Title: The Query Series
Author: NyxMne Chaosis
Email: magmyr@umailme.com
Distribution: SFA
Rating: PG-13 (NC-17 in parts for character death)
Setting: Post-Lover's Walk (Season 3)/Pre-Harsh Light of Day (Season 4)
Summary: After his drunken fiasco in "Lover's Walk", Spike returns to Brazil to woo back Dru.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.

Devon's Query


Throat's scratchy. Not a good sign. Still have another set to do. Hell, my voice better last through it. Thanks to Will, I've got my usual medicine... coffee: black with tons of sugar. That should do the trick.

Sip it slow. Real slow.

I hate it when Oz takes off to do the whiz thing, leaving me alone with Will. She's way smart, I'll give her that much, but we don't have much to talk about. She's okay, you know. Pleasant enough. But, I don't think she likes me much... It's like she's tries too hard sometimes.

"Great set," she says, smiling her crooked smile. Looks like something's on her lip.

"Yeah, thanks," I reply.

Sip the coffee slower, less talking that way.

I glance around the Bronze. It's packed. That's a good sign, but I can't think about the people...

The people make me nervous, but when I'm on stage they don't exist. Just the music exists and that's the way I like it. It blocks out everything... even the need to make conversation.

Noticing Willow sigh, I decide I should say something... you know, make an effort. She is Oz's girlfriend after all, even if I don't understand what Oz sees in her. What is that on her lip? Mayonnaise?

"Cool amulet," I say, noticing her fingers playing with a shiny object on her necklace: a shiny silver disk with a pentagram and other various strange symbols etched on it.

Will perks up, excited that I've taken an interest in her Wicca. She's taking that deep breath. You know the one. It's likes she's getting ready to spew a whole lot of words all at once. I guess I should brace myself.

"Thanks," Will replies. "The Wicca Shoppe where I buy my supplies sent it to me. In their letter, they wrote that I was a valued customer. You could say that I'm a regular there." She stops for a breath, and touches the necklace. "It's a protection amulet, and you can't ever have enough protection if you know what I mean?"

"Uh, yeah," I reply, unable to tear my eyes away from the blob of white goo at the corner of her mouth.

Sip the coffee really slow. Try to look away. Try.

The coffee is starting to zing in my blood. Just the jolt I need to get me through the next set. My throat's feeling a bit better too, and... Damn it! That blob of mayonnaise just hangs there on her lip. Doesn't she know? Can't she feel it?

Nervously, I wipe my mouth, but the suggestion of my gesture goes unnoticed. Maybe Will's not that smart after all.

"Does it look ok?" Will asks concerned. " I put it on as I was leaving the dorm, so I didn't have a chance to scope it out in the mirror."

I nod, unable to tear my eyes away from her mouth. I lick my lips. Nothing happens. The blob is still there.

"Um, Will?" I begin, but can't seem to get the words out. Normally I wouldn't say anything, normally I wouldn't care, but the intake of caffeine is making me antsy.

She waits anxiously for what I'm about to say.

"Uh," I stammer again. I'm much better when I'm singing. "You got... you got something," I continue. Shakily, I point to her face, "On your lip."

Will finally understands. She brushes her lip but misses. The shake of my head prompts her to search for a shiny, reflective surface. Finally she picks up a spoon from a nearby table. She lifts it to her face. In the strobe of the dance lights, it looks like slow motion. She peers into the spoon inspecting her lip, then disappears.

Just disappears. Snap. Like that.

"Hey," Oz greets me. "Where'd Will go?" Oz waits expectantly for my reply. As always he is patient.

"Uh, Oz, your girlfriend just went whoosh," I try to explain.

Oz looks at me questioningly.

"Except without the whoosh sound, but there may have been a whoosh sound. I probably just didn't hear it above the house music," I babble. Finally, I take a deep breath. "Just vanished into thin air."

"How much coffee have you had, Devon?" he asks with concern. He's always concerned about everyone. Gotta love him for that.

"One cup," I answer, but then I start to wonder...

"What the hell did Willow slip into my java!?"