lanselos_du_lac | [Semi-Closed Post] the 'how are you's

It's a couple of days before Lancelot is feeling well enough, and before Susan is willing to let him out of her sight. He is still tired -- the incident with Magnus was surprisingly taxing, given the chill and the fever -- and he looks it.

He is dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater, and he convinces Susan that he's feeling well enough, he needs to check on Magnus. In truth, he still feels on the mend, but giving into the urge to keep sleeping for another day or two would feel wrong.

So he ventures out, first to get coffee and then to seek Magnus. He decides to forego drills today, as he doesn't suppose he has the strength. He isn't entirely sure where to find Magnus, but he heads instinctively for the greenhouse, since that's where he left him. (Lancelot knows he might well find him elsewhere, but this is a good starting point.)

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From:

onthewillowsthere

They're good tomatoes. Galahad looks up expectantly.

From:

lanselos_du_lac

The question somehow throws him, and he pauses, makes a thoughtful sound, and says, "Yes. Please."

From:

summerdude

Magnus picks one and tosses it at Lancelot's face. It's a slow toss. Lancelot should have time to catch it.

From:

onthewillowsthere

He frowns minutely and flips to a new page in his sketchbook. He's never drawn Lancelot before, but the tomato toss appeals to him.

From:

lanselos_du_lac

And of course he does catch it -- his reflexes are quite good, thank you. He smiles and sniffs the tomato, where the stem is broken. "Did you grow this?"

From:

summerdude

"No," says Magnus, growing another tomato right in front of him. "It just came like that." He picks this one, too, and experimentally lobs it at Lancelot, a little faster this time.

From:

onthewillowsthere

It's a good challenge -- he has to sketch fast.

From:

lanselos_du_lac

With an expression that is both mildly aggrieved and vaguely fond, he catches the second tomato. In his own dry tone he says, "You're welcome, Magnus. Thank you for the tomatoes."

From:

summerdude

Galahad is drawing. Magnus can't see what, but he can tell when it picked up. He throws a third tomato at Lancelot. This one is slow again, since Lancelot's hands are full.

From:

onthewillowsthere

Perfect. He works furiously with his remaining charcoal -- Dro has successfully hidden the rest.

From:

lanselos_du_lac

Lancelot has a split second to think about it, to grin and decide. And because he knows it will surprise Magnus (and because it seems to him that Galahad is paying attention), he tosses one tomato up to catch the third one thrown; he smoothly starts to juggle the three.

From:

summerdude

Okay, what the fuck. "What," Magnus says, blinking, "the fuck." He turns to Galahad. "I didn't know he could do that. Did you know he could do that? What the fuck. He can do that?"

Obviously, mid-splutter, he picks another tomato -- this one isn't completely ripe yet; he's distracted, and lobs it at Lancelot as well.

From:

onthewillowsthere

Galahad did not, obviously. He doesn't even bother to answer; he has too much to focus on.

From:

lanselos_du_lac

He doesn't curse, but he almost flubs catching the fourth -- he really should have been expecting that. Still, he manages it, though he does say, "Sadly, four is my limit."

From:

summerdude

"Are you sure?" Magnus asks, hand hovering over the tomato plant, threatening to ripen a fifth one. "We could test that theory."

From:

onthewillowsthere

Galahad kicks Magnus' foot gently -- he's not done yet! Please do not make Lancelot drop anything yet!

From:

lanselos_du_lac

It's not really possible for him to shrug and keep juggling, so instead he says, "I suppose we could."

From:

summerdude

Magnus starts ripening a fifth tomato. "How long can you keep four up?" he asks, buying a little more time for whatever it is Galahad is drawing.

From:

onthewillowsthere

He's making progress. Though the sketch is rough, he's pretty sure he's catching the sense of movement, and the things that will make Lancelot's face recognizable to anyone else.

From:

lanselos_du_lac

"As long as I like," with confidence that is mostly honest.

From:

summerdude

The tomato is ready. Magnus picks it and tosses it gently up and down with one hand. "And you really can't do five?"

From:

onthewillowsthere

Galahad looks up. He's happy with the sketch. Just as he nudges Magnus again he asks, "Is Laertes still courting you?"

From:

lanselos_du_lac

"I might--" then Galahad's question strikes and he fumbles. He lets one drop, keeps going with three just long enough to stop gracefully, and then says, "What now?"