she got herself to fit into that impossibly small area but she did. Now she sat there knees scrunched up to her chest arms wrapped around her legs looking out the window. Her reflection blurred slightly by the stars and space so all I could see was green eyes blinking slowly now and then.
" What time did she leave Jet?" Spike searched through his room for his jacket. A few measly shirts hanging up in the closet.
" I don't know, about an hour to two hours ago. I discovered the money was missing when I went to go make a check of it." Jet's crackled voice came back over the communicator.
" Yep, figures she's after that bounty." Spike grinned and snatched up the pink parka from its space under his bed.
He stood up wiping away dust and dirt before draping it over his arm and turning around. Ivy stood in the doorway, her shadow stretching over the metal floor to touch his feet. One slim hand holding onto the frame, the other lying limp at her side.
" I want to go with." The words came out easily, breaking the silence of the room. " I want to come with you to catch this bounty."
I wasn't even sure why she wanted to come with me on this bounty hunt. Before Ivy had never shown any interest in it. I guess she was like Ed in some ways with that carefree attitude of hers.
Damn that attitude! I hated it! I wasn't sure why though, why I hated Ivy for being so carefree and happy.
" Who says we're catching a bounty? I'm just going on a search after Faye and the money she stole." Spike brushed past Ivy has he left the room.
" Hanoi Wai, he's worth 5 million woulong if captured alive and 300,000 if he is killed. You want this bounty Spike. I can see it in your eyes and I want to go with this time, I want to help." Ivy turned and followed him down the hallway.
" It's way to dangerous for a little girl like you. You'll just get hurt if you go with me on this mission. Any ways I can't fit two people into Swordfish and you don't have a ship of your own," Spike replied making a face at Ivy's demands.
" Don't call me that! I'm not a little girl Spike!" Her voice cried filled with pain sounding exactly like a little girl.
" Then just how old are you anyway? You never told me you know." Spike turned around to face her. A few bits of hair fell into her eyes, their color luminatied like a cats in the shadows of the ship.
" You want to know my real age?" She calmed down slightly loosening her hands, which had been in fists, and dropping them to her sides.
" Yea I do."
There was a pause for a few moments while Ivy sorted out her thoughts. Then she turned her eyes to Spike meeting his own and spoke.
" I'm 20 years old, I'll be 21 in about a month."
" Ah, so were having a birthday next month I see," Spike replied grinning down at her.
" Yea, not likes it anything special. It's just another day to me" Ivy sighed and pulled her eyes away from him.
" I don't know, I think a birthday is a very special thing. You'll be 21 years old a full fledged adults in all ways."
" If being 21 means I have to be an adult then I would rather be a child at 20 forever," Ivy replied wrapping her arms around her.
I looked at Ivy from the corner of my eye; she shifted slightly her coat rubbing against mine before sitting still again. The hands unclasped themselves and stretched out each finger before settling in her lap.
Her body did not look like that of a 20-year-old. She was too thin almost bony in a way, but not quite. Those damn clothes of hers did not help either; they just hung off her body. A fashion that did not quite fit into the times with her short black skirt and that loose white shirt over a blue tank top. She definitely was nothing like Faye who tended to dress in a way that showed off her voluptuous body.
" I don't think you would last a minute out there, it's a lawless region we're going to. A womyn like you is easy prey for the men."
Ivy smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder. " You don't have to worry about me, I think I can take care of myself."
I bet you she probably could. Maybe under that little girl look of hers was a real womyn capable of doing more then just being protected by the stronger man.
" Your at least going to need a coat. It's cold out there where we are going."
" I don't have one," Ivy replied quietly.
Spike sighed and ran one hand through his hair. " Run to my room and grab the leather one hanging up. You can wear that."
She had come back with the coat already on and buttoned up, it was too big for her like I thought it would be but she did not seem to mind. She had mentioned something about the patch on it being the symbol of the red dragons, but I did not think to wonder how she knew this. I had better things to do.
" Jet I'm going out now, Ivy is with me just to let you know." Spike looked over at the girl sitting against the glass. Her knees pulled up to her chest so she did not take up to much room.
" What? Spike did you just say Ivy is with you?" Jet's voice crackled back over the intercom sounding slightly surprised.
