[Closed Post] ..shining through the hollow..

[lanselos_du_lac]

Once Lancelot has left Magnus and Galahad in the greenhouse, he goes looking for Laertes. He can admit he has had the urge to check in on everyone, in the wake of Magnus' incident, but he has realized that it's been some days and he misses Laertes' company.

So he goes seeking, checking in on the places he thinks Laertes might be, and eventually finding him in that same parlor they'd sat together in before. Lancelot pauses in the doorway, and then clears his throat and says, "I do hope I'm not interrupting."

Despite the clear fact that he intends to interrupt. He is grinning.

Comments

[timebethine]

"I will not complain, to be held safely in thine arms." And indeed, Laertes turns to settle his back against Lancelot's chest, and to draw Lancelot's arms around him.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He wraps them tightly around him. "Is't pleasant?" His tone is light and teasing.

[timebethine]

A little ember of pleasure burns in Laertes's gut; he feels safe, cherished, surrounded by Lancelot's clean soap-and-horse scent. "Ay, it is. We might ride to the far shore of the lake, and there lay out a meal to share--or we could fish, and roast our catches by the water."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot nuzzles him, "Ay, that sounds well indeed."

[timebethine]

"I'd crown thee with flowers," Laertes whispers. "Thou shouldst have gentle things."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He makes a small, soft sound -- touched and sparked, a little. (This, he thinks, is what he craves more than almost anything else. That kind of tenderness.) He kisses Laertes' cheek, his arms tightening around him again.

[timebethine]

And Laertes brings his hand up to rest his fingertips against Lancelot's cheek--not stroking or teasing; only soaking in the human warmth of him. "An thou permit it, I would kiss every part of thee, and show thee by it that thou wert made for softness."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He echoes, "Made for softness?" He settles his chin on Laertes' shoulder. "Dost think it so?"

[timebethine]

"Not for violence, nor roughness," he answers. He feels at once small and sheltered, and as though he holds all of Lancelot's most fragile hopes in his cupped palm. It's dizzying, heady, more intoxicating than drink. "Only for sweetness."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Mmm," thoughtfully, playfully, "I shall have to consider that."

[timebethine]

"Thou shouldst."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I think thou couldst convince me."

[timebethine]

"What must I do to convince thee?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Do as thou'rt doing now," pressing kisses to his hair, his cheek. "Let me hold thee. Make thy promises. Speak of summer."

[timebethine]

"Wilt thou swim with me, in summer? There's nothing so good as swimming, when the days turn hot."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye, I like to swim." He pauses, then says, "Susan spoke of 'bathing costumes,' and showed me hers. I had to admit I had never thought of such a thing."

[timebethine]

"I prefer to swim in naught but my skin," says Laertes. "But Ophelia used to swim in her shift, that she might not draw roving eyes."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Court ladies swim rarely, and not with men about. I only had anything on in the water if I ended up there by accident."

[timebethine]

"I think I would like to see thee dressed for swimming," says Laertes, and he settles a warm palm upon Lancelot's thigh.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Oh? Rather than swim as I usually would?"

[timebethine]

"I mean dressed as thou usually wouldst." His hand creeps up just a little higher.

[lanselos_du_lac]

A laugh, "That would be not at all."

[timebethine]

"Hast caught my drift."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He snuggles Laertes a little closer and says, teasing, "Bit cold, now, is it not?"

[timebethine]

"Ay--but worth the wait."