Author - YCBW
Disclaimer - i own nothing... NOTHING, of the characters, as much as it kills me. However, all songs, and external characters, i DO own, so do not lift them from me
Distribution - anywhere, but email me if you want it
This is based on a challenge posted in Crumbling Walls by Nanosh.
Co write with Sara
Rating: R/15 (eventually)
Setting: Between Tabula Rasa and Smashed
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It had been 3 weeks. Giles had been gone for 3 weeks and every single one of those thousand miles stretched at Buffy's soul until she thought she would surely explode. He'd sent for his stuff, confirming that he felt no need to return any time soon, possibly forever.
So, that's why there were there, the Scoobies, gathered amongst the clutter of the Magic Box, boxing Giles Stuff up to send to England. Buffy in the dangerous texts, Xander in standard spell books, Anya behind the counter, and Willow and Dawn in the basement.
The bell above the door rang, and Buffy yelled 'We're closed', and turned around.
Tara stood nervously, chewing on her bottom lip 'I've, uh, come to pick up my stuff. Is Will here?'
Buffy climbed down the ladder, leading to her section, and approached Tara. 'Yeah, you're stuff is here, behind the counter... and Willow's downstairs'
Tara breathed a small sigh of something akin to relief. 'Ok, it's just... i dont feel like seeing her yet so...'
Whatever Tara could have said was drowned out by Dawn shouting 'Buffy, Spike's here'
Buffy groaned, 3 guesses what he wanted from her. 'Well, tell him to piss off then!'
Spike appeared at the top of the stairs, clad in his usual outfit, smiling in that suggestive way he had that Buffy had become used to by now. 'Now, now, Summers. Never had any idea you had a mouth like that on you' He winked at her, smirking at her quiet indignation at his obvious double entendre.
She was very much not in the mood for him right now. 'Spike, GO AWAY!'
Xander approached, a box of stuff in his hands. 'Yeah, peroxide, what do you want?
Spike raised his eyebrows at him. 'Oh, Xander. Who's the big puffed up manly man. I'm here for some bourba weed, i ran out, so you can withdraw.'
Xander snorted in barely hidden contempt. 'Yeah, and like you were gonna pay for it'
'Nope, i was gonna nick it, but then, thats what i do. Sod off' With that, Spike shoved Xander out the way and thundered down the stairs, moaning in afflicted pain, leaving Xander staring after him. 'What a loser'.
Shaken by the sight of him Buffy muttered, 'Yeah. Look, can we just finish this?' She gestured to the surrounding clutter of the Magic Box.
Xander nodded affirmatively and headed back to his books and began stacking them. Quiet resumed until Xander appoached Anya at the counter, holding a small, leather bund book. 'Hey, guys, check this out. Giles had a thing for porn.'
The 2 girls just looked at Xander 'No, really, 'Unwanted Love' by Matthew Howard. Looks juicy.'
Anya grimaced 'Giles and porn. Two words you NEVER want to hear in the same sentence'
Buffy looked queasy whilst Xander continued 'Listen to this...'
'Uh uh, Xand, that book is in cursed texts, maybe you shouldnt'
'Oh, please Buff, Giles probably just put it there so we wouldnt find it! Anyway, this is complete crap' He cleared his throat cerimoniously. ''Love is often buried and hidden but this tale of love is old and pure, surpassing time and realities. Love confessed is the sweet escape, yet love hidden is the true prison.'
Xander couldnt continue.
The lights in the Magic Box flickered and went out.
Reprisal, Part Two
Author - Sara
Written by Sara (not YCBW)
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A month. Only a month for the new actors to learn and perfect the play. It would certainly be a challenge, especially while the male and female romantic leads only spoke when exchanging insults.
'Don�t touch me!'
And they were at it again. Matthew didn�t bother to turn when he heard a loud thud behind him. He knew what had happened.
Spike pulled himself up off the ground. 'Always thought you�d like it rough,' he retorted, grinning suggestively.
'I can�t believe this,' Buffy muttered, turning away.
