Can’t Outrun Your Past [Griflet]

[lucan]

The days seemed to be growing longer in Lucan’s opinion. Especially as the hunt for Morgana still went on.
He’d been present on some of these but today; he’d been carrying out duties in the castle and the town.
This was a rare night out that Lucan was having, not usually one for sitting and drinking in taverns, Yvain had convinced him to come out and relax that evening. Why he’d said yes? Well, he had no idea why but had gone all the same.

Yvain was sat opposite him, working his way through another tankard of mead whilst Luc was still on his first and sipping it slowly. There were not many locals in The Rising Sun that evening. Another rare occurrence. Travellers that were staying in one of the rooms yes, but very few of the townspeople. Luc would rather be in bed himself – tired and weary, but had instead given into Yvain’s constant whining that he should be enjoying himself for once in his life. In this case, Yvain was most likely right, but Lucan wasn’t about to make his head grow even larger than it already was.

“Another one please – Luc?” Yvain told the barmaid and looked to his friend

“No thanks, im good” he lifted up his half drunken tankard to the girl, who in return gave him a wink and headed off

“Oooooh, she likes you” Yvain raised his brows and watched her working at the bar, “you should go and say hi”

“I don’t need you playing matchmaker thanks very much – im quite happy as I am”

“What? Having women throwing themselves at you but then running away every time one gives you so much as a smile?” Yvain asked

“Shut up”

The barmaid handed Yvain his drink and then headed off again. “Every wondered what it would be like, just to have a day in your life when we’re not fighting off a griffin or training to kill the enemy?” Yvain asked

“Yes – and I wouldn’t want to trade what I have now”

“Why?” Yvain asked

“Because it would mean me being back in Glouchedon and having my father rant on about how important my rank and duty will be when I become the next duke” Lucan rolled his eyes.

“I can’t imagine you being a duke – no offence but I guess it’s because ive only ever known you as a knight”

Lucan snorted, “by the way im going I won’t even be around to inherit it all”. He gave Yvain a knowing look, “but I guess I don’t actually mind that – as long as my brother knows what he’s doing then everything will be in good hands”

The pair carried on talking until Lucan got up. He was tiring slowly and didn’t exactly want to be carrying Yvain back tonight, “Right, shall we call it a night? You’ve drunk enough tankards to fill a whole barrel”.

Tagged: Griflet
Timeline: One year gap (Between S2 and S3)
Setting: The Rising Sun Inn – Camelot City [/color]

[Griff Aubert]

The ground appeared to be moving, which was making walking across it interesting. Grif stumbled for the umpteenth time - some fool had left their chair in the middle of his path - and almost fell onto one of The Rising Sun's unsuspecting patrons. He half mumbled an apology, or something like it and carried on walking, not exactly sure where he was going. There had been a destination in mind when he set off, but it had long since been forgotten and now it was more a question of whether or not Grif could remain standing, regardless of where he would go. He'd end up somewhere, hopefully somewhere nice. With any luck he'd end up somewhere warm and soft with an equally warm and soft woman. In his present state, however, that was not a likely outcome.

He stopped suddenly, causing the man behind him to smack right into his back and spill his newly purchased drink all over Grif, but the young noble didn't notice because he was sure he'd had his own drink only now it had disappeared... like a concerned meerkat he searched his surroundings by sight. It was not a success. If he had indeed had a drink it was long gone by now. It was shortly after this disappointment that he felt someone patting his back and turned around to see the aforementioned man looking rather guilty while holding an empty flagon and trying to dry Grif's back with a small cloth.

"I didn't see you, sir." The man replied shrinking back slightly. It was clear to all that Grif was nobility: everything from his hair to his shoes screamed money and vanity.

"Oh, quite." Grif said and waved him away. He was far too distracted with trying to remember what he was doing, and anyway, he wouldn't be wearing that particular tunic again so it really didn't matter that it was covered in ale.

Grif had only been in Camelot a few days and remarkably had kept himself to himself. Alas, this was not a jolly, no friends had been coerced into keeping him company and paying for his drinks. He was on a mission to find his older brother, having been almost disowned by their father. The only problem being that he had not seen his brother since he was ten and had no idea where he was. Still, no matter. He'd just find himself another drink. He had managed a grand total of five steps before colliding into someone new.

[lucan]

Yvain had told him to go on without him, so that was the plan. Lucan wasn’t about to hang around waiting for his friend to stumble back with him.

