open: don't let the wine go to your brains

[untamedantinous]

It shouldn’t be this hard to prepare for a meeting. He’s done it countless times before. However, this time, it somehow is difficult. He’s never really had to set things up at times like this; and he knows as well as anyone else that he is not the best at social niceties. Granted, this meeting is in a much more well-appointed cafe than any he had ever been accustomed to holding space in in Paris. At least they have the benefit of a larger space. Consequently, Enjolras has spent much of the day of the eighth of Menestheus preparing, a little uncertain of how to plan a social gathering that is not immediately centered around planning a revolution. He is trying his best, at least.

Most of the tables and chairs have been pushed a bit more to the center of the room; the couch is arranged off to the opposite side. There are even various pillows scattered about, should anyone choose to sit on the floor. Arranged on a few of the larger tables and the counter there is a modest spread of food: of course, some of Laertes and Galahad’s pastries; but Enjolras has also procured what amounts to a few charcuterie platters: sliced sausages and meats, a selection of (mostly French) cheese, and various sliced loaves of bread and crackers are laid out for perusal, and spreads to go along with them. In an effort to provide multiple options of entertainment, Grantaire has set up a table somewhat near the food, with an assortment of wines and liqueurs. Off to one side, there are a few pots of brewed coffee, cream, sugar, and whatever else anyone might like to add to their beverage of choice. If anyone is drawn to the liquor cabinet, they will find three cups filled with various pieces of paper sitting atop it.

Enjolras himself is lingering on the couch with a glass of wine and some bread. He’s not sure how many people were even informed about this gathering, though he had done his best to advertise. If no one arrives then perhaps he will try again another time; but at least a few in attendance other than himself and Grantaire would certainly be welcome.

Comments

[lanselos_du_lac]

"That's well," quiet and sincere. "Would-- would you rather go home? If not for that?"

[summerdude]

"If not for preventing the end of the world?" Magnus laughs, sharp and harsh. "I haven't thought about it. I have responsibilities back home. I miss my boyfriend and my friends and traveling. My best friend is getting married soon and I won't be able to see it. I don't miss dying every day. I would miss people here if I went back. I wouldn't be able to figure out a different purpose besides fighting, and dude, I haven't practiced in months. I'd miss my other best friend getting married if I went back to Valhalla." Oops. That's probably not common knowledge yet. Certainly not Lancelot knowledge. "But it's moot, anyway."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot raises an eyebrow at the mention of a marriage, but doesn't pursue it. "At first, I thought of almost nothing else. As things have changed -- I would choose to stay. But I suppose it's as you say."

He takes another drink. "This is very good. Thank you."

[summerdude]

"Straight from Valhalla," Magnus says, and because he's extremely mature, doesn't add, which is the closest you'll ever get, buddy! to the end of that sentence. He fiddles with the bottle for a moment -- there are no labels to peel, unfortunately -- and then says, "It's kind of easier that the only choice is whether or not you're going to accept that you're stuck here. You know?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

He thinks of Arthur's visit, of the agonizing feeling of being caught between choosing to stay or return. It was not made any less agonizing by his belief that the choice was not actually a choice.

(What if Arthur had been right? What if Lancelot could have changed things by choosing instead to believe his King, his best friend, the center of everything? What if Lancelot had been tested and failed and that is why Arthur was gone? He still wonders. He still wakes in the middle of the night with the sensation of a gaping wound in his chest, that bleak feeling of utter loss. And while he knows he still loves Guinever, his feelings for her are different now that he sees things differently. But his feelings for Arthur have changed as well, sharpened or at least have been made clear to him, and to have had him here for a day, to know that Arthur sought him and found him and loved him enough to let him go -- it's still too much. Of course he will say none of this to Magnus, but he doesn't mind if Magnus sees it move through him.)

He glances down and says, "Aye. I understand your meaning."

[summerdude]

"Galahad wants you to have the space to be able to become a different guy here," Magnus says, still staring down at his bottle of mead. He takes a sip. Yep, it's still like the creamiest sweetest cold brew. When he closes his eyes, it's almost like he's back in the Feast Hall of the Slain, next to -- gods, he misses Alex. "Instead of, I guess, who you'd become if you weren't here." He glances up at Lancelot then. "Galahad was my biggest supporter when I decided I wanted to stop being Fighting Guy, and now I guess instead of sparring with our swords all the time--" or, more accurately, trying a little every day to see if he could last one second longer without Galahad disarming him, Galahad is so cool "--we just let them date each other instead and do better things with our time."

