[Closed Post] ..lines we're leaving behind..

[lanselos_du_lac]

He doesn't really mean to, but Lancelot keeps to his rooms for a time in the wake of the latest mansion upheaval. He doesn't disappear for days, and he mostly keeps his routines -- he does spend a little more time riding -- but he is subdued and not idly floating about for socializing.

It could have been worse. He knows this. He knows, too, that no one did this on purpose; he's grateful for Susan and Nightingale's understanding. But none of that makes it easier to regain his emotional balance. Much like that day (which felt very long), he is still grappling occasionally with that sensation of being... just outside of himself, a step removed, dizzy and longing to be even further away.

Still, he does not want to punish Susan and he knows they should talk. So this morning after he puts up Rivelin, he goes to find Susan, wherever she might be.

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Maybe some fruit?" Susan adds, a little distractedly as she wraps the sandwich tightly and places it, a knife, and some dishes into the basket. The kettle is boiling now, so she goes to put tea and sugar in her thermos and pour the water over it. "And a small bottle of milk, if you can produce one."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye," he says, easily. He manages to produce both -- the milk is simple enough, and the fruit that appears is strawberries, which seems (in this weather) an improbable luxury.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan keeps mugs in her room, obviously, so once the tea and milk and berries are tucked into her basket, she thinks they're all set. Oh, except - she grabs a packet each of digestive biscuits and jaffa cakes, and balances them on top.

"There," she says, satisfied. "Do you mind terribly carrying this up with us?" (She's able and happy to, as well, but she imagines he might like being made useful.)

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I live to serve thee," he says loftily, and with a little grin to make sure she knows he is both teasing and sincere.

He takes up the basket and nods at Susan to lead on.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Good!" she says, faux-imperious to cover up how the words do genuinely send a thrill through her. She doesn't lead, though; she slips her hand back around his free arm and walks alongside him to her room.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Before they set out, he gives in to his urge and kisses her cheek.

Once at Susan's room, he moves to hold the door for her.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Why, thank you," she says, liberating him of the basket and setting it on her little table. The thermos of tea and bottle of milk she removes and brings to the shelf with her mugs; the rest stays inside. She doesn't bother asking Lancelot if he wants one - she knows he prefers coffee, but she's not as confident making it and so she didn't. She fixes them both a cup and then nods to the loveseat in her little alcove.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot does go to sit, and he does seem a little more relaxed.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan toes off her shoes and goes to sit next to him, handing him one of the mugs as she sinks into the seat. Then, careful of both of their tea, she swings her legs over his lap and tucks herself against him so that he can easily wrap his arm around her shoulders. A little kiss to his cheek, and it's an expectant look that she's levying is way.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He does settle his arm around her shoulders, tugging her a little closer. "Sweet," he says softly, "I do love thee."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Good," she says, firmly, leaning against him - not so close that she can't see his face, though - and curling both her hands around her mug. "Tell me what's on your mind, please?" The 'please' is tacked on, half a beat later than the rest; her voice sounds smaller than she'd like as she says it.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Because of-- all of that, the other day?" He stifles a sigh and doesn't wait for her to answer. "It was unsettling. I know no one did it deliberately. Thomas, and thee-- wert very good to me, understanding. I don't know what else to say."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Thomas is a good man," Susan agrees. She's watching him closely. "I would hear you speak about your feelings."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He takes in a long breath, lets it out, sips his tea. There's a long space of quiet before he says, "All of them?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"All of them," Susan confirms. "We can go one by one, if you'd like."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Some I can't describe well," he stares into the mug, "There was that same sensation as... that day we spoke of my feelings for you. What did you call it? Nervous--?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

As Susan had feared. "Traumatic neurosis," she supplies. He might be looking at his tea, but she's watching him. "Because the person in bed with you who looked like - like your lover was another wearing her - my face?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Yes," solemnly. "It was, perhaps, not so bad as it might be. You-- Thomas told me right away. I did ask if... if it was on purpose, and he said no."

He pauses, still keeping his gaze elsewhere, "I did wish for my sword. Or the dagger. What if-- I needed to protect thee? Or find thee? Or-- fix it somehow?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

This silly sweet man! Susan shifts a little, cupping his cheek with one mug-warmed hand. She doesn't bother saying that she can take care of herself, even though she rather thinks she can; they can sort that out later. "I imagine you might have soon remembered the arrows in my closet, should it have been necessary."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Perhaps," he allows. He glances at her, still subdued, though her touch helps. A little part of him hopes that that will be sufficient (though he knows she'll have it all out, one way or another).

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"So Thomas told you immediately who he was and that he didn't cause it," says Susan. She moves her hand back around her mug long enough to take a careful sip of her tea, then rests the hand on his chest. "And you felt a panic?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It started when he said thy-- he was not Susan. It never quite lifted." He takes another breath. "At first I didn't know where thou wast, if aught was wrong with thee or if thou wert safe. And then, once thou wast here-- the whole thing was unsettling."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"It rather was, wasn't it?" Susan shivers, then tucks herself more firmly under his arm. "Was it worse or better when I got there?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Better," he smiles a little, "though, then I couldn't bear to let... either of thee out of my sight."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I noticed." She thinks it's rather sweet.