“I’ll see you in the morning” Luc smirked and got up.

Yvain (whose head was currently connected with the table top) looked up, “Go easy on me in training yeah?”
Luc could only chuckle at this. “And what would you do if a war broke out whilst you were drunk or had a headache from just that? You’d have to fight your way through it – so no, I won’t”

With that he turned and went to head out, only for someone to walk straight into him. Why was it that everyone felt the need to either throw things over him or walk into him? Did they have some kind of Lucan radar that instantly told them to get in his way?

The man who had stumbled into him was of nobility so it seemed – well judging by the clothes that he was wearing; he was asking to be robbed. Once upon a time, Lucan would have worn clothes such as this – had he not have become a Knight of Camelot. His clothes did scream nobility but not as much as these.

Lucan’s eyes met with those of the young nobleman, who couldn’t appear to be any older than 18. His hair dark and messy, and generally not having a clue as to where he was walking. Lucan gave a small smirk to him. What a place to literally run into one another when so many years had passed between them. Why was he here? Why was he drunk!

Lucan finally knew that he’d have to break the silence between the pair. Did he even know who he was? Well…Luc would soon have an answer to that question.

“You know, if you tell father about me hanging around in taverns when im supposed to appear and be every inch of an honourable knight, then I swear I’ll run you through”

OOC - This didnt make any sense to me either!

[Griff Aubert]

Even after repeating them several times over in his head the words of the smirking stranger in front of him still didn't quite make sense. Grif was still staring at the mysterious man when the full meaning of his speech finally clicked in his head. He had found his brother, in a tavern of all places!

Grif grinned, clapped his brother on the shoulder and replied, as if this was a completely normal occurance, "Only if you buy me another drink. I'm a little short these days." His words were slurred, thanks to the alcohol, but hopefully they were still understandable. He laughed loudly and pulled Lucan into a tight embrace. He wasn't just relieved that he'd found his brother and was seeing him for the first time in ten years, but he'd actually done what he'd set out to do, which was a first.

He was still upright, but only because he was now leaning on Lucan and somehow managing to get them both drinks from the nearest serving woman. "Come, come." Dragging his brother he pushed him into a chair at an empty table and fell into one opposite. "Well...this is a surprise." Again, his words were sloppy and his arms were either flailing or hanging completely limp at his side. He leaned forward, almost too far and had to stop himself from smacking his head onto the table. "A nice surprise! Isn't it so nice! Lovely, lovely and nice." He laughed again, what a ridiculous situation this was. He'd come all this way to only to end up walking into his brother whilst completely drunk.

OOC - it's late, I'm still a little drunk myself. Don't blame me if it doesn't make any sort of sense.

[lucan]

Lucan didn’t flinch as Griff clapped him on the shoulder – looking more than elated to see him. It was a shame that the same couldn’t be said for him. He still found himself staring blankly at his brother, if not rather coldly.
"Only if you buy me another drink. I'm a little short these days."

Lucan looked him up and down; A little short? Griff was dressed to be robbed and yet somehow had come to Camelot with obviously the same clothes on his back that he left Glouchedon in. “You certainly don’t seem it to me, besides I think you’ve had enough for one day”

Suddenly he found Griff pulling him tightly into a total man hug. Ok…clearly something was up – literally all those years and nothing, then suddenly his brother wanted a family reunion in a tavern of all places” Lucan pulled Griff off and firmly held his shoulders to look at him.
This? This was the Duke that his father had been training him to become? Yet he was slumming it in taverns and claiming to be short of money. What the hell?!

"Come, come."

Ok, it looked like he wouldn’t be getting the early night that he wanted anytime soon. Lucan sat down as Griff took a seat opposite, managing to secure a few drinks. Being the dependant older brother that he was, he handed the barmaid some money and then turned back to his brother. “Why are you here Griff?” he sighed. “You haven’t given me so much as a letter in all these years and then you turn up here…how did you find me? Did father tell you? it wouldn’t surprise me”. Lucan didn’t put anything past Corneous. Either Griff had been sent to track him down (but he didn’t really believe that) or his younger brother had decided to go on some crazy road trip.

"Well...this is a surprise."

“…Yes…” Lucan could hardly agree. A surprise?! This was a nightmare in all honesty! “Isn’t it just” he sounded a little bitter but he didn’t care. Griff couldn’t just turn up and expect everything between the to be all dandy and fine. Now his brother was babbling on and obviously had consumed more than enough ale to drink the whole of Camelot dry.

