[location: Dodgy Jammer] [open] Baby's at the punch bowl with a glass for you to fill

[buffy_slayer]

The bar top was polished to a high shine, and Buffy carefully folded the damp towel she'd been using to wipe it down into a neat square.

Not nervous, nope.

Another spot gets a quick wipedown, and Buffy quickly puts the towel away before she manages to scrub a hole in the finish. She didn't really know when people tended to come in, but if she was by herself for awhile, there was always dusting, and mopping, and re-arranging, and and and...

OK, maybe a little nervous.

Comments

[loves_bitch]

A little bit of sunshine never stopped Spike from going anywhere he wanted to go. It just makes it uncomfortable and, well, a little more challenging than a typical stroll in the park. Even if a typical stroll in the park for him would involve at least two fights and maybe a song. Y'know, depending on the night.

The heat has gotten to be a bit too much for him, not that he'd admit it, beneath the coat, holding it up over his head, he's still smoking. You'd think that getting a soul would take away some of the other horrible side effects as well. That would be a bit too much to ask, of course. As would him having clothing that fits. Having shown up in just a towel, he's had to make due with what he could scavenge.

And it doesn't really fit that well. And purple is not the color he'd have chosen for the shirt. And he still doesn't have any shoes beneath the blue jeans, which are a bit too tight. All better than running around in a towel beneath the trenchcoat but only by just the smallest amount. The coat is flapping as he stumbles through the door of the bar.

It is a bar, right?

[buffy_slayer]

... was that burning hair? Buffy sniffs, and decides she must be imagining things as the door creaks open.

Or maybe not, as she spies a bit of smoke curling up from under that jacket.

That jacket, that FAMILIAR jacket.

A second later, Buffy's ducked down behind the bar, barely breathing. Maybe he would just go away. She'd thought they'd fixed that glitch, the one that had her facing HIM and his small army of vamps.

[loves_bitch]

HEY! His hair isn't burning.

Much.

He's smouldering, more like.

The coat is spun off of him for a few moments to make sure that it isn't on fire, isn't smoking and that he's managed to stop sizzling. "Bloody hell. It just doesn't seem fair."

He hasn't yet started to really look around at the inside of this place. Making sure that he's not about to actually burst into full flames. It makes him want a cigarette.

[buffy_slayer]

That didn't sound particularly threatening, and Buffy takes a chance to peek slightly over the edge of the bar.

Yup, that's him. Dressed like some sort of 80's boy band reject, but with that jacket and the familiar platinum hair.

That looks like someone had run their hands through it to tousle it into a curly mess.

/threadjack from a double-taking Gwen

[electro_girl]

It's the last thing she expects; but then again, that's pretty much expected. At first, she thinks she dipped back over into that warzone alternate Taxon. But everything looked pretty normal, and in that world, she had only caught a glimpse of the blonde vampire.

She doesn't know whether to be shocked at his presence, excited, or disappointed. The last time she saw Spike, she electrocuted him on the roof because he wouldn't shut up and was really ruining her tender confession moment with Connor.

So she turns around on her stool and gives him a wary look, making sure she could rip her gloves off if she needed to. "Well, this is awkawrd. Hey there, blondie. Nice of you to join the party," she says, cooler than she feels.

'Awkward' doesn't even begin to explain it.

Re: /threadjack from a double-taking Gwen

[loves_bitch]

"...... Right then, I'm assuming you know me."

Spike tilts his head toward her, wearing that oh so devestatingly small smirk on is lips.

Re: /threadjack from a double-taking Gwen

[electro_girl]

Gwen blinks in confusion. Did she just get the world's best stroke of luck? Not that the aliens didn't owe her one.

"Knew," she corrects, eying him with a lifted eyebrow. The former dread washes out of her like water. "Guess you're behind on the times, Blondie."

[location]

[electro_girl]

One of the first things Gwen did when she crawled out of that alternate whatever was grab a drink. Redcoat. Double vodka. She held the glass in one hand, swishing around so the ice made little crunch sounds. In the other, she had a glass figurine--a dragon she needed to give to a friend.

Her eyes were trained on Buffy--scrub scrub scrubbing away at...nothing, it seemed. The counter looked perfectly good and shiny to Gwen. Guess the whole town was on edge.

"You looking to put a dent in that thing?" she asked, faintly amused.

Re: [location]

[buffy_slayer]

This snaps her out of her reverie, and the scrubbing stops.

"Cleanliness is godliness, right?"

[location]

[electro_girl]

She shrugs. Maybe. Maybe not. She gives the girl a once-over.

"Something like that. I'd ask what's got you all worked up, but I think this town's seen enough crazy to have every once of us scrubbing our padded walls to death."

Re: [location]

[buffy_slayer]

Buffy notes the checking-out and does the same in return. Seems normal enough, if a little snarky. Buffy can deal with snarky.

"You want a list? It's been a long couple of weeks. ANd I guess I should offer you a drink, or something."

She sticks out her hand for a handshake.

"I'm Buffy, by the way."

