OPEN }{ the truth are you avoiding me

[bigbad]

♬ In Another Castle-Kirby Krackle

WHO || Spike and OPEN
WHAT || Spike plays video games. It's awesome.
WHERE || One of the castle rec rooms.
WHEN || Tuesday afternoon
HOW || Prose OR action spam acceptable!

One of the worst parts of being a vampire, Spike had found, was how bloody boring days could get. Sure, he was generally asleep for most of the morning, but even when he stayed up past dawn, he usually woke up before sunset. He couldn't venture outside without getting singed, so he had to find things to do inside.

Today, he'd found a room with a large, flat screen TV and some sort of video game player. It had taken a bit of running and dodging to make it to the window without burning up, but he'd made it. He drew the blinds closed and switched on the electric lights, then went to look at the available games.

After a bit of browsing, he selected Mario Kart and popped it into the machine. He wasn't entirely sure how to play, but he imagined he could figure it out quickly enough. It doesn't take him long to figure out the controls. (computer use check: 18) and pretty soon he's absorbed in the game. Oh yeah, the hours until sunset could pass quickly like this.

Comments

[slays]

Her instinctive reaction to the word 'trounce,' not nearly as common in American vocabulary as it is in British, is a severly grossed out expression. What she thinks it means, the world may never know, but based on that face, it's nothing good. After a moment of weird look, though, she figures it out from context clues and there's a slackening of the look into something more surprised, and it's accompanied by a loud, "Oh!"

Hey. Wait. That's rude. She scowls a little, but tosses her controller aside and gives a roll of her eyes to give the indication she doesn't care. Because she doesn't. Super really completely doesn't care even a little bit. Or, at least, she'd stop caring if he'd stop bragging. He'd been at this all day, she'd played it twice.

"Not like it matters. I mean, okay, so you're passable when it comes to Mario. I'd kick your butt in just about anything else." She gets to her feet, stretching her arms straight up above her and then dropping them as she turns back to look at him. "But, I'm feeling all cagey with the indoors. You sure you don't wanna come outside to do stuff?"

[bigbad]

He glanced at the closed window. Some light was still visible under the shades. Bugger. Outside wasn't an option unless he wanted to reveal what he was, and worse than that, die in flames. He shook his head.

"Get enough outside with my knight." That wasn't the real reason, of course. He didn't care what he did with Sir Lan. He could do whatever he wanted during his own time. But he hoped it would be enough for Buffy to buy. "But this place is huge. Plenty to do without leaving the castle. You know, I think I saw a bowling alley. Are you any better at that than Mario Kart?"

[slays]

"I don't know, you any better at bowling than you are at taking a punch?" She raised her eyebrows at him, judgey, then shrugged it off, pacing over to the window and tugging the blinds away from it a little bit, just enough so she could peer out through them. More light filtered in, creeping up near the couch where Spike sat but not quite landing on him. She glanced back over.

"Tell you what," she dropped the blinds back to the window and walked to him. "You stay holed up inside playing video games, I'm gonna go pet the horses. Or possibly ride. I haven't decided yet." There was that expectant arch of her eyebrows again, and she waited to see if he'd invite himself to come with.

[bigbad]

When she'd opened the blinds, Spike had shifted away, just a little. It was noticeable, but only if you really looked for it. He really hated being vulnerable to sunlight. It had to be the most aggravating weakness. It wasn't like anyone was going to attack him with sunlight during a battle, so it was just an annoyance that kept him inside most of the time.

And now it meant that he probably couldn't hang out a bit more with Buffy. It was too bad. It had been a lot more fun playing video games with her than all alone.

He scowled, glancing over at the closed window, then up at her. He didn't really like the sound of riding horses, and he really didn't like the sound of burning up. No girl was worth that. Unless it's also saving the world. Then it's crazy studly. Especially not one he barely knew.

"It's bloody cold out, you know. Lots of snow and ice. Not horse riding weather."

[slays]

"That's what they make jackets for." She dropped her hands to her sides and popped her shoulders in a shrug, not looking too broken up about him deciding not to come along. "I'll come by later, see if you're still camped out." Buffy waved a hand, turning towards the door and heading toward it, ready to bail.

[bigbad]

Spike scowled, slumping back against the couch. "All right," he said, sounding more than a little disappointed. "I'll see you around, I guess." Mario Kart didn't seem quite as exciting now. He rolled his shoulders and stood up. Maybe he'd switch games or something. Or try out bowling. Maybe just prowl the halls. It couldn't be that long till sunset now, right?