Who: Dex and Lucien What: Dex checking in on his old friend When: July 25, 1888 Where: Lucien’s home Warning: None
Dex had heard of Lucien’s attack; it was all in the paper and people in certain circles were talking about it. He hadn’t gone straight away to see his friend and fellow House of Shadows member as he knew that being doted and worried over was the last thing the Alpha of Black Park would want. If it had been Dex, he would want people to stay away as well. At least for a little while. Plus, it was said that Lucien would be fine and that was good enough for him. Still, he worried about the werewolf, afraid that something amiss was going on.
After a small amount of time had past, he left his son at home under the care of his governess and he headed towards Lucien’s home.
It took a little time to get there, but soon enough he was arriving and giving a knock at the door with one hand while the other hand held a very expensive scotch.
Luce looked up from his desk as Martin showed in his caller, and he immediately put down his inkpen and stood, pleasantly surprised.
“Dex!” He called out, walking over to the venerable dragon (a little stiffly, but none the worse for wear, all told), and extended a hand to shake it. “Thank God you didn’t bring by flowers,” he added, laughing a little. “Come in, please, take a seat.”
The dragon was a fellow MP -- while they debated about a great deal, it tended to be good-natured, and he held Dex in fairly high regard. Dex didn’t wade into the finer points of policy with great zeal, he tended to hold back and keep his peace when he did decide to show up to sessions, but from their occasional conversations, it was clear to Lucien that the dragon certainly followed the goings-on -- perhaps more carefully than some of his colleagues gave him credit for -- and that he was a colleague well worth respecting.
“So this is what it takes to bring you by, hm?” Lucien continued, grinning just enough to let Dex know he was joking.
When the door had opened, he’d asked to see Lord Black. He was let in and led to where Lucien was at. An easy smile graced his lips to see the other man coming to stand and greeting him so easily. He had great respect for Lucien, thinking him to be a great and fair man. While in sessions, or out of them, Lucien never pushed for him to add to any of the politics and instead seemed to know that when Dex had something to say of importance, he would say it.
He noticed Lucien moving stiffly, having a small frown flutter across his lips before his smile was renewed. He took his hand and gave him a firm and hearty shake before handing over the scotch. “Flowers are what you leave at grave sites,” he explained. “They are nice, and pretty, sure, but end up withering away. Scotch on the other hand, a very good and expensive scotch may not last, but it gives more pleasure than flowers,” he chuckled. “This may be why I don’t date much,” he then laughed. “I’d apologize that I never come by as often as I do, but we both know it will happen again. It is a good reason to get out and bring scotch, though, you can’t deny that!”
“See, now,” Lucien replied, taking the scotch and walking over to the bar to open it and pour them both a measure, “that tells me you need to find a partner who enjoys scotch more than flowers. I’m certain they’re out there,” he added, setting the scotch down on the bar and bringing Dex’s glass over to him, and raising his own.
“And here’s to not having the need to send flowers,” he said, before raising his glass with a bit of a wince, and taking a sip of his own drink. “I am glad to see you, old man, even if the circumstances are less than ideal. Please, please,” he waved a hand, “I’m only teasing, there’s no need to apologize. We both have our obligations.”
“Well, as it seems as if you are already taken,” Dex laughed and took the glass. “By the way, congratulations on your engagement. About time you found someone to make you more honest,” he teased.
He rose his glass in toast and then took a drink. “Will you sit down? All this wincing you are doing is making me hurt,” he nearly ordered the man to sit. He knew that the attacker had to have used silver which meant he knew what Lucien was. “Any news on who tried to do you in?” He asked.
Lucien sat at that, and winced again despite his best efforts. “Not much,” he replied, “which is worrisome to say the least. A wolf, but not the same one who attacked Maggie, and while I managed to injure him, it wasn’t badly enough to leave any distinguishing marks, nor to warrant his seeking treatment somewhere.” He shook his head. “At the moment, all I’ve got is extra security, and an assurance they’re ‘working on it,’ although with so little to go on, well. I’m not expecting much.”
He took a sip of his drink. “And thank you,” he said, “it’s certainly has been a long time coming, hasn’t it? But I’ll tell you -- she hit me like one of your lightning bolts right between the eyes. I couldn’t have resisted even if I tried. Thank God she felt similarly.”
He smiled a little, shaking his head. He was fully aware that there’d been rumors circulating for decades that he was a ‘confirmed bachelor,’ and this sudden dive into an engagement had taken a few less perceptive of his circle by complete surprise -- but he’d been too occupied with his duties and responsibilities to really give much thought to romance, and nothing but finding his Mate would’ve turned his head as she had.
Dex took a seat opposite of Lucien and listened as the other man spoke of the attack and that nothing had been found out. It was worrisome that no one could figure out who or why the alpha of Black Park had been attacked. What was the goal? “They’ll get it figured out,” he said, trying to sound sure of himself but as Lucien said, there wasn’t enough to go on. Hopefully it was a one time thing.
“I’m happy for you,” he said of Lucien’s engagement. “You deserve it. I’m glad you’ve found your mate. I guess I get to take over the bachelor title, eh?” He laughed. In his 200 plus years, he had never settled down, never had found the one he wanted to settle down with. “But it’s all good, since I have Samuel to look after now,” he nodded. He’d adopted Samuel in New York two years ago and though they had their moments of bumping heads, he didn’t regret doing so. “Which, by the way, I just hired another governess,” he sighed. “This is the fifth time this year alone. He’s not an awful boy, but he does put them through a wringer.”
