[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

[lanselos_du_lac]

He gives her a very bright smile, "Whatever is thy wish."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"You have satisfied me too thoroughly for 'whatever is my wish' again so quickly," archly.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot looks very pleased to hear this, but he says easily, "Well then. Perhaps we should eat a little, and speak, and see what comes next."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Very well," says Susan. She hauls herself partially up, then leans over his torso to rescue their teas. As suspected, it's entirely cold, but that's never stopped her before. She takes a hefty swallow, partly to rinse her mouth out but mostly because she could use the caffeine and sugar. While she's drinking, she holds out his mug, a silent offer in case he should like to finish his, too.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He takes it and drinks as well, more out of practicality than anything else. He sets the empty mug aside and then settles back, relaxing.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Right." Lancelot had mentioned food. Susan tears her eyes away from him and climbs over him, claiming a kiss on her journey. She wavers for a moment once her feet hit the ground, then extends her hand to him. "Are you hungry?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

He takes her hand and rises, "Yes, I'm afraid so."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Then isn't it lucky someone had the bright idea to prepare lunch for this eventuality," she says, drawing him over to the table. She stops at her wardrobe on the way and (reluctantly) withdraws a robe for each of them.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot accepts the robe, saying, "Hardly luck. Thou'rt a formidable planner, and hast given me little reason to be elsewhere. For which I am very glad."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"You've seen through my clever plot," Susan says. She pulls her own robe on, then turns to fuss at Lancelot's, ensuring that most of his chest is fully bared when the sash is tied.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He chuckles, smiling and kissing the corner of her mouth. "It was clever, though, no question."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"You may call me Queen Susan the Cunning," she says, chasing his mouth for a moment before tearing herself away to go unpack the basket.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"So I shall," he settles into one of the chairs. "Another item for the list: thy cunning and skill in planning, organization."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, speaking of," says Susan, sitting in the other and immediately tangling their feet together under the table. As she starts unloading food and setting it between them, she decides to give him the best sort of gift a woman can give her lover: "I thought I might solicit your help in planning a competition of weapons skill."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He looks up, a little surprised -- though now he recalls she mentioned this the day that she and Nightingale were... well. "Oh?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes. You've ever so much more experience with that sort of thing than I." This - mightn't be true. She helped organize a fair few tourneys and demonstrations in her time as Queen of Narnia. But this is a gift that she's giving him! So she shall let him take a stab at it.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot laughs a little, "That I doubt, unless thy meaning is in participating -- or winning."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I do like a man with skill," Susan says, slicing the baguette into quarters and placing one each onto the plates she'd packed up. She slides one plate over to Lancelot and makes sure the sides are arrayed between them. "Surely you've got some opinions about how such things ought to function."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Oh, aye," easily, taking up the sandwich. "But it never fell to me to consider how they might be organized."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan must be very fond of her dear silly friend indeed, because this strikes her as more charming than anything. "Having opinions about something is the first step in mastering it," she says. "Have you attended tournaments that were noticeably better or worse than others?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Sweet, I've not attended a tournament I didn't ride or fight in, one way or another, since I was a boy."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, I would assume so. I mean - whilst you were riding or fighting, did some strike you as more enjoyable or engaging than others?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot thinks this over as he starts in on his sandwich. After a moment he says, "One thing that is probably a benefit is that, for competitors, what matters most is organization. Things generally happen much the same way, each time."

Another thoughtful pause, and then he goes on, "It is generally more enjoyable with an interested crowd. Here, though, we would have to be quite careful to prevent injury. And there would be no joust."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Oh, this is terribly charming. He's going to be utterly useless with this gift she's giving him. Susan shall have to guide him along carefully so that he can have the delight of organization without mucking it all up. For now, she smiles at him encouragingly and takes a bite of her sandwich. After chewing and swallowing, she says, "Very helpful. We shall have to think carefully to allow for the differences in fighting styles, too; it seems few people have comparable training."

[lanselos_du_lac]

With great interest, and about as animated as he gets, he says, "Aye, well-- we shall need help for that. I can organize a melee, which I suspect no one wants, or sword bouts. Archery, perhaps. But if we were to engage the skills of others -- fencing or single stick, or muskets -- I would defer to them."