Wine is not a medicine [Griff]

[lucan]

Still unable to quite grasp the concept that he was to be a father, Lucan had taken to letting Corneous know of the news, as well as inviting his brother to Allard’s estate. He needed some encouragement as to how on earth he could do this. Griff had been through it already and he made fatherhood look so easy, whereas Lucan didn’t believe that it would run as smoothly for him as it had done for his brother. Then again Griff always made everything look like a walk through a fresh meadow.

He swirled the red liquid around in his goblet. Why was he shocked now rather than when Camila had first told him? Yes he’d had time to register everything in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more scared he was. Had Griff felt this way? Was he even supposed to be feeling like this? Should he be more embracing of the fact that his wife had managed to achieve one of her goals? Everything was a blur to him at the moment, and it wasn’t just because of the wine!

Had his uncle have been right here now, he would’ve been telling Lucan not to be some worrying and that the outcome was the most important thing. It was, but it didn’t stop him from feeling like this. Excited and worried didn’t really mix well.

Thomas, the servant opened the door and bowed his head. “Lord Griff is here to see you my lord…”. At this, Lucan put down his goblet and nodded, “Send him in, thank you Thomas.”

Tagged: Griff Aubert
Timeline: S4-5 Gap
Setting: Allard’s Estate

[Griff Aubert]

Griff had no idea why Lucan wanted to see him, which wasn't actually a surprise. He was probably having some crisis or other and for some reason thought Griff would be of help. It was an amusing thought. Lucan was always the one who could do everything, and yet since coming to Camelot, Griff was finding himself to be the one with the answers - well, about certain topics anyway, the best topics obviously. The ones that turned Lucan from the confident Knight of Camelot into a hopeless young man in need of his younger brother. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more it became a strange thought as well. Somehow Griff had managed to become the one with some of the answers, instead of being the one constantly in need of them. He'd managed to actually make something of his life, managed to find his family. He wasn't just talking about Caitrin and the twins, but Lucan as well. They hadn't always been like this, well, they hadn't really been like this since he came to Camelot. For years they were just two people who happened to be related, they weren't even in the same kingdom. But now they were real brothers, related by something more than blood and a surname.

He was thinking too much. This often happened whenever he went to Allard's estate. He became all nostalgic, it had been his home after all. Allard and Lucan had been the ones to take him in when he'd left Glouchedon, they were the reason why he was living the life he was now. And although he loved Caitrin, and he loved the twins, and hell, he even had some affection for Rouland, there were times when he missed being under the same roof as Lucan. He missed just being able to talk to him without having to arrange a meeting via servants days in advance.

Having reached the house, he dismounted his horse and handed the reigns to a servant. If Lucan was having a crisis he was probably waiting for him rather impatiently. He was tempted to draw out his arrival, but perhaps that would be a little too mean so instead he went straight inside and announced his arrival to another servant, Thomas, and waited to be received. Hmm. Lucan was already on the wine. This must be important. It was only the norm to have a constant supply of alcohol if one was a de Archer. "What is it then? Are we in the midst of another crisis?"

[lucan]

"What is it then? Are we in the midst of another crisis?"
Of course those were to be Griff’s first words when he entered, no ‘Hello Luc, how have you been?’, but he’d seen Griff spying the goblet as he’d walked in so either he was evaluating a potential situation in his head, or he wanted a goblet himself.

He looked up and smirked a little at his brother, gesturing for him to sit down opposite. He looked well; Luc hadn’t seen him for some time in the last couple of months, so it was nice to actually hear some humour again. He wondered if Griff missed their conversations they used to have before he had been married and the twins had been born – Lucan did – not that Camila was boring, but sometimes it was nice to have some close male presence around. “I wouldn’t class it as that” he replied to Griff’s earlier question, “and Hello to you too”

Reaching over, he poured Griff some wine and passed it to him. “I called you here not just because I wanted a brotherly chat” he began, “but I need some advice that I know only you can give…well, father can as well but to be honest, I doubt it would be very good going by his current state of health.” Resuming his normal position in the chair he gulped down another mouthful of wine for courage.

