Lycaon
A wave of relief went through Lycaon as he watched Belle politely decline the second shot, or rather a second double-shot, of nitro-fuel. It was one thing to politely accept the first drink of a new ally, it was something else to get drunk amongst strangers in a strange new land. Lycaon might have been to the Outer Rim a few times, but it had been brief visits with rather well-armed convoys of vehicles; and not in this direction from the city. Belle, his own principal, deploying herself to the field was a drastically different situation than Lycaon's previous visits.
His ears continued to twitch to the seemingly random sounds of town life around him. Sudden metallic clanks, occasional shouting, the abrupt roaring to life of engines and vehicles and machinery. No sound maintained itself steadily, nothing seemed to directly lead into the next sound, and long stretches of silence gave Lycaon the impression that the town was not much inhabited. Either that's how it actually was, or most of the people were off somewhere for the daylight hours.
Lycaon didn't know what was normal and mundane versus what might be an enemy approaching- nor could he be sure of the affiliations of the locals. These Sons of Calydon women were obviously friendly, and Belle had a reference to them via the sentient android that Belle knew, Billy Kid. Lycaon did not personally know Billy at all really, but Billy had saved their lives once, so….
So. Lycaon was willing to trust Billy's word, but with Belle exposed out here with just himself and Ellen- could he afford to forward the trust from Billy to these people? He attempted to evaluate the Sons of Calydon members as subtly as possible.
Both Burnice and Lucy seemed limber and confident, fighters both, Lycaon was sure of it- though Lucy seemed especially small. Of nearly similar size was the sleeping woman on the stool down at the edge of the bar, who Lycaon assumed to be an additional gang member. Probably officers, all three of these women, due to their attention to a guest and their general idleness during daylight hours. Or whatever the equivalent of officers were in the hierarchy of gang politics. But grunts didn't get to lounge about, at least not in successful gangs- to Lycaon's limited understanding.
Standing nearby, Lycaon noticed Ellen's head nod off slightly. She was getting sleepy, as was her way. Ellen Joe tried her best, but she was not a sentry- nor much of a traditional bodyguard, as little as Lycaon wanted to accept it. Ellen's physiology designed her for brief flashes of intense activity, perhaps ten minutes of superhuman performance, and lethargy for the rest of the hour. She was talented, amazingly strong- but alas, lazy and not self-motivated. Maybe Lycaon was biased, but he thought that with a few intense years of training, Ellen could reach the equal of a Void Hunter. IF she applied herself, but… he'd yet figured out how to get her to do that.
Regardless, a risky assignment was not the time to rock the boat. Lycaon wanted Ellen in her peak condition should trouble spring up out here. He quickly re-evaluated their surroundings. With the building and the truck blocking off most sightlines, Lycaon quickly judged he could keep watch well enough alone.
"Take a rest, Ellen. Use one of the stools."
Ellen sighed and blinked up at him with heavily lidded eyes. "Y- yeah, fine," she said, and then she selected the stool two down from the sleeping Calydon woman, settled her head in her arms on the bar counter, and promptly fell asleep.
"Aww," said Burnice cheerily, gazing down the bar at the two stool snoozers. "Piper made a friend!"
"That person is a Son of Calydon, too?" said Belle, who, to Lycaon's returning apprehension, was gingerly sipping at a second shot of nitro.
"Yep!" said Burnice, her body vibrating slightly with the enthusiasm she forced into that single syllable. "Piper drives the big trucks for the big shipments, so she's always in and out at odd times for long hauls."
"What are you shipping?" said Belle.
Lycaon's attention drifted away from the conversation. His ears rotated to the approaching roar of two motorcycles. The machines stopped somewhere down the dirt street and footsteps began approaching the bar. He turned himself to have a good view of the bar, Belle, and the street. The footsteps continued. Two men? No. One man and one heavier-than-average woman. Lycaon sniffed, but the wind was in the wrong direction and he couldn't get anything from them.
