bountyhead | × ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴘᴏꜱᴛ

[ Spike will meet Faye's unflinching gaze when he looks back, and she'll choose to hold it for all of ten seconds before his attention moves to something else, though hers will refuse to stray. I even kinda like you sometimes. She feels compelled to laugh out of habit — sometimes he says things that sound almost too uncharacteristic of him to be true and so she treats it as a joke and laughs. It wasn't the same this time. She gnaws at her bottom lip as warmth balloons in her chest and then in a windless voice she tells him: ]

Then let's not make it complicated.

[ He was right in that there was enough bullshit to wade through between them both — making things complicated meant muddying everything else up. She doesn't want it either. It's not much that she's asking for but she realizes that she isn't being very clear right now. That's when the weight on the mattress dips as she scoots closer, carefully sliding the ashtray towards him to make room. ]

I care about you, Spike. [ Oh, how easy that was to say and how impossibly sincere it sounded leaving her lips!! It's a little nerve-wracking but she keeps with the momentum, hoping he'll look at her and see it in her face too. ] And the only way I'll know that you care about me is if you say it. Just those four words. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. [ Simple as that. ]

[ He never asked for any of this. In fact, he respectfully requested the opposite. His own feelings for one woman were almost more than he could handle, but now he was expected to juggle another woman's feelings along with his own toward her on top of his own problems? How the hell was that fair?

Still, her affirmation of her caring about him strikes him in a way he doesn't expect it to, and he finds he actually has to keep his focus on the floor in front of him to stop him from actively exposing his curiosity. He can sense the vulnerability in her voice, and he's not sure he can look at her and keep his head clear. ]

I have a feeling you want me to say more than that.

Like what? I just told you what I want to hear you say.

[ It's frustrating because in her mind, this is as simple as can be and he's actively working on making it difficult. At the same time, she's growing a little restless, defensive even, that he hasn't said it and is preparing to place blame somewhere for things not going smoothly. But what she needs to realize is that Spike is a person with feelings just like everyone else. That she comes on too strong and too fast when she's overpowered by her emotions. Emotions that she has not yet been equipped to deal with. She subtly clenches one of her hands and releases and thinks: please don't make me regret this. ]

Don't play dumb. You know what.

[ He might not be actively trying to be difficult to make her mad, but he does need to think of himself, and his own injured heart. There were many reasons he didn't like to get involved with women, and it seems as though his instinct was right once again. It was always a mess at the end of the road.

But finally after a moment of silent contemplation and another puff from his cigarette he finally speaks up. ]

I care about you, all right? It's... nice to have more than one person have my back now and then.

[ Faye wasn't playing but it's obvious what he's implying. It takes a lot for her not to fly off the handle in outrage and confusion. She wants to know why he went there, why he thinks she expects that, but focuses all that building tension in a clenched fist to keep her anchored so she wouldn't bolt out the door. They've gotten this far. She's gotten this far and still she wants to run. She would've run. And then he says it.

Her silence stretches on after he's finished speaking, enough to cause some alarm when she doesn't speak for longer than was comfortable. The air was so still that the smoke from his cigarette lifts straight up and hangs like an uneven halo above his head and she's staring. If he were to turn around to look at her then, he would catch the fondness as it starts to bleed into her expression. ]

It is nice having someone there. [ It's even nicer being able to admit that out loud. ] Thank you... for being there.

[ It's strange, but he can actually feel the tension in the air lift when she speaks. Some strange new milestone in their already stupid and complex relationship. He's not certain if he's grateful for it, for having something a little more clearly defined between them, or if he's just making things harder for himself. Faye is trouble, and he knows it... but then, so is he, and he's perfectly aware of it.

Still, this leaves some questions in the air that he's not sure he really wants answered. Instead he finishes off the whiskey she brought for him and turns the bottle over in his hand. ]

Same to you. Even if you suck at wrapping bandages, it's better than bleeding out, I guess.

[ Spike, can't you ever just say something nice and leave it at that? ]

[ If he doesn't expect the smack that she delivers to his arm, he's slacking!! It isn't hard enough to render an injury unlike the hit she landed on his junk but he'll get the idea all the same. Faye emits a small sigh of relief and finds herself relaxing a little more now that they've reached the peak of the hill and are coasting down the other side. No other expectations are limiting her from behaving casually and so perhaps the tension in the air begins to dissipate. Surely the alcohol helps in that — she notices Spike has finished his bottle off and so she goes to take another drink of her vodka before setting it back down again, trying to keep up. ]

So... what's the damage like?

