Ripper
Location: London, 1977
Ripper grimaced and pushed his blond, wavy hair back from his face. He should get it cut, but the well-to-do
men in denial of their homosexuality seemed to like it. The hair got him a little more money in the long run..
Well, the hair and the accent of one well-educated did.
He lit another fag and drew a long drag off it. Ripper took a long look up and down the block. It was deader
than a funeral tonight.. He sighed and finished the cigarette. There was no business to be done tonight, so
he might as well pack up and go home. He reached inside his scruffy denim jacket to make sure that he had his
stake. Check!
Ripper sauntered down the street, making sure to add a little sway to his step. He couldn't discount the
possibility that a trick might turn up out of nowhere. He was about half-way home -well, if you could call
his dirty little flat a home- when a chanting filled his ears. //Oh, shit!// he thought before a searing pain
overtook him.
He fell to his knees as what felt like a vise clenched itself around his innards. As he pressed his forehead
to the wet asphalt he tried to cover his ears, tried to block the chanting. It didn't help. The chanting was
in his head.
Ripper groaned as vertigo swamped him. //What the hell is doing this to me??// was his last thought as he
passed out..
Location: Sunnydale, 2001
Ripper woke up in his crouching position, cheek lying in a garbage bag. Holding his head and praying his
brains didn't leak out through his ears, he stood up slowly.
When the nausea subsided and the world had stopped spinning, he looked around. Where the hell was he?? This
wasn't London!!
He left the alley he'd found himself in.. This definitely wasn't London! And those certainly weren't cars he
was familiar with. What was going on??
An hour later:
Ripper whistled jauntily as he rifled through a wallet he'd lifted of some poor bugger who thought he was an
easy piece of ass. Said bugger was currently nursing a lump on his head, and holding an ice pack to the family
jewels. Ripper was not above a shot below the belt..
He frowned as he pulled the paper from the billfold. //Bloody hell!!//
He looked to the sky, expression pained. "First Egyhon, and now you land me in bloody America?!? Couldn't you
have put me somewhere a LITTLE civilised?"
Ripper finished his rant at the gods, quite grateful that no one had seen him. The last thing he needed was
some concerned citizen calling the bobbies about a lunatic roaming the streets.
He walked a little further on, and saw a petrol station. Hell! Even the pumps were different. He walked up
to the attendant.
"Could you tell me what city this is?" he asked, smiling genially.
The attendant looked at him like he had two heads.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm a tourist, and I seem to have gotten myself pretty well lost. Must have
taken a wrong turn somewhere," he said, flashing teeth.
"Sunnydale." The disinterested attendant returned to his reading material. Ripper guessed from his extreme
interest in the magazine that it was a porno. More than a little perturbed, he picked up a map and asked for
a pack of smokes. Ripper was boggled at the selection available and chose the old standby.. Ah, Luckies..
The gods truly were kind the day they allowed man to invent nicotine.
Back outside, Ripper ducked into yet another alley. He checked out the map. //California, eh? Well.. What
to do now?//
Ripper had been walking along the streets of Sunnydale for about an hour, and quite frankly, was running out of
street. However, he was noticing more people and noticing that they were giving him odd looks. A quick
glance at his attire and theirs clued him in.
Apparently, bell-bottoms were out, fashion-wise, in America. And so was denim, too, unless one was wearing it
as pants.
Grimacing at the idea of shopping, Ripper looked about. He saw a gaggle of young women, laughing and talking
as they walked. He decided to follow them. After all, what else do young women do when they gather in a group
as large as that??
Luckily enough, Ripper's assumption proved out, and he soon found himself in a mall. He immediately eliminated
any stores carrying suits as a possible source of clothing, and perused the stores left as options.
About an hour later, Ripper walked out of the mall. He was wearing black leather pants, a button-down,
long-sleeved emerald shirt, and a black leather jacket. He also carried a backpack, filled to the brim with
more clothes. He positively preened at his purchases, especially since he'd discovered the power of plastic
in America. Ripper had very quickly learned to forge the signature on the backs of the cards, and had treated
himself to clothing in styles he didn't quite understand.
He'd left his old clothes in the mall, along with the stolen credit cards and billfold, now emptied of cash.
Ripper frowned as he noticed that shops were starting to close up. Where the hell was he going to stay the
night?
Ripper paused and sighed. He was tired of walking!! But there were gods.. even in America.
The wavy-haired blond made a beeline for the ice cream parlor he'd spotted. Bliss!! He could sit down and
indulge himself in gooey chocolate.
Inside, he stopped to get an idea of what the customs and norms were like in this establishment. Then, he
insinuated himself in line, directly behind a pair of delicious looking twins. Grinning to himself, he
surveyed the choices of ice cream. //Well, it looks like there's more to America than I thought...//
When it was his turn to order, Ripper stepped up to the counter. "Three scoops of the triple chocolate, with
hot fudge and almonds on top."
Upon receiving his delicacy, Ripper barely restrained a gleeful dance and looked around for a seat. Delighted,
he saw that there was an available table near the brunette twins.. They were just as gorgeous from the front,
he discovered.
Carefully, he carried his cold treat to a table not far from them, and sat down. Not really caring about how
it would look, Ripper dove into the mounds of chocolate like a man dying of hunger.
“Ripper?” asked Spike.
Ripper nearly choked on his ice cream. The *last* thing he expected to hear out of anyone around here, was his
name. Well there was, perhaps the person who cast whatever spell had been cast to bring him here...Maybe this
was the person.
He turned and looked. A pale and thin young man with bleached out punk hair. Head to toe black complete with
leather duster. And damned tasty cheekbones. He knew he would remember this gent if he had met him back in his
time. He smirked internally...his time and PLACE.
"Can't say as I have met you before. Think I would have remembered." He let his eyes travel up and down the
newcomer. "You the one who brought me here?"
Alex and Xander got up and flanked Spike, facing Ripper. "So," Xander said.
"Spike" Alex nodded his head in Ripper’s direction.
"Whose your friend?" Xander asked.
"Aren't you gonna introduce ""us""?" They said in unison on the last part.
Alex grinned evilly at Spike while Xander had a goofy smile and mischievous eyes.
Ripper leaned back in chair his slightly, aware that somehow the two delicious brunettes had determined him to
be a threat.
"Why don't I introduce myself, since I've no bloody clue as to who any of you are?"
He stood up and crossed his arms, unobtrusively feeling for the stake tucked into his jacket. The blond one
was just pale enough to be dead..
"My name is Rupert Giles, but I prefer Ripper." He pointed at the twins. "You would be Pinky and Brain?" He
had over-heard the conversation, and recalled thinking that he would have shot his parents if they had named
him that, dear gods! Rupert was bad enough!
He looked at the blonde. "And you're Spike?"
Ripper waited, completely tense. Something was rotten in Sunnydale, and it wasn't him!!
