67; dictated/action

[gottaknockhard]

[As quiet as he's been, Spike's voice was bound to be heard over the journal again eventually. He likes to stretch out rumors of his death as much as the next guy, but everyone has to face the music eventually. Even if it's in an offhand comment made to quell any worries about his ability to blow something like that off entirely.]

Nothing like family to bring everyone back together.

[He keeps the journal nearby, although he has other things on his mind. There are one or two distinct advantages when you're left out of the free baby giveaway; with everyone tending to their respective fake-magic offspring, the bars are relatively empty. Which happens to be perfect timing for Spike to try an experiment.

During the few days he spent at the mansion, and following how well his recent appearances at the castle have gone, something has been abundantly missing in his life. Something he intends to get to the bottom of.

He sits in his old spot in the Lux, where everything seems pretty much the same, minus the attractive bartender serving him what he wants before he ever opens his mouth. (It will always baffle him that he was the one that the castle wants to keep around when those were the options.) -- No, he's the one that's changed. Since he came back, nothing has any taste. Or maybe it's not the taste exactly... In any case, he feels off, in more ways than one. At first, he assumed it was some lingering feelings of numbness that would leave him in time.

It's been time enough now to start to be concerned.

So he does the responsible thing to find out. He sets out ten shot glasses, filling them each with what's left of the tequila Jo had stashed behind the bar -- the good stuff she used to bring in from town -- and picks up the first. If he gets to the end without falling off his stool, he has a real problem on his hands. Simple.]

Let's hope it doesn't go to waste. [Raising the glass to the space where Jo used to stand, he starts down the line.]


ooc: So, Spike came back to life a while back, and his new second loss is horrible. Open over the journal/in person at the Lux -- as always!

Comments

[3nterprising]

[Faye had spent way too much time in the castle. So much so that it seemed like a much better idea to go find some alcohol. She'd been dry for a little too long.

She'd heard about Spike's death, and although she had known there was a pretty good chance he'd be back, she hadn't seen him since they'd been on the Event Horizon.

When Faye had stumbled upon this bar, she couldn't tell whether or not she was surprised to see him there. She's bordering on hating herself as she approaches and stands nearby, noticing the dangerous number of shot glasses.]

Are you trying for a third time?

[Her arms are crossed, the bandages on her torso less than they had been. Needless to say, she isn't too thrilled.]

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike is just getting to his second shot when he sees Faye (bandages and all) reflected in the glass. This is really something he hoped he could deal with after he was finished, or preferably when he was less sober than he is now, but he can't bring himself to be annoyed that she found out. (It's easier than lying his way around it, since that went so well for him before.)

At least she tipped him off early.]

I was hoping to get up to a nice round number.

[3nterprising]

Good job letting me know, by the way.

[Spike may not be annoyed with Faye, but she's more than annoyed with him. A part of her isn't even sure why.]

[gottaknockhard]

[He still hasn't turned around, busy playing with the next shot down the line. Saying something over the journal once in over a week since he came back isn't the same as finding her to tell her he's alive, so it's not surprising that his intentions would be lost.]

I didn't want to spoil the surprise.

[3nterprising]

I never liked surprises from you.

[It was bad enough she'd found out of his death from someone she'd only spoken to once before. Stumbling across him on an outing was the last way she'd have liked to discover his return.]

dictated;

[ensorceler]

[ No clue what he's doing, what even. ]

What do you know of family?

dictated;

[gottaknockhard]

Only what I've read in books.

[aka he finally opened the journal and that's all anyone was talking about.]

dictated;

[ensorceler]

You are musing over stories? Here I thought you did not read.

dictated;

[gottaknockhard]

You did call me a liar before.

dictated;

[ensorceler]

[ It really ticks her off when he uses things she says as constant excuses. But she's had enough time now to not let anything sound that she doesn't want to. ]

So I did. Which story are you musing over today?

[last_rat_standing]

[Sup, Spike. There's someone sitting at the end of the bar with a drink in his own hand. His own suit is missing the tie, the top button of his shirt unbuttoned instead. Other than that there is no indication at all that he had been dead not too long ago, himself.]

[gottaknockhard]

[If Spike is annoyed at all that the bar isn't completely empty, he doesn't show it. He only gives a slightly envious look in Bond's direction for not having a similar problem, then goes back to his shots. Go ahead and judge, he won't care.]

[last_rat_standing]

[Who's gonna judge? Certainly not James Bond. Quite to the contrary, actually, he lifts his drink slightly in acknowledgement of the other man before taking his own sip.]

[gottaknockhard]

[He knocks down the first two in the row before he notices, and raises the third in salute. It's at that point that he recognizes him. They seem to have a lot of the same hang outs lately.]

[last_rat_standing]

[Funny how that happens, isn't it? Spending time in the same places... with the same people. He can't say he approves of anything he's seen of Spike and Ann, though he's not about to tell the Queen that. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to try to keep an eye on this guy.

He gestures for another drink, and for one to be sent down to Spike.]

[bronwe]

Are you in the kitchen again?

[ READ: are you emptying the fridges to find mice or something, Spike? ]

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike doesn't make the connection, but he manages to be amused that Frodo would assume.]

You could probably scare them away by telling them I'm coming.

[bronwe]

[ He chuckles. ]

I could help you with a sandwich.

[gottaknockhard]

I may take you up on that later.

[If he can still stand by the time he finishes what he's doing, he'll need something to boost his spirits. Actually wait--]

What kind?

[bronwe]

Any kind. I rather like the Ploughman's.

[dictated]

[nothingtobelieve]

[Oh, there you are. He was beginning to wonder]

So you're still here after all.

[dictated]

[gottaknockhard]

[Just for you, buddy.]

You know me. I would have missed it too much if I stayed away.

[dictated]

[nothingtobelieve]

Of course. It would be a shame to miss all this excitement.

[Is it possible to be deadpan and sarcastic at the same time? Who knows, but he's giving it his best shot]

[dictated]

[gottaknockhard]

Been that bored without me?

[dictated]

[nothingtobelieve]

Terribly.