Willow, who was talking to Anya and a young woman Buffy vaguely remembered from the previous night�s rehearsal, motioned for Buffy to join them.
"Buffy, this is Abby, she�s going to play Emma,' Willow said.
Buffy smiled at Abby. 'Hi.'
'I can�t believe you�re actually going to...well, you know' Abby commented.
'What do you mean?' Buffy asked, looking to Willow for clarification.
'Well, Buffy, you know how you play Spike�s well, girlfriend, right?' Buffy nodded, waiting for Willow to finish. 'Umm...'
'She was talking about the sex scene, Buffy,' Anya interrupted.
'What sex scene?' Buffy exclaimed, grabbing her script and flipping through it. Abby took it from her, found a page, and handed it back.
'Oh...my...God,' Buffy murmured, eyes widening. 'Forget it. It�s not going to happen.'
'You have to, Buffy' Willow said gently.
Matthew walked up to the three women. 'Is there a problem, ladies?' he asked. 'Like I can handle another!' he muttered.
'Well, it�s just that-' Buffy began.
Abby clapped a hand over Buffy�s mouth. 'No, sir. Nothing�s wrong'
'Good.' He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. 'That�s good,' he murmured as he walked to the stage.
Abby removed her hand and cut Buffy off before she could complain. 'Okay, I don�t know about you, but I want to go home. I will not end up stuck on this fun historical field trip just because you can�t handle your part. Look, I get it that you�re not happy. Really, I do. But suck it up, and deal with it. It�s only acting, and then we can all go home and you can go back to insulting your...whatever he is to you.' Her angry glare disappeared, and she added softly, pleading, 'Please, Buffy. We�re all depending on you.'
'Let�s begin, people! We don�t have a lot of time!' Matthew shouted, standing on the stage. They�ll never be able to do it.
Willow looked back at Buffy before starting to walk down the aisle to the stage. She�ll never do it.
Abby fell into step behind Willow and Anya. She�d better do it.
Buffy followed them, in a daze. SPIKE?!?
Reprisal 3
YCBW
Buffy followed down the rows of seats, to the furnished stage, where Spike was sitting, smoking old fashioned cigarettes, obviously bored, and shooting dirty looks at the stage hands attempting to get him ready for his 'big moment'
Buffy took her seat opposite Spike groaning loud enough for his ears to detect it, and he wiggled his eyebrow at her suggestively. She was about to say something, but the hopeful looks from her friends stopped her, and she muttered under her breath 'Look, lets get one thing straight. I dont WANT to do this, i NEVER will want to do this afterwards, so dont get any ideas'
'Never, Slayer'
Matthew cleared his throat at them, the cast looking at them. Buffy was freaked out 'Um, Matthew, can you um, NOT have everyone watch us, its kinda intrusive!'
The writer looked amazed 'But, people will be watching you, *hundreds* of them'
'Yeah, but i dont have to see *them* when this is all over, i do, however, have to see my friends *every* day. Please, at least until i'm comfy with all this' Which will be never
Despite grumbling, Matthew complied and ushered the rest of the cast out, accompanied by much complaining.
As soon as the door had closed, Matthew looked at Buffy expectantly, who was leafing through her script, praying to God that something bad would happen, where she wouldnt have to do something like this... at least, not with *him*
'Buffy, Spike, the sooner you do this, the sooner we can get on with the rest of the play. Now, *chemistry*' Matthew waved his arms about for emphasis. 'I know you both have it in you. You arent even at the critical scene yet... i think we will wait for that. At least for a few days'
Spike glanced down at the script before him; it was like every conversation he'd had with Buffy about his 'feelings' , the ones Buffy denied existed. Shouldnt be to hard.
Spike rose to his feet, and adopted the William persona to a fine art. Buffy was supposed to be angry, this scene simply following the one preceding it, which they had already rehearsed. 'Elizabeth, as much as i'm sure you would love to blame all of your problems on me, i am afraid that is simply isnt fair in this instance, now do you?'
