Alec's got it under control (beachdair) wrote in angellogs, @ 2020-09-21 01:18:00 |
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Current mood: | contemplative |
Who: Noah, Alec
When: Current
Where: The gatehouse, Craigcrook Castle, Edinburgh
What: Noah's invited people over to have tea. It's a comfortable way, in his experience, to talk, and he finds it calming as well.
Rating/Warnings: There's some references to early game spoilers in FFXII.
Status: Complete
Noah passed an e-mail around that he'd be by the gatehouse and dropped one in the family message board that there'd be tea and peace and possibly lunch afoot.
Alec’s making his way around because, well, if nothing else, more time to scrutinize the prince’s spouse is always a good idea, and time to scrutinize a new family member, when he divorces himself from his old official role, is important too. He’s not certain if this is the sort of thing he should be raiding the kitchens for something to bring to, but errs on the side of it feeling weird to drag something out of Noah’s own kitchen when the chances are that he or Sebastian made it anyway (or both? He’s heard both happens fairly often).
In the time that he’s been here, he’s not yet gotten comfortable with modern clothing options, and that hardly seems to be an issue for most of them here, so he’s opted for a version of the gear he came here with, though the tunic he’s grabbed, borrowed from a stack of communal options that were left for him, and coming from one of his nephews, due to the sizing (Noah is far broader, as is his twin, and Aedan is far skinnier), is of a finer quality than the traveling gear he arrived here wearing, and dark green, as opposed to black, with a bit of embroidery around the sleeves and hems. There’s also the matter of his boots, which he ought to look into a replacement option for, but in the meantime, he’s opted for buffing them until the soft leather is at least clean and serviceable.
So prepared, at least so much as he can be, he’s making his way over, taking in the grounds on the short walk.
"Hello there," Noah said, setting his little laptop aside. "Do you mind music? I usually have something on. What's bringing you by?"
“I’d heard something about an open invitation via that board you’ve got set up in the house.” Alec grins a little. “You did no mention if I ought to be bringing anything, but I’m told it’s easy enough to procure extra tea things in this day and age if need be. “
This is the man who was an interrogator once, and good at the job, Alec’s been told. It makes him interesting straight from the start, but he’s trying not to go into his own work mode yet here. He’s usually better at hiding those things than he’s told his protege, Iomhar, is.
"And well - bakery," Noah's wearing a cheerful apron. "I'm watching this to come up to the simmer to go in the oven, and there's some apple things to go in for a little time at a higher heat. We can have a mug and talk here. There's things for coffee, but I still make it either too weak or too strong if you leave me to my devices. How have things been? Do you want to come on a shopping trip at some point? I can't promise we can find things you like, but Balthier dresses a little more formally than I do."
“Coffee.” Alec nods. “We’ve similar but not exactly the same taste. The idea is close, mind you. And that would help, to see what’s about here. It seems to be a mixture around here especially.” Sebastian’s probably the most modern he’s seen in terms of daily wear, but he supposes that he’d have to be, considering he’s in the public eye and looking at parliamentary elections, whatever goes on with them.
“As to how things have been…” He laughs. “We’re making due, I’d wager. It’s a wee bit odd for all involved. I’ve not exactly gotten used to the idea they’re all men grown now, and Iomhar’s walking around as though he’s seen a ghost, though to be fair to him, it’s apt enough. We’ll find a way with that.” And he pauses. “But tell me, honestly, Do you ever have the urge to just knock him upside the head a few times until he sees sense on some points. A healthy sense of caution’s one thing, but I’ve been looking at security measures round this estate...there’s a point it’s crossed to paranoia.”
"I suspect some of it's seeking something to do, and some of it is trying to feel safe." Noah snags a mug for himself and one for Alec. "Let me get going on coffee here. I suspect you'd do better chatting with him about how you think security should go? After all, he knows the area and his ideas, and I'm pretty content not getting involved as long as it doesn't affect me. He seems still very rattled and sad, I think. He dated, and it didn't go well, and his daughter still seems furious that she's not in the past. She's got this fear about how much power I'd have over things, which is something that - fear is fear."
