[Closed Post] ..the sky will come for you once..

[lanselos_du_lac]

The day is warm and bright -- it's lovely, in fact -- and so Lancelot is doing his best to ignore the strange tension that has been dogging him over the last few days. He is, of course, keeping to his usual routine, which helps, and now he is in the little clearing where he and Magnus meet for training. He's waiting for Magnus to arrive, checking the straps of Arthur's shield while he waits, and doing his best to clear his head and focus up on what he has determined they need to focus on today.

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, it jolly shall please me tremendously. Please do act reluctant when Sagramore comes to beg your participation, though, I imagine that should be quite funny."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot grins at her, his eyes glinting. "At last, I shall have the chance to play a trick on him."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan kisses him then, light and sweet and heartfelt. As she pulls away, she says - half-tease, half-earnest - "I do love to give you as many gifts as you've given me."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It is a very fine gift, sweet." He smiles at her, brushes her cheek, and then softens a little. "Thou makest everything well."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'm pleased to hear it," says Susan, and gives him a firm, assessing look. There is, of course, no small amount of interest laced through it. "How else might I help you? Specifically?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot rubs her back, smiling at her. "Hast helped a great deal, already. I should have spoken with thee sooner."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes," says Susan, simply. "You ought always speak to me. I would know whatever troubles you."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I shall work harder to break old habits."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan looks at him fondly. "You've done tremendous work on that front, you know," she says. "You shut yourself off ever so much less than you used to when you're grappling with your feelings." She lifts his hand to her mouth and kisses his knuckles. "I suppose I might work on that as well."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Perhaps, though I think thou dost well enough, of late. We both of us can improve together."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, but," Susan glances down. "You're right. I ought to have spoken with you instead of Magnus."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot strokes her hair. Quietly he says, "Next time, thou wilt. I-- I appreciate that thou didst think to look out for me, though. No matter my confusion."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She glances back up. "I'm afraid I shall always look out for you."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I love thee," he says softly. "I will accept it with better grace, in future."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Are there ways I might help? When you're feeling homesick?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

At first he shakes his head, but then he pauses. "Was I seeming any different? These last few days?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan considers the question seriously. "Perhaps a different tenor of thoughtful," she says, at long last. It doesn't seem enough. Ought she have seen something more plainly? Did she miss some clearer sign?

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I think that I was trying very hard not to seem like I had anything on my mind. So that was perceptive of thee."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"My wily little love," says Susan, again stroking his hair.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot scoffs a little, "It is something I have always done, though I think perhaps it's not always good."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Perhaps not," Susan agrees, studying him. "I suppose it depends on if it brings you ease, to carve out the time you need to understand things in pieces." Her eyes, it must be said, do dance as she says this - it's been a good few months since she's thought of when he first said that to her, but she did hold onto that advice for quite some time. "I can understand how it might've protected you in your past."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He smiles at her quoting him. "I admit, I think I am often doing it to make it possible to set things aside. It is increasingly ineffective."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Perhaps," she says, thoughtful, "that's not such a bad thing."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I might agree, but why dost thou think so?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"That it's growing ineffective," Susan clarifies. "It speaks to your ability to confront your feelings. Goodness knows I also like to set things aside, but - I do believe addressing them when we are able serves us better."