the realization: wait, that was a really bad plan

[sirbeaumains]

Gareth has not quite reached the point of realizing that he is very, very stupid. Nor has he reached the point, since regaining consciousness but moments before, of wondering where he is or how he got there, or why he is not dead as according to his (very ill-advised-- but again, he has not reached that place) plan. No, upon waking, his attentions

Comments

[girdleforakiss]

"Gareth?" Gawain asks, "You awake?"

[sirbeaumains]

"Gawain," as brightly as he can manage.

[girdleforakiss]

Gawain takes his hand and smiles gently. "Feel up to talking?"

[sirbeaumains]

"Yeah! I'm-- I'm just fine."

[girdleforakiss]

"That's good," Gawain says, and fixes Gareth with a steady look. "What happened, brother?"

[sirbeaumains]

Aw, crap. He shifts a little. "What, or who?"

[girdleforakiss]

Gawain laughs. "The two are connected, wouldn't you say? But I'd like to know what happened."

[sirbeaumains]

"I insulted him," he says hesitatinly-- why elaborate, if he's already paid his penance? "So it was his right."

[girdleforakiss]

"Brother, please don't lecture me on the rules of chivalry, I've been living by them longer than you have. Just tell me."

[sirbeaumains]

"There's nothing else to tell."

[girdleforakiss]

"Ridiculous. How did you insult him, why, did he, in fact, attack you without giving you a chance to defend yourself, was there someone else involved, why were you out picking a fight, which isn't like you... Shall I continue, or will you tell me?"

[sirbeaumains]

Whatever the reason is, it's lost in a rush of mumbling.

[girdleforakiss]

"Gareth," Gawain says, softer. "You can tell me. Whatever it is, I've had more embarrassing happen to me."

[sirbeaumains]

"I laid with his lady," quite miserably. "He meant to marry her. I wanted to just explain to him, but then I could see he wouldn't be satisfied with anything else and I didn't want him to not marry her because of me, so..."

[girdleforakiss]

"...And so this was the point where you insulted him? Or did you mean sleeping with her was the insult?"

[sirbeaumains]

"No, the-- the other part, was what I meant."