[ She leans in against him and peers down at his lap, acting a little too casual now. ]

Can I see?

[ He shouts and hisses when she hits him, grumbling over his shoulder at her. Well, at least that's all the same. He had expected it, but just like every time she hits him, he at least hopes it isn't coming. When she sidles up against him, he raises an eyebrow at her, wondering just what she's doing or what angle she's working. ]

It's sore and bruised. Not a pretty sight. Why would you want to see it?

What can I say? I like to admire my work.

[ Jokingly, of course, although she doesn't expect Spike to laugh. She knows he won't laugh and maybe that's where she finds the humor in it. A suggestive smirk sits on her lips as she reaches over and playfully hooks a finger into the band of his pants, pretending to peer inside as she pulls on on it. She expects to see skin but won't see much more than a flash of color from his boxers before either he smacks her away or she lets go. ]

Just kidding. I'm human, Spike, and humans are curious creatures. [ pause ] I thought maybe the whiskey would be helping by now at the rate you guzzled it down. I've never pegged you to be a vodka drinker but you can have some if you need it.

[ And he doesn't laugh, and instead just narrows his eyes at her. Here he was sitting in pain because of her and she's teasing him about admiring her handiwork? When her finger tugs at his waistband, he grumbles and swats her hand away, still apparently rather upset about the whole ordeal. Apparently good whiskey isn't enough to completely fix his mood and make him forgive her after all. ]

Knock it off. You're telling me you tried to get me drunk to look at my dick or something?

[ In her defense, she hadn't gotten a look at it before, but he wasn't really the type to show it off, either. Not that he wasn't proud of it, but it just wasn't his style. ]

You hit your head or something while you were out?

[ It starts in the back of her throat: a low, bubbling hum of laughter. Then it starts to build, amplify to something more distinct, until Faye is tilting her head back and cackling. "—get me drunk to look at my dick?" has her so beyond tickled. The way Spike thinks is truly fascinating and sometimes. What an idiot. ]

How old are you, fifteen?

[ A question she has to fight through bouts of breathless amusement to ask. She falls back onto the bed and continues to chuckle to herself, wiping tears away and emitting a big ol' sigh as the hilarity starts to die away. ]

I didn't hit my head. I didn't get you drunk to look at your dick— [ she almost starts laughing again but catches herself. ] I'm just trying to be nice and make up for what I did to you. That's what any regular person would do right? What a considerate person would do? Right. That's all.

[ Is it really that funny? Her laughter does nothing to help his mood, and in fact seems to do a great job at making him even more sour toward her. He knows she really doesn't mean anything by it, but it still stings... a little. Not that he'd say anything to admit it, of course. He's got far too much pride to take being laughed at well. As payment for his embarrassment, he snatches up her vodka and takes a big swig of it... which he almost immediately regrets. Today's lesson: Vodka is not whiskey.

He coughs and pulls the bottle back to look at it like it punched his mother. ]

Do you always drink this cheap crap? How the hell do you stand it?

[ But that doesn't stop him from taking another -- more reasonable -- sized drink before passing it back to her. ]

Yeah, I guess so. Not really sure what I expected, exactly. ...Thanks.

[ It always catches her off guard when he's unnaturally expressive like that; triggers another belly laugh because it was kind of funny. She stops to watch him guzzle down more for the second time and slowly props herself up on her elbows, a slanted smile on her face as she enjoys his reaction from a better angle. ]

I get more for less and it gets me really drunk.

[ Faye grabs the bottle when it's offered. It's a damn bargain and that's something to be grateful about. She takes a confident swig but will soon make a similar face when she swallows — part of her wants to hurl but she sucks it up like a true champ. ]

Wasn't the whiskey like, 90 proof?

[ It seems like it barely even touched him. She hands the bottle back over. ]

The vodka is 100. Maybe it'll work its magic better.

Yeah, but whiskey has flavors. Notes. And doesn't taste like a medical kit.