" Yea, she's going with me to find Faye. Just open the hatch okay? I'm going out." Spike closed the connection with Jet and put away the intercom.
Next to him Ivy turned to pull the corners of her jacket closer together and scrunched down in to her space. Spike watched her do this before he took a hold of the controls and begin to guide the Swordfish out of the hatch.
* * * * * * *
" Is this Castillo?" Ivy sat up in her seat and pressed one hand to the glass so she could better balance herself.
Spike nodded grimly has he remembered the last time he was here. The red stains creeping out over the red snow and Gren's shadowed figure disappearing into the stars.
" Yea this is Castillo. Not much of a place though." He did nothing to mask the dry sarcasm in his voice.
" I don't know I think it's beautiful. A lost world forever caught in the web of a still time," Ivy replied sitting back down in her spot.
Spike said nothing but instead concentrated on landing the craft on top of a building. Snow covered the pavement of otherwise empty rooftop. There seemed to be an almost deathly silence hanging over everything, but he knew that people existed between the dark alleys and cracks of the tall buildings.
With a slight jolt, the Swordfish was landed and the engine turned off. Spike opened up the door and climbed out first then turned to help Ivy. She was already standing up, using one hand to balance herself on the seat. Spike noticed this and held out his hand still gloved in the brown gloves he wore for flying. Ivy looked up at the offered hand then to the man offering it before she smiled and took it. Her grip was strong and sure has she climbed out of the ship with a little jump into the snow.
All around them snow lay covering everything in white. The clouds overhead were thin and gray promising more snow before nightfall. A cold wind whipped around her bare legs causing Ivy to shiver at it's touch.
" I don't know why I'm doing this, but I can't leave you in the ship. Who knows what would happen if I did." Spike closed the door of the Swordfish and locked it before turning to Ivy. " Just don't say anything and stay by me. Like I said before this is a lawless region where men won't hesitate to kidnap a pretty girl like you."
One black eye brow went up in a questioning look has Spike uttered these words. A blush tinted her cheeks, but she only nodded and surpressed the smile inching it's way onto her lips.
" Come on lets go, no use standing out here in the snow," Spike turned and begin to walk through the snow towards the door in the roof leaving Ivy to follow in his wake.
* * * * * * *
The bell rang over the door has they walked into the smoke filled room. Men looked up with saddened looks at the couple that walked in from the cold. Him a tall lean man with bushy green hair. Her, standing behind him only coming up to his shoulders wearing a heavy leather coat and exposing bare legs.
Eyes ran over the slim body of Ivy has she walked into the room following Spike to a stool at the bar. The eyes watched her sit down at the bar and look behind her meeting their eyes before she turned back to the bar and laid her arms on the stained wooden top.
" What can I get you folks?" The bartender asked opening one eye to look at them, his hands rubbing a white towel over the glass in his hand.
" Get me a shot of tequila straight," Spike replied.
" What about you lady?"
" I'll have a julep," Ivy turned back to the bartender again.
" A julep?" The hands that had been rubbing the glass stopped and he opened both of his eyes. " Never heard of that drink before."
" Whiskey mixed with sugar and mint," Ivy replied.
" Hmm, something new." The bartender set the glass and the towel down and went to mix the drinks.
" I didn't know you drank whiskey." Spike leaned over closer to Ivy.
" There's a lot of things you don't know about me," Ivy replied smiling slightly as she slipped off the chair and walked over the quiet piano on the stage.
Spike watched her go, the heavy jacket slipping off her arms pulling the white shirt with it. Slim arms placed the two articles of clothes on the piano top before she took a seat and ran her hands over the white keys. A few stray notes filled the air than silence resumed punctuated by the low mummer of voices and the clinking of glasses.
Both hands came and rested upon the keys just lightly touching the white ivory before pressing down. Ivy closed her eyes has she begin to play, the notes filled the air has the voices died down to silence. Spike turned around on the stool to watch her play his eyes taking in her profile. Eyes closed has she played, long black hair brushing the bench, slim fingers skimming over the keys.
All through the bar men sat listening to her play. Their drinks lay forgotten on ash littered tabletops, cigarettes smoked in ashtrays and quietly burned between fingers and lips.
The bartender set down the two drinks next to Spike and stepped back into the shadows. One hand reached over, picked up the glass nearest to him, and raised it to his lips drinking in the bitter liquids.
