RP: Lance & Quin Valentine's Day Who: Lancelot and Quin What: Valentine's Day Surprises When: February 14th (back dated sorry!) Where: Tree House on the Savannah Warnings: I think maybe just language? Talk of marriage and love.
Lancelot had arranged for a trip for Valentine’s Day trip with Quin. He had sent bags ahead with owls, they only needed a change of clothes for the next day. They weren’t going to be gone longer than a night or two, like their last trip he was letting her decide when she wanted to go home. He never knew just how long she could really be away from Felix. He assumed they could always send milk back home to him but it wasn’t nearly the same. He couldn’t keep the kid from the real deal for too long.
He had arranged for the pair to stay in a treehouse of a colleague of his. Lancelot had connections everywhere. The treehouse had a very open feel, the view looking right out over the Savanna. You could see the animals as they went about their daily lives in their natural habitat. Lancelot much preferred seeing creatures in their natural habitats to a zoo atmosphere. He had debated taking Quin to Disney’s Animal Kingdom but it had hit him in the middle of the night, he needed to take her to the real deal. Show her another part of his world.
A portkey had been arranged for their departure, arranging to send an owl ahead when he would need another portkey to leave. When they arrived, he was quick to apparate them from the spot of the portkey to the treehouse, just next to the bed. Thankfully it was warm enough out that the owner’s staff had opened up the giant glass walls for the pair so that the room opened directly to the Savanna. The shower was located just behind the bed, open to the world see. The bathroom wasn’t far from it but it was one of the only enclosed areas where you’d get privacy. Lancelot had assumed the shower would be fine, only because you could lay in the bed and not see the person on the other side of the wall showering.
Lancelot had insisted on doing dinner first, a nice light salad that was topped with fruits, chicken, and nuts was served first and he had made a point of asking Nancy what one of Quin’s favorite dishes was and having that as their main course. Dessert was later, it was sitting in an ice chest waiting for them. Ice cream sundaes that they would build themselves. It had been a very grown up day, so he had to throw the childish bit in there somehow.
In Lancelot’s pocket sat a ring in an old worn ring box. He had gone shopping for Quin weeks previous. Lancelot had started with a few of the bigger shops around Victory Road. He had even tried a few places in muggle London but had found nothing until he’d come to an antique store. There had been this ring, sitting in it’s faded little ring box in their front counter. When Lancelot had inquired about the history of the ring, he was informed that it had belonged to only previous couple that had been married forever. The husband had passed away first and the wife had only recently passed away. The shop owner had bought it at an estate sale. Lancelot just knew that he had to get it for Quin. It wasn’t going to be an engagement ring, thank the Gods that pesky bird from the paper hadn’t seen him and ruined the surprise. It was going to be a promise ring, that one day, when Quin felt she was ready, he would like to marry her. He knew it hadn’t been that long since her husband had passed, he didn’t know the appropriate amount of time that one should wait. Like all things that he wasn’t sure how to handle when it came to Quin, he was going to leave the ball in Quin’s court.
He had wanted to give her the ring at sunset, but he’d been too engrossed in the conversation they were having about the benefits of using the deity Dionysus to protect a bar. He was curious about it all still since talking with Rose about it all. He had countered that they could use an actual God of wine and spirits, and it had spiraled from there. He enjoyed being able to talk about such odd subjects with Quin.
As he finished clearing the table of their plates, he’d been insistent, he sat back down across from her. He was in just a simple pair of black slacks that were made of an airy material so that he didn’t overhead. His top was just a simple white button up that was left loose. The ring sat in the pocket of his flowing pants. “Now that we’ve ate, I supposed I should tell you a secret. I didn’t bring you out here just for the animals, I thought you might like to look at the stars with me. I didn’t want to steal your telescope so I brought my own, I hope you don’t mind?”
Quin had let him have his surprise, though her curiosity had been about bursting at the seams at the few little hints that had managed to get through over the past week. The one thing she was definitely grateful for was how he allowed her to plan things in regards to the children; he gave her a time frame, he gave her control to go home if she needed or, for whatever reason, wanted to. That was important, somehow. She didn't have much control over her life in a lot of ways. But he'd yet to bully her into anything or even give her a situation that didn't have a choice. Not even a yes-no choice, but simply a here you go, you can choose, no pressure kind of choice.
He even shared her bed without pressing for sex, though she knew that he had to want it. She still wasn't certain why she hadn't gone ahead with that. She didn't think it was fear, per se. Maybe it was simply the control thing. She didn't know. It wasn't that she wasn't attracted to him; she definitely was. It simply... hadn't been a choice she'd made yet. She would, in time.
The view had stunned her once they were there. She'd not expected Africa, though perhaps she should have, after Egypt. She'd never been here. In fact she'd never really left Europe, so all of this so far was new and interesting, though even Europe would have been interesting with him.
