All right. I'll figure something out. I'll talk to Sylvia. There's plenty of ways we can swing this so that it's a good idea to pull you out. For one thing, so far as I know you haven't found out anything major. She might well be a dead end, and even if she isn't the Night Council won't want this exposed. Don't worry, please.
[Faolan keeps his voice low now that they're discussing more delicate topics.]
She could be. I don't know. I'm not sure that they'd trust me with much more than I've got, no matter how long I stick around. They're working on protection spells. Keeping an eye on their own. But nothing like what Sylvia wanted me to look out for. No signs of any plans of retaliation. None that I've seen.
[He takes in a breath, trying to keep himself calm and controlled, but his voice is low and tense as he continues. He knows how much is at stake here, and it's not just Sylvia Redbright being disappointed in him.] You know the rules, Lancelot. You know what will happen if I break them. But at this rate, I'm a sitting duck. Half the people here, I've met them. I know them personally. They'll recognize me. More than half. I'm not good for this kind of assignment. Not anymore. There's too much risk.
I know. Trust me, Faolan, please. I'll talk to Sylvia, I'll have you pulled out. I promise. As quickly as I can. You'll be fine.
[ Not that he's really sure how quickly he can get this cleared to begin with, but... He thinks if there's the risk of Faolan being exposed, well, then Sylvia would go for it. ]
[Faolan huffs out a breath that might have been a laugh with a little more force behind it, although what sort he isn't entirely certain.]
Are you worried for me, Lancelot?
[He means to be joking when he says it. He isn't sure it's that much of a joke when the other man has reason, though. He can hear a note of it in Lancelot's voice, and he can't really blame him for it at all.]
[Is he being scolded, now? He honestly can't tell.
What he can tell is that Lancelot is concerned for him, and that's new for him. He's not quite sure what to think of it. But... It's nice, really. Knowing that there's someone else out there, looking out for him.]
I will. Be careful. And I'll stay in touch, I promise. As best I can. Though I'll remind you that you told me to, if you start complaining about me calling you up in the middle of the night to get you into trouble, yeah?
[Another beat. He knows he shouldn't let this call last for too much longer, but he hasn't snuck one in in a while. He's reluctant to go, especially now that, well. Things are starting to get tense.] You'll let me know when you talk to her? What she says?
[ He won't, Lancelot is taking this very seriously.
There's a slight rustling, like Lancelot is shifting his phone, and the sound of him chiding Lily! under his breath a little. A little background panting is probably enough to suggest she is very close to the phone, and thus trying to work out how she can also play with this thing. ]
I'll let you know as soon as I've spoken to her, I promise. And Lily says hello.
Does she really. [Another beat, wherein he's contemplating whether it's ridiculous to say so, before he just goes ahead anyway.]
Give her my love, then. And tell her I miss her too. If all goes well though, I'll be seeing her again soon, though. And I'll have you to thank for that. In part, at least.
[ He laughs at that, a bright and cheerful sound all of a sudden, and rustles again as he moves to draw Lily closer. ]
Did you hear that, Lily? Come here, come here girl -- Faolan says he misses you. That's right, he does! Do you think he'll let you kiss him when he visits again? Do you? Maybe he'll bring you something back, mm? Then you'd be a very lucky girl, wouldn't you?
[ Pet owners and baby talking their animals. It's awful. ]
[Faolan lets out a breath, the quiet ghost of another laugh.]
I'll do my best.
[His best is about as good as he'll manage. He can only hope that it's enough. That Lancelot can pull him out before the shit hits the fan, as it were. Because he's really starting to believe that it's only going to be a matter of time, from here.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
She could be. I don't know. I'm not sure that they'd trust me with much more than I've got, no matter how long I stick around. They're working on protection spells. Keeping an eye on their own. But nothing like what Sylvia wanted me to look out for. No signs of any plans of retaliation. None that I've seen.
[He takes in a breath, trying to keep himself calm and controlled, but his voice is low and tense as he continues. He knows how much is at stake here, and it's not just Sylvia Redbright being disappointed in him.] You know the rules, Lancelot. You know what will happen if I break them. But at this rate, I'm a sitting duck. Half the people here, I've met them. I know them personally. They'll recognize me. More than half. I'm not good for this kind of assignment. Not anymore. There's too much risk.
no subject
[ Not that he's really sure how quickly he can get this cleared to begin with, but... He thinks if there's the risk of Faolan being exposed, well, then Sylvia would go for it. ]
no subject
Thank you. [A beat.] I'm sorry. To ask this of you.
no subject
[ Which, you know, is more difficult in practice than on paper -- but an attempt would be nice? ]
Please, until I can pull you out. I'd rather have you back intact, if I can.
no subject
Are you worried for me, Lancelot?
[He means to be joking when he says it. He isn't sure it's that much of a joke when the other man has reason, though. He can hear a note of it in Lancelot's voice, and he can't really blame him for it at all.]
no subject
[ Honestly, Faolan! Not a funny joke! ]
Promise me you'll be careful, and get hold of me if you need bailing out sooner. Doesn't matter the time of day, call me at 3am if you need to.
no subject
What he can tell is that Lancelot is concerned for him, and that's new for him. He's not quite sure what to think of it. But... It's nice, really. Knowing that there's someone else out there, looking out for him.]
I will. Be careful. And I'll stay in touch, I promise. As best I can. Though I'll remind you that you told me to, if you start complaining about me calling you up in the middle of the night to get you into trouble, yeah?
[Another beat. He knows he shouldn't let this call last for too much longer, but he hasn't snuck one in in a while. He's reluctant to go, especially now that, well. Things are starting to get tense.] You'll let me know when you talk to her? What she says?
no subject
[ He won't, Lancelot is taking this very seriously.
There's a slight rustling, like Lancelot is shifting his phone, and the sound of him chiding Lily! under his breath a little. A little background panting is probably enough to suggest she is very close to the phone, and thus trying to work out how she can also play with this thing. ]
I'll let you know as soon as I've spoken to her, I promise. And Lily says hello.
no subject
Does she really. [Another beat, wherein he's contemplating whether it's ridiculous to say so, before he just goes ahead anyway.]
Give her my love, then. And tell her I miss her too. If all goes well though, I'll be seeing her again soon, though. And I'll have you to thank for that. In part, at least.
no subject
[ Although privately he thinks he'd enjoy the look on Sylvia Redbright's face if he gave her Faolan's love. ]
no subject
Hah. You think you're funny. Here I thought I was being nice. That'll teach me.
no subject
Did you hear that, Lily? Come here, come here girl -- Faolan says he misses you. That's right, he does! Do you think he'll let you kiss him when he visits again? Do you? Maybe he'll bring you something back, mm? Then you'd be a very lucky girl, wouldn't you?
[ Pet owners and baby talking their animals. It's awful. ]
no subject
It's not like I've been anywhere particularly exciting or exotic, but. I'll see what I can do. No more monkey's paws either. I promise.
no subject
[ Yes, forever! Forever! Lancelot laughs again and starts to gently prise Lily off finally. All right, he's saying softly, all right, that's enough.
He shifts, switching his phone to the other ear and smoothing Lily's fur with his other hand as she settles. ]
You don't have to. So long as we have you back in one piece I think we'd both be pleased.
no subject
I'll do my best.
[His best is about as good as he'll manage. He can only hope that it's enough. That Lancelot can pull him out before the shit hits the fan, as it were. Because he's really starting to believe that it's only going to be a matter of time, from here.]