21 // Dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

[There must be a journal open somewhere, because the sound of a door opening and closing again can clearly be heard, followed by approaching footsteps. And then something scrapes across the table, near by]

Is this supposed to be a message?

[The question is addressed more to the castle itself than its residents, Vicious' tone more unamused than it is questioning. There's a 'thunk' as something solid is set down again.]

So be it.

Comments

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

[Should he be worried?]

What's is it?

Gren, Dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

Nothing you should be concerned with.

[He doubts Gren would even understand the gift's significance, unless Julia had shown him the gun.]

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

[There was quite a bit Julia never shared with him]

Well as long as there's nothing in danger of exploding...

Gren; dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

No. That shouldn't be an issue.

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

Small favors, I guess...

Gren; dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

It may be just that.

[Or perhaps an omen, though he didn't believe in that sort of thing]

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

So it left you a token?

Gren; dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

You could call it that, yes.

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

[But he's currrrrrrioussssss]

How exciting. [Wryest voice ever]

Gren; dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

[He'll show it to you later, Gren]

And your gift was?

[Assuming he got one. He had no idea if the castle deprived some residents of its good will or not]

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

Just something I had on Callisto. I'm not even sure why.

[And now it's his turn to be evasive. Not because it's personal but because, well, it's kind of a silly gift.]

Gren; dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

Sentimental value?

[He's curious, if only because he wouldn't have thought Gren would have much of anything on Callisto to gift]

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

If that was the point, there were better things to chose from. [One he already has and the rest would be too painful to see] Maybe it's a reminder.

Gren; dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

[He makes a noncommittal noise at that, as if considering the possibility]

Perhaps it doesn't want us to forget.

[His own gift is certainly reminder enough]

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

Well, if it's a reminder that I have things better here than I did in Blue Crow, I already knew that.

Gren; dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

[Sometimes he thinks Gren has settled into this place too much, but he won't say so. At least, not right now.]

There is less snow.

[And it's probably very hard to tell if that's meant to be a joke or now, given the way his tone a voice doesn't change at all.]

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

[Regardless of the intention, he does laugh a little]

It's not that hard to have less snow than Callisto, but true...

Gren; dictated

[nothingtobelieve]

There isn't much else to recommend this place.

Vicious; dictated

[both_neither]

A few things, but no, not a lot.