[Open Post] ..like the bird that you can't see..

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot is in a very good mood indeed. He feels settled, assured. He feels as he did, he thinks, back when he first found his feet at court -- he is someplace he belongs, he can be assured that people will treat him with respect, if not kindness or welcoming. He lets himself revel in it, a little, as it's been a long while since he felt anywhere near as nice as this.

The weather is good: sunny, crisp, the familiar feeling of autumn as winter is hovering close by. He goes to his own room and fetches his sword. He runs his usual drills, though with a kind of ease and almost carelessness he hasn't had since he was young. (Perhaps he is young enough, still. He can't be sure. He has already lived past the age his father was when he died, but that means almost nothing. His father died in battle and Lancelot is, now, no longer likely to ever see such a fate.)

Afterwards, he showers and decides he might as well find breakfast. So he's now heading toward one of the kitchens, looking cheerful for once.

Comments

[lanselos_du_lac]

The laugh makes him want to gather her up into his arms again, so he does. He tugs her closer, an arm around her. "I agree, plenty of time."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan goes easily into his touch; she's realizing she likes the way they fit together. "I hope you like a competitive woman, sir."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I would have none other," grinning at her. "What needst thou, to put me in my place at draughts?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Just you, in the cafe, at lunch," says Susan. "I shall supply the rest. Though I suppose I could accept payment for my effort preemptively."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Ah. Another tax, it seems."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Nothing, I suspect, that you're not willing to pay," Susan says, tilting her face upward.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He touches her jaw, lightly, and kisses her, with focused intent.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

This kiss is returned eagerly and easily; it takes her a few long minutes to remember herself and pull away. "Well-paid," she observes, a little breathless.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I do try," lingering close before he straightens. "The café, then?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes," says Susan, patting his cheek before withdrawing and recovering her cooling mug of tea. She smiles at him, impish. "I look forward to putting you in your place."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He grins, glancing down, "We shall see, my lady."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Indeed," she says, resting her hand on his shoulder as she steps past him. She pauses, still in his eyesight, and teases, "You will."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He watches her, his gaze warm and bordering on adoration, and says, "Oh, my lady, I do not doubt it."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Well then! Until lunch," Susan says, and moves busily away so that he might not glimpse her sudden blush.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot chuckles, watching her go appreciatively.

He carries on about his morning, feeling light, and once he reckons it's lunch time he makes his way to the café, on the lookout for Susan.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan, for her part, finds the book she's selected to read to-day utterly unbearable. Oh, it's well-written, but the subject matter! Infuriating, unconscionable.

She loses track of time, fantasizing idly about how things might've gone if anyone in charge had any common sense, and then realizes she's on the verge of running late to lunch. Luckily, it's easy enough to find a draughts board - there's one in a cabinet in her favorite parlor - so she liberates it and wanders off to find Lancelot.

"Ah! Convenient," she says, when she realizes they've arrived at essentially the same time.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I had thought it well timed," with humor.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"So I'm not terribly late," Susan says, satisfied. She holds the draughts box aloft. "And I've accomplished my end of the bargain."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I would never accuse thee of lateness," grinning, "and I never doubted thou wouldst come through."

He gestures toward the room, "Where seems best?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan peers inside. There are a couple of other residents scattered here and there inside, but there's a nice largeish table suitable for a meal and a game off to one side. She nods at it. "There?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye, I think so." He takes her hand and heads in that direction.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan settles the box onto the table, and then leads Lancelot to the little self-service area. Today there are sandwiches and some lovely little pastries - a little guiltily, she recalls that she hasn't yet followed through on her promise to Enjolras of making biscuits to add to the selection. Tomorrow, perhaps.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot selects a sandwich and several pastries, and then settles in at the table, though he waits for Susan to get settled and start eating before tucking into his own meal.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Innocently, she nudges her foot against his under the table. "I've been thinking," she offers, still a little caught up in everything she'd been reading that morning. "About governance."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He gives her a little grin. "Is that so? Say on."