77; action/dictated

[gottaknockhard]

[It's dark when Spike enters the castle, appearing like one of the ghosts who seem to gather at night. Late enough that he deems it at a minimal risk for running into anyone as he makes his way up the decorated lobby and into his (conveniently closer) room. He doesn't even turn on a light when he opens his door. He's only here for a moment to grab a few things to last him a couple of weeks, maybe a month, and disappear again before the holiday season is too far underway.

Ein seems to be the one foiling his stealth; he barks the moment he senses another body nearby and 'shh'-ing only partially works to shut him up. The dog apparently lost some faith during their time together (leaving him behind again didn't help), and whines as Spike starts shoving various things into a bag. When Spike pointedly ignores him and makes his way out, he nearly trips over the furry hazard.]

Stay behind then. [He whispers loudly, before finally throwing the bag over his shoulder in a huff and slipping through his door again.]

( Silva )

[This comes later, at a moment that catches his memory while watching the dog who is predictably walking at his side. Something he should get to before he forgets.]

Got a minute?


ooc: open for kissmas for anyone who wants to catch him!

Comments

[dgaf]

[ Sleeping is overrated. It's also hard to sleep when you haven't taken anything. Alcohol is good and all but right now she's itching for something more.

The castle's starting to suck. The recent kissing game has been fun but the hallways are quieter at night and Effy hasn't been able to find as many victims at this hour. So the sound of a dog barking draws her attention. She lurks by a turn, standing still in her black outfit with the incongruous mistletoe headband and waiting for him to notice her.

[gottaknockhard]

[When you're attempting to enter the castle without incident, it sometimes feels like the building is out to get you. Spike is suspicious of every turn he makes, not even trusting it enough to stop by the doors of friends. He's been around long enough to know better.

Ein barks again, and Spike glances down at him as he trails, figuring dogs are supposed to be good for sensing... whatever. Evil kissing spirits.

When he looks up again, he's only a few feet away from a girl dressed in black, and he immediately takes a step back. As if needing to recover from the obvious revelation that he's already screwed, he mutters politely.]

Nice hat.

[dgaf]

[ Ein was probably doing him a favor with that bark, warning him of this one particular evil kissing... person. She reaches to tuck her hair behind her ears to somehow display the headband better, all with a knowing smile, sharp as can be. ]

Where's yours?

[gottaknockhard]

[Hopefully she doesn't take offense if he quickly backs up to the opposite wall, even if running down the hall would give him a better chance -- except his intentions never get him that far. He's still standing as close as before, staring at the headband, and his grip starts to loosen on the bag across his shoulder.]

I'm not that creative. [Ein barks again, but he doesn't look down. Who the hell is she?]

[dgaf]

[ Thankfully Effy is quite self-assured when it comes to such things as her attractiveness, so his move doesn't bother her. But it does alert her that he's one of the few who would run away rather than toward her, so she starts taking a few steps forward to draw him into the mistletoe's sphere of influence before he flees. ]

It only takes one.

[rose_of_battle]

[Sheena doesn't stay in the castle too much, but once in a while, she can be found there--more often than not, visiting her friends, and less often, making a wish.

This time, however, she's there checking out the decorations with a less than suspicious eye as she wanders the halls. She had enjoyed the lights last year and can't resist them this year.

She had just entered the second floor when she hears Ein barking and thinking there's a problem, she rushes forward, cursing when she collides with someone of a very familiar height, and in the lights in the hallway, she can dimly make out who it is.]

Spike!

[gottaknockhard]

[So he isn't in line to be dubbed the next ninja in Paradisa. The bag on his shoulder nearly falls when a girl literally bumps into him, but he manages to keep his footing and readjusts before it does.

When he recognizes who it is, he feels a pang in his chest, like she's the face of inevitability. He never did apologize.

So much for a quiet exit.]

Sheena, hey.

[rose_of_battle]

[Nope. He needs to work on those skills. Or teach Ein how to be a ninja. Sheena also manages to keep her footing--thanks to a very quick grab on to his jacket, but thanks to a certain disappearing act someone had pulled, she keeps it there a moment.

And he should know "quiet" hardly ever applies to Sheena or the castle.]

"Hey"? That's all I get is "hey"? [She pauses a moment, proving the "not-quiet" theory a minute later.]

Are you all right?

[She's been worried about you, you idiot.]

[gottaknockhard]

[Well, he's still here and he hasn't tried to blow up any buildings. That has to count for stable, right?]

Yeah. [Which he could have said before now...] I was just getting a few things.

[rose_of_battle]

[Sheena's hoping for stable.]

