reticence: (phew)
Faolan ([personal profile] reticence) wrote in [community profile] undergrounds2016-02-07 02:26 pm

early february catch-all

I. WESTMINSTER - Closed to Night Council
Faolan knows that the headaches Lancelot had had the month before were not due to any earthly illness, but rather the further development of his abilities. Still, as he pops his second course of painkillers that day, he can't help but but feel like he'd caught it. Well, not exactly. It isn't that his head hurts, exactly. But he feels hot. Dizzy. It comes in spells, which illnesses generally do, and for the most part Faolan is sticking to his desk.

Which, luckily enough for him, is easy to do if you volunteer for the desk work on this purge business. The majority of the knocking down doors and raiding homes has calmed and settled into the occasional report here and there, which suits Faolan just fine. Although he hadn't had much of a choice in the matter, he hadn't liked it one bit. It also meant that there was a lot of background paperwork to catch up on, both keeping track of the seized items and their inventorying, as well as everything that had fallen to the wayside when their priorities had been elsewhere.

Still, Faolan can't seem to keep his eyes focused. He sits forward and puts his head in his hands for a moment, leaning his elbows on the edge of the desk. If he went home early, would anyone notice? Does he need special permission for that sort of thing, he wonders to himself. Having hardly ever taken a sickday in his life, especially not since he'd become a Guardian, he hasn't the slightest idea.


II. HILLINGDON - Closed to Hillingdon
Hillingdon House can be awkward at times, for the fact that it had at one point been a real house. As such, it's fitted much the same as an older mansion would be, even if not quite in the same way. Kitchen, library, sitting room, dining room, living room, the last three of which double as larger meeting rooms, with the upper floor containing offices, smaller meeting rooms, and yes, one or two rooms that have kept their function as a bedroom. It's odd, unique, and sometimes it works well for what you want to do there, sometimes less so.

Right now, seated on one of the rigid-backed sofas in the sitting room, in front of an actual fire in the actual fireplace, Faolan has very little regret about the fact that it had been a house at one point at all. He's even gone so far as to search out a slightly pilled old throw from one of the bedrooms upstairs, which he's huddled himself under in an attempt to regulate something of his temperature. He's feeling better now that he's sitting here in front of the fire with a coffee perched on his knee, having created himself a home away from home of sorts, but he's got a feeling that it's not going to last. That's the trouble with being ill, after all. As long as you're not doing anything, you're fine. He might actually be able to concentrate on some of the reports he has upstairs at this rate, but the trouble is that that's where he's left them...


III. ANYWHERE - OPEN
Despite feeling lightheaded and feverish, that hasn't kept Faolan from making appearances at his regular cafe, as he is known to do in the course of any regular week. To the average onlooker, there might not even seem to be anything wrong, as he makes his order and parks himself in the back corner of the cafe itself with a regular coffee and a bowl of soup. To those who do see Faolan on a regular basis, however, he might seem sluggish. He certainly feels that way, as if he's navigating the world through varying levels of fog that he can't seem to shake no matter what different medicines he tries. And for another thing, he's ordered soup, rather than his regular heaping of god knows what that he would happily help himself to.

He keeps his jacket on, but his body can't quite seem to decide whether it's too hot or too cold or what at odd intervals, and it's oddly disconcerting. He knows that if he really is this ill, he probably shouldn't be walking around, frequenting cafes as he is. But if it were contagious, he would have shaken it by now, shouldn't he have? As the first few weeks of February drag on, and Faolan's symptoms remain the same, he starts to wonder. And he starts to get really tired of soup.


IV. LANCELOT'S FLAT - Closed to Lancelot
Faolan knows that he probably shouldn't be hiding how awful he feels from the other man, considering how he'd reprimanded Lancelot himself for much of the same thing. But this is different, isn't it? Well. Sort of. He's been trying to take care of himself, really he is. Perhaps better than he would normally, even. But he can't quite seem to shake whatever this is. And at least he hasn't holed himself up in his own flat, waiting for it all to pass, yeah? Even if that means that he's been sticking to Lancelot's a bit more than he might otherwise have done. Hoping that the steady meals and more regular hours might have something of an affect.