Meanwhile, Lucy raised her nose slightly skyward. "Actually, it's inaccurate to say we are shipping things. The majority of our cargo belongs to our clients. We keep it safe and get it safely through the rim and to its destination- either other towns, New Eridu, or sometimes one of the other cities on the other side of the wastes."
"We do ship a lot of the stuff that comes out of Cinder Lake," said Burnice.
"Yes, of course we do," said Lucy, glaring at Burnice who simply grinned toothily back. She turned back to Belle. "As the gang with the Overlord, we are obligated to maintain the supply of fuel for our vassals."
"Vassals?" said Belle.
"Lucy loves that word," said Burnice with a teasing tone.
"Yes! Vassals! The independent gangs under the Overlord's authority!"
The walkers appeared in Lycaon's field of view. A tall, broad-shouldered, large-bosomed woman with obviously powerful legs was leading slightly a lanky and lithe man with sunglasses on and a vibrant red scarf around his neck. Both were in riding leathers and had the dust of the road about them.
Lycaon couldn't see the man's eyes, but while the woman's eyes spotted him and moved on with obvious lack of concern, Mr. Sunglasses' attention focused so intently on Lycaon that it triggered an immediate recognition in Lycaon's mind: a bodyguard.
"Who's authority?! What now?!" yelled the woman in a happy voice.
"Heyyy, Caesar!" shouted Burnice. "Yours misses Overlord! Your great and glorious authority!"
"Oh! That!" laughed Ceaser somewhat sheepishly. "Well, what are you talking about?"
Lucy turned around on her stool to face the arrival. She crossed her arms. "I was educating our guests on the vassal relationship between the Sons of-"
"Boring!" said Caesar with a grin as Lucy sputtered into a bright red blush. "Sorry, Lucy, but once you say 'vassal' I know it's going to be boring and I won't understand any of it."
"That's because you tune it out, Caesar!" said Lucy.
"Guilty," grinned Caesar as she ruffled Lucy's hair with a gloved hand, much to Lucy's obvious dismay. "Burnice? How about a nitro for me and Lighter?"
"You got it, Caesar!" said Burnice.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sunglasses headed directly for Lycaon, and Lycaon calmly watched his approach. Broad shoulders and a relatively thin waist gave Lycaon the impression of a fist fighter. The slight imperfections in the ridge of the man's nose seemed to confirm that. Broken noses were inevitable for anyone who took punches to the face; but the confident way Mr. Sunglasses moved was also a sign. He seemed to only move on the balls of his feet.
"And who's this, and him, and the… maid? Asleep next to Piper?" said Caesar.
"Billy and Nicole's friends!" said Burnice. "This is Belle. That's Lycaon. And Piper's nap buddy is Ellen."
Belle sprang out of her stool and stumbled slightly. "Hello, Caesar."
"Hi, Belle!" said Caesar loudly. "Friends of Billy and Nicole are friends of ours! Let's have a drink together!"
"Alright!" said Belle with a laugh, her cheeks already rosy.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sunglasses stopped short of Lycaon, and while Lycaon didn't sense any threat from the man… professionals knew how to hide that sort of thing. That was how Soldier 11 had almost assassinated Belle just this very morning. Lycaon's body remained relaxed but was ready for immediate action. Mr. Sunglasses was either a professional or someone of equal talent.
"Lycaon, huh?" said Mr. Sunglasses, as he took off his sunglasses to reveal green eyes hiding behind his unruly hair. He grinned. "That's a cool name."
"Thank you," said Lycaon, unprepared for the sudden compliment. "And your name, sir?"
"My name is…" said Mr. Sunglasses as he folded up his sunglasses, a gust of wind billowing his red scarf behind him.
"Lighter!" said Caesar. "His name is Lighter, Lycaon! I'm Caesar! Hey! Welcome to Blazewood!"
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Caesar," said Lycaon. He turned and bowed in her direction, his main attention remaining on Lighter.
Rather than deflate as his name was shouted out, Lighter smiled sheepishly and offered his hand. "Well, there you have it. I'm Lighter."