'I dont know what you want me to say. You show up here with all your great grand beliefs, like i'm just going to be a feat of yours. Well, i simply do not see the point in leading you on, especially when other circumstances are preceding everything' As instructed, Buffy rose from her seat and apporached the edge of the stage, only to be stopped by Spike, playing the part dramatically well.
In a softer tone, he said 'What? That you are improperly promised to Mr Finn? You and i both are perfectly aware that i have every faith in your decision making. But, not in this instance. How can i simply pass this opportunity by, when everything i feel just makes it all harder?' Turning her to face him, he continued, both perfectly aware of what was supposed to come next. 'When i love you so much that i cannot content myself with simply standing by and watching you be promised to someone that you dont really love'
'And, you suppose i love *you*, William?'
'Well, yes, i do' With that, Spike bent down and kissed her strongly, willing her not to screw this up. However, she was giving as good as she was getting, until she pulled away.
'I'm sorry... i- i dont think i can!' Buffy turned and fled the stage, leaving two very confused men staring after her.
REPRISAL PART FOUR BY SARA
�How bad was it, Buffy?� Willow asked from her seat on a couch, watching her friend pace around her dressing room.
�Why don�t you ask Spike and Matthew?� Buffy commented sarcastically. Willow frowned, obviously confused. �I split before we even got past the kiss�God, how are we going to do this? I�m no actress, and there�s no way I can fake loving Spike.�
�You�ll pull it off, Buffy, don�t worry. It�ll be okay,� Willow said.
Buffy sat down next to Willow and leaned forward, supporting her head with her hands. �I�m not so sure, Will. And what�ll happen then?� She paused, then answered her own question. �We�ll be stuck here in this warped world for good. Not exactly my idea of a good time.�
Someone knocked on the door. �It�s open,� Willow called.
Matthew entered, looking (if it was possible) even more frazzled than he had earlier that day. �Ladies, follow me back to the stage. I need to talk to all of you.�
They stood and followed Matthew out of the dressing room and through the hall of the beautiful old theater. The floors were hardwood, the walls a deep, rich shade of red that matched the curtains before the stage. It was quite simply decorated, though. Sconces that held candles were the only source of light and there were very few paintings adorning the walls. And maybe it was the simplicity of it that made it fascinating.
Soon they reached the stage. The actors were scattered throughout the theater, and stopped talking abruptly when Matthew entered. He walked to the front of the theater, just in front of the stage, then asked them to sit in the front row.
He waited until everyone was seated, then began his speech. �As I�m sure everyone knows, we don�t have much time to prepare this play and there�s plenty for us to work on. Maybe everyone just needs some rest and time to look over the play�or maybe it would be better to just keep rehearsing.� Several people groaned. Matthew held up his hands for silence. �In either case, I need a break, so I�m going to let you all go back to the inn now. Please return at eight tomorrow morning.� Buffy smiled. Maybe he�s not so bad after all. �One more thing. I would like Elizabeth and William to stay and rehearse for another hour or so. Everyone else may leave.�
Willow turned to Buffy. �Want me to look after Dawn?�
�Yeah. Thanks, Will,� she replied.
Willow smiled and joined the line of people leaving the theater.
Matthew waited while Buffy and Spike climbed the stairs to the stage. �I�d like to start where we left off last time. From William�s line, �What? That you are�� Whenever you�re ready.�
How about never? Buffy thought, but still she walked to the edge of the stage. She looked back at Spike, waiting for him to start.
'What? That you are improperly promised to Mr. Finn?� he began.
It�s just a kiss�just a kiss�I can do this�
�You and I both are perfectly aware that I have every faith in your decision-making. But, not in this instance. How can I simply pass this opportunity by, when everything I feel just makes it all harder?' Spike gently turned her to face him, then continued softly. 'When I love you so much that I cannot content myself with simply standing by and watching you be promised to someone that you don�t really love'
'And you suppose I love *you*, William?'
'Well, yes, I do' Spike leaned in and kissed her, just like before, but this time Buffy managed to remain in character and didn�t run away.
Matthew settled back into his seat in the front row. Maybe this will work out after all.