59; dictated/action ; backdated to night as the snow begins to fall

[gottaknockhard]

(Gren)

[Between his fight with Vicious and Gren's attempt at petty theft, it's a wonder that Spike has kept up radio silence since then. Only when it dawns on him that he did have something potentially troublesome hidden in a drawer, he thinks to check his room in the castle one more time. It'd been there so long, Spike had forgotten all about it. So naturally, that's the thing that's missing.

Has to be a fluke. Gren wouldn't have figured out that the flask has a curse on it. (Or maybe he has, and that's why he's been so quiet.) In any case, he needs to deal with this before it becomes a problem.]

I'm going to want that back, eventually. I hope you haven't already wrapped it.

---

[Choosing now to come back to the castle isn't Spike's brightest idea. He's spent the past week or two trying to remember all that ninja training just to avoid the castle's favorite holiday prank. Once he's back outside though, he decides to relax, and work his way through a cigarette while he debates on trekking back to town.

A chill in the air reminds him that he really should remember to bring a coat the next time he takes a smoke break. But when he stomps out his cigarette and a snowflake lands near his foot, he suddenly gets the urge to look around him. ... Lights in the sky.]

That can't be a good sign.

[Although it's legitimately troubling, Spike shrugs and snaps the journal closed as he turns back to the castle. (Too damn cold to stay out there tonight.) On his way up the stairs, he passes a harmless nutcracker innocently overturned on a step. Without stopping, he kicks it the rest of the way down.]


ooc: completely open for nutcracker nonsense, or any other kind!

Comments

[nihilo]

[ While Alice holds up her foot to stop that poor nutcracker from zooming all the way across. She smiles with amusement. ]

Come now, what's it ever done to you?

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike pauses when he hears the voice behind him, and glances behind his shoulder.]

Nothing yet.

[nihilo]

Yet. [ She picks it up and weighs it in her hand. ] That's an expression of doubt, I believe.

[gottaknockhard]

[He should keep walking, but something has him turn around to face her. (Still keeping a safe distance.)]

Just a rumor I've heard.

[nihilo]

[ Playing hard to get, are we? Well, Alice has a game to win, so she'll be taking those few steps closer while occasionally flinging that nutcracker in the air and catching it back. ]

Little birds?

[gottaknockhard]

[... That's funny, usually people try to make it look like an accident. Spike stays where he is, watching her.]

They were one year. Made them harder to avoid.

[nihilo]

[ Alice quirks her head to the side and inhales in the most understated eureka moment. ]

These ones you can just throw aside.

[gottaknockhard]

[That inhale seems to draw him closer, and he takes a step down until they're on the same level.]

Yeah. They went easy on us.

[nihilo]

[ Almost enough proximity. Alice reaches out her arm to offer him the nutcracker. ]

Would you do the honour?

[ino]

[oh hey, it's been awhile, dude! she's on her way out, but that nutcracker's coming at her, so she catches it, and swiftly snaps it in half. aw yeah.]

You should probably watch where you kick these things.

[gottaknockhard]

[He looks up in time to see her break it, which seems like the reasonable thing to do. Apparently they aren't as indestructible as the birds or the faeries were.]

Ah, sorry about that.

[ino]

You're lucky it was me, huh? [grins]

[gottaknockhard]

[He smiles back, although not quite so enthusiastically.]

Yeah. You can't trust many people with those things.

[ino]

And they might not have my reflexes. [since if she hadn't broken it they would have made out, oops]

[gottaknockhard]

It's hard to compete with a ninja.

[ino]

[a little laugh]

Maybe.

[she'll move to meet up with him on the stairs, though] You've been quiet, lately!

[gottaknockhard]

[He could tell her the real reason for that, but he doesn't want to get too personal and spoil her evening.]

I don't really get into the holiday spirit. [--Also true. (Willingly, anyway.)]

Spike Spiegel

[both_neither]

[Gren hadn't even thought about the flask he pocketed. He supposed it was important somehow, but he'd been so focused on the keys...]

That sounds more like a 'soon' than an 'eventually'.

Gren

[gottaknockhard]

[Completely unimportant, not even worth using...]

I was going for 'now', but you were close.

Spike Spiegel

[both_neither]

Where's your Christmas spirit?

Gren

[gottaknockhard]

If you were that strapped for gift ideas, all you had to do was ask.

Spike Spiegel

[both_neither]

I sort of figured any gift you'd come up with for Vicious have involved bullets.

Gren

[gottaknockhard]

I know what he likes.

Spike Spiegel

[both_neither]

Well, tell you what...if Christmas goes well, I might consider giving it back.

Gren

[gottaknockhard]

[He pauses for a second, and switches his tone.]

Don't say I didn't warn you.