Buzz and Company
Duncan smiled. Little crinkles formed in the corners of his eyes giving him the appearance of a man who loved to smile but had been (recently) out of practice. He raised his left arm and placed his left hand almost on Joy's back. He was about to lead her on a tour of the shop and continue their conversation when he felt the familiar buzzing in his head alerting him to the presence of another immortal. Duncan's face immediately hardened. The smile wiped clear from his visage.
Joyce took just that moment to look again. Her eyes fell on his face and registered the change. Joyce didn't know what to think. Duncan suddenly reminded her of Buffy and the look she got on her face when she sensed a threat approached. Duncan's eyes were vacant. Joyce had asked Buffy once what it felt like when she knew a vampire was approaching. Buffy had told her it was like a sudden pressure or tension in her brain almost like a cork pushing outward to pop. It was as if she was waiting to fight or rather neutralize the threat to humanity. Buffy had said her mind went blank and there was nothing in her mind but the upcoming fight.
For Joyce there was certain anticipation in her gaze. She really wanted to know what thoughts or threats occupied Duncan's mind and preyed on their shared moments.
Duncan looked toward the slightly open shop door. He heard footsteps and saw the handle turn. "Mac!" he heard called out. "Hey Mac! It's Richie".
Duncan calmed. His face lost any worry and a certain resigned calm settled I his eyes. "Over here" he called out. Richie approached Duncan in a shuffled movement. He had to navigate covered antiques holding a shiny black motorcycle helmet. They gave each other a warm hug.
"Hey
Mac—thought I would drop by and see how you are doing."
Mac
smiled and turned to Joyce. "I am sorry, let me introduce you.
"Richie this is Joyce Summers. She is the first person I've met
in town."
"Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you!"
both said at once.
Richie had a natural wit and charm said. "Oh
it must be the blonde hair… it covers like minds." Joyce smiled
and extended her hand.
"So Richie, are you thinking of moving here?" Duncan asked.
"Oh, I don't know. I got a tip from a friend about a job opening at the high school. If I get the job I will get to work with at risk youth. "
"Really?" Joyce replied. Joyce was really surprised. Based on her first glance Richie had seemed like an at-risk youth himself. He was definitely handsome but a little rugged with a beat up motorcycle jacket and helmet. There she was again making assumptions. Buffy looked like a valley girl and here she was Vampire Slayer Extraordinaire.
"Yeah! Definitely. I know I still look it but Ii am definitely an ex-bad boy. I just kept the jacket to scare away folks on my drive down the coast!"
"Sounds like you should be in a boy band, you know maybe "The Bad Boys". Duncan quipped.
"I've been here 2 minutes and he has already started!" Richie smiled. He was very happy to see that his friend was up to tossing him a joke. Things had been difficult for Duncan after Tessa's death. Richie realized Duncan's mood hadn't changed because he Richie Ryan had walked in the door but rather because Mac was macking—wrong word—chatting up a lovely woman. Duncan would probably be happier or happiest as soon as he Richie Ryan had extracted himself from the room.
"Say Joyce coffee! Where is this Espresso Pump" Richie bent his head to read the paper cup. Oh it is just down the street." Richie read from the address printed on the cup 252 W. Main Street."
"Yeah it is just three blocks go one traffic light and park on the left. It is clearly labeled."
"Alrighty—off I go. I need another buzz."
Duncan looked at Richie and groaned.
"What? Can't I make bad jokes? Okay off I go. I will see you later Duncan. You know your couch is my couch."
"The couch hasn't arrived yet." Duncan said with a wry smile.
"Alright. Alright. Your padded mat on the floor of the Dojo is my padded mat on the floor of the Dojo.
"Definitely."
"Great meeting you Joyce. C ya!" and off he went in search of caffeine.
"Scamp"
"Good word". Joyce replied. "Describes him well. He reminds me of my daughter and her good friends.
"Good friends are a blessing". Duncan said. He had raised his hand again to touch her back and lead her on the little tour.
"So how old is your daughter?"
"Buffy is 20. She is a sophomore at UC-Sunnydale. She actually volunteers at the Center for At Risk Youth."
"Small world" Duncan said.
"You'll find the longer you stay the smaller it will get!"
"Ah have we a prophetess here?" Duncan raised an eyebrow. He had moved to the left of Joyce and with his right hadn uncovered one antique. His hands held the white sheet. Joyce noticed how deeply tan his fingers looked against the white of the sheet. His fingers were well shaped they drover her to distraction. She had heard him call her "prophetess" and her brain had stalled on preparing a proper quip. The problem was his hands were her next distraction. Desperate to keep her thoughts level she turned her vision towards the piece Duncan had uncovered. She hoped Duncan had not noticed any delay in her speech.
"Beautiful" was the next word out of her mouth. "Absolutely stunning!" The first piece Duncan had uncovered was a delicate knight's armor. It was made of steel but decorated with an almost medieval psychedelic design. At every location where the body would naturally bend there was a slim vein of decorative shine—maybe mica, feldspar, and silver and gold. Though deadly, the whole armor seemed small-- as if it were made for a a woman.
"May I touch?"
"Of
course".
As Joyce touched the piece she realized it was very light and almost flexible. "I found the piece in Florence." Duncan replied.
"It is so small. Was it made for a woman?" Joyce asked. She raised her hazel eyes to Duncan's to await his answer. He held her gaze for a long moment before replying.
Duncan's voice seemed a trifle deeper or headier when he responded to her question.
"Yes it was made for a woman. Legend has it she was a woman warrior and she overthrew a demonic ruler of Italy". Duncan stepped closer to Joy and touched his left hand to hers. He curled his hand around her outer hand and raised both hands to the shoulder of the armor. "See how it bends? This armor while beautiful was deadly to the warrior. She and I do believe it had to be a she had to have otherworldly reflexes to survive wearing this. It is honestly just decorative clothing. It really wouldn't protect anyone from the heat of a sword in battle."
In the moment when he had held her hand it had been almost unbearable to not kiss her. As he had stood next to her Joy had moved her head and her golden hair had tumbled to one side exposing her neck and rapidly beating pulse. The scent of her hair invaded his senses. All he wanted to do was gather her up in his arms and kiss her senseless. 'Senseless' he thought. He honestly didn't know where all this desire had surfaced from. It was as if his soul knew he had a date with death that evening and his heart wanted to get back with the business of living again. He thought he was ready but his brain was not and so Duncan stepped away.
When Duncan had stepped forth and took her hand Joyce had felt her heart leap in her chest. For the first time in years the cause of her increased heart beat was not fear of imminent death. For a moment she thought it was all really too soon for her. Hank had been years ago and Ted also years ago. Her brain made her hesitate and just as she turned her head to consider to accept his kiss he had stepped away.