“I was just going to ask after your Sam,” Lucien replied. “Do you think he might want to come by Black Park sometime? Run around a bit in the countryside, wrestle a little with some pups? Young boys have so much energy -- and young, bright boys can also get up to mischief if bored.” He shrugged. “Then again, my experiences are mostly from when I was a boy myself -- I’ve no experience raising one. I have no doubt I was a handful -- but it helped that there were a few pups my age I could run rampant with.”
“I think it would be good for him to play with some others his age,” Dex nodded. “He’s sheltered at home with just himself to entertain him. Plus, it would be good to see if he can get along with others before I decide to put him in school,” he nodded. “Miss Foster, his new governess, is also going to be his private tutor for now, but I would like to eventually get him into some kind of school.” He wouldn’t put him in boarding school, sending him away didn’t seem like the right thing to do, but he still thought he could get a good education either via private tutors or a school. “I remember when I was a boy. I was hardly containable,” he chuckled.
“Ah,” Lucien replied. “Miss Foster. I’m… well. I’m glad she found work. I know she was looking.” He took a sip of his drink. “I’m sure she’ll be more than capable. And yes, your Sam would be welcome for a visit any time. I think it’d be a good experience all round. And he might even stretch his wings a bit, if he’d be so inclined -- I’ve got a few places on my property that are isolated enough it wouldn’t catch much notice at all.” He shrugged. “It’d be good for the pups of my pack to get to know other creatures more, to make friends outside their immediate circle, and heaven knows, they have no end of energy to spare.”
Katherine had left under a cloud, with an anger towards him that still stung, but he’d promised her he’d let her go freely, and with his blessing, and he meant to stick by it.
“You know her then?” Dex asked, though he already had an answer. “Anything I should know?” If Lucien knew anything that would not be good for the woman to be around his son, he would want to know “Samuel would love it, I’m sure,” he nodded. “How about I have him come out next week? I would love if he could make some friends and as you said it would be good for him to interact with other species.”
“I’ve known Miss Foster for years,” Lucien said. “She’s a good woman, and an incredibly talented governess. Works well with children, has a wonderful sense of imagination and inventiveness, and has a sharp intellect.” He took another sip of his drink. “I think stretching her legs will be good for her, and I’m glad she’s landed with you. I suspect London is far more to her liking than the countryside at present, and I’m sure she’ll be able to manage Samuel quite well.”
He spoke truthfully, even if he left off some details -- Katherine’s leaving was for reasons that were deeply personal, and he wouldn’t betray her confidence to her employer.
“And yes. Next week works well. We can make an outing of it, and you can get to know the Missus. I’m sure Maggie would be glad to meet you.”
Dex sipped at his scotch and nodded to Lucien’s words. If Lucien said Katherine was good and would do well, Dex would take him at his word. He knew the other man would not omit anything important as it was dealing with a child. “She seems capable and Samuel took to her pretty good, so I’m hoping she’ll last. I can’t keep going through governesses. Eventually I’ll have to start hiring from out of the country,” he chuckled.
“Excellent,” he said of them all getting together next week. “I would like to meet the woman that made Lucien the Great fall to his knees,” he chuckled, teasing him.
“Oh, Lord,” Lucien cried out, laughing. “Is that the latest? It was bad enough when they were calling me the Infant Phenomenon back in the day. I have no claim to greatness, unless managing to not get myself killed and convincing a rather amazing person to marry me counts.” He grinned. “She really is marvelous,” he said, shaking his head. “A feisty American with nerves of steel and an indomitable spirit. God help me, I’ve fallen for a thoroughly modern woman, and I have a feeling she’ll be dragging me into all sorts of adventures. Hopefully decidedly more pleasant than this last go-round,” he added.
“Oh believe me,” Dex laughed with Lucien. “There are all kinds of titles that have been tagged to your name,” he grinned. “Me, I’m just Dex the Beast, which is entirely appropriate,” he laughed some more. He was quite sure the woman who caught Lucien’s eye was a great woman. Many had come before and failed in what she had accomplished and he just hoped she was good for his friend. “Adventures are always good,” he nodded. “I’m sure that what has happened recently is just some fluke type of thing and that the two of you will go on to enjoy all kinds of adventures. I better get an invite to the wedding,” he teased him.
“Also,” he said sobering just slightly. “If what’s happened as of late seems to be something more than a fluke, you know you can call on me for anything.”
Lucien met Dex’s look, and nodded. “Duly noted, my friend,” he said. He knew Dex wouldn’t offer such support lightly, and while the outpouring of concern from his colleagues at the House of Shadows had been a touch overwhelming, he could see through the hand-wringing to the people whose concern was genuine easily enough -- and not just concern for their own necks either.
He cleared his throat, taking a sip of his drink. “And yes. Of course you’re invited. You and Sam both. It’ll be small and simple -- at the estate -- this upcoming weekend if you can make it. We… well. Now we’ve found one another, we don’t want a drawn out engagement. And being made intimately aware of one’s own mortality rather tipped the balance in favor of not waiting any longer than necessary.”
“This weekend?” Dex rose an eyebrow. “I can understand that. When it’s right, it’s right and with what happened and all, I can understand it being so quick,” he chuckled. He’d have teased him about maybe getting Maggie pregnant, that was why it was so quick, but he knew that at this time it was something more. Lucien’s life had been put on the line for a moment and that is what had sped things up. “Sam and I will both be pleased to come. Maybe not so much Sam, but I’ll get him there,” he chuckled.
“You can tell him there’ll be some pups his age there, and that if he manages not to set anything on fire too badly, he can come back and wrestle with them in a few days,” Lucien replied, laughing. “I’m sure that’ll be worth a few hours in a scratchy suit and tie.”