Willy the Snitch's Journal

Momma said there'd be days like these.

Astra got a little cranky with me. I mean, it was an innocent thing. Honest injun.

So I like whatserface from Desperate Housewives. It's not like I'm ever gonna meet her. Right?

It's just a little innocent crush thing. She's probably nothing like her character on the show anyway, and I'm totally happy with my wife, who I love more than I love my limbs.

I should do something t' make it up to her. Flowers. Candy. Flowers and candy.

She ported out in a snit, sayin' that she'd just go work it out herself at work, and come back when she wasn't upset with me.

This sucks.

Current Mood: guilty
Current Music: "Beth" - KISS

That can't be good.

Thought he was dead.

I gotta make some calls.

Current Mood: concerned

I dunno exactly what's blowin' up Astra's skirt these days, but, brr, the temperature's seemed to be down whenever I've been a few feet from her.

She'll tell me, sooner or later. That's my girl. Just gotta remember to stay outta her way while she's pissed, and not bug her 'bout it till she's ready t' talk. That's all. Easy-peasy.

Ain't seen much of The Slayer or her crew lately, either, come t' think of it. It's been, like months since I feel like I seen anybody.

Maybe I ain't the info resource I been? I'd hate t' think somebody out there's cornered my market.

I bet it's the guy that runs the Fish Tank.

I hate that guy.

Current Mood: busy

I'm so stupid.

What a dumb thing to get in a fight about.

Astra and me, we watch Survivor every week. It's a little addiction. I mean, yeah, I might run a little betting pool on the side...but whatever. You pick up a little extra coin where you can, right?

So, Thursday night, we had a little viewing party in the bar, and I ended up having to pay out a lot of money when Gregg went down. The guy was my pick, so I was offering 2-1 odds on him, paying out double if he got pegged. I thought he had it in the bag.

So, I payed out at the end of the night, and it kind of emptied the till, and Astra and me got into it over how silly it was to run my betting thing when it was gonna cost us the night's whole receipts. I mean, that happens, y'know? Gotta take a little risk every now and then. I mean, big money people don't make a giant pile of cash without a little risk. Donald Trump didn't get to have his own TV show by playing it safe.

Been keeping on the couch for the last two days.

I'm stupid.

Current Mood: crappy

Astra got called to some big meeting in Arashm-whozits...Business thing. I get that. Just bites that I can't go with her.

I mean, yeah, I'm needed here in the bar, but I don't like my lady goin' off without me. It's not a jealousy thing, it's a self-preservation thing. Usually, when she's away, I wind up in some kinda trouble.

Sunnydale's that way, though. It's like a guy I know who was in the army used to tell me: Just because something's pretty, doesn't mean it ain't dangerous. Well, Sunnydale's not exactly pretty...so, maybe that metaphor ain't really any good.

I should just stick to the stuff I know, like pourin' drinks. It's probably better for my health in the long run. Gotta remember t' Tivo The Amazing Race for Astra, so we can watch it when she gets back. I got money ridin' on Amber and Boston Rob...

Current Mood: nervous

Oh, man. I hate havin' to wear a cast around. It's murder.

Ok, not murder, precisely...but it is a gigantic pain in the ass.

Tougher than hell to sneak out of bed without wakin' the wife, so I could head down into the bar, and start work on part of her Valentine's surprise...

Just hope she likes the recipie, and I don't screw it up, tryin' to cook it with only one good hand...

Current Mood: creative

I been bummed all day, and nobody seems to get why.

Johnny Carson passed away.

I grew up watchin' Johnny. And he's not here anymore.

That kinda makes me sad.

That's all.

Current Mood: sad

Ow.

Can't go down into the restaurant.

Hard to work with my jaw swollen practically shut, and a broken arm.

Astra caught me when I fell in through the back door of the restaurant, all beat up. My own fault, really...goin' out at night without any protection. But who knew I'd get beat down by some vamps?

They said it was a message...that my "Demon" and me needed to relocate, because Sunnydale was gonna be real inhospitiable to "her kind" soon.

Nobody talks about my wife like that, like she's somethin'...less than a person.

So, I tried t' play hero. I can't move my jaw, an' the big one broke my arm in at least two places.

Astra got me to the hospital, thank God.

Thank God for my girl...or thank D'Hoffryn...whichever. Hard to think real clear with all the painkillers. Thank you, Demerol.

Current Mood: sore

*In the Bar and Grille*
Light music plays on the in-restaurant sound system. Freddie Mercury is singing about wanting to break free, and Willy is polishing the bar. The crowd in here is light, a human UPS driver on his lunch break arguing football good-naturedly with a blue-skinned demon with mouths in the palms of his hands. Willy's nodding along with the discussion, about to offer something in support of the Jets going to the Super Bowl, when a new arrival makes his way into the bar...

Christmastime.

I love it, I dunno 'bout anybody else.

I love the whole ritual, man...lights, the tree, the little snowman...ok, it's California, so the snowman's plastic, but the thought is there.

Sometimes, I really miss snow at Christmastime. Well, there was that one year, but that was a freak thing. Like, celestial intervention or somethin'.

My lady is really tolerant of my jolly-Saint-Willy routine. 'Cause she loves me. Me. Man, sometimes, I think that the day I met her was the best day ever.

