*NOT JUST TO SURVIVE.

‹ — ᴄᴏᴅᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ: ᴇxᴄᴀʟɪʙᴜʀ. ›

                        ❛-- Been out & about again, Galahad?❜

                How fortunate was he to not   be among those men                 who had to select  a candidate for Lancelot. It meant                 he can take care of  other   business, but still had to                 be present during some of the tests. 

‹ — ᴄᴏᴅᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ: ᴇxᴄᴀʟɪʙᴜʀ. ›

                     This  kid  was  the  son of the  previous Lancelot ; loyal                      & courageous. Didn't shoot his dog either [ he, himself,                      wish he  hadn't shot his  own  but  it was  necessary to                      become a Kingsman. ]  Heterochromia  eyes  glanced                      up from the stack  of  papers in  his hand & already he                      was assessing  the  boy's  countenance  top to bottom.

                            ❛Merlin must have already told you                                       about me, but I will repeat what he said:                                       Alastair, also known as Excalibur.❜

kcngsman liked for a starter.

          ” We’ve never met in person, but I remember you from             past holographic meetings. It’s a pleasure. The name’s             Roxanne, or ROXY for short, but Lancelot in mixed com-             pany. “

With her gloved hand extended outward, a smile rested on Roxy’s lips. It’s A L W A Y S overwhelming to meet other members, especially those with illustrious reputations that have no need for EMBELLISHMENTS to solidify their aptitude in the field.

‹ — ᴄᴏᴅᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ: ᴇxᴄᴀʟɪʙᴜʀ. ›

                From  the  files  & reports, he  heard   of Lancelot  himself. She                 rightfully earned her position ; by shooting her dog, she proved                 herself. That part  of  the "test" always  irked  him - w h y shoot                 your most trusted  companion, a defenseless animal? Maybe                 there will be a different ending other than animal cruelty.

                                              ❛-- Alastair.❜

                A  scarred  hand  grabbed  hers &  shook, grip  firm  but  not  too                 tight. [ Never too tight. A gentleman's handshake is always firm                 but not  suffocating. ] Lips  parted &  wetted,  shoulders  straight                 & chin held up high. Not of arrogance, but h a b i t.

                            ❛I, myself, personally prefer face-to-face                              meetings. There are some things that a m e r e                              hologram cannot convey on one's countenance.❜

          house cavendish is old nobility, dating back to           the 14th century when it was founded by sir john           cavendish & is still going strong after several           centuries ( precisely, 669 years. ) the cavendish           men & women have served as kingsmen for           years -- only the youngest who had no hopes of           succeeding as head of the house. alastair was           the youngest out of three & he underwent the tests           to be a kingsman, but a fallout between his two           older siblings & their father ( the head's brother )           consequently named him heir of the household.

‹ — ᴄᴏᴅᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ: ᴇxᴄᴀʟɪʙᴜʀ. ›

                 ( burning. scalding  hot. hot, hot,  hot. he  hated the heat ; shunned                 it & damned it & yelled  at it. the  sweat ‘pon his brow broke off to a                 bigger cloud of confusion — discombobulated. beliefs shattered in                 the blink of  an eye, finger  on  the  trigger of a  pistol. suit  stained                 with blood not  his: deep,  beautiful crimson  on the bottom right of                 his chest. small spots splattered a face carved from noble marble,                 hardened & tempered by steel. my first mission, he  remembered,                 at a youthful seventeen. he  signed  up knowing the consequences                 to come, of the sacrifice  a kingsman ( or woman ) must make. he                 smoothed a white  cloth  all over his face,  cleaning  it of the blood                 forever now on  his hands. an  agent’s  first kill wasn’t  always the                 easiest, but he was  told  it’ll get  easier. huh. taking  another’s life                 soon leading to apathy. disregard  to the  other’s mind. not putting                 oneself in  his  or  her  shoes  when a bullet pierces  their  skin ; a                 grenade exploding  them in  chunks. a  blade  slicing  them clean                 in half. his hand  trembled, but the rise & fall of his chest betrayed                 him. you enjoy this, his  mind told him. you find it exhilarating to                 rob another person of their life, his heart whispered. )

                                         ❛… yes.❜