What.

What??

WHAT?!

Raxta did not think herself the type to get thrown off kilter easily, and yet somehow Kaela managed to leave her speechless. She could only stare at the human, eyes wide and mouth gaping like a dying fish, as she not only called her cute but then kissed her hand.

"I—what—you—" she sputtered uselessly, but before she could manage to herd her words into a coherent sentence, Kaela was gone again, leaving Raxta standing there staring at the rippling water where Kaela had once been, water dripping off her ears.

Her face felt unusually hot despite the cool water and she realized with slow-building horror that she was blushing.

"I—I am not cute!" she finally managed to call after Kaela as she spotted the girl swimming to shore, but there was an odd, strangled sound to the words.

Thicker than that, indeed.

But Emery wasn't going to to think about that. She wasn't going to think about what he'd said and how they'd both fumbled around it, both utterly unconvincing yet pretending they were. She wasn't going to think about the strange, twisty flutter in her belly like some creature caught between fear and excitement. She wasn't going to think about anything. 

Because she was terrified of where those thoughts might lead.

The conversation and residual anxiety had killed her mood, but Alkereth did a good job rekindling the flames and she was ever eager for a good distraction and escape. And so she clung to the him as tightly as he pulled her in, kissing him fiercely on the lips and neck, blunt nails digging into his shoulders as she rolled her hips against his. Just forget it. It was nothing, she thought as she gasped against his ear and tangled a hand in his hair. It meant nothing. People said stupid shit all the time in the heat of the—

Emery felt him just as much as she heard him, his sound of pleasure and those familiar tremors clueing her in on exactly just how excited and eager he was. (Or perhaps nervous...) Emery stilled atop him, chest heaving, and pressed a soft kiss beneath his ear before she pulled back to look at him.

"That good, hm?" she asked with a wicked smile, and leaned in to press her lips to his. "And I barely tortured you at all."

"I guess the hardest part would be catching up to it in the first place, eh?" Jayari said as she pushed her bowl away and wiped the corners of her mouth with her fingers. 

"Be pretty crazy to try it. Hey, speaking of, what's the craziest thing you've done? Or was it the basilisk?"

Fortunately for Evie, Liam was too far gone to notice any panic she may have let slip into her eyes or body language or voice. It was taking all his willpower just to concentrate on simple things like keeping his eyes open or moving his legs as she helped him to his feet, his limbs suddenly as heavy as boulders as he slouched against her. It was nice that she was so tall and capable, graceful even when he stumbled over her feet or his own, and he realized somewhere through the drunken haze that he was kind of into it. Being side by side with her, able to comfortably lean his head on her shoulder, brought along a novel appreciation that fully replaced his earlier intimidation. Huh. Never thought he'd be into tall women, but he could get behind this...in multiple ways...

Yeah, this wasn't so bad...being manhandled by a tall beauty and all...

The bad part was everything else about the journey, like how moving too quickly made his stomach flip and his head pound. Soon the silly, dumb thoughts of tall, pretty women were replaced with desperately willing himself not to puke.

The trek upstairs was tortuous. Without Evie there, he would have likely face-planted right there on the steps and remained there until morning, or until someone dragged him out of the way. But somehow they made it, and he was pale and breathless and nauseated by the time they did, like he'd been running miles after a heavy meal. Maybe another time he would have heard the ruckus behind the door, but right then all he could hear was his own pulse in his ears. Damn. What even was that drink? He realized suddenly that Evie was talking to him as she fumbled the door open and guided him inside, and he blinked dully at her.

"Huh?" Other girls? Dress up? He squinted into the blurry room and the mess scattered all over, but he couldn't have cared less about a little clutter. He was most interested in the laying down and--

A motion caught his eye, just a little flutter of fabric. Even through his fuzzy vision he could make out the shape of a person. A very young person. Too young to be here, that was certain.

His eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth to speak--

And doubled over instead, vomiting onto the floor.

Fang could hear the lie as soon as he said he was okay, but thankfully he was quick to correct himself. No, he definitely wasn't okay—and she honestly couldn't remember a time she had seen him so frazzled. He was usually so calm under pressure, even life and death situations, yet here he was so visibly shaken.

Reaching out, Fang took his other hand in hers and faced him, peering up at him with a worried frown. Just a contract, and yet...he remembered a life with her? She could still hear the dead woman's screams ringing in her ears, but...no, something wasn't right. Certainly one couldn't just forget something like that? Unless...

