knightsoflegend | marseilles ♔ swallowing the pill til i breathed my last

WHO || Dean, Rose, Gus, Ashley, Elijah [closed]
WHAT || The Knights head to speak with the Carmilla
WHERE || Marseilles, France
WHEN || Mid April 2016
HOW || Actionspam

Last fall, two Knights were killed in action while investigating a group of rogue vampires in Paris - Sir Dragomir and Sir Rast. While the vampires were brought under control, the mystery of who exactly killed the Knights remains up in the air, and to that end, Wynn has decided to establish contact with an ancient vampire known as Carmilla, leader of a vampiric coven of Elders who dictate the rules by which most nearby covens live in order to maintain their existence without bringing humankind down on their heads.

Also of interest to the assigned Knights is the strange abrupt departure of Sir Helen Magnus, who stayed behind in Paris and sent an unusual letter to her daughter Ashley that refused to explain what she was doing, but left the woman more concerned than ever.

Wynn has made arrangements with the coven, who have reluctantly agreed to meet with the Knights, and so a few days after their briefing, Dean pulls their rented vehicle up to the gates of the creepy manor where the Elders have at least agreed to rendezvous. While the grounds are well kept, there's an air of emptiness to the whole place.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I've earned every ounce of ire. I won't shy from it.

[But she sure isn't looking forward to it.]

You left children and squires to bring home Max's body. [ and there is gus' personal ire. wtf, helen. ]

I'm not proud of it. I won't make excuses for myself. My actions were entirely selfish, and you can rest assured it won't happen again.

The problem, Helen, is that we can't rest assured because no one can trust you anymore. It's not that you went out sowing your wild oats, fuck it, live your life, I don't give a shit. But you decided that in 2016 you couldn't pick up a phone or write an e-mail -- because you knew what you were doing was fucking bullshit.

I run away, Helen, I know. But I don't hide from it like a fucking coward.

[Something in her seems to snap. Her eyes shut and she gives a quick shake of her head.]

You really have no idea what it's like. None of you. And from the girls, I expect it. They couldn't possibly know better, but you?

[She turns and walks to the other side of the room, putting some distance between them.]

It doesn't matter how it happened. It doesn't matter who he was or what he did. It wouldn't have mattered if I would have broadcast my intention to the whole bloody world-- it never would have been deemed acceptable. How long before Ashley or Rose or who knows who else would have come to find me? It would have been a revolving door of people telling me what a poor choice I was making. There wouldn't have been a single moment to actually be away from all of... All of this! Two hundred years, Gus. Most of them spent in the service of someone other than myself. I step away for a few bloody weeks and suddenly I'm untrustworthy? Tell me how that's fair?

I made a mistake. I will not deny that. But I cannot understand why no one can imagine a world in which I may have needed this.

Are you serious?

I tell people if I'm leaving, Helen. I allow them to reach me so they don't worry and so I can stay away longer. What, you think Wynn is gonna call you up after you specifically ask for a break? Surprise, he doesn't do that. You think Ashley is gonna spend four months tracking you down if you'd have given her a god damn phone number? You coulda called from the HQ in France and asked them to keep messages for you if you didn't want to carry a phone.

I don't give a shit, Helen, if you want a break, take it. Stay away for a year, stay away for ten, take the fucking break you clearly need. I do it, Jeanne does it, Zatanna's been doing it for years. It's weird though, 'cause no one sends a fucking search party for us...

So don't act like leaving is the mistake you made. [ he barks something to mellie in korean, telling her to leave, and with a chuff she pads to the door. ] I don't have to imagine how you needed a break, I get that, but when I leave, I don't let my kids wonder where I am and I don't treat my friends and family like they're so much of a burden that I have to completely cut them out to relax.

[ he turns to let mellie out the door, adding sarcastically: ] Tomato, tomato.

[It's a partly self imposed thing- feeling as though she isn't allowed a break. But before she became a knight, there really wasn't any way for her to step away. There was always something going on, always some emergency. The Abnormals needed her. Her staff needed her. Her daughter needed her. And she cared for them. Each of them. But it was over a century without rest, unyielding.

That same work ethic carried into her career with the Knight. Gus, Jeanne, Zatanna- certainly there are those who take time away. But they aren't Helen. Something in her feels as though she isn't allowed. And that feeling is so agonizing when coupled with the endless stretch of the many long years she may have left to live.]

Good night, Sir Harrison. [She manages, voice quiet as she watches Mellie lumber out the door. She can't change how she feels. She can't convince them of anything. Wasting her breath and their time seems like a poor course of action, doesn't it?]

Good night, Helen. [ and he out. ]

marseilles ♔ swallowing the pill til i breathed my last

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