74; dictated/action [ backdated to early afternoon ]

[gottaknockhard]

[Today is typical, as they all are for a magic castle. Bumps in the road don't usually stop Spike from falling back into his routines. He does get out for a good portion of the day, despite what some people may suspect; and if that leads to a nap on the couch in the lobby, he doesn't see how that shouldn't count.

It's when he wakes up, rather abruptly ending an elusive dream he was only in the middle of, that he slowly remembers the schedule he's put himself on. He should be hungry by now. Yet for some reason, before the prospect of lunch motivates him, he thinks of Frodo and how distressed he was before he disappeared. -- Nothing really bothers the little guy, so seeing him like that leaves an impression. Considering this, it's not unusual that that sort of thing would come to mind.

When he sits up, something in the corner of his eye catches the light from the afternoon sun. Curiously, he takes a closer look, and finds a small round band of gold inexplicably sitting at the foot of the couch.

... Weird coincidence.]

( Fro- )

...

---

[Just as he begins to set up the filter, he stops. Something about the way the light hits the metal, he can almost hear it, a soft hum that distracts his attention from the journal. Transfixed for several seconds, he reaches for it, only vaguely remembering Frodo's warning after he slips it on his finger.

And he blinks out of sight.]


(ooc: That damn ring...)

Comments

[nothingtobelieve]

An anonymous one.

[He hasn't moved, though he has noticed that subtle hint of aggression on Spike's part. And while Vicious looks unarmed, he's sure Spike knows that's never the case]

We could test it's veracity.

[gottaknockhard]

[Now isn't the time to be vague. If he knows what he's hiding, he'd do better to come out and say it.]

And if I have other plans?

[nothingtobelieve]

[He honestly has no idea he's stumbled into a mine field. Partially his own fault for being self-centered, and not mindful of the way this place alters predictable patterns.]

Make time for an old friend.

[He flicks one wrist slightly, until there's a glint of metal showing between his fingers.]

[gottaknockhard]

[Usually that would be his cue to draw his gun, but still he stands there, unmoving.]

If it's that important to you, how could I say 'no'?

[nothingtobelieve]

Kind of you.

[And that seeming indifference should have been Vicious' clue to hold back and sort out what was going on, but when it came to Spike, rational behavior rarely followed, so he flicked the knife in Spike's direction and rushed him]

[gottaknockhard]

[No sooner does the knife leave Vicious' hand than Spike jumps to the side -- seemingly to counter with something. It's not a weapon he's reaching for though. If Vicious is close enough, he may see a glint of gold, before he abruptly vanishes from sight.]

[nothingtobelieve]

[While he sees it, it doesn't register as something strange until Spike simply isn't there anymore, and he's forced to look around with barely contained annoyance. He really hates this place.]

[gottaknockhard]

[Wearing the ring isn't a trick that he wants to rely on, but it's a strange comfort going to the other side. Like he's seeing the world for what it is, rather than the paradise it tries to imagine up for them.

When Spike takes it off again (more reluctant than the time before), he's behind Vicious, with his gun drawn and vision suddenly focused more than it was a moment ago.]

Sorry. That was a cheap move.

[nothingtobelieve]

[It's impossible to keep the surprise off his face, though there's a split second before he's turning to face Spike that buys him a little time to regain his composure and flick another knife into his hand, and then out towards the sound of Spike's voice before he's even turned completely around]

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike holds his ground long enough to pull the trigger, but the cost is a knife slicing into his shoulder before it's quickly yanked and thrown to the ground. A grunt of pain is all the satisfaction he offers; then he's firing again, preparing to waste the entire round before he lets Vicious get close to him. There's no way in hell it's going to end up in his hands.]

[nothingtobelieve]

[He's at a disadvantage; it takes longer to retrieve a knife than it does to pull a trigger, and while he can avoid one bullet, he can't dodge two of them, catching the second along the ribs with an impact that knocks the breath out of him but doesn't take him down. And Spike's attempt to keep him away drives him instinctively closer.]

