Hope Falls

“I’ll remember that next time I have to bail you out of some foreign jail for being drunk and disorderly again.”

"Next time you promised you would be joining me and Farrah would be bailing us both out."

“We’d give her a heart attack if we got locked up together.”

"It would be fun; and it won't happen here with you being who you are - that's a free pass."

“Or they’d just throw the book at me harder to make an example of me.”

"Pessimist." Lynette chuckled, getting off of the bed then. "You should rest."

“I need to speak to Con…”

"What do you think is going to happen after you tell him? Do you think he'll have the patience to allow you to rest?"

“Maybe I don’t need to tell him it’s Kenna… just that we know who it is that can help his mistress… and we will get it sorted over the next few days.”

"If it were any of our family dying, I would sooner torment the name of the person out of them then let them rest. You must sleep now, when he doesn't know."

“She’s declining, what if by the time we tell him it’s too late?”

"I will not condone you telling him and having the act immediately as a result and; unluckily for you, you can barely move to tell him yourself. So, I win. I'll be on your sofa sleeping."

“Stay and help my back?”

"Only if you rest, Lucian. I have no interest in watching you push yourself into temporary paralysis."

“You say it like it’s happened more than a few times…” Lucian sighed, but nodded at her request.

"More than once is enough," She whispered, lowering herself to lay on her side beside him. Using one hand to go back to gently rubbing the muscles between his shoulder blades to ease his back.

“You’re a saint…” Lucian hummed in relief, closing his eyes.

"I prefer being accused of the opposite."

“You’re definitely that on occasion too, don’t worry.”

"I couldn't think of anything worse than being soft."

“Your secret is safe with me.”

"You're meant to be resting." She shot back irritability then.

“Can tell who wears the trousers in this relationship mm?” Lucian snorted, laughing a little as he turned his head the other way to get comfortable, soon drifting off.

“Sir, Luca asked that you go to him. It’s important, and knowing what it is he has to say, I agree it’s worth leaving Dagmar’s side for, for a short while at least. Lady Devika and I can stay here and keep her company.” Farah said gently as she was let into Conan’s quarters the next morning, quietly padding over to Conan with a small curtesy as she stopped in front of him. “He’s not being rude by not coming here himself, I assure you.”

---

“It’s not flared up this bad in years.” Lucian murmured as he sat on the edge of his bed, having just required Lynette’s help to put his shirt on. “And the shit Farah usually gives me I can’t use because it’ll put me out of sorts…”

"That vision has really fucked you over," Lynette agreed with a frown, pulling at the collar of his shirt to tidy it. "I don't think she looks a thing like your type though, that Seer. Too clean cut."

---

"He made it clear last night how unconvineced he was with all of this." Conan answered quietly, sat on the edge of a chair beside his and Dagmar's bed - hands curled around a cup of hot tea. "It - it's time.. I asked him to tell you but I doubt he did. You need to prepare the Poppy Seed."