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.

[idolstolemylook]

Spike snorted. "If that's what you want to call it," he said. "Did some reading, yeah. Got a memory. But let's just say I've been around awhile. Not so as I remember your time, but... long enough to've picked up a thing or two."

[ambitious_woman]

Again, a smile flickerd. Reinette made no attempt to hide her own perusal of his person. There was a confidence about him that was somewhat intriguing. But she was still uncertain just how deep it ran.

"And yet you act as if you have picked up five or six things, at the very least."

[idolstolemylook]

Spike smirked at her glance, and her words. He always did have a soft spot for the sort who could push back. He liked a little challenge.

"Heard modesty was an attractive quality," he said. "Figured I'd give it a try."

[ambitious_woman]

Reinette waited for the point where the brashness settled itself into something unappealing. After all, there was much in his demeanor that she had encountered countless times in Versailles. It was hardly new, and should not be amusing.

But there was something --- what? A sort of humor? A sense of self? That seemed to keep the man from being completely impossible.

"Ah," Reinette countered coolly. "But we only just met. Surely it should not matter if I find you to be attractive or not."

[idolstolemylook]

"That's funny. Always thought it mattered more--first impressions, an' all that." Of course Spike didn't give a shit what she thought, but he was enjoying himself. "Though I suppose if the first impression is the only one, it doesn't matter at all, does it?"

[ambitious_woman]

She stops just sort of walking about him, and taking his full measure. But there is something about the tilt of her chin to suggest Reinette is doing it all the same.

"And is that how is works for you, then? Is attraction such a fleeting thing?"

Something about the line of his jaw lead her to believe he is far, far more stubborn than that.

[idolstolemylook]

There was a glint in his eyes, a little more firm than the smirk on his lips. "No," he said. "I don't lose interest easily."

It wasn't a threat, exactly, and it didn't necessarily mean her. But Spike's passions tended to burn as long as they did bright.

[ambitious_woman]

Reinette was not one to keep from speaking her mind. And it would seem that the man before her, at the very least, knew his. It was enough to give her pause.

"You, sir, have just managed to make yourself one of the few things of interest I have discovered in this place."

[idolstolemylook]

"I'd say thank you kindly, but it's not such a trick, is it?" Still, the fact he was still talking to her meant he was either very, very bored, or she'd managed to engage him in some way as well. "Do I get a prize?"

[ambitious_woman]

There was a flicker. Something, perhaps, that came very close to genuine. Her expression warmed slightly.

"Perhaps we should wait and see if you manage to hold that interest first."

[idolstolemylook]

Spike smirked, his lips pursing and his eyes dancing. "Well, now," he said. "Might not lose interest quickly, once I've put my mind to it, but I'm an impulsive little thing. Guess it's a waiting game on both sides."

[ambitious_woman]

Reinette merely smiled. That was all.

She did not break his gaze.

"Your words, sir, not mine."

She left him to decipher that as he would.

[idolstolemylook]

"Been awhile since I heard that," Spike said. "I'll put it down to you bein' polite, and try not to take offense."

[ambitious_woman]

Interest remained behind the cooler exterior of her expression.

"Do I seem the sort to be polite to you?"

[idolstolemylook]

Spike tilted his head. "If it gets you where you want to go?" he said. "Yeah. You're not applyin' 'sir' to someone like me out of respect."