[ 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

[knightscode]

"Not by much, I'd still have to roll it off my shoulders --"

Even the slight movements that unbuttoning would take come from his shoulders, from the play of his muscles, and they're all sore. Then he'd still have to push it back off. He takes a deep breath once he's free of it, lets it out in a sigh and drops himself backwards over a chair so he can lean his weight against it.

[reticence]

Faolan does his best not to be awkward about the other man being partially undressed as he is, trying to focus on the fact that he's doing this because the other man is in pain. In pain because of what the vampires did to him. And for the most part, that works, although he still cannot help admiring the line of the other man's shoulders as he sits backwards on the chair and presents Faolan with the whole aching surface of them.

Perhaps you shouldn't bother with a shirt at all then, he thinks, but does not say aloud. Such thoughts are better kept to himself, all things considered. Instead, he reaches for the Tiger Balm and scoops some out onto his fingers, working it between them for a moment before sliding his hands along the skin of the back of Lancelot's neck and shoulders. He can feel even with so light a touch how stiff the other man's muscles are under his fingers. "I could try to work some of this out for you, if you'd like?" he offers. As casually as he can, all things considered.

[knightscode]

Lancelot flinches slightly the moment fingers touch his skin, hesitates at the question.

"I -- I'm not so sure that's a good idea," he hedges, "it's still quite sore."

The idea of someone pressing their fingers into it, even to try and work out stiffness, makes him feel a little ill.

[reticence]

Faolan nods slightly. Of course it's sore, that's the whole reason he's using the Tiger Balm in the first place, after all. While working some of the stiffness out would make the other man feel better in the long run, he supposes in the moment it might be something of a torture in and of itself.

"Of course," he replies, before falling silent once more. Continuing just with the cream itself, Faolan keeps his fingers gentle and light as he rubs the cream into the other man's skin. Making certain to leave his touch only at that.

Once he's applied it to the majority of his shoulders and neck he sits back, keeping his hands to himself as he asks, "Anywhere else?" While he's got the tub open, he might as well keep going where it's needed. He doesn't want to slather it all over Lancelot's back if he doesn't need it though.

[knightscode]

He straightens up slightly and rolls his shoulders, winces and arches his back as he tries to work out where else is sore.

"Triceps, maybe? I don't know if it will help, but they're still -- well, sore. Like everything else."

Lancelot lifts one arm a little and squints down at his muscles, as if he can tell somehow by sight if they need something, then up at Faolan questioningly.

[reticence]

Faolan can't help but smile slightly at the other man's questioning glance, before nodding slightly. "I think I can manage that," he responds, before gesturing for the other man to turn around again.

"Here, let me see," he says, reaching for the Tiger Balm again, scooping out more and warming it between his fingers. Reaching to brace the other man's arm gently, he moves to rub the balm into his triceps as requested.

"Feeling any better?" he asks as he works, well aware that it's only just been applied and he still has the other arm to do.

[knightscode]

"Like I'm covered in tiger balm," Lancelot replies, which is at least the truth. "It will take a little bit to work properly, I think, but... thank you, all the same. For subjecting yourself to having it all over your hands."

He offers Faolan a small smile, shifting in his chair and examining his arms again since they're the only bits he can see.

"I suppose I should let it dry out a little before re-dressing."

[reticence]

Faolan nods slightly. "Unless you want it all over your clothes, that's probably wise," he replies. "But it's no problem. I'm happy to get it all over my hands if it helps. I wouldn't even need all that much convincing to do it again, if you wanted."

He moves to stand, pushing himself out of the chair and crossing to the sink, as much to attempt to wash the smell off of his hands as to give himself something to do so he isn't just continuously fussing unnecessarily. He tries to think of something to say, something that isn't just something inane, but when he opens his mouth the first thing to spill out of it is hardly what he'd intended.

"After I left, I couldn't stop thinking that. I would come back here and have imagined the whole thing. And you'd still be out there." He glances across the kitchen to him, before casting his eyes away. "I guess it's why I'm here. But I don't want to be in your way. If you'd rather I leave..." He'd only just gotten rid of him last night, after all. And here he is again, hovering.

[knightscode]

Lancelot pauses at that, regarding Faolan with a quiet sort of confusion.

"Well, I'm definitely here. If you're imagining me it'll be awkward for both of us because I'm not sure I want to admit to not being real." He lofts an eyebrow, rest his hands on the small kitchen table so he doesn't have to drop them too low. "If you ask to leave one more time though I'll start to be offended and think you dislike my company. You only just arrived."

[reticence]

Faolan flicks the other man a quietly grateful smile and moves to drop down into his seat with him at the table once more. "I won't," he says. "I give you my word that that's the last of it. Don't think anything of it, please. I quite enjoy your company, Tiger Balm and all."

He reaches for his coffee once more, to give his hands something to do that isn't just fidgeting or fussing over Lancelot further. "Just... Let me know if I can do something for you, yeah? It's the least I can do. Since I'm here." He flicks him a quiet smile. "Might as well take advantage of it while you can. If you can stomach giving up the control for a little while that is." He knows how Lancelot doesn't much care for fussing if he can help it, but he hopes that he'll take him up on it, if just to humor him. For a little while at least.