"Spike," Fang said suddenly, peeking up and giving his hands a squeeze to get his attention. "Do you remember what happened with Oliver? That it wasn't right? That there were two Olivers, and one was false? Demonic?"

But even as she said it, her brow furrowed in deeper confusion.

What were the chances of that? And why?

And even then Spike had known. He'd yelled back at "Oliver" that it was a lie. So if it was the same trickery, why was there doubt in his eyes?

It was a strange experience going from shrieking chaos to...quiet. It was nothing quite like anything Fang had experienced; spirits ignored the physical laws of the real world, so you couldn't just shut a door in their face and be done with it. And yet that was exactly what happened: as soon as they crossed through the door, it was as though they had crossed over both the physical threshold...but also a spiritual one, as well.

Silence. Just the usual clamor of a busy city, but nothing supernatural.

That's was...new.

Outside, Fang heaved a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and rubbed at her temples. No matter how much practice she'd had, some things you just never really got used to, even if it you learned how to cope with it better. Not reacting was one of those things, and once they were outside it felt like a tight band around her chest had been loosened.

Drawing in another deep breath, she looked up at Spike and squeezed his hand. "You okay?" she asked—and on an impulse she reached up and wiped at his lip where more whipped cream was smeared. 

Ahhh! Was he apologizing? Fang waved her hands, about to try to cut him off (it was okay! He didn't know! She should have realized! And really it was just the topping, she could drink the rest!) but that blood-curdling scream made her jump, and all other thoughts fled.

It was one heart-pounding moment before she realized the scream came from a dead woman, not anyone living.

It was always such an experienced encountering a situation like this while surrounded by living people in a busy place. It was always surreal and a little difficult—because she had to pretend not to notice or react. That seemed doubly critical here in Serendipity, because you know doing the thing that got your people chased off the continent was just a fabulous idea! So Fang listened, idly scraping whipped cream off her drink and putting it into Spike's mug—but then the woman said something that made her freeze.

What...?

She loved him?

Fang stared at Maya in blank-faced confusion, because none of it made an ounce of sense. Hadn't Spike said he wasn't allowed to have contact with women? When they were intimate, hadn't he said she was his first? Well...no...wait. That wasn't exactly what he'd said. Fang had assumed they were both virgins, but his exact words were that he was new to it. Which could mean their particular situation, not sex as a whole...maybe.

But that would be such a strange thing to lie about—what would be the point? Fang certainly didn't care either way. And it just didn't seem like Spike to lie, anyway.

Speaking of Spike, he looked just as perplexed as she felt...

Something wasn't right.

Taking a final sip of her spider—chai-der!—Fang nodded and rose to her feet, holding her hand out to Spike. "I suppose so," she said, selfishly not quite ready to leave, but knowing they needed to.

"You'll have to tell me about Maya as we walk."

"I can't imagine you'd find anything better than that," Cadmus said with an arched eyebrow. The sword was a work of art in its own right, but a blade that practically maintained itself on top of it all? His own sword was just a sword, well-made but not irreplaceable if it weren't so sentimental. "I wouldn't ever sell it if I were you."

He didn't realize how tense he was until Raizel touched his arm. Letting out a breath through his nose, he forced his muscles to unclench and flashed her a weak smile. Right. Yeah. Take out the trash. Fuck. Get it together, Cadmus. He'd wanted this for ages but had never had the guts, had gotten too complacent and accepted it was just his life. But the talk of his friend made his stomach twist and he knew...

Eventually the truth would come out.

It didn't matter, though. As foolish as it maybe was, Raizel had given him a reason to be foolish. To be better. He didn't know why he cared so much. Maybe he'd just always needed a push, an excuse. Maybe he really was just done and he hadn't even noticed it building up inside, like a slow acceptance rather than a sudden snap.

He was done.

Why did she make him want to be better?

Cadmus recognized the raven though he'd met him only once, and he couldn't help but wonder if the raven could tell what he was when he looked at him. Hmm. It was a question for another day; contrary to popular belief, he didn't speak Birdish.  He wanted to ask what Aki was to Raizel—pet, too, friend, all of the above?—but then they were off, and Raizel was holding out a cloak for him.

...Not a bad idea. He had a horrible tendency to underestimate how cold he got in human skin.

He slipped into it with her help and adjusted it around his shoulders as he took a deep breath of clear night air. It was a cloudless night, which was both good and bad for them; it would light their way, but it would also light them up for everyone else, too. They'd have to be extra careful, but he was certain she knew that.

