sing_for_me | For Lancelot

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For Lancelot

Barry cared little for time or place, nor did anyone else for that matter, when it came to taking his anger out on his women. The sound of his slap is drowned by laughter and music of the tavern, the others too lost in their liquor and day to day frustrations to spare a glance.

“I know you’re stupid, but you can’t even count right, can you?!” Yanking her by her hair, he shoves her face towards the meager earnings she’d made in the palm of his hand. There was little reaction from her, something she’d learned to do get through the daily use and abuse from him and any other man willing to pay the price. What could she do if no one was interested in someone dressed in rags, dirty, and covered in bruises?

“This is what happens when I’m too soft on these bitches… Should I remind you of what happens when you don’t do as you’re told, Alex?”

Did she want it? Of course not. On her knees, eyes void of any light, what else could she do? What hasn’t she tried to escape his grasps only to fail every time? Even a dog knows when to just give up and accept its fate.

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The Knights are never one to come into the halls of establishments like this. However, an issue had been ordained to Lancelot's battalion. Women had gone missing within the segment of this kingdom for the past month, and this courtesan's court had been brought into question. Not because the people felt it was their fault, rather they had wished to seek information and council regarding the disappearances of women.

Lancelot walks into the establishment, and has immediate want to leave. The discomfort wrought from him, was that of lingering traumas that still adhered to his nerves. Wherein women were dressed daintily and all about the area. He could not help but find his stomach churning, and fear bubbling up within him. The helm upon his head is a welcomed reprieve, leaving his face and expression hidden beneath so none will know of his disgruntled looks.

He walks fast, with means to leave as immediate as possible. Perhaps it was due to his sudden appearance, and means to march his way into the establishment. That causes him to come into a scene that he is most surprised over - he stands there looking at the woman and the owner of the courtesan's place. There are two knights that rush to either side of Lancelot, having sounded out of breath and nearly placating their leaders nerves.

Lancelot says nothing, but waits to see how Barry reacts. Three Knights of the Kingdom's court have come to question him, and he is here burying his anger into a innocent woman.

The lack of reaction only infuriates Barry more, and she knows this will land her at least one more blow. But he stops midway, catching a glimpse of armor from the corner on his eye.

“What the hell—“ Why would there be knights here?!

Releasing his grip from her hair, Barry straightens up and puts as professional a face as he can. “What an unexpected surprise! To what do I owe this pleasure?”

If he plays his cards right, he figures he can get through this. The house itself wasn’t illegal, and the women knew better than to talk.

The taste of metal hits her tongue from the cut inside her cheek, only able to swallow the blood while she keeps her head lowered. Knights and those of authority didn’t typically like people like her, nor did she like them.

There is much wonder for him to have, feeling in the moment that he does. Yet when he ponders his own feelings, he can think nothing but see the wrong that had been enacted before him onto another. As such, he defaults as any Knight would in that moment - despite his nerves seeming to feel uncomfortable. The Knights around him speak on Lancelot's behalf, for he is paused there. Tall and unmoving, making the moment far more eerie then it need be. After a short exchange of conversation, Lancelot seems to speak.

His voice comes out distorted, beneath the helm that he wears. It is hollowed and reached to her ears, with a question that is prosed to her and her alone, "Are you unwell?"

Alex had learned to filter out conversations as she was rarely acknowledged unless paid for, so to hear concern directed at her… In disbelief, she looked about her before raising her head towards the knight. The echoes of his voice within the armor may have lacked warmth, but it grounded her for just a moment. Even in armor, she didn’t feel worthy to look upon him, so she quickly ducks her head once more.

She tried to still the beating of her heart, not wanting to cling to a misunderstanding like hope.

“Please forgive me…” Surely it was sickening to see such an unsightly form, especially from someone meant to bring pleasure.

“Ahhh, scolding is normal here especially when we want to assure the quality of our services,” Barry tries to cut in. “ she may look like this, but she’s a lot sturdier than she looks. Which! If you’re interested, I have a special deal for knights such as yourselves who continue to protect us.”

This was the reality of the world he lived in, he can tell by the way her head ducks that she has subverted herself under his power. He does not move his head away from looking towards her, and the Knights who came along side Lancelot seem to work their conversation with Barry. Lancelot on the other hand, seems to have his mind wandering else where - if he were to save her how would it be done.

