[ Active / Closed ] Caught in the crossfire

[knightscode]

It's been a complicated few months for Lancelot.

As a Guardian, it isn't terribly great to know one of the Night Council has 'vanished' under mysterious circumstances. Gilbert Norrell may not have been a personal favourite of his, but he was still someone the Guardians were there to protect. Moreover, the investigation is going slowly.

Which is also not brilliant, considering he'd just been promoted.

As both a Police Officer and a Guardian both, there's little Lancelot likes less than the feeling of a dead end.

Then, of course, there's the vampire problem.

Lancelot thinks he can be forgiven for feeling a touch bitter over that.

Richmond -- Early August, Closed to Natasha

Lancelot is starting to feel more than uneasy about what is happening with Islington.

Especially since he has unwittingly helped create the current situation.

He dislikes feeling used, and even if he has managed to fend them off once from taking back the territory he took the loss of trust is something that stings.

Jean-Claude makes him feel uneasy. He'd liked him at first, the man had even saved him. Yet everything that came after makes Lancelot wonder if he has trusted too easily. What the vampire has told him is true -- in comparison surely he is far from the worst one, but then again perhaps that is only because Lancelot has not seen him at his worse. Perhaps he is being fooled all over again.

What he needs is someone who better understands vampires than he does, which is honestly not difficult. Yet... equally, there is someone he can think of.

Although most likely this isn't what she'd been thinking of when he'd offered to meet her.

He's standing outside the small, brightly coloured shop with one hand shoved into the pockets of faded jeans. The sun is long set, but the place is open until midnight -- although Lancelot suspects the fact that this caters to the supernatural community is entirely unintentional. Lily is sat pressed up against his legs, leaning slightly into him as his free hand ruffles her white fur. She's the first to sense Natasha approaching, and looks around before pushing to all fours -- tail beginning to swish up over her back. Lancelot looks up in turn, brightens a little at the sight of her and offers a small smile.

Then he belatedly realises he's standing in front of a small frozen yogurt shop and looks back at it self-consciously for a second before offering her a shrug.

"I hope it's everything you thought it would be," he says, and his lips twitch in barely repressed amusement.

Southwark -- backdated to June / Closed to Faolan.


Lancelot is more than a little surprised he actually won, but he's not arguing with it.

Now, though, as adrenaline begins to wear off all the cuts and scrapes he's wearing begin to hurt and as he looks down at himself... Lancelot can't help but laugh a little.

He looks like he belongs on the cover of some utterly ridiculous romance novel, shirt sliced and covered with blood. Doesn't help that it's a white shirt. Why did he wear a white shirt? He wasn't thinking, that's why, he was too angry to think. Sighing a little he tries to work out the best way to get home like this. He'll be stared at if he takes public transport. Maybe a taxi would be more forgiving.

With a heavy sigh he plods his way back toward the gaggle of Daybreak witches -- then catches sight of something out of the corner of his eye.

Faolan? Of all people -- well, Lancelot would have dragged him into such a thing once upon a time but... Faolan is now the leader of Hillingdon, and already has enough political complication without looking as if he's assisting in a Daybreak claim.

Lancelot blinks at him a moment before frowning and beginning to cautiously step over.

"If you're looking to help," he begins slowly, "you're a little late now. I'm afraid it appears to be over."

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha doesn't look him in the eyes after he says that, giving him what privacy she can while he admits what's happened. At the same time, his admission... it could be a lot worse. She can see how Jean-Claude might consider it relatively benign compared to what he might have done.

"That can happen," she admits. Oddly enough, she's only been on the human side of it. She's never been one to share her blood with mortals.

It's only been recently that she's socialized enough with mortals to consider it.

"Blood creates a link. Whether we're drinking it or giving it. It's a different kind of connection, but it can happen that way."

[knightscode]

"But he didn't have to use it," Lancelot insists, unsure if it's a statement or a question really. If he's trying to defend his opinion or ask for reassurance on it. He winces at himself, eyes flicking up to her then away again.

"Forgive me," he says more quietly, "I just... I suppose I'm... sensitive, to... that sort of thing."

To thinks in his head he didn't know were there, or didn't invite to be there.

[outstandingbalance]

"Did he use it?" Sometimes it wasn't as simple as that. Sharing could be natural. But that possibility didn't necessarily mean that it was.

"Or maybe I should ask how he used it."

Her lips tighten and she drops her eyes, considering that maybe she should be more bothered by this herself. He's human. And what Jean-Claude did might matter less than the fact he'd done it at all.

She's not entirely sure herself.

[knightscode]

"He did. It wasn't an... accident, his being in my dreams. He said he wanted to... get to know me."

Which, to Lancelot, is still ridiculous. Why not just talk to him? Why go delving into his head?

He takes a slow breath, shakes his head.

"That... isn't my only concern, though. When I went to talk to him about it... Southwark was his idea. Taking it back from Islington. Which it -- well, he is part of Islington. I thought, perhaps... Forgive me, I don't know what I thought. That he was... letting me know he didn't agree with other vampires. Persuading me to strike out at Millicent because she was worse than he was. Yet.... the timing."

Lancelot pauses, winces and closes his eyes.

"I think I was their distraction."

Wince, well, while all that was going down... Millicent went down elsewhere.

