Knight At The Pub [[Open]]

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Every man must decide
whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism
or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

The only reason Vaughn knew he was in Mercia, was because someone had demanded to know where he had come from. He does not take well to demands, so made up some horrible, yet elaborate story about his business here. He did not want to engage in an altercation yet, for then he would surely be thrown in a dungeon and that sort of confinement was what Vaughn disliked most in the world. Instead, he traveled on, though the weather was not entirely cooperative. Then again, the rain could be rather refreshing, though he still sought shelter for what he needed was a good drink.

He went on until he came across a pub in one of the small villages. The rain was pouring heavily and the late hour, were both things that made the pub extremely crowded at this time. Vaughn handed his horse over to a man who put them with the others, and after tossing him a few coins for his service, Vaughn entered the pub. His hair and cape was dripping wet, though amongst the business no one seemed to notice or pay any attention to him. He went to one of the empty tables, it was in fact the only empty table, as sat down. Taking off his gloves, he motioned to one of the workers to bring him a drink. The drink came rather quickly, something Vaughn was relieved about. As soon as he got it, he took a large sip before setting it down in front of him. He was in no rush, he could take his time to enjoy it. He looked at his drink, though his mind was no focused on it. He was listened to all the different conversations, picking up on random words from each one, and subtley eying the different crowds of drunk men and women. Idiots. They were all idiots.

[[ Open to Anyone ]]

[Deleted]

Lancelot Du Lac had not been employed as a Knight for too months by the earl of Huntingdon in Wessex until he was trusted enough to be sent out on special errands. Sometimes this meant collecting debts and sometimes he was contracted out to other nobles for protection or other work. he did not often have much reason to be in Mercia. In fact, generally, it was just somewhere to travel through. Often he traveled through it just to avoid going anywhere near Camelot, which he, over the past year, had avoided like the plague. It wasn't unusual that his travel involved several days off rain, and this trip back to Wessex, after providing an escort to a noble in the south, was unusually wet. he needed someplace to dry out and warm up his insides.

He generally tried to avoid the larger towns, and visit the smaller hamlets. the pubs were generally smaller, but there was often less of a danger of getting into a run-in. Most locals tended to avoid outsiders, especially if they looked heavily armed and as someone not to trifle with. It was fairly late when he pulled into one of these small hamlets, and he was not really concerned about the state of the pub, as long as he got out of the weather. he found it fairly crowded, especially the bar, but some of the tables near the outer wall were basically empty. That was where he would set up, he thought, someplace where he could have his back against a wall. he quickly found an open table, right next to a another solitary figure with a still-dripping cape and gloves set on the table, with a goodly-sized drink in front of him. Lancelot nodded his head , acknowledging his presence, but little more. He motioned at the barkeep, who quickly came to the tall Knight's call. "An ale if you would, tall and dark," and he threw some coins down, which he barkeep collected. Only minutes passed before he was sampling his own drink.

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn looked at the man who took a seat at the table next to him, as he had briefly made eye contact with him. Vaughn's gaze at the stranger was not so brief though, and he continued to look at him, as he ordered his drink. Another knight; another fool. He smirked, turning back to the drink in front of him. "What brings such a loyal servant to the crown to such a place on such a night?" He asked, not really caring about the answer, but asking it anyway as a means to introduce something to mock the man about. He hated knights. Yes, he himself was one by only by appearance, not in the heart. And that indeed make all the difference.

While Vaughn was no longer making eye contact with the man, his words were obviously directed towards him. He never made the effort to be polite to others. By bother. Vaughn did not plan on seeing this man ever again after tonight, so he did not care in the least about what he thought of him. Vaughn had no reputation to protect to uphold. All he had was the constant craving to make things a little more interesting in life. Who knows. Perhaps he would be lucky and this particular knight lacked the virtue of patience.

