paradisa | -80- Grow Old With Me

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faye valentine

-80- Grow Old With Me

[Faye hasn't been out of her room much for the past while, and there are reasons for that. Reasons that she'd really like to get away from by now, and sitting around in a little room just isn't going to let her forget about them.

But hey, today she actually has an excuse to get out and treat herself a little.

So, she stretches her legs and wanders out to town, finally settling down at her favorite cafe. She orders a big piece of pie. ...And a couple of cupcakes. ...And some ice cream.

And that's where she'll be for a while, people-watching and snacking until she might make herself sick... and the faint hummed notes of Happy Birthday just might be caught over the journal every once in a while.

She doesn't even know if it's the right day. But it's the date she's always put on her IDs, so it's close enough.]

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[and because he likes waiting until his presence will be most immediately terrifying, this is the sound of Zelman pulling up a chair next to her.]

[...this is what she gets for trying to enjoy her birthday, huh?

And, he gets his wish. She only gets halfway to turning toward the sound before some part of her brain realizes who it is. She doesn't even have to see him and she's instantly back in that alleyway.

The snap of fear that comes with that only gets her moving quicker.

She doesn't hesitate, doesn't even take the time to breathe--just throws herself out of her chair and onto her feet, draws her weapon, and fires.]

[when she shoots, she'll find him tilted just enough to the side that the bullet skirts past his shoulder, just grazing his shirt. it lands in the bricks of a building behind them, no one injured for it.

but that doesn't stop people from starting to freak out. his only response is to roll his eyes.]

Please. You're causing a scene.

[of course. She doesn't know why she should even be surprised.

And she apparently doesn't care that she's making a scene, because her gun doesn't lower an inch. So ready to fire again.]

Get away from me.

No.

[he keeps his one hand very firmly planted on the back of that chair. the other is in his pocket.]

I came here to apologize.

Apologize?

[at least she's got a backbone--all she does is narrow her eyes]

Bullshit.

[...smirk.]

How's that?

You expect me to believe that you're really over here to apologize?

Yes.

[tch. he gets a good scoff.]

Why?

Edited 2012-08-16 03:41 (UTC)

So that you'll stop pointing a gun at me in public, for one thing.

And?

[because that is not a good enough reason. Like she's ever given a shit about something like that. Let them all freak out. Hell, let them call whatever functions as the law in this city, if they want.]

It wasn't fair of me.

[he tilts his head a little.]

An understatement, I know. There's absolutely no reason that I should have done what I did, irrational as I was. I wouldn't be surprised if I don't get any sort of trust from you ever again.

[his fingers loosen a little on the back of the chair.]

But I like you... And I'm quickly running out of people that I like. I didn't think it would kill me to try and confess regret over my actions.

'Regret?' Are you serious?

[she could not sound more incredulous over the fact that he'd even try to convince her of such a thing... but the tension on her weapon loosens just a little. The potential for him being shot is still very much there, but the immediacy is a little lessened]

[It's a shame that town is exactly where Spike has been spending his time while trying not to bump into anyone he knows. He happens to be passing by the cafe at the exact moment Faye is sitting outside. The smarter part of him is inclined to keep walking, but he stops to stare before he even realizes it. Some things feel too much like karma to blame on coincidence.

Maybe he picked up a little bit of the tune she's humming, or maybe he really did remember. In either case, he passes by close enough to be in earshot. For once he's not pushing his luck by getting too close.]

Small party this year. [Not even an old lady joke. It's almost like an apology.]

[she glances over, and for a minute just looks at him. Like she's waiting, expecting something bad to happen, or something crazy to come out of his mouth.

...But, for the first time in what feels like months, nothing does.]

Oh, you know me-- I wouldn't want all that attention.

[almost like apology accepted.]

[Spike smiles faintly and doesn't move any closer. The things he did with her felt like a weird high; he crashed hard and looks like it. But he's got enough pride not to drag her into his issues any more than he has.

So instead he glances at her pile of desserts and takes a crack at something familiar. Hopefully enough to keep her from sensing anything had changed with him.]

Just you and few buddies, huh?

[and she has enough pride to not run into his gaze any more than she has to, eyes gladly wandering down to the small dessert massacre in front of her.

