XXXIV.

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy dictates idly to the journal from a little distance away; he's working on something in the background, and sounds a little distracted.]

Aside from all the magic kissing, this place likes to give people presents around Christmas, too. Which sounds a lot more ominous than it really is, come to think of it.

I didn't get anything last year, so don't be disappointed if you don't, either. Most people get cars or horses or little trinkets from home. Something like that.

If you ask me, the only thing I want for Christmas is a solid answer from this place. For once.

[And if anyone happens to be around the church in town, they'll see what he's so distracted by -- he's constructing an Advent wreath to place on the bannister. The first candle is already in, but obviously he hasn't lit it yet.

He's just happy to be keeping busy.]

[ooc. open over the journal or in person. kissmas or kiss-free tags are both ok!]

Comments

over the journal!

[bezazzled]

[WHOA WHOA THERE HB. Back up a second.]

What do you mean by "magic kissing?"

\o/

[hellshaped]

Yeah. [Wasn't this common knowledge already.....]

Every year, the castle likes to get us to kiss one another. Well, sometimes a few times a year. But always at Christmas.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia hovers near the church's entrance to watch him work, waiting until he finishes dictating into the journal. It would be rude to interrupt. She speaks up once he has been silent for long enough. ]

What is the question?

Dictated forever

[huffythedragon]

I'd be glad if this place never gave me a gift.

[hellshaped]

[He's a little startled when she speaks, having not noticed her standing around there.]

Jeez, you're like a ninja or something ...

[Shaking his head, he puts another few leaves on the wreath and then steps back to look at his work.]

The question ... why it chose us for its needs. If there's even a reason for it.

yesss

[hellshaped]

They're pretty innocuous, like I said. But I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to take anything from this place either.

[huffythedragon]

It's not that. I can't have any gifts from anypony. I kind o have this...uh problem with greed. It's why I had to leave when the illness happened.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia grins at his reaction, even if she doesn't know if ninja means a good thing, taking a few steps closer to see that wreath. ]

I wonder why are chosen to be anything at all, to have certain privileges, a certain name.

[bezazzled]

[Oh no... THERE ARE SO MANY OLD PEOPLE HERE THOUGH.]

Whaaaaat! Do we have to kiss everyone?

[hellshaped]

No, no ... there's usually something that triggers it. Last year it was fairies. I haven't heard anything about this year's trigger.

[hellshaped]

[He pauses for a long moment, just looking at the wreath. But really he's mulling over her words.]

Fate. If you believe in that.

[hellshaped]

[OH, RIGHT. DRAGONS...]

Is that something you have to deal with every day? [Does Spike just not own any material possessions, or ...]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia comes close enough to play with the leaves. He is among those she remembers clearly enough from before. ]

Predestination.

[hellshaped]

[He glances at her sidelong, face as expressionless as always.]

Do you believe in that?

[bezazzled]

So what you're saying is, if you figure out what causes the kissing, it's possible to rig it so you can kiss whoever you want?

[hellshaped]

[m...abel....]

That's not what I meant.

[heloise]

Of course. [ What else is there to believe in? ]

[huffythedragon]

It's okay, so long as I don't get given too many things. That's what triggers it, I think. Too many things at once.

It's kinda hard to know for sure. No dragons go to Equestria, and the ponies know almost nothing about them.

[hellshaped]

[Changing your fate. Saying 'screw you' to your destiny. That sort of thing.

Hellboy's tail flicks a little just at the end, and he looks back at the wreath, suddenly feeling a lot more heavy-hearted.]

I'm more a fan of free will.

[heloise]

[ The tail catches her attention. But it would be rude to stare. ]

I was told they are both true.

[bezazzled]

Maybe not, but that's what I'm getting out of this conversation! In which case, I have a lot of investigating to do now.

[hellshaped]

On the plus side, girls really like a mysterious guy. So I bet you're pretty popular.

[hellshaped]

[HE'S USED TO IT, REALLY ...]

That's right. You can choose what to do, but it's already been decided for you. So you're not so much following your destiny as you are doing what you're supposed to do anyway.

[hellshaped]

Investigating.

[heloise]

[ She tugs the corners of her lips downward, as if she disagrees. ]

Sometimes it feels the good is predestined, the bad freely chosen.