showmeyourwreath | IC LOCKET CONTACT FOR AWKWARD TREE

[ The letter itself is written in clear, Celtic style lettering while the signature is in a different hand -- Lancelot had this transcribed. The seal is official, however, and if she has any doubts Lancelot will confirm it was him who sent it. ]

Marshal Lancelot to Lady Flora;

You will recall a month or so ago now it was discussed that a research project into Drabwurld magic would be beneficial. Lord Kayneth El-Melloi and yourself suggested it, and I have taken the liberty of including Lady Hermione. I hope you will not think me bold. Attached is a key to a room which has been set up and warded for use in testing such things, and supplies will be provided. Additionally, Kaldur and Dorian Gray are doing a little research at the moment -- although the long term project will belong to yourself, Lord Kayneth and Lady Hermione.

I hope it of use.

If you have the time, I have a favour of sorts to ask. Forgive me for doing so on the heels of something else. It is best discussed in private, so when you have time let me know.

Edited 2015-01-04 00:03 (UTC)

[It's the new year, and to be their first conversation of it, and so she greets him with a brilliant smile, hopefully a great way to kick it off, even things are going to inevitably get Serious.]

Happy New Year to you, Field Marshall Lancelot. [There's no disrespect in the tone because, of course, there would never be, but she sounds just a mite playful as she says his title.]

I received your letter. That was you who sent it, right?

[Listen you can't be too careful with these things.]

Lady Flora -- it was, yes. Did you get the key?

[ Hopefully fairies didn't steal it on route and trade it for cake. That would be awkward. ]

[She holds it up, helpfully.]

I did! Thank you! And thank you for arranging the space.

[She hasn't forgotten his favour, she just wants to give him the opportunity to tell her anything she might need to know.]

[ He lets out a breath, offers her a relieved smile. ]

I am glad. I thought it might help to have somewhere to work, other than your own room. If you find there is anything else you need please, do not hesitate to ask. I did my best but I am not a man of magic, I have no doubt I may well have missed something obvious to another.

[Flora offers one of calm encouragement in turn. You got dis, bro.]

You did your best, and that's what matters. Anything that might be missing can be easily seen to, I'm sure, as you've said, so thank you again. But where would you like to meet? I can be anywhere.

Ah...

[ Lancelot hesitates, uncertain. ]

Somewhere we will not be overheard.

[ So... perhaps outside Caer Glaem, in all honesty. Yet even then, there is a risk. Is there such a thing as true privacy anywhere in this world? ]

We could go to The Barrel.

There may be people there. No; perhaps you might meet at the edge of the great greenwood? If it is no trouble.

[She ponders that for a moment...no it shouldn't be a problem.]

Very well, I can be there right now. Would you like for me to come and get you, or will you make your own way?

[He should know by now that right now means right now.]

It may be quicker if you pick me up.

[ He sounds apologetic about this. He always is when he's making someone use magic for his sake. ]

I can wait outside my rooms.

[ Lady can stay inside, guarding them, although the wards do a decent enough job. Lancelot isn't sure if they'd stop her teleporting in, which is why he's opting for outside them. ]

[He's not saying it explicitly, but she can hear it in his tone, nonetheless. She smiles reassuringly.]

I wouldn't have offered if I minded, Lancelot. It's fine! I'll see you, then?

[She will just be zoom there and wait for him if he needs to prep or grab anything.]

[ He offers her a slightly nervous smile when she finally arrives, takes her hand and allows himself to be pulled out to the Greenwood. The clear, cool air goes some way to clearing his mind but he's still worried. He cannot help it. Lancelot's shoulders drop and he studies her a moment, finally collects himself. ]

Lady Flora. I know you believe it better to avoid bloodshed where we can. I am the same. Yet...

[ Lancelot takes a breath, steels himself. ]

There will be a battle soon. The preparations are already in place. Some of the Unseelie watchtowers have already been destroyed. The Cathraon plains will be an unsafe place to be.

[Flora takes it all in with a slight, concerned frown. It feels so soon, like just yesterday they were exchanging presents and drinking cocoa and whatever else.

She exhales gently, her voice quiet.]

Haven't the Plains seen enough bloodshed? [But she knows the answer to her own question.]

What would you like of me?

The orders were not my own.

[ They were Ridire's, and Lancelot will not disobey. ]

I am doing what I can to -- lessen this. Yet Morla is more viscous than us. You saw how she burned through the forests to get to Cothromac. I have -- a few ideas, if you are willing. I will not ask you to hurt anyone, but if we can -- keep some of the troops from battle then we keep them from losing their lives.

