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Wesley Wyndam-Pryce ([info]likesbooks) wrote in [info]parabolical,
@ 2009-06-27 19:25:00

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Entry tags:faith lehane, wesley wyndam-pryce

Who: Wesley & Faith
What: Wesley wants to see if he can help Faith
Where: Spike's Club
When: Backdated to the evening of June 27th, before this thread.
Rating: TBD
Status: In progress

Faith wasn't his Slayer charge anymore. Hadn't been for a considerably long time. But it didn't seem to matter. He felt a connection to her - drawn to her for whatever reason. Sometimes he was certain it was guilt, that he had his own redemption to find. Othertime's he was certain it was everything but guilt, that he didn't owe her anything. Whatever it was, it was enough of something to get him to go to Spike's club. After hearing the way Spike sometimes treated Fred (calling to ask what she was wearing) and seeing his attitude on the boards, he had not become a Spike fan in any means. But if this was where Faith was, where she wanted to be - he'd go there.

And now he was there. Eyeing the bouncer, he made his way inside. It was louder than he'd like. There was a sense of anonymity , no one paid attention to him as he walked towards the bar. These were probably precisely the reasons someone wanting to drown their miseries would find this an ideal spot. You could disappear in this sort of place, if you were trying to. And, apparently, do a bit of 'legal' fighting.

Always one to think that Slayers needed to let out their aggression through healthy work-outs, he wasn't keen on the idea of Faith physically fighting out her inner demons. It might be what Angel would suggest. But Wesley couldn't back that up, not in this scenario. Talking was key. And nothing got a repressed person talking like a spot of whiskey or gin. He'd come prepared to pay for a big tab.

If only he could find Faith in this jumbled mess.

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-06-27 06:46 pm UTC (link)
It had been a good night, relatively speaking, in the cage. Faith had gotten in a few good rounds, breaking the arm of one of her opponents in three places before he'd timed out. Now they were starting to refuse to fight her so she jumped out for a bit, waiting for a new crowd to form before she challenged a new opponent.

Besides, Wes was coming down.

It made her oddly nervous, the idea of seeing him again. They'd parted on good terms, eventually, the last time they'd met face to face, after saving Angel from, well, himself. And they were managing to get on alright talking on the message boards. Faith still felt a strange stirring of nerves though as she jumped down and wandered towards the bar, keeping her eyes open for her Watcher.

Eventually she caught sight of him and she paused, grabbing one of the metal bar trays to check how she looked before heading over. She looked not unlike someone who had been in bar fights for the last several nights, oddly enough.

She made her way over, managing a faint smile.

"Hey."

It wasn't witty or original, but it would do as a greeting.

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[info]likesbooks
2009-06-27 07:12 pm UTC (link)
Wesley didn't need to do a thorough investigation to realize what Faith had been doing at this place. And despite that, his opening line was, "You look gorgeous, Ms. Lehane." Surprising himself a bit, and probably her, he stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace. It was good, felt nice, and wasn't that what girls needed when they were all upset?

Even the ones who pretended they didn't need it. Hell, maybe especially them.

But he did eventually release her from his grasp. "Get a haircut, or maybe several hundred, since last I saw you?" He reached up to touch his short hair. "I'm afraid I sport an unsurprisingly similar look as the last time you saw me." So far, so good. The smalltalk was a little awkward, but not torturous.

"So what's good to drink for you? Are you succumbing to those girly drinks with umbrellas now?" He motioned towards the bar, and planted himself on a stool.

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-06-27 07:19 pm UTC (link)
She was actually stunned when he hugged her, hiding her smile in his shoulder as she hugged him back, almost pitifully grateful for the contact. She'd missed him, she was surprised to realize. Working with him to rescue Angel had felt pretty good, most of the time. The way a Slayer and a Watcher were meant to work together.

"Why, thank you Mr Wyndam-Price," she mimicked a passable English accent, part of her post Sunnydale training with Giles, as she smirked, going back to her native Boston. "Been taking advantage of the fact that outta prison, you can actually get hold of the decent shampoos."

