011 // Written

[nothingtobelieve]

[He knows the filters are broken at this point, but there's not a lot he can do about it. And frankly, he's angry enough that he doesn't care. Which is why he scrawls a message out, instead of dictating. Better not to let on just how unhappy he is, just yet.]


Gren. We need to talk.

[Spare on the details, no need to give out more information than he can avoid.]




[OOC: Backdated to after this post]

Comments

written

[both_neither]

[He's a little surprised by the open summons, such as it is. He does have an inkling of what this might be about, though, and doesn't ask accordingly.]

Now?

written

[nothingtobelieve]

If it's not an inconvenience.

[The down side of text, it doesn't convey sarcasm in a satisfactorily biting way.]

written

[both_neither]

Fine. Meet me at work.

written

[nothingtobelieve]

I'll see you there.

action forever

[both_neither]

[He's not sure this is the best of ideas, but it's better than his apartment.

He waits out front for Vicious, arms crossed over his chest and trying not be too worried]

[nothingtobelieve]

[His outside demeanor as he walked up betrayed nothing of the irritation Vicious felt as he approached the bar, but his tone, when he speaks, is positively glacial]

Someone fired gunshots through my window this evening. I'm told you'd know why.

[It was a vast simplification of his earlier run-in with Spike, but he didn't feel like wasting words on the whole aggravating affair]

[both_neither]

[He hides the slight wince by glancing away, but it's still telling. Gren doesn't want Vicious to be angry with him, but that seems to be the result of all this. He hopes it's more with Spike than him, but it's only a hope]

He's trying to blame you for something I did.

[nothingtobelieve]

Your actions reflect on me.

[Gren might not have seen it that way, but Spike was treating it all with full Syndicate trappings, and in this one instance, Vicious was inclined to agree.]

[both_neither]

[He gave Vicious a slightly surprised look, unsure what to make of the implication.]

Only in his head. And given what it involved, I was hoping you'd approve.

[nothingtobelieve]

He didn't offer specifics.

[Which was just a round-about way of saying he still had no idea what it was Gren had actually done]

[both_neither]

Right.

[He stuck his hands in his pockets and paced a moment]

You know how the castle sometimes gives us things on Christmas? Last year, when Julia was here, it gave her a car. A couple of months ago I hired someone to steal it for me.

[nothingtobelieve]

[Just the mention of her name made things click into place. The way Spike had decided to get his attention, what had seemingly set him off]

If you wanted to make him angry, you succeeded.

[He was sure that hadn't been Gren's goal at all, but he also should have foreseen it as a direct consequence.]

[both_neither]

Maybe I was mad at him for how he treated us, but that really wasn't the point. It was for you. He was right about that much...just not in the exact way he figured.

[nothingtobelieve]

It wasn't necessary.

[Which Gren was probably aware of by now, given the way things had unfolded, even in the absence of that 'gift.']

And don't go near him again.

[both_neither]

[He frowned]

I can't exactly avoid him forever.

[nothingtobelieve]

[There's a flash of displeasure across his face at that remark, and his tone, when he speaks, is just this side of condescending]

You can avoid drawing his ire more than is inevitable given our association.

[both_neither]

[That stung a little, and frown took on a slightly hurt, pleading expression]

If that's what you want, I'll do it. Unless he starts it first. But he'll try to find me or the car at some point.

[nothingtobelieve]

That can't be avoided. But provoking him further should be.

[And perhaps he's irritated at himself that he hadn't made it more clear that Spike was his to deal with. He simply hadn't thought it was necessary.]

[both_neither]

Okay.

[He sighs slightly and hesitates a moment]

Look, I didn't mean to cause you trouble, but, would you at least come see it?

[DON'T BE MAD HE LOVES YOU OK? :C]

[nothingtobelieve]

We'll go when we're less likely to be followed.

[He knew nothing about the conversation on the network was secure, and Spike had already been lurking around the castle. It would be inviting trouble to head there now]

[both_neither]

[Gren glanced away and eyed the area suspiciously]

That's...yeah...that's a better idea.

[nothingtobelieve]

I'll get in touch. Contact me if he tries anything before then.

[He couldn't be sure what Spike might do now... he'd gone after Gren once before, and with far little provocation than this]

Stay on guard.

[both_neither]

I will.

[He wants to tell Vicious to be careful too but...no.]