Lycaon
"Lord Wise…" said Lycaon, still smarting from his dressing-down by Belle, but professionalism demanded that he continue as best as he could. "I am sure Lady Belle will advise you in greater detail during your meeting with her in two hours, but if you would forgive me for speaking out of turn, I believe I should inform you of certain facts of today and my new attachment to you sister?"
"A- attachment?" Said Wise with a mildly nervous awkward smile. "I'm not sure I know exactly what you mean…?"
Lycaon then advised Wise of a brief overview of the day's events: Belle's accident, the danger of the self-extracting file in her brain, and her deal with a high-ranking government agent. Wise's nervous awkward smile remained frozen on his face while Lycaon spoke, which gave Lycaon the impression that Wise had created that disarming expression for specific use- it was not a genuine look but a social construct. After Belle's surprising removal of her mask before Lycaon a few moments ago, he was already suspecting that the brother, Wise, possessed and maintained a mask of his own- neither of these siblings were exactly as they made themselves appear to be.
"I think," said Wise, "that I will risk my sister's wrath and speak with her right now. Will you excuse me?"
"Of course," said Lycaon as Wise nodded to him and the maids. "Might Victoria Housekeeping make a safety assessment of your domicile and act as appropriate?"
"Uh," said Wise, looking down from halfway up the stairwell. "Sure. I'll be back soon."
He left, and Lycaon turned to look at his cohort. Corrin was trembling, but she was always like that. Ellen Joe seemed amused and she looked up at Lycaon with a smirk that was a change from her usual apathy, but Lycaon was unsure if it was an improvement. Rina seemed as she ever was, her face in a placidly pleasant expression and waiting for orders. Despite their equal rank, she now deferred to Lycaon in a situation involving Lycaon's principal, as he would do in a situation with hers.
Lycaon wished he could bring one of these maids on his assignment permanently, but Victoria Housekeeping was stretched thin and Lycaon's situation with Belle and the files in her brain was an unexpected extension of a commission that was only supposed to last one day. Now it might last, what? A year? Lycaon had neglected to ask Qingyi about the timeline.
"Would you please perform the standard security assessment, please, ladies," said Lycaon. "Tonight is my only opportunity to benefit from all of your aid. I would greatly appreciate it."
"The security of this place? It sucks," said Ellen.
Lycaon was inclined to agree. While the room was solid brick, the door had a window exposed to sniper fire. But the main concern was that the stairs upward to what Lycaon presumed was the residency lacked any sort of door or gate, so anyone could just walk into the store and upstairs without key or code. And just about anyone could and did walk into the building because that was the nature of the business as a video store. Lycaon would need to install a sensor suite on the doorway and maintain a presence in the room if and when Belle was on duty in the show floor.
There were two unexplored doorways on the bottom floor to investigate.
"Rina, if you would check the situation on the second floor? Corrin, Ellen, please go through that backdoor there and do a perimeter sweep. I want a sightline count."
Corrin nodded but Ellen let out a deep, audible sigh. "With all the skyscrapers in this part of the city? I don't think I can count that high, Lycaon. Didn't you review my last grade card?"
"We both know you intentionally try for mediocrity, Ellen," said Lycaon. "Get me a good count, like I know you can."
Ellen rolled her eyes, but she led Corrin out the backdoor, through which by a quick glance, Lycaon saw a small parking lot- an unusual luxury in the city. Meanwhile, Rina smiled softly and went out the front door, whereupon she floated upwards and out of sight, her electromagnetic abilities allowing her to fly in limited fashion if she was close to metal- and most structures in the city had steel frames.
That left the Staff Only door for Lycaon. He opened it and stepped inside. A couch with TV and movies stored around it. A workbench with VR headset and all manner of tools for tinkering with wires and computer components. Finally, a large and imposing HDD computer with its associated headset. The essential tool of the semi-illegal proxy trade. But as a room, the staff area of Random Play was mostly a deathtrap.
One exit opening to the largest open space in the building, so a potential attacker could deploy any sort of equipment to force the door of the staff room. Lycaon entered and gave the walls a semi-thorough search. Either this room had no hidden escape passage or it was so well-designed that Lycaon couldn't find it. The former was far more likely.
