68; dictated/action

[gottaknockhard]

( Frodo )

[Generally speaking, Spike has an excellent ability to put off things that he finds uncomfortable, largely by pretending not to notice them at all. It just so happens that the subjects he's most uncomfortable with are popping up so often lately that he's struggled to keep his record down. (Especially with his new found handicap.) And unfortunately, when the distractions of unexpected nights out at strip clubs and failed car races are over, he's back to the same issues he had a week ago.

Telling a queen about her own downfall isn't something he ever expected to be his responsibility. He can pretend that he only agreed out of spite, but what he knows is a lot more disturbing that he's ready to admit. It's days after he roped Frodo into helping with the research, on that same queen's orders, that he thinks it's about time they got back together.]

Hey. Are you around?

[The tone makes it obvious why he's calling, and that he's not thrilled about it. Hopefully Frodo had an easier time translating history books than he did.]

---

[He's about to close the journal and stand up to make his way to the library, of all places, when he nearly trips over a small dog that gets in the way of his foot. When he catches himself on a table, he glares down.

Ein...]

I thought I told you not to do that. [To which Ein tilts his head and stares innocently. It gets worse when Spike actually looks at the bag he brought home to find the contents spilled across the floor while he wasn't paying attention. (How hard was he concentrating, anyway?)] You know, if you're that hungry, you really need to learn how to use a can opener. [More staring.] What? ... [Ein nudges the journal that's still open on the table, picking up his one-sided conversation.

Smart ass dog.

Like he even cares if anyone hears him talking to himself. Then the dog's stomach rumbles audibly, and Spike sighs.] Yeah, yeah. I'll get it before I leave.

Comments

[bronwe]

A wise one once said to me: all we can do is decide whatever choices given us in our time.

[ And that was why he chose to go because it seemed the best path he could take, the most he could do with all he has. ]

But she was given no choice.

[gottaknockhard]

[It's a good thing he keeps them buried healthily under all the casual indifference.]

Next time I'll remember to write them down.

[gottaknockhard]

[Kind of how he's not giving one to Frodo.]

I'm not sure she'll see it that way.

[mal_addict]

[It's the best way to deal with issues, she'd agree wholeheartedly]

Be sure you do. I'll await to hear them with baited breath.

[gottaknockhard]

It's that boring around here lately, huh?

[Because nobody would actually notice his crazy talk without having nothing better to do, right?]

[mal_addict]

I wouldn't say that too loudly, last time I did that we ended up in space with all the crazy people.

[gottaknockhard]

[... Okay, he can joke about this, it's fine.]

That was your fault?

[mal_addict]

I doubt it, but people here are suspicious of those kinds of things.

[gottaknockhard]

I don't know if they've tested that theory enough yet.

[mal_addict]

There's plenty of time.

[gottaknockhard]

If you want to, I'll try to keep a tally.

[mal_addict]

Sounds like a plan.

[bronwe]

Would she think it her fault to see such doom?

[gottaknockhard]

That's always a possibility.

[ensorceler]

[ Anne wishes now she hadn't eaten anything at all, because it's difficult to keep it from coming up again. No surprise, no surprise. So why is she surprised? Even before she left, Anne had already begun to watch her life collapse around her, and Henry's resistance to planning Elizabeth's future.

She had thought her heart already broken, but there is are still more cracks to be made before it completely shatters, it seems. And still, outwardly, she merely stares ahead at nothing, her voice sounding distant to her own ears. ]

For he had a son, did he not? The legitimate heir His Majesty so prayed for. But not by me. [ The baby that had been in her belly when she was brought here, she will have to lose a second time, won't she? Anne is starting to think she can't feel anymore for any new revelations. There is just too much. ] Who gave him male issue? The name of the next Queen of England?

[ The little bastard that dared to replace her daughter for a time? And then Mary, how could he? She won't even ask if he legitimized her, it's clear enough as all the pieces are beginning to fall into place. ]

[3nterprising]

Hm. Then I guess you're stuck with him.

The dog probably has a deathwish to want to stick around you.

[bronwe]

What must I say to comfort her?

[bronwe]

[ Frodo loathes giving up the names of her enemies, because they are, aren't they? He thinks terrible things might happen to them if he tells her and then their blood will be on his hands, when he would rather no one hurt anyone at all. If he could, he would stop it with him, as best as he can.

He is careful when he speaks, knowing full well how close to the edge Anne is, despite all her control. ]

You asked me to tell you of the events leading to your death. And I have done so.

[gottaknockhard]

[Don't start that again.]

It's because of me that he's alive in the first place, you know.

[gottaknockhard]

If I knew that, she would have asked for me.

[bronwe]

Does she believe I know the answer?

[3nterprising]

What'd you do, save him from falling off a building?

[gottaknockhard]

She must think you have a better shot.

[gottaknockhard]

Close.

[bronwe]

She thinks too highly of me.

[ As too many of them do. ]