The last flew notes filled the air then disappeared as Ivy stilled her hands on the piano keys. Her eyes opened up, glowing in the dim light much like the eyes of a cat. The quiet audience awoke from their spell and begin to clap. Their applause was quiet and respectful causing Ivy to look over them almost surprised to see people sitting at the small tables.
Blushing slightly she stood up and walked back to the bar where Spike stood. Men's lustful stares boring in her back she walked past their tables.
" I didn't know you could play the piano," Spike said turning in his chair to face Ivy.
" Like I said before, there's a lot of things you don't know about me," Ivy replied picking up her drink and taking a sip.
" A little bit mysterious aren't we?"
" Yea, you might say that," Ivy set the glass down on the bar top and motioned the bartender over. " Could you put some more sugar in my drink? It's not sweet enough."
The bartender nodded and took the glass pouring another spoonful of sugar into it before returning it to Ivy.
" Thanks," she said taking the glass and walked back to the piano again.
" Nice looking girl," The bartender muttered watching Ivy's figure brush past the tables.
" Yea, too nice," Spike agreed.
" Hey Clyde!" A voice called from the doorway, bringing with it bits of snow and a cold wind before the door was shut and the warmth enthused.
" Alex! Didn't expect to see you here tonight. I figured you'd be off chasing after another dream," the bartender grinned at the tall dark haired man heading towards the bar.
" Nah, it's to cold for me to go chasing after a dream on a night like this. I decided to stay here and keep warm, wait for the snow to stop." Alex took a seat on an empty stool near to Spike and raised one hand slightly in the air. " Get me the usual I don't feel in much of a mood for change tonight."
" Already coming," Clyde replied fixing up his drink.
Alex smiled and turned to let his eyes wander over the people in the room. Gaunt, faceless men all of them watching a girl with long black hair sitting at the piano playing a song he did not recognize.
" Didn't expect to see a womyn here tonight. She with you?" Alex turned to Spike who was staring into his drink.
" Yea, she's with me. How did you guess?" Spike replied after awhile.
" A hunch and the fact that you are new here and so is she. I would recognize any girl that comes in here and any guy for that matter to," Alex excepted the drink from Clyde and took a big gulp before going on. " So what brings you to a place like this?"
" Business."
" Going after the bounty on Hanoi Wai aren't you?"
Spike looked up from his drink a little shocked that this dark haired loud mouth knew what he was doing.
" Don't be shocked, I've seen so many bounty hunters going after this guy that I'm used to it. They come in here to get a couple drinks and boast about how they are going to catch this guy and come back here to brag about their capture. Only thing is that they never come back and then you see their obituary in the paper or nothing at all. All kinds of men come out here looking to strike it big, some are loved and remembered and some are nothing but shadows in a world full of light." Alex swirled his drink around in the glass then raised it to his lips and took another gulp.
" And what are you? A loved one or a shadow?" Spike asked.
" Me?" Alex set the glass down on the bar top and looked over at Spike. " I guess with me I'm just another shadow waiting to disappear."
" And I'm just a cowboy about to strike it rich, watch I'm going to be the one guy that will come back from this. I'm not ready to die yet although I thought at one time I was."
" I see it in your eyes, you're a true cowboy aren't you. By the way the name is Alex Nordache." Alex replied holding out one hand.
" Spike Spiegel," Spike replied shaking the offered hand.
" What's the name of the girl?" Alex cocked his head towards Ivy.
" I gave you my name which I would say was more then enough. You don't need to know hers, she's just a tag along with me."
" Fine, you don't have to tell me I was just wondering that's all." Alex held up both hands to combat the look Spike gave him.
"People, who wonder about to many things find themselves in strange predicaments," Spike mumbled raising one hand to have his drink filled.
Silence fell over the two men broken only by the sound of liquid filling Spike's glass and the sounds of Ivy playing another nameless tune on the piano.
" Hey bartender,"
Clyde looked up from where he was putting away some bottles of gin. The man talking to Alex was calling him, the man with the bushy green hair sitting in the darkest corner.
" What can I do for you?" Clyde asked walking back to where he sat.
" Maybe you can help me with some information on someone." Spike pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and laid it out on the bar. " You ever seen this man?"
Clyde studied the paper carefully, one hand fingering his chin before he shook his head.