“Aye, likely.” Alec nods. “And true, I cannae pretend I ken what he saw, but it does seem here, well…” He shrugs a bit. “We’ll get it ironed in the end. If no one minds that I step in. Rattled’s not a bad word for it. And ah, right, the lass who isn’t…” He twitches his fingers quickly. Ellie was around for a weekend so that’s also...happened.
“He’s always seemed the more practical at least, so it’ll be worth easing into. And I suppose this IS, well, different. There’s things to gain but things to miss it seems. Sebastian seems happier than I last saw HIM.” He adds, grinning a little.
"I assume you mean Ellie. It's good to go by names, no? She's been starting to get to know me. We're both the quiet and slow to move types, from what I've seen, so it's been a careful thing." Noah pours the water to brew the coffee. "And aye. I think he's been fairly happy of late. A bit stressed with work, but he is the sort that holds that stress."
“Aye right. Kirkwall’s grand cleric’s the namesake there.” Which makes Alec wonder about a lot of the reasons Sebastian left if he’s still so close to some things, but he supposes that he didn’t have much choice in the long run.
“My father was like that, with the stress and balancing. It makes sense he’d get it from there. But I suppose too, he’s finally got what he needs.” That’s said with a significant glance at Noah.
Noah shrugs. "I suppose so? He's the expert in how he feels, but we're both happy. I'm a bit confused by the interest in how we're doing, but I suppose some of that is a cultural thing. It's different from how Archades would ask about relationships." He fills up the mugs and slides Alec's over to his side. "Let me pop these in and we can talk. The apple tarts will only take a bit, but it makes the house smell good. They're good with tea as well."
“I’ll not bother you for intimate details.” Alec takes the mug with a smile and a nod. “That’s between the two of you, but family, I suppose compels me to have SOME interest in both of your happiness now you’re here. I take it you’ve had more involvement from...some circles?”
"It's a curious thing, I suppose. I can't tell if it's a social concern that we're compatible in bed, or if it's more of a - making sure that things are going well and we're not shocked that we both have a bum like each other." Noah thinks about it. "Ex-military, after all. Nudity isn't strange for me. Iomhar and Calum have asked about making sure we're both content, and I get the feeling they've got a lot of glee that we're more than content with each other."
“Ah well, that’d be in part due to who it is, I’d say.” Alec stretches a bit. “It’s Sebastian of all people. The fact he’d settle down at all’s a revelation to me, and I’ll imagine it’s odder now he’s been through the chantry. They’re happy for him, it seems, but still working out how to work with...well he’s not what they knew. And that’s not...it shouldn’t be strange for any of us, considering.” He shrugs a bit. “It’s no exactly as prim and proper in Starkhaven as the label would suggest. There’s pretending for the public, but…”
"He told me he was sleeping around because he was desperate for affection and escape. And he was pretty worried about making sure we made commitment to each other versus him taking advantage of me." Noah looks bemused over his mug. "In Archades, having three to a household was pretty common, depending on the area, so it's different."
Alec nods. “Well, aye, that sounds about right. But how many knew it then? I don’t suppose his brothers got the whole story out of him or he knew it himself then. Their reaction…” He looks faintly amused. “I suppose there’s worse than being invested and nosy. Then again, Iomhar’s always had THAT streak, but he comes by it honest enough.”
"We've discussed what we've wanted, and I'm content." Noah leans to pull out the apple tarts. "Would you like to move upstairs? The soup can handle itself. We can take a plate up and settle in if you'd like. There's a reading room that's pretty cozy."
“That sounds like it’d be lovely. And I will admit to a curiosity as to the rest of this layout.” Alec admits. “It’s all much more recent in terms of style than up at the castle, I’d guess, no?”
"It's a few decades out of date for modernity here, but I'm not from here." Noah gestured. "Feel free to pry everywhere but that room. That's my brother's. You'll see nothing that exciting."
“I telegraphed that too much did I?” Alec laughs. “Forgive me. I’m curious about coming to know you I suppose. Thus poking around when questions might have well worked. Old habits do die hard I suppose.”