“Camila is with child…” he started, “and I know I should be more happy than I am, but the truth is that I’m worried…about everything.” Lucan looked from swirling the wine around in his goblet to his brother sincerely, “I need some advice Griff, and you’re the only one who can give it to me…”

[Griff Aubert]

Hmm. No crisis then. Well that wasn't very fun, was it? Griff had arrived fully prepared to let the mocking commence, but it seemed it was not to be. So, if Lucan was on the verge of a breakdown what did he want? Griff didn't reply Lucan's comment because he was going to ignore the tone and just sat down opposite him. "And here's me thinking you just missed me." Griff said with a tone of mock offence. He hadn't been thinking anything of the sort, but that was beside the point. Lucan did have a problem then? But it wasn't a crisis? Well that was surprising. Griff hadn't been aware Lucan could distinguish between the two - it didn't seem to be a trait many Auberts possessed.

He needed advice? Griff narrowed his eyes, looking at Lucan suspiciously and trying to work out what his brother was talking about. Advice their father could give? Well that narrowed it down. It also proved that Lucan was wrong about this not being a crisis, why else would he even consider advice from their father? No wonder he was already drinking. He settled further into his chair. This was going to be good. "Go on then."

“Camila is with child…and I know I should be more happy than I am, but the truth is that I’m worried…about everything. I need some advice Griff, and you’re the only one who can give it to me…”

For a second, Griff just stared, a look of shock on his face, but it quickly turned into a grin and he had to stop himself from laughing because that really wasn't the right response. Camila was with child? Jesu. Lucan had actually got her into bed! It had only taken what...two years? Something like that anyway. He felt a sudden surge of pride, which was definitely not the right response but he couldn't help it. "So you finally got it up then?"

[lucan]

Lucan’s face stayed blank as he knew now that Griff would fire some crude comment his way, and when it did come – it wasn’t the time or place to laugh, any other situation then Luc would have but this was different. “This isn’t funny Griff” he replied as calm as he could, however he didn’t feel that way and instantly knew why Rouland drank wine as though it was going out of fashion.

He waited until his brother finally regained some composure before carrying on. “I can’t be a father Griff, I don’t know how to be!” another sip and he slightly felt better with each one; either that or he was heading to become incredibly drunk. Luc ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, I have no idea what to do – and I certainly don’t want to end up like father, spending all his days more interested in his ‘work’ than giving his children a second glance. I’m worried something will happen to Cam and the baby, I’m worried something could even happen to me before it even arrives, and I basically have no one else to ask but you…”
Griff had taken to fatherhood well; he was always calm and controlled even in times of crisis with the twins.

“So if you wouldn’t mind holding back the sardonic comments until later on, then I’d appreciate some help?”

[Griff Aubert]

Griff was torn between being excited about being an uncle and happiness for his brother, and being completely freaked out. This was, by no means, the first time he’d seen Lucan in a panic – he was normally stressed about one thing or another, usually something which was apparently Griff’s fault – as if that were possible. But this wasn’t normal Lucan panicking; this was Lucan panicking with added expectation. Griff was actually supposed to know what to do here, he was supposed to be dealing with this and helping his brother.

He chewed on his lip while watching Lucan. He understood exactly how his brother felt; when Caitrin had first told him that she was pregnant he’d almost had a panic attack. There was nothing anyone could have said that would have convinced him he’d be anything other than the worst father who had ever walked the earth, so he was fairly sure Lucan was having similar thoughts. His brother did have the advantage though – obviously, because this was Lucan and even in times such as this he still had the upper hand – he had living proof that an Aubert was actually capable of bring up children, well...sort of. The twins weren’t really old enough to tell.

The real test, he supposed with a sigh, would be the new baby. He bit down on his lip harder. That was not something he was going to think about. It was going to be pushed to the back of his mind. For one thing, he didn’t want to think about Caitrin being pregnant with another man’s child at all, and this was supposed to him helping Lucan. So he was going to do what he always did and repress everything, and hope this was the exception where repression would actually work.