" Nope, can't say I have but then a lot of men come into the place and I can't recognize them all."
" Thought so," Spike picked up the paper and folded it back up before slipping it back into his pocket. " Thanks anyway."
" You really are serious about capturing this guy aren't you?" Alex asked.
" Yea, it means 5 million woulong if I do," Spike replied standing up and finishing off the last of his drink.
" It might also mean getting your butt blasted to pieces when you least expect it."
" I guess I'll just have to take that chance." Spike set the empty glass down on the bar top along with some woulongs to pay for the drinks and walked over to where Ivy was.
Her fingers stilled on the piano keys has she noticed him walked towards her. Nodding without speaking Ivy stood up and pulled on her coat before following Spike out of the bar into the cold.
* * * * * * *
" Did you find out anything about the guy?" Ivy asked trotting behind Spike to keep up with his strides.
" Nothing I can use, we'll just have to keep looking for clues. That's all we can do right now," Spike replied shoving his hands into his pockets.
Ivy nodded and said nothing. It was too cold to really care if he did find out clues or not, she wasn't here to help him capture Hanoi Wai she was here for something else.
Ivy looked up at the darkening sky above them. Snow fell softly clinging to her black hair and his parka dotting the already white landscape. With a grimace she shook snow out of her shoes and ran to catch up with Spike who was lost in his thoughts. A hard look upon his face has he walked on leaving Ivy to rush behind him.
Until something grabbed her arm and pulled her in between two buildings. Before a scream could escape her lips, a gloved hand closed around her mouth surpressing any noise she could make. The voice in her ear was warm and strangely familiar.
" Don't make a sound, we don't want him to notice."
Two black eyebrows went up at the sound of that voice. The grip on her arms and mouth loosened has Ivy spun around to face her captor.
To be continued.
Alex: Looks like we have anew character joining the cast!
Spike: Another new one? Don't you think this is enough?
Alex: Never! I have plans to take over the show and make it Cowboy Alex. What do you think? Sound good?
Spike: Oh brother, the next episode is " Snow Fall Recluse Part 2."
Please read and review with your opinions or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!
By A Shot of Amber
* ~ * Session 10: Show Fall Recluse Part 1 * ~ *
I'm not even sure how she got herself to fit into that impossibly small area but she did. Now she sat there knees scrunched up to her chest arms wrapped around her legs looking out the window. Her reflection blurred slightly by the stars and space so all I could see was green eyes blinking slowly now and then.
" What time did she leave Jet?" Spike searched through his room for his jacket. A few measly shirts hanging up in the closet.
" I don't know, about an hour to two hours ago. I discovered the money was missing when I went to go make a check of it." Jet's crackled voice came back over the communicator.
" Yep, figures she's after that bounty." Spike grinned and snatched up the pink parka from its space under his bed.
He stood up wiping away dust and dirt before draping it over his arm and turning around. Ivy stood in the doorway, her shadow stretching over the metal floor to touch his feet. One slim hand holding onto the frame, the other lying limp at her side.
" I want to go with." The words came out easily, breaking the silence of the room. " I want to come with you to catch this bounty."
I wasn't even sure why she wanted to come with me on this bounty hunt. Before Ivy had never shown any interest in it. I guess she was like Ed in some ways with that carefree attitude of hers.
Damn that attitude! I hated it! I wasn't sure why though, why I hated Ivy for being so carefree and happy.
" Who says we're catching a bounty? I'm just going on a search after Faye and the money she stole." Spike brushed past Ivy has he left the room.
" Hanoi Wai, he's worth 5 million woulong if captured alive and 300,000 if he is killed. You want this bounty Spike. I can see it in your eyes and I want to go with this time, I want to help." Ivy turned and followed him down the hallway.
" It's way to dangerous for a little girl like you. You'll just get hurt if you go with me on this mission. Any ways I can't fit two people into Swordfish and you don't have a ship of your own," Spike replied making a face at Ivy's demands.
" Don't call me that! I'm not a little girl Spike!" Her voice cried filled with pain sounding exactly like a little girl.
" Then just how old are you anyway? You never told me you know." Spike turned around to face her. A few bits of hair fell into her eyes, their color luminatied like a cats in the shadows of the ship.
" You want to know my real age?" She calmed down slightly loosening her hands, which had been in fists, and dropping them to her sides.
