(no subject)

[not_that_spike]

For a long time, the only person Spike knew here from his own time and location was Ed. Well, Ed and the dog, but the dog doesn't count as a person even though Ein thinks he ought to. And Spike kind of liked it that way: made things easy. Not too many questions, not too many things he had to answer for.

Now, all of a sudden, there's a lot of them: Ed, Ein, Faye, Julia, Gren, Stella. All he has to say about that is thank fuck Vicious isn't here.

It isn't that he thinks about this shit a hell of a lot: it's just the way things are and no matter what fate throws at him, he'll be okay. He can deal with it. The only thing that would set him off in a really bad way would be if anything -- anything -- from his past ended up hurting Beth in any way.

But he's not anticipating trouble. Especially not today: he's done his first official workout since before he and Beth left for Christmas-on-Venus and he feels really good. He stops at the bar for a couple bottles of cold water before moving over to the usual table by the fire. It's a good table: he can stretch his legs out; he can pretend he's not smoking as much as he is by flicking cigarette butts into the fire; he can watch the flames if he feels like ignoring people; he's got a good view of the bar's comings and goings.

Plus, he can always see Beth when she walks into the room. Of course, there's not a hell of a lot that keeps him from noticing her. Ever.

Comments

[eostre-of-dawn.livejournal.com]

Easter's watching people too, and by 'people' it means Spike. So, while she might not be Beth, she does tend to stand out a little.

[not_that_spike]

He raises a water bottle to her.

"Hey."

Spike doesn't think he's met her before. And as much as he professes to Beth that he's got a weakness for pretty blondes, he really only means it for her.

But damn, this one's pretty fucking easy on the eyes.

[eostre-of-dawn.livejournal.com]

"Hey yourself."

She grins at him, and it's the kind of smile that can warm a man to his toes. She's had a lot of time to perfect that smile.

"Are you the designated driver that you're drinking water in a place like this?"

[not_that_spike]

Spike laughs despite himself. "No, ma'am. I'm just a humble bounty hunter."

[eostre-of-dawn.livejournal.com]

She raises her eyebrows at that.

"Oh? Surely you aren't hunting for anyone here? There's no business in the bar, or so I've heard."

Her voice is light, but the memory of her kind being hunted down not too long ago lingers.

[not_that_spike]

"Nah. No business in the bar. It's what I do on the other side of the door. Here, I just..."

love my woman

"...teach a little Jeet Kune Do, waste time, shit like that. I'm Spike. Spike Spiegel." He takes a sip of the water: it was, after all, his first workout since being shot and having his ribs broken, and he knows to stay hydrated.

[eostre-of-dawn.livejournal.com]

"I'm Easter. Nice to meet you, Spike Spiegel."

She offers her hand, green eyes sparkling.

"So now you're going to have to explain to me exactly what 'Jeet Kune Do' is."

[not_that_spike]

He shakes her hand, but lets go quickly: for a Gemini, he's a boring one-woman man. "It's... a form of martial art, like karate or tae kwon do or... well, it's self-defense and balance and focus and a little bit of Zen philosophy all thrown in together. Does that help at all?"

He has no idea what people know, or where they're from. But the fighting arts seem to be prevalent on every world, or at least he thinks they are.

[eostre-of-dawn.livejournal.com]

She nods, and she respects that he might well be a one-woman man, but that's no power in any world that can stop her from flirting. She wouldn't know how not to.

"Ah, well that does make sense. I had thought that it must be something like that, though I'm afraid that I've never had the chance to learn any of thise things."

[bloodyrockgod]

There's a kid with a guitar nearby, and he smiels and nods hello. "Nice night," he remarks.

[not_that_spike]

"Yo."

He nods in agreement. "It sure almost felt like spring outside. Not bad considering the way it's been."

Weather. Small talk. Boring.

"Nice guitar."

[bloodyrockgod]

"Thank you," he says proudly. "It's a 1930s Gibson.

"Do you play?"

