1340/Secret of the Silver Locket

Secret of the Silver Locket
Date of Scene:	07 July 2017
Location:	Sunnydale, Bludhaven
Synopsis:	A spirit held within a locket takes control of Buffy. The spirit has a score to settle with Spike. Secrets are revealed about his past and Buffy comes to understand the Big Bad a bit more.
Cast of Characters:	Spike, Buffy Summers

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Spike has posed:
Spike found himself in the unenviable position of babysitting the youngest Summers daughter. Even he wasn't sure he believed it, but it seemed that he was the only one who was available. It was nice, being asked to take on a manly, adult responsibility like that, but it made him wonder what was going on. He had played the latest Super Mario, Zelda, and L.A. Noire game with Dawn, watched some television, and even made sure she got off to sleep at a reasonable hour. Buffy had even been nice enough to ensure that there was some pig's blood in the fridge. That was incredibly nice of her. So when she arrived home from her patrol, she'd find him, sitting on the couch, controller in hand, trying to beat Zelda. The sound was low enough not to bother Dawn as she slept upstairs. And he had a cup of warm blood, heated up in the microwave, with a bit of wheetabix mixed in to give it texture. He was drinking out of a Rapunzel mug from Disney's Tangled. Pascal, her pet Chameleon, made the handle for the mug.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Necessity was the mother of bad ideas.

Letting Spike babysit? Probably high on the list. Not that it was really babysitting so much as guarding her little sis while there was no one else around who could do it. Since he had that chip in his head, it was safe to have him around them at least briefly. Course, she hadn't quite gotten around to having him banished from the house last time she'd invited him. Something she should take care of really.

As she came in the door, she paused and looked around a moment before seeing him on the couch. A smile touched her lips as she looked over the vampire sitting there. Walking in, she threw her jacket over the back of the recliner then set on the arm of the chair, looking him over for long moments. "Having fun...Spike?" The name is said after a moment's hesitation.

Spike has posed:
Spike had vampire hearing. He could have heard her coming in. But he was so engrossed in the game that he didn't even notice until he had been found out. But he did his best to hide it, tucking the controller under a seat cushion and reaching for the remote to turn the TV off. It was so obvious, but he was trying to play it cool. "Oh... no! Being forced to keep the nibblet company isn't my idea of a fun Saturday night." And then, with as much badassness as he can muster, he reached for the mug, taking a sip of the blood. Yeah, so badass with a Tangled Rapunzel / Pascal mug. He licked his lips after, "so, catch many vampires? Or were you thinking of one more notch?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
"Oh there were a few," Buffy says as she watches the show of hiding the controller then sipping. The mug gets a curious look, her brow furrowing. Something strange about that. Must just be seeing Spike, of all people, drinking from it. "But nothing I couldn't handle."

She stood, taking the step over toward him and sitting right beside him. On the opposite side from where the controller was. So close that her hip is against his hip, her thigh presed to his. He's given a big smile. "Thank you for doing this for me. You have been so helpful lately. I don't know if I've been telling you how much I appreciate you."

Her hand comes to rest on his knee.

Spike has posed:
That was out of left field. It was not unwelcome, but it was surprising. He regarded her, wondering for a moment if she was teasing him, or finally warming up to him. He liked her, had kissed her, and she had kissed him back, but that's where it ended. And afterwards she seemed even more angry with him than usual. Why did he feel like this about a slayer no less? He hated it about himself, hated what he was becoming, but... somehow, it felt good. The hand definitely did. "Uh..." he paused, "your welcome."

Buffy Summers has posed:
The hand starts to slide upwards slowly as she continues to look into his face.

Her voice is a whisper when she speaks again. "You always were handsome. I like the new hair." Then her voice changes, becoming stronger, more like herself instead of that more intimate tone. "Well, I shouldn't keep looking a gift vampire in the mouth, y'know? You've been there for me. You care about me. And I've really treated you so badly, haven't I?"

