Open - AU Event

[idolpire]

who: Spike and whomever
what: AU event - Spike has a soul and is a little crazy because of it
when: 15-24 June
where: His crypt, the abandoned city, alleys in Quarantine.
warnings: Spike is going to be going through some 'stuff' with regaining his soul for this event and will have been tormented by a canon evil for months beforehand, so he'll be semi-lucid to completely off his rocker. This will involve language, mentions of violence and things he's done in the past, self flagellation/self harm, possibly sexual propositions (easily turned down), and unpredictable reactions from him.

In Town - Resouled:
[It happens while he's in town on the evening of the fifteenth. He'd opted to show up for work that night, wanting to see what all the fuss was about and whether or not he could pull it off, or if he wanted to. Heading into the market to pick up something to eat, he felt it. Felt as if he was lifted up off the ground, then turned upside down and tossed around like a rag doll. Images flooded his mind, time passed that he didn't remember. Moments involving the bane of his existence, then a searing, blinding pain that had him dropping to the ground in an aisle, both hands to his head as he struggled with memories and pain. It wasn't the chip. It couldn't be. He hadn't even been thinking about hurting anyone. No, the pain was deeper, moving into the core of him. His hands scrabbled under his shirt, clawing at his chest as if he could get it out. With the pain and confusion came the realization of what it was. What had happened.

Buffy. Sunnydale. The pair of them. Her death. Her resurrection. Them. That moment in the bathroom -- nausea from that, then... the trials. That bloody demon. The burning pain of his soul. Oh. Oh, god no. No. Months in the basement of the new highschool. Months of memories of reliving all his sins, of an evil power whispering things into his ear to drive him mad.

Then reality shifted and he was there, back on that place he'd found himself in, on the ground with the shop keeper coming over to ask him if he was well.]

Not well. Not ever well again. It burns.

In Town - Lost:
[There wasn't the same power here to whisper in his mind, but the damage had been done. Spike finally left the market, wandering out into the city, confused about what was reality and what was all the noise and clutter in his head. A part of him was trying to tell him he had a place here, somewhere to go where it was quiet, but it was hard to hear that part over all the other things clamoring for attention in his mind.

For the next few days/nights, Spike could be found in town in a worsening state. During the day, he might find himself down in the sewer, or windowless rooms or places that would let him stay safe from the sun. He'd be ignoring the device tucked in his pocket, and might be found at any point of the day/night talking or yelling to himself. There's also a possibility of him hurting himself or bearing visible attempts at it. He'll have moments of lucidity that will get longer the longer he's away from The First Evil.]

Home:
[Eventually, he'll remember where he's staying and wind up going there. Anyone who knows where he lives or follows him home will easily find him holed up as he tries to figure out how to exist with a soul now. All in all, Spike's going to be a pathetic wreck of a loser for the rest of this event.]


[Note: As this event will deal with self harm and questionable topics, please let me know what you are or are not comfortable dealing with. I'm available via PM to hash out the specifics.

Comments

[couldkillthedevil]

I could be dead, for one. I almost was, if not for said Devil and demon.

[idolpire]

Dead's not so bad. Sometimes... sometimes that's what it takes to let you live properly.

[He spoke from experience, Chloe. Maybe you should listen to him.]

[couldkillthedevil]

[Mmm... sorry, Spike, but no dice.]

Not for me. I've got a daughter who needs me. "Living properly" is me being there for her.

[idolpire]

You're a mum?

[Huh. She seemed young to him, but then again, he'd never really had a good handle on ages entirely. When you live past a certain date, it just all muddled together.]

[couldkillthedevil]

You sound surprised.

[Perhaps there was a tinge of amusement in her tone as she glanced over at him.]

[idolpire]

Guess it would take a mum to go wandering into an alley to help out a crazy man. She here too? Your little bit?

[couldkillthedevil]

More like it's part of my job. Having you wandering around freaking out the locals isn't exactly good for making a neighborhood feel safe.

[And, you know, there's that part that genuinely wanted to help him.

But at the direct question, she frowned.]

No. She's not.

[idolpire]

There's worse than me out there to creep around. Sure they're used to what they come across by now.

[It wasn't quite the same as living on a Hellmouth, but when you lived in a small city on a moon that spat random people and things out from other realities, they had to be used to the oddness of it all.]

Mm. If you had hackles, they'd be up by now.

[couldkillthedevil]

Not unless they regularly go outside the wall. Unless there's something I don't know.

[Well, he certainly seemed to be regaining enough lucidity to prod at her. She let out a small exhalation to convey her displeasure, though she attempted to reign in her more negative feelings.]

It's not exactly something I'm thrilled about, no. Who would be?

[idolpire]

Don't have to go outside the wall. There were birds recently. Big giant birds flying overhead and down to peck at people. Idiots have a city in their migration path. Dumb.

[He couldn't help it, Chloe. He may have his soul, but a hundred years built up habits.]

