eachdraidh | First Stanza - [Video] (both courts)

[The locket opens up to showing him in a bar. It's a well run place that seems fairly busy. Spike can be heard over the conversations in the background, but only just. Behind him is a pig-faced bartender who is probably less than pleased by a locket conversation in his bar, but hasn't gone to the trouble of turning it off. Spike hasn't been causing much trouble in Daonna since he arrived weeks ago to start living medieval style. He patrolled with the Slayer and though beasties weren't always common, there was no shortage of crime. It was work that didn't always pay well, but they'd collected one bounty that was keeping them fed and a roof over their head at the Sweet Sow.

And when he was peckish... well, the town was full of people that would never be missed, so long as they were never found. Spike was glad to be back on human blood again.]

This boon business is a big load of bollocks and I can't be the only one who thinks it. Collecting feathers for the king and queen? Here we are, shards rammed into our chests, and this is the best use they have for us? Bugger that and bugger them as well. Bootlicking might suit others, but it's never been the life for me, no matter what Crackerjack prizes they're offering.

So what I want to know is where we can get our goods without kissing their royal asses? There's got to be some witch or demon or the like handing out discount boons for a fee. Anything will do: it's got to be better than the cheap shite they threw at me last time. [A pouch of tobacco! For dealing with shadow beasties! Is it any wonder he didn't bother bending down to pick any feathers up?]

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What is a mothra?

[She raised a...well, two brows, just. Figuratively. Considering her species had somewhat different anatomical details than humans. But the moment she asked the question, she quickly brushed it off as unimportant with a wave of a hand.]

Nevermind. The point is, we are in agreement. Which is apparently rare, considering there were apparently several who jumped at the chance to find the wretched bird. Or...Mothra, if that is its name.

[Movie references, it turns out, are rather lost on someone who could count the number of days they've spent on Earth on a single hand.]

Are there more like us, human? People brought here with promises of glory, and instead delegated to such trivial errands. I wish to know just how many are dissatisfied with the current arrangement.

[Whoa, don't call him human. That's just rude.

He'll leave the Mothra thing alone.]

There's plenty who like to bitch about our lot. Most because they don't fancy fighting anybody. There's too few just looking for a good scrap.

[Hell, he's not even sure Buffy counts towards this small minority and his big red friend. Spike isn't looking for a war to fight because wars were the sort of things he left behind when he died. But he did fancy a good and proper brawl. Beating up criminals and the occasional beastie wasn't enough. It was too easy.]

[Hey if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and has yet to show off that it's a vampire duck, then it's probably a duck ok]

I've noticed.

[There was an unusual amount of venom behind that growl, but considering everyone here seemed to talk down about what amounted to a pretty big chunk of her life, it's not entirely undeserved.

It vanishes soon enough though, after she's pondered his words for a moment. And when she looks back over the locket, it's more curiosity than anger beneath the surface.]

And what of you? Is battle really so unpleasant you must cower at the thought of it?

Edited 2014-09-28 22:01 (UTC)

Me? I'm a fighter, love. I don't do rank and file, but I enjoy a good end of the world struggle as much as the next bloke. What's the point in living if you're not bashing somebody's face in, is what I say.

[He could go into the whole "I'm a lover and a fighter" thing, but Jack Sparrow ruined it by using it against him. Now he's soured on the line. Stupid pirate.]

[Oh, that is certainly a genuine smile on her face now.]

Well. How unexpected. Someone with a backbone.

[She was aware that there were warriors present at least in her own court, but many of them seemed reluctant to fight. They treated it as a last resort rather than "Plan A." It was dull.

After a brief pause, she decided to speak again. She would certainly like to meet this stranger, even though current circumstances might prevent it. She was not in the traveling mood, and there was the possibility he was not from her court. She certainly would have remembered meeting another warrior if that were true.]

And do you have a name, or shall I simply refer to you as "fighter" whenever I wish to speak with you? I am not so certain this trinket would find the right one.

Spike. [Simple, mundane. God knows what he'll be calling her. The weirder demons often have really weird names. Weird names like Clem.] You?

According to the formalities of this place, I am Princess Looma of the House of the Red Wind.

["Spike" is...oddly normal, as far as she's concerned. She's certainly heard more ridiculous names.]

But, if you are as dedicated a warrior as you say, you may simply call me Looma. Formalities are for those too timid and weak to afford anything else.

[Which will likely land her in trouble at the next royal audience, but she's a stubborn one.]

A regular warrior princess, aren't you? [Not exactly a Lucy Lawless, but the vibe is there-ish.]

So are you sticking with their majesties or have you got your own plans?

Edited 2014-09-29 00:48 (UTC)

But of course! It is the Tetramandian way! And as the most powerful warrior in my father's army, I have seen my share.

[Not that it keeps her from wanting more, but that was biology and basic Tetramandian nature for you.]

I remain loyal to the monarchs for now. Though I grow tired of being denied a chance at combat. From what I have seen so far, this has to be the most uneventful war to have ever been fought.

[Even not counting her army, back home these things tended to move with a much faster pace. Planets falling at least once every few months, massive fleets moving through the galaxy, that sort of thing. This? She had to regularly remind herself there was a war.]

Should they fail to deliver on their promises, I may take matters into my own hands. If I cannot find my promised glory here, then I will find a way to return home.

Edited 2014-09-29 00:57 (UTC)

[Spike had done his reading and he'd once spent a great deal of time enjoying tales of the Napoleonic wars and all these battles he was once too squeamish to ever consider taking part in. He knew that wars were often slow and tedious and that a soldier's life was more marching and waiting than it was actually fighting. Since then he'd lived through two world wars (mostly feasting on easy victims) and seen plenty of conflicts. It was little wonder he didn't go for organized warfare.]

You could always go independent. Girl like you could raise your own army in no time. Find yourself a nice keep and invite everyone to come storm it.

Should I find a way to return home, I will not need to raise an army. I have my own. One of daddy's gifts to prepare me for the throne.

Of course, that option would be a nice one. Should I ever find anything here worth conquering.

[So far? She hadn't. While the prospect of magic was a nice one, she saw no point in trying to conquer a place where the only valuable resource seemed to be one that only certain people could actually use.]

[Daddy's gifts, she says. Bloody hell, she's a darling little princess who wants battle armor instead of dresses.]

Who said anything about conquering, love? A throne is nice and all, but I can't be bothered with the bollocks of ordering people around. Leaves less time for fighting. You find someone, go bloody their nose a bit, and see if they'll pay you to go away. You make a nice tidy profit and you have some fun on the side.

[Well, battle fleets, but that's beside the point]

I would much prefer fighting those who do. It's so much more fun when my opponent actually wants to fight back.

Besides, harassing anyone I come across and demanding payment to stop is more a bandit's life than a warrior's. And I have not grown that desperate.

Well you wouldn't be bothering little villages, would you? You go find the biggest ugliest brute around and go piss him off. That will keep you busy for ages.

Is that what you've been doing? Or are you simply volunteering?

[Hey, she's genuinely curious here. Also she's not really sure what qualifies as "ugly" among humans, they're kind of a New Thing for her.]

I'm no warlord, princess. I'm doing fine just pissing off the local beasties.