[Re-Introduction: Sir Dinadan]

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

Dinadan awakens, which is already several positive steps ahead of where he thought he'd be this morning (viz. in the void from which there is no awakening, or in the hereafter that he has done nothing particularly to avoid). A giddy thrill of relief washes through him. He cautiously cracks one eye open, and then the other. For a moment, the sunlight's brightness overwhelms him--an aching reminder that he is, somehow, alive.

But as the sunlight becomes bearable, he realizes that he is somehow, impossibly, once again, in Sagramore's cabbages.


"Christ, do you really only have one joke?" he calls to the sky--but he's grinning all the same. A life condemned to cabbages is better than a death condemned to Hell or the void, and given those are the only two options, he'll gladly take the cabbages.

Friends and strangers may find a tall, blond knight minstrel wandering around in Sagramore's borrowed clothes, occasionally strumming his rebec, definitely not touching anything he shouldn't.

Comments

[sagramore]

"I'm not! I'm robustly cynical! Nothing affects me!" He pauses. He usually drinks his sole glass of brandy over breakfast so he doesn't have to think about it the rest of the day, and so that it takes less importance in his mind. As usual, Laertes has it set by his plate.

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

Dinadan sits and nudges Sagramore with his toe. "Sagramore, art thou trying to impress me, or confuse me?"

[timebethine]

Laertes, meanwhile, catches the glance at the brandy. All at once, the posturing snaps into place for him--he realizes that there is a man whom Sagramore was with Dinadan, a man who boasted and caroused and spoke lightly of heavy things, and that Sagramore is even now trying to conjure his ghost. "I'll make coffee," he says, and takes down the cezve.

[sagramore]

"Thou art impressed by nothing, so it's a fool's errand," Sagramore says merrily, sinking into his seat. "This will be good coffee, not like we had last time."

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"In fairness, we profaned that coffee terribly."

[sagramore]

"We did commit a sort of coffee crime, yes."

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"An abomination. Frankly I expected more respect from thee for both coffee and alcohol."

[sagramore]

"I don't respect anything."

[timebethine]

"Thou wilt respect me," Laertes cuts in, with a comfortable hand laid where Sagramore's neck meets his shoulder.

[sagramore]

Sagramore tips his head back and smiles at him. "Thou'rt right."

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"Disgusting," Dinadan pronounces. "I'm so happy for thee."

[sagramore]

"Thou couldst have this at any time, only say," Sagramore says, and takes a sip of his brandy.

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"May I die old and a bachelor."

[sagramore]

"Hast succeeded in one, at least."

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"Next time, I'll manage both."

[sagramore]

"Couldst try living forever. There are a lot of instruments to play here."

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"Oh? And how am I to go about doing that?"

[sagramore]

"Just go to the music room and start picking things up."

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"I meant living forever, thou ass--ah, my thanks for the coffee," says Dinadan as Laertes sets down a cup beside him. He holds the cup up to his mouth, then decides it's hot enough not to chance a sip.

[sagramore]

Sagramore makes no such judgement, and immediately burns his tongue with an oath, before catching Laertes' arm so he can kiss him thanks.

"Living forever? Isn't that impossible?"

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"Then why didst thou say I should try?"

[sagramore]

"Oh, I was just trying to annoy thee."

[rebecs_with_the_straps]

"Thou art the resident expert in that."

[sagramore]

"Well do I know it, my friend."

[timebethine]

"I'll leave thee to thy sparring," Laertes laughs, and leans down to kiss Sagramore's temple one more time before heading out to busy himself in the garden.