[video]

[maddest]

[The PCD catches Break singing has he manages the dishes.]

Twelve for the twelve Apostles
Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven,
Ten for the ten commandments,
Nine for the nine bright shiners,
Eight for the April Rainers,
Seven for the seven stars in the sky,

[Up to his elbows in soap, voice pleasant, but wheezy.]

Six for the six proud walkers,
Five for the symbols at your door,
Four for the Gospel makers,
Three, three, the rivals,
Two, two, the lily-white boys,
Clothèd all in green, O and
One is one and all alone
And evermore shall be so!

Comments

[thelightbringer]

[He hides a smirk behind the cookie]

Maybe a few.

You think I'm that bad~?

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're that bad, but I think you feel that bad from the inside.

[thelightbringer]

We're lucky we didn't trade, aren't we?

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

I wish we had.

[thelightbringer]

If I knew how it worked, we could see if it's still happening. My sister thinks it is--but then, she's paranoid about other things, too.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

We'll just enjoy our cookies and wait and see, then.

[thelightbringer]

[He takes them up to the balcony, and lounges against the railing. He looks at Break and puts on his best "teacher" voice.]

Now, what did you learn this week?

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

I learned-

[Finally nibbling the edge of one of the cooler cookies.]

-that I disconcert people.

[thelightbringer]

It's one of your more charming qualities.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

What did you learn?

[thelightbringer]

[There's an uncomfortably long pause, and then he finishes off the cookie]

I'm still working that out.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Oh? Process with me.

[thelightbringer]

It's hard to go back to...Hell, basically. To being damned. I'd rather just stay where I am and burn then have some relief and be thrown back into it.

But at the same time--it's easier to think. It's like being folded into a shoebox, or a...[does Break know shoeboxes?] basket. But even so it's easier to think like I used to.

And then I realized that if Michael had been able to see, he might have understood. And if Rhode was here....

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

See, I knew we needed peanut butter.

[thelightbringer]

[It startles a smile, and he walks over to take another.]

And is it a State Secret, or can you tell me how you knew?

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

I follow the network. I know who's missing.

[thelightbringer]

Mmm. Which reminds me, I need to start doing that. I've been...distracted.

[He gives him a mock-accusing look.]

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Not my fault.

[Sticking his tongue out at him.]

[thelightbringer]

Oh, no, there's some blame you can't shrug off, Xerxes.

[With the most playfully grave expression.]

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

All that tea. The companionable hatred.

[thelightbringer]

And I do hate you.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, human scum.

[thelightbringer]

Oh, yes.

[He roughs up Break's hair and sprawls in the chair beside him.]

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

What are you going to do now?

[thelightbringer]

Wait for the next shoe to fall.

[With Michael and Rhode both gone in opposite directions, he no longer has any idea what to do. He can't go with both of them, and he has no chance of persuading Michael at home.]

What else can I do?