Noah shrugs. "Well, if you feel safer looking around, what's the harm? You'll see the laundry, and some beds, and a bath." Noah fills up a plate and takes his mug. "You can lead me about if you have questions."
“Easy enough.” Alec snorts. “And to the point. Less safer for myself and more...curious in general. You worked in a field close to mine, I think?” He does glance around a little, looking more for anything that shows some personality trait than specifics.
"I was in the military. Later a bodyguard and a - the technical term is Judge." Noah follows him. It looks like the twins like bright colors, and just about everything they have has a sort of aged look to it. There's some art up on the walls. Most of it is ink and pencil sketches. Rainy streets, a few sketches of faces, and the like. "But spywork, I'm familiar with."
“Good enough.” Alec nods. “I ran the network. Hadn’t been at it very long. Six years or so, I think at this point. The lines blur a bit when you’re coordinating so many things. I don’t do many things actively anymore. Occasionally if there’s a cross purpose but...Was it difficult, giving up the work? That’s my fear, letting it go.”
"I was arrested before I ended up here, and quite likely would've died or was out of things for a while." Noah leans on the wall. "Summing up a long story, I was convinced that someone was trying to prevent a war via a coup, and instead he merely wanted power. My twin brother was framed, and after he escaped, I was blamed for it. When I got here, I decided the best I could do was find some work that could handle my insomnia and was something simple. I didn't want to take up a sword again. My brother eventually went into work at a hospital as a guard."
“Can’t say that I blame you for any of that.” Alec nods. “Something like that...it’d have me finding other work too. Has that been hard to manage here? That is...the instinct for things? I doubt there’s work of the same nature here, but I’ve...very little idea what else I’d want. Did you always have a fancy for baking or is that something you discovered here?”
"I wanted something at late hours that was fairly quiet and simple work without violence." Noah thinks about it. "I baked before, as a child, in the small village because you simply had to make food if you wanted it. There was military cooking, when I was in the low enough ranks to peel a potato or boil a man's underthings and learn how to starch and iron. I garden here, for pleasure. I still spar some. I'm apparently impressive. I don't feel that way. Balthier went to painting stages and making jewelry."
“He did mention...some of that.” Alec looks thoughtful. “It’s hard to recall a time before I was training for this. I know that at some point I WAS. I wasn’t considered as any sort of operative before I was about...fifteen or so. Before that, I knew I’d have SOME royal duty or other but…” he shrugs. “It was never so important one way or the other about me. I sort of liked that. All the fun, less of the work. But it catches up to you, I’ll guess. Maybe there’s some grand new THING for me.”
"No reason why you can't go into a spy like line of work, but - if you want change, you can explore the options." Noah smiles. "After all, it's important to do what works for you. I'm happy baking because it's - there's stress, but it's not my stress. I don't care about more than baking what I'm told to bake."
“That sounds simple enough. And there’s some peace to be found the simple things.” Alec nods slowly. “And a physical bit to do as well. That seems as if it’d help some ways, too. You said you couldnae sleep so that’s...I see where trying it’d help. But so, do they have hobby books or...something Or I suppose...the internet?” he looks a bit overwhelmed as he says those words, though. “It’s no wrong that’s no come easily to me, is it no?”
"It may help to ask around a bit? Sit in on things and see what you like or don't like." Noah thinks about it. "I think Iomhar's been writing a fictional book. I mean, there's also the problem of the difference between the other world and this one. I know Mistress Meghan was not very happy that the laws here said she was an adult older than your homeland."
“Ah right. She did grow up outside of things and would have been at least learning a trade and allowed to practice it if she’d wanted.” Alec says, nodding at that. “If she’d stayed in the family, it’d have been different, she’d still have been protected, cherished a bit more if you will. But outside of that, well, we don’t coddle our weans or anything, at least I’ll hope we haven’t and that I wasn’t, but, you grow up faster in the real world. It’s not as if most masters or mistresses are cruel, but...it’s a harder life when you’re trained from the start to do a job, and aren’t exactly family or anyone important in the household…”
He thinks about how that must have been, to switch to this life, and it’s, well, a lot.