The door, at least, was sturdy; Lycaon considered it and wondered at the ladder built into it. A bangboo sat in the corner on standby mode. Perhaps it operated the door? Lycaon remembered another bangboo charging behind the front desk. That one was likely capable of business transactions. If Belle and her brother were good with bangboos, then that would aid Lycaon in day-to-day security. Or most specifically, night to night. As the only member of Victoria Housekeeping to be assigned to Belle- he would need to find some way to watch the perimeter while he slept. A team of four was far more ideal to the task, as a duo could watch while the other slept. But Lycaon would simply have to figure something out on his own in this case.
The maids all returned. The building was small, after all. Lycaon looked at Rina first.
"The room of the Lady Belle features two small windows accessible by balcony. Anyone could reach them and they are exposed to multiple sight lines. They will certainly need to be closed up. Immediately. Lady Belle is in danger this very moment. There are also skylights to the main lobby. They will need to be covered, as well."
Lycaon took in a deep breath, just the idea of his principal exposed to sight lines at this moment was already making him deeply uneasy. If he should lose his principal in the first few hours of his mission?
"Rina, would you-"
"Request Victoria Groundskeeping to immediately bring over some steel plates and what they need to attach them to a brick wall? I apologize for anticipating your orders, Lycaon, but I have already done so. I will also stand watch on the roof and keep my eyes on the likely vantages for shooters while we wait for the job to be finished."
"Rina, as ever, you are a wonder," said Lycaon, quite pleased to have Alexandria with him for at least the shaky first day of a bodyguard assignment.
"You are too kind," said Rina softly and then left to float her way back to the roof above Belle's room.
Lycaon turned his attention to Ellen and Corrin.
"L- lord Lycaon," said Corrin. "The rear parking lot is overseen by several apartment buildings and a bridge. It's v- very dangerous. But they have a car. I'm sure they might want to use it."
"I counted about five dozen spots for a shooter," said Ellen. "The rest of the building is solid brick."
Lycaon had to see this for himself. "Thank you, Lady Ellen. Come with me as I take a look. Lady Corrin, please keep watch on the front door."
"Y- yes!" said Corrin.
Ellen Joe followed Lycaon dutifully, but she sighed softly as she did so. She was supposed to be off-shift an hour ago, and Lycaon knew she especially disliked overtime work; but well, such was life in Victoria Housekeeping. If she didn't like the work, she could leave it. But Ellen never did, and while her people skills were severely lacking- her prodigal talent in field work made Lycaon willing to ignore most of her eccentricities. And with no client to hear, Ellen could sigh her lungs out for all the good it would do her. If it would help keep his principal safe, he would keep Ellen here until she needed to leave to get to school on time tomorrow morning.
Lycaon stepped out into the parking lot and agreed with Ellen Joe's assessment. His experienced eye traced the outlines of buildings and bridge, coming to about 72 vantages. No respectable bodyguard would let their principal even set foot in this shooting gallery as it was, and yet, Lycaon did not imagine that Belle would be the type to agree to limitations on her freedom- that was common amongst clients of Victoria Housekeeping. It was his job to adapt to the client's lifestyle.
It was also his job to train his juniors. "Miss Ellen, the client will likely wish to continue use of this parking lot despite a threat to her life."
"Then the client is a mor-"
Lycaon rounded on Ellen and gave her a direct, serious look. There were limitations to his tolerance of Ellen's displayed attitude, regardless of her combat prowess- and insulting a client of Victoria Housekeeping was certainly over that limit. But Ellen likely already knew she had wandered over the line. She was baring her teeth and averting her eyes from Lycaon, unintentionally displaying a line of menacing shark teeth that would likely unnerve most people.
"The client is a person in our care," said Lycaon with sharp rebuke, and he was satisfied to see Ellen's grimace deepen. Good. She did care about her performance and his opinion of her. Another reason to be patient with her. "And we shall show every courtesy to Lady Belle."
Lycaon stared at Ellen and let her stew in the heat of his glare for a moment before softening. "Now, if you have a wish to display your own intelligence. How would you make this parking lot acceptably safe for use with a client under constant escort?"
Ellen's amber eyes returned to him and her grimace disappeared. She might act bored and reluctant, but Ellen Joe liked a challenge and liked the freedom to accomplish a goal as she saw fit. Lycaon abandoned his confrontational stance and turned to the side, putting hands behind the small of his back like a patient lecturer.
Lycaon waited as Ellen considered.
