[Closed Post: En Garde]

[timebethine]

Just as Laertes has developed his own routine here--the regular rounds of breakfasts and dinners do much to give shape to his otherwise formless days--he's observed others' routines. Lancelot, for one, always trains at the same time every morning. At times, as he's shuttled back and forth between the clay bed by the lakeside and his kiln, Laertes has ridden Fenyes past the training yard while Lancelot has been practicing, and he'd reviewed the other man's swordplay with a critical eye. Watching him wheel and thrust in the cool grey light of morning, a part of him has craved the challenge of a second duel.

Today, he sates that craving. He strolls up on Lancelot with a thin, sheathed blade in one hand and his rapier buckled at his waist. "Hallo," he calls. "Wouldst thou like to try a rapier?"

Comments

[lanselos_du_lac]

He smiles softly, "Thou hast been nothing but kind to me. I did not ask because I am hurt, but because I know I am not an easy person."

[timebethine]

Mirth crinkles the corners of Laertes's eyes. "Nor is Greek an easy language, but well worth knowing all the same."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He laughs a little. "I know naught of Greek. But I would learn to be a little easier, an I might do so."

[timebethine]

"Needst not. I'm a very hard man to love--and harder now than I ever was before," says Laertes. "I'm impatient, disorderly, intense where others might welcome ease ... and yet I've found such love here as beggars description. Those who love me, love me not because I'm easy, but for all those defects of character that grow monstrous in my imagination."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It is different with thee-- it is easy to come to know thee, faults or otherwise. Thou'rt open."

[timebethine]

"I've learned to be," says Laertes. "If that's thy wish, then I hope thou mayest as well."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He smiles a little, nodding as if this answer satisfies him. After a moment he says, "I admire thee. Thou'rt bright, and brave in ways I am not often brave."

[timebethine]

"What ways are those?" Taking a piece of toast, Laertes bites into it and chews. The flavor of the cheese is more subtle than the chèvre he's pulled unthinkingly from the refrigerator; it provides a good base for the sweetness and tang of the marmalade.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"In seeking new things and ideas, in making new friends. That is hard, for me."

[timebethine]

"Why, hard?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I am used to few folks understanding me, or enjoying my company. I have never thought much about making friends, until here."

[timebethine]

"And new ideas?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"That's been a bit of adjustment as well," with a little chuckle.

[timebethine]

"Ay, but not all of them have been curses of truth or the restless dead." Laertes tips his head toward the refrigerator. "There's one idea that's greatly improved my state. My marriage is another."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye, and the idea of thy marriage has been, I think, a boon to me as well."

[timebethine]

"Oh? How?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Well," this is careful, a little cautious. It's one thing to discuss this with Susan or Sagramore; with Laertes he sometimes feels he'll take a turn and there will be a cliff he was unaware of.

(It's not, he realizes, that he doesn't trust Laertes -- more than he doesn't trust himself to read the conversation correctly.)

"For one, the notion that men may marry, and love openly. For another, that one may be in a marriage and have other loves without causing hurt."

[timebethine]

Laertes breaks into a huge, flashing grin. "That's well, then," he says. "Learning those things has brought me great peace and pleasure. If it could bring thee the same joy, then I'm happy--I'm so happy to hear it."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot smiles, relieved that Laertes has heard this as he intended.

"If only I can learn skill enough to make good use of knowing, perhaps that will be so."

[timebethine]

"Hast cast thine eye on any of the men here, then?" Laertes teases, with a little lift of his brows.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Ah, well, perhaps."

[timebethine]

"Then perhaps I will wish thee the joy of him."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Only perhaps?"

[timebethine]

"If no man has caught thine eye, then there's no joy to wish with him."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I see," chuckling. Then, after a moment's consideration, "I am fond of Grantaire, but I know not of any interest he may have in me."