XLVI - video;

[breakmychest]

[GUESS WHO'S SMIRKING VISAGE IS ONCE AGAIN GRACING THE BARGE? That's right, it's Spike! He's back! And he's...actually not wearing black. Well, there's still the coat, of course, but his shirt's brown. His room's changed too. It's got pipes and metal all around, like it's something off of some awesome steampunk spaceship. Which, to be fair, it is.

He gives the Barge a lazy wave.]

So. What'd I miss?

[Filtered to Fred.]

You still here, pet? How've you been? And how long was I gone?

[Filtered to Buffy]

Told you I'd be back.

[Please still be here.]

Comments

[bigbad]

Not that good. They all blend together.

There was that dinosaur thing right before I left, though. I think.

Action

[bigbad]

[Pretty soon he shows up, and after a moment's hesitation, knocks on her door. He has seen her since he left. The Admiral made good on his deal. But... this is different. Fred's never been through dying. And he let it slip.]

[sharpememory.livejournal.com]

But that was pretty recent, not a year ago.

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

They were my friends, Stephanie and Wally.

[Sighs.]

Glad you've rejoined us, Spike.

[bigbad]

Time works differently on the Barge. Haven't you caught on?

[sharpememory.livejournal.com]

That's not funny, man. People can't bend time.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Fred's moved to pretty much standing just on the other side of the door. It opens on the echo of Spike's knock]

[bigbad]

[When she opens the door, he just steps in and pulls her into a full-bodied hug. It's been too long, even though he knows she's happy and healthy back home.]

[bigbad]

You really are thick, aren't you?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Well, then? There's pretty much nowhere to go but Spike. Not that she's objecting]

[sharpememory.livejournal.com]

Well, excuse me if time travel and different dimensions are a bit hard to deal with. Not everyone just accepts this shit off the cuff.

[bigbad]

[It takes him a while to pull back, and when he does, he doesn't let go, just moves back enough so that they can talk.]

So. How've you been?