026 - Cranapple

[deadly_ned]

[Flushed bright from his Thanksgiving dinner at the Winchester home and the port that came before it, it's a half-smiling Piemaker that turns on his communicator one frosty December morning]

I know what I have to do.

To feel better. I know what I have to do to feel better and come back and be a good, responsible warden Alpha can rely on.

I need to go see Chuck. Recharge the batteries, get a fresh outlook and wash down the tables and restart the day again.

I think I'm going home for the day.

Comments

[routemistress]

That's a bloody good plan, sweetheart. Give 'er our love.

[deadly_ned]

You're sure you're not just going to follow me home again? You could tell her yourself.

[routemistress]

Intrude on your alone together time, Ned? The very idea.

...any road, I can't.

[deadly_ned]

I noticed that wasn't a 'no.'

[routemistress]

The bit about I can't might've been a clue.

[with_my_teacup]

Say 'hey' for me.

[deadly_ned]

'Chuck, my terrifying but very close mercenary friend who also bakes pies wishes to say hey to you.'

[with_my_teacup]

I'm not actually a merc, Ned. In fact them and me don't get along, since they're usually tryin to take me back to prison for large amounts of UD.

The rest sounds accurate, though.

[deadly_ned]

Ah. Sorry. My mistake.

What's a UD?

[with_my_teacup]

Universal Denomination. You know. Money?

[surfaceshine]

Thank god. [This extremely, vehemently, sincerely, staggeringly relieved.]

Go. Enjoy home.

[deadly_ned]

I owe you a pie when I get back.

[surfaceshine]

You don't owe me anything.

[deadly_ned]

Dean.

Please let me make you a pie again.

[surfaceshine]

Fine. Twist my arm why doncha.

[architrave]

Oh good, I am glad.

Have fun, Ned. Really.

[deadly_ned]

Thanks, Door. Thank you.

I'll bring you back something. Um. Okay?

[architrave]

You know you don't have to bring me anything.

[deadly_ned]

I know I don't have to. I want to.

[architrave]

I look forward to your return. [ She smiles, letting it project the warmth of the hug she instinctively knows better than to give to him. ]

gosh I'm the actual latest

[surrenders]

Sometimes you gotta.

[Seriously, Ned, if anyone should take a break, you need to.]

<3 hiii

[deadly_ned]

I've got to. In this case. I wouldn't if Alpha was awake but I'm hoping he'll stay comatose for a little longer so that when he wakes up it'll be like I never left at all.

[surrenders]

[She's been watching from the side after the horror of the past couple months, never knowing what to say so not saying anything. Now that he knows he has to leave, stop running himself down as bad as she does herself, she's glad she didn't. A break's better when you realize you need it, instead of when someone else talks you into it.]

That's what a girl's for. Pulling you back. Calming you down.

I snuck out a couple months ago.

[deadly_ned]

You did?

What happened?

[surrenders]

Nothing. No- a lot had happened, but nothing went wrong getting in and out. Didn't even tell anybody except for someone to watch Anya.

You're doing the right thing.