Lucan leant across the table and looked into his brother’s eyes coldly. “Why are you here?” he asked again slowly.

[Griff Aubert]

Grif’s face immediately fell. Why wasn’t Lucan pleased he was here? All right, perhaps it was expecting a bit much for Lucan to be thrilled, but they were brothers and it had been years, and this was just downright rude. Couldn’t he at least pretend? It wasn’t every day two brothers, separated for years were eventually reunited after such hardships. Well, perhaps not hardships, but even so. This was just ridiculous.

“It’s so lovely to see you too.” He replied sarcastically. “I just wanted to see you, but clearly that’s not allowed.” Folding his arms he glared at Lucan rather petulantly. This was not at all what he wanted to happen. Lucan was supposed to be enthused by his arrival. Why wasn’t he enthused? “And anyway, you never wrote to me.” It was a childish reply, but if Lucan was just going to be rude then why should Grif bother being anything but childish? He was, after all, the youngest, and since Lucan had left when Grif was only ten they hadn’t had much in the way of sibling arguments so it seemed as a good a time as any to start one now.

The young noble was taken aback by Lucan’s obvious hostility. “I wanted to see you. That’s why I’m here.” When his drink arrived he quickly downed it and started eyeing up his brother’s. “Do you want that?” His companion was still staring. Grif sighed, rolling his head back, arms still folded against his chest. “I don’t have any money. Father almost disowned me, so now I have nothing. Happy?”

[lucan]

If you wanted to see me you would have swung by a little earlier – rather than wait eight years!” Lucan retorted.

“And anyway, you never wrote to me.” Wrote? Never wrote?! He had some cheek! If Griff knew half of what his life was then he’d accept that Lucan had no time to devote himself in painting a definition of a happy family portrait.

“Ive had far more important things to do” Lucan glared, If Griff was going to be a ten year old again then Lucan was more than happy to argue. “Father isn’t bothered, and neither is Elaine –I know that for a fact. They have you – they have their heir to Glouchedon, just like it has always been planned.” He told him sternly, “You may think that ive cut all ties Griff, but I have my reasons”.

Did he want that drink? Did he? No he didn’t – what he wanted to do was pour it away. He shoved it towards Griff, still staring hard at him until his brother gave in and finally admitted that he’d almost been disowned.
Lucan sat back and looked at his brother a little more. “You? Disowned?” he snorted, “what happened to the ten year old who was dedicated to becoming the next Duke if I happened to end up six feet under before you or father?”
Well – it appeared that he was no longer there. Staring back at him was a young man in blood but not so much in bond. Was this a cry for help? Had Griff come to him in the hope that Lucan could do something about it?

Lucan sighed and gestured to the barmaid for another few drinks. “What did you do?” he folded his arms; “it must’ve been bad for father to almost disown you”. Corneous had always been one for honour and glory. He lived by the rules and graces of a Duke and noble life as expected. He'd brought Lucan up that way - so why was it that Griff had seemed to turn out the complete opposite?
The barmaid brought them the drinks and Lucan pushed two towards his brother and one towards himself.

[Griff Aubert]

Grif was still glaring. Nothing Lucan was saying could possibly make the situation any better, but he was doing quite well at achieving the exact opposite. “Oh that is charming. I’m a terrible person for not writing, but you’ve got far more important things to do. I forgot how high and mighty you always were.”

Now Grif was angry. How Lucan could sit there and say that their father was never bothered about him was utterly ridiculous. Lucan was the only thing their father had ever cared about, even after he’d left. He had been the golden child as far as Corneous had been concerned, whilst Grif had always been the spare. “Is that really what you think?” He demanded, voice raised. “You think Father doesn’t care about you? You’re the only thing he does care about. I’ve lived in your shadow for eighteen years and you have the audacity to sit there like you’ve had such a hard life.” As he glared across the table his chest rose and fell from his heavy breathing. Lucan had absolutely no idea what his life was like – how could he? He’d left as soon as he could and never come back. “What reasons could you possibly have?”

Grif took the drink, Lucan was probably trying to make some sort point by shoving it at him, but Grif really didn’t care. Like the first he downed it. It wasn’t making him feel any better, but it did give him some satisfaction now that Lucan didn’t have a drink and he’d had two. “He grew up.” Grif replied bluntly. “He realised the sun doesn’t shine out of your backside.”

