[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

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan smiles. "Susan has a way of talking one into learning things, doesn't she? I read some psychoanalysis for her." Which, speaking of that conversation, he wonders if she'd ever come clean with this guy about her dalliances with women. Isn't he famously in a love triangle anyway? ...Does that make him more or less likely to be cool with having a bisexual lover??

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot smiles, then, too. "Aye, I did as well. I like to have things to discuss with her, and I like to surprise her by having learned something other than what she's told me."

[peaklordshen]

"That's sweet," says Shen Yuan, because it is. "I could probably explain the deal with some theatre, if you have questions. Not that I'm a connoisseur, but I've like. Been to some shows." Mainly musicals, because he has a teenage sister.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot smiles a little at being told that's sweet. "Tell me how it works? I know that people pretend to be someone else. They are on stage. I think there are... decorations? I've forgotten the word."

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan nods. "Sets," he explains. "Fabricated locations, usually a painted backdrop of some kind and then partial buildings, or the insides of rooms." It occurs to him that there's a certain irony in Lancelot asking him about theatre when they both live in a house with two people from one of the most famous plays of all time. Which—how does that work, exactly? Their world was all stage directions! The ways their Denmark looked changed every time a production was put on! Not to mention Claudius and Laertes themselves—do they look like specific actors who have played them? An amalgam of every actor who's played them? No, if that was the case they'd look way crazier, probably, and less handsome. If an Ophelia showed up, would Laertes even recognize her? What if she was from a different production than them?

Maybe every world had a System, actually, filling in from the author's brain all the details that they never actually wrote down, like it did in PIDW. Maybe it's just that no one else knows their world had a System, because to them it was just, like, the world.

He realizes he's totally gotten lost in thought in the middle of a conversation, and blinks back to himself. "Costumes," he says hurriedly. "They wear costumes. The actors. And the things they hold are called props."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It sounds like a great deal of effort."

[peaklordshen]

"Oh, enormous amounts," Shen Yuan agrees. "A big production can take months to prepare for, and involve dozens of people."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot seems impressed. "I suppose we haven't so many, here."

[peaklordshen]

"We have enough to put on a pretty good show, though, especially with so many of us so artistically inclined," says Shen Yan. "Is that Susan's aim, then? I thought the theatrical questions on the survey were Nina's."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I think it may be that they were of a similar mind on this-- Susan was reading... what were they called? Plays." He pauses, "I suggested a competition or demonstration of arms, but now that I know more of this, perhaps I can find a way to help."

[peaklordshen]

"I'm sure you could," says Shen Yuan. "If nothing else, plays are always in need of handsome men to stand around not saying much of anything. Background knights, and such." Probably not too different from Lancelot's role in whatever the first Arthurian saga is. Mordred's Quest or whatever.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot chuckles, "I appreciate that I may make an attractive decoration. Thank you."

[peaklordshen]

"Any time," says Shen Yuan, amused, and eats a bit of his pastry. "I'm more inclined to help with the set design and such. We have an array of artists here for that—probably more of them than willing actors." Though he imagines Grantaire and Claudius and a few others might step up into that role.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Perhaps I shall wait and see what my options are."

[peaklordshen]

"Prudent," says Shen Yuan with a smile, and for some reason the next words that line themselves up in his head are I like that in a man. What is going on, here?? Does he have some kind of masochistic streak, that he's suddenly moved to flirt with one of the only straight guys around?? And Galahad's dad, no less. He shakes his head at himself. "I'm sure Susan will have some opinions about where you'd be best useful, as well."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Serenely he says, "I am also certain of that."

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan takes another little bite of his pastry. He is itching to know whether Susan came out to Lancelot, and whether Lancelot was cool, but that's not something you broach in a first meeting. So he just waits--maybe Lancelot will have more theatre questions, or maybe they'll lapse into silence until Shen Yuan is finished with his food and can make his escape.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Thank you," Lancelot says after a moment, finally finishing his coffee. "I appreciate you sharing your knowledge."

[peaklordshen]

"Any time," says Shen Yuan. "Happy to share my knowledge about anything, really, though most of it is useless to people here—it was nice to be asked about something I do actually know."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I shall keep it in mind, should I need to know more."

[peaklordshen]

"Cool," says Shen Yuan, and then—sort of awkwardly, because he hasn't actually finished his pastry—stands up. "Well. See you around, Lancelot."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot watches him with something a little like bemusement, "Be well, Shen Yuan."