!!! [interlude]

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan carefully wipes the mud from her boots before coming in from her morning archery practice. It's not warm out, but it's wet, and she's got rather mucked up whilst retrieving arrows. Her first stop is to deposit her dirty clothes in the hamper in her closet - which has seemed to expand even further since Lancelot moved in - to be washed immediately after she washes herself. Before she can shower, though, she must first wipe the arrows down, and then her bow. Then, to stay on the safe side, she sets about unstringing the bow so she can hang it and her coil of string with her other bows.

When she goes to start coiling the string, however, there's a tug on the other end. She frowns and kneels down. There's a flash of color, and then a flare of pain. She stares at her hand and the scratch across the back of it, and then at the culprit.

"Oh, aren't you a beauty," she breathes, reaching out to the Siamese cat tucked away between Lancelot's shoes. "Wherever did you come from?"

It takes her a good ten minutes to coax the cat out, and another ten to coax it into her arms. It's a girl, and not a kitten, though she does have a whiff of kittenhood still about her. "Do you belong to anyone?" Susan asks, but the cat isn't a Talking Beast, and doesn't answer.

Right. The first order of business shall be getting the cat some food. The second order of business shall be inventorying the residents to see if anyone has lost a cat she somehow hadn't caught wind of. She's nearly out the door when she realizes she's largely nude and still covered in streaks of mud, and carefully eases the cat onto the bed, instead. her actual first order of business ought to be washing quickly and getting dressed again. Then onto the rest of it.


Typist note: This is technically being posted as an interlude, given that Enjolras is doing an open post on the same topic at the same time, but if anyone wants to thread meeting Susan's new cat, I am MORE than happy to... I just don't want to overwhelm anyone!

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I know I've made quite a study of animals, but I've never had a pet before," Susan says, thoughtfully. "The closest I've come is animal courtiers."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He regards the cat, settled as she is on his foot. "This one seems to like thee well enough already. I am sure thou wouldst manage it well, having a pet."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose we shall see," reaching up for his hand so she can thread her fingers through his.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot twines his fingers with hers, folding his other hand over as well. "I wonder how she came to be here."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"It's an interesting question. More and more animals have been showing up, don't you think?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It seems so. Though I know how Rivelin came to be here, I suppose I do not know why he remained."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh!" A look of surprise crosses Susan's face, even as she shifts, tugging their hands so she can press as kiss to the back of his. "I suppose I never thought about why Rivelin stayed when Arthur--"

She cuts herself off there.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye," quietly, and in a tone that suggests she needn't cut herself off. "Some of his gear, too. What was left in the barn. Who knows how this place really works."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Lucy left nothing," says Susan, contemplative. "But then, she brought nothing."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He squeezes her hand. "At first, I was furious. It's easier now."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She shifts again so that she can look at him more easily, stroking the cat with her free hand when the cat shoots her a baleful look. "It is?" She's pleased to hear it.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Yes," he looks down at the cat. "Some days are better than others, I suppose, but it has gone easier for me."

His gaze shifts back to meet Susan's, "That is down, in part, to thee. Thou knowest."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I do know," she says, softly, sweetly.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Thou'rt wise," flashing her a teasing little smile.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I listen," with a squeeze to his hand.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Which is wise."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Very well," says Susan, hoisting herself off the floor so she might perch on his lap. "I'm eminently wise."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He is careful not to disturb the cat from his foot, but he adjusts so Susan can be comfortable. "There's good. I'll have no argument on this."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan snuggles up against his chest. "I think I'm still furious," she says, quietly. "After Lucy."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"At this place, or at Lucy?" He rubs her back lightly.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

But she shakes her head, and watches the way the cat stretches and then curls up again, still mostly on Lancelot's foot. "At Aslan, primarily."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Ah," quietly, "yes. I can understand."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Of course you can," with a there-and-gone smile. She's quiet for another moment, ruminative. Then, as it occurs to her: "Perhaps a little bit at Lucy as well."

[lanselos_du_lac]

As he often does when all of his focus is on her, he reaches up to brush back the wisps of hair from her temple. "Yes?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Well," Susan hedges, trying to sort out her feelings. "You've read my letters."