Not that it does, really. Despite it all, he still feels the same. Worse, these days, maybe. He can't really tell, it comes in waves, and seems to be worse when he actually lets himself stop and take a breather, ironically enough. The few chances Lancelot allowed him to sleep in. The quiet moments, just sitting with the other man together at the table. He's honestly amazed that Lancelot hasn't noticed or if he has, hasn't said anything yet, at the fact that he's begun to cling to him and this place like his home away from home, aside from Hillingdon house that is. And moreover, he's starting to wonder if it might be connected to...

No, that's crazy. And impossible. Still, as he makes his way back from Hillingdon House that evening and rings the bell (because despite the fact that he's been staying there, he's still not about to just let himself in), he can't help noticing that, as he hears Lancelot's feet padding toward the door, his blood almost seems to heat in reaction to it. ...god, he must be losing his mind, with thoughts like that, he thinks to himself, as he runs a hand over his face and through his hair and tries to cool down.

(ooc note: as stated, this is really only for early february, everything up until feb 14? that should still be long enough to catch working with the new guardians and everyone else besides, though! c: )
knightscode: Oh I made that joke already (♠52)

IV

[personal profile] knightscode 2016-02-07 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Lancelot is rather accustomed to Faolan turning up and staying the night now, it's becoming a regular sort of thing. What Lancelot can't entirely parse is why.

It isn't that he minds -- quite the opposite, he rather enjoys the company -- but Faolan's reasons (excuses, even) are growing weaker by the day. That, and Faolan himself is growing quieter.

Surely... if he was in trouble Faolan would tell him? If he was in danger? Losing his own flat? Hiding from someone?

Yet whatever it is, he doesn't seem inclined to open up to it just yet. Which leaves Lancelot frowning at Faolan's bag, still beside the futon, as he turns down the heat on the stir fry he's cooking. It's enough for two, since Faolan clearly plans on coming back for it again, and it's Lunar New Year anyway. Lancelot has hung a tiny red paper lantern for the occasion with a decorative tassel, which Lily is incredibly curious about. She gives a single bark of alert at the doorbell, runs to it as Lancelot pads along more sedately and opens it for Faolan -- steps aside to wave him in.

"Forgot your bag?" he offers pre-emptively, and flicks a faint smile. "I'm making a stir fry, it's nearly ready."
Edited (punctuation) 2016-02-07 22:03 (UTC)
knightscode: Puppyeyes (♠38)

[personal profile] knightscode 2016-02-08 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
"It's fine, come on in. I'll get you a drink. Water, coke, juice or something stronger?"

Lancelot pads back through into the kitchen again, begins to stir and toss the contents of his wok before checking a timer.

"And do you want yours with or without chilli oil?"
knightscode: Oh I made that joke already (♠52)

[personal profile] knightscode 2016-02-08 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course not, that's why I asked. It should really have japones in it and hot sauce, but I didn't want to overwhelm you if you weren't in the mood for something spicy."

The kitchen smells strongly of something sweet and citrusy, of orange and garlic, onion and soy sauce. Lily paces about excitedly, settles on invading Faolan's personal space as soon as he sits down and swishing her tail at him.

"Orange chicken," he adds by way of explanation, "it's Chinese New Year."
knightscode: I've seen worse (♠43)

[personal profile] knightscode 2016-02-08 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"It is, they work on a lunar calendar."

He flicks off the heat under the wok finally, grabs down a glass and the water jug from the fridge to bring across and pour some out for Faolan.

"I thought about going to one of the parades or lantern displays but things have been a little busy. So, one lantern and a stir fry will have to be enough. How hungry are you?"

I - Mid-February

[personal profile] protagonized 2016-02-08 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Simon's still trying to make sense of what has happened over the past few days. Sure, he'd mentioned to Norrell that he was considering becoming a Guardian, but he hadn't expected to be nominated for it. He doesn't even know who did the nominating; he certainly doesn't think it was Norrell.