Lycaon took the hand. The grip was firm, but politely so. A rather pleasant handshake, as they went.
"So you flew in on a helicopter right? Belle?" said Caesar as she settled down on a stool between a still fuming Lucy and a sparkle-eyed Belle. "What was that like?"
"Uhh-" said Belle as she searched for words to describe a helicopter flight.
"A helicopter, huh?" said Lighter to Lycaon. "What outfit are you with?"
"I work on behalf of Victoria Housekeeping, Mr. Lighter," said Lycaon.
Lighter chuckled softly. "Just Lighter, please. Mr. Lighter sounds like the villain in a fire safety video."
"As you wish, Lighter."
Lighter smiled and leaned back against the railing. "Victoria Housekeeping? Sorry, I haven't heard of it."
"You wouldn't!" said Lucy suddenly from the bar, her slightly shrill voice cutting across Caesar's conversation with Belle. "Victoria works for the top echelons of New Eridu society!"
"You don't say?" said Lighter, his eyes not leaving Lycaon as he responded to Lucy. "I guess a bumpkin like me wouldn't, huh."
Lycaon didn't have anything to say to that. It seemed more politik to remain outside the teasing between the Sons of Calydon. Lighter didn't seem to be expecting anything further from Lycaon, either. He lounged against the railing, his head turning skyward.
"...sounds cool!" said Caesar in her conversation with Belle. "So what did you fly out here to find?"
"Well, we're not exactly sure," said Belle. "But it's a server block from the old civilization."
"Server block?" said Caesar.
"Computers. Old computers," sighed Lucy.
"Ohh," said Caesar. "Not too many of those in the Outer Rim."
"We think it will probably be in some old building or something," said Belle. "Do you know of any old civilization ruins nearby, Caesar? Any big ones?"
Caesar looked thoughtful. "I can think of a few, but the only big one is the big factory near Cinder Lake, and most of that is inside a hollow."
"What we are looking for won't be inside a hollow," said Belle confidently.
"Well, that makes it easier!" said Caesar. "Tell you what: the sun will be down soon, so there's nothing doing tonight. But come tomorrow, we can all ride out and look for your block of computers."
"That would be great! Thank you so much, Caesar!" said Belle.
"What are friends for?! How about another drink?" said Caesar with a smile.
"Sure!" said Belle, a bit too loudly to Lycaon's ear.
"Hey, Lycaon!" said Caesar with a wave of her arm. "Come have a drink with me."
Lycaon stiffened. He did not want to drink on duty, but Caesar was obviously the leader of the Sons of Calydon and the new Overlord of this region of the Outer Rim. She was a de-facto head of state, such as it was out here- and one who had just agreed to help Belle personally, Lycaon could refuse the offers of Burnice and these other subordinates, but the Overlord herself? This was a dilemma.
"Oh, have a drink with us, Lycaon," said Belle, again her voice a bit louder than it needed to be. "Consider it an order from me, too."
Lighter was watching his reaction closely and he seemed mildly amused. "I got this town on lockdown, Lycaon. Nobody we don't know is getting this deep into town- my people are around, and we all know everyone that should be anywhere."
Lycaon didn't trust Lighter's word on simple professional principles. Lighter was an unknown, and Lycaon could not trust Belle's life in the hands of unknowns. But: it was encouraging that Lighter had recognized exactly what was so worrisome about being in unknown territory: Lycaon didn't know who should be and who shouldn't. Probably Lighter did, as this was his territory; and he was as much as saying that there was a network of Sons of Calydon people in the town around them. Security personnel? Hardly. But loyal, local people who could spot an outsider at a glance were not easy people to fool. That was somewhat relieving to hear.
And what choice did he have? Embarrass Belle in front of these new allies? Offend these new allies? If Lycaon and Belle were to rely on these people to help guide and protect them in the Outer Rim, they would do so much more eagerly if they liked Belle. And Lycaon himself, too, come to think of it.