In his mind he sees the hands of Elaine lingering on his body, the way he tenses even though she is not there. The way he finds discomfort immediately with this woman before him instead, but even he still finds compassion with him to affirm the need to facilitate some manner of way he can save her. Betwixt his own deranged mind, and the state of how things were - he makes a decisive design to walk around the estate.

To look, to see what the women here all looked like. Regardless of what Barry would do to stop him - were they all too? Rattled by bruises? Burdened with the look of fear in their eyes when Barry was there beside them? He is looking for a reason to subside his boiling anger, to stop him from doing what he wants to not do - but feels necessary that he must. A bordering madness that eats away at him from within.

He marches through, looking for an answer and knowing this will end with a means to save her regardless of what he sees.

She feels his eyes on her, but doesn’t feel the slimy disgust she felt with other men. Like actually being seen, for better or worse.

The other two knights occupy Barry, giving a brief moment for Alex to focus on the one man that had acknowledged her. Noting that he wasn’t walking towards the exit, was he planning to actually investigate? Having her own decisive moment despite knowing this could land her a harsher punishment, she catches the edge of his cape with the tip of her fingers.

As quick as she can, she mouths “bookcase” as glances towards the end of the corridor. Cliche as it might be, places like these always had a secret room. And that’s where Barry liked to keep the women that either misbehaved or were still “in training”. Including those too young to be considered women.

And just as quickly she lets go, her fate now up in the air. At the very least, she hoped he could do something for the young girls there.

The tug along his cape does not go unnoticed. Especially with how alert he is to being around other women, Lancelot finds himself twitching slightly. However, when she words breathlessly what she does. The Knight immediately moves to - without so much hesitation. There is no doubt in his mind what he is to find will give him the answer he seeks - but no part of him may be ready to be steeled enough to see what lay behind the bookcase.

He is careful, as to not alert Barry. Lancelot moves himself to it, and carefully begins to find where it is that he can determine what about it that strikes him odd. At first he looks at the books, but eventually notices small details that lead him to believe that this bookshelf can move with ease. Just like that, with a show of strength - the Knight pulls the bookcase forward, and its done with urgency. Having immediately ripped it down. Letting it clatter the moment he sees even a smidge of space that exhibits the truth of a hidden room behind it.

Lancelot walks in, scanning to see anything within.

What greets him are muffled sobs as the young girls huddle together in the corner. Just as he suspected, they’re coveted in bruises, barely able to make sense of what’s going on with the drugs Barry has fed them.

The sound of the bookcase falling doesn’t go unnoticed, sending Barry in a panic as he runs towards the source. The other knights chase after him.

“Hold on! You can’t just go in there and destroy my office!” He tries to pull Lancelot back, for whatever that’s worth.

Lancelot turns, and grips Barry by the mouth. His hand covering the entirety of it, squeezing him with his gauntlets purchasing through a layer of his skin. Causing the male to begin to bleed. The Knight does this to stop him from speaking, but he screams and the screams are muffled as the Knight then drags his entire body back to where they all originally had been. Where Alex herself, had been left to wonder if anything would become of this.

"On the account of human person slavery -," Which is not illegal during this time, "and the detainment of young women. Endangerment of innocent life, and usage of alchemic properties unto them. I Lancelot du Lac, Knight of the Round table decree your life forfeit."

There is screaming, and the Knights that were there with him. Adhere to the announcement Lancelot makes, as if they were there to account for this action he was about to elicit. As if in the moment they were all bearing witness to a hearing of sorts. Barry's head is still within Lancelot's hand, and with a evident fury that exudes from the Knight. Each of his digits dig deeper, and deeper into the mans skull, as a misty haze of darkness seemingly burns off Lancelot's armor. It takes all but a short moment, until there was a large crunch - the screaming ceases. His body hangs limp, and Barry extricates all that was within his bowels or otherwise. Lancelot tosses him to the side, blood drenched along his armor.

"Clear this body, send word to the Court, call for them to bring the rest of the brigade. Clear out this place out, and find new ownership immediately." Lancelot gives orders, calmly as if he hadn't just murdered a man with his hand alone, "For the women here, see to it that we understand what alchemic herbs were used. I would ask for a druid, then see to it that they are all cared for. Finally, look to see if the women here, are exactly the ones that have gone missing."

The one Knight nods his head, and leaves swiftly. Whilst the other begins to move Barry's body and adjust him so he is more comely for when the church comes.