She looked him up and down, pretending to scrutinize. "You look good Wes. Keeping the slightly scruffier look, suits you more than up tight Brit."

She cast her gaze over the bar. Since the club had opened, she'd tried most of the drinks here. "Girly umbrella drinks actually have a lot of alcohol in them, all mixed together," she pointed out. "A Long Island would be great."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-06-29 06:05 am UTC (link)
[ooc: Finaaaaally IJ is back up!]

It was supremely weird to hear Faith talking with an English accent, and this startled him more than the physical contact he'd struck up between the two. "Oh my, seems you've acquired even more talents over the years." He nodded an acknowledgment of her appraisal of his outward looks. He wasn't sure exactly when he'd become less 'up tight' but he was aware that he'd changed a bit. It had simply...suited his outlook and methods better. Or something. He'd never been fond of self-analyzing. Probably because his father had mandated he undergo therapy during his teen years. Waste of time and money.

"I'm ...ah, scruffy," he finally admitted with a very small wry grin. "Suits me...more than the suits." Wes raised both of his eyebrows in amusement at his declaration. As Faith ordered her drink, Wesley tilted his head to her and then said, "I'll take a beer. Whatever's on tap and cheap." The bartender worked on making those drinks happen. Not that either took a ton of works. Still, he managed to take his good ol' time before placing the drinks in front of them on the bare counter top, condensation dripping down.

Wesley noted dryly that, "Spike's club doesn't even spring for tiny drink napkins, hum? How very...appropriate." He knew the bartender had heard him, and he simply raised his glass and said, "Cheers". With his own skills, and a Slayer by his side - he really wasn't afraid of much.

"So, aside from the shampoo, what else would you put in the 'good' category, Faith?"

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-06-29 06:21 am UTC (link)
[ooc: I knoooow! I missed it!!]

Faith smirked, self deprecatingly. "Giles gave me some extra training, to make use of my more unique talents, like assassination. Guess he figured he didn't want the other girls getting their hands dirty with that kinda stuff." Though cool accents were part of the bargain. She was by no means an expert but could now blend in with some upper class Brits, London chavs and a couple of places in Ireland.

"Makes you look more badass, I approve," she arched an eyebrow at him before accepting her drink with a small smile of gratitude, taking a long, slow sip of the alcohol. Tiny napkins or no, it tasted good.

"I'm not locked up with a whole mess of female types with attitude problems, that's a bonus," she grinned a moment before shrugging, toying with the ice in her glass. "Then again, I'm free to fall in love with cheating asshole types, so it's not all shiny and good."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-06-29 07:12 am UTC (link)
So Giles had trained Faith more properly than he'd ever been able to. Well, that came as no surprise. Giles had more experience. Wesley swallowed some beer as he also swallowed the notion of bitterness that was creeping up his throat. Why was he so subpar to Giles, in every way?

There was no point in going over the jail stuff, he figured. It'd happened in her past, in his past - all the past. Maybe it still weighed heavily on her, but it wasn't the current concern. The only way she might think of it now is sort of a 'wish I was still there' so men like Sam wouldn't cheat on her. Which was a shame.

"I'm sure you were free to fall in love in prison, but the options were much more limited." He took another sip of beer. Yes, he'd attempted a small joke. It was easier than going straight in with the serious stuff. "I must say, for everything bad I've heard about Sam, there's only one good thing. He had the good taste to pick you out of the crowd." This time his glass was raised in honor of her, before he downed a long, cool, sip.

"If he was after more power, then I daresay it's a stretch to say that he's dangerous. The power hungry always are." Wesley had been focusing on this a bit more than, say, the emotional ramifications of a girl feeling betrayed by a boy she'd gotten intimate with.

Part of Wes wanted to console Faith and tell her that people made mistakes. But they should really be making their mistakes with less fragile people. He couldn't very well tell Faith he thought she was fragile in the romantic realms, though.

