Lycaon
Just as he closed the door to the utility closet, he heard the footfalls of two people coming down the stairs. From the air that preceded them, Lycaon knew it to be Wise and Nicole. Their scents intermingled notably, and there was a shared, tell-tale musk that plainly informed Lycaon that they had not bathed yet this morning.
They both greeted Lycaon happily, shared a small and affectionate kiss, and then Nicole announced her own departure. Lycaon moved quickly to check the sensors outside the front door (safe) and the silhouette scanners (two birds, one cat, zero threats) before opening the door for Nicole to walk through.
"Have a very nice day, Lycaon," said Nicole with a bubbly wink and she left.
"Thank you, Lady Nicole," said Lycaon. "You please do the same."
Nicole giggled to herself as she strutted off down a sleepy morning Sixth Street. Lycaon closed the door. He turned to find Wise looking at him with a thoughtful expression, his hands on his hips. Lycaon suddenly felt like he was being judged or evaluated. He turned to face Wise directly, drawing himself up into polite attention.
"Is there something I can do for you, Lord Wise?"
Wise didn't immediately respond. "Why are you protecting my sister, Lycaon?"
Lycaon blinked but held his pose. So- he was indeed being evaluated. Interviewed, even. It was a somewhat routine question from a relative of a principal, and one generally made on day one of a bodyguard assignment. But from the pace of events, Lycaon's need to focus on set-up, and Wise's involvement with his own work; there had yet been no chance for this conversation between them.
"It is my duty with Victoria Housekeeping," said Lycaon. "Lady Belle's safety is of paramount concern for one of our most important clients."
"So you're protecting her because you're getting paid to," said Wise.
"Of course," said Lycaon.
Wise frowned, his eyes falling towards the floor thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose that's how it works. But- Lycaon, what if you were not getting paid?"
This line of questioning was different than usual. Usually family members ask about procedures or other services Lycaon could provide. But: what if he was not getting paid?
"Well… Lord Wise. I suppose in such a case, I would not be here. There would be no contract and-"
Wise shook his head. "Right, right. I know. But. I mean. What if you were here. And you were not getting paid. Would you still protect Belle?"
This was interesting. Lycaon considered for a moment. If he were not here on assignment, he would not be Belle's bodyguard. Technically, her safety would not be his responsibility in any way different from any other citizen. Hypothetically, if someone pointed a gun at Belle, he could stand in wide-eyed fear and then run away like anybody else on the street.
Lycaon's mind recalled a failed assignment. His principal lifeless on the pavement. Eyes wide in shock, a rapidly stiffening hand clutching a gaping hole in a chest. It took only a moment for his mind to swap that man with Belle, and seeing that expression of death on her features was utterly abhorrent- even in Lycaon's imagination
"Of course, Lord Wise," said Lycaon fervently. "I would do everything in my power to protect your sister. I assure you that, even now: the money paid to my employer, Victoria Housekeeping, for my services is entirely irrelevant in that regard."
Wise nodded slowly, his expression softening. "You're… you're an easy man to believe, Lycaon."
Victoria Housekeeping Tenet #31: Honesty is professionalism.
"Honesty is professionalism, Lord Wise," said Lycaon.
"Huh," said Wise, his soft smile returning to his face. "I think my sister intends to test the limits of your professionalism, Lycaon. So, watch out."
Lycaon blinked. What did he mean by that? Just that Wise found his own sister difficult to deal with, or was he implying something more personal- something related to Belle's possible infatuation? Lycaon wasn't sure. It could be either, and it would be dangerous to assume things with a family member.
"I'm not sure what you mean, Lord Wise," said Lycaon carefully.
"I suppose you'll figure it out. But in the meantime: my sister sent me down with orders to deliver to you."
"Oh? How might I serve, Lady Belle?"
"She apparently intends to have a movie marathon today, and she wants you to fetch her five romantic movies that you think sound interesting. The romance section is over there, by the way. Near the front. It's one of our more popular genres."
Lycaon turned his head slightly to look at the section of boxed videotapes on shelves under a hanging sign titled 'Romance'. Pick out movies for Belle to watch? He could do that. "She didn't mention any preferences herself?"
"No," said Wise. "She seems interested in your preferences, I think."
Lycaon was mildly unnerved. He intended to clean the outside of Random Play today- the brickwork could use a good power washing. Belle intending to remain in her room watching movies was ideal in terms of her safety and freeing him up to do that work, but now he had to worry about picking the wrong films and Belle being bored by his lame movie choices. That would make it difficult to concentrate on his task.
"Might you have any recommendations, Lord Wise?"
"Sorry, Lycaon," said Wise with a close-eyed grin of helplessness. "I admit I have difficulty understanding my sister's romantic preferences. Good luck."
Lycaon advised Wise quickly of the Victoria Groundskeepers coming today to install the security gate on the stairs of Random Play. Wise was mildly pleased with the news, he also apparently liked the idea of a secure door between the lobby and their bedrooms. Then, he left Lycaon to his task.
Turning to the romance movie section, Lycaon took a deep breath and felt decidedly out of his element. In the distant past, he'd never had much money to go and see movies, and when he finally did have dennies in his pocket, he never had much time. Romance movies were also outside his experience, so he didn't know what made for a good one or a bad one.
Wise's voice emerged from the staff room: "Another twelve hours? What's up with you, Fairy?"
The exclamation was meaningless to Lycaon. Meanwhile, the shelf of movies was full of pictures of people holding or kissing each other in various poses. He picked up a video tape at random and read the cover.