"Oh stone th' crows." Spike muttered.
What could possibly happen now? 2 Xanders, 2 Gileses...er something like that. And the whelps were flanking
him like some sort of RAF dogfight maneuver. If 2 Willows came in the door, he was out of there in a
not-heartbeat.
"Yeah, I'm Spike." He tucked his hands in his duster pockets and tried to get his 'undead cool' back. "Pinky
and Brain here are Xander and Alex."
Ripper filed the names away, and made a mental note to
figure out which one was Xander, and which was Alex.
<Way too creepy talking in unison. God, I hope the Ex-Watcher and Ripper don't start doing that. Bbrrr>
He shot a look to the Harris on his left. "As much as the old sod looked like he needed a rest, I think we
*all* need to go see the Shopkeeper right about now."
<Can't wait to here how this happened. Didn't look to dammed bad as Ripper, Rupes. What happened?>
Ripper shot a look at the one called Spike. "Who is this 'shopkeeper'? And why would we need to see him?"
He was feeling quite belligerent now, and wanted nothing more than to get out of the ice cream parlor and away
from these three. He was getting shivers down his back, shivers that told him that the situation was way over
his head. The way he felt now was like what he'd felt when he'd first met Ethan Rayne..
Weirdness, which, on deeper reflection shouldn't bother him anymore, but it had reached overload levels in
Spike. *This* was *not* the way he had planned his night going. He had just wanted to check on everyone, make
sure that they were still breathing. See what had happened to Dawn, make sure the Witches were still alive, as
well as the whelp.
He did not need a stubborn, freaked-out Ripper giving him shit.
"Listen, sunshine. The Shopkeeper is Rupert Giles. You, got it?" He snapped at Ripper. "So *we*..." He pointed
at them all. "Go see him. Now. You wanted to know who brought you here? Well he's the man who could find that
soddin' piece of information out."
Ripper stared open-mouthed at Spike for a moment. //Rupert Giles?!?
NO-it has to be a coincidence. There's no way.. But, I have to know.//
Suddenly determined, he turned and picked up his bags.
He looked at the Xanders. "And you two. I know what happened and yer comin' back with us until I can get you
home."
He glared at all three, daring someone to defy him.
Ripper slung the backpack on and transferred weight of the shopping bags to one hand. He wanted to keep his
stake hand free. "Ready when you lot are."
The conversation had started to bore Alex, that was until Spike presumed to start ordering Xan and him around.
"I don't think so, Bleached Wonder. We aren't going anywhere with you and the junior G-man! Especially not
back to Giles'..." He looked over the vampire's shoulder at his twin. ~Not taking orders from Fangless!
Besides nothing for us there right now, but frustration. No answers. Why should I help him out!?!~ Harshly,
he turned his gaze back to Spike and continued. "You wanna wear the white hat, and rescue the poor little
lost, then you go to Giles'. Me? I don't have time for this." His tone gentled as he looked at his brother
again. "Xan?"
Xander felt torn. He wanted to go with Spike. Spike meant protection from demons, Giles meant safety, plus
his curiosity was up. ‘What happened? Why was there another Giles running around, and several years younger
to boot.’ He wanted to know, but curiosity killed the cat and he would follow Alex to hell and back. They
were blood. He stood with his brother.
Alex stepped away from Spike, ignoring the vampire, and held out his hand to his twin. "Come on, little
brother. Five'll get you ten. It's a Wil's botch-a-rama. You wanna finish your ice cream?"
Xander stared at Spike and Alex in their stand-off. He knew it would make Spike mad, but he couldn’t turn
his back on his twin. The very thought of wandering the streets of Sunnydale without him was terrifying.
“Yeah, I’ll finish.” Xander stared at Spike and Alex in their stand-off. He knew it would make Spike mad,
but he couldn’t turn his back on his twin. The very thought of wandering the streets of Sunnydale without
him was terrifying. “Yeah, I’ll finish it on the way.” Xander took Alex’s hand and licked his cone.
Chocolate makes everything better.
Spike stared back at... Alex...oh yeah.. he's gonna be trouble. He knew he was one second away from growling
gameface at the challenge in the dark eyes. In fact, he was growling a bit.
"Fine. Whatever. It's your life..." He looked at Xander, nearly cowering next to the other. "Lives. Do what
ever ya want."
Ripper had watched the heated exchange between the twins and Spike, not saying a word. //There's magic in
the air,//he thought. //Too much magic.// The twins positively reeked of it, but he couldn't tell why, yet.
So many questions, and no answers promised to make themselves known.
He motioned with his duster. "Ripper. Yer still with me. Let's go."
He stalked out of the ice cream shop trusting Ripper to follow him.
He jogged after Spike, and quickly fell into step with him. "May I ask why you became so alarmed when you
saw me? I realize that this shopkeeper shares my name, but that could be simple coincidence.."
Ripper wasn't sure if he would get an answer, or if he really wanted one.
Spike started to snap off some nasty reply then stopped himself. No sense in being overly nasty right now,
he'd save that up for the next time he saw Alex. Lots of interesting nasty things could be said... or done...
He shook his head, clearing away THAT naked mental image.
"It's no coincidence, mate. I've seen pictures of Rupes when he was younger. It's you. You're him. Dunno how,
but I am willing to bet a months blood supply that either the Witches or some other spell flinger is involved.
Maybe even that other bloke... Rayne."
Ripper blushed at even the mention of Ethan Rayne.. He and Ethan had been much more than fellow occultists..
But wait -- Spike knew of Ethan?!?
"So.. you know about Ethan. I suppose this means that this Rupert Giles is some version of me."
He smiled a wicked sideways grin at Ripper. " 'Course, I always fancied knowin' more about Ripper.. you. Book
Lad goes all red and quiet whenever it's brought up. Right hellion I bet you are."
<And not bloody bad on the eyes, either.>
Ripper laughed at that. "I suppose you could call me that." He shook his head. "After the things I've done
to survive after leaving the Egyhon group, you could call me just about anything and have it ring true."
//So that means the Giles Rupert here hasn't told anyone what REALLY
went on between him and Ethan, or me and Ethan.. Whatever..//
Ripper was curious now as to what the Giles Rupert he would soon meet
was like. From what it sounded like, Ripper had grown up into a
stodgy, old priss.
Ripper laughed at that. "I suppose you could call me that." He shook his head. "After the things I've done
to survive after leaving the Egyhon group, you could call me just about anything and have it ring true."
He fell into a disturbed quiet, just thinking about his recent past.
"Yeah I bet there are some tales Rupes wouldn't want know." Spike grinned. "An' I know what you mean. Never
thought I'd be doing some of the things I have to survive. Not lately anyways. IF you call it surviving."
Ripper gave a little ghost of a chuckle, and nodded. He didn't know if he could call anything of the last
year surviving. Oh, he'd had food, and shelter, but precious little else. He pulled out his own smokes, and
lit one, needing the familiar feel.
