Chapter 5
Spike sensed something moving outside the crypt as he stared at the latest episode of Passions. It was so fleeting that he paid it little mind until the commercial break came on. Wearily, he opened the door and found a small pale cream envelope laying on his doorstep, what appeared to be an invitation of sorts. He threw his blanket over is head and swiftly snatched the packet off his doorstep, then retreated into the cool confines of the crypt to peruse it.
He recognized the handwriting, it was Buffy’s less than perfect penmanship. Her scent wafted from the paper towards him, and he supposed her sending him little letters in the middle of the day could only be a good sign. He hadn’t seem her since her birthday, recognizing she needed some time with the Bit, but he was itching to hold her cradled against him again, to feel her raw and elemental desires reaching out for his cold flesh.
He remembered that conversation with Riley, what seemed a lifetime ago now, where he envied his place in her bed. “Sometimes I envy you so much it chokes me. And then sometimes I think I’ve got the better deal. To be that close to her and not have her… To be all alone even when you’re holding her, feeling her, feeling her beneath you, surrounding you, the scent of — no, you’ve got the better deal.”
Now that he was the one in that position, he still believed he’d been right. He would still would rather be able to touch her than never be with her, but there were times when it almost wasn’t enough. Maybe one day, it would be more with her. But he was truly her willing slave and what Buffy wanted, he would give her, for as long as she wanted it.
He sighed as he slid out what appeared to be two letters. The first one was clearly labeled, READ ME FIRST, and he opened the page, scanning quickly.
——————————————————————————–
Spike,
I want to try something new. I want to play a game with you. If you agree, here are the ground rules.
The game world is just that, a fantasy. Whatever we may do or say in it is part of the game and we don’t bring it up when we aren’t playing.
We have to stay in character. I have a scenario I want to play. When we finish this game, if we both are pleased, we may consider others and you may help choose the next game.
We will signify the start of the game by using our characters names. When the game concludes, or one of us no longer wishes to play, we will revert to our actual names.
This game will only be played at your crypt, we will not play in other locations, especially my house.
If you want to play with me, meet me outside the Armstrong crypt Friday night at midnight and we will proceed from there. My scenario is on the 2nd sheet of paper.
Buffy
——————————————————————————–
Spike started at the sheet of paper for a long, long time. His emotions swirled as he considered the implications of this. Buffy wanted to play games? More than they were already?
He wasn’t stupid. He knew, deep down, that what they had wasn’t mutual and that she was using him. But, this, this was truly unexpected. She was asking to play a game with very carefully drawn parameters that weren’t to be crossed. Why?
He doubted she was looking to play Mistress of Pain with him – they already made each other hurt in all the right places. No, she wanted something they hadn’t done, but that she was afraid of doing, afraid of getting out of control.
Spike stared at the page, reading it through again. If it didn’t seems to be simply one of his wildest fantasies come true, he’d think she wanted a game were they played at being in love. If that was the case, this was his chance. Spike’s inner poet rejoiced at the prospect of wooing his lady and showing her the depths of his love. Maybe this was just what he needed. If she let him truly make love to her in this little game, maybe he could defrost that heart which he sometimes thought must be so cold it would never unthaw. She had loved Angel. She was capable of loving a vampire. Maybe she would learn to love him if he could only be tender and sweet with her, as he so often wanted to be.
Oh Buffy, I’m gonna play your game, and I’m gonna win, he thought, inwardly smirking. She had to be softening to him if she was proposing such steps. He quickly ripped open the second paper to see exactly what her little role play was going to be. He was actually surprised at what he found.
——————————————————————————–
I’ll be Guinievere and you’ll be Lancelot. You’ll rescue me from a fiery dragon and then we’ll flee to a cave where we wait for a horrible storm to pass while you woo me. See you Friday.
——————————————————————————–
Spike stared at the paper for a long minute. Buffy was not a particularly creative type sometimes and clearly knew squat about Arthurian legends. Had probably caught that bloody First Knight movie on cable and run with it or something.
He was slightly disturbed in her character choices. She wanted to play a queen who betrayed her husband and brought down Camelot with her infidelity and by some legends was quite the bitch to Lancelot, despite his adoration. Then again, maybe she was on to something.
Their relationship was as hidden as an adulterous relationship would be despite the lack of significant others on both their parts. He knew she wasn’t talking to the Scoobies about their little romps and she had forbidden him to as well. And she certainly had the power in her little world, which would be undermined amongst her group if she came out, so to speak, to her friends about shacking up with the undead again.
She had unwittingly nailed him with Lancelot as well he feared. He was eternally her champion, her willing slave and most certainly love’s bitch. Spike knew that for all his posturing with her, he would take whatever crumbs he could from his lady’s hand. He would betray the world if called upon for Buffy, and right or wrong, he’d follow her anywhere.
He just hoped her character choices didn’t doom his plans, because unlike Lancelot, he wanted to remain with his Guinievere for the long haul and eventually be more than a dark, dirty little secret. And this little scenario might just give him the chance he needed.
Now how to properly prepare the setting and sweep little Miss Buffy/Guinievere off her feet?
Everything needed to be perfect and as distraction free as possible. He didn’t want slaying, work, responsibilities to interfere if possible. There wasn’t much he could do about the last two, but he could certainly do an early patrol and keep her from having to dust any new risers. Might do a few turns around town before midnight, take care of the early weekend rabble rousers as well. He chortled inwardly, it wouldn’t quite be a dragon, but he supposed quieting the demon population of Sunnydale should do for his chivalrous rescue.
Next, the setting. So she wanted to be trapped in a cave for their little scene where he would “woo” her. He supposed she was thinking of the lower part of his crypt, for the little seduction scene. She’d been somewhat admiring of the changes he’d made when she had last visited.
He’d have to tidy up a bit, make sure he had fresh sheets. They were definitely going to make it to the bed this time. He needed to set up some candles, get a nice romantic glow going down there.
Spike’s long still heart almost wanted to beat again at the possibilities. He could make her love him if she’d give him half a chance, and this was the starting point. Now, where was the volume of Tennyson, he knew he had it somewhere.