GOING ONCE (12/?)
 

"And do you have a picture for the program?"
 

Anya looked at the woman and frowned, "No. Do we need one?"
 

The woman, whose name tag read Bianca, got a disturbed look on her middle
aged face and sighed impatiently, "You're supposed to provide a photo for
each bachelor to put in the program. That way the women are aware of who they
are bidding on."
 

"I have a picture," Buffy said, digging in her purse and pulling out a wallet
size photo of Riley.
 

"Thank you, dearie," Bianca said, "but you'll need to attach it with the
application once it is all filled out."
 

"This is too much work," Anya complained, glaring at the woman. "We just want
to auction off our lovers. Why can't we just toss them on stage?"
 

"Well, I uh," Biana appeared flustered for a moment before recovering. "You
say, they're your boyfriends?"
 

Buffy nodded, "Yeah. They wanted to do this for charity. To help raise money
to help the homeless."
 

"This is for a children's hospital actually," Biana muttered, wondering what
had happened to the youth of today.
 

"Whatever," Buffy said, looking at the application more closely. "They have
to fill everything in and give a picture?"
 

"Yes," Biana said for the tenth time at least two the blonde girl, "though
the picture is optional. The application must be completely filled out and
turned in by the end of next week or they won't be eligible for the auction."
 

"Why are there so many rules?" Anya asked, looking at what appeared to be a
huge rule book but was actually closer to three pages.
 

"A majority of the book consists of appropriate date ideas and dress code.
There are also some helpful hints to surviving the auction with they're
sanity intact," Biana explained. "Having dozens of women eyeing them like
pieces of meat is a bit of a shock to most men."
 

Anya snorted, "Xander will enjoy it."
 

"Riley sure as hell better not," Buffy said, scowling at the application.
Maybe this hadn't been a very good idea after all.
 

"Can I have a couple of extras?" Anya asked. "Xander probably won't get
anything right and I'll need to fix it."
 

"Take as many as you need," Biana said, wishing the girls would just leave.
 

"Thanks," Buffy said, taking an extra one. She glanced at Anya and smiled,
"Can't forget the one for Spike."
 

"We need to remember to give it to him so he can get everything filled in,"
Anya said as the girls turned to leave.
 

"Oh, I have a pretty good idea I know exactly where to find him," Buffy said,
walking out into the sunlight. "In fact, I think we could give it to Willow
over lunch and he'd have it before dusk."
 

"Really?" Anya glanced at the slayer and smiled. "So, Red and Blondie? Is
there some under the cover action going on there?"
 

Buffy made a face, "That is so something I don't want to even think about,
but I doubt it. I think it's still in the flirting, I hate you, don't ignore
me phase."
 

"Ah, I remember those days well," Anya smiled wistfully.
 

"Oh please, it was like last year," Buffy said, rolling her eyes.
 

"Well, that doesn't mean I can't remember it," Anya defended with a smug
smile.
 

"Come on, ancient one," Buffy said, shaking her head and laughing. "We have
to meet a certain redhead for lunch."
 

"I'll get my interrogation skills ready," Anya said seriously.
 

"All righty, ex-demon girl, this is so not the Spanish inquisition," Buffy
reminded.
 

"I promise, no blood," Anya said primly then ruined it by smiling an evil
smile, "unless she refuses to answer our questions."
 

"What are we gonna do with you?" Buffy asked as she laughed.
 

"I'm believing that that is one of those questions you ask and don't really
expect any answer to," Anya said thoughtfully. "Am I right?"
 

"Come on," Buffy said, getting into her car as she turned the radio on. "We
don't want to be late and give Willow an excuse to leave."
 

"Drive on Jeeves," Anya said with a smile as they moved onto the road.
 

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