Spike fell silent as well, lighting another smoke. What hed'd done... too little too late and starving as well.
Fuck it all. Some un-life for a former member of the Scourge of Europe. He glanced over at Ripper and saw him
in a similar funk. Maybe it was his time with the Scoobys rubbing off on him, or maybe it was his last week in
hell, but he was worried.
<Outta time, outta place. Guess I'd be a bit on the upset and half barmy side if it was me.>
" ‘Ere, you gonna be alright?" He asked.
"I-I guess so.. I just keep thinking that I never would have seen myself doing anything like what I've done
in the last year. I mean.. two years ago, I wouldn't have robbed a man looking for a cheap trick and stealing
his credit cards.." He gestured to the clothes he was wearing. "Hell! I wouldn't have even looked like the
cheap trick he wanted.. That's how I've been making it in London, you know, being that cheap trick."
Spike contained his surprise. The *last* thing he ever expected of the former librarian was the time as a rent
boy. <Hidden depths to you, Rupes. Gotta hand it to you..>
There was so much self-loathing in Ripper's words, and he suddenly felt vulnerable. He struggled to put his
smart-ass mask in place.
"I'm sorry. You probably don't want to hear about my life since Ethan and Egyhon. I'm sure you've your own
problems that need dealing with." He hadn't succeeded in hiding his pain, much as he wanted to. Ripper shook
his head violently.
"Please, just forget everything I just said.."
Spike stopped at the edge of Giles' walk. He knew that tone of voice very well. He'd been using it on himself
for the past week.
He smirked at Ripper. "Pet, I am actually very curious to hear more about yer life. Trust me on that one." He
stamped out his smoke on the sidewalk. "And it's nice not ter have to worry about my own kit bag of troubles."
Ripper gaped at Spike. Why anyone would want to know about his past was a mystery to him. Ah well.. This
Spike intrigued him as well.
Maybe as he divulged his history, he could ferret out some of the other man's as well.
He took the smoke from Ripper's fingers and stamped it out. "This Giles doesn't smoke, sorry, Pet."
"He doesn't??" squeaked Ripper. He'd been on a pack a day for nearly five years now!
He cocked his head and gave Ripper a measuring look. "I don't know what's on in yer head. Can only imagine.
But listen, if they bothered to help me, they can help you. No matter what ton of shite you got goin' on. And
I'm not gonna ferget what you said. Can't. Me brain don't work that way, m'afraid." A small smile crossed his
faace. "But I will let it go. For now. Right? C'mon. Let's see what happened when you see you, eh?"
Ripper nodded, knowing all too well what that determined looked meant. He was sure he'd worn a look like that
many times, himself.
He stepped up to the door and knocked.
The young man bit his lip nervously. What was this Rupert Giles like??
Giles opened the door.
Oz watched him go to the door with relief. He just knew that Giles would have asked him what was going on.
"Spike! Are the twins with you?" He noticed that there was only one person with the vampire.
Oh yeah. That was the smell of cigarette's and dry dusty things, but the only other person he could smell
was...Giles.
"And who would this be?" Giles peered at the figure, and gasped when his features came into focus.
Oz stared, dropping the book to the floor. I hope that wasn't expensive or cursed...
"Oh, dearest gods!"
Well, that explains why I can only smell Giles and Spike.
"Huh." Same old Hellmouth, it never stops.
Ripper echoed the words on a groan.
//This is what I turn into?// He gave the other Rupert Giles a thorough, exasperated once-over. Glasses,
starchy clothes, short hair.. He'd become his father!
At this moment, Ripper wanted nothing more than to sink into a hole in the ground.
Giles turned to Spike. "Please, tell me this is nothing more than a horrible coincidence."
Oz stared from further back in the room. As if Giles hadn't had enough shocks and now that...that *vampire*
had done *this* to him.
The ex-Watcher could think of nothing more horrifying than to be confronted by his past, literally.
How was he going to help him stop drinking when shocks like this turned up? A younger, rougher version of Giles
stood there in front of his version.
The..the boy standing before him was everything he'd ever wanted to forget, an all to vivid reminder of the
life he'd shared with Ethan Rayne.
Ripper closed his eyes, as if to shut out the image of his future.
It looked to Oz as if both Giles were in shock, while *Spike* looked ready to laugh! Somehow Oz just knew it
was all *his* fault.
Oz began to growl.
"Spike.. Can we leave now? You've made your point. There's no way this man can NOT be me, in the future
anyway."
Spike tried very hard to keep a grin off his face and failed. This was better than Passion re-runs! He shoved
his hands into duster pockets and rocked back on his heels.
Oz picked the book back up and carefully placed it back in the shelf. And as he listened to Spike, removed his
clothes. No need to ruin another lot.
"Found him in the ice cream shop while I was lookin' fer the twins. Who, by the way, want nothing to do with
yer truly, so’s I expect Alex.." He pulled a face. "Is taking Xander home. Bleh." He said to Giles.
To Ripper he said, "Sorry. I know it's a bit of a shock. But there ya go. Life's odd that way. Musta been the
Watcher drek he got into. You want to leave then we will. But I dunno where you wanna go... me crypt's kinda
damp at the mo."
Oh yeah, the vampire did it on purpose all right. Closing his eyes, Oz concentrated on that part of his body
that made him Change.
He suppressed a giggle. Giggles were not very Big Bad. He'd not quite counted on the looks of shock and
horror the Gileses were giving each other but they were priceless. he wished he'd had a camera.
Poor Giles was devastated, just look at the expression
on his face.
To them both, he said "Look, I know it's freaky. Lookin' fer me own bloody double at this point, but just
thought you both should know, right?"
He stopped and listened... 3 heartbeats... he sniffed... who the hell was that? Smelled wild and almost feral.
... like a...His eyebrows raised. "Got comp'ny?"
Damn. The vampire had picked him. Ah well. He had changed all the way now anyway. Growling, Oz leapt towards
the startled vampire.
Giles barely heard the growls through his shock, but he opened his eyes just in time to see Oz going after
Spike. AND Oz had changed.
"Oz! No!" Not thinking at all, Giles leapt between Spike and the werewolf.
"He's one of us, now!" Giles yelped as he found himself grappling with an armful of angry wolf.
Ripper had watched in horrified fascination as the wolf charged for Spike. He'd known that werewolves existed,
but never seen one before.. Then his mind started working, and he, too, stepped between Spike and the wolf.
Truth to tell, he was more than a little relieved when it was the older Giles that ended up trying to actually
hold off this Oz..
"Spike, what do we do now?" Ripper asked.
***************
'WE bloody well do THIS!" Spike said, and shifted to gameface.
Spike had heard the growling and dismissed it. He wouldn't make that same mistake twice. He shoved Ripper out
of the way and tore Giles and Oz apart.