 "Let's start at the brewery," he told her as he waited for her to lock up. "Their stench should still be fresh, and then...well, then I can track it from there." Huh. Had he ever explained that to her?

He tugged the cloak tighter around himself, glancing sidelong at her. "That's, ah...that's how I found you, you know. I picked your scent up from one of your kills. Tracked you from there." He paused, letting out a slow sigh, and decided he may as well come clean.

"I knew it was you long before I ever saw you, Raizel," he admitted quietly. "Intuitively, I knew. But I didn't want to believe it. I mean, what are the chances? I guess I had to see for myself. The moment I knew, I just...I knew I had to reach you before they did." He flicked a glance toward her healing ankle, wincing. They'd beat him there, of course. "I'm sorry I didn't."

Ah! Fang waved her hands quickly, shaking her head.

"No, no! The, ah, the spider part--I mean, chai? Cider? That part! The drink itself tastes lovely!" she said quickly, picking up on his concern--and disappointment. After all, he had recommended it to her, and suddenly she felt a small pang of concern herself. She didn't want him to feel bad! He'd done nothing wrong!

Shifting in her seat, she cleared her throat. "It's just, mm...how do I put this? It's...animal milk, yes?" Her shoulders hunched, realizing she was probably not doing a very good job of phrasing this, but then again, she'd never had to explain herself in Thanatos! She winced. "I don't...um...I've never..."

She played with the spoon, searching for the right phrasing: honesty without being offensive to his own culture.

"I don't eat animal things...?"

"O-obey me?" Juniper repeated, and cut off with a squeal when he twirled her, the sound not entirely faked as he caught her off guard. Another time, and it would have been an easy recovery; she was naturally quick and graceful on her feet and unlike the character she played, she knew how to dance. But dumb Abby was a klutz, so she let herself stumble like she had two left feet and truly didn't know what she was doing.

Breathless, she wobbled as though dizzy. Deep inside, she was intensely curious: what did he mean, exactly, by obey? Because Juniper did quite like the sound of that. Too bad the character she chose to play would probably definitely use that power responsibly and modestly.

Probably. Hmm.

Soon they were off to the Teal Room, which turned out to be very literal. Because of course it was. Whisked into the room, she looked around at all the lavish decor. The guy really liked teal, huh?

"Oh, it's so beautiful," she breathed, taking subtle stock of the items in said room. "Wow! I thought it was just a name, but it really is just...all teal! Are we doing the painting here? Oh! Am I going to be wearing this for it?" she asked, looking down at her plain uniform. "Or...all the fancy things?"

She desperately wanted to ask about Selenius and the thing he owed Wissilworth. But how on earth could she do that without being too bloody obvious about it? Instead, she had been waiting and hoping he would bring the subject up again. Still, the fact that Wissilworth had mentioned that at all gave her a little shining spark of hope: maybe this mission wasn't a total bust after all.

Raxta yelped when she was suddenly tackled, taking in a mouthful of water in the process, and she resurfaced with a choking sputter. Glowering at Kaela--especially at her notion that the wounded one should win, as if she hadn't started this war!--she let out a snort, spraying water in the process.

"Ohh, is that how it is? You start the fight and then want mercy?"

In a sudden, quick maneuver, she pulled Kaela onto her back, gripping her under her knees to pull her legs around her waist. "I'm still winning," she said, and began to trudge through the water, barely able to touch the ground as it came up to their shoulders. But soon enough, they reached the lake, and Raxta promptly swung Kaela around and dropped her.

Whipped...cream?

On an impulse, Fang reached out and rubbed her thumb over the tip Spike's nose, wiping away the dollop with an amused smile. Speaking of cute, it was hard not to giggle outright at the sight of how messy he was, but she didn't want to be rude and bit her lip to keep it in. 

"Sorry, you had some..." She motioned to her own face and wiped her thumb off on a cloth napkin.

Flicking her eyes back down to her own beverage, she gave it a curious look. "Oh, so like coconut cream?" she asked, and took a little sip.

Well. That was definitely not coconut.

It was sweet but strange, almost sour beneath the sweetness and stuck to her tongue and throat, and suddenly she recognized the flavor. She had only had dairy once before that, also by accident; it wasn't common in Thanatos at all, and while most Thanati were pescatarian or vegetarian, some chose not to consume animal ingredients at all. Like her. She made a face, wiping her mouth on a napkin, and shot Spike an awkward look as she tried to figure out how exactly to navigate this, suddenly realizing...well, duh. They were in Serendipity. But she hadn't even had time to think about how on earth she was going to handle the whole food thing!