[ He hesitates, uncertain still. ]

You are not obligated to agree, please do not feel so. Your heart is your own.

[Flora does know, very intimately. Which will make this all the more ironic later, but hey.

She has her own misgivings about this that have nothing to do with him, but she knows, she can see that he's trying and she wants him to know that.]

Then, please, tell me what it is you have in mind. I don't know if I'll be able to agree depending on it, but that doesn't mean that I doubt that you're doing all you can to see that through.

[ Lancelot nods understanding, gathers himself to try and word this correctly. ]

I worry she may send elementals again, may burn our armies and the lands around it clean through. I was hoping you might -- lessen the damage, if it comes to it. Help put out any fires Morla's troops begin, and -- well. The plains are largely desolate, little grows there. Yet you have command of nature, Flora. I hope to scatter Morla's troops, discourage them from attempting a fight. I thought, perhaps, if that plan succeeds you could overgrow the land behind them -- make it difficult for them to return. Forgive me if the plan is poor, I know little enough of magic. If nothing else -- it may be worth doing defensively. Overgrowing areas around Caer Glaem, in case Morla decides to surprise us while we push our front line.

No, these are good ideas. I'm not certain where the attacks are taking place, but if you could mark for me locations that you believe have strategic importance on a map, perhaps, I will do my best to create preemptive defenses. It will take some time, though. I may need to ask for help, if that's alright with you.

[ He makes a relieved sound, offers her a weak smile and reaches for her hands. ]

Of course.

[ Lancelot frowns in thought, trying to call up locations from memory.. ]

I fear the worst damage may be Nimh Gleanne. It is the quickest route up through to Caer Scima and they will know it. If the Unseelie have any sense they will try to stop us reaching La Llorona.

Edited (accidentally teleported them mid tag) 2015-01-18 11:05 (UTC)

[Nimh Gleanne. The Barrel. There's a sadness on her face that she doesn't manage to hide in time, but she listens all the same and lets him take her hands, because she wants to.

It is a big stretch of road. They are going to need a lot of countermeasures...she's going to need to get started as soon as possible.]

That does make sense. Alright, so the defense of Caer Glaem, something for Nimh Gleanne, and some measure to prevent Unseelie forcest from retreating? Do I have that correctly, so far?

[It's a lot of work, that goes without saying, but her tone doesn't, actually. There's no accusations, just a want for clarity.]

Edited 2015-01-18 11:28 (UTC)

[ He shakes his head, frowns. ]

Not to stop them retreating, to stop them returning. If --

[ Lancelot sighs, tired. ]

I have friends in the other court too. You know this. I have no wish to see them harmed. If my plan works we can make a large portion of the army retreat, scattered, give way to our troops. Yet all the same, if they regroup and return it will be as if re-reinforcements have come upon our army. If we cannot keep them back I fear they may be killed, but if we can -- immobilise them, trap them, conjure them to sleep as they flee then perhaps... Perhaps the monarchs can have their wish with less blood on our hands.

[She can see that he's tired and feels badly. She's not making this any easier, and her voice is quietly apologetic for it.]

I've misunderstood you, I'm sorry.

The fault is my own. I accepted a role where I must lead soldiers, must fight a battle. It is no surprise you suspected me of enacting a plan to stop any escape. Every death will be a weight I carry. I am aware of this. I have no desire to be remembered as bloodthirsty or merciless.

It isn't. [But they'll just go on with the blame and sorry olympics, so she proceeds.

She should have known better from the start, but hearing him say that is reassuring.]

Well...lets see what we can do about lessening the burden, then. [Her hands, still in his, glow for a moment and he'll feel the warmth and lightness of her magic before a map appears above their hands. She smiles lightly.]

I'll need my hands back for a moment.

[ He flushes a little, lets go of her hands with an apologetic smile. ]

Thank you. Any help is welcome.

[ Lancelot's eyes finally lift to the map, equal part curious and in awe of it. Magic always does that to him, he could never find it mundane. ]

IC LOCKET CONTACT FOR AWKWARD TREE

Letter; Around the 1st;

video ....a while after she gets it cause lancelot is eh on the priority scale NO J/K its immediate

video; WOW so rude

hey man, a girl's got things to do

Slides her down priority list in turn

wow das rude

she started it

sry lancelot she's all booked up

FLOUNCES

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oh do you want to just skip to the greenwood after this one

SURE

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squint, do you need to be sleeping, jack

GMT, I just woke up! Which doesn't mean I can type. Viscous? vicious...

sorry for laaate

DONT BE ME

ASPIRES TO BE BETTER THAN YOU

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