“No wonder the lass is a bit unhappy. She must feel out of place with that and dependent on people. Bit scary when you haven’t been before. And if there’s memories to compete with what you knew of people...It’d be worth a word with Iomhar about that if he’s not thought those things through. And is he then? I’d not heard. I’m curious now. So, all sorts of hobbies, or trades to be had, really. I’m told Sebastian’s kept up his archery when he’s got the time, and Calum’s got the music, but, hmm. I’ll have a bit of a thought.”
"Still it feels a bit - I understand it's a big change for her, but when you point to the technology and the changes in science and that treating the sick has changed since then, and she just - gets angry that she should have what she had. It's probably a communication thing as you said." Noah shrugs. "She seems happier at least."
“Happier’s a start.” Alec says, nodding. “Finding her place in this too, that’s got to be taking a bit. But, eventually people tend to be able to manage in the end. At least...I’ll hope that is still the case.”
"Exactly. And she's an age that has things that frustrate you and young bodies saying the world is ending." Noah sighs. "I'm not sure Iomhar has talked to her that much, but she needs someone."
“The world WAS ending, so Sebastian’s told me.” Alec raises an eyebrow. “Well, with him at least. Some sort of apocalypse. But, it’s worth seeing what’s really happening there at least. Anyone else have things going on that I should know about? Your brother seems stable, as do you.”
"Oh, we're - all right, considering. We do things like this. Quiet sitting together learning how to be around each other, but we're happy enough. He's dating Balthier." Noah frowns. "Calum's been trying to date, and I think he's still - dealing with his issues, but he's a good man. Praise seems to startle him in a good way."
“He seems to have a harder time with it from what i’ve read, or well, with finding someone who’ll be interested enough to stick around. And who he’d want to.” Alec nods. “It’s funny. I’d just come from attempting to arrange his marriage. Well, meeting a princess at least who seemed to suit.”
"From what I heard, they did the best they could, but it wasn't the best. They cared about each other, and she liked Iomhar." Noah shrugs. "It's his story to tell."
Alec nods a little, lips pursing. “Interesting. And hardly a surprise. Seems like he’d take a while to realize that he even wants that sort of a thing. I suppose if it’s meant to find him, well, what’s for you’ll not go past you, isn’t that the way of it? I dare say I shouldn’t interfere where it’s not needed now.” He laughs a little. “No brother to force the issue, so…”
"I think he's happier than Iomhar, but you'd need to talk to them." Noah smiles. "Still - you might do well with them? Family can talk in ways."
“Aye, so we can.” Alec smiles back. “You seem a good match for this one, mind. But, we’ll see what I can manage with the two of them.” And he laughs. “I can imagine what my father’d say, seeing as Sebastian’s finally the best adjusted one. He’d like you.”
"Considering I'm not exactly what you'd marry back there, I suspect he'd not approve of that. I did offer to be more of a consort or something like that with Sebastian, but he wanted to marry me." Noah sips his coffee. "Come now, let's keep moving. The bathroom won't be amazing, and you will like the sofa in the reading room. I'm a bit - I suppose glum and too serious, but I can try to manage manners."
“As it’s far easier to make happen in his position here, whyever not marry you?” Alec says. “And well, you hardly seem as glum as all of THAT. This has been good, so far. It’s helped.” He feels more at ease than he did. Not that he was uncomfortable, but it’s easier to take in stride now.
"We've done little. Or does it help seeing where my brother lives? I spend a lot of time in the castle but it's - it can be loud. It's quiet here." Noah heads over to take a seat on the couch. There's some brightly colored designs pinned up on a cork board and a load of various books on the shelves.
“Just speaking with you more casually has helped.” Alec allowed. “The fact we’re no longer strangers in the same space. Loud’s not bad, but I can imagine it grows...overwhelming at times.” So far, he’s not noticed that MUCH. A little sometimes. “It’s nice there’s a place to get away. And ah this IS nice in here.”
"I'm just a very boring man that bakes things." Noah smiles as he leans back. "And a bit of a paranoid old soldier who can occasionally remember all the moves, but other than that, very dull."
Alec snorts. “The second one’s now got me interested. The moves, you say? Do you still practice your forms, by chance?”