[Deleted]

Unfortunately, Lancelot thought, you had no control over who you got to sit in a bar with. Since their tables were adjacent to one another, it was easy to see the expression on the man's face, and it wasn't particularly pleasant. Lance hoped that he would keep whatever was bothering him to himself, but he was afraid that he would end up doing his best to share it with every one else. To his chagrin, Lancelot discovered, hearing the man's comments that it was going to be directed at him in particular. Could this man actually be a knight? He almost cringed when he heard him say, "What brings such a loyal servant to the crown to such a place on such a night?"

It wasn't the words, so much as the tone that they were delivered in that bothered Sir Lancelot. However, the one thing that he did know was that the worlds were directed at him, specifically. There could be no other that they were. "I am, good sir, a knight, but i do not serve the interest of a crown, at least not directly. And what knowledge or awareness do you have of my loyalty, sir. And as far as this place goes, it just happens to be a tavern along the way, as I return home to the Earl of Huntingdon, and nothing more. However, exactly what interest is it of yours?," he asked leaning slightly forward, looking for any opening in a fight that he was sure would break out at any time.

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Wow. This man talked a lot. A little too much for Vaughn's comfort. Then again, he did not enjoy engaging in most conversations. He just found it a way to further provoke people. And what other fun did the world hold? "None what so ever," Vaughn replied when the man asked what interest he had in him. Vaughn did not care. He cared about nothing or no one, especially not this man. But still, he wondered if this could end in a good classic bar fight. Not right away. Vaughn had just gotten started on his drinks. It was still early.

"I see that you take your duty as a knight very seriously. Being here to have a few drinks, one too many, and perhaps enjoy the company of a woman." Vaughn smirked. All knights were the same. Mindless drones taking empty oaths, getting nothing in return but ridiculous pride in wearing a crest that stood only for greed.

[Deleted]

Lancelot was sure that he didn't like this ones attitude, at all. He just oozed with challenge to authority. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, he thought, when not carried to extremes. That is, when that authority was evil and tyrannical. Lancelot smiled to himself at that. He had to remember his own history. He had started out as a an idealist. This tavern was not a place where such ideals were respected. Only strength was, so he should really watch what he said and did. so he was just trolling for information. He had no interest in him, he said. Lancelot hardly thought that likely. Everyone was interested in everyone else, but not for their well-being.

Lance thought about his progression as a knight and a fighting man. He had pursued it because he had wanted revenge against the raiders that had destroyed his village and he never wanted to be vulnerable again. Then, he simply wanted to serve and to do it in the honorable way of the knights. When he had had to leave Camelot, though, he had discovered that there was no need of a perfect knight. He had gone back to being a knight in Wessex, as he had been before Camelot, trying to reach for his dream of being a Knight of Camelot. He spent his time now, surviving, traveling pretty close to the line between what was right and wrong. Here, only the strong and the lucky survived. It didn't hurt being smart, as well as ruthless, though.

Lancelot smiled back at the other knight's words. "I only take seriously those things that are in my interest, and destroy all others that would stand in my way. I owe nobody my allegiance other than the King of Wessex and the Earl of Huntingdon. And since they are nowhere close I don't have to listen to anyone, you included," he said draining his tankard. "Yes, I could see those as easy duties to fulfill, ever for someone like you, drink and women" Lancelot watched his drinking partner quite carefully, making sure a weapon was in easy reach.

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn couldn't help but deepy chuckle at the knight's words. He was entertaining that was for certain. Perhaps Vaughn would not immediately dismiss his company after all. "Such histrionics for a man who claims he is independant to think for himself. When really, the allegiance that you owe, makes you a prisoner." Vaughn was not shy to speak his mind. For a man who did not fear death found no reason to restrain himself from speaking whatever thought entered his head, no matter how insulting or how dangerous.

"They are pleasurable duties indeed," Vaughn said, not taking his comment as a criticism, wondering if the knight had meant them to be. "They are pleasurable to any man. Even one who is restricted by the rules and guidance of another," he added, referring to Lancelot of course. Vaugh had no allegiance; he had burned those bridges years ago and did not regret it thus far. He doubted he ever would. "Why else would you be here, drinking to your hearts content."