"Better off, don't you think? Once you've exorcised the demons from within, had a good cry, all that. I hope you'll be able to be glad to be rid of him."

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-06-29 11:19 am UTC (link)
"I'm not saying I didn't have a few good rolls in prison, but both parties being criminals kinda put a dampener on any trusting relationship forming," Faith half smiled as she toyed with her drink.

She drank down several gulps, more to try to figure out what to say than anything else.

"I was dumb," she said after a long pause. "Getting involved with Sam. Slayers and relationships don't mix, I shoulda remembered that. And hell, he was having some blood thing affair with a demon and I knew, I knew there was something going on, and I just let myself believe him when he told me there wasn't. I was just so freaking dumb. I should know better by now."

She stabbed at an ice cube with her straw, watching the shards break off in her drink, gradually melting.

"And the twisted thing is, I'm still freaking in love with him. Even after he's done this, even after I know he was probably just using me as some kinda cover anyway. I just want him to tell me it's all gonna be okay."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-06-30 01:30 am UTC (link)
"Well, though I did have extensive studies about Slayers - I never read anything that said they couldn't have romantic entanglements. I believe some even had children eventually. Most didn't live long enough to... but, you know. Besides, Buffy's had relationships, has she not?" He knew she had. "Hers might not be stunning examples of love gone perfect, but even so." He knew too much about Angel and Buffy.

"I don't believe it's dumb. Love is kind of a 'jump in and risk it' ordeal. Anyone who dares know's there's that risk. But it's kind of...sad if you aren't brave enough to dare. Although maybe you should try your next dare on someone else." Of course, Faith said she still loved Sam. So maybe she'd be brave and dumb, again.

"Nothing wrong with wanting assurances. And ...ah, you can't really know the truth, before asking him. The assumptions can vary...but the truth is what you're aiming for, I'd imagine." He couldn't believe he was encouraging her. He didn't want Faith to get hurt. But not being with Sam might hurt more. Then again, what did he know about romance?

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-06-30 03:44 am UTC (link)
Despite everything, Faith gave Wes a sidelong, amused glance. "Tell me you're not using Buffy as the poster child for relationships. After everything her and Angel went through." Some Slayers had children, she'd even dated the son of a Slayer once. Robin Wood. Seemed an odd time to think about him, but she missed him. He'd been faithful at least, in the time they'd been together.

"There's not exactly a huge queue of men who can handle the news 'oh hey, I go out and kill things every night', Wes," Faith drank some more, the alcohols mixing together to give her a slight buzz. "And you know, fighting demons, that's supposed to be the jump and risk parts, not trusting your heart with someone."

Asking him? Asking Sam what was going on? Faith actually laughed harshly. "I don't even know if I can trust anything he says anymore."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-07-01 02:25 am UTC (link)
"Well, I don't know who'd make the best poster child, but you let me know if you have a better example. Which, of course, will then prove that someone out there is doing this love thing right. Hmm?" Yes, he was a smidge smug at the thought of Faith defending herself and thereby proving herself wrong.

"Many of the men here probably kill things, themselves, right?" He paused for a moment. "Consider yourself lucky that Sam can deal with the Slayerness? And work on what the problem is? That sounds like advice I'd follow. And I'm exceptionally smart, you know. You can ask him, doesn't mean you have to trust what he says."

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-07-01 08:42 am UTC (link)
Alright, so Faith did know of people who were actually making the love thing work. Friends of hers even. She arched an eyebrow at Wes before she smirked. "You know Lindsey's married now. To an awesome wife. He's actually happy." As much as she knew Lindsey's more colorful history, she was still friends with him, and she liked seeing him happy with Cathy.