"Umm...you want my whipped cream?" she asked, picking up a spoon that she could use to scoop it up.

Fang finally lifted her head enough to peek up over her arms when Spike gently touched her and reassured her. It was an honest mistake, he said, and...cute? Her cheeks were still hot, but they were cooling after sitting there in her shame for a bit, and she couldn't help but give a soft, sheepish laugh.

Which turned into another groan at his suggestion that they might name a drink after her flub, her hand rubbing at her face. "Noooo...oh that would be the worst. What would that even taste like? Who would order that? I wouldn't order that!"

At least the beverages brought to their table smelled nice. But as she glanced over at them, sitting up a little straighter, her head tilted in curiosity. There was something creamy on top of both of theirs, swirled up into a peak.

Scooting her mug closer to her, she blinked down at it. "What's that on top?" she whispered to Spike, still trying not to make a complete fool of herself.

...Spice Chai-Der.

Spice Chai-Der.

Not Spider Chai.

It was in that moment, as Spike gently corrected the barista and what she'd said sank in, that Fang wanted to die. 

Her face was burning and she was aggressively NOT making eye contact with anyone as Spike lead her to the table—and then Spike leaned in and whispered to her. Spider wife. With a soft groan, she slid into the seat and deflated forward onto the table with her face buried in her arms, her shoulders shaking with horrified laughter.

"I can never come here again," she said, voice muffled against her arms. "They must think me an absolute imbecile!"

"What?! Hey, you rat, wait!" Raxta snapped as Kaela just took off, just like that, when she'd barely finished! "No, no, you're supposed to—oh, whatever."

With a roll of her eyes, she gave a quick stretch, limbering up and cracking her neck and back. And she was just about to dive after her when a sharp crack from above made her ears rotate and drew her eyes toward the sound along with them. She glanced toward the trees, squinting.

But saw nothing. Just thick canopy.

Probably just a monkey.

Shrugging, she dove into the water and went after Kaela in a swift breaststroke, and was soon overtaking her.

Aaaaaand they were married again.

Spike pulled her in close and announced her as his wife, and Fang felt her cheeks turn to flame. W-what? This again?! Despite the fact that they had been smashing body parts together not hours earlier, it was this that never failed to fluster her. Well, it was the other thing too, certainly, but this? And to do it so publicly?

She hadn't been about to speak up, prepared to let this slide under the rug so they could move on from the uncomfortable situation fast, but Spike had other ideas. While her typical way of dealing with these situations was to not make waves, Spike on the other hand refused to let such disrespect fly.

The man's eyes widened at Spike's announcement, eyebrows climbing to his hairline, and he raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean--right! Yeah! Of course. What can I get you...ma'am?"

"Uhh, it's okay, really!" Fang said quickly, shrinking against Spike's side. It felt like too many people were looking now and she just desperately wanted out of this line! "It's fine, it's...right! I'll just, um, I'll have...what was it? The Spider? Yes, may I have the Spider Chai, please?"

The man stared, blinking slowly. "Pardon? The...what chai?"

Fang shot Spike a panicked look. "The Spider, right? The chai with the apples and...stuff...?"

Spike removed his coat with sudden urgency and laid it around Fang's shoulders before she had time to wonder about it, the fabric still warm from his body heat and smelling, pleasantly, like him. A little shiver went through her as the heat seeped into her skin, and she realized then just how chilled she'd been and just how stubbornly she'd been ignoring it.

Absolutely swimming in the coat, Fang shimmied her arms through the sleeves and felt a little silly for how it draped around her like a dress with floppy arms, but...you know what? She was not going to fight this. She rolled the sleeves up to her elbows to free up her hands before sliding her hand back into Spike's, flashing him a grateful smile. "Thank you."

As for his suggestions? Oh yes, she remembered him taking coffee last time, and while it smelled nice, she could never get past the bitterness. The chai concoction on the other hand sounded...interesting.

"Spice...chai-der...?" she repeated slowly, trying to wrap her head around the idea. She did love chai (and the spicier the better), but apples? Hmm...

Well, what was the point of being in a new country if not to try new things?

"Why not? That sounds like it could be fun," she said at last. "What kind of coffee are you—"

She cut off, because that was when a weight on her shoulder sent a cold chill up her spine despite the coat's warmth.

