178th page

[curseshit]

The wedding is tomorrow!

Do what you gotta do. Decorate the church, decide what to wear, buy a gift for the happy couple, bake all the things... throw a bachelor party?

Oh and don't forget to water the apple trees. Never do that.

[ mission: work on breaking the curse or go through the symptoms if you've already gotten started. ]

Comments

[crossmyhearts]

Janet! I mean-- Sheriff Janet. Layne. [oddly not sure how people want to be called, whatever.]

Just going for a stroll. Just sitting in the same place is exhausting. How about you, Important Sheriffing Business?

[recurred]

[normally she'd lie. it's nobody's damn business what she's doing, she'd probably shove it off and say that she was and make her way, but something about servant Smith. really makes her want to trust him]

No, not quite. [shrugs and looks down the road] Enjoying some time off and from the madness a bit myself.

[crossmyhearts]

Yes, weddings... [frowns briefly.] I'm terrible when it comes to those. Suppose it's nice to get away from that for a little while as well.

[hops over next to the horse, patting her neck.] Susan likes the stroll too, doesn't she? Yes you do-- what a good horsie!

[recurred]

[looks back at him, perplexed. quiet for a moment as she watches him, as if trying to figure something out but not quite grasping]

Susan. I call her Susan. How'd you come by that?

[only talks to the horse in private, because it'd damage her credibility or whatever]

[crossmyhearts]

[looks from horse to her. so lost and confused for a moment he actually slows down for a few steps.]

I don't know. She just looked like a Susan to me. [headtilt.] But I also might have heard you say her name before.

[recurred]

[its possible. frowns and looks at susan again, giving her a pet]

I've never said it in company. Unless you've got something to confess.

[i think id know if i had a stalker]

[crossmyhearts]

Yes, well...

[looks like he's thinking of a few things he could atone for.]

I mean, no! No, absolutely not. It just felt. Familiar? [stares at clara. what is your deal anyway you strange girl.]

Do you ever think about going?

[recurred]

[takes a deep breath and looks back out]

No, except...well. I've always wanted to travel. I don't know why I haven't....

[says it like its absurd, why is she even there]

[crossmyhearts]

[understands the feeling, truly.]

Yes, me too. Which is odd, I've been here all my life but at the same time it feels like I'm just waiting for something, or for somewhere else. Somewhere bigger, farther away... anywhere!

[twirls a little. then feels a little guilty, since the duke is so very good to them... he thinks.]

[recurred]

[tilts her head as she watches him. triggers be triggering]

To take you away. Exactly...

[looks on, a little perturbed by the subject, but all the more slightly astonished. She looks away, thinking and blinking away little memories of blue lights, giant planets, abandoned amusement parks]

[crossmyhearts]

[stuck on a noise, mostly. a weird whooshing sound or something like that, it's really weird. and a big blue box. and a lot of numbers and words and ideas that make his head hurt a little.]

I should go some day, to those places.

[why not today though? kinda shrugs that off. they can see the limits of the town from where they stand right now so he stops.]

It's the end. Or-- the beginning, however you choose to look at it.

[recurred]

Right. You should. You should get out of here.

[looks him over once. knowing she can't. her duty to the town, to take care of everyone. she sort of sadly smiles and turns back to susan, petting her fondly once again as more of a distraction]

Run as fast and far as you can, clever boy.

[crossmyhearts]

[that was the weirdest deja-vu moment right there. a shiver, and he freezes in place, looking at her like she's more important than anything else.]

Come with me.

[what. the plan was to ask why she said that. kinda blurted that out instead. whatever, will roll with it anyway.]

[recurred]

[looks up from susan, knowing full and well what he's meant but trying to process it. maybe getting a little teary.]

I'm sorry?

[crossmyhearts]

[biggest smile on his face. not really sure why, it just feels right.]

Come with me! We could run, run together. We could go places, see wonderful things! I'm not sure which things yet but somehow I keep thinking of two suns and oh, wouldn't that be just brilliant!

[recurred]

[eyebrows slowly lift with his excitement. really anything sounds nicer than this place right now, but just the idea of leaving with him feels weirdly right and scarily perfect.]

[but she stops herself. looking back to town and to him. a slight step back]

But the town, the people...they need me. I can't just abandon my duties.

[crossmyhearts]

... oh.

[so crestfallen, though for some reason he was about to tell her he could bring her back any time. why would he tell her that?]

[turns to face the village too. leaving without her just doesn't feel right.]

[recurred]

[really just wants to say yes. let him take her away, but why? he's amber's guy. he's a stranger. a familiar stranger]

[frowns at him and that sad little dejected puppy face of his]

I'm sorry.

[crossmyhearts]

[smiles wistfully at her. there's definitely something about this girl, he just can't quite put his finger on it just yet.]

[takes one last glance at the town limits just a few steps from them.]

No, it's alright. My whole life is in this village too. [even though now he starts to think about it he can't really remember it.] It was just a silly thought, I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry, Sheriff.

[recurred]

Don't be.

[instinctively reaches out to give his arm a slight squeeze]

I change my mind, I'll let you know.

[crossmyhearts]

I'll keep my things packed, then.

[what things, he doesn't have things. guess the spare bowties should count, though.]

[recurred]

[lingers there for a moment before taking a breath and turning the horse around]

We should get back. Big night at the inn and all. I'm sure they'll need you.

[crossmyhearts]

[takes another couple seconds, runs up to susan to catch up on the way to the town.]

Yes! I'm sure they had something they wanted me to do. Several things, possibly. I'll have to ask about that again when I come back.

[recurred]

You know, after talking to you, I didn't peg you a service man. You seem too clever for that.

[crossmyhearts]

I am, aren't I? [hope you weren't expecting modesty.] It's what I've done all my life, though. I never thought to question it before.