66; action/dictated

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike hasn't made a habit of checking the journal as soon as he gets up in the morning. If he had, he may have been able to avoid the scenario that took place as he reached for a coffee mug in the kitchen.

Somehow he doesn't notice until that exact moment that there is a telling purple bite mark wrapped around his wrist. He stares at it long enough for panic to set in.]

What the... [He didn't even feel it.] Just won't die, will you?

[What happens after can be heard all the way in the lobby. Determined to find what he knows is slithering around here somewhere, he begins shoving appliances off counters, emptying drawers, cabinets, throwing pots around, and finally... he starts the daunting task of taking apart the fridge. (Clearly his way of helping after the earthquake.)

That's when he remembers the journal.]

Hey, there's -- [A whole lot of chatter going on in there. He hesitates...] -- a mouse or something in the kitchen. You'll probably want to stay out for a while.

[He hasn't even noticed the blood running down one side of his face. That's what happens when you haven't had your coffee yet.]


ooc: open on journal/in the kitchen!

Comments

[bronwe]

[ But this hobbit is already by the kitchen for his second breakfast, now creepy by the entrance to see what all the racket is about. Spike's hair is helpfully distinctive though. ]

I don't think you would find a mouse that way.

[gottaknockhard]

[He's crouching and pulling food from the bottom drawers when he hears the hobbit. It causes him to pause without looking behind him, since yeah, the thing isn't likely to be in the head of lettuce he's holding -- which he tosses over his shoulder at the revelation.

Frodo, you don't know how screwed they are.]

Well, I don't have any traps.

[bronwe]

[ Well, he isn't afraid of no mouse in any case, so he goes to walk to another side of the kitchen and start peeking through the cabinets and other things to see where a mouse might hide. ]

We can wish for one and then just leave it. Mice don't like noise.

[gottaknockhard]

[He heaves a sigh and shoves the drawer shut.]

I guess you don't have a blowtorch with you.

[bronwe]

[ That just makes him wonder if this mouse is real or a figment of his paranoia... until he turns to look at Spike to judge and instead sees the blood running down his face. He gasps audibly and rushes over. ]

You're bleeding! Did the mouse hurt you?

[gottaknockhard]

[That completely throws him off, enough that he doesn't think to shove his hand into his pocket before Frodo comes over. Not noticing a huge blob biting your wrist is one thing, not noticing that he's bleeding...

He keeps carefully still, even if it's hard to hide how disturbing this is.]

Am I?

[bronwe]

[ Frodo thinks he's still awfully calm for someone bleeding so much, though the purple mark doesn't seem harmful enough to warrant attention now. He pulls out his handkerchief and offers it to Spike. What to do? ]

Over your eye, there! Does it hurt? I can call a doctor.

[gottaknockhard]

[Over his eye? Spike doesn't quite believe him until he takes the handkerchief to his face and pulls it back to see blood. A lot of it. Somehow he knew which eye he was talking about before he asked, but he doesn't feel how wet it is until then.

This is turning awkward quick. From how still he is, it almost looks like he's in shock.]

No. [A delayed response, although it's hard to say if he was saying no to the doctor, or to his question. He's staring at the cloth in his hand.] That's a little alarming...

[bronwe]

Yes, let's, we must hurry!

[ Frodo doesn't know if it's reassuring or even more alarming that he can't feel it, but wounds need to be treated especially if it's bleeding so much! He tries to take his wrist and start dragging him toward the kitchen's door, but he probably won't get anywhere without Spike going along with the plan. ]

[gottaknockhard]

[That seems to help his focus. Spike gets to his feet, although he isn't hurrying. What's going on here?]

You can see this, right? [He's pointing at the mark on his wrist with his free hand. You never know what you're going to get with head wounds, but it's possible that he's really that out of it.]

[bronwe]

[ No, why is he stalling. Frodo tries to put his weight into it, tugging him to start moving. ]

Yes! And I can see you're still bleeding.

[gottaknockhard]

[It's working, if only because he's completely baffled by what's happening. At least he's not crazy.

He really wishes he'd taken longer to read the journal.]

It's not from a mouse.

[onlyanapple]

A mouse.

Really?

[gottaknockhard]

[Yes, a mouse. No need to change his story unless he's sure he can't catch it before he passes out.]

That's what I'm calling it.

[onlyanapple]

And what is it actually?

[gottaknockhard]

I won't know until I find it.

[3nterprising]

[Spike isn't the only one who failed to check the journal this morning. She's blissfully unaware of anyone's problems, let alone Spike's dictation.

She pauses as she enters the kitchen, not entirely surprised, but wary of the mess when she sees who caused it.]

Do I even wanna know?

[gottaknockhard]

[Fortunately, his back is turned when she enters, and the curse that he lets out is mostly muted. He's serious considering banning himself from the kitchen.]

Be careful where you step.

[3nterprising]

[She looks down at the floor, noticing nothing out of the ordinary. Well, besides all the stuff he'd thrown.]

Why? There's nothing here.

[gottaknockhard]

[She'll know if she sees his wrist, so he's quick to slip it into his pocket.]

Would you believe a rabid mouse?

[3nterprising]

A rabid mouse?

[She's not buying it. But perhaps she would though, if she'd noticed the matching splotch on her calf.

If he turns to see her, the calf might be secondary to the strange dark markings on her face. Markings that would suggest she should invest in waterproof mascara.]

[both_neither]

[This is the perfect time for Gren to find him of course. Honestly, he figured this would happen eventually, given the fact that he'd had to move back to the castle after the quake had at least temporarily put him out of home and work. He might have just turned on a heel and left, rather than tempt fate any further but...

Nope. Way too curious for that.]

You, uh...lose something?

[gottaknockhard]

[Turning is overrated when he has a perfectly shiny metal pot in front of him. He notices something off, like everything else today, and half-turns towards her.]

Did I miss something?

[gottaknockhard]

[His mind, maybe. Everyone knows mutated lobster-aliens usually hide in the ventilation. Which isn't to say he's going to mention this to Gren.]

You come to help me look?

[3nterprising]

What are you talking about?