[open]

[le_desirous]

To-day not in his room; on the porch again, slouched in a slant-backed chair, head leaned back and eyes closed. His breath is heavy, but that's not really a pertinent fact: he's taken off his sword and has no coffee and is wide awake despite the fact that he is doing a pretty good imitation of passed out.

Really he's just listening.

Comments

[phedre_25]

Because it's a beautiful day, and she is tired with the walks and berry-picking she's been doing, Phedre decides to read out this day.

She quietly sits, a respectful distance from the sleeping man, and starts to read - she's been developing an interest in the works of Lord Byron, recently, though why him in particular is anybody's guess.

[phedre_25]

And so Phedre sits peacefully, and allows herself to get engrossed in the poetry she selected, though her ears are careful to the very odd man on the patio.

[le_desirous]

Finally he gets up, unfolding his long body as he stands, and stretches his shoulders a little; even as tired and worn out as he is, he has a good stature and slightly exotic good looks.

[phedre_25]

Yes, he probably looks Illyrian to Phedre, actually, and she did have a good deal of loyalty to her friend Kazan Atrabiades.

She keeps her face towards the book, but gives him a sidelong glance - and she thinks just that to herself. As it happens, Kazan was also slightly insane.

[le_desirous]

He goes inside for a moment and comes out with a glass, and sits down in the chair again to drink it, leaning his head back a little.

[phedre_25]

A cordial. Why she didn't think to offer to fetch it, she wonders. Then, she realizes she might not have known where to, one way or another.

She looks up from her book.

"Are you feeling better, My Lord?"

[le_desirous]

"This does tend to help," half-smiling at her.

[phedre_25]

"Then I am glad," she replies with a matching half-smile. "I apologize for not thinking about it. Cordial does sate some humors."

[le_desirous]

"At least it makes a man feel a little more human."

[phedre_25]

She lifts an eyebrow. "It does for some," then she smiles secretively. "Do you also sing drinking songs, My Lord?"

[le_desirous]

"I have extensive command." Almost a grin, which positively transforms his face: it makes him look boyish, younger, less tired.

[phedre_25]

Oh, this has Phedre's attention. She completely abandons the book, and turns to him, facing him with a wide grin.

"I would be most obliged if you indulged yourself, My Lord."

[le_desirous]

He laughs. "You want to subject yourself? Tell me to stop when you're in too much pain."

And launches, without much ado, in one of his old favourites, up-tempo and silly, and a kind of tongue-twister in the Hungarian--if you weren't intimately familiar with the language it would be almost impossible to sing.

[phedre_25]

Oh, Phedre is absolutely delighted - this is not quite what the pirates sang when they were celebrating, but close, and it reminds her of happy days, both on Quintilius Rousse and Kazan's ships. She actually claps her hands in rhythm, as well as the musical training she obtained in the Night Court allowed her to, and smiles wholeheartedly.

[le_desirous]

Sagramore continues until the last verse of the song, and with a vocal flourish ends, and drinks deeply from his cup.

[phedre_25]

"Oh, thank you," she says, cheeks pink with pleasure. "That was delightful, wonderful. Would that the Chevaliers of House Montreve be here. They would praise you greatly."