Nope, I know it was.

Gotta get her somethin' special this year.

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: "Little Drummer Boy" - David Bowie and Bing Crosby

Hmm.

Somethin's up.

I mean, I only say it 'cause I keep seein' all these new faces at the Bar and Grille. New, bumpy faces, that is. Ain't seen Ev or Michael in ages. No sign of most of the regular crowd, really.

But a ton o' new vamps.

Wonder if I should get ahold o' Spike through the ol' grapevine...he'd have heard if there was a new crew movin' in to town, right?

Current Mood: pensive

Coolin' down up in our rooms.

Still pissed off, though.

I don't care what Korthrax thinks he is, or if it's mating season for his people, or if he's got those tusks.

Nobody grabs my wife's ass right in front of me.

Nobody!

Current Mood: aggravated

Stock room's an ongoing project.

I swear, it was SO much easier when it was just the bar. Easier to keep track of things, easier to balance the books...sometimes, I think maybe I've gotten myself in over my head.

Then she sits down, and puts her head on my shoulder, seein' me all tense, and it's like it all fades away instantly, y'know?

All my self-doubt, all of it. Gone. Pfft.

She's magic, my wife is. I mean, yeah...demon. Goes without saying.

But it's a different kind of magic.

Current Mood: loved

She's home.

My Astra made it home.

I didn't pry, neither. I mean, I know she went to help one o' her friends, and it was safer for me not t' go, because, when I get involved in stuff like that, creepy spiritual necromancers come out of the woodwork and possess me and stuff.

But I was worried.

Clem stayed at the Bar with me and played about a billion games of Crazy Eights and War and everything else we could think of to distract me.

I actually got really good at Donkey Kong...

But she's home!

That's the important thing.

Current Mood: relieved

Today will be our Independance Day!
July 4th.

Y'know, I might be a weaselly little coward, but there's another thing I am too.

An American.

So, I put up American flags all around the restaurant. Anyone who brings in a little flag, or wears red, white and blue today gets a free Hellmouth Surprise.

And my lady got me Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on DVD. It's playin' on the bar tv ALL DAY.

I love this holiday.

Current Mood: cheerful

MAN, does it feel good to be back in the saddle.

After the business with that fake Moloch, I had a TON of makin' up to do with my lady...but she didn't make me work TOO hard for it.

That's one o' the reasons I love her. She's got the biggest heart of anyone I know.

The Grand Re-opening was a pretty big success. First drink free, that went over HUGE. Gotta remember to thank Ev for the idea.

Spike even showed. Brought that friend of Astra's with him. They seemed pretty tight, the two of them.

Randall spent a good amount of the night in deep negotiations with Spike's date. Something about bringing a shipment of artifacts up from Mexico for her, for a finder's fee. Hope he knows what he's doing. Acting as a go-between in magic goods can be tricky. I still remember what it was like havin' that necromancer crawlin' around in my brain.

All in all, a really good night. Although Mike kept starin' at Spike all night. Hope there's no bad blood in the family toward Spike. And if there is, I hope it's not anything I get caught in the middle of.

Current Mood: content
Current Music: "Stray Cat Strut" - Stray Cats

*huddling under a table*

I don't wanna die, Ev. Not like this. Not by someone I like's hand...

Current Mood: scared

//firewalled to all but Moloch.//

Why would she do that? I mean...I know...she's with that Count guy...but, I thought she loved you. Love doesn't just...go away. Love is FOREVER.

Nobody knows anything about loyalty anymore.

What do we do, big guy? I mean...the Slayer and her crew could come kickin' in here any time, and I don't need that...and they CAN'T take my wife from me...they CAN'T.

You wouldn't let 'em, would you?

Current Mood: anxious

I know, I should be concentratin' on the new place. Got a million things aren't done yet. Already haveta replace one o' the cooks. Astra saw him eatin'...she was SERIOUSLY grossed out. My fault, I guess, for hirin' a Sectral demon. Insect heads, and insect digestion. He had his lunch...it was a cast-iron skillet he puked on, dissolved with his acid bile, and lapped up outta a bowl.

So, 'course, we can't have that, and he didn't wanna take a demotion to dishwasher, so his eatin' habits don't freak out payin' folk.

Said he'd think about hirin' some lawyer to sue us for anti-demon discrimination...

Talked to Moloch about it, for advice. He said not to worry...it was probably a friv...friv...probably nobody would touch the suit. Thank God. Don't need someone takin' away all my ready cash before we even OPEN, y'know?

Glad he's around. Seems like he's the only one I can turn to sometimes, y'know?

Current Mood: confused

Runnin' around like a chicken missin' it's head, tryin' to get everything ready for the grand re-openin'.

This Italian guy offered some substantive investment capital if I feed him some info about one o' the locals...but since it's Spike, I feel all guilty...but Moloch says I shouldn't go to Buffy about it.

She'd just smack me around for even THINKIN' about it...and Spike c'n take care of himself, really...

Right?

Should get t' bed...Astra is plannin' on bein' up at 7 to run the cooks and waiters through their paces for the opening...make sure they know what they're doin'. Without her, I wouldn't be able ta pull none o' this off.

Current Mood: excited