~ [closed post]

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Now that the Mansion is producing goods again, it's very easy for Susan to compile a picnic basket full of, essentially, the makings of a rather international charcuterie board. Four cheeses (a good British cheddar, a French camembert, an Italian sheeps-milk ricotta, and a wedge of Dutch Leyden), three meats (jamon Iberico from Spain, mortadella with pistachios, and something labeled as an American bison-blueberry salami), along with some honey, fruits and fruit preserves, a baguette, olives, nuts, and crackers. She tops this off with nice linens and silverware and all the necessary ingredients for French 75s. It's definitely more than enough for two people.

Something about the end of that dreadful month has her considering wearing color again. As a first step toward moving past mourning clothes, she experiments with a very flattering deep navy dress that's definitely not black, though it looks it in most lights. She adds a coat of lipstick, and then takes herself and her basket to Janet's room, where she raps lightly on the door.

NSFW!

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[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan does suppose that's true, but she's already worked her way through every known bisexual who isn't a child. "Sagramore," she says, matter-of-fact. "Grantaire." Ought she mention Lancelot? Oh, but he's been kissing men publicly, so surely it isn't any sort of secret. "Lancelot." She pauses, then adds, "If Enjolras is interested in women then I feel awful for the women he pursues. Oh, and certainly not Shen Yuan."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Definitely not Shen Yuan," Janet agrees immediately, almost laughing again at the very thought of Shen Yuan pursuing a woman. It would be like giving a mouse a steak. "You're forgetting Laertes," she adds.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Do you know, Shen Yuan kissed me once? The night he and I met, in fact. He wanted - proof, I suppose, that he wasn't interested in women at all." Obviously Susan is a good barometer for this, even if his scientific methodology was abysmal. "He's not bad at it, actually. Kissing. Laertes isn't homosexual?"

[sorrowandsorrow]

Unbidden, Janet is forced to picture Shen Yuan kissing Susan. It's not the worst mental image of her life, but it's miles away from the best, either. "Oh my God," she says, distractedly. "I told him he was gay -- well, fuck it. Whatever. No, Laertes isn't gay. He told me he would've shot his shot with me when we first met if he'd been a little braver."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

This tidbit has Susan's eyebrows climbing, equal parts surprised and intrigued.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Oh my God," Janet says for a second time as she catches the way Susan's face shifts. "That train has left the station. Sorry, Your Majesty."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Alas," says Susan, with a sigh that is mostly put-upon.

[sorrowandsorrow]

Her grin resurfaces. "You're welcome. For the intel and the mental image."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Much obliged," says Susan. "I really thought for certain he was homosexual." This belief is, in truth, because he hasn't propositioned her yet.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Definitely not. Wait," Janet says as she realizes, "are you going to shoot your shot?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"No," says Susan, and then, "I don't know," and then, "I've not thought about it." Of course, now that he mightn't be averse by virtue of her gender, her awareness of his handsomeness might be much less distant. "I'm not sure I ought to."

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet snorts. It would be generous to call that sound a laugh. "It might make things complicated. That's the problem with living in a giant house with literally everyone else in the world."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I shouldn't want Lancelot to think I'm meddling. Again," Susan sighs.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Oh, what, because he and Laertes are..." Janet trails off evocatively. She's already talked about this with Laertes.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, and I rather grilled Laertes on the nature of his interest toward Lancelot and, ah, lectured him when he said he'd no intention on making that interest known first."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"You're a woman of action," Janet says admiringly. "They talk way too much in Hamlet. Laertes needed you."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I just don't like to leave tasks unfinished," says Susan, loftily.

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet plants a deliberately sloppy kiss on Susan's cheek. "Trust me, I know."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan makes a noise that could, conceivably, be a laugh, and turns to capture Janet's mouth in a proper kiss.