"It's all some mess of lies on top of questions," she sighed. "He was drinking demon blood for some unknown length of time, makes me question all of it. Like were his feelings real and was he only okay with the Slayer thing because he thought he was, I don't know, better or something." She did have to laugh into her drink at one thing. "You're smart Wes? I never noticed. Not like you ever pick up a book or anything."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-07-01 04:07 pm UTC (link)
"I did hear about Lindsey. Can't believe he's found someone to tolerate him on a daily basis. I've...made some sort of civil peace with him, and his wife - briefly. But Eve seemed to enjoy being angry with me on behalf of Lindsey. I guess I shouldn't expect different from her. I hardly knew her, but I didn't get a great vibe." More like a uptight bitch vibe.

"Mess of lies with questions. Sounds like a good place to start with the asking of questions. If you ask him things pointblank, I doubt he'll lie to your face. And if he were so stupid as to do so - you would be able to tell. At least, in theory. My theory. Or maybe it was in a Psychological Magazine. Either way. It's not a bad thing to attempt, I wouldn't think. Presuming you think you can be around him at this point." He gave a shrug, sipping his beer. "There's lots of Slayers now, if that's all he wanted he could have gotten any of them. So your idea that he only wanted you for the Slayer cred doesn't pan out. Especially when he hasn't taken advantage of your powers or ties...has he?"

He raised a hand, indicating a sort of innocence. "I just ask the questions. Don't hold me responsible for the answers. I'm a curious sort."

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-07-01 06:17 pm UTC (link)
Faith actually laughed, feeling genuinely amused for the first time in days. "Lindsey's alright. He's been a damn good friend to me over the past year. I think Cathy's a good influence on him. And my personal theory is anyone who doesn't like her is automatically evil. Eve on the other hand," her lip curled slightly in disgust. "She's on my list of people who's faces I want to punch repeatedly."

She chewed on her lip, going over, again, in her head everything that had gone on. Every word, every gesture, for their entire relationship as she tried to work out when the blood had started, when the lies began. As usual she ended up second and even triple guessing herself the whole time.

"I don't even know any more if he ever has looked me in the eye and just lied. He probably did, probably a lot. Maybe I should just punch him a few times, that might make me feel better." She sighed as she sipped at her drink.

"I don't think he's even really figured out what it means to be a Slayer. He kinda doesn't think it's that bigger a deal, that he's a better fighter anyway. Like he can handle everything in this world better than anyone, even those of us who've trained for years to deal with these exact threats."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-07-02 03:48 am UTC (link)
"Hard to believe Lindsey can be damn good at anything other than being a pain," he freely admitted. "While being civil, I refuse to like him."

Surely Faith knew that punching out Sam wouldn't really be cathartic. The idea might sound promising and pleasing, but it would be wrong. "Emotional daggers and even guilting him sound like a better gameplan than beating him up," he expressed in a low, casual voice.

"I don't find it hard to believe that he, or other's, don't understand the true power of a Slayer. I hardly think us Watchers ever understood it. And we were made to study you girls, your origin, your power. Although it sounds a bit like you may have a male unwilling to believe a woman could, ah - well, you know. Be better, stronger, faster. A little bit of a sexist mindset. Although I can understand the initial shock - seeing a tiny thing beat up a vampire is shocking. But he's known about you for a while...He has no reason to feel or act superior. Unless he thinks his demon blood makes him better? Does he realize you have demon blood, as well? But I don't see you running off, asking Ruby for a taste to get stronger. Which, don't do. It would only take away the best human parts of you. Any idiot could see that." Okay, so he was calling Sam an idiot. Yes.

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-07-02 06:15 pm UTC (link)
"Civil's a start," Faith smirked. "You never know, he might end up surprising you."

Emotional daggers, now those sounded good. "Now I just need the smarts to make those kindsa daggers all sharp and pointy," she half smiled. "Make him feel like the lowest of the low. That sounds like something he deserves right now."