" Yea I do."
There was a pause for a few moments while Ivy sorted out her thoughts. Then she turned her eyes to Spike meeting his own and spoke.
" I'm 20 years old, I'll be 21 in about a month."
" Ah, so were having a birthday next month I see," Spike replied grinning down at her.
" Yea, not likes it anything special. It's just another day to me" Ivy sighed and pulled her eyes away from him.
" I don't know, I think a birthday is a very special thing. You'll be 21 years old a full fledged adults in all ways."
" If being 21 means I have to be an adult then I would rather be a child at 20 forever," Ivy replied wrapping her arms around her.
I looked at Ivy from the corner of my eye; she shifted slightly her coat rubbing against mine before sitting still again. The hands unclasped themselves and stretched out each finger before settling in her lap.
Her body did not look like that of a 20-year-old. She was too thin almost bony in a way, but not quite. Those damn clothes of hers did not help either; they just hung off her body. A fashion that did not quite fit into the times with her short black skirt and that loose white shirt over a blue tank top. She definitely was nothing like Faye who tended to dress in a way that showed off her voluptuous body.
" I don't think you would last a minute out there, it's a lawless region we're going to. A womyn like you is easy prey for the men."
Ivy smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder. " You don't have to worry about me, I think I can take care of myself."
I bet you she probably could. Maybe under that little girl look of hers was a real womyn capable of doing more then just being protected by the stronger man.
" Your at least going to need a coat. It's cold out there where we are going."
" I don't have one," Ivy replied quietly.
Spike sighed and ran one hand through his hair. " Run to my room and grab the leather one hanging up. You can wear that."
She had come back with the coat already on and buttoned up, it was too big for her like I thought it would be but she did not seem to mind. She had mentioned something about the patch on it being the symbol of the red dragons, but I did not think to wonder how she knew this. I had better things to do.
" Jet I'm going out now, Ivy is with me just to let you know." Spike looked over at the girl sitting against the glass. Her knees pulled up to her chest so she did not take up to much room.
" What? Spike did you just say Ivy is with you?" Jet's voice crackled back over the intercom sounding slightly surprised.
" Yea, she's going with me to find Faye. Just open the hatch okay? I'm going out." Spike closed the connection with Jet and put away the intercom.
Next to him Ivy turned to pull the corners of her jacket closer together and scrunched down in to her space. Spike watched her do this before he took a hold of the controls and begin to guide the Swordfish out of the hatch.
* * * * * * *
" Is this Castillo?" Ivy sat up in her seat and pressed one hand to the glass so she could better balance herself.
Spike nodded grimly has he remembered the last time he was here. The red stains creeping out over the red snow and Gren's shadowed figure disappearing into the stars.
" Yea this is Castillo. Not much of a place though." He did nothing to mask the dry sarcasm in his voice.
" I don't know I think it's beautiful. A lost world forever caught in the web of a still time," Ivy replied sitting back down in her spot.
Spike said nothing but instead concentrated on landing the craft on top of a building. Snow covered the pavement of otherwise empty rooftop. There seemed to be an almost deathly silence hanging over everything, but he knew that people existed between the dark alleys and cracks of the tall buildings.
With a slight jolt, the Swordfish was landed and the engine turned off. Spike opened up the door and climbed out first then turned to help Ivy. She was already standing up, using one hand to balance herself on the seat. Spike noticed this and held out his hand still gloved in the brown gloves he wore for flying. Ivy looked up at the offered hand then to the man offering it before she smiled and took it. Her grip was strong and sure has she climbed out of the ship with a little jump into the snow.
All around them snow lay covering everything in white. The clouds overhead were thin and gray promising more snow before nightfall. A cold wind whipped around her bare legs causing Ivy to shiver at it's touch.
" I don't know why I'm doing this, but I can't leave you in the ship. Who knows what would happen if I did." Spike closed the door of the Swordfish and locked it before turning to Ivy. " Just don't say anything and stay by me. Like I said before this is a lawless region where men won't hesitate to kidnap a pretty girl like you."
One black eye brow went up in a questioning look has Spike uttered these words. A blush tinted her cheeks, but she only nodded and surpressed the smile inching it's way onto her lips.