Ripper gasped as Spike's face shifted. //He is a vampire!!// He backed himself up against a convenient wall.
Wishing he could click his heels together three times and just GO HOME!
"Out of the way, Rupes!" He snarled. He shoved him towards his younger self. "My job, remember?"
Rupert careened toward Ripper, and the younger man caught him. A
little dizzy, Rupert managed to say, "Don't hurt him, Spike, please.."
Confused, OzWolf struggled. Pack Leader said he was...Pack member? But...he smelt like death! He was the Enemy!
Ripper meanwhile stared at the face of the man so close to him. There was no denying that this was him, some
thirty years into the future. Oh, there were age lines galore, but Ripper couldn't lie to himself.
OzWolf whined. The Enemy was not acting like that at all. He smelt like death but acted to protect the pack
leader and the one who smelt like him.
The chip actually pinged just a bit, as if trying to decided if Spike meant harm. It must have concluded he
didn't as no searing pain ripped through his head.
OzWolf snarled in confusion. If he was protecting, he must have been accepted into the pack. But he was the
Enemy!
He squared off towards the snarling werewolf. "Right, puppy. You think I'm gonna let you tear up Giles? Don't
think so. Scratch him and yer a throw rug! You want me? We take it outside, away from the humans."
What was he saying anyway? OzWolf tilted his head to the side and watched him make those noises used to
communicate.
The younger Rupert stared at the two combatants, not sure if he could
do anything. //That's right, Ripper, just throw yourself between two
supernatural beings.//
And now the other, who also smelt like pack Leader, also stepped between him and the Enemy. But...not Enemy?
Spike growled. He didn't really *want* to hurt Oz, but he sure as
hell wasn't going to just *take* a beating.
OzWolf began to panic. If pack leader said the Enemy was not the Enemy, then what? He was confused but didn't
want to hurt the pack leader.
"Then call the dog off." He snarled. "Or I will do more than hit his bloody nose with a newspaper!"
But if the Enemy was not the Enemy then why hurt the pack leader? why did the Enemy grab him like that?
Giles shifted his gaze to the werewolf. "Oz, please, change back. There's no reason to fight Spike.
Please.." He stumbled over the word, suddenly feeling very broken and wanting a drink oh so badly. "Come
back, Oz, change back. I need you.. to change back." What had happened to make Oz change? Why had he
attacked Spike?
OzWolf turned to stare at his pack leader. Now he was making those noises humans make. OzWolf liked his voice,
it was soothing.
He reached out an entreating hand to the wolf.
Ripper looked over the living room, but didn't find what he wanted. "Do you have a tranquilizer gun?"
This other one's voice was almost the same, as good.
OzWolf like his pack leader's better though.
Giles turned to him in surprise. He'd nearly forgotten that the boy was there. "What?"
Their voices sounded good together, though. And now
the Enemy…other pack member was quiet he was calming
down.
"A tranquilizer gun," Ripper repeated slowly.
Why had he gotten so upset anyway?
"Oh.." Giles closed his eyes and tried to think. Did he still have one, or was a trank gun one of the things
lost when they blew up the high school. "No, not anymore."
Oh yes, his other self had seen a threat. But the threat wasn't real after all.
"Damn."
OzWolf yawned. Time to let his other, human self out, then. He would understand what was happening.
Giles looked back at the werewolf. //Come on, Oz. I know you change back.. Please..//
Oz moved slowly in front of the Englishman and began the Change back.
Back in his human form, he inspected himself. Glaring at Spike as he remembered why he had changed, he moved
closer to Giles, in front of him.
"You tried to hurt Giles!"
Spike's mouth dropped open, fangs and all. "I WOT?" He exclaimed.
He morphed back to normal visage and continued to stare confused at
Oz. "You tell me how knockin' on th' bloody door counts as trying to
hurt Rupes? Here I thought I was doin' the right thing by bringin'
Ripper over and... aw sod it!"
"He was upset and you were laughing!" Sniffing, Oz could smell the vampire's confusion. He was telling the
truth?
He then blinked. Oz was dangly bits to the wind. His eyebrows rose into his hairline almost. "Nice navel ring,
Pup."
Oz looked down at himself. Oh yeah. Clothes. He smiled back up at the confused vampire and stretched.
"Thanks. I got it in Nevada." He walked slowly over to where he had put his clothes. It's not as if they were
important or anything, he didn't care who saw him naked anyway.
Giles gulped, suddenly faced with an amazing view of Oz's ass. He forced his eyes to focus on the back of the
young man's head, and tried to get his brain working again. When it finally did kick into gear, he processed
what Oz had said.
He heard Giles make a small noise and looked over his shoulder. The Englishman was staring at him, his ass a
nyway. Turning back, Oz slowly bent over. After all, he did have to reach down to pull his jeans up.
Did that mean that Oz had changed in an attempt to protect him? If so, what did THAT mean?
He swallowed, and was finally able to speak. "Spike has been helping us quite a bit since you left, Oz."
"Ah" Oz began to see, a little. Spike was helping, but he was still evil.
Ripper piped up, still standing beside Giles. "Spike brought me here so that we could figure out WHY I'm here."
Oz loooked at the younger version. Yeah. Good looking, but he liked his version better.
Spike resisted, barely, the urge to stick his tongue out childishly at Oz.
"Things have changed." He said to him, instead.
<And have they. God, someone shoot me will ya? That actually pleased me.>
He gestured to the older version of himself. "Obviously, this is neither my time nor place. Earlier this
afternoon, I was in London and it was 1977. Now, I don't know exactly what year it is, but I do know that
this is Sunnydale, California."
"1977.. That was just after I left Ethan and the others. I was twenty-three.." Giles mused. He gave Ripper
an inquiring look. "But what were you doing in London? I immediately went home after Ethan and I went our
separate ways."
I knew it! Giles and Ethan, hey? So at least Giles is interested in guys. What am I thinking? I've only just
figured out I am. Well, apart from Dev, anyway. that's kinda a mutual thing though, does it count as being gay
if it's your best friend?
Ripper blushed and looked away. "It doesn't matter what I was doing! But.." he looked back at Giles. "How
were you able to return home? Father disowned me after that entire mess."
Giles' eyebrows crawled into his hairline.
"Why don't we all sit down? There's a lot to figure out."
I'll say. I wonder if this is the spell Willow did?
That would explain the blushing, anyway.
Spike rolled his eyes. He wanted a smoke. He wanted to go back to his crypt. He wanted a drink. Well, more
drinks. Several more. Anything to get the weird feelings out of his head. The pain, he could barely deal with.
Or not deal with, depending on how you veiwed his past week. Drunk and hungry and crying.
The bit of the old fire, facing off with Oz, that he thought he could deal with as well. Made him feel....grrr.