Weirder still, they actually accepted him.

It's only been a couple of days since the induction, and Simon's still getting the lay of the land. He's aimlessly carrying a mug of coffee from area to area, trying to familiarize himself with his new office and official capacity.

He pauses in front of Faolan's desk.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asks, a little awkwardly. "You look like shi--you don't look well."
specifiercity: (arthur057)

II

[personal profile] specifiercity 2016-02-10 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Arthur pauses at the sound of a crackling fire on his way to the library one evening during one of his visits to the house. In theory he knows that there is a fireplace in there, but he's never actually seen it used - he just assumed it wasn't safe ever since he first saw it. When he pokes his head in and sees Faolan's head over the back of the sofa, he hesitates but decides to speak to him.

"Enjoying the ambiance?" he asks as he approaches the sofa, lightly amused.
constantprisoner: (respectable)

II

[personal profile] constantprisoner 2016-02-11 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
Sirius had just been planning to pass through the house, maybe see what jobs were available, before he headed home. But the smell of smoke had caught his interest and he had to investigate. He couldn't remember a fire ever being lit in the fireplace before.

"Well, this looks comfortable," he said, coming into the room. "I don't think anyone's lit a fire in there for years."
specifiercity: (arthur053)

[personal profile] specifiercity 2016-02-11 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"I didn't even know this thing was usable," he says, gesturing to the fireplace as he finds an armchair and sits down. There's a difference in Faolan today, like he's not as sharp as usual, but Arthur knows they all get exhausted from time to time. Faolan just has the obligation of being around.

"Guess I just never bothered to find out."

[personal profile] protagonized 2016-02-12 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Doesn't look like it," Simon replies, raising an eyebrow. Faolan--O'Neill; maybe a long-lost cousin-by-adoption?--looks like he's about to pass out.

"Can I, uh, get you anything? Aspirin? Water? Tea?"

He hovers in the background like a concerned puppy, wondering if he should even be here or if he should just go.
knightscode: Oh I made that joke already (♠52)

[personal profile] knightscode 2016-02-12 12:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"'Could eat'? That doesn't tell me much."

He flicks Faolan a wry smile, pacing back into the kitchen to begin moving about dishes.

"I've already cooked it, so i'm hardly going out of my way. It's just a matter of how much I serve you. If you're not that hungry it's fine."

Lancelot tilts his head curiously, studying Faolan a second before beginning to serve the food out regardless. He doesn't have to eat it all if he doesn't want to.
knightscode: Puppyeyes (♠38)

[personal profile] knightscode 2016-02-13 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Tastes good too," Lancelot prompts, serving up a relatively small portion and grabbing some cutlery. He studies Faolan in thought a moment, brings it over and sets it down for him carefully. "What's wrong? Don't even think about lying to me, Faolan, I can tell something is."

He lofts an eyebrow, pads back to the wok to begin serving out some for himself.

"If it's personal and you don't want to talk about it, that's fine, but... If I can help..."
knightscode: Merlin did what (♠41)

[personal profile] knightscode 2016-02-13 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
He looks over sharply in surprise at that, studies Faolan as he re-covers the wok and brings over his own food.

"Faolan," he chides gently, "you should have said something! Is this too strong for you? If you like I can make something more plain, or just some soup and bread. Have you taken anything? Is your temperature up?"
knightscode: Puppyeyes (♠38)

[personal profile] knightscode 2016-02-14 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Off?"

Lancelot slides a chair close to Faolan and drops into it, leaning to try and catch his eyes. One hand reaches to brush his fringe up out of the way so he can feel his forehead.

"I have some ibuprofen, if you'd like some. Have you eaten yet today? Drunk anything apart from coffee?"

It could be his blood sugar is low? Or he's dehydrated? He frowns in concern, half studying Faolan's eyes to try and pinpoint if they're reacting normally. He doesn't look too pale, but Faolan was never particularly tan to begin with either.

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