#willow rosenberg

To Dream in Black and White

The doe-eyed redhead sauntered into her office, and had she been any other woman, Faith would have been enthralled. But she was no putz, and all she saw standing there was trouble.

Her eyes narrowed on the woman who had named herself Willow, not sure she bought the sob story she had walked in with despite the thick envelope between them. Faith sipped on the tumbler she had thought to pour herself, alcohol burning the back of her throat in a way she found comforting. She sucked a breath between her teeth as she returned it to her desk.

“Let me get this straight, toots,” she said looking at her sweating glass as she spoke. “You, Ms. Magic Extraordinaire, wanna hire me to find this-” Faith's left hand waved in the air as she slouched back into her chair.

“Necklace!" Willow rushed out to finish where the other had dropped off. "A talisman, really, but a necklace,” she clarified, leaning forward in her chair and placing a hand on the desk between them. “I can't find it on my own and I need it to finish a ritual.”

“Ritual, huh?”

The redhead sat back a frown marring her already sullen features. She seemed to pause, and it made the brunette even more suspicious.

“I was told you don't ask questions,” Willow set her shoulders back taking in a deep breath. “So," the hand on the desk touched the envelope, pushing it more towards Faith, "are you gonna help or should I just take my clams to someone who will?”

Faith sighed. She was even more dangerous with that determined pout on her face. More dangerous because she could feel herself folding like a bad hand. She picked up her glass downing it before blowing out a long exhale, frowning at the theatrics.

“Cool it, sweetheart, before you break something,” she said, putting the glass down. “I'll find your thingamabob for ya, alright. So just put them peepers away.”

Faith shook her head as the other smiled wide and pleased, soft doe eyes shining in excitement before putting her card on top of the thick envelope.

“You can reach me here when you have it, and I'll give you the rest.”

Her jaw ticked from side to side, looking at a simple card with a curling scrawl. “And if I don't find it?” She asked, not looking at the woman who was already walking towards the door.

Willow's smile was less than sweet, something dark and devious hanging from her lips. “I'm sure you'll find it,” her voice was like syrup, sweet and entrapping. “There's no other option,” she added, catching Faith's gaze as she put her hat back atop her head. “Drop a nickel when you have it.”

You have to find it, we have to!

The brunette only nodded at her, lips pulled into a frown at the echo of her voice that didn't match Willow's smile at the confirmation. The redhead's smile was unchanging as she opened the door and waltzed out of it. From behind her desk, Faith watched Willow through the distorted glass of her door. When the redhead was well and truly gone her gaze flicked down to the card.

“Definitely nothing suspicious at all.”

She had to get to Lorne's. 

Standing out front of Caritas, the street drenched in fog that the streetlights could not quite penetrate as Faith looked around her. The brunette squinted, head titling as she looked up at the flashing light of the neon sign.

Hadn't she just been… Her head turned, looking about her unable to see far in the fog regardless of the glow of the streetlights. 

How had she gotten here? 

Did she walk?

That didn't seem right. The demon's bar wasn't in Sunnydale… was it? Her brows scrunched trying to remember. 

Willow had been there, she had heard Willow. 

I can't find it anywhere! It should be on her but- 

The talisman. Right, she was looking for it and she needed her informant. 

How should I bloody know? Haven't seen the blasted thing since the Great War!

She shook her head, clearing it. She must have driven here. Something ached and burned at the gut feeling that had to be the answer. Her head turned to see her car. Right, she had a car. She swallowed, nodding as if it would make it right.That the nod would make the black car make sense. 

“Just gotta find this thing. Get paid,” she reaffirmed, focusing on the doors ahead of her. 

She needed a drink.