63; dictated/action

[gottaknockhard]

( outside room 213 / aka Vicious' )

[Spike used to hate this time of year. He still does, honestly, but for the first time it managed to go over and beyond his general annoyance at forcing fake-romance in his face (which never ends well for him by any means). This time someone figured out a way to make it personal. And what's worse, is how easily Spike let them.

It was a ballsy move, but one that he should have seen coming, which makes him wonder if he'd set himself up for some purpose he's yet to digest. Of course the only thing he had left that held any value to him would be stolen. That's always been the trouble with having something to lose; which the castle seemed to be all too generous to supply. Except now the castle isn't the only one behind the scenes.

Spike has been noticeably quiet on the whole matter. Beyond his initial reaction in the woods, he hasn't acted on it the way he may have in the past -- guns blazing, daring whatever fate had in store to finish what it started -- all that impulsive macho bullshit he's famous for. For once, he took the time to get his ducks in a row. Confirm his suspicions before making a move. Once he has the whole sordid story, ironically with the help of the castle, he goes right to the source.

So on this particular night, he stops by a door he rarely visits, wearing an over-sized trench coat and carrying with him a modest bouquet of roses. A little late for the holiday, but with so few memories to go on, roses seems to be an appropriate reference.

Attached is a simple note, about as subtle as he ever is:]

Bang.

[He leaves it by the door and walks away.]

---

[Once he's finished with his delivery, Spike doesn't linger, half expecting to be stopped before he reaches the lobby. (He's ready, if he is. His gun is seconds from being drawn in case he doesn't make it out the door.) When it seems he'll be allowed to exit without incident, however, he takes out a cigarette. -- Stepping outside for a smoke is as much cover as he ever needs around here.

Outside, Spike takes a look back at the castle. He spends a few moments walking around and counting windows, before he brings out a gun and takes two perfectly aimed shots to break through the glass leading into a certain resident's room. Call him impatient.

And since he does have some indeterminate amount of time to kill, he pulls out the journal (with all the too-conveniently broken filters). Just in case something interesting pops up.]

I'm surprised it took this long to find the flaw in magic books. I guess you live and learn.


ooc: open to everything as always -- and feel free to hear gunshots, it's that kind of night

Comments

[gottaknockhard]

[Somehow denying knowledge of the whole thing only ends with Spike feeding into what his old partner has been going for all along. Vicious' final question sounds like a dare to his ears that he's already too eager to take. It makes him wonder if this all isn't some elaborate scheme to get him to off Gren and save him the trouble.

Worse, beyond the anger, a real fear of having lost the last shred of proof that he has that she ever existed brims his darkened eyes.]

I'll be seeing you. [He grounds it out and forces himself to turn around, exposing his back just to keep his warning from veering off course. He's too worked up now to get what he wants. -- That's what he tells himself, but it only takes him two steps to lose his way.] If you destroy it, I swear I'll kill you both.

[nothingtobelieve]

[He takes that threat with an impassive look, though he doesn't doubt the conviction behind Spike's words. He doesn't understand the accusations, of course, but that doesn't matter. He had enough information that he knew exactly how to get the answers now. And that was all he really needed.

And as tempting as it was to answer that threat with either violence, or a threat of his own, he'd much rather work out just what the hell was going on, first. Few things irritated him more than the sense that he was not in control of a situation. It was something he was going to have to remedy.]

[gottaknockhard]

[It's rare that Spike would speak so plainly with his threats, but it seems like the best laid plan he can come up with that avoids suffering through a longer conversation with Vicious than he can stomach. He justifies it by assuming that if Vicious doesn't know what he's talking about, he'll look into it now. With the filters broken, he'll either have to risk Spike eavesdropping, or talk to Gren in person and risk being followed.

And if he changes his mind and comes after him now, that's fine too. The invitation remains, and Spike's hand never leaves his gun until he's out of sight.]