“What did you do? It must’ve been bad for father to almost disown you.”

It really wasn’t any of Lucan’s business, but the subject wasn’t going to be dropped until Grif gave him an answer. “Lady Sybil.” He eventually replied. “You remember her-oh, actually you wouldn’t, would you?”

[lucan]

“Oh that is charming. I’m a terrible person for not writing, but you’ve got far more important things to do. I forgot how high and mighty you always were.”

“Oh stop acting like such a child!” he snapped, Now this was the Grif he knew. The little boy who’d always whine about something or other. “You know perfectly well that Elaine and father would choose you over me any day. Why? Because you have far more potential than I do Griff! I mean look at me! Im sat here hardly looking like that material that he’s wanted while you sit there and look the part!”
He was getting annoyed now. “What reasons could you possibly have?”. Reasons –well he had 101 of them, maybe even more.

“Do you know what? Do you really want to know why I haven’t written – why I haven’t gone back to see father? Because I can’t Griff – I can’t bear to have him look at me and think about what a waste I am! I have a duty to Camelot, to my King! My place is here protecting him, and if you can’t see that then im sorry to give you a shock if you were expecting me to roll out the welcome flag”.
He slammed down the empty cup that he’d just downed. “Im a Knight of Camelot – that was who father wanted me to be. Not a duke – but a Knight who would give his life and die knowing that he was leaving the world with his honour.”

There was silence, “Now try asking me again what reasons I could have”

Then it was onto the subject of disownment.

“And you put that so diligently too” Lucan made a face. Yes, he knew Lady Sybil – she’d sometimes visit with her family when they were younger. “And as a matter of fact I remember her perfectly, thank you very much.”

What the hell were they doing? Biting off more than they could chew at each other’s conscience?
Lucan stood up. Well and truly ready to leave. He wasn’t about to launch into a full-blown argument with his estranged brother. “Well this has all been very nice, but perhaps it would be better if we just left the conversation as it is now and move on with our lives”

[Griff Aubert]

Lucan was clearly delusional if he thought their father thought more highly of Grif, but there was no point in arguing. Clearly his brother was just going to ignore the facts in order to make himself into a victim. “Whatever you say, Luc.” He replied wearily. Their reunion hadn’t gone to plan at all, and now Grif was feeling rather guilty about the whole situation and their argument. They both obviously had very different ideas about their childhoods, and although Grif was right, there wasn’t any point in trying to make Lucan see sense because he was far too stubborn. He was just going to have to be the mature one, something which he didn’t have much practice at. “I didn’t come here to argue with you.”

“Diligently?” Grif scoffed at his brother’s words. “Did you want something more? I could provide more detail; I remember it vividly...unless I’m thinking of someone else.” He shrugged, not that it mattered either way. It was done now and there was nothing he could do about it. In another childish action he slumped further into his chair, turning his head so he was no longer able to see his brother and his judging expression.

Grif was still staring into the distance when Lucan stood up, saying something facetious and trying to leave but Grif grabbed but Grif grabbed his arm to prevent him. “Don’t go! I’ve only just got here.” He let go and gestured to the now empty chair. “Please Luc. Have a drink with me, another drink with me. A friendly one.” He looked up at Lucan, trying to make him stay just by looking at him. It would be a lot easier a task if his brother was an impressionable young woman – all it would take was a wink. Somehow he didn’t think that would work on Lucan. “Let’s start again, we are family after all.”

[lucan]

“I didn’t come here to argue with you.”

“Then why did you come here?” Lucan asked. That was what he was more curious to know. If Griff wanted a fight then he’d gladly take him on, but he still couldn’t understand why his brother had chosen to seek him out after all these years.

As he went to move away he felt his brothers hand grab his arm. Luc looked down at it and then at Griff, who looked like he was desperate to make things right between them. “Yes, and now im leaving” Lucan told him. Arguments or not, he wasn’t sure if he was prepared to sit and listen to his brother drag on about family life and issues. Lucan had enough of those as it was without having any more loaded on him.
“Please Luc. Have a drink with me, another drink with me. A friendly one.”

Great. Now he was making some kind of puppy dog in pain face. With a small sigh the young knight nodded. “One drink” he held up his finger to signify how many, “and that’s all”.
He took the chair opposite Griflet again and nodded to the barmaid to bring two more drinks. “Yes…” Lucan reluctantly agreed, “We are”.

