(no subject)

[illuminescent]

WHO: Athos and Lucy
WHERE: de Chima
WHEN: Evening of the 6th
WHAT: A conversation on important subjects. Namely: The Bastille
WARNINGS: Athos.

[Lucy has, of late, come home exhausted and unwilling to speak much; between school and work, and her odd mood from the other day (that she still refuses to explain to its fullest) she hasn't been much herself.

Her choice of books has not proven to help that much. Lately she can be found curled up, eyes wide, reading some enormous tome or another, absorbing information in a way one does not expect from a girl who prefers to be out and about than trapped indoors.

So but tonight she's just come home, things still hanging from her arms (bags and books and stuff) when she seems to realize something.

But Lucy can't just start a conversation simply, can she?]

Athos, can you tell me something of France?

[A more specific question does not follow.]

Comments

[illuminescent]

[Her eyes widen a little, innocently.]

You could call me Lu, then.

[He would never, she knows it, and she's not at all frightened.]

And if you think I would ever refuse to be your friend, you're sorely mistaken.

[ANOTHER PAUSE.]

What is d'Artagnan's name? How do I not know this?

[desequilibre]

[ Lu sounds like something you would call a pet. He doesn't tell her that. ]

You know, you could ask him.

[ He takes a sip of his drink, a little smug in the expression. ] And because we introduced ourselves by what we go by, of course.

[illuminescent]

Would he say?

[A pause.]

But you live with me! I should know all your names, do you not agree?

[desequilibre]

Presumably.

[ Athos is fairly certain he could freely give it and yet he does not want to assume. He has never called him by anything else. ]

I do not know, my lady. It is a custom I am used to. But if you do wish to ask, be gentle when you do so of Porthos. [ His friend can be prickly when questioned as to anything close to his origin. ]

[illuminescent]

Oh-

Yes, I will be gentle.

I am not as gentle as Susan, but I can be kind, do you not agree?

[She takes another bit of her drink.]

[desequilibre]

You can be very kind, my lady.

In fact I so rarely see you being anything but.

[ In fact he doubts she could be unkind in any way. ]

[illuminescent]

It is because you have not had the unfortunate luck to see me cross.

[Or fighting a privy but she's not bringing that up, Athos does Not Need To Know.]

And I hope you will never have that displeasure.

[desequilibre]

[ He smiles as he finishes his second ( or third, who knows ) cup of wine. ]

I hope so too.