~ [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!

Comments

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet watches her contentedly, a contentedness that borders on smug. "Right. I'm the animate one. But we did say we wouldn't let all this food go to too much waste."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan takes another tiny bite from Janet's hand, chews, swallows. "Would you like another cocktail, or just the champagne?"

[sorrowandsorrow]

Satisfied, Janet flips the baguette slice back around and takes her own bite, then uses her thumb to pick up a little honey from the corner of her mouth. "Let's be civilized. Cocktail, if Your Majesty would be so kind."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan tracks the movement of Janet's thumb with hungry eyes, and then tears herself away to mix them both more of the cocktails. This time she makes them stronger, not entirely on purpose. "I shall trade you yours for a kiss," she tells Janet, once they're poured and topped off with champagne.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"You drive a hard bargain." Janet leans in, catching Susan by the shoulder to kiss her. She's careful, but only because Susan's holding their drinks -- the kiss is still a pointed one, brief as it is.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Dutifully, Susan passes Janet her glass as she pulls away.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Thanks," Janet says, awash with sudden and disorienting sincerity. It's nice, more than nice, to be spoiled, to feel a little doted on, and to have some faith that the rug's not about to get pulled out from under her. She takes a sip, then tips the glass a little, the stem between her fingertips. "I'll be the mixologist next time, if you want."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I should like that." Susan keeps looking at Janet's mouth.

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet smiles at her, clocking the direction of her attention. "I bet I can think of some cocktails that were invented after you. Hey, did they have blenders when you were?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"They did," Susan says, "but I've never used one."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Shit. When summer hits, if it ever fucking does, we're having daiquiris."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan hums, lips quirking. "Summer shall hit," she says, "if it knows what's good for it. I should like to be indolent with you and any number of daiquiris by the lake." She pauses. "Perhaps we might even borrow the boat."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"You think Laertes could resist both of us asking him? We can definitely borrow the boat." Janet mimes tossing her hair, since there's not enough of it to do it for real, and then takes a pointed sip of her drink.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

A smile, amused, that's as good as a laugh. "He shan't know what hit him."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Yeah." Janet gives her a lazy smile, letting the daydream play out in her mind's eye: drifting on the lake with Susan, drinks in hand, warmed by the sun and the company. That's not so bad. "That might be the closest we can get to Fabio and Chad."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Do you reckon Laertes might wait on us with a Speedo?" Susan is trying to envision it. She rather likes the thought.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Oh my God," Janet says with a helpless laugh. Luckily she's just swallowed her sip of cocktail, so it makes it down the right pipe. "I think he might. Too bad there's no economy here so we couldn't tip him."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, we could find a way," says Susan, thoughtfully. "I've got some ideas."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"That's terrifying," Janet says, brightly. "I don't think he'll accept fingers and toes, though."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Fingers and toes?! I was going to suggest Lancelot," Susan admits.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"I thought we were doing a mob boss thing," Janet starts to explain, and then she laughs again. "Lancelot? Does Laertes want that?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, rather." Susan doesn't think it's a secret - and, indeed, in just a few nights hence, Lancelot will kiss and then carry Laertes physically from the bacchanal in front of all attending, so even if it is, it shan't remain so for very much longer. "He's being awfully respectful about it, too. Perhaps a Speedo situation might inspire them to put an end to all that rot."

[sorrowandsorrow]

As usual, there's no accounting for taste. Janet still has no clue what Susan sees in Lancelot. He doesn't seem like a dick -- and she has no fear that Susan would put up with him if he turned out to be one -- he just has all the appeal of a bowl of plain pasta with no sauce or cheese or anything. "Would Lancelot let you do that?" she asks, suddenly curious. They've really never talked directly about Susan and Lancelot's deal. Which is fine. But she's, what, three drinks in? Things are getting knocked loose.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Use him as a bargaining chip with Laertes? Absolutely, if I asked." Possibly because he knows she wouldn't ask him for something he wouldn't be willing to give. Which is why she shan't actually bring this up with him at all... but she does so want to impress Janet, and it isn't like this is a lie. Any information she thinks Lancelot might mind getting out, of course, she shan't share. But this is a harmless fact.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Huh," Janet says, turning this over with almost exaggerated thoughtfulness as she downs another slow sip of her drink. "Well, he's got great taste in women."