"I suppose…," said Ellen after a moment. "If the shooter can't see the target, they can't hit the target. So, we could put up a roof. Like the canopy tents that events and festivals use during the summer."
Lycaon was thinking of a free-standing carpark, but Ellen's idea was identical in concept. "An excellent notion. How would you attain such a thing?"
Ellen turned to look at Lycaon with a frown. "Seems a bit basic for the groundkeepers. I suppose we could just use one of the same companies that events and festivals use."
"A fine notion," said Lycon. "See to it immediately. And remember to be courteous even as you ruthlessly pursue the best quality for the best price, Miss Ellen."
Ellen blinked at the independent task but seemed to take an immediate interest in it. Lycaon returned to the video store as Ellen took out her cellphone and presumably began researching her task. There was little doubt in Lycaon's mind that Ellen would manage just fine- she could do anything once she set herself up to actually try.
Lycaon returned to the video store to find Corrin still alone. Whatever discussion Belle and Wise were having, it was keeping them engaged. It was understandable. There was quite a lot to cover, plus Lycaon no longer thought Lady Belle was the type to passively sit by as her life was dictated to her by government officials out of Scott Outpost. Presumably, she and her brother would search around for plans and options of their own. But that was out of Lycaon's purview. His mission was to keep Belle alive and deliver her safely for her periodic brain downloads. That's all.
"Miss Corrin," said Lycaon. "Where did you deliver my things?"
"Master Wise was very confused about our arrival, but when we mentioned Lady Belle, he told us to put it all upstairs on the landing."
Lycaon had some electronics he wanted to set up, sensors and the like. However, with no clear invitation to ascend the stairs, it would be improper of him to intrude. It would have to wait.
The only other immediate imperative was the window on the front door, and Lycaon had one last subordinate to assign a task to.
"Miss Corrin, would you please find an appropriately styled hanging or curtain for that door's window? And a suitable temporary hanging device to adhere it?"
Corrin blinked at him. "Y- yes!" she said, and somewhat nervously tundled herself out of the store and probably aimlessly down the street- so eager to accomplish the request that she moved before even considering a plan to do so.
Lycaon took in a deep breath but did not sigh. Corrin was perhaps the opposite of Ellen. She had the perfect attitude for service, but was crippled by some unexplainable chronic lack of confidence. As a maid, she somewhat bumbled but still managed to accomplish her tasks. And she was surprisingly effective in combat. With development, both Ellen and Corrin had the potential to be exceptional maids of Victoria Housekeeping, but for now, they were both incomplete in different ways.
With the maids dispatched on various tasks, Lycaon remained as the watchman of the premises. To keep himself busy, he briefly searched the staff room for cleaning supplies, found an unused duster, and set himself to cleaning the main room of the video store. Much of the higher parts of the walls were coated with thick dust, most likely due to the limitations of height in both Belle and Wise- or perhaps neglect.
No matter! Victoria Housekeeping would see this location spotless in short order!
Belle
Anger, exhaustion, frustration, and worry all simmered in a volatile pot of emotions within Belle. She entered her room, grabbed a change of clothing, and headed for the bath. Random Play was not inside a building that was intended as a residence, but through some networking with Belle's expansive list of Sixth Street connections- she'd had a small utility closet transformed into a luxurious little bath that was large enough for a single person. Public baths were all well and good, but not needing to walk the streets to go to it was an introvertive luxury Belle savored in an otherwise highly social life.
No sooner had Belle closed the door behind her and stashed her change of clothes, she heard someone coming up the stairs. Belle tensed up. Was it so unreasonable to ask to not be undisturbed for a few hours?
"Belle?" said Wise, his voice clear through the very thin door of the tiny bathroom.
"What? Wise?" said Belle, her voice still sharp. She was displeased to have him up here right now, and she wanted him to know it. She wasn't in the mood for any nonsense.
"I need to talk to you about what happened today, right now," said Wise, his own voice sharpening into a no-nonsense tone.
Belle took a deep breath. That was Wise's no-nonsense voice coming back at her. He was pressing in on her, and if she committed to pushing him away, that would just cause a butting of heads, a fight, and discordance between them that would not help the current strange situation. If there was anyone Belle needed to keep on her side, it was Wise. In her experience- when rifts occurred between siblings, they were deep and long lasting.
"Fine," snapped Belle, not quite able to shake her tone, however. "What do you want to know?"
