Ceci n'est pas un Chevalier

[coeurdulyon]

WHO: Lucien Amour Lyon du Lyon (The Lionheart) and YOU!
WHAT: The arrival of a famed Chevalier (and catch-all)
WHEN: mid to late Drakonis
WHERE: Kirkwall & The Gallows etc
NOTES: Feel free to make up stories you've heard about this legendary knight, he casts a looooong shadow.

i. reporting for duty [closed to div heads]

ia. flint
[ Diligence is due when Lucien returns with Marcoulf and Ellis, and because diligence is a virtue of chivalry, its due must be paid. ]

Commander James Flint? [ His announcement is preceded by a rapping of knuckles on the door jamb and he stands in the doorway until admitted. ]

ib. yseult
[ It's well after Lucien has had the chance to bathe and dress himself as a member of society when he pays a visit to the Scoutmaster in her office. He knocks, waits to be admitted, and kisses the back of her hand at the crux of his courtly bow. ]

Chevalier du Lyon, à votre service.

ic. byerly
[ Once again, the polite knock-knock and waiting at the door to be admitted, very proper and polite and very much unlike a Chevalier, all-told. ]

Ambassador Rutyer, I presume?

id. thranduil and gwen
[ Lucien knocks on the door jamb to the Research Division Head office, folding his hands behind his back. ]

Provost Baudin?

ii. some things to clear up [closed to salvio]

[ The Seneschal's office is the last stop on Lucien's unofficial tour of the Gallows, but perhaps one of the most important, overall. Yes, it's important to introduce himself to the leadership here, but getting himself declared alive again is also rather important. ]

Seneschal Salvio Pizzicagnolo? I wonder if I might beg your assistance in an administrative matter.

iii. il n'y a pas de feu

[ Wildcard, come one, come all! ]

Comments

[bouchonne]

Should I speak more delicately?

[coeurdulyon]

No, no, by all means. I would prefer we speak plainly.

[ He runs a hand over his shorn head, perhaps a bit weary, perhaps thinking about just how much he's lost over the past year of being dead. ]

As it stands, my death was declared officially about a year ago, and my personal belongings delegated to family. So, all I am able to offer at present is my sword arm and my reputation, should you have use for it.

[bouchonne]

And when you reclaim it, is your wealth on offer?

[ That's not said greedily. He's more curious than anything else. ]

[coeurdulyon]

If there is any to reclaim, yes.

[ Promised away as easily as someone would offer a cup of tea. ]

I owe my life to this organization, and as I understand it, the surest way to secure liberation to my own people is to dedicate myself to the cause of the people here.

[bouchonne]

Hm.

You have changed quite a bit, Lionheart.

[coeurdulyon]

Over the course of this conversation? Or have we met previously?

[ It's a little bit of a joke; he knows he differs from his reputation more than what can be explained away as fanciful exaggeration. ]

[bouchonne]

[ His smile is very slight. ]

I lived in Val Royeaux several years, when I was younger. We did not run in the same circles, precisely. But we crossed paths.

[ Maybe an exaggeration. More accurately: Byerly's rowdy and disreputable crowd crashed a few parties that Lucien was likely at. ]

[coeurdulyon]

[ Well he wasn't expecting that. ]

Then I must apologize for not recognizing you, Ambassador. I can only hope that the change you see and my own forgetfulness lend themselves to a second chance at a first impression.

[ And here he thought he'd at least gotten away from imprisonment with his mind intact. ]

[bouchonne]

Oh, come now, Lionheart. No forgiveness needs to be begged, but if you insist upon begging it, then it is freely given.

[ A small, elegant bow from the neck. ]

I am not a man who warrants remembering by common men, let alone by someone like you.

[coeurdulyon]

Would the members of this organization agree? Perhaps I should ask a few of them if Ambassador Rutyer is easily forgotten.

[bouchonne]

They wouldn't give you an honest answer. They all love me far too much.

[coeurdulyon]

But surely love should inspire honesty, not discourage it.

[bouchonne]

[ Byerly can't help but eye the man with amusement. ]

Well, adoration can be so overwhelming, no?

[coeurdulyon]

Bien sûr, but love and adoration are not the same thing.

[bouchonne]

Are they not? Tell me about the difference.

[coeurdulyon]

Adoration is always one-sided.

[ He thinks for a moment. ]

Love, only sometimes.

[bouchonne]

A cynical sentiment, Chevalier,

[coeurdulyon]

And hard-learned. One does not earn a reputation without learning the downsides of having one.

[bouchonne]

A hard life, has it been for you?

[coeurdulyon]

That depends on who you ask.

[bouchonne]

I'm asking you.

[coeurdulyon]

[ Does the burden a man carries suddenly lose its heft with the knowledge that an ant routinely carries five thousand times its own weight? No, but the man might be less inclined to complain about it.

Lucien shrugs. ]

At times.

[bouchonne]

Will you tell me all about it?

[coeurdulyon]

No.

[ Well, maybe with a caveat-- ]

At least, not in one sitting. The thought of talking about myself so much exhausts me.

[bouchonne]

Even if it's to oblige a man to whom you owe fealty?