♫ 2 [backdated to Friday]

[both_neither]

[Gren had already been planning on moving into town, ever since he'd been introduced to the idea that it was an option. He knew it wasn't a perfect solution, but living inside the castle made the fact of his loss hover a little closer to the surface. He'd actually been moving things to a place for a few days, but Vicious' sudden arrival kicked this plan into overdrive. The chance that Vicious would find his nameplate and drop in unannounced was too high for comfort. If he was going to see the man again, it was going to be on more even terms.

The moment he's done talking to Vicious he throws together the last of his things, which wasn't much, and then scrawls a filter into the journal]

I'm sure you noticed that Vicious is here. I'm moving into town. You might want to consider doing the same, if you haven't already.

Comments

Gren; dictated

[common_name]

[Gren. Her stomach drops. In between being so wrapped in her own thoughts, so concerned for what Spike may or may not be trying to do upon learning of this happy little turn of events, that Gren might've almost briefly slipped her mind. Not a chance of that now.

There's silence on her end for quite a chunk of time, that suggestion processing through her thoughts, before she actually replies to that filter. Using it makes her nervous, especially now (and maybe an edge of that has crept into her voice), but for now, she doesn't really see a viable alternative.]

How long? [She may not know much at the moment, but she does know one thing. He's not planning on avoiding Vicious permanently. And that may be what makes her the most nervous about this.]

Julia; dictated

[both_neither]

[They both have things to fear from Vicious, but for different reasons, and he's sure that she's in more danger than he is. It's not even his physical safety that's making him do this, but the anguish it would cause him to have to look Vicious in those cold cold eyes again. He knows she'll run, because she was doing the same when she showed up in Callisto.

All the same, he had to be sure she was safe. He had to let her know because she was still the only solid connection he had. Maybe the only person that might go looking for him if Vicious did simply decide to kill him.

Still, that history is there, hanging in the air between them. Even if he'd never as much spoke his real feeling about Vicious to her, well, she was smart enough to figure it out

And that's why he's not telling her where he's going exactly, just that he is. He doesn't want to risk her coming after him, just in case she put herself in more danger or, maybe worse, got in the way.]

I don't plan on moving back, if that's what you mean.

Gren; dictated

[common_name]

[Once, she'd run. It was the logical third option when none had ever existed before. It was unprecedented, unanticipated, and it more than served its purpose at the time.

But things are different here.

Here, she's done nothing but run in the same circles and hit the same walls, enabling the same issues to manifest themselves over and over again. As long as she keeps this pattern up, history will only repeat itself. If being in this world, experiencing what she's experienced, has taught her anything, it's that she wants that cycle to stop.

She needs to find another option. No matter what she may have to fear from Vicious, she can't allow herself to give in to it. There are more important things.

(... Besides, at this point, he would only be expecting her to run.)]

And you think that'll work? [It's quiet, contemplative. But there's something different about this kind of quiet.]

Julia; dictated

[both_neither]

[It's his turn to pause, while he contemplates that turn in her voice.

He's always known she was strong. It sometimes took more guts to admit that running was the better option, especially when it took you away from everything you loved. It made even more sense now that he knew a little of what might have been better her and Spike.]

Not for long, no.

[But it's all he needs. Because he's not running, he's just regrouping, and if he could, he didn't want to avoid Vicious forever. He knew it the second he heard that icy baritone. He was weak to it, even now, despite the anger is inspired - in the same breath that it brought up something far more unnameable.]

Gren; dictated

[common_name]

[Not for long.

Something about those words sends another one of those sinking feelings down her stomach, even though they just confirm what she already knew. Of course she doesn't want him going after Vicious either. Yet she knows that there's nothing she can say or do to convince him not to. It'll always be a possibility lingering at the back of her mind, nagging at her, continually worrying her...--

... But her mind was already made up before this conversation even began. She's just as stubborn.]

I have to stay with him. [If anyone would know what she means, it'd be Gren.]

Julia; dictated

[both_neither]

[And that says enough to tell him it's so much herself she's protecting from Vicious, but Spike. Or was it the other way around.

One of these days she might decide to tell him the whole story, instead of hanging onto a secret that no longer mattered.

Or he could just ask Vicious.]

Do what you have to, Julia. I just don't want you to get hurt.