It wasn't really a weight so much as an oppressive...energy. Lawrence was there, mocking Spike, and Fang shot Spike a look, eyebrows raised. Even in Thanatos she knew better than to react publicly when she encountered a spirit, at least not without explaining herself, lest she looked like she was talking to herself. But in Serendipity? The country that drove her people out for speaking with the dead, deeming it necromancy? She didn't dare. So she smiled at Spike, a smile that said she saw what he saw, and stepped up to the counter with him when it was their turn, her hand firmly gripping his.

The man behind the counter hid a yawn behind his hand as they approached, his expression bored and eyes shadowed with sleep deprivation. "Welcome, what can I get for--"

He flicked a look at Fang, a quick up and down look with an arched brow, and then at Spike. "What can I get for ya?" he finished, and it didn't escape Fang's notice that he was focused entirely on Spike rather than addressing them together.

Now that it was light out and their little hiccup was addressed, Fang took to actually looking around as they walked—and felt a little foolish, because she knew she must be gawking. Everything was different here; of course it was, it was another country. It was much colder than she was used to, and she thought that maybe she should have taken him up on the offer of the coat as goosebumps pebbled along her exposed skin—or at least worn her robes. Yet she had felt that both of those things would somehow make her stand out more than bare skin...and now she was second-guessing that entirely, as everyone here seemed to show barely any skin at all.

Which figured, considering the temperature.

Was this how Spike felt in Thanatos? Completely over his head with no idea where anything was or what the proper etiquette was with people giving him looks all the time?

At least she had the benefit of speaking the Trader's Tongue, thank Inima. He hadn't even had that. It must have been rough...

And as they entered the cafe, she flashed back to how he'd been treated, and how she had had to come to the rescue. Oh goddess. Suppose it served her right, seeing and feeling things from the other side. But what a great lesson in humility, right? In fact, the whole experience was a little strangely nostalgic. His spirits were active again, Lawrence standing in plain view behind the counter. 

It was like going back in time.

Squeezing Spike's hand tightly, she turned her eyes away from Lawrence and to the tea selection on the back wall—and saw many old faces, but also a dozen new blends. New teas? Yes, please! 

Raising up onto her toes, she leaned up to speak into Spike's ear. "Any recommendations?"

Backpack open on the floor, Cadmus knelt and started rolling up his shirts to make them as compact as possible before shoving them in the pack. Which was also about the time that Raizel joined him on the floor to fish around under the bed for something. On hands and knees.

Yes. He looked. Though to be very fair at first it was simple curiosity as to what she could be be searching for before his eyes traveled and, well. What could he say. He was a man and he appreciated a nice ass, and he appreciated said ass all the more when it happened to be attached to someone he was fond of.

Catching himself staring, Cadmus shifted his eyes back to the backpack even though he was finished with it. He fussed with the straps and buckles and made sure everything was secure (even though the fussing wasn't necessary at all, but it was just to give his hands something to do) while Raizel came back out with her greaves and finished up the rest of her ensemble.

The look suited her, and he couldn't help but imagine the two of them looked rather funny side by side: her looking tall, regal, and graceful in her gear, him in plainclothes. He could have been her squire.

With a little snort to himself at the thought, he stood and slung the backpack on. "I appreciate you. I noted they were cotton, not wool, so thank you for taking my sanity into consideration." Otherwise he might just claw his own skin off, as he had nearly done the last time he'd worn a scratchy woolen thing.

"As for the sword, well, I suppose it's a little of both. It's well-made for sure, but..." He gave an uncomfortable shrug, "it belonged to a friend."

Not wanting to linger on that whole mess, he quickly nodded at her own blade. "What about you? I've never seen one like that. It's...pretty."

Spike pulled her into an embrace, and Fang just...melted. There was nothing really that needed to be said, no words that could magically heal everything—only time could do that. But sometimes words weren't needed at all, as Spike was soon to learn; sometimes just listening and being present was enough.

And in this case—sometimes one just also really, really needed a hug.

Fang wrapped her arms around him and squeezed, nestling against him with her cheek against his chest and eyes closed as she just breathed him in. She hadn't realized how much she needed this, this simple human contact, these arms that were filled with warmth and safety, and through it she poured in her forgiveness and her own silent apologies and hoped he would feel it, too. 

Taking a deep breath, hands lightly curled in his shirt, she nodded. "It's okay," she said quietly. "It's not your fault. You can't control the actions of others." 

Another squeeze, her body flush against his, and she finally let go of him reluctantly and gave him a soft smile. "Thank you for that. I...I honestly think I needed that."