ext_311569 ([identity profile] dangeroushabits.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] neutral_omens2006-01-27 07:35 pm
Entry tags:

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Date: January 21, 2000
Status: Public
Setting: Manor grounds
Summary: John gets introduced to Frankie, and plays counselor again.



He wasn't really a dog person. So when, on his way back from a visit to town, John first caught sight of the skeletal mutt romping happily about the Manor grounds, his first impulse was to laugh incredulously (from a safe distance,) and his second was to give it a pass. Whatever demon owned the beast was welcome to it, as long as it wasn't gnawing at his ankles.

Unfortunately, for a thing without any ears, the undead dog had excellent hearing. Apparently it was also as curious as any specimen of the living variety, because it turned at the sound of his laugh, cocked its skull inquisitively, and made a beeline straight for him, mandibles hanging open in a fashion that suggested its tongue would have been hanging out jauntily had it possessed one.

"Ah, crap," John muttered, too far from the Manor entrance to get inside before it reached him, and lacking anything that might have made an effective weapon.
"And me without a newspaper." Knowing better than to turn and run, he opted to stand his ground, shifting his stance a little so he could present his leather-clad forearm if the thing made to bite him.

He spared a glance around the area to see whether its owner was anywhere nearby. Presuming it actually had an owner and wasn't, say, an unexpected side-effect of the general Manor weirdness.

"There's a good boy," he said in as friendly a tone as he could muster, bracing himself as it loped up to him. It was wagging its bony tail. That was a good sign, right?

[identity profile] winged-healer.livejournal.com 2006-01-30 01:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Run away," he murmured.

He knelt and petted Frankie and smiled.

"He's wrong, isn't he boy? I've already done the deed. I already lied." His kissed Frankie's nose. "I already lied to Michael but I can't be alone, I won't be. If I get punished anyway and he's not there..." He laid back and Frankie climbed onto his chest. "Uriel will be very cross if he finds out, I suspect, but I suppose it leaves me free to act on Pestilence. In for a penny, in for a pound." He closed his eyes. "So... he might be right. I wanted him to tell me that what I was doing was OK. That it was acceptable, that it would be all right.

But it isn't - and I still can't stop doing it. My fault, I suppose."

Frankie panted, barked and settled down on top of Raphael.

"But I won't be alone. I hate that more than anything. Don't you agree?"

Frankie barked in reply. And breathing in and out, Raphael willfully fell asleep.