He sat back and folded his arms again. “So…does father know about your little road trip? Or did you make a more hasty exit from family life like I did?”
Lucan remembered that he couldn’t wait to escape the suffocation that was his life with Elaine and their father. He’d made sure he said a quick goodbye before leaving. Of course Elaine had said nothing and just stood there, whereas his father had wished him luck. Griff? Well…Lucan couldn’t recall even saying goodbye to him. That was just how close they were.

[Griff Aubert]

Griff was actually surprised that Lucan was staying. He had assumed his brother would ignore his request and just leave him to it; after all, it had been a good few years and they’d never been the closest of brothers even before Lucan left. But none of that mattered now because Griff was determined that this was going to be a new start for both them, as he pointed out mere moments ago: they were family, they were supposed to at least be able to communicate with each other.

He was still sensing Lucan’s less than subtle hostility towards him, but he was going to ignore it. “It was more of a voluntary exile, if anything. Our loving father gave me an ultimatum: get married or get out. I didn’t really care for a wedding.” He shrugged and took a swig of his drink. “So here I am. Not getting married.” He was, naturally, overly simplified, completely ignoring a good number of the events that led up to said ultimatum but it was all Lucan needed to know.

Waving his hand dismissively he changed the subject, trying to divert his brother’s attention. “Anyway. The important thing is that I’m here now and erm...” he scratched at his neck, something he always did when he was nervous and had done since he was a small child. “I don’t have anywhere to stay...or any money...” He grinned at his brother, because that was clearly going to endear Lucan to him more and, for good measure, gave him a thumbs up because who could say no to a thumbs up?

[lucan]

Voluntary Exile? That really didn’t sound their father at all – then again he’d attempted to get Lucan down the aisle before he’d left. Of course the elder brother politely declined. He couldn’t talk to a woman let alone marry one. That was hell gift wrapped with a nice big bow.

Lucan couldn’t help but snort. “Not the marrying type then?” he asked. He didn’t know what his brother’s interests were apart from the ones that he’d found out in the last ten minutes. Women and Ale. “I remember he tried to pull that stunt on me too – I don’t blame you for leaving”. He didn’t. Lucan was doing what he wanted with his life so Griff could do what he liked with his. “Although I have a feeling that I’ll be receiving a letter sooner than I thought I would” he gave his younger sibling a knowing look. “You must have really pushed him over the edge for him to actually give you a choice that involved getting out”.

“I don’t have anywhere to stay...or any money...”

He knew it. He knew that Griff would have come out with that sooner or later. He couldn’t stay with him at the castle – that was beyond impossible and he wouldn’t get past the gate. However Lucan could help him out with the money issues. Now his brother was giving him the thumbs up in a cheeky manner that Lucan only knew too well. It was a family trait. To turn something utterly awkward or depressing into a humorous subject. It seemed Griff had inherited his sense of humour.
“I can give you money, but accommodation? Well – I guess you’re stuck with this place” he gestured around him. “I can cover you for a month or two, but you need to make a few choices Griff. If you’ve chosen to turn your back on your nobility and the family, then you need to know what you’re going to do with your life – after all, im not going to be around to support you forever”.
That was true. He was prone to the risk of dying far easily with his job than any other. If he’d made his will out right now then he’d leave all that he had to Griff. Not just because he was blood, but he was the only blood who would benefit from it’s uses.

[Griff Aubert]

Ah, see, this was more like it. They were bonding, or at least their version of bonding which appeared to be complaining about their father, either way progress was being made. Lucan was actually taking an interest in Griff’s life, which was a first. Even when they were still both at home Lucan had been far too busy with their father and Griff had been far too busy climbing trees, and falling out of them. “You know how it is,” He replied with a knowing smile, “Why would I want to settle down?” It was a rhetorical question, having already established how little they actually knew about each other, but his point was clear enough. Griff would much rather spend his days as a bachelor than stuck in a rut with the same plain woman. Besides, he’d drive any sane woman to some rather violent extremes within a week and he was hardly going to agree to spend the rest of his days with an insane woman, like Lady Sybil for instance, who had more than her fair share of insanity and was, for some inexplicable reason his father’s favourite. Alright, it wasn’t an inexplicable reason, but it was certainly not going to happen.

Lucan was probably going to want more of answer, so he reluctantly continued. “It was a sort of...arranged thing...” he was waving his hands again, trying to create an impression of indifference. It wasn’t working so he dropped the act completely and returned to his earlier stance: leaning back in his chair with his arms folded across his chest. “I never said I would marry her and it’s not as if I seduced her, she’s as much to blame as I am. More so, in fact, it was a very (he was using his hands for emphasis) revealing dress.”

