November 3, 1888: Morning Rounds

[professorwolf]

Date: November 3
Time: Early morning to breakfast time
Location: All over the estate
Characters: Randolph Lyall (professorwolf) [OPEN]

Every morning started out the same, generally, in a country manor house, unless there had been some major to-do the night before. There were servants to wake, meals to be begun, lists to write up for approval of the housekeeper and the Lady of the houose, and curtains to open to the dawn light, even if a student or guest happened to have fallen asleep in the room in question. It had happened before, particularly in the library, and often resulted in a rather rude awakening.

Lyall actually found those moments highly amusing, particularly in the case of the students asleep at their books or gadgets, though he'd never let on.

He was among those up earliest, mostly because he needed to make sure everything began smoothly, but in part because he did like seeing the house come alive. This morning was a bit harder to drag himself from bed than usual, and he blamed the humidity, which was already rising by dawn. He dressed and headed out on the morning routine to wake the parts of the house that the masters rarely if ever saw, and to get a start on the day.

Run into him in any part of the house with a problem, a question, a complaint at being woken by drawn curtains, or even just a good morning... if you're up that early.

Comments

[failedprotagonist]

It was hardly unusual to find Kiritsugu in the kitchens in the early morning, presenting the staff with the freshest game. A strange feeling had come over him as he'd entered the house: all at once, a heaviness had settled on all his limbs, and he'd found it harder to move. Everything felt so hot and close, and he couldn't say why that was. He tended to prefer the out of doors, but the house wasn't usually so oppressive. It was puzzling, but as there was nothing he could do about it, he did his best to carry on as if he hadn't noticed.

Kiritsugu was rather more friendly with the kitchen staff than with most of the rest of the household, as he had a great deal of contact with them, and he was telling them a story about a recent hunt when the butler walked in. His expression as he turned to Lyall was pleasant enough, though he didn't regard him quite so warmly as he had the others assembled, moments ago. He nodded.

"Lyall."

[professorwolf]

"Mr. Emiya," Lyall replied as he padded into the kitchen, looking about to make sure everyone was there who needed to be. He didn't mind the moment of chatter; some of the staff were still working through it, after all, and the rest would get back to it soon enough-- like now that he was there.

"So did the wolf get away, or did you catch him?" he asked, voice light, as he glanced over that morning's offering of game. "Don't leave off the ending on my account."

[failedprotagonist]

"Ah no, Wolf was the dog's name. Hasn't been a wolf in Yorkshire in an age." He paused. "Though some say there are still a few in the Wolds, but I don't believe in fairy tales. No, as it turns out, the lieutenant's horse ran away with him, and he likely would have been carried off over a cliff, but Wolf chased after him and herded that horse away from the edge. Just as if it was a sheep. No one ever trained him to do that." Kiritsugu shook his head at the memory of the sight.

"The wily fox got away. I can't be upset when they do. You have to admire that much cunning, almost sending a man over a cliff." It wouldn't have been funny at all if the man had died, but Kiritsugu was able to find humor in the story as it stood.

"And how are you this morning, Lyall? Any requests for the house?"

[professorwolf]

"Serves me right for walking into the middle of a story and asking questions," Lyall said, shaking his head at himself and offering Kiritsugu a small smile. "I am perhaps glad for the fox, as well. A clever fellow like that deserves not to be killed for sport. Though it is good to hear the rider did not go over."

He finished his brief inspection of the meat. "I did hear Lady Valdemar suggest some quail, over dinner last night. It might be pleasant to surprise her with a dinner course of it tonight." Provided they all made it as late as dinner, anyhow. At this rate, if the entire staff and family felt this slow and tired, they might all turn in early. It did seem a pervasive malaise.