Possibly still useful. Just possibly not the complete fuck-up he had come to think he was lately.
The feral scents and faint traces of lust... that was something different. Alex and Xander's scents had come
close to making him nuts and now... oh well. Ripper's weren't helping. All new leather and the tiniest touches
of old London.... He wished he could get a head cold right about now. Block them all out.
"Right." He said and took out a smoke. He stuck it, unlit, between his lips and slouched down in an armchair.
Giles would snap at him about smoking or throw him out. Either or... Ripper would light one too.
Oz wrinkled his nose. He knew vampires had a stronger sense of smell too, why would Spike want to smoke?
<Give this a bit an' then go make sure the... heh.. twins are all right. Hmmm Alex has a nice growl on him for
a human. Nummyboy Xander looked like he was ready to cry. What is up with that?>
Giles perched on the couch and ran his hands through his hair. He would have snapped at Spike, but he saw
Ripper lighting up too. Ripper just looked at him and took a long drag, daring Giles to say something.
Oz stayed silent, watching them all speak. When Giles sat down, he sat next to him, close enough to feel his
body heat.
The ex-Watcher sighed, and fetched an ashtray. "I stopped that nasty habit after I went home, you know."
And he smelt really good too. All fresh and clean, unlike Spike and Ripper. Though both versions had the
alcohol around them, too.
Ripper barked a laugh. "Well, I didn't get to go home, thank you very much."
Ripper though, Ripper smelt like youth, and smokes, and sex...with lots of different partners.
"Yes, so I gathered. Tell me, why were you disowned?"
"You mean you weren't?" Giles shook his head, and Ripper sucked on the fag as if it would save his life. He
held the smoke in for a long moment, then released it.
"When Ethan and I broke- parted ways, he wasn't too thrilled with me. And he was didn't have a pot to piss in.
He had some pictures.. of me in various sexual indiscretions. Ethan sent them to Father, threatening
blackmail. Dad solved the problem by disowning me. That was ten months ago. Since then, I've been living in
London." Ripper stubbed the cigarette out viciously, wishing he could do the same sort of damage to Ethan.
Boy, Ethan was scum to do that! No wonder Giles was so mad at him when he turned up. Willow had told him about
Halloween and he had seen for himself how the adults were with those chocolate bars.
Giles buried his face in his hands. This was more than he wanted Spike, Oz, or anyone to know. "You mean you
didn't get them when you left the house?!? They were in his nightstand, where he kept all of his pornographic
material!! Er.." He looked sideways at Oz and Spike, having unwittingly given away a yet another clue as to
his history.
Go Giles! Smart to do that! But why didn't Ripper?
"So, that's where we differ. We're living each other's what if." He gave a sardonic smile. "One small thing..
and our paths diverged."
Ripper thrust a thumb towards his bags. "I need fresh air--I'm going to talk a walk. Don't expect me back
anytime soon, but I'll leave my bags here." Then he was out the door, head bowed so no one would see the tears
in his eyes.
Ripper walked aimlessly, struggling to contain the helpless rage bubbling inside of him. Tears ran down his
face as he thought about the last year.
"Why the hell didn't I get those pictures?" he asked himself as he scrubbed the tears off with the back of his
hand.
//You know why you didn't get them,// whispered the insidious little voice in the back of his mind.
A memory flashed across Ripper's mind. Ethan, coming home drunk, not off alcohol, but off power, and determined
to prove his power over Ripper.. The young man firmly shoved the memory away.
He knew where his and this world's Rupert Giles' paths really diverged. The photos were but one of the many
differences that had occurred after the branching of life events. But he'd never admit it to anyone, especially
the older version of himself. Why torment the old man he could have become?
Besides that.. What could he become now? He knew too much now to fit back into his world and not be driven mad
by the what ifs. That is, if he could get back home.
But did he really WANT to go back? He laughed derisively. Yeah, go back to being a prostitute and pickpocket.
That was the life!
Ripper found himself in a park, and leaned against an old, wide tree. He was suddenly engulfed by melancholy
and slid down to sit against it. Ripper drew his legs up and pressed his face against his knees. Finally, now
that he was alone, Ripper indulged himself in the tears that had been a year in the making..
He couldn't stand it! "Ripper." He said quietly, placing a hand on one of the heaving shoulders. "Er, know
this will sound stupid, but it will be alright."
Spike didn't even notice he'd slipped back to his old accent, cockney gone in this weird and quiet moment.
Ripper jumped when he felt the hand on his shoulder. "Spike!!"
He blinked and frantically tried to wipe his face dry. Then the words registered.
Ripper laughed bitterly. "If only I could believe that. For over the last year, my life has been one big
screw up. Everything that I've chosen to do, has been the wrong path. Especially since Ethan-"
He broke off and looked away. He wouldn't do it. He wouldn't say the words. That would make it too real..
"Screw ups. Now that's something I can understand. Made several myself in the past year or so." Spike nodded.
<Like the whole Gem thing, like letting Dru get away, like letting those arsewipes put this thing in my head,
like Buffy...>
He bit his lip, not wanting to think about it, but not really being able to stop. Maybe someday...
Then another realization dawned on him. "Spike, what happened to your accent?"
"Wha...? Oh hell. uh.." Spike realized what Ripper meant. He'd lost the cockney and went back to 'William the
Bloody (awful poet)' speech again. Completely embarrassing.
He shrugged. "it's nuthin'. Not really lived the life of upperclass twit accent in ... oh over 120 years. Kinder
dropped it."
Ripper looked at him, not sure he understood. And yet, it was interesting, to be able to entirely change how
people looked at you simply by changing your manner of speaking. He said as much, and patted his pockets for a
handkerchief. After all that crying, his nose was as stuffed as a turkey dinner.
Spike smiled. "Yea, changed *alot*. If anyone was still alive from back then, they wouldn't recognize me."
<Alive? HA! Those you didn't eat right away! Never knew what hit 'em.>
He looked at Ripper. "An' as far as wrong paths go... get yer chin up. Like you better'n Stuffy the Slayer
Watcher back there, mate."
That elicited a laugh out of the young man. "So you think he's a prude, too, eh? I'd almost say that
everything I've gone through lately was worth avoiding becoming THAT."
"God, he's so.. British sometimes." Spike laughed. "Complete with heavy duty chains for the bath. That was fun..
.not." He grimaced.
Ripper's eyebrows rose into his hairline. "Sounds kinky," he quipped, with just a hint of his devil-may-care
attitude returning.
Spike snorted. "Giles and kinky. No. Think not. Not that it wouldn't have been a bad thing, but I hate getting
staked."
Finally, he found his handkerchief and blew his nose, rather noisily. He grimaced. Not pleasant, that feeling
that one was going to blow their brains out into a small square of cotton.
