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..too much memory..
Within a few days of his episode of poor mood and taking to bed, Lanselos seems himself again. Saigremort goes to work most days, and Lanse begins to figure out how to manage the house; Clarie does supply them with a dossier on Galade, and Lanse reads it over several times before he seems to put it aside and go on as usual. Saigremort doesn't catch him sorting through the newstape, they go out to dinners and even have Ravi and Sumati over one evening. Things are good.
In truth, Lanse combs through the news every morning after Saigremort leaves for the office. Galade shows up much more often than he'd thought he would, once you know where to look. For a little while, this actually makes him feel better -- Galade is well, what holos he sees of him show a happy, confident man who doesn't seem too much worn by the war or life after it. He knows it's just as likely that he sees what he wants to see, but it doesn't matter. He feels all right, a lot easier in fact.
About a month later, he's a little surprised to find a story that's more prominently placed than the usual ones he has to root out. He reads the story over several times, but starts to feel like he can't quite get his head around it. The short of it is that Galade is coming to Arden; he can't get past that fact. He puts the console away and goes out to do the shopping. That evening at dinner, he's subdued, but when Saigremort asks him if he's all right he just waves a hand, dismissive, and says his arm's been bothering him, he's tired. The next morning, Lanse is definitely out of sorts and trending toward that brooding that only makes everything worse.
Saigremort comes home early that afternoon, and as soon as he hits the door, he's on him. "Why didn't you tell me Galade is coming here?"
"He ain't comin' here," Lanse says, gruffly. "So he'll be on Arden. It ain't really news."
"The hell it isn't!" Saigremort's tone is that one he gets when he's worried and exasperated. "What are you going to do?"
Lanse shoots him an aggravated look, "What I always do. I already told you. It ain't anything, he doesn't know about me, and he ain't going to. Be easy."
After that, Saigremort mostly lets it go. Lanse keeps his mood in check, though they have a somewhat tense week at home. The afternoon before what's set to be the big, official event -- some kind of speech or presentation Galade is set to give the officials -- Lanse learns of a smaller event open to the public. Saigremort's out at the office. Lanse pours himself a drink, talks himself out of going, then manages to talk himself back into it.
He dresses like an Ardenian, in some of the nicer (though more subdued) clothes Saigremort had made for him. It has the effect of not making him look much like himself. He waits until things are underway, and then slips into the back of the auditorium, almost comfortable among the small crowd. He doesn't hear a single word of what Galade says, only watches him, intently enough that he forgets to leave early. So he's caught in the press of people leaving, before he finally finds himself out on the sidewalk in the hot sun. He could use a drink.
In truth, Lanse combs through the news every morning after Saigremort leaves for the office. Galade shows up much more often than he'd thought he would, once you know where to look. For a little while, this actually makes him feel better -- Galade is well, what holos he sees of him show a happy, confident man who doesn't seem too much worn by the war or life after it. He knows it's just as likely that he sees what he wants to see, but it doesn't matter. He feels all right, a lot easier in fact.
About a month later, he's a little surprised to find a story that's more prominently placed than the usual ones he has to root out. He reads the story over several times, but starts to feel like he can't quite get his head around it. The short of it is that Galade is coming to Arden; he can't get past that fact. He puts the console away and goes out to do the shopping. That evening at dinner, he's subdued, but when Saigremort asks him if he's all right he just waves a hand, dismissive, and says his arm's been bothering him, he's tired. The next morning, Lanse is definitely out of sorts and trending toward that brooding that only makes everything worse.
Saigremort comes home early that afternoon, and as soon as he hits the door, he's on him. "Why didn't you tell me Galade is coming here?"
"He ain't comin' here," Lanse says, gruffly. "So he'll be on Arden. It ain't really news."
"The hell it isn't!" Saigremort's tone is that one he gets when he's worried and exasperated. "What are you going to do?"
Lanse shoots him an aggravated look, "What I always do. I already told you. It ain't anything, he doesn't know about me, and he ain't going to. Be easy."
After that, Saigremort mostly lets it go. Lanse keeps his mood in check, though they have a somewhat tense week at home. The afternoon before what's set to be the big, official event -- some kind of speech or presentation Galade is set to give the officials -- Lanse learns of a smaller event open to the public. Saigremort's out at the office. Lanse pours himself a drink, talks himself out of going, then manages to talk himself back into it.
He dresses like an Ardenian, in some of the nicer (though more subdued) clothes Saigremort had made for him. It has the effect of not making him look much like himself. He waits until things are underway, and then slips into the back of the auditorium, almost comfortable among the small crowd. He doesn't hear a single word of what Galade says, only watches him, intently enough that he forgets to leave early. So he's caught in the press of people leaving, before he finally finds himself out on the sidewalk in the hot sun. He could use a drink.
