Guys and Dolls, Jack | London | 1920s

[lance chevalier]

Lance loved the human world. He hadn't at first, and it had taken him a while to be comfortable, but he loved it now. Especially as he sat there outside the cafe, cigarette unlit between his lips as two large books sat on the table before him. He had found himself a grey pinstripe suit and gold tie that he decided suited him well. He'd been reading all morning, drinking coffee, pretending to smoke but never actually lighting the thing. It was perfect.

The books he had with him were "The Noble Tale of Sir Lancelot Du Lac” and “Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere” both by Sir Thomas Malory. Lance had been reading them over and over for ages. He'd read dozens of others, sure, but LANCELOT. He understood Lancelot. he connected with him. And because of it he'd made his own full name an homage. Lance Errant Chevalier. It was perfect. All of it was perfect. It almost made him not want to return to Wonderland some days.

He knew he shouldn't think that way. Once a knight, always a knight. If anything that idea had only been reaffirmed in his readings. He'd learned so much about what it meant to be a knight while he was here. And he knew he could never stay in London over Wonderland.... Though he might keep this incredibly dapper fashion. He'd certainly try to keep the books.

He set the cigarette on the ashtray before him and sipped his coffee with a contented sigh. He looked out across the street, admiring the hustle and bustle. This city was huge. There was so much to see and do, it was no wonder he'd yet to see any familiar faces from the Royal City roaming around this one.

It would be nice, though, he mused.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he saw him, and his bright blue eyes managed to get just a little brighter. He stood quickly, tucked his books under his arm, stuffed the unlit cigarette into a small metal cigarette case, and trotted across the street after the familiar young man.

"Your highness!" He said cheerfully, waving with his available hand, using the other to keep from dropping his books. "I didn't expect to see you here. Isn't it dangerous for you to be roaming about such a big and strange city alone? I'll accompany you, if you'll have me. I've been so looking forward to sharing this interesting world with a familiar face, and I can think of no one I would prefer to have at my side than my prince. " It took every ounce of his restraint to keep from bowing to Jack, and the only reason he managed it was because he'd been told a dozen times not to.

He flashed his brightest and most charming smile instead, though it was really his default smile. He was rarely anything BUT charming. Some found it effective, others found it insufferable. Either way, it was just who he was.

I hate a moral coward, one who lacks a manly spark. I just detest a man afraid to go home in the dark. I always spend my evening where there's women, wine, and song! But like a man, I always bring my little wife along!

[jack lowell]

London was everything Wonderland wasn't. It was so… advanced, whereas Wonderland seemed to be permanently mired in what London called the “medieval” era. It was far more sanitary, the clothing wasn't as restrictive and they had “technology”. Jack was thoroughly entranced with the whole thing, and had already begun sneaking off into London more than was really acceptable, especially for one of his station. His mother wasn’t too impressed- though it was certainly arguable that she missed the servant more than the son and heir. It was a matter of control over compassion, and he was more than happy to test her patience. What more could she do to him? She'd already ensured that his back was riddled with scarring, a permanent reminder not to steal from the Crown- a way of alienating him further from his own blood.

In London, he didn’t have to worry about any of that.

In London, he was simply Jack Lowell, another man about town- minding his own business.

Right up until he was discovered.

Lance's voice echoed across the street and Jack turned on his heel, brown eyes wide with surprise. He was dressed in grey, stone print suit trousers with a light blue shirt, finished off with a silver waistcoat, spats and a black bow tie. Despite his best efforts to acclimate to London fashion, his hair refused to be tamed and stuck up at odd angles- somehow, it only added to the charm of the overall outfit.

“Lance?”

He could tell the man was itching to bow and inwardly cringed at the thought- it angered his mother to see anyone treating him like a Prince in her presence, and he himself found it pointless: it had been a long time since he was true royalty. “I'm just fine, you know...” full of teenage bravado, he rebelled at the thought of needing an escort and yet… what fun was anything when you were alone? Perhaps it would be a lot better with a companion by his side, and he'd always enjoyed Lance's company. The less… intimidating half of the Queen's Knights.

“But um, yeah… sure! Why not,” any teenage rebellion melted away, and he grinned widely.

What could possibly go wrong?

You help me lose my mind And you bring me something I can't define Help me lose my mind, make wonder What I felt before Keep biding my time, How much longer? Who've I been waiting for

[lance chevalier]

Lance laughed lightly, happy to see his prince agree to let him come along. Happy to see him smile that way. It'd been ages since he'd last seen Jack grin so genuinely, or at all. He was glad for himself, as well, if he were being perfectly honest. He'd been feeling rather lonely lately, and he knew if he'd posed the same question to the Red Knight he'd be lucky if he escaped with something as kind as a smack across the back of the head.

"I'm glad to hear it, sir. And I'm sure you would be just fine on your own. You're quite strong. I know you don't need an escort, though I am glad you're willing to have me as one. I'll follow wherever you want to go, and do my best not to interfere with any plans you had before I bothered you. "

Lance began to put the books into his inside jacket pockets, and they were just small enough to fit. He was sick of having them under his arm, and he was more used to carrying the weight there. To be honest, he felt almost naked without a sword dangling by his side.

"Have you read some of these human books?" he asked as he put them away, trying to relate to the prince through something he'd gotten so interested in himself. "There's so many more of them than in the royal library. I've found myself reading them more and more often, especially the stories they have of their own knights. It's strange to think that our home and this place aren't quite as different as they seem. "

He hoped he wasn't going to bore Jack with his conversation. He admitted books weren't the most interesting of topics, and honestly if you'd asked him before Alice he probably would have said he didn't have time for books. He still didn't really have the patience. But these Knight's Tales, and the legends of King Arthur. These were just like Wonderland, and it fascinated him. He wondered if Jack had stumbled upon anything in London that he connected with yet.

He straightened his suit and tie once he'd gotten the books comfortably in his pockets, vanity showing in full force. He fixed his hair and stood up straight, correcting his admittedly terrible posture. If he were going to be seen with the prince he should look his best, even if no one else knew he was a prince. It was the principle of the thing.

I hate a moral coward, one who lacks a manly spark. I just detest a man afraid to go home in the dark. I always spend my evening where there's women, wine, and song! But like a man, I always bring my little wife along!