[ He suddenly wishes he had more whiskey, but she's right, it does do the job. He can feel it starting to burn and warm him from the inside. Not quite like the whiskey did, which felt like a warm, comforting fire, but this felt more like a forest fire. Still works, but not nearly as pleasant.

He watches her drink from it and can't help but smirk when she similarly makes a face like he had. ]

Yeah, that's what I thought.

[ He takes the bottle again and looks it over. It's strong, but definitely cheap going by the plastic bottle and generic-looking label. No wonder it tastes so bad. ]

I think you're supposed to mix this with stuff to drown out the flavor. At least, that's what you should do.

[ He holds his nose and takes another drink, giving a very undignified shudder when he passes it back to her. ]

Be thankful I'm even sharing at all.

[ That's her best means of protest to his complaints against vodka because she absolutely agrees with him. It's horrible but like hell if it wasn't effective. He mentions mixing it for easier consumption as if she's never thought of that and from where she lies, she shoots him a weak glare. ]

Gee, I didn't know that was something I should do. Maybe I wasn't expecting you to start drinking off mine because your pricey whiskey didn't do the trick.

[ The feeling to stick her tongue out like an angry toddler comes and goes. She's already reached a small buzz and is more or less waiting on Spike to catch up. There's less clashing when alcohol is involved — unfortunately and fortunately. It's not like they don't deserve a reprieve from the same old same old now and again.

Faye rolls onto her side to face him and takes the bottle when it returns to her. ]

When I have the financial stability to be picky about the liquor I buy, I'll never be caught dead with this crap. But in the meantime... [ She takes another swig and makes a face, holding it out to him like, please get this shit away from me. ] ... pass me another cigarette, will ya?

Hey, I didn't tell you to go out and buy it. And you offered to share, anyway.

[ He holds up a hand when she offers it back to him, already starting to feel his body protest against the rotgut liquor he'd put in it. He reaches for the cigarettes and taps one out of the pack, holding it back for her to take. ]

So how much do you even remember from last night? You hit the bar pretty quick when we got there.

[ He turns to face her a bit more casually, leaving one foot on the floor and careful not to stretch too much or move too quickly. If they're going to have a conversation, at least he can look at her. ]

[ Her lips purse as she refrains from feeding back into another senseless argument that would only circle back again — some progress to feel good about until Faye notices the cap to the bottle is missing and she begins searching through the folds of the sheets for it. ]

Uhh... let's see.

[ Now she's having to recall last night and where the hell is that stupid—oh! Found it. She screws the cap back on and places the bottle aside to probably be forgotten about for the rest of the night. The cigarette is snatched and brought to her lips; she gestures at the pack to tell him to get one too, being so uncharacteristically generous as she was tonight. Might as well keep up with it. She then locates the lighter and hands it over once she's successfully lit her cigarette, still working to piece together the parts she could remember. ]

I remember ordering and sort of mentioning my crummy day to the bartender in passing. He then suggested this... rum? I think. I forget the name. It was strong but easy to swallow with a little pineapple juice. A few mixed drinks with the stuff and... [ She vaguely gestures at his crotch and then promptly shrugs. ] I can't remember why I picked that fight. Apparently, I would've shot the guy if you hadn't stepped in.

[ Even if she originally had not been aiming for her gun, it wasn't unlikely of her to not grab for it. Spike would know; her violent tendencies are not something that's easily forgotten when she tends to give reminders every now and again. She's still sorry about it. ]

Wasn't Jet with us?

[ It's somewhat of a wonder to watch her piece together what she remembered from the previous night, and also somewhat irritating. Especially considering the incident that led him to being so injured. Then again, even he knew she was pretty far gone by that point, but he still took it as somewhat of a personal insult he couldn't actually be offended by. ]

I didn't catch the start of the fight, but when I did, he seemed to be defending himself for trying to flirt with you... You probably were in your right to be upset at first. I was across the bar, and it took me a minute to get over there. By the time I did, you were in a shouting match with a guy who said that if you didn't want to be groped, you shouldn't have dressed like that.

[ He sighs, pulling out another cigarette for himself. ]

It was then that you reached for your gun. If you hadn't, I probably woulda kicked his ass for you.

[ Not that it's a big deal or anything. Just a cool guy doing cool things for a girl. Nope. Nothing to read into there. ]

Yeah, he was in the back alley working another angle with some other patrons, I think He didn't catch up for a bit, but I think you were hunched over a toilet at point.

