[ Active / Open ] How long can I neglect me for

[knightscode]

The month has become a little rough for Lancelot. First there was his suspicions regarding Jean-Claude, then Raymond's declaration, then... then everything got a little worse. It was only a weekend hes spent in the basement with Raymond's lackeys, but he's still recovering from the blood loss -- and it's shaken him more than he'd care to admit.

i) Semi-Open: At Home, Richmond.

For a few days after, Lancelot simply shuts himself in and tries to recharge. He's sore, covered in vampire bites and bruises and a little uneasy still. Lancelot may not have been taken directly from his home, but he wasn't far from it. He still can't be sure if they were watching his house, how long for if they were. If it was chance or luck, if it was planned.

He won't refuse visitors, but in truth Lancelot is rather content with just Lily for company at the moment. His mind is busy, and having lost a fair amount of blood he's also tired.

An awkward amount of time has been spent inventing a passable reason he's in such a state for people he simply can't tell 'oh it was vampires', and that's... difficult. He hates lying. Yet all the same he's managed it, somehow, had to halfway makeup that he's already done something about charging those responsible and he doesn't want to talk about it.

Which just leaves Lancelot standing in his kitchen staring absently at the coffee he's just made, wondering if he can get away with putting some alcohol in it this early in the day. Lily stays pressed to his side like a peculiarly white and fluffy shadow of concern, perhaps wondering what she might be able to do to help.


ii) Open: Night Council territory & various others.

He knows he can't stay at home forever, though. Eventually Lancelot has to go back to work, and he knows the longer he leaves it the harder it will be. So a few days after it Lancelot heads back in, wearing a little more clothing than strictly sensible on a hot day to try and cover up some of the bites and bruises he's sporting. He checks in with all his cases and paperwork in Westminster, picks up a few things and heads out onto the street.

Lily tags along with him for support, so he tries to walk in the shade when he can -- her thick white fur making her suffer a little in the summer. He's pausing by a shop at one point to pour out a little water for her when she nearly trips someone up moving, and Lancelot makes a little ah sound and bodily pulls her closer.

"Forgive me," he says softly, shuffling the bowl so she can lap some of the water up. "She's a little restless in the heat."

Samoyeds are built for Siberia, after all, not for 30°C. The dog fusses to get at the water, leash looping around her a little even as Lancelot looks up to offer an apology smile.

Comments

ii

[akillersmile]

Kyle half-falls over the dog, catching himself easily enough and automatically reaching out to pet the thing. He's always liked dogs and the furball monstrosity before him is definitely no exception. Which is why he as easily waves off the man's apologies, crouching down to pet the dog with the presumption that only an American would have.

"Don't worry about it." The accent confirms his origins.

He looks up to Lancelot to offer the man a light smile then pauses, expression shifting to something vaguely pensive. "Wait, I think I know you. Lancelot, right? How do I know you? Were you running for the Council?"

[knightscode]

He blinks rapidly at that, tilts his head slightly as he tries to work out how to answer. It's a rather... forward thing to ask? No, forward is the wrong one, it is only that if Lancelot knew nothing of the Night Council and was simply a clueless person then Kyle would have an awkward hole to try and talk himself out of.

"No, no good lord no I didn't run. I'm a Guardian, perhaps you saw me with one of the candidates?"

[akillersmile]

Kyle is very good at talking himself out of things. It's why he intentionally only used the word Council, to fake a student council or knitters council or some other bullshit as needed. There were lots of councils in the world, but only one the relevant person would think of. Besides, he has a good memory for faces and names.

He snaps in acknowledgement, nodding sagely. "Yeah, that's it. That's how I know you." More nodding before he stops both that and petting the dog, rising to his feet and casually dusting some of the dog hair off his hands and shirts. "Are you like secret service for them?"

[knightscode]

Secret service? Lancelot thinks about thing, wrinkles his nose.

"I'm not so sure -- do the secret service do much in the way of investigating? Guardians help enforce the Council's laws as well as protecting its members when the need arises."

Lancelot doesn't really know enough about American law specifics to know if that is at all similar. It might be, it might not be. Although, he supposes the Secret Service may not be bound by magical legal threats.

(Unless they are).

[akillersmile]

"Sounds more like a police force," he corrects, both in his own mind and for the Brit. Which gives him pause of a different nature. Kyle frowns a little, with his own thoughts rather than at Lancelot specifically. The former soldier has heard rumors of Guardians before, but he's never met one and didn't really know what they do. To see one here..

"So if you guys enforce the laws, why are the vampires committing genocide?" It's asked with all the nonchalance of inquiring about his favorite food, not in an accusing manner.

[knightscode]

The tone may be nonchalant, but the question feels accusatory anyway -- especially with the timing of it. He carefully closes the lid on the bottle of water he was using for Lily and picks up his bowl, partly to buy himself time to answer politely and sensibly instead of anything else.

"We are not exactly an army," he replies carefully, "and there are a lot of vampires. We're doing our best."