Lancelot turns his head finally, stepping closer to Alex, "You."

A pause, "What is your name?"

Alex dares to look up, just to find Barry brought over by the mouth like he was game. From there it all seems to happens so fast and in slow motion at the same time. Never had she heard Barry scream like this, but never had she seen someone’s skull be crushed by a bare hand. The crunch of bones, the gush of blood and urine, it’s enough to make anyone hurl.

His ruthless execution was a stark contrast to the attention and care he ordered for the women to have, but it’s almost too much for Alex to comprehend all at once.

And then he addresses her, again.

She flinches at first when he steps towards her, used to expecting punishment to follow. Her head lowers to a bow again, not sure what to expect from him. He’d liberated them from Barry, yes, but what was to become of her next? She wasn’t local to the area, having been tricked into following Barry to this far off land. She wasn’t part of the local women that had gone missing thus not a priority.

“A-Alex…Alex Benedetto, sir…”

The name sounds unfamiliar to Lancelot, attempting to validate it with names he knows of the missing woman listed to him before this endeavor. Lancelot surmises, that perhaps she is foreigner brought here to elicit courtesan work to those who enjoyed foreigners, "Can you stand?"

He asks, his voice light but still holding the callous tone it held for Barry before hand. It is clear the Knight is still coming down from his nerves, after seeing what he had and killing the man the way that he had done so, "I would move you to a safer room, but I will not touch you."

I would…but I will not…

Whatever he may have meant by that, it was the first someone had displayed restraint when it came to handling her. Even if it was simply out of disgust, there was gratitude in giving her space.

With a slight shake in her legs, Alex manages to stand. She peeks up at him carefully, unsure what to say first.

“What…will happen to me…?”

"Rest easy, I will make sure that you and those who lived within this house will find peace, and continue your work if that is as you wish." Lancelot says, lowly looking her over. He wishes there was will in his mind to have trust and even offer her a pillar during her troubles. There is want to reach out to her, let her lean against him but every part of his body denies him this, "Alex, I will ensure it."

The Knight's voice commands a deep sense of benevolence, he does not judge her for her work and only seems to wish and want her safety.

His voice is much gentler than she realized. Amidst the confusion and fear of the unknown, there was no pressure from his tone nor hai words. This made her wonder, consider even, that his hell was sincere. So much so that it made her eyes sting with the threat of tears.

What did she wish? It’s been so long that she hadn’t considered what her life would be outside of this other than death.

“I…don’t know what I want, but I don’t…want to do this.” The words felt clumsy, unfamiliar with stating her wants. “Is that…okay?”

"I understand." Lancelot says, then moves forward with a clatter of armor hitting together, "What information do you have, if we can return you home then so be it."

Is what he says, but he is uncertain it can be made possible. At least, it is important to try, he will confer with the rest of the Knights as they return each person within this establishment to where they came from before they had been stolen.

She shrinks back, embarrassed with what she has to admit. “I don’t…remember. I haven’t remembered…for a long time.” The concoctions Barry had been feeding her had several effects, the main one being obedience, but the other affected hr memory.

“I’m sorry…I don’t mean to be difficult. B-but I can work, I know I can!”

"I understand, please do not fret. Rest, I will come to you after we have attended to what is needed of us." Lancelot moves to turn away and delegate his powers of authority over others, but pauses turning slightly back towards her, "I swear to this, an oath sworn by Lancelot du Lac."

Even she knew that an oath from a knight was held in high regard, given to those worthy of it. It was not something the likes of her received. Then again, everything he’s done has gone against everything she’s believed. So she decides to believe him, to grasp onto this sliver of hope he’s dangled in front of her.

Castle Joyause, the place of Lancelot's domain. We move here, as he has promised to her to keep her safe and understood that in his discoveries - she had truly nowhere else to go. Buying her, and leaving her in his castle to live as a servant, had been about the kindness action he could afford her. Giving her job to attend to the castle's needs, with instruction to follow the guidance of the other maids and male servants within.

In one day, sometime after he had brought her, he wanted to make certain she was accustomed to and came to the rooms where she was. He enters in with more casual wear, where his cloak rests against his shoulder and he is only wearing parts of his armor upon his body, "Alex?"

A voice calls, as he carefully moves about and the maids dismiss themselves - careful to not be anywhere close to Lancelot himself.

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For Lancelot

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