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Tweak says, "Beware the ides of March!"

Spike (chipswiththat) wrote in marinanova,
@ 2017-04-04 15:31:00

Entry tags:

ianto jones, jezebel mephistopheles, spike

422 - action
[ CLOSED TO IANTO ]

[ He went to bed with Jack the night before. It was an attempt, he assumes, to bring this whole thing together. The three of them as the three of them rather than separate parts held together by necessity. Everything was fine, nothing to report and he slept like the dead through the night and well into the morning, schedule still not completely shifted from back in the day when the sun was actually something to avoid.

It makes waking up all that worse. He can see just fine in the dark of course but the harsh light of day adds a certain something. Colours are more vivid, shifting from browning rust to deep cherry reds, soaking into the sheets and clinging to his skin and face and mouth-

He scrambles out of bed, finding himself alone in more than just a physical sense, shock settling in like a fist to the gut. ]

[ OPEN ]

[ Jack is special in more ways than one and that's why he doesn't settle, doesn't wait for the announcement to confirm it the next morning. He's cleaned up now, scrubbed raw but some things you can't wash away and he keeps his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his coat as he stalks the streets, head bowed and jaw set. The taste doesn't leave his mouth, brown flakes and red specks and smears remaining in the lines of his hands and under his nails no matter how much he cleans. Nothing dramatic and that's perhaps worse because it feels so real. He's a killer. He'll always be a killer. Some things you can't wash away. ]

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chipswiththat
2017-04-12 11:23 am UTC (link)

[ Spike wouldn't go blabbing about this to just about anyone, but he wasn't exactly the coolest cucumber in the sea today either. It was noticeable that something was wrong, especially considering that Jez lives next door and could smell the blood through the walls. ]

No. [ He shakes his head, not entirely convinced. ] I don't think so. It's not something I do.

[ Not intentionally, certainly not siring anyone. It seemed like something important to bring up. ]

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	readystopwatch 2017-04-12 12:39 pm UTC (link)
	I didn't think so. [It's an awful feeling to realize being so close to Spike works so well with the skills he has from Torchwood to piece together motives, patterns and information. He's said enough in the past for Ianto to know he's far more likely to go for the kill than try to turn someone.] Have you remembered anything since this morning? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chipswiththat 2017-04-12 02:03 pm UTC (link)
	[ This is what you get for dating a vampire. He shakes his head. ] Nothing. I don't remember anything out of the ordinary. [ Which is more disconcerting than if he would be actually missing time. He remembers going to bed, falling asleep, all normal stuff. ] Something isn't right here. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

readystopwatch
2017-04-12 02:18 pm UTC (link)

I agree. [And not just the blood. Even if something like this has happened or will happen in his future none of this makes any sense. Not just why he would attack Jack but why he wouldn't be able to remember any of it later.]

Do you think there's a chance that whatever happened has more to do with this place than you? That it's one of their tricks? [As far as tricks go making him kill someone he cares about seems particularly brutal even for this place.]

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chipswiththat
2017-04-12 03:40 pm UTC (link)

[ He falls silent for a moment, turning that over in his head before responding. It's the simplest explanation, of course, that this is the Wardens messing with them like they always do and yet- ]

I can't take that risk. Not yet. [ Just on the off chance that it is him. He can let his guard down when they know more but right now? No way. ] If it is me... you know what you have to do.

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readystopwatch
2017-04-12 03:51 pm UTC (link)

[He doesn't like that question, but he knows better than to protest. And as much as he hates it Spike is right that something will have to be done if he really is doing it. The problem is what that something is. They can't stake him permanently here even if Ianto would actually consider it. More likely they'd have to find some way to contain him but he likes the thought of being kept apart even less. There isn't an easy answer but he nods seriously.] We'll figure something out if we have to, but I'm not giving up yet. You have a soul, and you care about Jack. I know whatever happened you didn't want to do it on purpose.

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	chipswiththat 2017-04-12 04:01 pm UTC (link)
	That makes it worse. [ He's not looking to start a fight but this is something he has to be clear about. ] If this is me with a soul, with someone I give a shit about... then I can't stay in control. Then the soul isn't enough to contain it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

readystopwatch
2017-04-12 04:23 pm UTC (link)

[No, a fight isn't happening. Ianto is very aware of the fact that he's the person all of this will affect the most. There's no point in not being entirely honest and saying the hard things here. They have to. It all reminds him painfully of Lisa, and how unwilling he was to accept someone he cared about was a monester. He hates being faced with the possibility of that all over again.]

You know we won't be able to stake you here. It won't last. So any solution we have to come up with won't be the permanent one that I know you want.

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chipswiththat
2017-04-12 05:19 pm UTC (link)

I know. [ Quietly. Truth be told he doesn't really want to be staked anymore. Things got better and he wants to keep them better, wants to see where else this can go. He's a better man with a soul and that's why this is so terrifying, because what if he isn't? What if all this, Ianto and Jack and the thing they got going that could last for all eternity if they choose to, what if he's kidding himself with this?

On the other hand, Angel had a pretty good handle on it most of the time, if you ignore the brooding and if there's one thing that really gets Spike determined it's the thought that he's somehow lesser than his grandsire. No, that just won't do. He tenses, jaw set. ]

Don't worry about that now. I'll think of something.