[sourcebloodaughter]

After everything that had happened - and pointedly ignoring her mother's order to stay in - Ashley needed a break. She'd heard about the Dodgy Jammer through the city and thought it sounded interesting. So, that was where she was. A little recon never hurt. However, when she walked in and spotted who was at the bar? She stopped in her tracks.

"Oh great."

Ashley. She didn't know how this meeting was going to go or if she even wanted it to go anywhere, but here she was. Last time she'd seen this girl, they'd been fighting. Fan-freaking-tastic.

[buffy_slayer]

Buffy turns and spots her at about the same time.

"Well."

It took awhile for the bruises from their first meeting to fade -- Buffy wasn't looking forward to how this one would turn out.

[sourcebloodaughter]

Ashley just holds up her hands. She's not the one looking for a fight, hadn't wanted the first one, really.

"As impressive as your fighting was, I'm not looking for a repeat."

So chill out.

If nothing happens, Ashley will head for a bar stool, close but not too close.

"Didn't know you worked here."

[secretshame]

Jenna wasn't too far behind, but after the glitch they'd dealt with, she wanted some time to herself. So, she'd decided to come in a little later than normal, glad she had someone else she could count on to help her run the place.

"Hey. I think the bar's as clean as it's going to be," she commented teasingly, smiling as she set her purse in a secure place behind the counter and settled in for a long day.

[buffy_slayer]

"Oh! Hey, boss." Jenna gets a smile as Buffy finishes with one swipe and tucks the towel away.

"I just want to make a good impression, you know? That I have the skills to be successful in my job."

[secretshame]

Jenna laughed at that, pouring out two glasses of water for them. "Relax. You should've seen me when I first started. It's a shame Fitz isn't here anymore. He'd have you relaxed in two seconds flat, too."

Not that Jenna didn't think she could do it, but Fitz had a gift for it. And she kinda still missed him.

"And it's not like being a barista in an alien-run city exactly requires a perfect resume."

[aintnoconvict]

Glitch is pushing himself to be social. There is an intense temptation to hide in the palace, either under the blankets in his room or spending time with DG getting more acquainted with their fascinating new housemates.

Instead he heads for the pub, gaze first going to the stage where he still expects Fitz's lanky form to be perched on the edge, guitar in his hands, cigarette resting in an ashtray. He sighs, that mix of sad and happy that comes with losing a friend but knowing they're home, then smiles when he spots Buffy behind the bar. He hops up on a stool and nods in greeting.

"Hey. Didn't know you were working here." Pause. "Unless you're just raiding the hooch."

[buffy_slayer]

"Can I even DO that here? Isn't there some sort of law about that?" Buffy smiles back at Glitch, leaning on the bar across from him.

"Jenna's letting me work here -- gotta have something to do with my time."

[aintnoconvict]

"Not officially. Sometimes the aliens'llcome down on you, but so long as it's not our stuff getting taken? We sorta look at shoplifting as sticking it to The Man."

DG'd taught him that one, he's proud of it.

At the news that Buffy's gainfully employed, Glitch grins and nods. "Exactly. Plus it puts some credits on your bracelet and gets you out and meeting folks."

[location] finally! :D

[ownlittleprison]

So.

This networking thing? It takes some serious hard work, what with the large majority of Taxon's finest being daydwellers.

Which isn't to say Mick doesn't enjoy meeting people immensely. He may have a reputation of being a loner, what with being a private eye and a vampire that sort of thing comes with the image, but he's really more of a people person than he might want to admit.

So.

A vampire walks into a bar...

No, let's start over.

Mick ducks inside the bar looking just as much for shelter from the sun as for some good company. Shades covering his eyes, collar popped and head ducked like some sort of vampire pastiche.

He looks up, greeting Buffy with a slightly awkward smile. "Hey. Nice weather, huh?"

Re: [location] finally! :D

[buffy_slayer]

Buffy does a quick check, glancing over at the windows.

Sunny. A few clouds here and there.

"Yeah, sunny, with no chance for random screaming from a stranger."

This comes with a smile, Buffy trying to make THIS meeting a little less uncomfortable.

[a_pretty_fire]

Although Drusilla had wandered to the pub on more than one occasion - often to bother Fitz, her charming little pet, while he tried to work - she didn't make a habit of it. The blood that they served tasted rotten and stale, as if it came from the veins of a dusty old politician.

No, it was Buffy that attracted her, not the establishment itself. Not a friend and not quite an enemy and certainly not the woman from her own world, but better than nothing at all. Dressed up in black red and wearing a hat with silk flowers on it, the vampire swanned up to the bar.

"Do you have something nice for me?"

[buffy_slayer]

Oh, goody.

"Hello, Dru. Who let you out on your own today?"

Buffy flicks a glance in Spike's direction, wondering if he notices the new arrival.

[loves_bitch]

Noticed he has - as if Spike would be able to miss Dru. A century of being her primary companion, protector, lover and just about everything in between and some part of him is fine tuned to her presence. He finishes his beer, as if he might need the extra fortification, and moves closer.

That way he's here but Dru can make the first move. That really does help him understand where things might go today.