Ripper became serious. "I suppose you want to take me back there," he said quietly. He looked at Spike with
pleading eyes. "Please don't. At least not yet. I don't know how much I can take of Wanker the Watcher right
now. Especially Wanker and Wolfie dancing around each other."
He ran a hand through his hair. "How long have they been dancing around the bed, anyway?"
"Wanker and Wolfie? Like that." Spike mused. "Wait... how long.. never to my knowledge, mate. Guess Wanker was
was *very* glad to see
Wolfie back. Think the Pup got back tonight, near as I can tell. 'Course they didn't have time to do anything
before I found you and the Wonder Twins. Came from Wanker's place."
Ripper chewed on that for a moment. He'd have to do something about the situation between those two, if they
didn't take care of it themselves tonight.
Spike turned to look at Ripper <Goddamn, his eyes are almost as bad as the Whelps!>
"I don't want to go back there meself. Don't rightly fancy another go-round with this Feralness nor watching
them get snuggly."
He stood and extended a hand to Ripper. "Not much to do at night on the Hellmouth. Whatyer say we go get a
drink? It's that or go pester the Twins. Or patrol, which I'm not inclined to do right now."
"Patrol?" Ripper asked, then he laughed. "A drink sounds good right about now, but the Twins.. They were
interesting. Quite edible.."
He waggled his eyebrows, forcing his doldrums to the side. "Your choice, Spike. Do we go corrupt ourselves
with drink, or do we try and corrupt the twins?"
<Corrupt! Nummies now!> Spike's brain screamed and did a jig. <When did we ... *I* start that? Oh yeah... chair,
rope... yergh. A bit of nasty will make you fell better! Oright! Shut up!>
"Corrupt sounds good to me, mate." Spike grinned. This Giles was going to be much more fun. "We can always grab
a drink later."
Ripper laughed and lit a cigarette. "A drink to celebrate corruption?"
"Heh, yeah. Works for me." Spike smirked
He headed off in the direction of Xander’s latest abode. "Just one bit. They got split tonight. One of them
seems a bit jumpy. Xander.
Guess the personality got all sorted around." He shrugged. "Alex, he seems like the ...heh... nastier of the
two. No telling what kinder mood we're gonna find 'em in."
<And me and Alex are gonna have to come to some sort of...understanding. Oh yes.>
The young man jogged after the vampire. "You mean there was only one of them? How in the seven hells did
they get split??"
Then, "Alex must have been the one calling the shots at the ice cream parlor then. The other one seemed too
timid.."
Spike slowed. letting the younger man catch up. "Yeah only one Xander Harris. Really one's enough, I'd say.
Wonder what his chit's gonna do when *they* get home?" Spike laughed. "As for how they got split...I have no
bloody idea. Happened before, Little Bit, that's Dawn, told me about it. Some artifact or something. Dunno
'bout tonight though."
He grinned wickedly "Should be fun ter find out, eh?"
"Oh.. he's with someone? And this has happened before? Gods, this
Sunnydale positively reeks of magickal goings on!"
"Yeah.. Ex-Vengance Demon named Anya. Human now. Nice bit of alright, really. An' it's the Hellmouth, magic
comes with the whole soddin' package."
He drew in a lungfull of smoke, exhaling out his nose. "Timid.. yeah that has to be Xander. Alex would be the
growly one. S' why I think the personality got shuffled around. Not enough to go 'round more than once I guess.
'Course timid can be tasty. heh."
Ripper snorted. "Yeah, it can be.. If you can manage to get past the virgin on her wedding night act!"
<Like you could bite him. Like I mean biting! Over the Slayer already are we? NO...gggrrrr.. fuck you!>
Spike's brow furrowed as he continued his internal war. He loved Buffy, but she was gone. <A bloody week! Hey!
Seen lots of death thank you!> And they would have never gotten together, not with Spike being who he was and
Angel being all Mr. Noble. It was an obtainable goal. That still hurt.
He clenched his jaw to stop from tearing up again. <She's gone. Move on dammit.>
The young man saw the look on Spike's face and put a hand on the vampire's arm. "Something else is bothering
you. 'Fess up."
He had a feeling that Spike wouldn't. Anyone raised British would die before telling someone else about their
emotions. So, he decided
to dangle a bargain out there. Especially seeing as how he'd gotten more understanding out of this stranger
than he'd gotten out of anyone he'd ever known. Ripper's little mental voice whispered //But you didn't want
to tell anyone.// To which Ripper replied //Stuff it! He needs to talk, maybe more than I do.//
Out loud he said, "Fess up and maybe I'll tell you why I'm really upset about this entire deal with me and
Wanker."
Spike started at the touch on his arm. He hadn't realized he'd slipped so deep into his own thoughts. He looked
at Ripper, into his light eyes and saw a desire to understand. Question was, could he tell him?
<Why not? He's here an' got his own bit of baggage. S'not like he's gonner run off an' tell the Pouf or
somethin'.>
"Someone close to us all died a week ago. Someone I... cared about. Buffy. She was the Slayer." He barked out a
sharp laugh. "Right, not like you know what a Slayer is. Or do you? Dunno what you got in yer head over or
under the Wanker."
Ripper cocked his head to one side. "Dad's a Watcher. In my world, Dad had actually Watched a certain Slayer
by the name of Amelia. I was probably all of twelve at the time." He shrugged. "She was a pretty bit, but
that prettiness got her killed. Too many monsters too a liking to her looks."
<Yeah... Like me. Why are they always pretty? Powers that Be want them to die?>
He shrugged again. "Dad wasn't too torn up about it. He'd only been assigned to her for a few months when
she finally got her throat torn out.. That's when I decided that I didn't want to join the Watcher's Council."
The young man was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry about your loss. I'm sure she was a good person."
Spike snorted. "She was a mouthy little airhead. But she was good at it." <And you, the monster, fell, didn't
ya?>
He took a drag and shook his head. "Anyway. Why, 'sides the whole 'not my time and place and sure as hell not
the man I wanted to be' thing, does this deal upset you?"
Ripper laughed bitterly and walked a little ahead of the vampire, trusting Spike to keep up. The moment of
truth had come and he didn't really want to have to look the other man in the eye while he said his piece.
"The pictures I told you all about.. That isn't the real branching point for me and the other Rupert Giles.
They were simply a consequence of what happened before that."
He rubbed his eyes, trying to erase the sting of the tears that already threatened. "It was a day or two
before I left Ethan.. I can't remember exactly how long it was before I could bring myself to stand, much less
walk out of that house."
"Ethan had gone off to convene with the other Egyhon groupies.. I wasn't feeling well, so I begged off. That
evening he came home, drunk on the power high he gotten. He'd forced Egyhon to reside within his body for
nearly an hour, something none of us thought possible."
Ripper cleared his throat and focused his eyes forward, refusing to look in any direction but ahead. His voice
became mechanical as he tried to distance himself. "In his state, he.. I don't know. I only remember now that
he wanted sex, and I was still feeling piss-poor.