[not_that_spike]

"Me?" Spike laughs, shaking his head. "Fuck, no. I don't think I have a musical bone in my whole damn body."

He does, however, admire those who do.

[bloodyrockgod]

"Never hurts to ask." He holds out a hand. "I'm Charlie."

[not_that_spike]

"Spike." They shake hands. "I think I've seen you around. You've been here a while, right?"

One of the things about having been at this place for almost a year and a half is that he gets to say shit like that and be pretty confident he's not wrong. He sure hasn't met as many people as he should have, though, given the amount of time he's been here himself.

Not that he cares.

[bloodyrockgod]

"Yup--since year before last. I'm the noisy one who never wears shoes."

[not_that_spike]

Fair enough. "Well. I'm the quiet one who always smokes." Reaching for his cigarettes, he offers one to Charlie just because it's the nice thing to do. "And I always wear shoes. Down here, anyhow."

He chuckles a little bit. Upstairs? Different matter entirely.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Taking note of Spike, Snow walks over to his table with a smile.

"Good to see you back, Spike. How was your trip?"

[not_that_spike]

"Hey, Snow." His smile is genuine. "It seems like forever since I saw you. How's things treating you?"

He'll tell her about their trip in a minute, because there's a hell of a lot to tell. Of course, he could do the long story/short story option thing. It can be Snow's choice.

"Venus was really nice. Beautiful."

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

"Everything's fine. Millie and Wade are getting into some combination of cabin fever and early development to the terrible twos, but we have them under control. The holidays went well, and we're planning a vacation soon -- a chance to get out and let the kids run wild for a few weeks. I don't want to jinx it, but it might burn off some of their pent-up energy."

She takes a sip of her hot chocolate, rather relaxed.

"I bet if the bar's patrons got together, we could probably write the ultimate tourist guide. Best times and places to visit for a wonderful vacation."

[not_that_spike]

He lets out a small laugh. "Yeah, we could. Hey, I have Christmas presents for you and Millie and Wade, now that it's... what day is it? Isn't it February? If you hang out here for just a minute, I can run upstairs and get them."

And he does mean run; it's the first time he's been able to take those stairs more than one at a time in what feels like forever.

"Should I?"

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Snow snickers, wondering mildly how time keeps going by so quickly, now that she's thinking in less of an immortal's long-term perspective.

"Certainly. Have you gotten yours from Bar yet? I can grab it while you're gone, if not."

[not_that_spike]

"I haven't. It's a deal." He stands and gives Snow a smile. "I'll be right back."

He sets off across the bar at a lope: it feels damn good to move like normal again. He's up the stairs and back down with Snow's things in just a couple minutes.

They're still in bags. "Sorry I didn't wrap them. I kind of got into a little trouble. Broke a few ribs, got shot: nothing major."

Right.

"But hell, I've got my priorities. Here. Hope you like them."

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

And when he returns, Snow passes over the box addressed to both him and Beth. Inside area snowglobe from New York (http://www.nycwebstore.com/images/products/snowglobes/JJJ-Macys_snowglobe_lg.JPG) and a nice, hardcover book of fairy tales with snide commentary written in the margins by someone who knows the truth behind most of it.

She blanches at the news of his injury. only slighly noticable, given her complexion, but nonetheless.

"It's certainly not a problem. Are you all right? I know gunshot wounds are survivable, but they still hurt a lot."

[not_that_spike]

"Oh, hell, I've had worse injuries. Sure, I'm okay. The ribs hurt a hell of a lot more than the bullet wound." He shrugs as if to prove it. Spike hands her the bag: there's a t-shirt for her that says My Favorite Couple Went To Venus, And All They Brought Me Was This Lousy T-Shirt; Wade and Millie each have shirts adorned with a picture of the best looking damn eclair he's ever seen; they read Fresh from New France.

"Hope those all fit. We kind of couldn't resist them. I would have brought you back some pastry, but I don't have the kind of magic that can make those things survive a trip as long as ours."

He grins at her, taking the box. "Mind if I wait till Beth and I are togehter before I open this?"