16661/Faith and love, but there is no hope.

Faith and love, but there is no hope.
Date of Scene:	29 December 2024
Location:	The Blue Lady, Fort Joseph
Synopsis:	Ladies night at the Blue Lady.
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Raith, Faith Lehane, Willow Rosenberg

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Thomas Raith has posed:
Thursdays are typically slow nights at the Lady, with just enough of a crowd to have Thomas letting some of the Ciggertte girl's take the stage and sing, but not enough to bring out Sasha. Still the so-called "Man-in-White" Isn't using the chance to catch up on paperwork as he normally would, but rather catching up with an old friend. Still Kimbery's wrist unit beeps a tone strikingly simmilar to that from Kim Possible, and heads into the ladies room, never to return.

Thomas Raith let's a small smile cross his face. He knows those tones well enough."You meet some interesting people in this line of work, ehh Yosa?" he asks with a chuckle. The barman just grunts, clearing the remains of the pink daiquiri and goes about his business.

Faith Lehane has posed:
The Christmas season is always a sore spot for Faith, aka the 'Dark Slayer', mostly because she has no family, and few friends to speak of (flakey fickle allies hardly count!).

But there is one person she has come to think of as close enough to either of those that she keeps coming back for more (though perhaps his other...Attributes help too..!?)

Either way, after an odd absence around Christmas, Faith saunters into the club, half drunk (ok mostly drunk), her already too short red tank top ripped enough to show too much flesh than acceptable in most places, as are her skin tight leather pants. Looks like she spent most of the last couple days venting her frustrations on demon hunting..

"Well, may as well get wasted.." she mutters, sliding onto a bar stool, so caught up in her own thoughts that she doesn't immediately notice Thomas nearby..

Thomas Raith has posed:
Yosa isn't much help in that aspect. He takes one look at Faith's condition, tsks once in a paternal fashion, and slides her a large cup of black coffee. Thomas turns to face her as well raising an eyebrow and smirking slightly, "And there she is, I was wondering if you had forgotten about us." He says with an amused smile.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Yosa isn't much help in that aspect. He takes one look at Faith's condition, tsks once in a paternal fashion, and slides her a large cup of black coffee. Thomas turns to face her as well raising an eyebrow and smirking slightly, "And there she is, I was wondering if you had forgotten about us." He says with an amused smile.

Faith Lehane has posed:
Faith Lehane arches a skeptic brow at the coffee. "Are you kidding me? You trying to wake me up?! Dammit, gimme a hard straight Jaegermeister at least why don't you?!" she shoves the caffeine away in annoyance.

When Thomas addresses her she rolls her eyes. "What's wrong, gettin' a little too attached?! I got family tou, you know...Not much in the way of real family but..." she mutters something under her breath, coupled with the tired look on her eyes suggesting something happened that hit her harder than usual.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith raises an eyebrow at Faith's reaction. He's used to her snapping at him, but rarely sees anyone snap at Yosa... still he sips his own iced tea and looks at her curious. "Oh? Is it going to be one of those evening?" He asks mildly amused...

Faith Lehane has posed:
Faith Lehane shrugs a shoulder, "Met my old folks after ohhh I dunno a decade of non contact? They wanted to welcome me back into the fold..." she scowls, waiting impatiently for that drink. "But I not getting caught into that shit again.."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
It had been months since she had seen Thomas. More since she had seen Faith. All in all she'd been avoiding them. And others. But them in particular. And seeing as she had patched up her relationship with Harry, she couldn't avoid them forever.

Thus, The Blue Lady.

Not that she'd been there often. And most of the while she'd go up the stairs to Thomas' apartment - but this time she was there to meet with them at the Lady. It was her concession to meet them downstairs where if things went sideways Willow could deke out.

Ok. She hadn't told them she was coming. That was concession number two.

Oops?

Walking into the club, she raised her arms to be patted. Even though she giggled a bit. She didn't have a gun, but what she did have was infinitely more deadly. All the while looking for Thomas, or Faith.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Axe knows who Willow is and doesn't bother with the pat down or the metal scanner wand. He does unsnap the head of his tomahawk though and gives her a calm "We ainta gonna be 'aving no problems wit ja, is we?" Good old Axe, if it came to fighting Willow in the defense of the club and his friends he would fight bravely... and die quickly.

Thomas looks like he is about to say something in response to Faith when he happens to look up. He gives Axe a hand signal and the bouncer stands down immediatly letting her in. "Witchy woman six o clock. You may wanna rethink that drink." He says in a soft mutter to Faith before saying to Willow with a mile wide smile, "Hello there Wills. Can I interest you in a rare steak?"

Faith Lehane has posed:
Faith Lehane stiffens visibly at Thomas' words. Red...?! She's here?! The helll?!" she snarls, climbing to her feet, ready for a fight...Except of course she checked in her weapons at the door. "What's she doing here?! Don't you know she's dangerous...?! Thomas! Do something.....!"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow smiles at Axe. "Would *I* make trouble for you?" Well no. But yes? Now that she is a bit of Dark Willow, who know what she might be capable of. "Don't worry, scouts honor. Not that I ever was a scout!"

By then, Thomas acknowledged her, and waved her on over.

Willow wasn't in her usual garb. Gone were the long flowy skirt, and the Birkenstocks. Instead she was in a low cut skirt, with black fishnet stockings on, and high heels. Of course she still wore her favourite band (at this time) t-shirt. Still, she was fairly up to date, which was something new.

"Hi Thomas.. uh.." Willow wasn't too certain of Faith, who looked like she was getting ready for a fight. With Willow. Well, Dark Willow. Which was and wasn't Willow. ..It was complicated. "Hi.. Faith?"