[Deleted]

Well at least this man .... he'd hardly call him a knight .... seemed to have something that could resemble a sense of humor. He did not strike him as one who cared much for honor. He was just one, it seemed, that cared about what benefits he could acquire. He didn't expect his morals were much beyond a common highwayman. However, he was not in a place where you would want to acquire new enemies, so Lancelot merely smiled at the chuckle of his new acquaintance. "Perhaps, but many times we don't have much choice of what alliances we make, and others don't count loyalty to be anything of value," he said quite casually. "At this point, I can come and go as I please, so I wouldn't consider myself much of a prisoner, and if they consider me as such, they be the greatest of fools."

There conversation quickly moved on to other topics. It appeared that Lance's new companion was more agreeable with the pursuit of women than the pursuit of knightly duties. Lancelot had not meant anything, positive or negative, from his comments. He was just making a statement of fact. From the look on the other's face, though, he detected that the man was unsure if Lancelot had insulted him or not. Even knowing this, Lancelot was not going to waste his time explaining himself. He surely wouldn't do it for Prince Arthur, then why would he do it for this border-line knight? "Yes, I would agree with you on that point. However, I have never felt obliged to follow another's directions in such manner, be they commoner or noble. Why am I here? I would say that for the same reason that any knight would stop after a long day's ride trying to get from here to there. I drink because I am able and I enjoy it. Do you drink for other reasons, perhaps."

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn greatly disagreed. "We always have a choice." Vaughn was born into a noble family though that did not influence his loyalty. He had not been loyal to any of them, and did not regret his actions. Everything he did, he would do over. What was the point of regret? Everyone made decisions, because they should be so free to, and those people would have to face the consequences. So why dwell on the 'what ifs' and 'what could of happeneds' of life. "You clearly are not free to make your own choices if you have already sworn your allegiance to someone."

Yes, knights had freedom but very little of it. They were expected to always uphold the code of honor and chivalry, even if they were not on duty. To Vaughn, it was just a ridiculous thought. He could walk by a person getting attacked and he was not obligated by code, or even morally obligated, to save them. Knights on the other hand, often took the other road; acted all dramatic and saved the day. "So tell me, who then is the fool." He chuckled before taking another large sip from his drink.

Vaughn was growing more and more amused by the conversation. He did not answer his question, or his implying statement. He just gave a bit of a smirk. "Do you not listen to your king or superiors? That is following another's direction. One night to do as you please, even then to a certain extent, does not make you a free man."

[Deleted]

Lancelot watched his most recent drinking companion very closely. It was easy to see that they would agree on little, and that this character, if he was a knight at all, was a rogue of a fellow .... at best, an opportunist. Lancelot grunted in disbelief at his last statement. "Yes .... we all have a choice ..... as in you can eat or not eat and you can live or you can die. I think you could ask some peasants exactly how much of a choice they have in life. Even when one has sworn an allegiance, that is a choice, and as long as you are yet a man, you can still make your own choices. You do not surrender that, unless you want to," he laughed.

"You, I'm afraid, decided some time ago, that you would follow a path that you only would follow one that was in your best interest. You look out only for yourself and no other. That is fine of course. This your choice, as you are so fond, apparently, of saying. It is simplistic of course. You have come up with this justification to elevate this choice of putting yourself first so that you can denigrate others that have, at least in their mind, decided to align themselves with a higher purpose. Of course, in your view, those who do not look after themselves first are the fools. I think that those who can't look beyond their own noses are the true fools," he laughed in return.

"I think it is obvious who I think is the fool. However, I won't begrudge you the right and the opportunity of being a fool by your own choice. However, if that choice that you have made puts anything or anyone that I have chosen to ally myself and defend, I will not have the slightest qualms in ending the threat, or your choice, in a most final way. I have done it with others, and I will have no hesitation to do it with you," he said looking quite levelly and coldly in Vaughn's eyes.

Lancelot could tell by the amused expression in his eyes that he took very little of what Lancelot had said seriously. He was one of those, Lancelot knew, who would not consider any other opinions or views that were contrary to their own selfish views. "Of course I listen to them, just I would listen to any reasonable man .... I'd even listen to you, if you had anything reasonable to say," he smirked back. "Just because you listen to advise or suggestion does not mean that you surrender to their will. Only a fool would do such a thing, just as another type of fool who would never consider another's view or interest other than their own. Yes, I would quite agree with that. However, doing as you please, without concern for its effect on others is no definition of true and responsible freedom either."