Spike has posed:
Spike looked down at his black jeans and where her hand slid to. He immediately looked to the side, checking that Dawn was still upstairs. He was so distracted by her hand that he almost missed the part about new hair. His hair hadn't changed since before she was born. When wet, it changed, a bit, but other than that, it was the same as he had been for decades. He liked the look. "Yeah, you have... I mean, yeah! You have. But, I have a pretty thick skin. Don't worry about it, Slayer."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Her hand stops at the top of his thigh, sliding toward the inside of it. Then she shifts, moving with slayer speed. One moment she is beside him, the next she is on his lap, straddling his thighs with her own. Her arms come around his neck as she leans in close, lips a fraction of an inch from his.

"Oh but I do worry, Spike. I want to make it up to you." She catches his bottom lip with her teeth, staring into his eyes.

Spike has posed:
Spike doesn't even need to breath and yet still he swallows when she moves atop his lap, arms coming to rest around his neck. He looks at her, trying to figure out what's gotten into her. "Buffy, are you all right?" Something was wrong, but he wasn't sure if she was just being cruel, or had finally decided to give in to his affections, but if so, what was the catalyst? Why now? Why tonight? He needed a reason to make sense of this.

Buffy Summers has posed:
That was not the reaction she wanted.

A frown appears for a moment but is changed quickly to a petulant pout. "What, Spike? You don't want me?" She seems to be saying his name a lot more than she usually does. There really is no reason for it. "I can make you want me, Spike."

She shifts where she is sitting, leaning in and capturing his mouth in a kiss.

Spike has posed:
And that does generate the reaction she was hoping for. His hands instinctively reach out for her, wrapping around, and keeping her where he wanted her. He was a man, and being kissed by the woman he loves, but there was just one problem with that. He loved her. And even though she kissed him back that one time, he was pretty sure she didn't love him back. Something was up. Something was wrong. Pulling his hands back up to her arms, he pushed her away from his lips without pushing her off of his lap, "Buffy, what's gotten into you?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
As she is pushed away, there is another flash of anger from her. She sits back where he has pushed her, frowning.

"You know you want me. Why are you pushing me away?" she demands instead of answering the question. She shrugs his hands off her arms and puts her hands to his shoulders again. One hand plays with the hair at the nape of his neck, toying in the strands. She leans down and begins nibbling the side of his neck, working her way up to his earlobe. "Am I not effulgent enough for you, Spike?"

Spike has posed:
Spike really wasn't sure himself why he was pushing her away. He loved her. Maybe she loved him back. It could happen. She did fall for Angel, and he was a Vampire too. Giving in, his own hands slide down to her thighs, covered by those leather pants. He tilts his head as she nibbles at his neck, and when she makes it to his earlobe, she says something that really causes him to stir, but not in the manner she had hoped. "Effulgent?" He repeats, knowing that word, but wondering where she picked it up. "Buffy," he repeats, a question in his voice.

Buffy Summers has posed:
"Yes, William?" she whispers against his ear, continuing to nibble then tracing the curve of it with her tongue. If she notices the change in him, she's not showing it as she continues her not-so-slow secduction. "We should go up to my room, Spike." Back to that name, as though not realize the other was said at all.

Spike has posed:
This was so confusing. The seduction was working. He was excited. He wanted this. He wanted to go up. And he, perhaps foolishly, began to try and rise, with her still against him. He was using his vampire strength to get up whilst carrying her and keeping her around him. She knew his name. But it was odd that she used it. "Your room it is," he said, but he couldn't get that nagging sensation out of his head. Was it the chip? Was it malfunctioning? He wanted this, but damn, something was off about it.

Buffy Summers has posed:
As she is lifted, Buffy doesn't try to put her feet on the floor. She wraps her legs around his waist. Her arms slide back to his shoulders, allowing him to support her fully. And still she is working on his neck until she pulls back. Not to pull away. There is a triumphant gleam in her eyes, something that is very not-Buffy like. "I want to hear you, Spike. Your poetry. Share one with me." Then she is kissing her way down the front of his neck.