"I have. Everyone here's seen me. It's sort of - formal bodyguard work. So not entirely practical."
“Is there ever a point, once you’re past field work or fighting where it remains practical?” Alec’s grin is a little lopsided there. In his experience, though, once you’re past a certain point in your career, showy fighting seems to take over. Sure, you may use it when practicing with beginners or those less experienced, but…
"Calum said I was a lot more - I taught how to look dramatic or scare someone, or end things fast. There's different schools as to how you'd fight as well. A lot of it is aimed when you spar to be guarding a third, or fighting an imaginary enemy with your partner. He said that was different." Noah looked thoughtful and leaned to pass the laptop to him. "Want to see some security footage? It's nothing amazing."
“Unique to your style? I’d be curious.” Alec nods slowly. “I’m a bit more low down and dirty so something more direct...I’ll probably look amazed.”
"A while back, when Aedan was on crutches, we got attacked at night. A camera on the street caught it. People kind of wanting to cause trouble and on stuff that made them feel cocky enough to think they could." Noah slides it over to him. "Semi serious sparring, I suppose. I got them to wait for the cops to get there and arrest them."
“That thing with the energy drink mess?” Alec’s wondering, leaning in to get a look. “I recognized the logo there. “ He’s nodding toward a stylized symbol of three locked triangles. “Sebastian’s er..supervisor? Cult leader? Suggested I look out for drinks with the label, that there’d been problems. Not that he said what. They had something to get on with.” He’s watching now, whistling a bit.
“Not bad. Solid. You fight like my brother when he’s got nothing to hold back on. Had nothing.” Alec corrects, absently. That idea is one that he’s been struggling to get used to. It isn’t that they were especially close, but Ben was never a terrible person, and they’d had their share of good times, some quite recent.
“I...not in style but...the attitude. Throwing all pretenses to the wind and being truthful. I think most fighters don’t. They hold back or they posture. You’ve got the skill to back up what you’re selling; there’s an honesty in you.”
"I think I surprised a police officer." Noah hmmed. "The energy drink mess was that people were getting out of control and addicted to them. It's a company that'd do whatever it took to make a profit and experimenting with things."
“Grandmaster Kenway didn’t seem to like them very much.” Alec nods. “Ah ethics. I’d imagine they’ve fallen far from the tree here somehow. Only need to look at the news to see some of that. But, so. You...I like your form. How DID you learn to strike from that sort of a center?”
"I was great sword and secondary weapon usually, or staves? So that's not too uncommon, just an improvised weapon." Noah grins. "I could run you through some paces at some point, if you want. You'll have to tolerate me being a bit careful. It's how I was taught. Stuff about making sure you have some water afterwards and the like." He leans in. "Most of that was to get the gun out of his hand. See me bracing with the back leg?"
“And you’d have to tolerate me being…” Alec laughs. “Rather more clumsy than not, these days. Bit more sedentary lately when it comes to fights, though I’m still good with a dagger. I was trained with a sword and TRY to keep it up, but I’d like to learn a little if you’re offering. “ He backs up the recording a little and watches. “Ah right...there’s the angle you’re pushing from…” he traces it. “Nice line.”
"In the interest of not bragging," Noah leans in. "That's a mistake there. I should've knocked him back, but I wasn't sure what the footing was like on the street, so you see me falter. I tend to guard my left a little too much. That spot there is where Aedan drew a knife and I hesitated again because I was tracing the sound to him."
“Well, you made it work instead.” Alec leans forward watching. “He’s no so bad himself if that’s..” he’s looking at a point a little off from the main view, where there’s a bit of a silver blurr. “I’d not think he had that in him, physically. He’s no exactly intimidating.”
"Knives aren't entirely legal, but -" Noah watches the video. "Self defense. He's been trained, from what I've heard. He's in a brotherhood. Sort of a secret society, but it's having some issues. Someone he was dating decided he was having more fun with someone else, and then gloomily moped after it didn't work out. They were basically courting, and ever since, Aedan's been questioning if it was his fault, and the other couldn't be bothered to look at the row he tilled."