The reply he was given concerning money and accommodation was not what he wanted to hear at all, and as far as he was concerned rather selfish on his brother’s part. “What am I supposed to do? I don’t have anything; it was a rather hasty escape. I can’t go back, then I would have to get married. Unless you know of any noblewomen who wouldn’t mind a complete cad for a husband. Preferably young and gorgeous, but then if I’m being a cad then I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

[lucan]

Well, this was all very cosy but quite frankly it didn’t surprise Lucan in the slightest that their father had given Griflet an ultimatum. Just by seeing how he was in the last 5 minutes that they’d just met, gave the young knight a lot to go on.
Could he really afford to look after his brother who seemed to have no life plan and bedded anything with a pulse? Probably not. There was always the choice of writing to his father to straighten out the situation. With Lucan being in a job that diced with death and Griflet who had no desire to marry, yet had the brains of being a duke if he put his mind to it, then surely their father would turn his back on his youngest son so easily.

“Not the family man eh? Well…join Club Aubert” Lucan referred to himself not exactly being as close with their family as he’d like to be.

"I Never said I would marry her and it’s not as if I seduced her, she’s as much to blame as I am. More so, in fact, it was a very revealing dress.”

Lucan groaned as his brother decided he would emphasise the situation more. “Thanks for that information” he took another swig of his drink, “and as for Lady Sybil – I guess I always found her a little…wayward in character” he then looked at Griff, “Not that I agree with you for going along with it, but you could’ve at least controlled yourself”. Even as a child Griff could never control himself if Luc remembered rightly.

Lucan sat back and looked at his brother. To be honest, he was disappointed – more so with how he seemed to just think he could have it easy. Their lives were anything but that. “Griff…” he drummed his fingers on the tabletop and looked at his brother from under his hair, “One day you may not have a choice as to whether you inherit or not – perhaps you should at least consider the possibility that one day you may have to marry or at least take over the estate if im not around as well as our father. Now that would be a blessing for you, as you could do what you like then”

“What am I supposed to do? I don’t have anything; it was a rather hasty escape. I can’t go back, then I would have to get married. Unless you know of any noblewomen who wouldn’t mind a complete cad for a husband. Preferably young and gorgeous, but then if I’m being a cad then I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

Lucan propped his elbow up on the table and rested his forehead in his palm. What was he to do? His little brother was in need of his help, and yet Lucan could find no way of doing so - other than the options he'd already given him. Uther would never allow him in the castle, and quite frankly the younger Aubert would destroy everything in his path. “Get a job? Earn your keep?” he suggested, not even bothering to look up – his head was throbbing away. “As I said, I can give you money – but I can do no more than that. Im sorry, but that’s the way it will have to be.”

It was either that, or Griff would have no choice but to return home. Lucan decided that it would be best to write to their father. Perhaps he could be swayed.

[Griff Aubert]

At Lucan’s words it occurred to Griff that he hadn’t actually acquired any knowledge about his brother’s life in Camelot – except that he was a knight, of course. For all Griff knew he could have several mistresses and hundreds of children, all running around at his ankles, or he could spend his life locked away, burying his head in parchments and knightly duties rather than be within ten miles of a woman. Judging by his brother’s reply it was probably the latter. “Nice to know we have something in common.” He replied with a grin, he couldn’t help but add: “Through choice or inadequacy?” His grin grew, flashing his teeth and deepening his dimples, the sort of grin reserved for laughing at others.

Griff was rather surprised at Lucan’s reaction to his comments about Lady Sybil. He didn’t realise his brother was quite so prudent. His brother groaned, which seemed to Griff as a tad over dramatic, so it must have been if he had thought so. He watched Lucan curiously, he was looking rather exasperated. That was certainly over dramatic. “Well even so, it wasn’t my fault. I did try to explain that. It didn’t go down well. Anyway.” He clapped his hands together and leaned forward. He was not the sort of person to dwell on the negative, and talking about Lady Sybil was certainly going to end up that way.

Obviously Lucan didn’t feel the same way and seemed determined to ruin Griff’s bad mood by reminding him precisely how much trouble he was currently in. “Well I’m not going to.” Griff replied in with what he thought was determination, but which probably came out as childishness. “If Father wants to protect his estate he’s going to have to apologise, otherwise we should just leave it to rot.”

