[Open Post] ..only want to glean the purpose..

[lanselos_du_lac]

Since they learned of Shen Yuan's death, things have been subdued; rightly so, Lancelot reasons. He has done what he can to be a support for those he loves, and to keep his own worry and anxiety at bay. He worries about how they are all doing, about whether or not they are safe, about what he can do to make anything better -- which often feels like nothing. It's unsettling, and he wants to stay settled and present for them, so he determines to find a way to be so.

As has always been the case for him, being outside helps. The weather is warming and true spring is settling in. (He has difficulty keeping track of what time may be like back in Britain¹, but he suspects that it is early summer there. If so, then he supposes that means he is another year older, which is a strangely hopeful thought.) And so, after his lunch with Susan, he heads back out -- he might ride, or walk through the woods, or explore the lake. Whatever keeps him out in the sunshine, under the sky.



^{1: He has not quite realized this yet, but he has generally stopped thinking "at home" when he means Camelot, or Britain in general. That this place -- no, these people -- have become home in so short a span is something he has to take by degrees, lest he worry about what it means for his relationship with those he left behind there.}

Comments

[vineleaves]

Dionysus is, of course, in his garden, inspecting each and every leaf to see what the plants might need. He is singing as he goes around, the sundress he put on this morning twirling as he goes from vine to vine.

He spots Lancelot off in the distance and waves to him.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot smiles and waves back, altering his course to approach the garden. When he's close enough he says, "Good afternoon, Dionysus-- what are you growing?"

[vineleaves]

"Lots! I've got my grapes, there's some tomatoes, cucumbers, oh! Oh I told you about zucchini, didn't I?" That was at the party, and he was incredibly drunk at that point, so he's only a little sure he's remembering right. "Growing some of those. Watermelon. Cantaloupe. Squash. How've you been?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

A little shrug, "Well enough, all things considered. You did tell me about zucchini, yes. How are you?"

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad is on his way back to the mansion from his training with Lan Wangji when he crosses paths with Lancelot, and stops, and bows politely.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot stops, and gives him a bow in return, smiling a little. "Good day, Galahad. How are you?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Unwell," he answers honestly. Claudius is different now that he has purpose, but things still feel unsettled, his work with Lan Wangji urgent. He hasn't been able to spend much time with Magnus, either. Galahad dislikes the changes to his routine, the sense of urgency. He wants to sit in his room all day and read, or work with Claudius in the garden. He doesn't like this.

[lanselos_du_lac]

His face clouds with concern, "I am sorry to hear this. I know--" He hesitates, but goes on. "I know Shen Yuan was a good friend to you. I am sorry for his loss, as well."

[futaille]

Grantaire is on a mission. For several very good reasons lately, he's been somewhat distracted from some of his standard pursuits, but when he finally went to check on one...

So he's on a mission to find Lancelot, and he finally catches up with him somewhat near the lake. "Lancelot!" He draws closer. "When was the last time you looked at the pinball table?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Grantaire!" He looks very pleased to see him. "Oh-- it's been some while. What with.... everything. Why?"

[futaille]

"That makes sense. It's been a little while for me too. And somehow Sagramore has the high score now."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Sagramore? That-- how?"

[aflashbastard]

Who knows what Crowley was heading outside to do but he crosses paths with Lancelot at this point, giving him a short nod in greeting. They haven't spoken much since Lancelot first arrived but Crowley has nothing against the guy and his nod is fairly friendly -- for him.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Oh," a little surprised to see him. "Hello, Crowley. How are you?"

[aflashbastard]

"I'm--" Crowley pauses, already mildly flummoxed. How is he? "Well. You know.¹ Existing. Causing mischief."

¹Does he?

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot raises an eyebrow, "Mischief, is it?"

[kadewest]

Kade's around! He spots Lancelot from a distance on the heels of his latest attempt at running. "It's been a while," he calls, once he's caught his breath.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye, so it has," he smiles at Kade. "How art thou?"

[kadewest]

"Fine, fine," wheezing. He straightens up and forces himself to jog closer. "How's life been treating you?"

[lightbearinglord]

For the sake of the overtaxed timeline, it must be a little later in the day, now, and Lan Wangji, in the slow-dawning warmth of the ongoing spring, is outside and circling the mansion to consider the ideal spot for a minor construction project. He always intended to build an outdoor hutch for the rabbits at the conclusion of winter, and that time is finally here. There are pressing matters, Shen Yuan's death and the identity of his missing murderer a consistent worry, but Xiaoxue and Danding are hardly at fault for that. They deserve their comforts and enrichments.

When Lan Wangji sees Lancelot, he comes to attention and bows to him, neat and precise.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot returns the bow in his own fashion, "Lan Wangji. How are you?"

[lightbearinglord]

After a small pause for consideration, Lan Wangji says, "Well enough." That is as truthful as he is willing to be with someone he barely knows. "And you?"

[timebethine]

Of late, Laertes has been spending less and less time at the mansion--he and Sagramore have rigged a tarp to cover their tools as they work on building their house, and more often than not, Laertes just unrolls his sleeping bag beneath that shelter and enjoys the quiet of the nighttime wood. He returns to the house only for more tools or tiles, or to cook, or because there's someone he's been missing ... and of late, he's been missing Lancelot. When his eyes light on that familiar silhouette, Laertes breaks into a smile, and he lopes across the grounds to meet him. "Lancelot," he calls. "There thou art. I keep meaning to meet thee at thy drills, and missing thee by inches."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He turns, glad and alight to hear Laertes' voice. "By inches?" He teases, "Can that be so?"

[timebethine]

"Ay, I see the earth freshly churned from thy labors, but my brave knight has since moved on to other pastimes." When he pulls up close, he reaches out to draw Lancelot into an embrace. "How dost thou, of late?"