Thoughtless Words
Part twenty-three of the Foolish Games Series.
Willow pulled her legs up onto the couch as Buffy tried to look more serious in the armchair across from her. "Okay Willow, this is total free association."
" 'Kay."
"So anything that comes to mind is perfectly . . .perfect."
"Gotcha."
"Anything at all."
"Uh huh."
"Doesn't matter what--"
"Buffy! I got it. Let's start."
The Slayer smoothed an imaginary hair from her brow. "Okay. Uh, here we go. Apples."
"Oranges."
"Flowers."
"Roses."
"Uh," Buffy, looked through her 3x5 cards for a better selection of words. "Okay. Red."
"Head."
"Wolf."
"Cage."
"Laconic."
"Oz."
"Nail polish"
"Oz's hands."
"Nine."
"Oz's guitar."
"Beer."
"Oz."
"Oz?!" Buffy gave her friend a pleading look. "How does 'Beer' remind you of Oz?!"
Willow shrugged. "I guess because he doesn't drink?"
A hand to her forehead, Buffy could only sigh. "Let's try again, huh?
"Chains."
"Oz."
"Moon."
"Oz."
"Chocolate ice cream."
"Oz."
"Okay, Wills, explain that one."
"Well me and Oz went out and had chocolate ice cream together last night and--"
"Fine. Whatever. No way this one will make you think of Oz. Monkeys!"
"Oz?" Willow squeaked.
"Argh!"
"Sorry, Buffy. I guess I'm in love?"
"You'd better be. Jeez, first Anya's too unpredictable and now you, you--"
"Let's try again, Buf. I promise not to think of Oz."
"No, no," Buffy said as she uncurled herself from the chair. "I'll just have to use someone totally and utterly predictable for my psych project."
Willow frowned. "Who?"
"Spike. I may not know much, but understand the vampire mind? I do."
Fin[ear] (finir)
