Simon & Lachlan | Late Morning | Town Circle
(directly after this)
Simon had gotten a late start, because, well. He always did. One of the benefits of setting your own hours and no one ever expecting you to be anything but a layabout. It worked out; he always did better on a full bit of sleep besides, and being well rested always seemed to translate into a bit more luck. This morning in particular when he hit the crowds of the festival, he hadn't expected anything beyond a mixture of smugness and guilt that he got whenever he heard anyone (but especially Cal) talk faith before he wandered around in search of breakfast.
What he found instead was a familiar face that caught his attention - Fiona - but it wasn't Teague that she seemed in a hurry to meet across the circle - but Lachlan. Morrie's brother. Dubious, Simon had kept an eye on the pair, but the remote interest turned into something far more intense when he saw his sister-in-law slip her hands under Lachlan's shirt as the two had an exchange that felt far more intimate than Simon could've ever predicted between Fiona and anybody but his brother.
For a moment he stood amid the crowd, uncertain, questioning - was it his business? Should he do something? A dark, bitter voice told him that it was just desserts, and for all of Teague's blessings and goodness and favor it only made since that an unfaithful wife would balance the scales. On the other hand, didn't Teague deserve better - at least to know - at least to have some chance to figure out what was going on, and wasn't it Simon's duty as his blood to defend him and protect him? On a third, more pragmatic hand, to not get involved at all and forget the whole thing entirely seemed a safe option.
But, with Lachlan and Fiona moving, he needed to make a choice, and fast - he tailed them to where the dancing had begun, and amid the music and movement he watched, debating his next move. It wasn't until Lachlan's position in a group dance led him near to where Simon stood that the Fox made a snap decision, jerking his hand out to grab the gardener by the arm with a firm aggression that surprised even him.