called_lioness | (no subject)

Caspian isn't actually in the main room, though there are sounds of movement and running water coming from the water closet.

The dragon twins have staked out a corner of their own, it seems, and are dozily entwined with one another, sending up thin streams of smoke.

Shockingly, the room has not been torn apart, though it does look rather emptied of clothing.

She grins and crouches next to both of them for a moment, murmuring, "Hullo, my dears," and scratching their snouts.

Lilac rolls over onto her back and claws at the air while Lavender merely yawns.

She rises after a moment and leaves the bag on the bed before knocking on the door and opening it a bit, peering in to the water closet. "Caspian, are you in here or have the dragons thrown a wild party and left the water running?"

There's a pleased sound, and then the water is shut off, and Caspian appears, toweling off his face and hair.

"You'd think it to look at them, wouldn't you? Hullo, there."

He can't hide his pleasure at seeing her, and embraces her briefly.

Not that he's been moping without her.

Kings don't mope, after all.

"Have a nice holiday?"

Of course they don't.

"It was brilliant!" she laughs and wraps her arms around him for a moment. And given how happy and relaxed she looks, this is fairly obviously true. "You'll never, ever guess what happened. But first," gesturing with her head towards the sleeping twins, "did they give you too much trouble?"

He hugs her tightly for a moment, and kisses her hair before pulling away and taking her by the hand to go and sit on the bed.

His own smile is very bright indeed.

"Aye? It must have been something marvelous, I think. You're glowing, Lu. What on earth happened? And--"

He glances at the twins, with an oddly triumphant quirk to his smile. "Nay. Not much, though not for lack of trying. I've evened the odds, rather, and I think they're somewhat disappointed."

"It was," she agrees, and then quirks an eyebrow at him, asking a question of her own instead of answering his, for the moment. "What did you do to the poor things, Caspian?"

"Why, Lu!"

He does his best to look affronted, but only succeeds in laughing.

"What makes you think I've done something to them? Nay, I only gave them what they wanted. Since they were so keen on getting rid of my clothing, I've moved it all. It's gone from the room, and I still have garments, and really one would think that would satisfy everyone."

Indeed, he does look rather less singed than usual.

"Still, I imagine it is only a short relief. Doubtless they will come up with new and less avoidable ways of making me understand I am not wanted here."

Lilac puffs something drowsily.

WE'LL GET YOU YET, THE HIM.

Lavender makes a snort of agreement.

"Then I'm very pleased for you," she grins. "And perhaps you and the twins can share one of the gifts I brought you and find something to enjoy together. As for the weekend--" Lucy's grin widens. "I attended Alanna and Adam's wedding today."

See icon.

"Adam and Alanna?"

She may be laughing again.

"Yes! Oh, it was lovely. It was utterly spur of the moment and only the three of us were there, but it really was perfect."

Caspian's brow furrows slightly.

"You mean they hadn't meant to get married?"

It isn't that this isn't wonderful news. It isn't that Caspian isn't terribly happy for the both of them.

It's mostly that Lucy's method of breaking news to him usually requires a few moments of thought in order to understand what exactly she means.

"Not until a few hours before the ceremony," she says cheerfully.

"I asked Adam when he'd make an honest woman of Alanna, and the answer ended up being today."

Lucy feels this is unfair, as she is very direct and clear!

"Good Lord," says Caspian, still somewhat dumbfounded, though beginning to smile.

"Well! It has been an eventful weekend, hasn't it? I must find Alanna and congratulate her. Adam, as well."

"You should," she agrees, flopping onto her back on the bed. "It really was perfect. I need to get them a gift still," absently. She nudges him with her knee after a moment and grins again, if she'd ever stopped. It's possible she hasn't. "And when are you going to make an honest woman of me, hmm?"

The smile that had been growing stops, and though Caspian doesn't look angry, or unhappy, or shocked, there is a sudden pause.

She's still smiling, though, and so his voice stays light.

"Quite a question."

Her grin fades, though it doesn't disappear, and she sits up again and pulls her knees up, watching him.

"I was teasing you, you know."

"Some things, Lu," he says, softly though not angrily, "should not be teased about."

She looks away and shrugs after a moment, carefully keeping her voice light. "Well, it would be rather awkward if I asked you seriously, wouldn't it?"

"I'm supposed to do the asking, I think," he says, with a small smile. His voice is a little rueful.

"I suppose it was teasing with Adam and Alanna, as well, was it?"

"I'm sorry," she says softly, before looking back at him and shrugging again, smiling crookedly. "I didn't mean to--well, I'm sorry. And rather, yes."

"Lu..."

It's mostly a sigh, though it's a little bit of a laugh, and there's a small smile back at her as he rubs at the back of his neck.

"I'm not Adam, you know. And don't be sorry."

It isn't as though the subject hasn't been on his mind.

"Well, thank God for that," she says, possibly with a bit more passion than is needed. "I don't--" She sighs and rubs the back of her neck for a moment before looking at him and smiling again. "I just thought you'd laugh, or threaten me that you would when the twins stopped tormenting you, or something. So I'm sorry that I teased over something I shouldn't have, and you can't make me not be," a bit playfully.

"Then I am sorry not to," he says, looking over at her, and there is only warmth in the sea-gray eyes.

"Though why you might have thought I would laugh is rather beyond me, I admit."

He is sure that Adam and Alanna laughed, and he shifts a little uncomfortably.

"And I don't suppose the twins will ever stop tormenting me."

"They might...someday. And because--well, you didn't, so it doesn't matter, I suppose," she finishes cheerfully and flops backward again, hands behind her head. "Shan't again."

"No?" he says, running a hand over her stomach and smiling.

"Never again?"

His eyes trace her face, and though he is smiling, the expression in them is unreadable.

"I am sorry that I missed Adam and Alanna's wedding, though there was no way anyone could have known about it."