[Open post] ..life's a hall of mirrors..

[lanselos_du_lac]

It's been an exhausting few days. While the zombie siege was dangerous, Lancelot is proud of how they handled things, together -- even though not everyone is friends. He was also, he must admit, grateful for the diversion. There is too much on his mind, after the truth-telling spell, and most of it sits like a stone in him... making his sleep even worse, weighing on his heart.

Still, all of that is strangely intermixed with hope. He has a few new friendships that feel like how he remembers friendship feeling -- pleasure in each other's company, time well spent, connection. There's a little piece of him that feels as if he gave that up with youth. (He was always glad to be in Arthur's company, or Guinevere's, he misses them in a way that's sometimes physically painful now that they're away from him. But all of that feels shored up by duty, devotion, love -- nothing simple.) He is glad he could speak plainly with Galahad, glad for all of these new possibilities. Glad of Susan, Laertes, Grantaire -- even Sagramore, whom only months ago he would have given little notice.

So he's reverted to keeping to himself, a little, while he thinks things through. He keeps his schedule: sleep (or not sleeping), drills in the morning, finding something to eat after that, wandering the mansion or the grounds. He's not as adrift as he was, and he is sober most of the time now, but it's an adjustment.

This afternoon he's determined that it's been too long since he took proper care of his sword. He's found a bench and has set himself up there to clean, hone, and oil the blade.

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan takes his hand in hers, and leans against him, and starts to crane her head up for another kiss before she catches herself. She's feeling less indecisive now, so she says, "I am," with a wicked gleam in her eye. Rather than reiterating that he flatters her once again, decides on a double entendre, to see how he reacts. "And you've got a nimble tongue."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He chuckles a little, flushing again, "Ah, perhaps, my lady, but not for speaking."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Blithely, summoning up her easy, flirtatious smile - but this time it's a little softer, a little more genuine - she says, "Then I look forward to becoming better-acquainted with it."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I am eager to show thee," with the faintest teasing tone. "Should I meet thee at thy quarters?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"At sundown?" Susan suggests.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye, 'tis a good time." He squeezes her hand gently.