[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

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Possibly," wryly, and with a little smile, "that depends on how fast we paint."

[sagramore]

"I want it to be beautiful. That's important."

[futaille]

Unfortunately, Grantaire is extraordinarily susceptible to being drawn in by Sagramore's nonsense. "Beautiful in what way? Just painted quite thoroughly or do you want actual designs?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I still think he is trying to distract us," Lancelot says, moving to examine the coop, "but I will help."

[sagramore]

"Thoroughly but with designs!" eagerly; he is warming to his topic. "I was thinking a base coat of paint, all right, and then we could do a-- a sort of mural of chicken accomplishments."

[futaille]

The sheer insanity of that idea strikes him like a beacon. "Accomplishments about chickens, actual accomplishments by chickens, or invented accomplishments by chickens?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot sighs, and leans against the coop to watch them collaborate.

[sagramore]

"The last one, unless thou hast some marvelous stories about chickens from the future to give me. No, I was thinking something like-- chicken inventors, with their brave new creations, or chicken surgeons doing medicine, or chicken knights a-jousting. A chicken fighting zombies with spores. The obvious."

[futaille]

"That is amazing and I love it in every particular, but it will need quite a bit of planning to have a mural with proper composition. You said you want it beautiful, so you don't want to rush the process."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Jousting," he chuckles.

[sagramore]

"Well, we could start with the base coat today and maybe sketch some of the chicken accomplishments? Or do a layout for it, I've got all this drafting paper." He bumps his shoulder fondly against Lancelot's. "Jousting."

[futaille]

"Perfect. I can already think of-- wait. No no wait. Base coat, then pinball, then working on the layout."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot elbows Sagramore gently. "At last! Someone is speaking sense again."

[sagramore]

"I can accept that. Hast thou paint we can use? --Or, no, is it a different sort of paint?"

[futaille]

"There is a different sort of paint."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"What sort of difference?"

[sagramore]

"Enlighten us."

[futaille]

"To start with, artists' paints come in very small tubes."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Ah, obviously not enough for this."

[sagramore]

"So we'd use those for the fine details and something else for the base?"

[futaille]

"Exactly. Something like house paint or even whitewash."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Doubtless we can find such things."

[sagramore]

"Doubtless! Grantaire's very good at getting things to appear."

[futaille]

"Not more than anyone else is in particular, but yes, I'm sure we should be able to find the right paint."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It helps to know what one is looking for."