[gottaknockhard]

[The opportunity passes to shoot again when it becomes more important to shield his right side as Vicious comes near. He's no less fluid in his movements despite the wounded shoulder, and he immediately swings his leg around, aiming to hit the same spot twice.]

[nothingtobelieve]

[He dodges the kick, though avoiding it feels almost as costly as if it had connected, and now he's in a bad position. Too close to throw the knife he has, but not quite in arms reach, and he finds himself wishing he'd brought a gun. But even that wouldn't be effective if Spike pulled that vanishing act again, and the thought has him on edge.

He's cautious as he circles around again, trying to find a good opening]

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike turns to stay facing him as he circles, completely confident that either he or the blood loss will win out. So confident that he carries on their one-sided conversation.]

It's a shame you didn't bring the sword. This could have been just like old times.

[nothingtobelieve]

[That earns him a somewhat pained sounding laugh]

An oversight... on my part.

[The banter is a stalling tactic as much as anything else, letting him gather some strength before he lunges at Spike. He's not to stubborn to retreat, but he started this, and he wants to finish it, if he can.]

[gottaknockhard]

[It's easy to tell what he's doing, but it won't make a difference. Spike's shoulder may be hurting, but he's winning this. He's the one walking away.]

You can't afford more than one.

[nothingtobelieve]

[He knows Spike is right, and he knows he's running out of options. But if he can't win, he wants to inflict as much damage as possible before he looses. And with his other options limited, he simply smiles at the remark before lunging for the other man's throat. He doesn't have much to lose.]

[gottaknockhard]

[He laughs at the same time Vicious lunges, actually enjoying the whole thing more outwardly than he has since they were kids. When he grapples for his throat, Spike again reaches for his injury, gripping around his abdomen until he can feel warm blood on his hands.

Who will let go first?]

[nothingtobelieve]

[It's a good tactic, one he might have used himself if he thought it would be equally effective on Spike, but he knows it wouldn't, and concentrates his own efforts on trying to strangle his old partner, despite his vision going dark around the edges]

[gottaknockhard]

[He is determined, isn't he? Spike's grip stays strong, but so does the one around his throat, and he suddenly wonders if he got too carried away.

He reaches for the ring with his free hand, twirling it like it will give him strength to live without oxygen, and slips it on again.]

[nothingtobelieve]

[It's disorientating to have Spike blink out of sight like that, especially as close to blacking out as he is, as if it's his own mind playing tricks on him and not this new talent his old partner seems to have picked up. The cause is secondary to the effect, though. With his focus disrupted, it's all he can do to stay on his feet, as determined as he might be to just keep fighting, regardless]

[gottaknockhard]

[Fighting in this state, in the world of shadows, presents a challenge. He had thought he may take Vicious with him, but it appears that he's no more real than the rest of them. The gun in Spike's hand comes up, and he swings it like a club at the shadow that stands before him, aiming for the temple.

He should shoot. Then he wouldn't have anyone following him, and he wraps his fingers around the trigger.]

[nothingtobelieve]

[He's dead. If this is the same trick as before, he's as good as dead, because Spike has a gun, and Vicious can't find him. It's one way of confirming if that rumor he heard was true, he supposes, though not the way he would have wished.

He wraps one hand around his side, already slick with blood, and stares defiantly at nothing.]

Is this how you want to end it?

[He has no idea where Spike has gone, or if the other man can hear him, but instinct says he's still near by, that he wouldn't vanish when he was so clearly winning.]

[gottaknockhard]

[The temptation to end this charade is what moved his hand, and he's annoyed that he doesn't follow through before he hears that taunting voice reverberate through the shadows.

Is it what he wants? Of course not. It's all over and done with, but does that mean he shouldn't care about running with an unfair advantage to some ghost of a rival? How much do his principles matter anymore?

There's a rustle of leaves nearby, and suddenly Spike is standing there, his gun lowered at his side.]

I've already seen it end.

[nothingtobelieve]

[He isn't surprised this time, except, perhaps, over the fact that he isn't dead yet.]

Then you have no reason to hesitate.

[It wasn't as if he could pretend he had any fight left in him. Just standing was getting to be a chore he wished he could do away with]