[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

[timebethine]

"Good," says Laertes encouragingly. "He's a fine man. Fond of games and jests, but there is a heart of adamant in him that loves without surcease. Dost thou mean to try thy suit with him?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot flushes, laughing again and shrugging. "I could not say. I am still understanding how all of this works. Not only with men, mind you-- wooing anyone is something of a mystery to me."

[timebethine]

"To me, as well--I'd never wooed anyone, before I came here," Laertes admits. "But I've had great success with being direct, and answering a no with kindness and respect."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"'Tis difficult to be direct when one isn't even quite aware of what one wants."

[timebethine]

"That's true--hast thou any idea?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It's another thing that is sometimes difficult for me, but I'm starting to, I think, yes."

[timebethine]

"Then thou couldst do worse than to ask for it."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I suppose that's true."

[timebethine]

With a last, quick quirk of a smile, Laertes finishes his toast and starts preparing the other pieces. They'll probably need some accompaniment, he thinks--eggs, maybe, or berries. Berries will be less work, but eggs will be heartier. "Eggs, or berries?" he asks.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Eggs," he says, decisively. "Berries are not enough for most."

[timebethine]

"Very good. Canst cook an egg? Or wouldst thou have me teach thee?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

A trifle sheepishly he says, "I'd appreciate the lesson."

[timebethine]

"Eggs were the first thing I learned to cook--Sagramore taught me, when we met," says Laertes, grinning. "It's easy for me now, but at the time, I was very impressed."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I don't doubt he can cook eggs impressively."

[timebethine]

"To begin--there are many ways to cook an egg. Canst scramble it, boil it, poach it, or fry it, and there are many ways to fry an egg, depending on how soft thou wouldst like the yolks to be. To scramble means to mix white and yolk together, then to cook it into curds; to poach is to boil it without its shell. How wouldst thou like thine eggs?" Laertes asks as he takes a carton out from the refrigerator.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Let us scramble them, then." He gets up and comes over to the stove.

[timebethine]

And if it feels warm and domestic to be cooking with him--well, Laertes mostly cooks with Sagramore and Enjoras; of course it does. He shunts that aside and takes down a mixing bowl. "Help me crack in some eggs," he says as he sets bowl and carton between them. "About eight or ten in total." Laertes also snags the compost bin and brings it close to dump the spent eggshells into it.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He sets to work, a little awkwardly at first, but soon enough he relaxes.

[timebethine]

And once they've broken all of the eggs into the bowl, Laertes mixes in salt and pepper, then goes to the refrigerator for a little milk to add in. "The milk gives them height and--" the sign for fluffy "--softness," he says. "Wilt heat a little butter in a pan for me? The butter's also in the box."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye," he says agreeably, going to find it. Once in hand he finds a pan and starts to set everything up. "How much?"

[timebethine]

"A little less than a finger's thickness," says Laertes. "And then turn the pan until the butter coats the bottom." He takes up a whisk and starts beating the eggs fiercely.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot does all of this carefully; he's a little surprised to find it's somewhat soothing watching the butter melt and coat the pan.

[timebethine]

Laertes can't help smiling a little to watch him. Already, Lancelot looks more at ease in his own skin than he had only a month ago. "That looks good," he says, and steps in with the mixing bowl held in both hands. "Now, I have only to pour and stir. An thou do not stir, and let it cook flat, thou wilt have an omelette. Canst put anything in it--cheeses, meats, vegetables--and then fold it up inside the egg."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot steps aside, though not quite as far as he otherwise might. "Thou canst show me the method."

[timebethine]

Then Laertes tips about half of the egg mixture into the pan and grabs a metal-ended turner; while the eggs hiss and bubble into thick yellow-and-white curds, he scrapes them up and stirs.¹ As soon as the last of the whites have gone from translucent to opaque, he serves up the eggs onto the plates with toast. "Thy turn, now," he says, once the pan's been cleaned out. "Remember what thou hast learned."

¹ I feel the need to clarify for anyone who is currently reading in horror that this pan does not have a non-stick coating, so it's fine to use metal utensils on it.