Holding up her hands, as though *that* would keep her from casting spells. Ha!

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith answers Faith, but in a voice loud enough that Willow can hear. "The blue Lady is Accorded Neutral Ground, like Mac's. As long as she doesn't start trouble, she's welcome here. That's the law." He says simply. Not that he had anything agienst Willow per say. He often said he thought of her like a sister. Of course she'd tried to kill him, but ...well that wouldn't make her stand out much in his family. "What will it be Wills?"

Faith Lehane has posed:
Faith Lehane seems doubtful as she eyes Willow's distinctly goth attire, remembering the last time she sicc'd demons on them. "So what the hell is this about? You good witch or bad witch? cuz I ain't in. the mood for a fight tonight." she looks tired, physically, emotionally.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"You know, my alter ego wasn't very good at listening to accords." Sure, Willow. Dig yourself deeper. "But I'm me. Sort of? It's a long story. I'm getting used to my new me. Could I have a beer? Do you even sell beer here?" Willow didn't know. "If not, some wine."

Red or white. So far she hasn't decided what one she liked better. ..Yet.

Good witch, or bad witch..

"I guess a little of both? In order to be back in my body, and in control, I have to accept some of my power can be deadly, and evil if not used the right way. I don't plan on getting into a fight, though? Does that make you feel better, Faith?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Yosa doesn't speak to Willow, but then he doesn't talk much at all. There is a rumor that Buffy once got him to say fifteen consecutive words, but there was no proof. Still he pulls out a Macanaly Pale and pops the cap off of the bottle and sets both on a coaster for her. He shrugs a bit adding "I also have a Magic Nullifying defense system," literally sprinklers set to go off if someone were to start spell slinging, but still... "So you won't be trying to eat our faces and or sending demons to eat our faces?" he asks calmly, sipping his own tea and smiling casually. "And I don't care how power you think you have Wills, you really don't want to pissoff Queen Mab. Ask Harry."

Faith Lehane has posed:
Faith Lehane scowls, dark eyes never leaving Willow. "No, not really.." her expression lightness bit at Yosa's confirmations, nodding. "Good to know." gas never leaves Willow. "So why you here Red..?" it's a loaded question..

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow makes a face. "It might be a fight? But I don't care to try it." She knows what power she has. A fight with Queen Mab could be destruction for anyone in the middle of their fight. Whether by accident or by design.

As for Faith..

Willow sighs. "I know I wasn't being myself for.. well.. almost a year. I guess I owe you an apology? I'm never going to go back the way I was before Dark Willow. And with some help from Wanda I'm learning how to control myself going forth. I am not very proud of what I did. I guess, though, I needed to look at myself properly. So, I'm learning what it means to be Willow - actually Willow."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly, taking in her words and shrugging. "Well we are all monsters here after all, let the one who has never fed on a stripper untill she disolved into a pile of dust cas the first stone I say." He seems calm about the idea but in a "Forgive not forget" fashion, at least for now.

Faith Lehane has posed:
Faith Lehane scowls, totally not convinced. "What the hell, Thomas? She sics demons on us and stole the Grimoire and did who knows what with it...And you're welcoming her with open arms? Are you batshit crazy?!"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"I never fed on a stripper." Though she had plans for doing worse. Much worse. "Thanks Thomas." She smiles faintly at him. "I was kind of afraid of how you might have responded to me."

Willow winces, then, at Faith.

"The book disappeared by itself. When I wouldn't use it, it was angry and took off. The book was sentient. Sort of." To explain it would take another evening. "Uhm.. Maybe this wasn't a good idea."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith takes a deep breath and sighs, looking at his lover in her eyes. "Faith, there is a reason I have made people I trust, inculding you, make me a promise that if I ever go so far as to be irredeemable they will take me out. So has Harry. And if it had gone much further, we would have pulled that rigger for Willow too. We didn't, which means we didn't think she was unredeamable, which means that yes she can be forgiven." He looks to Willow and adds, "She brings up a good point though, a full debrief of what you were doing and what you did would not be amiss."

Faith Lehane has posed:
Faith Lehane rolls her eyes some more. "Sooo basically, the book user you until..What some more powerful sorceress bailed you out and it ditched you in search of an even bigger evil?! And now you come running with your tail between your legs?" at least she's not in fighting stance any longer. "Well this is getting interesting.."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
The brief explanation..

"The book had a spell in it which was made to open the ultimate gates of Hell, signalling the final battle between good and evil. It wasn't something that either good and evil had knowledge of. I mean, they knew of it, but they couldn't find the scroll."

"For a long while it was in the Library of Alexandria. And when the place was burned, it vanished. Most people who knew of it thought it was destroyed. When in reality it was taken by a sect of the Church, and hidden away. In time the scroll became sentient and seduced people to use it. It needed someone who was powerful enough to break open the gates, but not so powerful enough that it couldn't control. There was it's mistake with me. I was certainly powerful enough - more than. But it couldn't control me in the end."

"I have no idea where it went. I think I am in the umbrella of people who can not find it anymore. Sorry?"

It was more complicated than that, but for now Willow's explanation would do.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith seems like he is about to reply when there is a slight "Clicking sound from the stairs. Syrin is standing there, clicking a button, which is meant to alert the staff there is a problem upstairs in the VIP lounge. The amazonian blonde at least looks more annoyed then concerned but still... Thomas get's up and says "I better check what that is about." He kisses faith's shoulder and adds, "I've got presents for you upstairs, So please stop by okay.." To Willow adding, "You were naughty. You get coal." and sticks out his tongue.