Spike has posed:
And with that, Spike went ice cold. Not literally. His body temperature remained room temperature at all times. But the reaction, the way the 'blood' drained from his face. Something was seriously wrong with Buffy. And instead of taking her up to her room, he instead turned and took her back to the living room, where he tried to let her down onto the couch. "Buffy, what's going on? How do you know about my poetry?" He knelt down, looking her in the eye. "Whatever it is, we'll get through this, together. I'm here for you." There was genuine concern in his voice.

Buffy Summers has posed:
She doesn't want to let go. She holds on for a moment but now that he isn't supporting her, either she clings on using her own strength or goes along with him. She lets herself settle back on the couch in a half lounging position, looking up at him. "How?"

She seems momentarily confused, brow furrowing as she shakes her head. It's like she doesn't know the answer and perhaps doesn't even know where she is for a moment as she looks around the room. Then it's gone. Her eyes focus again on him. A secretive little smile appears. "You told me about it, of course. Don't you remember?" Something he has never done.

Spike has posed:
Spike, as Vampires go, has always been fairly technologically savy. He keeps abreast of pop culture, often spouting the references. But for now, it's the fact that he not only has a mobile, but knows how to use it. He reaches for it, texting both Giles and Willow. They might be able to help. And he's sure they'll get the others in on it. "Yes, I do, I remember telling Drusilla about it, Angel, Darla, I even once told a psychiatrist, thought I'd give it a shot, before I ate him... that was during my pre-chip days." He was honest, then tried to cover it. "But... other than that, no one alive should know this. What are you? Because you're not Buffy. She's never throw herself at me like that."

Buffy Summers has posed:
"Of course I'm Buffy. I'm everything you ever wanted but couldn't have, all wrapped up in a pretty little package," she tells him with dark smile. She remains in that half reclined position, legs parted around him as he was kneeling on the floor before her. She slides a booted foot along his thigh. A soft giggle comes from her as she looks him directly in the eyes. "You love me. I don't know why you are being so uncooperative. But if you aren't going to give me what I want, then get out of my house." The petulant little pout returns.

Spike has posed:
"You're right about one thing. You are everything I've ever wanted but couldn't have. But you're not Buffy. Not the one I've come to know and love." He looks to her leg, brushing his thigh. Her giggle. Something was wrong. "Was there a spell? Did you encounter a witch or warlock? Did you get anything on you? Did someone give you a gift? Uh, where're the Scoobies when we really need them?" And I'm not leaving you in this state. Not until we can get you well. Not until you're thinking about staking me every five minutes."

Buffy Summers has posed:
With each thing he says, she doesn't respond. She is looking at his chest, fingers reaching out to slide over his shirt playfully. Until he mentions the gift. For an instant, she glances at his face then she's back to looking where her hand is touching. "I'm not thinking about staking you. I'm thinking about you staking me," she says with another naughty smile, sitting up suddenly. "Come on, William. Stop fighting me. When did you grow a spine?" she asks with a bit of a frown.

Spike has posed:
Picking up on the eye contact. It's hard not to. "Buffy, are you in there?" He asks, trying to hold the contact. Oh, he'd definitely like to explore what she's offering, but from Buffy, not from whatever has possessed her. "A gift, um, wouldn't be clothes, too obvious, jewellery? Buffy, did somebody give you some jewellery?" He was looking her over. No watch. No bracelet. What else could there be. Her clothes covered up most of the other possibilities. Earrings, no, he recognised those ones. They weren't new.

Buffy Summers has posed:
And now her body language changes. One moment she is sitting there trying to get him to pay her a little bit of attention in the most physical sense. The next she is giving him a shove to the middle of the chest and standing up to try and walk across the room. "Go away, Spike. I don't want to talk to you anymore. I thought you loved me." She peeks over her shoulder at him. "Don't you love me, William?"

