[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 pats his chest a few times, and then drags herself away to stir the vegetables and check on the bacon. It is... very well-rendered, but fortunately not burnt. Hastily, she adds the carrot and spring peas to the vegetables in the frying pan, stirring to soften them, and then adds a pile of shaved leek to pot of bacon. She's feeling a little breathless throughout this, and her movements are very, very careful.

"I shall require the dough from the icebox in a moment," she tells him.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I will fetch it at thy command," lightly, "I shouldn't like to take it out too soon."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

A bowlful of whatever root vegetables she could find, shredded, follow the leek - carrot, beetroot, swede, potato, and onion. She holds the bowl out to Lancelot once she has scraped it clean. "Fill this with water please, in the meantime."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye," cheerfully, and with a kiss to her cheek as he takes it.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She gives the frying pan one final stir and then turns off the flame underneath it. "Do you fancy cheese in your turnovers?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Cheese is always good, in my experience."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Have you got a favorite sort?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I like those soft cheeses, that are like home, but what's-- it is yellow-orange?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I haven't the faintest idea, but if you find some in the icebox I shall add it to the turnovers."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot goes to the icebox and opens it to find a hunk of sharp cheddar. "It will need-- what's the word. Shredding, I think."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan tips the water into the pot. "There ought to be a device for shredding on the shelf next to the lids," she says, stirring.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot nods and goes looking for it. Once he finds it, he sets to shredding the cheese. (His occasional times helping Laertes or, more recently, Sagramore with breakfasts is showing. He has kitchen skills now, if simple ones, and he finds that very pleasing.)

[quote_gentle_unquote]

As Lancelot shreds the cheese, Susan flours the counter, and then goes to fetch the pastry dough from the icebox herself. On her way back to the counter, she leans against Lancelot, reaching around him to fetch a rolling pin. She lingers there for half a second, and then returns his earlier question to him: "What's been on your mind today?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

He makes a thoughtful sound before saying, "Several things that I would speak to thee on."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She lingers there for another moment. "Oh?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye," he continues shredding cheese while he takes a moment to think about what to raise first. "I was thinking this morning about the invitation to the party, and would have thy thoughts on that. It says a 'bacchanal', which I think I understand, but am unsure of."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"In Narnia, bacchanals were parties where Bacchus - the Narnian Bacchus, not the Bacchus here - would grow vines and grapes and produce wine and make merry with his wild girls," Susan says, thoughtfully, as she pulls away from him so she can start rolling out the dough. "Here I believe he plans simply to celebrate the end of Dark with plenty of food and drink. And--" here she hesitates, rolling pin pressed into the mass of dough on the counter. Janet hadn't received an invitation to the second part of the evening; it's possible Lancelot hadn't, either. Susan's had been addressed to just her. "Did you receive the second invitation?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

He frowns a little, thoughtfully. "Since I was unaware there was a second invitation, I think I would say no."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Any moment of awkwardness that Susan might feel at that revelation is directed fully into the turnover dough as she rolls it flat. "Ah. I see. Well," brightly, "This bacchanal shan't have any sexual frenzies in the midst of the party, if that's one of the associations you might have with the term, as it seems Bacchus has decided to save all of that sort of thing for a second, ah, more selective party after the first."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot glances over at her, pausing in his task. "And thou hast received such an invitation?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I have."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Hm," still thoughtful, "Wilt thou go?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan oughtn't roll the dough any thinner. She sets the rolling pin aside and moves to give the soup a stir, and then the turnover filling one, too, for good measure. "I don't believe I shall."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Carefully, Lancelot asks, "Why not?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She turns to look at him, leaning back, propping herself up against the counter with hands that grip at its edge. "It doesn't sound like my sort of party."