Mall Wars [Illyria]

[Spike]

Late night shopping. This could only be entertaining. Well, no, it could also quickly turn into hell, with Spike maybe leaving with a few more bruises and perhaps a broken bone or two, but he was feeling in a 'let's treat the out of place god king' mood. In hindsight, it was quite probably that shopping probably wasn't the best way.

But he might as well try to play the 'dilligent pet' role, mightn't he. He chuckled slightly, before stubbing out the remains of a cigarette on a 'no smoking' sign. Might as well use what was there, that was the point of them. Actually, Angel had pointed out that the point of them was to stop people smoking, and Spike had promptly replied that he'd been doing it for a century, no stupid sign was going to make him stop. Which had been responded by the usual 'but what about the people', and Spike had said, quite simply - "if they're near enough to me to breathe my smoke, they're too close".

Sure, Spike had a soul. But...it really didn't make him much different. He didn't go out killing. Couldn't go out killing, not humans, not innocents. But his demon had wanted it's soul, so they were joined and one, and the demon accepted it. It was...odd. He couldn't ask Angel about it, because Angel would go all poufy and irritating then broody. Which was a little annoying, but he'd live.

He shook his head quickly to get out of those thoughts, then clapped his hands together gleefully, glancing up at the ceiling of the indoor mall. "Right luv. Have you actually tried human food yet?" He turned his head to grin at his companion. Was she annoyed at being brought here? Spike wasn't sure. Bu you couldn't live with humanity without getting used to them, and she needed to do that. Even a god king needed to.

[Illyria]

"I have no desire to try this worlds food." Anything created by the humans she wanted nothing to do with... almost nothing to do with. These creations that the humans do make her curious. The world had substantialy changed since her time as a god. It was a time that she missed greatly. But their food was something that she did not wish to try. She did not need to eat so she saw no need.

Her cold blue eyes wandered over the sea of people. Many traveled in their flocks. With their partners. Illyria was unsure why she was brought here. It annoyed her, though the emotion did not show on her pale features. Not many emotions ever showed on her face, or in her tone. She did not like being 'read like a book'. She did not like trying to blend with these mortals either. Today for this outting, Illyria hadn't bothered to shift into the Burkle persona so she would blend with the humans here. She kept in her own icey, leather-clad appearance. She wasn't going to change herself for such beings. Experimentation was a whole other matter though. But Spike and Wesley had made it clear that taking on this shells former appearance was not the greatest of ideas.

[Spike]

"You have no idea what you're missing," Spike said cheerfully, slipping his hands into his pockets and looking around at the small crowd with interest. Alright, he didn't totally trust himself around humans still - there was always the chance that he would, perhaps, just kill one, and that thought made his hands shake, and made him have to clench them to stop them shaking. He didn't want to kill again.

But right now, here, he had bigger things to think about than the rushing of blood and the beating of hearts all around. He took a deep breath to steady himself. Actually, admitting this was just for Illyria was wrong. It was for him as much as her.

"You could have done something about the eyes and hair though, Blue," he said, glancing back at her. He kept seeing Fred in her, yes, but he could get over that. Illyria wasn't sweet Fred. Fred was gone. "Lesson one in living in a human world - you don't really want to attract all that attention unless you can deal with it and then get away wtihout being caught." Not that Spike was doing much better, appearance wise. Punk was better than freaky blue though, which was something.

[Illyria]

Illyrias head turned slightly to the side so she was looking at it. "You want me to try the humans wretched food when you will not give into your own desires? You hunger for the humans. Their blood calls to you. You are uncertain if you can control yourself." She could sense it. Even if her powers were diminished she felt it rolling off him in waves. The uncertainty. The fear. She could practically taste it. It was disgusting. A demon should give unto their desires, not cage themselves like animals. Even if the vampire was only a half-breed, there was still a demon in there.

Head cocking to the side in that inhuman way of hers, her icey eyes watched him with interest. "You would prefer me to be her?" She saw no problem with being blue. There were humans that stared but it did not matter to her. What made her curious was that he wanted her to change.

[Spike]

"Yeah, I hunger for them. I want their blood. Want to kill..." Spike said softly, too quiet for human hearing, looking around slowly, before turning back to the godking. "But it makes me better to not give in to that, y'know. To blend in. It's the way of surviving in this world, and you will have to learn that, Blue. But I don't think I can control myself, not really. Not unless I concentrate. I'm still a demon. Still a killer. Not spark can put that right. I just...think about it more now." To the demon before him, it must seem like he was caging himself. And he was.

But he'd been caged since the military bastards had nabbed him. Caged and used, and manipulated and set upon others, and just not given his own free will. He'd been denied what he was for so long, he'd craved it because it made him feel accepted, which was something Spike longed for, in a strange way. "At least this time, I'm caging myself on my own terms," he said softly, rolling his shoulders absently. Not moving made him jittery. He started walking.

"I'd prefer you to look human, so we can nick things without being nicked ourselves. You're not her, so I don't need to worry about it." Didn't mean it didn't hurt, seeing Fred's face, but he'd faced being tortured by an uber-vamp with Dru's voice singing to him. Seeing the body of his friend wasn't the worst. It hurt just like the rest.

[Illyria]

Illyria listened as he spoke. A disgusted scoff slipped past her lips. "You are like a caged bird. Your inner demon must be suffering." From what she had heard though, the vampire had wanted a soul. That was interesting indeed. She never met a demon that wanted a soul before. If she had met one while she was a god, she would have torn their head off. But she wasn't no more. Now she was human... like the rest of the creatures that walked this planet. More or less.

"If that is what you wish." Without faltering in her steps, the blue in her hair flowed out, chocolate locks forming in its place. As the blue in her hair disapeared so did the blue and pale tones in her skin, leaving a tan color on her skin. The leather armor she wore appeared to morph itself for in a second she was wearing a red sundress that trailed down to her knees, sleevless. And instead of boots she now wore brown sandals. She was Fred in every way, except for her face. The expression she wore was still that expressionless one that Illyria always bore.

[Spike]

"A caged bird. Interesting. My ex liked birds, y'know," Spike said absently, tilting his head to the side as he examined the surrounding humans. "But it ain't so bad. Least I can get laid without goin' crazy." Unlike Angel. who...couldn't. Which was incredibly amusing.

Spike was an odd demon though, he always had been. Too human. Probably wouldn't be good to mention that to the ex-god though.

He shuddered slightly as Fred's features took the place of the blue, icy ones. "Not what I wish, not really. But, it'll work better." Now they weren't...actually, no, having a girl chage appearences had gained them quite a few more looks. Spike sighed, looped his arm through hers, then turned and steered them both into the nearest shop. "Right. Any godly items in here? Gotta learn how to shop, luv."