[outstandingbalance]

It's the second piece of information that catches Natasha's attention and she sits back, for a moment she finds herself seriously considering if that could have been the case. If it is, then Alex had a truly unprecedented number of vampire allies all helping her remove or get away with removing Millicent. That alone makes her skeptical—though unfortunately she'd be hard pressed to explain her reasoning without admitting that she'd helped the killer get away with murder.

"I can see where this goes from uncomfortable to worrying," Natasha says after a moment of thinking. "For that to be the case, he'd have to be in league with a werewolf. Just for a start."

But clearly that's possible.

"It could be that the assassination was a crime o opportunity. She struck when the nest was looking the other way." Another pause, but this time Natasha is willing to admit to her knowledge. She already let as much go to Cooper; at least she would be consistent. "I know for a fact she was watching Millicent for days leading up to the attack..."

Which is a plausible reason for Jean-Claude's collusion to be accidental, at least.

[knightscode]

Lancelot gives a small shake of his head, lips pressed together and brow furrowed.

"I'm a police officer, Natasha. I don't believe in coincidence. It's too tidy. Not only that, after persuading me to take Southwark he quickly tried to take it back. I did a little digging. He isn't a young vampire, but he's hasn't been this... involved before. He's starting climbing the ladder recently. It may be... nothing. It may have been solely about Millicent -- forgive me for saying so but I can understand why he may have taken issue with her. Yet... all the same. I don't believe in coincidence."

[outstandingbalance]

"Believe me, I understand that." She takes another bite of her frozen yogurt, moving a little more slowly as she considers the situation. What she knows. What she can guess. What she can't speak to. Jean-Claude's actions and motivations are, in the end, something she can't speak to. "I know how it looks, and I can't say I know Jean-Claude well enough to defend him. You're right about him climbing the ranks lately, and while I'd like to believe it's because someone has to get Islington in line before they start a war. But I don't really know."

It strikes her a great deal more like the nest politics she's used to than Harris or Millicent's reigns, though.

"I suppose it doesn't matter what his motivation is either, if he's playing you."

Her lips tighten as she considers the possibilities. "Unfortunately, I'm not really in he position to ind an answer either."

[knightscode]

He nods at that, taking a sip of his coffee as he collects himself.

"I know," Lancelot says finally, "forgive if it seemed as such -- I suppose I only wished for... assurance in some way that I was not... seeing ghosts where there were none, and to warn you. I was the one who said I trusted him before, after all. I am not so arrogant as to think my judgement might have swayed you too far but... since it changed so much, I thought it worth mentioning."

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha hums, not telling him that it might be a little too late for the warning. She'll have to take care of herself with Jean-Claude, but the fact is she still doesn't seem like that much of a danger relatively speaking.

"I appreciate the thought," she says. It's a safe thing to say, a way to fill time. She takes another bite of yogurt too before she continues. "I'm not trying to defend Jean-Claude either. I think... I don't think you're wrong to be bothered by what happened. At the same time, from my perspective... I can see how this could be about as innocent as anything can be with a vampire his age."

She leans down and pets Lily under the table. She realizes that's more or less an indictment of herself too. She might not be that old, but she's still a vampire. Her perspective might be flawed too.

Probably is.

"I appreciate that you told me, though. It means a lot."

[knightscode]

He drops his eyes at that, shrugs a little.

"It is the least I can do. I... appreciate that you listened, too. It helps to have perspective. Some of the people I would normally talk to are... well, they already have strong opinions that would damn Jean-Claude just for what he is. That does not help much."

It makes them a good echo chamber of affirmation that Lancelot has done nothing wrong, but not necessarily a good second opinion on if Jean-Claude has.

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha hums thoughtfully. She can well imagine that he has plenty of friends who'd be happy to judge a vampire. And it's not as though they wouldn't have reasons.

"Thanks for talking to me instead of them?" Is that a strange thing to thank someone for. Natasha does appreciate the effort, though; the attempt to see both sides is something she would respect even without her particular bias in the situation. "Not everyone would try to be that fair."

[knightscode]

Lancelot shakes his head, dismissing the thanks, and flicks her a small smile.

"It should not be worth the thanks. More likely I owe you something better than frozen yogurt and coffee for listening to me, in truth. Keep it in mind and cash in when you're in the mood. Lily's company optional."

He drops a hand to ruffle at her fondly, dropping his eyes to her. Not everyone likes dogs quite as much as he does, he gets that. He can go places without her when the situation calls for it.

[outstandingbalance]

That gets a chuckle out of Natasha as she finishes off another spoonful of yogurt. She glances down at the dog, doubting Lily would understand why anyone might prefer not to be in her company for a little while.

"I'll keep that in mind," she tells him, though she considers them more even than anything. He probably wouldn't understand it, but the fact he came to her meant a lot at a time when vampires were giving everyone more than enough reason to suspect the worst. "Alternatively..." she suggests, a little humor coming into her expression. "We could just get together again? I like to think I'm good company."

[knightscode]

"You are good company, patient company at that -- certainly chattier than she is."

Although Lily does bark a little it doesn't make for particularly good conversation. Even if he does talk to her, that's beside the point. All pet owners do that.

"Just let me know a good time and place for you, and I'll be there."

[outstandingbalance]

"It's a deal." Natasha smiles at that, a rare, genuine smile. She's only met Lancelot a few times and she doesn't know him well, but he's made a better impression than she realized.

There's something about him that makes her like herself a little better.