In the sitting room

[once_a_queen]

Susan is busy sewing in the sitting room of the Narnia wing of the House of Arch. She has her first comission - a series of winter gowns for the Marylebone. The Marylebone was not a church district, as Susan thought when the Lady Door first mentioned her, but instead the title of one of the few traditionally female-lead fiefdoms in London Below.

Comments

[called_lioness]

Lucy rather agrees, as she enters and admires the work.

And if she sees something of Jadis in the dress, well, she shan't say anything about it either.

Lucy's mun beat her goal for her paper today, and while she may be slow, is quite happy that she gets to play now.

[once_a_queen]

Susan looks up from stitching the hem and smiles.

"Hello, Lu. Having a good day?"

[called_lioness]

"I did, at that. Practiced archery some more--Caspian said something about a tournament coming up, and I've never been near as good a shot as you. You?"

The mun thinks she godded that Susan and Lucy may have been doing some archery together. Say sorry if that's a problem?

[once_a_queen]

That gets her to set down the needle a moment.

"A tournament? Do tell!"

Hey, they talk every day and do all kindsa stuff.

[highking]

Peter walks in. After a long moment spent watching Susan, he walks toward her, sits on the floor, by her feet, and rests his head on her knee.

It has been several years since he's done it, but it still feels perfectly natural.

[once_a_queen]

She puts the sewing down immediately and places a hand on her brother's head, gently stroking his hair.

"How goes your day, fair brother?"

[highking]

"Well enough, I suppose," Peter says. "And yours, my lady sister? You really don't have to stop your sewing, you know."

[once_a_queen]

"I'm taking a much deserved break. I've been slaving away on this wretched dress all morning."

She says this lightly, with no real complaint in her voice.

[the_seafarer]

Caspian hasn't been in the sitting room all that often, really, but his chores for the day are done and

(you knew we'd have to go home sooner or later)

he didn't truly want to be in the bar right now.

So he comes in with tea, whistling cheerfully, and gives Susan a smile.

"Well, Susan! It's good to see you. How're you, then?"

[once_a_queen]

"I'm very well, Caspian," she says, putting down her sewing. She smiles up at him. "And how are you?"

She knows the tidings of the bar through her siblings, and she knows this is a difficult time for her friend.

[the_seafarer]

"Doing decently well, thanks," he says, lightly, sitting down nearby to look at the gown curiously.

"Busy with the stables. I say, this is rather impressive, Susan. Is it for someone here?"

[once_a_queen]

"It is, actually. The Lady Door introduced me to another aristocrat of this Underside. She's called the Marylebone, and she's commissioned a few gowns of this nature."

She grins at the dress on the dummy.

"The designs are a bit more grandiose than I'm used to, but I'm rather enjoying creating them."

[the_seafarer]

He looks a bit nonplussed.

"Is there that much that you cannot get here? Not that it isn't a good reason, of course."

A laugh.

"I'll have to meet Kitty, one day."

[once_a_queen]

"It's not that you can't get it here - it's more fun to go looking, I find. The thrill of the hunt, so to speak."

She laughs and then stands up, stretching her shoulders.

"Kitty's lovely. A most modern girl - it took me a bit of getting used to, but she's dear. I say, would you like some tea? I'm rather peckish. Join me in the kitchens?"