The whole Slayer origin stuff was confusing for Faith and she was one. She'd dreamed of Slayers of the past for years now, the legacy handed down through the generations. "I don't even know what he's been thinking. I mean, I used to think he was okay with the Slayer stuff, hell I even thought he found it kind of a turn on. But he started ranting on about how he needed to be better and stronger, like he's the only one capable. When we met he hated the demon blood in him, wanted it gone at any cost. And now he's having bitey snuggle times with Ruby." She looked up from her drink to give Wes a look. "Who is a skanky whore by the way and in no way hotter than me. I wouldn't have her blood tainting me if you paid me a million bucks."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-07-03 05:59 pm UTC (link)
"Oh sure. We'll be joining the same book club in no time," Wesley replied rather dryly.

And, uh oh? Had he accidentally-on-purpose told Faith to use carefully-aimed emotional daggers on her former beau? That wasn't really the most responsible advice. He gave that advice because he was looking at the situation outside of the 'responsible' realm of things. It was what he'd do if he was in her position, quite simply. And since he couldn't physically hurt Sam himself, maybe he wanted to know that Faith would dish it out as good as she got. And she should know she was capable of that. But still, he couldn't deny that it was unhealthy to fight battles like this for too long.

"I'm sure you could hurt him. And I'm sure right now you want to hurt him. But later on, you might regret having done it. I'm sure...well, I'm sure he regrets hurting you."

The lurking idea that Sam was power-hungry bothered Wesley. "He's not the only one capable," he stated - though that was certainly obvious. But he didn't mean just in the current context. The subtext? That Faith was just as capable as him, or anyone else, at inflicting pain - at falling in love, at being hurt and surviving. Of moving on. Or getting back on the proverbial horse, should she so choose.

"I guess...he sounds like a conflicted young man, to me. May not know what he wants. Which is common in us men, I'm afraid." His face flashed a smile as Faith talked about Ruby not being hotter. "As though you really have to convince me? I'm on your side. And you are, of course, very beautiful. Or hot - if that's the phrasing you're more fond of. Although I think 'beautiful' is a bit more expressive...ahem." Good thing she didn't ask him to say who was 'the fairest' in the land. As beautiful as Faith was, he did fancy a certain other woman. The fairest in the land, according to his heart. God, he was a schmuck.

"If Ruby is a demon, and evil at that. Are there plans to kill her?"

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-07-03 10:36 pm UTC (link)
"And comparing cake recipes," Faith retorted with a grin.

Did Faith want to hurt Sam? The instant reactions were both yes and no. On the one hand she wanted him to make her feel all the pain and rage and grief she felt right now, make him suffer for betraying her like this. But on the other, he was still Sam. The man she loved in a true and desperate way, and would do anything for, even die for him. But was this a step even beyond that?

"I don't even know if he regrets it," Faith shook her head, depressed. "I don't know how he feels, or how he ever felt about me. I don't even know if he ever really did love me."

And god, that felt like a knife to the chest every time she thought of that.

"Conflicted might be a nice way of putting it," she half smiled. "And thanks Wes." She wasn't going to push anything, even just being told she was attractive was what her wounded ego needed. "You know how to make a girl feel better."

And then there was the main question, Ruby's survival. "I've got no idea," she scowled. "I know I want her very very dead and I know how to do it. Her kind of demon is the possessing kind, naturally she's just this black smoke stuff and we only have her word that she didn't take that host by force. As soon as her angel boyfriend doesn't stop us, she's dead."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-07-04 05:09 am UTC (link)
He nodded. "Kind of weird for an angel and demon to be dating. It would be nice if he'd help the cause instead of hurting it." He gave a pause. "I'm here to lend my services if you need them. Keep me abreast of the situation...I'm sure it'll pan out all right."

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[info]faithinthedark
2009-07-04 02:09 pm UTC (link)
"Would be nice," Faith muttered before she shrugged. "Angels, can't trust 'em."

She gave a quick smile to Wes, draining the last of her drink. "Thanks, Wes and I will." She hesitated a moment before turning to face him properly. "You know, I kinda missed you."

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[info]likesbooks
2009-07-04 07:52 pm UTC (link)
Wesley let a moment pause between them. "I always miss you, Faith." Eye contact was broken as he tipped his glass back to his lips.

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