Are you sure? [Because seriously, if not, she's gonna deck you... Hell, she may anyway for that stunt...

She looks at the bag, her brows knitting tighter.]

Are you moving? I don't think Ein likes that idea.

Spike

[hasmommyissues]

For you ... I have all the time in the world.

How can I help you?

Silva

[gottaknockhard]

[He debates how to put this, but he's almost positive Silva would be the one to know.]

I thought you might be able to help me find something.

Spike

[hasmommyissues]

[ He's always in the market to lend favours ... He might need some in return after all given his current situation.]

I'm always happy to help a friend ... Tell me what you have lost?

Silva

[gottaknockhard]

It's not like that, exactly.

[He even found the dog, as luck would have it.]

I'm looking for something you can't wish for.

Spike

[hasmommyissues]

Hmmm how very cryptic.

Go on.

[hellofist]

[There's actually a very good reason for Cass to be in the castle of all places this late at night. It's all in the name of a prank, she's collecting the mistletoe from the castle so she can hide it in Tim and Stephanie's bedroom and what better time to do that when everyone is supposed to be sleeping? It makes for less chances of running into people, but that's mostly an effort them, not her.

She doesn't mind all the kissing, really. It's gone okay for her so far. So it's with an arms full of mistletoe sprigs that she runs into Spike and his barky dog, almost literally. Out he stumbles from his room and she stops just before they collide, a few bundles of the plant slipping from her grasp to fall at his feet. Don't eat those, Ein.]

Hi again.

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike's first instinct is to jump back into the room he just exited and lock the door after someone bumps into him, but it's because of who it is that he stays to stare. Of all the obvious things he was expecting to avoid, someone carrying arm loads of mistletoe is even less subtle than the castle usually is. What the hell is she doing with that? Clearing it out?]

Hi. [His gaze falls to the branches she dropped, although he doesn't bend to pick them up. Eventually he gazes back at her, oddly intrigued.] Busy night?

[hellofist]

[She ducks her head to laugh, because she hadn't actually thought about what this would look like if she happened to run into anyone.]

Sort of. It's to prank someone. Not you. [She gets that bit out in a rush, just so he's sure.] Didn't expect... to see you, here. At mansion, maybe, but here?

[She shakes her head and when she looks back up at him again, she takes a few steps closer. She hadn't actually been sure if the mistletoe would still work once it was taken down, but now that she's realizing she'd really like to kiss Spike that answer is pretty clear. Yep, still works.]

[gottaknockhard]

[Not him, and yet.

His mouth opens to say something, probably to explain what he's doing and to ask if she could forget seeing him, but he really only gets about that far. Instead, he's lifting her chin up and catching her in a kiss before she could even think to protest or so much as set down the sprigs in her arms. Unfortunately, he gets carried away with these things. Somehow that never came up in their breakfast conversations.]

[hellofist]

[And here she'd thought maybe he wasn't a big fan of her, after than breakfast. He had tried to flee, after all. He's quick though, has her caught faster than she expects, which is a point in his favor. It's hard to surprise someone who can read your body language, who knows what you're going to do before you even move to do it.

He doesn't wait for her to put the mistletoe down, but he wouldn't have had to anyway. She drops it in favor of reaching up to put her hand to the back of his neck, tugging him down closer.]

[molotov]

[This year, it's not anger, or defiance, or even plain ol' arguing that gets them stuck.

This year, it's just circumstance.

When Molotov rounds the corner and sees Spike, she freezes and glances at the ceiling. Mistletoe, randomly dotting the hall all the way down. She could probably serpentine it, but she knows better than to trust the castle not to move them around.

With a sigh and a hand on her hip, she just looks down the hall at Spike.]

Is it even worth fighting? It happens every year, no matter what we do. Should we just get it over with?

[gottaknockhard]

[She can call it a coincidence all she wants, Spike doesn't believe in it anymore. He freezes on the spot, either because the magic is already keeping him from running or he's fighting out of spite before it starts.]

Funny, I can go a long time without running into you.

[molotov]

[Molotov really didn't know he would be there! So it must be coincidence, or else the castle just really likes tradition.

She's frozen too, just staring down the hall.]

The last time this happened, my husband nearly killed you. If I'd planned it, I would have brought him with me, wouldn't I?

[gottaknockhard]

[Did he? Spike thought he was just a master at repressing disturbing memories, but maybe he took too many blows to the head that time. It is sort of a shame he'll miss out on that this year.]

So you were prowling for someone else?

[molotov]

I wasn't prowling for anyone, I just wanted a drink at the bar. What is your excuse?