"As you wish, Lady Belle," said Lycaon, stepping towards the bar.
"Yess!" said Belle.
"Heyyy!" said Burnice.
Lycaon stood stiffly over Ceasar and Belle as Burnice poured them all drinks.
"So what do you do, Lycaon?" said Caesar with friendly curiosity.
"It is my current honor to serve Lady Belle in all her needs," said Lycaon.
"Don't say it like that, Lycaon…" said Belle as she put her face in her hand, going even redder than before.
"All her needs?!" laughed Burnice as she filled glasses.
"Burnice," said Lucy. "Stop."
But Burnice looked at Belle instead. "Oh, but she's blushing, Lucy! Look!"
Lucy looked. And her expression changed. "Ohhh! I see."
Caesar seemed to be smiling while also looking slightly confused. "What needs? What do you see?"
Burnice put a drink in front of Caesar and leaned in to whisper something in her ear. It was very quiet, but Lycaon was very near and his ears were very good. No one else could possibly have heard it.
"Those two fuck," said Burnice in a soft whisper to Ceasar.
"Oh!" said Caesar loudly. Her head swiveling back and forth between Belle and Lycaon with a blush. "Oh!"
Lycaon tried to keep his face blank as he reviewed what he had said. He served all of Belle's needs. That was true. He was to see to her needs of safety and nutrition and comfort. Now all these women seemed to think that he and Belle had a sexual relationship. Which was, as of this morning, true. But… how could they have possibly inferred such from his simple and straight-forward statement? Had Belle told them something when his attention was diverted?
"Lycaon is my bodyguard!" said Belle quickly, her voice higher pitched than usual. "He's saved my life several times. He's a great fighter! Uh- he.. Always makes sure I'm okay and- uh-"
Burnice, Caesar, and Lucy were all smiling and nodding at Belle as she stuttered her way into silence.
Caesar lifted up her glass. "To Belle and Lycaon!"
"Heyyyy!" chorused Lucy and Burnice.
Everyone drank. Lycaon gulped down the intense-smelling liquid, keeping his face carefully neutral. The nitro burned down like a hot cider with lots of whisky in it, plus a latent cloying spice that was entirely odd. He judged it to be quite potent, but his large body mass should protect him from any ill effect. He set his glass back down calmly.
"Whoa! Took that like a champ!" said Burnice, and then to Lycaon's dismay, she refilled everyone's glasses. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she looked up at him during her pouring. "The tradition is three toasts."
"Let's do it, Lycaon!" said Belle. "We can do it!"
"Yes, Lady Belle," said Lycaon.
Lucy and Burnice snickered while grinning at each other. Lycaon thought everyone had a bit more rosy complexion now. He didn't know how strong this stuff was, but Belle seemed close to drunk from four and he was almost three times her size. Lycaon thought he wouldn't suffer any notable decrease in his capabilities from just three drinks, and there was always Ellen. Ellen would soon be fully recharged and ready for anything. That was more than a comfort.
"To new allies," offered Lycaon as he raised the second glass.
"Heyyyyy!" chorused Lucy, Burnice, and Caesar.
Everyone drank. Burnice poured out the third glass.
"To friends and good times!" said Belle, her face beet red.
"Heyyyyy!" chorused Lucy, Burnice, Caesar, Lycaon and even Lighter from the railing.
They drank and glasses hit the table with finality. Meanwhile, Piper and Ellen continued to sleep soundly, but a close examination would have revealed slight smiles on both their faces.
"So Lycaon, you're a fighter, huh?" said Burnice with a smile that Lycaon knew was trouble.
"You and Lighter should totally fight."
Lycaon and Belle looked at each other, under the influence of nitro or no, neither liking the sound of that. Fight the personal bodyguard of the region's leader? They both looked at Ceasar, the Overlord of the Sons of Calydon, and their hostess. Surely, she would not entertain such an absurd-
"A sparring match? Great idea!" said Caesar with a smile as she flexed a bicep. "I got dibs on the winner!"