" Come on lets go, no use standing out here in the snow," Spike turned and begin to walk through the snow towards the door in the roof leaving Ivy to follow in his wake.
* * * * * * *
The bell rang over the door has they walked into the smoke filled room. Men looked up with saddened looks at the couple that walked in from the cold. Him a tall lean man with bushy green hair. Her, standing behind him only coming up to his shoulders wearing a heavy leather coat and exposing bare legs.
Eyes ran over the slim body of Ivy has she walked into the room following Spike to a stool at the bar. The eyes watched her sit down at the bar and look behind her meeting their eyes before she turned back to the bar and laid her arms on the stained wooden top.
" What can I get you folks?" The bartender asked opening one eye to look at them, his hands rubbing a white towel over the glass in his hand.
" Get me a shot of tequila straight," Spike replied.
" What about you lady?"
" I'll have a julep," Ivy turned back to the bartender again.
" A julep?" The hands that had been rubbing the glass stopped and he opened both of his eyes. " Never heard of that drink before."
" Whiskey mixed with sugar and mint," Ivy replied.
" Hmm, something new." The bartender set the glass and the towel down and went to mix the drinks.
" I didn't know you drank whiskey." Spike leaned over closer to Ivy.
" There's a lot of things you don't know about me," Ivy replied smiling slightly as she slipped off the chair and walked over the quiet piano on the stage.
Spike watched her go, the heavy jacket slipping off her arms pulling the white shirt with it. Slim arms placed the two articles of clothes on the piano top before she took a seat and ran her hands over the white keys. A few stray notes filled the air than silence resumed punctuated by the low mummer of voices and the clinking of glasses.
Both hands came and rested upon the keys just lightly touching the white ivory before pressing down. Ivy closed her eyes has she begin to play, the notes filled the air has the voices died down to silence. Spike turned around on the stool to watch her play his eyes taking in her profile. Eyes closed has she played, long black hair brushing the bench, slim fingers skimming over the keys.
All through the bar men sat listening to her play. Their drinks lay forgotten on ash littered tabletops, cigarettes smoked in ashtrays and quietly burned between fingers and lips.
The bartender set down the two drinks next to Spike and stepped back into the shadows. One hand reached over, picked up the glass nearest to him, and raised it to his lips drinking in the bitter liquids.
The last flew notes filled the air then disappeared as Ivy stilled her hands on the piano keys. Her eyes opened up, glowing in the dim light much like the eyes of a cat. The quiet audience awoke from their spell and begin to clap. Their applause was quiet and respectful causing Ivy to look over them almost surprised to see people sitting at the small tables.
Blushing slightly she stood up and walked back to the bar where Spike stood. Men's lustful stares boring in her back she walked past their tables.
" I didn't know you could play the piano," Spike said turning in his chair to face Ivy.
" Like I said before, there's a lot of things you don't know about me," Ivy replied picking up her drink and taking a sip.
" A little bit mysterious aren't we?"
" Yea, you might say that," Ivy set the glass down on the bar top and motioned the bartender over. " Could you put some more sugar in my drink? It's not sweet enough."
The bartender nodded and took the glass pouring another spoonful of sugar into it before returning it to Ivy.
" Thanks," she said taking the glass and walked back to the piano again.
" Nice looking girl," The bartender muttered watching Ivy's figure brush past the tables.
" Yea, too nice," Spike agreed.
" Hey Clyde!" A voice called from the doorway, bringing with it bits of snow and a cold wind before the door was shut and the warmth enthused.
" Alex! Didn't expect to see you here tonight. I figured you'd be off chasing after another dream," the bartender grinned at the tall dark haired man heading towards the bar.
" Nah, it's to cold for me to go chasing after a dream on a night like this. I decided to stay here and keep warm, wait for the snow to stop." Alex took a seat on an empty stool near to Spike and raised one hand slightly in the air. " Get me the usual I don't feel in much of a mood for change tonight."
" Already coming," Clyde replied fixing up his drink.
Alex smiled and turned to let his eyes wander over the people in the room. Gaunt, faceless men all of them watching a girl with long black hair sitting at the piano playing a song he did not recognize.
" Didn't expect to see a womyn here tonight. She with you?" Alex turned to Spike who was staring into his drink.
" Yea, she's with me. How did you guess?" Spike replied after awhile.