"Weeeeellllll.." started Wise sarcastically, throwing attitude right back at her. "That wolf thiren seems to think he's going to move in with us as a bodyguard. He also seems to think that people might want to kill you for some data you have in your head? Belle, is he serious?"
"I don't think he's capable of being anything but serious, from little I know of him," said Belle. "But yes, that's true."
"How did this happen?"
Belle sighed and began telling the entire story of her day while starting the process of washing herself before getting into the bath. She could talk while she did so. If Wise had a hard time hearing through the sound of splashing water, that was his problem.
When she finished her story, Wise was silent for a long moment. "Belle, what the hell were you thinking going into that Hollow by yourself?"
"I was following a lead that you refused to pursue," said Belle, flatly.
"A lead for what?!" Wise half yelled, "There was no commission for that! No money! No Intra-knott rep!"
And there it was. Wise's obsession with his net rep, his updoots, and his likes and hearts and all those bullshit internet points. He was lost in it. He'd lost track of his own damn plotline. Belle was so angry she slapped the closed bathroom door, causing a loud thumping noise between them.
"Forget intra-knott rep, Wise! There's more important things than-"
THUMP!
Wise hit the door back, much harder as he was bigger and stronger. "What are you talking about, Belle! Intra-Knott is how I make us money! That's how we keep the store going, how we get food to eat, and learn more about the Hollows!"
"Nooooo!" shouted Belle in rejoinder. "The store keeps the store going, or it did, before we neglected it for your proxy activities! And now with Fairy's electric bills, we lose money on everything now, Wise! You're just spending all your time running around as a bangboo trying to impress women with big tits and getting us nowhere closer to finding out what happened to Mom and Dad!"
"You agreed to keeping Fairy," said Wise angrily.
Belle smirked to herself. Yeah, he would cherry pick that specific part of her words, wouldn't he? Which meant the other two shots landed with perfect accuracy.
"Yes! So we can use her to find out about Hollows and Hallowfall and everything that murdered our parents, Wise! Wake up, will you?! What have you done lately to get us any closer than we were a year ago? You're even further back, since we lost the Phaethon account. You have yourself on a hamster wheel and you don't even realize it!"
Wise was quiet again, and Belle imagined him simmering out there in the landing with some dark satisfaction.
"Yeah, well- what did you do today except almost get yourself killed, get blackmailed by a government agent, and almost get the Cunning Hares killed by the wolfman you brought home to sniff your panties or whatever."
Belle saw red, and not even caring that she was naked, flung the bathroom door open. Wise gaped at her in shock, and he looked even more surprised when Belle slapped him across the face as hard as she could. Wise's distrust of canine thirens was childish prejudice from a single childhood bully a lifetime ago in the old Capital, and it always pissed Belle off. But something about this being directed at Lycaon- and that comment about him sniffing her panties… That pushed some sort of button that surprised Belle, too.
"Von Lycaon saved my life twice today, Wise! While you were dinking around with Nicole on some bullshit commission! So I don't ever want to hear you say anything like that about him again. And why even think about my panties, you sicko!"
Belle turned on her heels and slammed the bathroom door behind her. "And my head is full of Ether Dawn data, Wise! Fairy is going to crack into it and we are going to know everything that the government wants to know- and wants to kill me to keep other people from knowing! So play along and keep at your proxy bullshit while I figure out Hallowfall, figure out what happened to our parents, and save the world! While I'm doing all that: maybe you might finally get laid by an agent like you so desperately hope for!"
Wise stomped away and slammed his room door. Belle turned to look at her own furious face in the mirror. She grimaced at herself.
Good work, Belle. You really kept things civil with your brother. Nice job.
Lycaon
Lycaon continued to dust and clean the lobby of Random Play, one ear rotated towards the voices and impact noises bouncing down the unsecured stairwell. There was a final slamming of doors as the siblings retreated from each other into what Lycaon could only presume was private spaces. The prejudicial comment of Wise was of little concern to Lycaon, he'd long since come to terms with that sort of thing. However, a household in conflict was inherently less safe due to a lack of cohesion.
Hopefully, that situation would not last, as it would only make his job more difficult. But one thing was confirmed: Lady Belle was not going to be some idle client who waited at the mercy of others- Lycaon was now confident she was going to be a real handful.
Wasn't he far too young to feel like he was getting far too old for this kind of thing?