Right, back to the matter at hand. “You can’t be worse than ours.” He said with a small shrug. Surely that was some consolation? Then again, it would be terribly impressive to be worse, so maybe being better wasn’t actually that good. He was actually quite at a loss as to what to say. Nothing Caitrin had said had made Griff feel better. There was no point telling Lucan he’d be fine – despite the fact that he definitely would be – because his words simply wouldn’t be believed. He should probably mention something about not drinking quite so much in the afternoon though...

“What do you need my help for?” It was a completely valid question, yes Griff was already a father but his main method was “Sod it, let’s go to the tavern”. Somehow he didn’t think Lucan was going to agree with that philosophy, and anyway, Griff was more than convinced that Lucan was going to be absolutely fine. “You’ve practically raised me since I’ve been here.” Griff had been a mess of a sixteen year old when he’d first come to Camelot. He didn’t have anything, and now he had his brother, a wife, children, a home, all because Lucan had managed to knock some sense into him...eventually. So he was going to be fine.

[lucan]

Griff seemed to be pretty much how he ever was. Why did Luc need help? He didn’t need help he needed advice! “You’re a father, how on earth did you cope? I’ll probably drop the baby or do something stupid.” He was a Knight and yet he could see himself being a terrible father to the poor little one. Griff’s words about raising him surprised Lucan very much. He looked up from staring into his now empty cup and frowned.

“I did what I had to for you, after all – father and Elaine would have never forgiven me if something happened to you…” he paused, “and I would have never forgiven myself either. Even when we were younger I always tried to look out for you, do what was best for you – even though you didn’t want it. When I left for Camelot, part of me wondered how on earth you would cope, and when you turned up here and told me of what happened I was half tempted to march you straight back to Glouchedon, but I didn’t, because I knew that –like me- you couldn’t stand to be there either.”
He put down the cup and looked at his brother, “I’m glad you stayed here, because you picked yourself up and now have everything you could want, so you made the right decision.”

Lucan shifted slightly in the chair to get more comfortable. “No doubt I’ll be receiving a letter from father at some point tomorrow, and no doubt it will contain many ‘wishes’ of his that the child will be a boy.” He ran his hands down his face and groaned, “Please tell me there’s more wine….”

[Griff Aubert]

Griff pressed his lips together in an attempt to keep a straight face. The last thing Lucan needed was his younger brother laughing at him at a time of crisis but then he shouldn't be quite so amusing. He really was going to be fine. Lucan was always fine - it was just a fact. He folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head slightly, "No you won't. Even I didn't do that." Alright, that wasn't strictly true, but if it was going to make Lucan feel better then he would lie. For some reason his brother had it in his head that Griff knew what to do and was someone that should be held up as some sort of example. Knowing how terrible Griff had been when the twins were first born was definitely not going to help.

The younger Aubert shifted slightly as Lucan began to talk again. He'd only mentioned the fact that Lucan had helped him so much in an attempt to make him feel better about raising his own children. He hadn't been expecting his brother to go off on one and it was making him rather uncomfortable. He much preferred it when Lucan was too busy panicking. This sort of talk was definitely not what he wanted to hear. "Yes well, see what I mean? Plenty of practice." It was rather stupid of him to have brought it up in the first place, but he'd thought it reassure Lucan that he wasn't going to be a complete failure, all his words had managed to do so far were to make him feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Apparently they hadn't finished discussing their father. He definitely shouldn't have said anything. He should have just shrugged and told Lucan he was going to be fine. But no, he had to make everything awkward and uncomfortable. It was, annoyingly, the Griff Aubert way. "Yes well, Father will just have to be happy no matter what." He half muttered, no doubt their father wouldn't be happy no matter what happened. He bit the inside of his lip. When he'd told Corneous about Caitrin's pregnancy he hadn't heard anything. His mother had written back, but not his father. Apparently the children of the second son weren't as important, after all, they weren't the heirs. Not that he cared, he quickly reminded himself, he didn't care about anything their father said or did.