The Preserve's edge: Saturday night

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

A cheerful fire was crackling away just at the edge of the Preserve, where it could probably be seen from the dorms. It was safer here, away from the dry underbrush, and Galahad could watch the stables. Which was important in case anyone else appeared there over night.

There was a half-naked bard curled up next to him, one who was fast asleep with a stomach full of roasted bunny, his head pillowed on Galahad's mail shirt. It didn't look at all comfortable, but he'd accepted that his new-found companion was far from normal.

Galahad leaned back against a tree, his sword naked beside him, and stared at the stars that weren't his stars. He was alert to any danger, but for the most part was relaxing in the warmth from the fire.

Gawain, the horse he'd stolen borrowed was hobbled and grazing close by (Trenor was getting very annoyed with this whole thing, and he wanted his stall now), and there was even some left over bunny, should anyone happen to wander by in need of dinner.

[ooc: completely open, and Chaucer and his near nudity modded with permission.]

Comments

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Inara was out for a walk in the freezing cold weather, deciding that was the perfect cap to a day that had started with her being hung over and Gavin disappearing and being replaced by that thing with goat legs.

If she was muttering to herself in Chinese as she walked, well, it was possibly understandable.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Understandable if one knew about the goat legs, but not actually understandable, if one were referring to the words.

"Is it wise to be out walking alone in the dark?" Galahad called softly, not wanting to startle her, or to wake up Chaucer. "All manner of dangers could be lying in wait for a woman alone."

Trenor, recognising Inara, lifted his head and whickered hopefully.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Inara sighed when she heard Karal, and was trying very, very hard not to blame him for the goat leg issue. "Dangers like what? It's sweet of you to be concerned, but I am capable of taking care of myself."

She walked over to Trenor and started scratching him behind his ears. "No treats today, boy, sorry."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor shoved his head against Inara's chest in the closest a horse could come to pleading with her to save him from the crazy person.

Galahad watched her curiously. She obviously knew the horse, but it was odd she hadn't reacted to him at all. "There's those who could consider me to be a danger," he said, stretching to his feet and sheathing his sword.

He wandered in her direction. "I'm not, at least not to you."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"I'm having the same kind of day," she reached an arm around Trenor's neck, giving him the hug she desperately needed before glancing over at Karal. "Since when do you carry a sword? And a danger? Why would anyone consider you to be a danger?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It ticked his pride a little, and he drew a knife from his belt and threw it, straight and true, to thunk, quivering, into a tree just to her right.

"A Sarmatian Knight must always be armed and ready to fight to the death." He smiled, teeth white in the darkness. "It is generally someone else's."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Inara's head whipped around and she was now staring at Karal. "What on earth possessed you to throw a knife at me? And since when do you throw knives? Have you lost your mind?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Not at you!" he protested, almost flinching as he anticipated the smack Gawain - the real one - would have given him had he been here. Trying to scare a woman alone because of his wounded pride. He would have been soundly thumped. "Near you."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Oh, much better," she shot back, hands on her hips as she shot him what she hoped was a cowing look. "A priest throwing knives near people makes me feel ever so much better, thank you for clarifying that."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Galahad's eyebrows climbed into his hair and he walked over to retrieve his knife. "I assure you, my good lady, I am no mewling priest!"

Perhaps she was mad; perhaps this was an island for the deranged, where they could be safely locked away. An idea that didn't bear close examination, for he, at least, was perfectly sane.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Sitting around in her room wasn't going to do much good. Mary had caught the sight of a camp fire from a window, and figured that it was as good a place as any to try to forget the little markings on a small piece of plastic that determined her fate. Maybe that's where Hilary Faye was, although Mary was starting to doubt she was here. This had been one of the strangest vocational camps she'd ever been to, and she'd been to a lot.

She bundled up and made her way down, blinking a little in surprise to see so few people there. Well, it was a little cold. She was equally feeling a little surprised to see one of the people there half naked and sleeping. She frowned, nodding toward him. "Aren't you worried that he's going to get cold?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"He was completely without clothes when I found him, and I hope the fire will be enough to keep him warm. I have no other clothes to spare him." Galahad rose to his feet, giving her a short bow. "Are you in need of assistance?"

She was walking alone in the dark; it seemed a reasonable assumption.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Completely witho--" Mary's forehead frowned in confusion. Definitely the strangest vocational camp yet, unless...Oh, maybe it was a test! To sort of show hospitality and Christ's love toward others and stuff. Her face turning a little red over how she was feeling like she had a lot of points to make up for in that area, she sort of ignored the other person's question and offered, "Do you think maybe...he can have my coat, if you don't have anything else? I mean, I still have a sweater on, so I'll be warm enough..."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He looked from Chaucer to her and back to Chaucer. "If you are sure you'll not suffer for its loss," he said, clearly reluctant to deprive her of her coat, but frankly concerned for Chaucer. "I would not refuse. It is cold, and I do worry for him. He's a bard, and lacking in any sort of common sense."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Well, that settled it. Mary carefully unbuttoned her coat and moved to lay it on the sleeping guy before moving over to find a seat, close to the fire and close enough to the other guy so that she could talk quietly, not wanting to wake the sleeping one up. "A bard?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Chaucer, his name is." Galahad settled back down, feeding the fire so it wouldn't go out. "I found him in the woods, unclothed with only a dog for company, like something out of a tale. My name is Galahad, and you're welcome to share our fire for as long as you have need."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Mary nodded her head a little; something out a tale, yeah, like the most important Book. This really was a strange camp, and she looked at the bard, this Chaucer guy, thoughtfully but without really thinking. Her mind was sort of dull from thinking plenty enough all day. She then looked toward Galahad. They were strange names, too, but she knew it wasn't right to judge. She gave a nod. "Nice to meet you, Galahad. My name's Mary."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Mary," he repeated. "It's good to make your acquaintance." Galahad kept his voice low, not wishing to wake Chaucer, but also not wanting to startle their guest. "Have you eaten yet this night? There's rabbit left - it's not elegant, grant you, but it's filling."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Mary gave a small, crooked, half-hearted sort of smile. Well, at least he didn't make any Virgin Mother of God jokes, right? She sighed. "I haven't eaten, no. I really...haven't been very hungry. I've never had rabbit before, though..."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Then this may be the time to try it." He'd carefully wrapped the rabbit in clean leaves against the morning, and now he went to fetch it.

The leaves revealed short sharpened sticks with cooked rabbit, in relatively neat chunks, skewered on them. "I can warm it for you," he offered, feeling oddly off-balance to be offering a lady such crudities.

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Will Scarlett had decided it would be a good idea to keep a close eye on the castle before attempting to brave the village. He needed to know if the Sheriff was sending out patrols for him.

He crept along, silent as the night, till he saw the campfire, and went to investigate.

Okay. A knight. With a naked man sleeping by his fire. Uh...yeah. Weird.

Will's not the most stealthy of the Merry Men, feel free to spot him

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Galahad opened one eye, hand wrapping around his sword hilt. "If you're trying to be stealthy you're doing a very poor job."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Will's hand had never left the hilt of his own sword. He had no intention of being recaptured.

"Stealthy enough to escape your dungeons." he bragged, keeping to the shadows.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Stealthy indeed, when I have no dungeons to escape from."

More madness. He thought he'd never be free of it.

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Ah so that's not your lord's castle there?" he asked. He wasn't sure he believed this guy, but he'd go with it for now. "Are you a loyal subject of the King then?"