The more the conversation progressed the more Griff thought he was disappointing Lucan. Brilliant.

“Get a job? Earn your keep?”

His face immediately fell – shock more than anything. It was an utterly ridiculous suggestion. Griff had never worked a day in his life and he certainly wasn’t going to start now. What happened to his plan? It was a perfectly good one, and definitely a lot easier. And more fun. And anyway, he couldn’t get a job because he didn’t actually have any skills. He was in a lot of trouble. “But...what am I going to do? I can’t do anything.”

[lucan]

Lucan laughed at Griff’s words. Obviously he’d been expecting his brother to be acting like an arrogant sod and breathing fire. “Both” he smirked at the last question.

“Father was set upon me becoming a knight – yet he was also set on marrying me off before I actually made it” he told his brother, “and on similarities regarding women, I think you’ll find that we are not so alike in that area – for a start, I can’t even talk to a girl without either running for the hills or fainting – the list goes on” he shrugged this off as though it were a natural thing for a man to do.
For Lucan it seemed that way to him and him alone, so he was comfortable admitting this to his brother, in all honesty he most likely wouldn’t see Griff again after tonight. He doubted that he would stay in one place for long when Lucan couldn’t help him.

“If Father wants to protect his estate he’s going to have to apologise, otherwise we should just leave it to rot.”

Lucan leant his chin to rest on his hand where his elbow was propping it up on the table. He looked over to Griflet then back down at the table in thought. “He’ll apologise – we’re both too valuable for him to lose the both of us” he looked over to his brother again, “some before others”.
Perhaps writing to his father was a good idea – that way things could be settled and Griff would be able to return on terms that would suit both him and their father.

“Im going to write to father to try and settle this – without the marriage part if it really bothers you that much, but I can’t promise anything, I’ll just do the best that I can to see that you’re taken back. I suppose there would be some terms that you and father would both have to agree with one another on, but other than that? It’s all that I can really do to help fix this situation”.

Griff better be grateful, otherwise Lucan would have to tell him to sort his life out. Lucan watched his younger brother with interest. “I know you’re probably disappointed, coming here and finding that your brother isn’t who you expected” he sighed, and then the next thought hit him. “We were never that close, were we? I guess I should’ve looked out for you more – been more of a big brother to you if not a friend too, but I seemed to have failed on that part.”

[Griff Aubert]

Lucan was smirking, which meant he was enjoying himself, which meant the situation was improving and he would me more likely to help Griff with what he needed, well, wanted. Or it meant that Griff was being an idiot and his brother was trying to hide the fact that he was laughing. Either way their relationship was improving and that was the main thing. He listened with more than his usual amount of interest as Lucan told him about his love life, or, in his brother’s case, lack of one. Clearly his brother hadn’t inherited the charmer gene. He gave him a sympathetic look – Lucan was in need of his help. “I wouldn’t worry any more. By the time I’m done with you all the women of Camelot will be falling at your feet. Until they see me, anyway.”

Griff wasn’t convinced about their father the same way Lucan was. He had never gotten on well with the man and so was determined to always see the worst in him. It made it easier to blame all of his inadequacies on his father if he didn’t actually like the man. “I don’t want an apology.” He said petulantly. “I don’t want anything to do with him.” He noticed Lucan’s look at his ‘some before others’ but chose to ignore it. They had already argued about their father, it didn’t seem worth it to begin that again. Besides, he wanted to keep Lucan in a good mood so he’d be more inclined to help.

“There’s no point in writing to him.” Griff said matter-of-factly. His father was just as stubborn as he was. “And even if you did, and even if he replied I don’t care (a complete lie). Like I said I don’t want anything to do with him. That’s why I’m here: a fresh new start.”

Lucan was right. Griff was disappointed. He hadn’t been given the answer he wanted – a rarity – and now he didn’t know what to do. It was different for his brother, he actually had merits and talents and some sort of purpose in his life, whereas Griff drifted along, pleasing himself and not caring until suddenly he didn’t have any support or way to help himself. It was all terribly traumatic for him.

What Lucan was right about, however, was why Griff was disappointed. He’d gone to Camelot expecting his brother to be completely different than what he had found. But he wasn’t disappointed by him just the lack of aid from him. “It’s not your fault.” Griff replied and took a sip from his drink. Alcohol was called for when speaking so frankly, he always found. “You haven’t failed, don’t be stupid. And anyway, I’m here to make amends so it wouldn’t matter even if you had.”