“Stupid, that they’re not.” Alec rolls his eyes. “They seem to love to make ridiculous laws from what it looks like though, and well. That’s unfortunate. But, even there.” he nods toward the video. “You wouldn’t think of that version of him as intimidating either. Gives him a good cover, I’d suggest. Shame about the rest of that, though. I don’t suppose that’d be Sebastian’s society. His sounded a bit more…”
Alec tries to think of a word there. It’s not exactly more militant but a bit less shadowy in the illegal sense than what Noah has described and more… “Willing to play wallop within society, or at least start the match as if it’s on the up and up, then suddenly whack the enemy you’ve lured in with your mallet. The other you’ve described…” he watches Aedan again. “If they’re all like this...they’d not need the mallet or to get in good. Just up close and armed with very little.”
"Sebastian's a member of a group that's been on opposite sides of the one Aedan's in. I'm not with either one." Noah shrugs slightly. "They're good fighters, I agree. Just can't say I think they handle interpersonal stuff with grace. I just think that Sherr's the sort of cocky child that thinks a glib tongue makes up for caring only about what he wants. He might be better than that, but he hasn't managed to prove it. Aedan's not handled it well, but he's a young man who hasn't been dealt a great hand to play well."
“Every group has something, I suppose.” Alec winces a bit. “But, having barely met anyone, that’s not a judgement I can make beyond what I see.” There’s a frenetic quality there, and he’s interested in a way, in both of them. Not so much in people he’s not yet met, but…
“Affairs of the heart. Never pretty.” he says. “I’d be surprised if those DID go down gracefully. But well, something to be warned of.”
"I suppose it's not a warning as much as - I think Aedan is uncertain of things. And if we can help, we can help." Noah sighs. "He's my stepson, after all, but at the same time he is grown. I think trusting people is hard for him. He grew up little loved, and it is still new for him."
“Easy enough.” Alec nods slowly. It’s a matter of treading a bit more carefully there, which he can manage perfectly fine.
"I've had good luck with encouraging him to think about how he feels? Sort of -" Noah frowns and turns the mug in his hands before leaning to refill it. "As a bodyguard, you cannot protect someone who does not trust you. So there is some talk about how to make a space they feel safe to talk to you. A . . . liminal space, versus the sanctuary of a room, for example. You're always more on guard than someone else, save for really tense situations, but that does not mean they know it, if that makes sense? Some of that might be my culture."
That’s been his own experience with guards who didn’t end up being a good match, or were just annoying, so, it stands to reason from the other side of things. “Making them comfortable, hmm?” He grins a bit. “Best way to get information, that. Admittedly from my side of things, it’s more about reading the tells, seeing what’s behind the words, there’s so much said with no one saying a word. Even if they’re standing perfectly still, you can usually work out...something.” Alec pauses there. “Iomhar, for instance. There’s a LOT he doesn’t ken he’s saying simply by how hard he tries to hide it. Seems only reasonable it’d work hand in hand with watching out for someone.”
"I did interrogation work. Much the same." Noah smiles. "I do not want to go back into it. There are some people doing sort of spywork here, from what I've heard, but - I was a loyal man with a bad temper who made bad choices, and I do not trust my judgement for that again. It is simpler, being just a man."
“Seems reasonable.” Alec nods. “From what you’ve said, this suits you. You seem to be doing quite well. I’d hardly think anyone would fault you for that. I’m not sure where I’ll settle yet, but then I do have time.”
"It's a nice change. Sebastian was quite worried I'd be upset that he had work and things calling for his time." Noah shakes his head. "And well - he does work too much at times, but I am used to working around things like that. It is not like he overworks out of malice or a lack of desire to go home."
“He seems to genuinely care.” Alec nods. “From what I’ve been unable to uncover, he’s fairly popular. For good reason. Best that you’re on that same page, really.” He adds. “You two seem well suited in an odd way.”
"I think he's happy? I think he said he likes that I listen and I try to be as honest as possible." Noah thinks about it. "I suppose that makes sense that he'd like it. I try to pay attention to what people want."
“There you are.” Alec nodded. “That’s what everyone needs in life, I think. It’s a matter of finding the right one.”