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readystopwatch
2017-04-12 05:32 pm UTC (link)

We'll think of something. [He corrects softly. Because no matter what the truth ends up being or what they have to do this is about the both of them. They talked about forever the other day and as far as he's concerned that's what he's here for. Maybe he's always been alright with the vampire part of him because it was the first thing he ever saw. He's always know it was there and it's always been a part of him that Ianto is very aware of. It doesn't mean he considered this sort of thing happening but it does mean he won't be driven away by it. There has to be some solution or what's the point of the soul in the first place?]

How are you doing with all this? [More softly, because Spike hasn't actually touched that subject. They've danced around it by talking about what other people think happened or what they should do next because it's the right thing to do to keep everyone safe but he seems to be avoiding how Spike himself is actually feeling just now. He won't blame him if he doesn't want to talk about it.]

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chipswiththat
2017-04-14 03:13 am UTC (link)

[ For right now he decides to let the we slide and maybe he knows somewhere deep down that Ianto speaks the truth when he says we. It's new and difficult to swallow, he's always had to deal with shit on his own in the past so having someone so devoted and most of all willing to stick with him through everything... that's something. Dru didn't even stay by his side when he broke his spine. He loved her deeply, still does to some degree, but lately he's started to wonder if he was ever more than a toy to her. Another bird she could forget to feed. ]

I'm trying not to think about it. [ Deflecting, kind of hoping Ianto will leave it at that while fully knowing there's no chance of that happening. ]

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readystopwatch
2017-04-14 08:26 am UTC (link)

[One day he hopes Spike will get it through his head that this really is all or nothing. That he's slow to commit or admit how much he cares but when he does it's complete, and nothing can drive him away. He's so reluctant to get close to people in any sense that he won't do it unless he's sure they're worth it and Spike clearly is. As for leaving it at that he doesn't want to pry, but he wants him to steer the conversation, to open up because he wants to not because Ianto is making him.]

And when you do think about it?

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	chipswiththat 2017-04-15 12:19 pm UTC (link)
	You're not going to let this up, are you? [ He fakes a sigh, sinking deeper into the couch. ] It's inevitable, isn't it? I can't keep this up forever. Sooner or later, something will slip. I'll let my guard down, take a misstep and- bam. Back to square one. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	readystopwatch 2017-04-15 05:11 pm UTC (link)
	If you want me to that badly I will. But we both know you've done more than your fair share of listening when I needed it. If you want me to I'll return the favor. [And if he really does want him to let it go that badly he reluctantly will.] Does it make it better or worse, knowing they won't stay dead here? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chipswiththat 2017-04-17 04:44 am UTC (link)
	[ He hesitates, thinks it through. ] If I kill someone back home, I never have to see them again. [ So worse, definitely, especially now that he has a soul. Living with guilt is so much harder when the victims are still around to remind you of what you did. ] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

readystopwatch
2017-04-17 11:47 am UTC (link)

[It's not a pleasant thought, and he wonders if it's worth pointing out that Jack at least isn't likely to hold it against him. After all Jack isn't really the point. The fact that this could so easily happen to anyone else is what's more worrying now. And yes, he's always more than a little blinded by love and optimistic where Spike is concerned but even he knows everyone here is in danger until they figure out what caused this or how to stop it. He imagines for a vampire it must be harder to ignore the craving for fresh blood once you've had a taste.]

I'll do everything I can to keep you from hurting anyone else here. [Once that would have been a threat, now it's a promise of support. Funny how things change.]

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chipswiththat
2017-04-20 08:14 am UTC (link)

[ Jack isn't the point. If he was less adamant about staying clean and not so prone to crippling guilt, he could kill Jack for fun and pleasure any day of the week. No, it's everyone else he's worried about, those who aren't used to coming back the next day, those who might really hold it against him and what if they don't come back? What if this is the beginning of a quick slip into death and violence again? ]

You better. [ Chain him up, stake him, whatever it takes. ]

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	readystopwatch 2017-04-20 10:22 am UTC (link)
	[He tightens his arms around him for a moment, nodding seriously. He will. He learned his lesson with Lisa; she never would have wanted to become that, and he won't let it happen to someone he loves again, no matter how much it might hurt.] I will, as long as you promise to keep trying. Don't give up and accept the worst because of this. Keep fighting it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chipswiththat 2017-04-22 02:07 pm UTC (link)
	You know I will. [ It's what he does. He'll also lean in to plant a soft kiss on Ianto's forehead, to seal the deal. ] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

readystopwatch
2017-04-23 09:04 am UTC (link)

[It's something, and probably the closest to reassurance either of them can handle right now. He even manages a small but sincere smile at the kiss before pulling him closer to settle back more comfortably into the pile of blankets.]

I know it might be hard but try to get some sleep. We'll head back out first thing in the morning and keep looking until we solve this.

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	chipswiththat 2017-04-23 09:31 am UTC (link)
	Alright... if you insist. [ He fakes a sigh but will do his best to sleep, even if that'll end up as him being awake all night. ] Get some rest. I'm not going anywhere. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	readystopwatch 2017-04-23 11:06 am UTC (link)
	[He's not the only one who won't get much sleep tonight but at least they'll have each other. It's the one comforting thing in all of this. That they'll get through it together, one way or another.] (Reply to this) (Parent)

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