Spike has posed:
Her shove was a good one, and sent him flying down onto his back. Thankfully he didn't hit his head on the table or anything. And worst of all, he can't fight back because of that chip in his head. "Buffy!" He calls out mid fall, and quickly gets up after she's crossed the room, "I do love you. But something's... something's..." and his mind finally puts two and two together. Calling him William, asking about his poetry, and using the word effulgent. He takes a shot in the dark, "Cecily?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
She spins around, that dark smile in place again as she brings her hands up, clapping them together slowly. "Bravo!" Then she makes a tsking sound with her tongue. "You used to be much smarter, William. Being a vampire has done you no favors." She looks him over boldly, the smile going wicked. "Well, some favors. You certainly didn't look this good back when you were confessing your love and writing bad poetry."

She walks toward him slowly, her movements graceful, posture straight. Just as she used to carry herself when he knew her. "Did you miss me, William? I know I've missed you so so much."

Spike has posed:
Spike is emotionally compromised. A woman he once loved, and later killed, in the body of a woman he does love, and she's talking about his poetry. "I... I know I wasn't a good poet. But I tried. And I did love you, Cecily, but you can't have Buffy. Take my body. Spare hers." The love for Cecily has long since gone, and unlike most, he doesn't feel regret for killing her. For one, he has a chip, not a soul, and for two, pre or post vampire, he's never really been all that concerned about the past. He always looked to the future.

Buffy Summers has posed:
"Oh, but I like it here, William," she says, putting a hand to the center of her chest. With his senses, he may hear the shifting of a chain beneath, a necklace of some type. "I'm not going anywhere. This body is so powerful. It can do things I never dreamed of!" Her smile is delighted as she does a little spin in place. Then her smile fades, eyes going dark as she walks right up to him, staring up at him. "And you? You can't do a thing about it. Other than beg me to leave. You can't lay a finger on me without that chip keeping you in line. Yes, I know all about it. Buffy knows so I know." She smirks a little bit. "I bet you'd like to know what she really thinks of you too, wouldn't you?"

Spike has posed:
Spike has always been crafty, but especially so since becoming a vampire. He was intelligent, but ineffectual as a human. But without his soul, he grew a backbone, and put that intellect to good, or in his case, bad, use. He shakes his head in the negative as she asks if he wanted her to tell him what Buffy really thought of him. "No, I don't need you to tell me that. I know what she thinks. That I'm evil, a monster, a vampire. I've killed people. I've eaten people. And you know what; I don't regret any of it. It's what I am. I kill people to survive, just as humans kill pigs, cows, and anything else they might find tasty, to survive. It's the natural order of things." He leans in, arms trying to reach around her body, his lips, desperate to kiss her.

Buffy Summers has posed:
And this time it is Buffy/Cecily that is having the problem. The fact that he doesn't regret killing any of them. Which means he doesn't regret killing her. As he closes the distance to her, arms going around her, she's stiff as a board. Until something sinks in. She knows what Buffy is feeling. The Slayer is in there, screaming to get free. She knows her feelings about Spike. And she knows the best way to destroy him is to destroy any chance he has of earning the slayer's love. How better to do that than show him sinking to the base creature he is by giving in to his desires for the body when the woman isn't even in control? It's so delicious. When Buffy returns, she will destroy him for taking advantage.

With that knowledge, Buffy opens her arms to allow him to enter her embrace. "That's right, my William. It's finally our time."

Spike has posed:
Spike kisses her. It's easy for him. He's wanted to do it ever since the last time he kissed her. The passion is real, even if he has grave concerns about what's happened to her. But he noted how she clutched her chest and had a locket around her neck. It was neatly hidden by her top, but he had found it out. He could hear it rustling against her skin. He had seen her try to hide it. And he could now feel it as his hands ran behind her neck. He pulled her in, brushing his body against hers as he tried to undo the locket. And once he had it, he did his best to tear it away from her in one quick motion, letting go of one side. He knew that it could hurt her, but he was hoping to break whatever spell she was under, and he was counting on Slayer strength to avoid her getting hurt by that motion.

Buffy Summers has posed:
The kiss is returned with equal heat. This is exactly what she wanted. He's a monster, one who would use someone for his own gain. Pleasure. Money. Blood. Whatever it may be. He lost his humanity a long time ago and this is going to be his undoing. Her arms are around his waist, her body pressed tightly to his. Until she feels that shift. The rub of the necklace as it shifts around her neck. Her eyes go wide and she tries to pull away, bringing up a hand to grab for the necklace. But it's too late. He yanks it free before she gets her hand on it.