" A hunch and the fact that you are new here and so is she. I would recognize any girl that comes in here and any guy for that matter to," Alex excepted the drink from Clyde and took a big gulp before going on. " So what brings you to a place like this?"
" Business."
" Going after the bounty on Hanoi Wai aren't you?"
Spike looked up from his drink a little shocked that this dark haired loud mouth knew what he was doing.
" Don't be shocked, I've seen so many bounty hunters going after this guy that I'm used to it. They come in here to get a couple drinks and boast about how they are going to catch this guy and come back here to brag about their capture. Only thing is that they never come back and then you see their obituary in the paper or nothing at all. All kinds of men come out here looking to strike it big, some are loved and remembered and some are nothing but shadows in a world full of light." Alex swirled his drink around in the glass then raised it to his lips and took another gulp.
" And what are you? A loved one or a shadow?" Spike asked.
" Me?" Alex set the glass down on the bar top and looked over at Spike. " I guess with me I'm just another shadow waiting to disappear."
" And I'm just a cowboy about to strike it rich, watch I'm going to be the one guy that will come back from this. I'm not ready to die yet although I thought at one time I was."
" I see it in your eyes, you're a true cowboy aren't you. By the way the name is Alex Nordache." Alex replied holding out one hand.
" Spike Spiegel," Spike replied shaking the offered hand.
" What's the name of the girl?" Alex cocked his head towards Ivy.
" I gave you my name which I would say was more then enough. You don't need to know hers, she's just a tag along with me."
" Fine, you don't have to tell me I was just wondering that's all." Alex held up both hands to combat the look Spike gave him.
"People, who wonder about to many things find themselves in strange predicaments," Spike mumbled raising one hand to have his drink filled.
Silence fell over the two men broken only by the sound of liquid filling Spike's glass and the sounds of Ivy playing another nameless tune on the piano.
" Hey bartender,"
Clyde looked up from where he was putting away some bottles of gin. The man talking to Alex was calling him, the man with the bushy green hair sitting in the darkest corner.
" What can I do for you?" Clyde asked walking back to where he sat.
" Maybe you can help me with some information on someone." Spike pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and laid it out on the bar. " You ever seen this man?"
Clyde studied the paper carefully, one hand fingering his chin before he shook his head.
" Nope, can't say I have but then a lot of men come into the place and I can't recognize them all."
" Thought so," Spike picked up the paper and folded it back up before slipping it back into his pocket. " Thanks anyway."
" You really are serious about capturing this guy aren't you?" Alex asked.
" Yea, it means 5 million woulong if I do," Spike replied standing up and finishing off the last of his drink.
" It might also mean getting your butt blasted to pieces when you least expect it."
" I guess I'll just have to take that chance." Spike set the empty glass down on the bar top along with some woulongs to pay for the drinks and walked over to where Ivy was.
Her fingers stilled on the piano keys has she noticed him walked towards her. Nodding without speaking Ivy stood up and pulled on her coat before following Spike out of the bar into the cold.
* * * * * * *
" Did you find out anything about the guy?" Ivy asked trotting behind Spike to keep up with his strides.
" Nothing I can use, we'll just have to keep looking for clues. That's all we can do right now," Spike replied shoving his hands into his pockets.
Ivy nodded and said nothing. It was too cold to really care if he did find out clues or not, she wasn't here to help him capture Hanoi Wai she was here for something else.
Ivy looked up at the darkening sky above them. Snow fell softly clinging to her black hair and his parka dotting the already white landscape. With a grimace she shook snow out of her shoes and ran to catch up with Spike who was lost in his thoughts. A hard look upon his face has he walked on leaving Ivy to rush behind him.
Until something grabbed her arm and pulled her in between two buildings. Before a scream could escape her lips, a gloved hand closed around her mouth surpressing any noise she could make. The voice in her ear was warm and strangely familiar.
" Don't make a sound, we don't want him to notice."
Two black eyebrows went up at the sound of that voice. The grip on her arms and mouth loosened has Ivy spun around to face her captor.
To be continued.
Alex: Looks like we have anew character joining the cast!
Spike: Another new one? Don't you think this is enough?
Alex: Never! I have plans to take over the show and make it Cowboy Alex. What do you think? Sound good?
Spike: Oh brother, the next episode is " Snow Fall Recluse Part 2."
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