[Closed Post] ..the plan means nothing stays the same..

[lanselos_du_lac]

In the few days since Dark ended, even Lancelot has noticed himself feeling easier. He had not thought himself much affected by Dark, aside from his concern for Susan and those he cares about who were facing their own struggles during the month; it's something of a surprise to find that his relief is also deep-set, for himself. There is a strange kind of hope that he doesn't recall feeling before, in anticipation of spring. He realizes that the pace will change, and that he is looking forward to spring and summer in this new place.

He's been considering whether he should move some of his things back to his own room. He has not stayed the night there since Susan asked him to stay with her during Dark, and he is happy to admit that this arrangement has been deeply pleasant. Lancelot has never experienced something so ... domestic as this. (He so rarely was able to wake up next to Guinever, that the first few times he woke up next to Susan after they began seeing each other, it felt like a very deep intimacy.) He doesn't, however, want to presume anything -- he knows Susan has appreciated having him close, he knows their relationship has grown deeper, but he isn't sure whether she wants him to stay with her at night on a more permanent basis. He suspects she might want her own space back, once she's recovered her equilibrium.

As ever, he has maintained his routine. He has also seen the invitation to Dionysus' party. It's this that was on his mind as he set out for the training yard this morning -- it was brisk and cold, but not so much the punishing cold of deep Dark -- and this he let himself idly consider while making his way through drills. (Thinking about it during drilling helps, because thinking about it otherwise has made him feel anxious -- he will never know what he ought to wear, or what to expect.)

By the time he has finished, he knows that there are several subjects that he needs to discuss with Susan when they meet for lunch.

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan has been getting back into her own routine: rising with Lancelot for her first cup of tea over the book of the day, and then a light breakfast, and then shooting practice, and then another cup of tea while she reviews her notes and plans for future calamities. Following lunch, afternoons, of course, are for inventorying and socializing.

Today, though, she's decided to make them lunch. If Lancelot happens in the kitchen, he'll find her elbow-deep in flour with a pile of vegetables at her side. Otherwise, she'll be in her favorite parlor with lunch when he's ready.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He finds her in the kitchen, much to his delight and surprise, "Susan! Good morning, love."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Lancelot," she says, warm and pleased. She goes to wipe her hands off, decides there's too much flour to do so neatly, and instead presents her cheek for a kiss.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He grins, and bends to kiss her cheek, quite precisely. "My lady, how goes it with thee? What art thou making?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Lunch," Susan says, adding butter to the pile of flour and carefully working it in with forks. "I thought I'd take advantage of our fully-stocked larders."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye, and thou dost know that 'lunch' is not a full accounting."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Ah, but if I don't give you details, you shan't be disappointed if I misremember the recipe."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"There are few enough recipes I know, so I see not how I might dispute thee."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Vegetable turnovers," Susan tells him. "And soup. How was your training this morning?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot makes an intrigued sound -- vegetable turnovers is something that sounds unusual. "Training is as it always is," he says easily, "which is, I think, the best thing one can say about how well it's gone."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh?" Susan asks, trying to parse if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He chuckles, "Aye. It should go the same way each time. An it does not, that's a sign something is off. It went very smoothly this morning."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Then I'm pleased for you." Susan smiles at him, then, a larger smile than she usually manages. "Sweetheart, would you mind terribly fetching me a glass of very cold water?" She could, of course, but he's here and she's rather covered in flour.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Of course," he says. It only takes him a moment; he's comfortable in the kitchens, now, in a way that would have surprised him only a few months ago.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Cheers," she says, taking it and trickling a little in over the flour-and-butter mixture. "Have you got more plans now? Or shall I put you to work?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I can be put to work."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Very good," says Susan, approvingly. "First, I shall require a kiss."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"A trying task," he teased, "but I shall do my best."

He comes and slips an arm around her waist, side by side, and turns to kiss her.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She holds her messy hands carefully free of him and his clothes, craning her neck up to receive his kiss. He smells as he always does, after training: of the cold fresh air and of sweat. As always, she finds it intoxicating.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot's kiss is sweet, his hand firm at her waist.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

When she pulls back, she barely manages to resist the urge to adjust his shirt with her floury hands. "Very good," she tells him, pleased.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Excellent," smiling at her, "I want nothing more than to please thee."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I know," she says, a little smug, a little heated. "It would please me terribly if you'd find some bacon in the icebox next."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I am certain I can manage that," he says as he tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. He then moves off to the icebox to find the bacon.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Critical error! Now he's not touching her anymore! Susan fills the void by trickling another splash of water into her dough and working it together. It's nearly there, just one splash more.