I said no, and he didn't like that answer."
He shoved his trembling hands into his pockets. "He hated that answer so much.. He r-ra-- forced me." A tear
fell unbidden down his cheeks. "I don't even remember packing, or walking out of the house. I hid for a week,
figuring that a week was long enough for him to lose interest. I could go home then. But, when I called home,
Dad blew his stack at me about Ethan trying to blackmail him. Then he disowned me. He didn't want a faggot
for a son."
He grit his jaw, and tried to force the images away. "I stayed in London then, and managed to avoid Ethan and
company."
The tears were practically streaming down his face by then, but still Ripper kept walking. If he just kept
concentrating on his footfalls, he could keep the memories at bay.
Spike stay half a pace behind while Ripper told his tale, his own woes shoved back at the sudden shift in the
young man's voice. He wasn't completely surprised by what had happened. Forcing a Chaos (I think) Demon into
your body didn't exactly make you a charming companion. And Da Giles sounded oh so wonderful as a father. And
why was he, Spike, getting upset over this?
<Your Mum's last Gent come to mind? Or the first time you truly pissed Angelus off? Or the last time he was
around? Least you had something to fall back on last time. Your a soddin' vampire. Ripper is human and lost.
Sucker for a sob story aren't you? This one, yeah.>
In all his time as a vampire, rape was one thing he never much had the stomach for. Corrupting some young
nummy yes, forcing anything but blood out of them, no. He was cruel and violent, had his share of death and
destruction, but rape was not part of his game plan.
<Twisted code, but it's mine.>
He moved up to Ripper's side, chewing the inside of his cheek. After a long moment he put a hand on the man's
shoulder and looked over at him. "Might not believe this, me being what I am, but I understand."
Ripper managed a small smile and once again his handkerchief made an appearance. He wiped the salty wetness
from his cheeks and exhaled loudly. Then he shrugged, but he still couldn't look Spike in the eyes.
"I don't know why, Spike, but I thought you might. I don't even know what to do anymore. I didn't know anyone
in London except Ethan and the others, and there's nothing to go back to any way."
At the same time, Ripper didn't know if he could make a place for himself in this world. Especially if he were
to be confronted everyday by Rupert Giles the Older.
"Anyway, thank you for listening. I think maybe I needed maybe I needed to talk more than I thought."
Spike sucked on his teeth. "Yeah, think ya did. S'not good to let things fester."
Ripper finally snuck a look at Spike's face, and was relieved to see that there was no hint of poking fun..
<Oooh Thank YOU, Dr. Laura! Hn... there's a witch who needs eating. Paint her up like a drag queen and take 'er
to a gay
bar. I wouldn't have to do a bloody thing... heh. OW! Ggrrr!>
He rubbed the back of his head ruefully. Stupid chip.
"As for what to do, don't worry 'bout it. There's always a need for helpin' hands with stakes 'round here. And
maybe the Witches can figure out how to send you back, if you'd want to go. And, I might add, you are takin'
this all pretty well, considerin'. Yanked outta time and home, stuck goin' walkies with a vampire. You bein'
Watcherkin an' all, surprised I haven't gotten staked yet."
He sniffed and smiled. "Well, I've definitely wielded a stake before.. As for going home.." Ripper shook his
head. "I don't think I really want to."
He grinned. "Stronger than you think, aren't you? You'll figure it out and you'll have help. Now, you still
wanner go harass the Harris's?"
This last bit gave Ripper pause. On impulse he planted a peck on Spike's cheek. "Thanks, Spike. And, yeah,
let's go give the twins hell."
Spike blinked, touching his cheek where the kiss had landed. A crooked grin crossed his face. No one but Dawn
had ever just done something so spontaneous and sweet to him. If he could have spared the blood, he would have
blushed.
Ripper smiled shyly at the look on Spike's face. //You'd think no one had been nice to him in a while.//
<Aw come on! Honestly! You'd think you'd just gone out on yer first
date! Right. Big Bad, grrr.... heh.>
"Yeah," He said, still grinning. "Let's go see what the Babes in the Woods are up too. God, I hope we haven't
missed the look on the Demon Chit's face."
He hooked an arm in Ripper's and headed to the apartment.
The young man waited patiently by Spike's side, not sure if he should say anything to the twins, or let them
sniff him out first. He mentally shrugged.. He'd play it by ear, since things were odd anyway.
"Right. We're here." Spike said, smiling wickedly at Ripper. "And if things get...er... too much, say the word
an' we're outta here,off for that drink."
Spike reached out and... stopped for a second, head cocked. There were only 2 heartbeats inside. <Wot the hell?
One scarpered off or is Anya not home?>
He knocked.
Alex turned and jerked the door open. ~Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Could be good... Could be bad.
Well, at least it's not Anya.~
He twisted his lips into a parody of a smile, filled with equal amounts of annoyance, interest, and lots of
teeth. "Oh looky. Looky." He stepped to the side letting Xander get a clear view. "It's Fangless and the
junior G-man. In the neighborhood boys? Not enough traffic to play in?"
"Spike? Ripper? What are you doing here? Why aren't you at Giles, figuring out how to get Ripper home?”
<Why are they here? What could they want from us? Why isn't Anya? Why can't the stupid Hellmouth leave us
alone for five minutes?> Xander didn't think he was up for another head trip ala Spike tonight, especially
after having his hopes dashed. Life just wasn't fair sometimes.
Xander glanced at Alex, his twin almost seemed relieved that it was Spike and Ripper, he couldn't be happy that
it wasn't Anya, could he? Hadn't he loved Anya with all his soul? This was something that needed to put aside
and dealt with later. Right now he had to deal with Ripper and Spike.
Spike grinned at Alex, showing just as many teeth and just as much insincerity. "Plenty of traffic here." He
mirked.
He indicated Ripper. "As for why we aren't drinkin' tea with Old Rupes, Wolfboy is back in town. Seemed to come
over all funny when I brought Ripper over. Thought I'd done this and was hurting Giles. Bit of nastyness and it
upset Ripper here."
<There is no way I am tellin the Whelps about just what upset Ripper. His story. And doesn't Alex look all
fangs and fur himself. Nice.>
"Giles dunno anymore about how Ripper got here than what to do with
you lot. And seein' as he and Wolfboy were getting snuggly, we hit the road. Came to see old friends." He
grinned at Alex again. "An' introduce Ripper 'round proper, in case he stays on. You gonna let me in or what?"
Ripper spoke up. "Not that I'm really sure I want to go home anytime soon.. London was great for getting me
fucked over. Don't think I can stomach too much more of that."
He stood back, a little behind Spike, eager for a little trouble, but not wanting to rain on Spike's parade.
