(Untitled)

[queenofmay]

This is not the face of a pleased Lady.

Marian comes in about an hour after this. Having been escorted home, then argued and been denied the right to even see her father. Perturbedness flashing across her face at the realization of Milliways existing at her

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[landlesslord]

If Guy has seen Marian (he has), he can only be studiously not looking in her direction (he is, sort of). Despite what he is told is the oncoming End of Days, he still nurses a hurt from his last "discussion" with her.

He is reading. He is reading about...something. With great intensity. And not aware of her out of the corner of his eye. At all.

[queenofmay]

Marian is, sadly, engrossed in the discussed with two other men first. Taking down mental notes, if not anything physical, and only reluctantly either time being willing to close the Door on which she had kept her hand.

Which seems to have been wise.

Because the moment she does?

She frowns at that spot.

Where her Door has vanished.

[landlesslord]

"Lost something?"

Guy is still apparently absorbed in his book. It is an idle question. Nothing more.

[queenofmay]

It's about as good as being hit.

(She's so well aware of what that is like.
His fist. His sword. His dagger. His lies.)

First the door, and then snide remarks.
And him. From him. He just stood there.

Just stood there after what she did.

That she could have saved his life. Likely shouldn't have.

[landlesslord]

Guy remains deeply involved in some passage where something happens to someone.

He has no idea what is on the page he has just read.

He can, however, feel Marian staring at him and practically vibrating with anger.

[queenofmay]

"I thought," There is such a scathing edge to all of her words. "You had ordered me not to speak to you."

And she knows, it's not him. But even if it might have been. And her Guy of Gisborne is hiding in his house. Like a coward. Doing God knows what, in Locksley, far from Nottingham Castle, probably not caring that he'd almost been killed either.

And she's had far too long to think about His last words. Dictating she not speak. And she needs so badly to see Her Father. To explode at someone or something. A thing she cannot risk before Vasey lest the punishment on her father increase even now.

[landlesslord]

"When has that ever stopped you?" He looks at her, then. Finally. Knowingly.

All of that time as the Nightwatchman. Those last days in Nottingham, when she tried to kill the Sheriff.

[queenofmay]

When had it ever. She never followed his dictates because there was no reason to. Loyalty, willingness, obedience; all took respect, and -- after today, after a month ago, after the week before that, and all the years before those?

He would never be Master of what she did.

But the presumption in his voice though is baiting.

As though he knew anything about her. As thought she'd let him.

"I was not the one who started this conversation," Marian replied tersely, taking offense at the slight at least in that part of the leveled accusation.

[landlesslord]

"And I did not give you any order." Technically, at least. And while he still aches over their last conversation, not engaging her leaves an empty, hollow feeling in his chest.

That, and he is acutely aware that she has a limited span of days ahead of her.

[queenofmay]

He might as well have. It was not as though he suggested things to her or anyone else near him that she had seen, in a friendly, congenial manner. He dictated to people.

"You told me it would be best if I did not talk to you, and then you left," She remembers that part clearly. He continued to act the part of the person she'd, perhaps, a little coldly called him on choosing to be.

She probably isn't doing much better now.

When each word is edged with her anger. At his abandonment. Every time she does anything good for him -- even it was for Robin's sake more than his -- it cost her. More and more each time.

[landlesslord]

He shrugged. "It was a suggestion."

Guy does not comment on the second part. There is no use emphasising his faults.

[queenofmay]

It was a temper tantrum. It was normal. It was Guy being Guy, dead the same as alive. Sharp and cruel at her for even daring to attempt some part of honesty if it was not simple flattery of his ego.

Whether home or here, if she gave him a breadth, an inch, a cent of her help or her real thoughts, he stomped on it, or ignored it, or abandoned it. She crossed her arms, unconvinced and unswayed.

Her father was in a cell. And he hadn't said a word.

She was hardly going to forget his failings now.

[landlesslord]

He took a deep breath. Or at least, his body emulated the action even if air no longer passed his lips.

"Marian." He has not started well. He has made things worse. She is even more angry than she was before.

And yet, this is not an unfamiliar situation for them.

"I know you are...angry."

Stating the obvious, is obviously the way to go.

[queenofmay]

Quite the obvious.

"How very astute of you."

[landlesslord]

He continues. What is the worst that could happen after all? He could die and the world could end?

"You are angry with me and you doubt much of what I have told you of my recent past."

Still. He is not asking that she believe the last year. That is not so important.

"And you are aware of many of the things I have done."

Good. Bad. Mostly bad.

"I have wronged you."

[queenofmay]

He had. Several times over. And he had been apologizing. Several times over. The three times they'd met since he was . . . this version of himself, or another worlds, or something else Milliways had seen fit to explain entirely. The way it never did.

"You have said this before." Before storming off. Before he'd proved he was dead. Before her father ended up in a jail cell.