Some. Knew some parents that couldn't wait to get away from the noise. The bother. Knew some that couldn't stand being away. Humans come in all types.

[couldkillthedevil]

'Peck' as in... violently? The pecking-out-eyeballs kind? Because that's a little too Hitchcock for my tastes.

[And yes, well. He wasn't wrong. She's met some bad parents in her time as well. Had been raised by a pretty immature one herself, though Penelope Decker was hardly the worst.]

Yeah, you're not wrong there. Let's just say I'm hoping to get back home as soon as possible and leave it at that.

[idolpire]

Well, they weren't just birds. Big... lizard bird vulture whatnots. The wildlife around here is a bit odd, if you're just used to chickens and kitties.

[His mum hadn't been the pillar of motherhood, Chloe. He knew what it was to be smothered.]

Good on you. I knew a lovely mum once. She's gone now. Pity. She made a good cup of tea.

[couldkillthedevil]

Yeah, no kidding.

[She can't help but glance back over at him; something in his tone seemed the change. Or maybe it's the matter-of-fact way he says the woman is gone now.]

She an old friend of yours?

[idolpire]

No. I-- maybe? No. Vampires don't have friends.

[They were just tolerated or killed outright. Though, Joyce had always gone just a little further than tolerating him and he felt that reminder that he'd felt bad when she'd passed. Before he'd gotten his soul back.]

[couldkillthedevil]

You didn't sound so sure about that.

[Whoever this woman was, he seemed to care about her enough to miss her. Like that Buffy woman.

They weren't far from the station now, but the sun still skirted the horizon, having not quite set all the way yet. She turned abruptly to tug the blanket down further over his head as they walked. Purely for his protection, of course.]

We're almost there.

[idolpire]

[He flinched when he saw her hand coming towards him, but it didn't hurt him. No hitting from this one. Just a tug downward of the blanket, likely to help against the lower set of the sun in the sky.]

Not really sure of much at the moment. Still not sure why you're being so helpful.

[couldkillthedevil]

I already told you. I'm a cop. It's my job to help people. And no offense, but you were kind of being a public nuisance with all the yelling and smashing trashcans around.

Plus... if you were still here by day time, that wouldn't be good for you, would it?

[idolpire]

Not like the cops I know. More likely to beat a bloke down than wrap them in a blanket.

[He shrugged the blanket up a little higher, blowing a wisp of smoke out of his face as the fabric, and he, smoldered.]

Been here in the day. There's always a hole or two. Or I could flip a can over and hide under it. Shadows are good. Been around long enough to stay around, you get me?

[couldkillthedevil]

Sounds like the cops you know shouldn't be cops and are doing it for the wrong reasons.

[There's an edge to her voice there, an obvious displeasure at his comment. She's met her fair share of crappy cops on power trips before, but it never ceases to anger her. Gives a bad name to all of them.]

I do. But if there's an option between hiding in a hole or dumpster until the sun sets and getting a way to where you're staying, I'd take the latter option anytime.

[idolpire]

Can't really blame most of them. It's a shite job, and even more so when you're stuck on the Hellmouth. Does a number on you. Too many bodies.

[He'd been the reason for a lot of them himself, but that was... well. A lifetime ago, it seemed.]

Humans generally do. The whole concept of 'home' really sticks with you lot.

[couldkillthedevil]

I can when they've taken an oath to protect and serve the people they're hurting. If it's too much then they shouldn't bother with it. [A pause.] Hellmouth...?

Mm. So you don't? Believe in the concept of home, that is? Weren't you human once?

[idolpire]

Hellmouth. Mouth to a Hell dimension. It draws in a lot of nasty types and can have an effect on the people that live over it.

[He'd gotten the worst of that later on in his days there, the evil whispering in his ear, twisting his mind, making him a weapon...]

Once. Now I'm not. Home is for people that have a life ahead of them. I've got nothing but death for the rest of my existence.

[couldkillthedevil]

So, what, you just have an entire city sitting on a portal to Hell? Is that what you're getting at here?

[The more she hears about all these different worlds and apocalyptic catastrophes, the better she feels about not being a part of it. As far as she knows, anyhow.

Satan is her closest confidant, after all.]

But you're obviously still here. Not alive, but you're not just buried somewhere. You're talking to me, which should be impossible if you're dead. And even if it's not a home, it's still somewhere to go. I don't consider this place home either.

[idolpire]

Well, it's mostly the high school sitting on it, but it attracts all sorts. One has to be a little evil to willingly live around a Hellmouth.

[Or have an evil mayor. Or evil police force. Or... whatever. Sunnydale had its fair share of problems, but so did anywhere in the world. Look at LA. Full of an evil law firm.]

Undead, pet. I got loads of places to go. The alley was one of them. A hole in the ground's another. I don't need a home.

[couldkillthedevil]

Uh... huh. A high school. Right. Because high school is hell, is that it?

[Maybe they can have a good old chat about all of that when he's not crazy anymore.]

Mm. The vampire doth protest too much.