"A Night's Oath." When the senile king of the kingdom orders his daughter to marry, the princess's devoted bodyguard must decide where his true duty lies: with the kingdom and the throne, or to the woman he guards, now doomed to wed an evil man.
The cover had a picture of a man with a sword standing in front of a woman in a fancy, medieval-looking dress. This one seemed as good as any. The question of a bodyguard's loyalty to the client or the assigned principal was particularly interesting to Lycaon. What if his client suddenly ordered him to lead Belle to potential harm? That would be a dilemma. He thought for a second: well, no it would not be, he would choose Belle, of course. But would this man in the movie choose the same?
Lycaon looked for more. He quickly found two others: "The Journal," a movie about an old man reading a love notebook to an old woman who had lost her memory; and "The Unsinkable Ship," a movie about an abrupt, passionate love springing up between two people before a tragic shipwreck. Both of these seemed as good as any, and there was a bit of variety in plot lines, so far as Lycaon could tell.
One other video cover caught his eye because it looked so different from all the others. It had black animal bones on a red background. The bones of some beast with lots of teeth. "Prehistoric Zoo," a movie about a theme park where dinosaurs get loose and people try to avoid being eaten. It didn't mention any sort of romance, but the pictures on the back had both men and women in them, and it was in the romance section. So perhaps it was the main subplot? Either way, the premise was interesting. Belle would probably not find it boring, or so Lycaon thought. He added that to his stack as his fourth movie.
"Hey, uh, Lycaon," came Wise's voice.
Lycaon turned to see Wise emerging from the staffroom with a wide smile on his face and a videotape in his hand.
"I have a move for you that I think my sister will love," said Wise, his teeth showing.
Still needing one more film to meet his assignment, Lycaon was grateful for the help. If Belle's own brother thought she would like it, who was he to question it? He accepted the tape and saw that, unlike the others, this one had no outer cover- it was a plain, unlabeled video cassette.
"The label on that one was damaged, I haven't printed out a new one. It's a new arrival and I know Belle hasn't seen it yet."
"Thank you for the recommendation, Lord Wise."
"Noooo problem," said Wise, his eyes narrowed slightly over his toothy smile.
Lycaon set the five films on the counter and called up Victoria Couriers. If Belle intended to watch movies all day, then she would require snacks and refreshments. He could procure some and deliver them to her at the same time as the tapes, then he would be free to do the cleaning he intended on the building walls…
The food and snacks were delivered and Lycaon was arranging them tastefully on a service tray just as Wise announced it was time to open the shop. Lycaon handed Wise another of his alert bracelets, just like the one he had previously given Belle. "If you need urgent help, just squeeze it twice, understand?"
"Sure, Lycaon," said Wise, looking with curiosity at the little black bracelet. A few bangboos were zooming around the room on their little feet, apparently they helped the shop promotions in some way. Lycaon left Wise to his business and carried the tray of refreshments and the stack of videotapes, up to Belle's room.
He paused at Belle's threshold. "May I enter, Lady Belle?"
"Come in!"
Lycaon entered to find Belle much changed. She had obviously bathed and refreshed her makeup. Her hair was slightly damp. The smell of Belle's plumeria lotion was heavy in the air, which Lycaon found quite pleasant. And instead of her usual t-shirt and skirt, Belle was wearing simple casual clothing: a very tight tank-top undershirt which did nothing to hide the curves of her torso, and some tight hot-pants that clung snugly to the top half of Belle's thighs and no lower. She obviously intended to watch movies while burdened with as little clothing as was modestly possible. A perfectly reasonable choice for a young woman in her own bedroom.
"I believe I Have selected five films that meet your requirements, Lady Belle."
"And you got snacks! And drinks!" said Belle appreciatively.
"Indeed. Besides these various sweet treats, there are also savory cookies and some bagels," said Lycaon, setting the tray down on the coffee table before the couch. "If you need anything else, I will be outside cleaning the brickwork. Please do not hesitate to use your bracelet to call me if you need any-."
Lycaon' heard the door shut behind him and the deadbolt locking into place. He stood and turned to see Lady Belle looking at him intently before her now shut and locked bedroom door, standing between him and the exit from her lair. Lycaon realized Belle must be wearing a very flimsy bra under her shirt, as the impression of her nipples was clearly evident in the fabric of her tight tank-top at that moment.
Lycaon felt a tiny electric jolt of alarm. This was not going as he had expected it to go.
"Lycaon, you're going to watch the movies with me," said Belle, her intent expression turning into a bright smile. "I can't have a movie marathon all by myself!"
Lycaon blinked. He hadn't considered that. "If that is what you wish, Lady Belle, then I am pleased to watch these films with you."
"Great!" said Belle, bounding back to the sofa, Lycaon unable to avoid how each step caused her breasts and thighs to bounce slightly.
"Do you wish to choose the film we watch first?" said Lycaon, turning to consider Belle's TV and video player. He did not watch many movies himself, but setting up a video for viewing was a common task for a butler.
"No! Keep it a surprise. Let's just watch them in order of your stack!"
Lycaon considered the pile: from top to bottom it would be: A Night's Oath, The Journal, The Unsinkable Ship, Prehistoric Zoo, and the unmarked one that Wise recommended so enthusiastically.
Lycaon took up A Night's Oath and put it in the player. He turned to see Belle looking at him intently again, her bare knees grasped to her chest on the couch. She patted the seat next to her.
"Sit here, Lycaon. Sit next to me."
"As you wish, Lady Belle."