♔ cinq || a queen of england will be burned

[ensorceler]

[Micheletto]

You will say nothing.

[/Micheletto]

[Morgana]

My lady.

[/Morgana]

[Sherlock Holmes]

The gospels preach forgiveness, and I would hold it out to you with my own hand. I so rarely offer a third chance, but scholars are much needed in any court. I know wit when I hear it.

If you offer your allegiance, not to England but to your temporary home and territory, then you will be gently handled and well paid for your sharp mind and sharper insights.

[/Sherlock Holmes]

[Spike Spiegel]

Do you, sir, desire for another attempt to win my favor and affections?

[/Spike Spiegel]

Comments

[ensorceler]

You should be honored.

[ It's said with a teasing lilt, but still sincere enough. Of course in her time it's the greatest honor to be hired for anything directly by the king or queen. ]

I am giving you a second chance to win my favor and my love. I trust you are humbled, and eager to accept?

[gottaknockhard]

[He thinks about drawing it out, just to be contrary, but he has a feeling that he's near the end of her wooing stage.

Instead, he gives her a break. For now, he can't think of any reasons he'll soon regret the decision, other than having to settle back down in the castle. His temporary homes never did work out anyway.]

Is there something I have to sign?

[ensorceler]

No. Because as I said, I am asking as a mother. This will not...be officially documented.

[ Meaning Anne isn't willing to risk letting anything be found. This is strictly under the table, the same as she would treat a hired assassin. Is a bounty hunter that different? ]

But there are rules. You may not approach her or catch her attention at all unless you find that she is in immediate danger. So those charms of yours, you must stifle them down for this, hm? My daughter is quite beautiful.

[gottaknockhard]

[He'd been joking, but he appreciates her approach either way. Spike prefers to keep as much of his life off the record as he can -- as much as the journals do for him already.

His grin widens at her last comment; he had a feeling she would be.]

I can behave, you don't have to worry about that.

[ensorceler]

That is well and good. You would not make me jealous of mine own daughter, would you, Spike?

[gottaknockhard]

[He must be saying the right thing if she's moved on to his first name.]

Somehow I have a hard time picturing that.

[ensorceler]

[ A giggle. ]

Somehow? Why?

[gottaknockhard]

[It's nice to hear her laugh, and he looks just as amused when he replies.]

If you were that type, you'd be hiring me for a different reason.

[ensorceler]

[ She raises an eyebrow while taking a sip of her wine. ]

Now you are in the difficult position of explaining without paying me insult.

[gottaknockhard]

[He ought to take that more seriously than he does. Although explaining a joke really takes the humor out of it.]

You could have just as easily said there was a bounty on her head.

[ensorceler]

[ There's a flicker of anger in her eyes and she looks away, resting her knuckles against her mouth. Even for an invited explanation, it borders on going much too far when referring to a queen, or even a princess as Anne still can't help but see her.

Or rather, a traitor to her own legacy, though that is no one's fault but Anne's. ]

Master Spiegel, at times your jests are foolhardy.

[gottaknockhard]

[Back to that, huh? And he was doing so well.

Better to concede than insist he was paying her a compliment by suggesting she wouldn't send someone to capture her own daughter. (In retrospect, he should have found a more subtle way to test the waters.)]

My manners are a little rusty.

[ensorceler]

Yes, I believe you had warned me.

[ She smiles stiffly at first, reaching to fill her goblet because damn it's already empty. Who cares if it's Lent? ]

Be it known I am not hiring you for your manners, but your prowess. Should you prove yourself trustworthy in this endeavor, I will like nothing more than to find you added opportunities.

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike isn't one to point it out, and not when he's already offended his would-be employer, but it's rare a woman would get ahead of him when it came to drinking. But his gaze only lingers at the goblet briefly, then he's back to smiles.]

I was starting to wonder when I'd catch a break.

[ensorceler]

I can only offer what is available. There seems to be a curious lull to this prison, as I have so far been made aware, but crime is not absent in the city no matter the name of the castle.

[gottaknockhard]

You want to start collecting criminals?

[ensorceler]

I would not yet reach so far. It would only risk retaliation of the city guard, as they are not yet in proper recognition.

[gottaknockhard]

Might be interesting to find out.

[ensorceler]

I agree. But a good prince would not act too rashly in such a foreign land. Were the city to turn on me, I have no army to protect myself or the castle. They do not see themselves as my people, no more than the denizens here do.

[gottaknockhard]

[He's not going to start boasting about how he's taken on bigger odds and (mostly) survived, since he'd actually like to leave here with a deal still intact.]

There's a prince now?

[ensorceler]

Were His Majesty here, there certainly would be. I can only act to the best of my conscience and what I believe would be in his esteemed interests should he arrive, and always in the people's.

I believe...he would not take kindly to the constant affront to the crown and our most gracious efforts.

[gottaknockhard]

There's a reason I never got involved in politics.

[ensorceler]

You do not think yourself able to commit?

[gottaknockhard]

I don't have the patience.

[ensorceler]

But you have the patience for a job like this?

[ Which isn't to say it's not still a great honor, but even she knows he'll probably have more boring lulls than excitement. ]