A Different Path

[ambitious_woman]

WHOReinette and YOU
WHATA week of Reinette's life, from searching for real employment to one of her most favored of occupations, here -- watching others.
WHERE Through the many and varied locations of town. She will be quite active this week. From Sanctuary to the streets themselves.
WHEN From Thursday to Thursday, day and night.
NOTES Simply

Comments

Sunday evening, the streets

[idolstolemylook]

Once it was dark enough, Spike roamed. Sometimes he went to find blood. Sometimes he went to a loud, dark club and drank as he listened to the hearts beat all around him. Sometimes he patrolled, taking out anything nasty he could.

He wasn't exactly a good Samaritan, so when he noticed the girl looking a bit lost it wasn't exactly kindness which made him speak up.

"Lookin' for something, miss?" he called out, cocking his head.

[ambitious_woman]

Myself.

The answer to he question rose up without hesitation. The issue, of course, was that the question was not her own. And Reinette could hardly be expected to reveal everything that one word could contain with a complete stranger, even if she was self-aware enough to speak it quite plainly to herself.

On a single heel, she turned to great the voice's owner. Like the city itself, the man had a raw, unfinished quality about him. Yet there was something effortless about it.

Her voice was measured and cool when Reinette finally replied, her own expression guarded.

"On this particular occasion? No, I am not."

[idolstolemylook]

"More's the pity, then," Spike said with a little smirk. "You seemed a bit lost, love."

French. French? And very posh, wasn't she? This might be fun. Or a total bust, but Spike had nothing but time.

[ambitious_woman]

"Seemed you say," Reinette turned to face the man directly, something in his assumptions made especially grating by the accent in which they were spoken with.

She was only lost if she allowed herself to be. It was a belief that Reinette used a great deal to connect one day to the next.

"And what do you believe now?"

[idolstolemylook]

Spike cocked his head.

"That you're the type who won't admit when she is," he said, tongue curling behind his teeth.

[ambitious_woman]

She most definitely was. But it did her little good if he could discern that particular fact so quickly. For a moment Reinette's mask flickered, then fell to reveal her irritation.

"And what if I am. Would you rather I walk these streets announcing my helplessness instead?"

[idolstolemylook]

Spike shrugged. "You already are, to someone who can read the signs." Of course, Spike was reduced now to talking about preying on people like her, but the point still stood. "Dangerous world, princess."

[ambitious_woman]

A single, golden eyebrow arches. Truthfully, she is somewhat impressed. Not so much in what he saw. There were people adept enough at reading another, even some that were not aware of their particular skill. But it was evident all the same. In how they spoke, or how they carried themselves.

But to actually act on that knowledge? Even if only with words?

"I am no princess. Nor would I wish to be."

[idolstolemylook]

"Not really good at takin' a joke, though, are you?" he observed. Who didn't want to be a princess? "Known a few, have you?"

[ambitious_woman]

A joke. Reinette frowned slightly before she could think to mask the reaction. She could not like how easily he was able to read her. No, she did not take jokes especially well. But then, she was far more accustomed to a more complex sort of wit. People were rarely direct at court.

"More than a few, yes. Louis' daughters. And every last one of them difficult."

[idolstolemylook]

"Before my time," said Spike, and tilted his head. "Which Louis, by the by?" All right, so he was a rude punk vampire thing, but it didn't mean he hadn't learned his history.

[ambitious_woman]

"The fifteenth."

The words were brisk and sharp and contained unmasked irritation. He clearly knew more than she did, and thus held the advantage. And the advantage was something Reinette would prefer to wield for herself.

[idolstolemylook]

Numbers. So many numbers. "Right, then," Spike said. "Good times, was it?" From what he remembered, it was a bit of a cock-up, which might have been fun.

[ambitious_woman]

"It was." And there was a smile that had absolutely nothing to do with present company even in the slightest. For a moment, Reinette found that it was possible to escape this place.

But all too soon reality invaded once more.

[idolstolemylook]

"Huh," Spike said, trying to interpret that. Okay, so it was. "Well, 'fraid we've got nothing like that here. Except, you know, all sorts of vice an' corruption an' whatnot. Just not as stylish as you're used to, I'll warrant."

[ambitious_woman]

Something flickered in her gaze again, though it was less distant now. It seemed to border on amusement.

"I suppose that stylish is one word that might be used."

Her attention refocused, directing itself onto Reinette's companion.

"Am I assume you are not from this time either? Or that you are merely -- educated?"