[lucan]

This did NOT sound good at all. There was no way that Lucan was about about to be corrupted by his brother’s foolish ways in getting a girl “I wouldn’t worry any more. By the time I’m done with you all the women of Camelot will be falling at your feet. Until they see me, anyway”.

“There is no way that I am taking girl advice from you” Lucan smirked, “Besides, after the Lady Maria incident with father, I prefer to just observe girls”. Ah yes, Maria Howard. She’d been as dull as dirty water and Corneous had been determined to marry Lucan off to her before he set out for Camelot. Of course Lucan had managed to break free before anymore could be done about the matter. He knew that he wouldn’t have survived with her though.

With all due respect to Corneous – he was only trying to look out for his two sons, but by doing so he was also limiting their options. Griff had seemed to cut all ties with him. “What about Elaine?” Lucan asked distastefully. The woman’s name always left a foul taste in his mouth, “was she in agreement with father?” he asked and scratched the back of his neck, “I know that she was all for marrying me off when he suggested it”. Of course she was, she just wanted him out of the way.

“There’s no point in writing to him.”

No. Of course there wasn’t. He most likely wouldn’t reply anyway. “Alright” Lucan sighed, “I wont write to him” he said, “but we need to find you some work or something, if you want a fresh start then some fresh new skills are to be learnt” he told him. “But you need to promise me that you’ll actually try and make a new start for yourself here…I have enough on my plate as it is already without having to deal with you screwing your life up”. Stern words, but his brother needed to know where he stood. Hopefully he’d now open his eyes and see that all the rewarding things in life had to be earnt. “I’ll make some enquiries about work – something to get your foot in the door”.

He’d failed him. Of course he had. He was the worst big brother ever and now he didn’t seem like he was being supportive by being stern and such. Lucan rubbed his temples. “I have,” he murmured. “I wasn’t there for you when I should’ve been”. Once again it was partially down to his own decision but of his father’s making, “had I have stayed I wouldn’t have been happy – im gonna be that honest.” Taking a swig of his drink he placed the flagon back down on the table. He knew he should be leaving soon, but he needed to know his brother’s intentions a little more. “I should really get back soon – I have a patrol in the morning and a long list of duties just waiting to be done” he said.

[Griff Aubert]

“Oh don’t be such a spoil sport.” Griff said in almost sulky tone. He had only been joking with Lucan, well, only half joking because it would be hilarious to try and teach him about women, so now he was determined to do just that. “Don’t you want to enjoy life? And before you say anything else about Maria she is neither here nor there. What you need is a real woman.”

He was rather enjoying teasing Lucan about what little experience he appeared to have with the fairer sex, but then his brother had to go and be serious again and ask about his mother. Griff wasn’t sure what his mother thought about the past events at all. He hadn’t had much time to speak to her before he left but she’d probably cope. Griff waved a hand casually, “As long as she’s got dresses and...earrings she’s fine.” In truth he didn’t really care and didn’t want to dwell on the topic longer than absolutely necessary. Lucan and Elaine had never got on so he’d rather not bring on a rant or whatever it was Lucan did when he was angry.

Griff sighed. He wasn’t going to stop Lucan from trying to ‘help’ him. He didn’t want a job. That was the last thing he wanted. And, as he kept trying to remind his brother, he didn’t actually have any skills to acquire one. As far as work was concerned he was useless, but that hadn’t mattered before so he’d never bothered with it. Now however was a completely different story. “Oh fine.” He was sulking again, like a five year old but he didn’t care. “I promise to try and start a new life and spend my days bored out of my skull doing some mundane job in order to serve the greater good instead of enjoying myself.” He replied melodramatically, and then, for good measure added and equally sulky “Happy now?”

The self-pitying was starting to annoy Griff. There was only one person who was allowed to bore others with their own feelings of self-worth, or lacking self-worth and that was Griff himself. “Oh snap out of it.” He replied in a harsher tone than he had intended. “You haven’t failed anyone. You’re a knight of Camelot!”

Why was his brother leaving? They’d only been together five minutes. Surely this ‘long list of duties’ could be pushed aside for a reunion with a practically long lost family member. And besides, what was Griff going to do? It was an altogether ridiculous suggestion, an opinion which Griff immediately voiced. “That is an altogether ridiculous suggestion. What am I going to do if you just leave?”