simplestgift | Thirty-Six Bells: [Written/Action]

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Thirty-Six Bells: [Written/Action]

[Written:]

In light of my new duties as first lieutenant of the LES Britannia, impending matrimony, and being bloody terrible at running a foodhouse, I shall soon retire as the owner of Cloud Nine. I'd like to continue to work a few shifts, of course, but the club will need new management. Which brave soul will shoulder the task?

-A. Kennedy

[Action only: He is enjoying the last night of the voyage, simply meditating upon the lovely roll of the ship beneath him. It's chilly out, and he can see his breath, but he doesn't mind, wrapped up tightly in his heavy wool greatcoat. Softly he sings a song swallowed by the night, evidenced mainly by the mist of it in the air around his lips.]

The maiden, oh, the maiden oh.
The sailor loves the maiden, oh!
So early in the morning,
The sailor loves the maiden, oh!
A maid that is young,
A maid that is fair,
A maid that is kind and pleasant, oh,
So early in the morning,
The sailor loves the maiden, oh!

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Spike's moved in.

Oh. Also? Spike's back.

I saw that he had returned. I didn't know he'd moved in. Is that wise?

Probably not. But I didn't really make the decision. He just -- isn't leaving.

[ it sounds laughable. a slayer, surely, could just kick him out. ]

He probably just doesn't want to admit that it's downright terrifying being new and alone, here.

There isn't a friend who'll take him from you?

He still thinks he's going to escape this place. Getting cozy with strangers is not high on his priority list.

But having a place to stay that won't trouble you? Although expecting manners of a vampire doesn't seem a fruitful task.

Troubling me is usually exactly where Spike wants to be. He's...[ she can't say harmless ] well aware of his limits. But I can't help thinking it's to my benefit if I keep him under my roof. The only other friendly faces in this town who aren't living under Seven are...

People I don't want to see him falling in with.

...I suppose you can control him, if you must.

It won't come to that, but...

If I have to? Yes. He's well aware that I'm prepared to put a stake in his heart if it's called for. And he knows that if he makes one wrong move, he's out on his ass faster than he can say weetabix.

Say w...never mind. No chance at all of him hooking arms with this Drusilla?

[ drusilla has hinted at...

but buffy doesn't believe...

but she also can't quite confront him about... ]

If he does? He's out. I won't...I won't stand for it.

[ she wishes she could say it wasn't a little bit because she'd be jealous. ]

By that point, it'd be a little too late, I'd imagine. [Drusilla unnerves him more than he'll say. She chased him for hours through the woods, always murmuring about his beauty, and how she would turn him into one of them.]

Too late? Hmm. Maybe. I don't think he'd suddenly up and abandon his soul over it. But I'd be through with him.

...Very well. [A pause.] Thank you for...for being frank with me, earlier.

You can show your gratitude by now sharing my, uhm, frankness with Liz. She doesn't need to know that her maid of honour has cold feet.

I wanna do right by her.

Of course not. Don't worry.

It's appreciated.

...I'm very happy with her, Buffy. Happier than I believed I could be. And somehow, she condescends to be happy with me. I'd be a fool to spoil it.

You'd be a fool to keep hanging on to this somehow business.

...Yes, she asks me not to insult anyone's opinion by denying I am worth caring for.

Anyone with a heart should be asking you the same.

[ and -- frankly -- buffy thinks a couple shouldn't be getting married if one of them is coming to it with himself at such a perceived disadvantage. it's part of why she still can't say yes. ]

I think...with her, I'm too happy for it to matter. Sometimes, I can almost believe it. I...I cannot insult her character by assuming she would fall in love with such a thoroughly unworthy man, and therefore I must have done something right.

[ it all sounds very...sad, to buffy summers. very sad indeed. but then again -- she was often the long-fought-for prize that inspired unworthy men to try and change their stripes.

to be the kind of man who would never.... she shudders. ]

Or maybe she just loves you. That doesn't always have anything to do with wrong or right. But it's just as good a reason as anything else.

I think...I am beginning to understand. I think.

Good. Let's up the understanding process continues. As far as I can tell from my observations and hearsay? Marriage doesn't simple it up by much.

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