[ 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

[specifiercity]

Arthur nods, thinking that over. It's not like this is new information, but the character witness part at least narrows things down at little.

"Do you think he's smart enough to want Sylvia out of the picture? She's too dangerous to keep around, even if she's only leader of the witches, but he might want to humble her if he's cocky enough..."

[knightscode]

This is awkward territory now, since he can't quite tell how much of that is conjecture on what Harris' opinion might be on Sylvia and how much it's Arthur's personal opinion.

"I don't know if he's thought it through," is what he finally says, and there's a sort of caution to the way he says it. As if he's uneasy voicing the opinion. "Nothing he does speaks of careful planning. It's more like... like a child he wants something but doesn't know how to get it, so systemically destroys things to get attention in the hope someone will give in. If he went for Sylvia, I don't think it would be carefully planned. I think it wold be brutish and arrogant, assuming he's better from the start."

[specifiercity]

Arthur considers it objective fact that Sylvia Redbright can't be kept around if someone else is going to be leader of Night Council or any governing body in any capacity. She's going to go of her own choice or someone's going to get rid of her permanently. Arthur doesn't want to get too far into that, though. This is about Harris and whether he's smart enough to see all of that.

"I guess we have to stick with the obvious, then. If all of that's true, it's probably easy to distract him with more immediate problems, or at least guess at what his next step is."

Arthur takes a deep breath. If nothing else this talk has confirmed what he suspected. "Thanks for this," he says earnestly, "and again I'm sorry to have barged in like this."

[knightscode]

"Please -- it's no trouble at all. I understand. Hopefully... well, hopefully it was enough of an answer for you."

And, hopefully, they won't have to deal with Raymond for much longer. He hesitates a second, debating, then gives a slight shrug.

"If I think of anything else I'll let you know. Or, if you have any questions..." Either. "Or you can use a question as a pretence to come and eat all my food. That's what Faolan does."

[specifiercity]

"Oh," Arthur says, caught off guard a little bit at Faolan's name. He knew they were friends, but...

"I didn't know you two were that close," he says, conversationally. Like they're just going to casually switch topics to this now until he finally finds a natural break for him to leave. He's mildly curious about this now but he came here to talk about Harris and that's what he got, so he shouldn't overstay his welcome.

[knightscode]

He didn't? Lancelot lofts an eyebrow in surprise at that.

" I've known him... a year? Probably over. I tried to get him to report a dog that attacked him. Turns out it wasn't a dog."

Lancelot's face scrunches up in amusement at that, because his own over-zealous behaviour is funny on reflection.

[specifiercity]

The natural question follows:

"What was it?"

Inquiring minds must know. Arthur needs to know or it'll become a minor annoyance in his life, and he doesn't need another one of those.

[knightscode]

"Werewolf," he confirms easily. "It was quite persistent in wanting him dead. Found us again later and gave us quite the chase."

Until Faolan dropped it onto a railway line. Lancelot belatedly realises he still isn't sure if it survived or not.

[specifiercity]

"Huh," Arthur says, like this information is mildly interesting rather than something he's going to file away in case it becomes useful later. It probably won't, but you never know. He takes a deep breath and continues like it finally is time to leave.

"Well, I'm sure I'll see you again soon. I hope things stay a little more peaceful for you."