23 - video; B is gone, but the &*^%$ is back.

[hungryanhorny]

[A little after Dean's video, Faith appears on screen. She's behind the bar, same as last time, though there's no alcohol in sight. She has a smile on her face, as she twirls a pewter mug on the tip of her finger.] So B left the building, huh? Bet Dean's pretty happy with the little souvenir I ordered up from the Admiral, too. Should have some nice picks of blondie in there. Something for the whole fan club to fawn over.

But hey - guess that's one less nag I've got to worry about for Christmas Not exactly like she would have enjoyed her gifts anyway, right? Nothing's enough for the Slayer

Which is - wait - my title now, huh? I mean, what with miss perfect gone, and I'm the only Slayer left.  Anyone up for a spar? Sunnydale's strongest, right here.

[She tosses the mug up, and catches it. The pewter cracks in her hand, splinters digging.]

Shit.

Comments

[ Spam ]

[theonlyresponse]

[His punch misses, but the objective has been achieved: stop Dean attacking Faith. With that done he hangs back, tense, ready to act if something unexpected happened. Bits of glass stick in his shoulder, and they pricked and hurt, but luckily it was nothing serious.

When Faith steps forward, he does too, cutting in front of her so that he's blocking the path to Dean, but enough so that she can see his face, feel the anger radiating from him. His voice may be ice cold, but his eyes are not. She hasn't seen this expression before. Sympathy.] Stop baiting.

[He turns his gaze Dean, expression changing to stony.] I warned you to take it to the gym. But you were stupid enough to come here. [Then, to Faith.] CTS. Now.

[ Spam ]

[batmanschmatman]

Dean, shut up. [His voice is quiet and level rather than angry. Dick doesn't move or really respond to Faith or Bruce's physical presence and perceived threats, instead just focusing his energy on keeping Dean back. He's not interested in getting into a fight with either of them, considering everyone involved is apparently proving people don't mature past middle school.

There is, however, a serious flaw in what's being said here, and he'd prefer that get sorted out before this goes any further at all.]

The Admiral doesn't send people home. That's perfectly common knowledge. Get your facts straight before you start digging yourself into a deeper hole. [And again, his tone is level and not argumentative. He's stating a fact that apparently she needs to hear since he's missed the memo up until this point.]

[ Spam ]

[surfaceshine]

[Dick's order comes at the same time as Dean's lip curls back in preparation to sneer at Faith about listening to her inmate; if he's aware of the irony of accusing her of needing someone responsible to tell her what to do, well, he's not acknowledging it just now. He bites it back, but only just.

The hunter is no calmer, but the adrenaline has peaked and he's beginning to feel the pain in his arm now, behind and around the pulse of his heart in his ears and the heat of his anger making his skin feel flushed. Fantastic. Just great. Yeah, she'd be real proud right now.

With a disgusted noise in the back of his throat, he deliberately turns his back on the two he'd just been fighting with and moves out of the way against a wall.]

[ Spam ]

[hungryanhorny]

[She probably would have gone on. But Dick's words make her tense. Her expression seems to hesitate, before shifting into a deeper scowl. There's something in her eyes, now, something fragile and close to breaking. He should recognize this look - it's like when her inmate left, though now far worse.]

So what? You saying B just left? Just like that? [Her voice sounds like it's breaking.] I know blondie's not fond of goodbyes, but...

[ Spam ]

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick does recognize the expression, and he tries to soften his voice a little. He knows she cared about her, and as mad as he is at her, he's really not looking for a fight or to rub salt in a wound.]

I'm saying the Admiral didn't kick her out, she vanished. It happens all the time. People end up going home without wanting to, and the Admiral's not the one sending them there. You can ask him yourself.

[ Spam ] Go ahead and skip Deano, too, for the duration. He's just going to stand by.

[surfaceshine]

[Dean, having no such concerns and caring not even a little just this moment, snorts from where he's moved aside; the reminder that he'd known this was coming, even if she hadn't actually said as much, is enough to renew his irritation but not enough to make him say anything.

Not right now.]

[ Spam ]

[hungryanhorny]

So who? [She takes half a step forward - aggressive, with no where to aim it.] 'Cause last I checked, the Admiral was the one flying this thing.

[ Spam ]

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick still doesn't react, or budge, or rise to the aggression. He just repeats what he's already said.]

And he says he doesn't know why they disappear. You can ask him yourself.

[ Spam ]

[hungryanhorny]

Then somebody else is. [She moves, then - toward the door. She'll go to the CTS if Bruce cares to direct her that way. She could use it.

Mostly, though, she just needs to get out.]