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Oh dear god. Vaughn did not even know what to say to this mans lecture and rant. He let him say everything he needed to say; allowing him to get out of his system. While Vaughn was a man of action more than words, he seemed to be the opposite. He seemed to enjoy talking; enjoy justifying his argument. Vaughn on the other hand, rarely cared enough to try to convince someone to see his point of view. Though Vaughn did chuckle at the thought of peasants, and how miserable some of them made their lives out to be. It was rather funny. Vaughn enjoyed tormenting such people of a low status. They were easily provoked as all you had to do was remind them of how little they had and that was enough to set them off.

Vaughn wondered if this man knew what he had meant when he said that no one had a choice. Apparently, he had not been specific enough. "I need no justification for my actions," he said, jumping ahead to another point of the conversation as he was not planning to react to every remark that Lancelot made. "I have no shame in saying that I do put myself above all others. Everyone does or they should, and yet are too cowardly to admit it. I embrace it and do not let the actions or words of another dictate how I should continue to live my life." Unlike those who, at the end of the day, were forced to comply by a higher authority's demands.

It was not something meant to sound rebellious. Vaughn did not see himself as a rebel. He was practical. He saw these things as simple concepts learned from experience. "Do not presume to know me," he added, still smirking though he meant his words. "In doing so, you have made yourself look like a fool." This word seemed to be a rather frequent one in their conversation; even if it was just mildly insulting. "You talk more than you act. Anyone can see that," he said mockingly. "Do you talk this much when you are drunk? If not, then allow me to get you some more ale." He held up his mug for the bar maid to come and set another one down.

[Deleted]

Lancelot shook his head slightly, more to himself than anybody else. He certainly didn't aim any of his skills of persuasion at this utter waste. He hoped that he had never been a true knight, for he was sure that whomever he would have served would have been gravely disappointed. Therefore, he reasoned that it would been an utter waste of his breath and effort to try and turn him around. He thought, in fact, that this one would be best described as an opportunist. He was not one who he would want one to meet on the deserted highway without a proper set of guards or defenders, he thought. In fact, he struck him as one who might even take pleasure in another's distress. He had, of course, only hunches to go by, and the look he saw in his table companion's eyes as different people from different walks of life passed their table. However, nothing served to change his mind about him either.

He sure, in fact, that this one was just turning his hearing off to almost everything that Lance had to say. In a moment, though, he proved that assumption to be false. However, he unfortunately did not understand any of the meaning behind the words that Lancelot had offered. "Yes, I assumed that you were not one who held much responsibility for their actions. You feel that you are accountable to no one and no power beyond yourself. Well then," Lancelot chuckled out loud, "You apparently don't feel constrained or held back by any sense of humility either. Yes, one would indeed lead an unhappy and unfulfilled life if you were ever concerned about how you action affected and hurt others," he said, laughing once more.

He saw that this Vaughn character was not going to be restrained by the very system that they lived under. "You seem to be unwilling to understand, or to at least accept, that the system that we live under is one in which the few command and the many follow. Those that command are almost always noble at their start, while those who are not serve. Are you a noble, then, in disguise, then, that you need not follow any orders or commands other than your own," he smirked. "Oh, rest assured that I would never want to 'know' you, just as with any vermin that I would be just as likely to strike down as to look at. Fortunately you haven't done anything that would warrant that kind of response from me ...... yet."

"A fool? My understanding is that nobody can recognize a fool better than one who already is one. Congratulations are owed to you for having the being such a good fool that you recognize it so easily in others," he laughed. "No ..... unkind sir .... it is not that I talk too much ..... it is that I act only when it is necessary to provide an irreversible, final solution. Hmmmm ..... I don't know if I do, but being drunk, might take away my normal restraint when people around me are acting and talking without much thought. It will be interesting to test, no," as Lancelot waited for the next mug to arrive.