It might take her a little longer to get over it all. If it had all been ridiculous, she could have called it surreal and been done with it. But, some of it had been a little too vivid for her tastes, and the discomfort of it still clung to everything.

But she could pretend.]

Very funny. A girl is allowed to indulge on occasion, you know.

[He can't keep it up for long. There's a reason he hasn't come looking for her at the castle, or said anything over the journal to explain himself. There's too many implications that he'd like to distance himself from.

Which leaves him wondering why he decided to bother her to begin with.]

I guess so. [...] I'm glad you got your appetite back.

It took a while.

[--hoping that taking a stab at saying that recent events had been considered stomach-turning would help add to some of that distance.]

[Yeah, he gets it. What he did was as despicable as it was mortifying, and the worst part was that he can't seem to shake off all the blame. -- Spike looks to the side, knowing he should walk on back to his bench. If someone else hadn't claimed it already.

If he's lingering there for a moment, it's because he can't seem to decide where he's going. (He's pretty sure that's why.) Unfortunately, it's a long enough pause that he has to keep talking.]

I can imagine. [Not quite a quip, but it keeps him from saying what almost came out. Think of what they could have avoided if she'd had better aim.]

[well, whatever it is, it's making her edgy. It's too awkward, seeing him standing there. For someone who doesn't look like he has the energy to pull himself onto his own feet half the time, seeing him like this makes her feel twitchy.

It's also leaving too much room for things to go through thoughts and not be said.

So, she kicks one of the chairs a few inches back]

Sit down or something already. You're bothering me, standing around like that.

[That's one thing he knows he doesn't want to do. And yet, he sits down without much hesitation. Maybe the lack of sleep is getting to him and he just needs somewhere to collapse. There's nothing like falling asleep mid-coversation to add to the awkward silences.

Great way for her to spend a birthday. Spike does his best.]

Did you order any real food?

[she wouldn't mind that so much. She wouldn't have to talk to him, and she could push his chair over.]

What, are you too good to mooch off of desserts now? You're getting picky?

[He's actually starving after living like a homeless person for the past few weeks, but no let's go with picky.]

Maybe I am. [He grabs a cupcake as he says that though, and bites off about half. She should know he could polish off this whole table in under a minute, so that might not have been the best suggestion.]

Hey--!

[yeah, that probably ranked pretty highly on the stupid-things-to-say chart]

You should be buying me things today, not the other way around!

I thought you'd be more comfortable without that part.

[He brought you flowers, don't make him bring it up.]

Tch. [--she scoffs, tries to make it seem like the thought that she'd still be weirded out by all that is ridiculous.]

Don't make excuses.

[Yeah, just another weird Spike-thing. He's sure she thinks it's typical by now. Still... he can't get past feeling like an asshole. Which is rare with Faye.]

What would you like?

[When Faye's looking the other way a box will be slipped onto the table. It looks like it's been wrapped by a small child because, well, it was.

Inside is a set of poker chips with teeny cameras set into the sides. What? Never let it be said she doesn't know her Not!Family.]

[a-awww...

She's a little bewildered over them, wondering where they could have come from (it will probably click later)... but she's not going to look a gift bugged-poker-chip in the mouth.

Yeah she'll be looking at and playing with those at the table for a while.]

[London had been jonesing for a venti double mocha espresso latte with low fat cream, but this place seemed to be the only place she could find. She takes a seat near the woman and orders... a cup o' joe.]

Are you sure you should be eating all of those sweets with that outfit?

I wouldn't be if I anything to worry about.

[yeah, that's right. Hear that? This figure is invincible.]

What do you mean you have nothing to worry about?

I mean-- some girls need to watch what they eat very carefully, and some don't.

[it's probably all the stress and running for her life that keeps her in shape]

So you're one of those fast metabolaser people.

[Never one to turn down a taste of something delicious herself, London scopes out Faye's sweets.]

You didn't order any biscotti?

[she has to scoff a little]

Biscotti? Please.

I went for the good stuff.

Oh, but biscotti are good! Especially the mocha ones dipped in chocolate!

[London helps herself to one of those cupcakes.]

So, do you just eat all this stuff on a regular basis?

[she side-eyes the snack thief, but lets her off easy this time]

Not all the time. This is for a special occasion.

What's the occasion?

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-80- Grow Old With Me

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Happy belated birthday, Faye-Faye! <3

so sweet :'3

:3

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