(no subject)

[poins]

Ned Poins is by the lake, out wandering
Near to the shore, the brittle grass of fall
Crushed underfoot with every step he takes.
The air is cold and grey, and Ned Poins' mien
Is likewise, as the waning year grows dark
And Poins' mood follows suit. He kicks a stump
And curses as his toe is stubbed by it.

Comments

[herr_bookman]

And Autor drops down from his carpet, tempted to tackle the man from behind, but does not.

"Poins!" he says as he approaches, cheery and content--"Where have you been, you old scamp"--until he sees the man's face. "Oh. Are you well?"

[poins]

"Thou fool! Be glad I do not have my sword,
or I would fain have whipped it from its scabbard!"

Poins glares at him. "Tis nothing that's the matter,
Only a little war that looms at the horizon."

[herr_bookman]

Autor straightens and takes a small step back. "No war is little," he says quietly. "I didn't know you were... How long has the threat loomed? Months?"

[poins]

"It has forever loomed, but now
The large vague shadow has grown sharp
And thin over our heads, just like a sword."

Poins sighs, and shrugs his shoulder. Such is life.

[herr_bookman]

"Games and honey cakes are poor distractions when acting the part of Damocles," Autor says, frowning. He places his hands in his pockets. "Who are your enemies?"

[poins]

"The Hotspur of the North, one Harry Percy,
His father, and some Welshman, and then --
T'would be easier, for sooth to ask who isn't."

Poins shakes his head.

[herr_bookman]

Autor nods in response, once again torn between cracking open a book and letting his friend live his life. The temptation has grown easier to resist with time, thankfully.

"I hope that you win," he says. "Prince Hal will be on the field as well? And Falstaff?"

[poins]

"We all shall, when all hell breaks loose,
And slog through the deep mud together to the end,
Wading in blood, and hewing limb from limb."

Poins turns, and peers at Autor.

"It is the end of all our merriment."

[herr_bookman]

"I do hope that isn't the case for you," Autor says, tempted to tap his friend on the elbow, or nudge him with his shoulder, or something.

He stays still. "If it is, you will always have the Lady Bar."

[poins]

"Unless I would be slain, or Hal would," Poins says, determined, it seems, to see the dark in all.

[herr_bookman]

"Then I shall be the one who hopes," Autor says, "for a sword is not the end I would see for Ned Poins."

He frowns. "Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?"

[poins]

"Drink, for to drown my soul, if thou so wouldst," Poins says.

[herr_bookman]

Ah, Autor thinks, closing his eyes on a slow blink. I should have known.

"I'll buy you some," he says, wincing in preparation. "But I don't think I can actually drink any... I'd be terrible company, as a monklet."

on/off slowtime

[lt_blade]

Sonya wasn't sure if it was just how things were in Milliways or she'd been away for that long, but it had been a long while since she'd seen Poins.

She very nearly rushed at him with a hug when she caught his expression-his choice words after kicking the stump only making it even clearer.

"Poins." She called out. "What happened?"

Re: on/off slowtime

[poins]

Poins turns, and on his face appears a smile that's full of teeth.

"A wench!" he says. "A friendly wench! What more could I have wished for?"

Re: on/off slowtime

[lt_blade]

The smile she gives him isn't nearly as wide. His own reads almost forced and she can only be there for him.

"A mug of sack and a chance to get laid? Can offer the first, can't help with the second." It was hard to tell if she was serious or not.

[poins]

"One day thou wilt, springs my eternal hope," Poins grins.

[lt_blade]

The smirk never leaves her face, though it does widen a little into a goofy grin as she thinks back. "Sorry buddy, waited a few days too long." She held up her left hand, showing the diamond engagement ring. Even if Poins hadn't seen Sonya for awhile, he would've known her long enough to recall that the only 'jewelry' she ever wore was her dog tags. "Been off the market for a few weeks-bad timing on your part."

[poins]

"That is a ring," Poins says, "a pretty one; but why in truth should it now mean I may no longer woo thee?"

[lt_blade]

Okay, Sonya knew the guy well enough that he could be an intense flirt and mean nothing serious by it, but hell he was a fun guy to be around.

"I'm guessing they don't have engagement rings in your time." She set her hands in her pockets, attempting to get them warm again. "One of the officers in my company proposed a few weeks ago and I said yes. You're a nice looking guy and charming when you can be, but I've already been wooed and taken."

She didn't really like the word 'taken', but she could find no other that fit.

[poins]

"Might I not stand in line?" Poins smirks. "Oh please, sweet lass, I need some solid cheer!"

[lt_blade]

She got a smirk from him, that was something. "In line for what? I know you need some cheer." He definitely looked it. "But anything more than flirting would just have you feel worse, trust me."

She could stand flirting, especially from Poins, but while she didn't hold much standards as equating virginity with honor (though she wished that her first wasn't that big of a prick), she wasn't about to mess up something like this even if it was on 'milliways time'.

"You would've liked the engagement party though. Had it at the pub belonging to my former drill sergeant-bastard knew about Lance's plans all along and arranged a small party for after hours."

[poins]

"Thy lover is called Lance?" Poins snorts. "And, doth Lance have a lance worth speaking of, or is more an arrow or a bolt -- oh God forbid a bolt!"

[lt_blade]

It was probably bad form, but Sonya couldn't help but laugh along with him. It wasn't like he wasn't used to getting hounded because of his name-that he was talking of a double entendre didn't escape her either.

"I'm not going to justify that with an answer." She winked at him. "I will say that it was knowing I'd get to spend time with him that kept me from committing mutiny against some of the higher ups-also the first time we became buddies was right after he nursed me from a bad hangover. If that's not a sign I don't know what is."

It was easy to love a woman when she was at her best, but to become close when sick and grumpy from a hangover spoke of something stronger.

[poins]

"Thou doest not need a gentle nursing nun," Poins now points out, "but one that would fain point his lance right at the mark, and hit point-blanc, as I would."

He smirks.