She pulls away, letting out a scream of annoyance. "Give that back! It's mine!"

Spike has posed:
Spike, with the locket in hand, warns her over the scream, "hey, keep it quiet. The nibblet's trying to sleep upstairs!" He opens the locket, having given it to Cecily himself all those many years ago, sees a picture of himself in it, as he once was. He's not sure how this locket came into Buffy's possession, but he breaks it into two pieces. Gold is easy to break, and he has vampire strength. Then he rips the picture of himself out of it, holding it in his hand for a moment. He looks on at it. A picture of him. He hasn't seen a picture of himself since he turned. As a vampire, he has no reflection. Photographs, selfies, video, none of it works. He actually shed a tear at the sight of himself, so many memories. Just one of those little things that are denied to vampires, like watching a sunrise... and he tears it in half, quarters, trying to destroy it, along with the locket in the faint hopes that it will save Buffy. But it costs him more than he'd care to admit. He closes his eyes, and a tear falls from the corner of his eye.

Buffy Summers has posed:
She doesn't go with a scream or even a whisper. As the picture is destroyed, she simply ceases to be. One moment she is there within Buffy, the next moment has returned to the place from which she was summoned.

Buffy watches him closely, seeing the pain written on his face, in the lines of his body. For as she was trapped, she was able to see the memories of the spirit controlling her body. She can only imagine how hard this was for him.

As the moment stretches on, he will feel a gentle touch on his cheek. A soft hand caressing there. As he opens his eyes, Buffy lifts up on tiptoe. She leans in and her lips touch that tear, kissing it gently from his skin. Then she slides her arms around him, hugging him to her. "Thank you," she whispers as she lays her head against his shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

Spike has posed:
Spike felt the hug. The embrace. He welcomed it, but was still wary that she might still be possessed by Cecily. Her words though, made him think against that. Cecily Addams would never have thanked him, or said how sorry she was. Buffy was something else. He had been infatuated with Cecily, but he loved Buffy, even if she could never return his feelings. Looking at her, "so, you're back, Buffy? It's you? Sorry about the, kiss. I... had to get to the locket, and it was the only way I could think of to get that close to her."

Buffy Summers has posed:
"Yeah, it's me again," Buffy says, not pulling away quite yet. She continues to hold him, to offer comfort to him. Or maybe to herself. Right now, she's pretty shaken by what happened. "It..it's okay. You figured it out. You got rid of her. I couldn't do anything." He knows how much she hates feeling helpless. She slides a hand up and down his back, a motion she finds comforting when she's the most upset. "You saved me. You didn't... You didn't take advantage of the situation." Her hand comes to his cheek again, the pad of her thumb sliding over his cheek.

Spike has posed:
Spike, ever the bad boy, even when he's behaving, playfully added, "believe me, I wanted to. Only chance I'll ever get, but, no, not like that. I may be bad, but I could never have done that, not to you. I couldn't have lived with the way you'd look at me if I had. I'd stake myself before I'd let that happen." The hand was comforting. Her alongside him was comforting. He didn't want it to stop, but figured his admission would see to that.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Things have gotten more confusing than ever now. She should hate him. Want to destroy him. He's the Big Bad, or had been before the chip. He still was a badass when it came to fighting monsters. He'd stood with her through so much. Buffy knew he loved her. Or thought he did. But he was a vampiare. One who had killed two slayers in his lifetime, something no other vampire could say. Yet...

Her thumb continues to slide over his cheek, her eyes confused as he looks at him closely. She saw him as he had been. Knew how he had been treated. But it wasn't sympathy or pity she felt.

He took all that. He used it. He became more. He became powerful. Strong.

She lifts on tiptoe again. Her lips brush his cheek. Kiss the corner of his mouth. Then she presses her lips to his, sliding her hand to the back of his neck.