[Open Post] ..Tuesday afternoon..

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot feels that things have been a strange mix of tumult and routine. This is probably because they have. But today, so far, is routine in all respects. His day has proceeded apace through his usual steps -- drills, tending to Rivelin, coffee, lunch with Susan -- and the afternoon is now stretching out before him in a very satisfying way. He feels good, settled.

And so it is that he's in the café, reading (or mostly reading), with more coffee at hand. Given that he seems to be splitting time equally between having his eyes on his book and gazing out the window, he will not be bothered if anyone comes to chat.

Comments

[kadewest]

"Women love cozying up to a comfy guy," says Kade, grinning--this look will surely help Lancelot with his objective. And then he remembers just how many people here aren't straight. "Men probably do too, if that's more your thing."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He chuckles, "Is that so?" There's a little pause as he considers, before saying, "I do have a lady, and I believe she would enjoy that. And there are men whose opinion I'd consider."

[kadewest]

"Oh yeah?" Is Kade the only guy here who isn't bisexual and probably-polyamorous?

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Perhaps."

[kadewest]

"Well, obviously I want to hear all about it," Kade says. After all, gossip is a form of story. "I have more stuff for you to try, too." Turtlenecks, buttondowns, blazers, vests, nice slacks... the list goes on.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot laughs, "Do you? I doubt it's terribly interesting."

He turns, "I will try whatever you suggest. I do like this, though."

[kadewest]

"I'll be the judge of that," says Kade, tossing Lancelot one of the turtlenecks.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Of how interesting it might be?" He carefully sheds the sweater, and hesitates before tugging gently at the t-shirt, "This too?"

[kadewest]

"Yes," says Kade. Since Lancelot liked sweaters, he's going to find more sweaters--they're one of the few things he can't make himself. Over his shoulder as he goes back into the warren of clothes to find some, he clarifies, "To both!"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Very well," half to himself. He pulls the t-shirt off and then attempts to sort out the turtleneck -- it's not as easy to put on as the other things have been, and once it's on he finds, almost immediately, that he does not like it. He frowns a little and goes to look in the mirror to try to sort out his reaction.

[kadewest]

Kade emerges with a couple more sweaters in varying colors and textures. "That's a good look," he observes. "What do you think?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It looks well enough, but it is not particularly comfortable." By which he means, it's not at all comfortable and it somehow makes him itch in a way that has little to do with the fabric itself. "It is like unto a gorget, which I mislike but have tolerated-- it's been months, though, since I had any armor on."

[kadewest]

"Then I'll cross turtlenecks off the list," says Kade, easily. "One of these sweaters is a cowlneck, which might feel different?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot nods and pulls the turtleneck off immediately. "Well. It is a good thing to know, at any rate."

[kadewest]

"Let's try a button-down next," Kade says, and pulls one out of the original pile for Lancelot to try. "You can do these with or without an undershirt." Kade would generally go with with. "You can also control high up it goes, if you don't like things up snug against your neck."

[lanselos_du_lac]

This one is familiar, in that it feels much like the shirt that he wore under the suit. He has it on and though it takes him a minute with the buttons -- which he does up to the top of his sternum -- he's clearly comfortable with it.

[kadewest]

"Okay, I dig the look. Try it with one of these?" Kade passes over a couple pairs of slacks - navy, with wide legs, and black, with narrow legs. "Oh, and this vest."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot laughs, "There is such variety."

[kadewest]

Kade laughs, too. "Just tell me if it's too much," he says. "I won't be offended. This kind of stuff is my bread and butter, you know? I think there's nothing better than when someone finds an outfit that makes them feels like themself, so I tend to get really into it."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Not too much," glancing at Kade, "Just-- I am one of the lucky ones, at home, in that I can choose what colors I prefer. Can have new things when I ask, as opposed to mending my clothes until they give out. I try to keep things nice, but--"

[kadewest]

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot has a moment of considering whether to ask Kade for clarification of some kind; but some part of him realizes that that would be a deflection. Kade deserves better, after the time and attention he's given.

He says, "It is because I am a favorite of the High King and Queen. I suppose I have their patronage, where others may not."

[kadewest]

"How does that relate to colors?" Kade asks, genuinely curious.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Dyes can be expensive, and often require extra care. For day to day things, many don't bother." He pauses, frowning a little -- what he's about to say is nothing he would ever have addressed, before coming here. (He is not sure he ever thought of it, let alone thought of it as a problem, before now.) "We, as knights, may serve the same king, the same crown, but that does not make us equal in all things."

[kadewest]

Kade laughs, a sharp bark of a sound that clearly startles him. "I know what that's like," he says, and then shakes his head. "I did totally forget about how dyes used to be harder to come by, though. That wasn't really a problem in either the World I went to or the one I came from."