Bond

[lepidopterologist]

Harry might have spent the next day after spending the night in bed (just sleeping, just sleeping!) with both Q and James, over thinking it all. Wondering what it meant, what he should do next. What would happen next, regardless.

But somehow, that wasn't how he spent the day. Instead, he felt rather at peace with it all. So he spent his time overthinking something else.

He knocked lightly on the door of Bond's study, balancing a tray on one hand.

Comments

[provocateur_king]

"And in that case, it's simply murder," he said. "And you make a valid point about the validity of a king taking the throne through murder."

[lepidopterologist]

"No, I meant you don't have to kill him," Harry said hastily. "He's too much of a coward to let it get that far - he'll cave. He wants to live."

[provocateur_king]

"And then what do I do with him, Harry? Lock him away? Banish him?" he asked. "Where?"

[lepidopterologist]

"He's a coward and he's proud, James," Harry sighed. "Prove to him that you would win, and he'll save face. Announce you as the prodigal king returned. And retire into wealthy obscurity."

[provocateur_king]

"You have faith that will work?" Bond asked. "You do know him best."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry hesitated. "Well, I am... reasonably confident based on what I know about him."

He paused. Looked down. "But recent events suggest that perhaps I don't know him as well as I thought."

[provocateur_king]

"Which is why I'm wary. If you have doubts, I have doubts," he said.

[lepidopterologist]

"I also don't have another plan," Harry sighed. "I spent all day running scenarios in my head... the vast majority of them end in unacceptable bloodshed."

[provocateur_king]

"I simply don't think we can make a plan without bloodshed as a contingency, Harry," he said.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry sighed. "Yes... yes, I know. But I also think that bloodshed is simple. We could do that right now, no planning required."

He paused. "I still think I should go talk to him. Alone."

[provocateur_king]

Bond paused to think, then ultimately nodded.

"I think that's the best course of action," he agreed. "See if you can get him to see reason."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry looked a bit relieved. “Q will want to come too. But I don’t want to put him in danger unnecessarily.”

[provocateur_king]

"Take him," Bond said. "He's clever and...powerful."

More powerful, lately, since he'd discovered Old Constantine's lair.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry sighed. “That is not what I had in mind when I said alone. Also he nearly just died. Both of you did.”

[provocateur_king]

"Take him, Harry," Bond repeated, more gently. "He can help you."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry ran his hand through his hair. "It's really not fair for the two of you to gang up on me."

[provocateur_king]

Bond chuckled softly.

"Get used to it, Harry. I have," he said. "The pair of you are formidable. "

[lepidopterologist]

"It seems like... things are changing very quickly," Harry said.

[provocateur_king]

"Time is a luxury we don't have," he said. "We've caught wind. There's no such thing as slow anymore."

[lepidopterologist]

"No, I know you're right," said Harry. "But I didn't just mean that, but also... well, there's a lot changing." Okay, now he felt rather silly. It wasn't as if their romantic entanglements were at all important compared to everything else happening, but it still couldn't help but feel big. To him.

[provocateur_king]

"You'll have lenty of time to reflect...once we've won," Bond said, resting his hand on Harry's shoulder.

[lepidopterologist]

"Will there?" said Harry. "You don't think it will be rather time consuming to run a realm? Make the people trust you?"

[provocateur_king]

"I'll have you by my side, chief advisor," Bond said, flashing a devilish smile.

[lepidopterologist]

"It's where I always hoped I would be," Harry said quietly. "When we were children, I mean. When you were going to be king."

[provocateur_king]

"Roundabout way to wind up where you always wanted to be," he noted, his smile kind.