<Nope, no Anya. Interesting. Let me in Whlep, so I can get a better look.>
Xander watched as his twin and Spike exchanged, well it wasn't pleasant but at least civil conversation. He
could tell from the way that Ripper and Spike talked that more had been going on then a walk to Giles. They
obviously had made a connection, plus vague mentions of Ripper's past were made and Spike didn't seem the least
surprised.
"Oz and Giles... Snuggly?" Alex chuckled to himself. "Bizarro world. Though, both got 'have experiment with
our sexuality' pretty much stamped on their foreheads, but the two of them together? " He snorted. ~Huh,
wonder if Oz does it doggy style... ~ He shook that image from his brain, and looked at his twin with a raised
eyebrow. ~Well?~
Xander met his twin's eyes and gave a slight nod. He knew exactly what his brother was about to pull. He
could really get into this having a twin stuff.
With a smile and a wink, Alex turned back to the hallway duo. "Gonna camp on the ...."
Xander finished the question. "Doorstep all night or what? Can you hear..."
"The property value plumment? Yes, I can." Alex finished without looking at his brother.
Alex motion to Spike and Ripper to enter as the twins spoke in unison.
""Get in here. You’re invited. Enter Casa de Harris.""
Spike strode in. " *That's* bizarro world." He said indicating the twins tag-team/simultaneous speak.
He flopped on the couch, no way was he ever sitting in an armchair around a Harris again. "An' I wouldn't say
snuggly. More like feral 'My Giles, hurt him an' I'll rip yer lungs out' thing. Little pup actually though he
was gonner attack me." He shrugged.
Ripper followed Spike in after a moment of thought. He hovered near the door though, not entirely sure of HIS
welcome.
The way the dominant twin, Alex he thought, was looking at Spike definitely affirmed the vampire's welcome here.
He, himself, was an entirely different matter.
Spike, continuing to look at Alex, waved a hand to Ripper. "C'mon in. S'oright."
Ripper stepped further into the room, hands tucked deep into his
pockets. Very slowly, he moved to the couch and perched on the edge
of a cushion.
He would have died if he'd known how reminiscent of the older Rupert
Giles that was.
He took a subtle deep breath. Anya's smell was fainter than he
thought it should be. <Figure that out in a bit.> He grinned more at
Alex <My my, think you're the next Big Bad don't you pet? Growl at
me again, an' I'll show yer.>
Ripper turned his thoughts from that uncomfortable area, and allowed his eyes to rest on the twins.
//Definitely creepy, that twin-speak thing. Do all twins do that, or is that a result of they're having been a
single entity not too long ago?//
He looked both twins up and down. The same. Hair, face, body. Just the look in the dark eyes was different.
Xander's had the air of bolting anytime now, thanks. Alex's held brash challenges. Either one was a tasty thing.
He winced. <Forgotten your declarations of love to Buffy already? My my she must have made quite an impression.
Sod it you. A bit of fun isn't a bad thing.> He was afraid, however, that the hardly ever spoken William
brain-voice may be right. Too soon maybe.
Then he looked at Alex again. <Maybe not. Fun's fun after all. Not
plannin' on pickin' out curtains here. Not even plannin' on the nasty right now. Unsettle maybe. That Whelp,
version 2.0, needs it.>
He grinned at Alex, showing lots of teeth.
Just one question left.... where was Anya?
Spike rubbed his chin. "So, wot th' hell happened to you lot tonight?I mean, 2 of you, now Ripper 'ere..." He
grinned. "Sounds like somethings comin' up eh?"
<Anya Anya Anya..were's the Anya? An' damn! Do they have to smell so good? All bloody 3 of them?>
Ripper looked around, terribly curious about the person the twins had been. He was a little surprised that the
place didn't show more of it's other occupant, the girlfriend. This late at night, he would have expected her
to be home. //And having hysterics at her boyfriend being split in two.. Or maybe enjoying that. I know I
would be.//
Speaking softly, he said, "Spike said you have a girlfriend. Is she at work?"
Alex growled. Literally. Xander watched his twin freak. He could feel the pain building in his own chest just
at the mention of her name. But Xander was well acquainted with pain. Sure it felt a lot stronger now,
without that hint of anger to temper it, but that just meant that he and Alex needed to balance each other.
He reached out and stroked soothingly down his twins arm.
Ripper jumped in startlement at the growl. He blinked at the twins, trying to process this reaction. "I'm
sorry.. Did I say something wrong? I didn't mean to offend.."
Alex started at the feel of Xander’s hand on his arm. He hadn’t even realized that he was growling, he had
been in his own little world o' hate. *God, I shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near any kind of alcohol ever! I
need to talk about this later with Xander. But right now I feel like going out and pounding something evil.
I wonder if Spike’d be interested in going out on a little jaunt?*
Spike, already watching Alex, nearly growled back. He knew his eyes flicked yellow for a split second. He put a
hand out and on Ripper's arm. Anger from one, pain from the other. Strong on both counts.
“Anya left. She’s gone.” Xander could hear the whimper in his voice. *Gods above! When am I ever gonna be
able to get these emotions under control! I feel like a hormonal woman! Crap! There’s no way I’m pregnant,
is there? Weirder things have happened, but I can’t deal with this, we’ll just assume not unless further
evidence presents itself.* Xander decided that he needed some comfort and that his twin needed something to do
to forget, so he dove (practically) into his twin’s arms for a hug.
"Oh.." Ripper breathed in sudden understanding. "I'm sorry. I know it won't help much, but I'm sorry."
"She wot!?! Why?" The force of the near shout and the feeling of confused anger took Spike by surprise. "Left?
Just like that then?"
He shook his head and realized he'd stood up.
~Grip, Spike, get one. NOW. Must be the twins, getting to you.~
No, no it wasn't. It was the looks on their faces, yes. But it was
also the strange sense of betrayal as well. Hadn't they all dealt with enough with Bu... The Slayer dieing and
Dawn being gone?
"Stupid bint. Treated her like bloody royalty you did." He said to the twins. He could feel a growl starting in
his own chest and tamped it down. "yeah, sorry as well." He finally said, echoing Ripper.
Xander turned and looked Spike in the eye, still wrapped in his brother’s arms. He could see the sincerity in
his eyes. “Thank you.” He mumbled, so quietly that he doubted that anyone heard him.
~And now, yers truly wants to fucking kill something. Worry about why later. Fuck, I need a fag.~ He pulled out
his cigarettes and ... didn't light one. Harris hadn't been to keen on him smoking in the basement days.
Alex grinned at his little brother. He felt his anger dissipate, or at least become buried as he concentrated
on his twin. He noticed Spike taking out a cigarette, and was about to say something about him smoking in his
apartment, and how he should know that they hate it when he stopped. Spike didn’t reach for his lighter. The
angry comment died an early death, what did come out rather surprised him. “Ya can smoke out on the patio.”
He nodded his head in indication of the glass doors that led to the outside.