Edited (missed some stuff. whoops) 2021-04-25 05:56 (UTC)

[ It makes sense that she'd throw a raging fit over a man trying to tell her what to do. Not like it's uncommon or anything — a little dramatic in hindsight, she realizes, sure. But in her experience men just never get the picture until you whip out your Glock 30 and point it right at them.

Faye contemplatively puffs away on her cigarette as she tries to paint the picture in her mind, hoping to recall something more defined but instead reaching the conclusion that her memories remain hazy still. It forces her to take Spike's word for it. ]

Sounds like the guy would've deserved it. I doubt I'd have shot him dead right there though. Just a warning shot, maybe. Scare him into leaving me alone.

[ Spoken so casually it's almost a little frightening but she knows that he knows how she gets so really, there's no surprise there. She exhales slowly and a smile starts to creep across her face. Mischievous. Teasing even. ]

I'm sure you were ready to swoop in and be my hero, weren't you? That's so sweet, Spike. [ She will never not antagonize the poor guy. ] Too bad you tried and paid for it by getting a bruised dick. Sorry again.

I just didn't wanna get kicked out. Whether or not you woulda shot him doesn't really matter if we wanted to follow our lead...

[ Oh, he knows that smile, and true to history, her comments that follow it only serve to irritate him. He grumbles a little and sucks on his cigarette. Never you mind the rosy color that rises to his cheeks, Faye. That's not important. ]

Shut up. Last time I try to do anything nice for you.

[ Nope, not bitter about it at all, thank you very much. ]

[ The shut up immediately induces another bout of laughter. A rare sighting considering how often the two of them grow angry and mutter obscenities at each other beneath their breath after barely exchanging more than a few words. This time they're actually talking and she can't even remember the last time she's laughed like this. Genuinely. It felt nice. ]

Oh, the last time, huh? Are you sure about that? You know you can't help yourself when someone's in trouble. That's just who you are. Nothing bad about it. Accept it.

[ She's definitely not doing herself any favors or improving his mood... literally at all. Her laughter only serves to embarrass him more and make him grumble and turn his face away when he realizes it's getting hot. He's too cool to be laughed at, dammit. ]

Yeah well... you're testing that pretty hard right now. Next job, you're on your own.

Aw, come on, Spike...

[ It's an apologetic kind of tone that she takes. She's sorry, okay, what doesn't he understand about it? Her laughter wasn't meant to rub him the wrong way but she's not the one with a sore groin, now is she? No wonder men can be such babies. Never minding his grumpy reaction, Faye scoots closer, intent on showing him that it was light-hearted, that she isn't purposely trying to fry his mood by irritating him more. Her free hand reaches back out to clasp his chin and turn it so that he's forced to look at her again. ]

Lighten up, will ya?

[ And then she kisses him. Soft, without restraint, and just long enough for him to either kiss her back or tear away. Whatever he chooses to do. ]

[ He's more than a little aware of her shifting on the bed toward him, but he's stalwart in his defiance against such obvious moves.

But...

He's not quite sure what to do with himself when she actively turns his face toward her. He's not used to being treated that way, much less by women. But her lips catch his, and he's got no real desire to take them away. As much of a pain in the ass (and in this case, his genitals) as she was, more and more she was providing him a soft place to land, despite his naturally prickly nature.

He reaches a hand up, brushing his fingers against her cheek, before letting them come to rest at the curve of her neck and shoulder, with just a firm enough touch to encourage her to stay if she wanted to. ]

[ The encouragement is noted — Faye neglects her cigarette for the smoky taste of Spike's mouth and continues to kiss him, her lips lapping over his with that same softness he was learning to get used to. That she was learning to dispense. Perhaps she had kissed him to take his mind away from the pain, or maybe she had kissed him because she wanted to. It could be both. She felt compelled beyond whatever influence the vodka might have had at least.

And unless he wants her to stop, the kissing will soon dissolve into making out, using her tongue to tenderly coax his lips apart so she could search his mouth. Roll it across the border of his lips for taste and added sloppiness. It turns heavy in a matter of seconds. A muffled noise leaves her that might have been a moan and she forgets all about her cigarette while it continues to burn and collect a tower of ash on the end. ]

smooches u!

♥

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