Open Essentially

[lesser_son]

Melou is being very good. He has talked to his father on behalf of his brother, and is planning to do the same with his mother; he has decided that he likes his grandmother still, even if she a little frightens him; and at the moment he is applying his real-world skills of living on grass if necessary to finding some scavenged food for the Mansion

Comments

[all_that_grace]

Courfeyrac, as it happens, is coming down the same path that Melou is coming up, and he pauses politely when he sees him. "Good afternoon."

[lesser_son]

Melou casts Gawain's smile upon him. "Good afternoon, sir!"

[all_that_grace]

Courfeyrac is no more immune to this than the next boy, and beams back at him. "You're looking well."

[lesser_son]

"My brother hath come! And my lord says an end to the war, put it by, and my mother is well."

[all_that_grace]

"Oh, splendid!"

[lesser_son]

Griiiiiin. "It's well with me. How do you?"

[all_that_grace]

"Oh, I'm all right," passing swiftly over that. "What have you got there?"

[lesser_son]

It's worth noting he has taken the tunic off, that it may better serve the purpose of a receptacle: he displays the contents to Courfeyrac. "Food."

[all_that_grace]

And we may assume that Courfeyrac is very quietly and unobtrusively appreciating the fact. "I see. Oh, well done."

[lesser_son]

It pleases Melou to be praised, and it's certainly true that away from the military environment of his youth, and the terrifying sequence of his last months, he tends to flower into a quite nice young man not entirely lacking in social graces. And he remembers how to smile.

"I thank you."

[all_that_grace]

"I haven't any talent for these things at all, I'm afraid. Can I help carry something, or--?"

[lesser_son]

"Not yet, but if you walk with me--" almost a little shyly. It's not often he makes invitations.

[all_that_grace]

A smiling look. "I'd be delighted."

[lesser_son]

"Thank you." Bwee. "I think I can find more fruit, and mayhap there's roots, though the taste isn't fair."

[all_that_grace]

"I'm sure we'll take whatever we can get. I ought to have brought a basket or something--"

[lesser_son]

"Nay, my shirt will do. Doth not stain, it's dark."