Okay, that's less central to your point, Magnus! Get back on track! "Also he's like a brother to me. Which does not make you my dumb deadbeat dad, by the way. I already have one of those."

Sorry, Fray, he prays, as his own words register, just to be safe. But you kinda are. Amen, Magnus Chase -- your son, in case you forgot.

"Anyway, so I'm inclined to let him call the shots on this. But you have to understand: I have a code. A really important code that I live by."

[lanselos_du_lac]

It is, he admits, a little annoying that this seems to imply that Lancelot -- who has quite literally taken sacred vows to uphold his own code -- does not have a 'really important code' to live by. But Lancelot lets that go.

"Aye? Say on."

[summerdude]

Lancelot has nothing to fear, actually; this was actually a very finely-wrought attempt to appeal to Lancelot's sense of duty, such as it may be. Magnus figured Lancelot might get having some kind of code. "I know you guys have old-timey codes that are important to you, too," Magnus clarifies, just to be sure. "These crows I talked to in Flam were all about it, and Galahad has told me a little, too. Norman whatsits, right? So I imagine you get it. Vikings didn't really go for it though. But I, obviously, abide by Girl Code. And Bro Code. And Best Friend Code, and also Other Best Friend Code too I guess. So I suppose it's actually a network of codes. Codes all the way down."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He stifles a look by taking another drink of mead. "And what does all of that mean?"

[summerdude]

"Obviously Bro Code is you don't sleep with your bro's love interest," Magnus says, wisely. "That's never an issue for me, of course, because I'm deeply committed to Alex, but I still abide by it on principle, you know? Best Friend code is you form honest but supportive opinions on the people your best friends love. Other Best Friend Code is you hear your best friends out and give their arguments full consideration even if you disagree with them -- it's a respect thing. And Girl Code," here he makes direct eye contact with Lancelot, "is that if your friends are softening towards someone who could be bad news for them, or whatever, you support you friend but also hate the guy for them, so they don't have to but there's still someone keeping an eye out."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"And you believe I could be 'bad news' for Galahad." It isn't really a question.

[summerdude]

"I hope you're not."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Here, as I am now, I am not. But I don't expect you to take me at my word." He holds Magnus' gaze. "I appreciate that Galahad has those who love him and will protect him. I shall simply continue to do as I have been doing. You can make whatever judgment you will."

[summerdude]

Magnus considers the evidence carefully. It takes some time, to sift through this entire conversation and all their others, as well as all the conversations he's had with both Galahad and Claudius about Lancelot, too. Probably Lancelot is starting to feel antsy by the time he takes a big, decisive gulp of mead and sets the bottle to his side. "Look," he says. "I believe that you don't plan to fuck his shit up."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Thank you," wryly.

[summerdude]

"In addition to the cop energy," Magnus explains, as if they're still on the subject of his personal issues and haven't digressed from that for easily at least ten or fifteen minutes of conversation, "I have issue with fathers. As, like, a category of people."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I see." He's tempted, for a moment, to point out that he didn't even know he was a father until he arrived here and encountered his fully grown son.

[summerdude]

"So in that way, it's not really about you," Magnus allows. Then he frowns. "Or it's exactly about you, I guess, depending on how you look at it."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I think," gently and with as much respect as he can telegraph, "it is moreso about you."

[summerdude]

"Yeah, that's what I said," says Magnus, who hadn't, precisely.

[lanselos_du_lac]

A little shrug of disagreement, but his expression is mild. "So then. Do we understand one another better?"

[summerdude]

"Maybe," says Magnus. He crosses his arms. "It's your turn now."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"My turn for what?"

[summerdude]

"I mean, if we're asking questions and airing grievances," Magnus says. "I've been pretty relentless since you got here, on account of Girl Code and my personal issues." And also his general distaste for the man. "I do see that. But I'm not War Dude anymore, and so I guess that means mediation and conversation. So! It's your turn."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I don't think I have any grievances with you," thoughtfully regarding his bottle of mead. "As for questions -- why did you come to have this conversation, this evening?"