[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

[lanselos_du_lac]

He gives her another gentle touch. "An thou didst, I would follow thee."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Her breath catches, and she tries to imagine her Arthurian knight in modern-day London. What a culture shock that would be for him! "I oughtn't go to Camelot with you, though," she says. "If the opportunity arose. I'd get in far too much trouble."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He smiles wryly at her, "How so?"

He does have some idea of what she means, he thinks, but there are other outspoken ladies at court and he can, to some extent, imagine her there.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She shakes her head. "I'd start far too many fights over how dreadfully you've been treated, and I doubt I'd be able to get away with it by claiming my queenship of Narnia."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Ah-- so he was wrong. He looks a little surprised. "Truly?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'd be kicked out immediately," she nods.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot gives a little gasp of a laugh, "Why shouldst thou think that?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"For fighting everyone!"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"My God, sweetheart, fighting everyone?" He does seem to think she's largely joking.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Every last one," she says, with devastating sincerity. "My love, you were treated so poorly."

[lanselos_du_lac]

This seems to register, and he blinks a little.

He at first wants to ask, Was I? Or he wants to deny this -- after all, he was the most celebrated man at court, aside from the King. Then there is the stab of love and loyalty he feels for both Arthur and Guinever; he is starting to question this, himself, at times.

Instead he says nothing for a long moment, trying to let Susan's words work their way through, to understand what he thinks or feels.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"But I shouldn't want to make things any more difficult for you," she says, resting a hand on his chest, right over his heart. "So it's best I not go at all."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He is still struck, working it through. He covers her hand with his own, fingertips brushing the back of her hand, but says nothing.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She's content to wait for him; his chest is right there and she does so love to feel it under her fingertips. It's not intended to be sensual, per se; she just likes touching him in as many ways as possible.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot gives himself a little shake, and looks up at her. He wants to pull her close and kiss her; he wants her to soothe the flickering unrest he feels, without knowing why he feels it; he wants her to detail what she means by fight everyone.

What he settles on is shifting to wrap both arms around her, again, and ease her still closer. He kisses her cheek, then the corner of her mouth. (He doesn't bother trying to find words for any of this.)

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She turns her head and kisses him properly, slow and easy.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot returns the kiss, trying to pour all of his feeling into it somehow. His hands come up to cup her face.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Lancelot is clearly going through something now; Susan can feel it in the tremble of his fingers against her cheek. Very well. She likes that she can be grounding for him, and she pours that into the kiss.

[lanselos_du_lac]

After a long, long moment he breaks the kiss and brushes back her hair. He looks a little overcome, flushed and softly adoring. "Thou'rt fierce."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes," she agrees.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It suits me well."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'm glad," says Susan, leaning in to kiss him again... when the timer in her pocket goes up. She jolts, surprised, slapping at it to make it stop. "It seems the turnovers are done," she says, a little rueful.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He laughs a little. "Then we best attend to them."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She kisses him once more, firmly, and then slides reluctantly off his lap, offering her hand to him as she stands.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He takes it, getting to his feet, and twines their fingers together, smiling at her.