He'd enchanted her again, without magic, again. She was utterly delighted with the little treehouse room, and it showed all over her face. She'd rushed to the rail like an excited child, softly exclaiming over everything. There was no uncertainty this time, about the room and the bed or even the visible shower. Egypt had shed her of some of those inhibitions, when again she'd been safe during the entire thing. Alone in his company, she was much more herself than she was when many others were around.
It was obvious that he'd asked someone about her favorite meals, because one of those waited for them, and she ate and talked happily with him. Sometimes she still hesitated over making points or 'arguing' her position on something, but that, too, was coming along slowly. It helped when she got caught up in a subject.
She sat in a chair, her feet bare, her white sandals discarded. She was relaxed, curled up with one foot dangling over one arm of the chair while she leaned against the other arm, her skirt tucked around her just enough to keep from blowing up in a stray breeze. She'd dressed to the climate he'd suggested, choosing a brand new dress she'd found on sale in the fall.
Quin smiled warmly at him when he made his suggestion. "Really?" she said, sitting up straighter, obviously interested. He'd remembered her comments about looking at the stars.
Lancelot wished he owned more cameras. This was definitely one of those moments that he would have loved to have a picture of. He somehow had a feeling though that if he brought out a camera just now, she might shy away and the magic of the moment would be ruined. He hoped that he’d have time to not only buy the camera, but for them to work up to being able to take pictures of her when they were in these moments. Seeing her at the rail with all the animals, how excited she got? It made him swell with pride. It was moments like these that he fell even more in love with her. While she may have been enchanted by him, he was completely under her spell when she let her guards down. He had decided, while a few scotches in as he readied for bed, that that was the moment that her magic was able to come around. When all of her guards were dropped, her magic poured out of her every pore.
Even now, as they sat there after dinner, she had that glow about her. Her smile so beautiful, her eyes so bright and filled with joy. It made his heart swell just sitting across from her, a smile never leaving his own full lips. It was a relaxed moment and yet she was still so beautiful. “I thought it would be the perfect way to end the night. I will admit however that I haven’t had to open my telescope in ages. I might not quite remember how it all goes back together. I was hoping you might help?” It was a telescope that he had gotten as a gift when he had graduated from school. While he loved his telescope, he had since upgraded. Though this one was always his favorite, the one he only brought out for special occasions like watching the stars with her tonight.
It was then that he moved to get up from his seat, disappearing near the bed a moment before he was coming back with a brown briefcase that held the ornate telescope. “I was thinking next to the table would be a good spot, unless you think it would fit on the table?” He motioned towards the table then, he was almost certain the little tripod legs would just big enough to fit on the table. He could already feel his heartbeat picking up though, the ring seemed just a little heavier in his pocket. His only hope was that it wasn’t too soon.
It was hard not to be relaxed when he was so easy to get along with and made so much of an effort to be good to her. She appreciated it all, his patience, his kindness. She was safe here. Safety, especially since the beginning of the year, was something she treasured more and more. But it wasn't just a safe space because he could protect her; it was a safe space because she trusted him. Perhaps too much. Tim would probably say so.
"I doubt you've forgotten," she said lightly, still grinning slightly. "You're too smart for that." But she'd help him put it together and set it up, it would be a fun task to do together as the night deepened further.
When he came back closer, it was automatic to extend her hand and it easily slipped into his as he helped her up. She didn't ask, and he didn't have to offer; it was just done, simple as that. She dusted invisible nothing off of his shirt before she moved to help him open the case.
"Beside it," she said. "It would be a reach for me I think if it were on the table." Though it meant he'd have to bend. She helped set up the tripod, oblivious to his nervousness, humming softly to herself as they set the telescope up bit by bit.
Lancelot gave her that grin, the one that probably gave away that he was up to no good. “Just a little, but I honestly have not set it up in a while.” When she held out her hand, he didn’t even realize it’d become a thing to just take it. He didn’t even think about it as he helped her up. Though as she moved to step away, his hand found her wrist, where he gave a very gentle tug so that he could steal a quick peck, before he let her go. He’d been wanting to do that all throughout dinner but it was rude to lean over the table to kiss your date.
“Beside the table, I’ll sit down to look out of it.” It was a good compromise for the pair, it would help a bit with the height different he thought. He watched her a moment as she set up the telescope, hearing her soft humming as she went about it. He really did keep getting lost in his thoughts. He watched her slender little fingers working beautifully over the old telescope with such love but surety.
After a moment he stepped up to her, picking up a part and holding it out to her. She didn’t need his big awkward hands getting in the way of what she was doing with such precision. “Do you think about the future often?” He asked then, “I mean, more than just a few days into the future? What do you imagine Auri will be like as an adult?” He’d start there, he thought. It was a bit of a vague place but he was giving her a point in time. His next question was going to be leading her up to the next bit. The bit he’d been practicing all week. If Quin had paid attention, she’d notice his tell then. Where he used his left hand, the non-dominant one, to brush back his dark locks while he looked to the right. Away from whomever he was talking to. He almost always kept eye contact. It just meant he was up to something.
“Who do you see with you? Watching her graduate from school?” And this time, instead of passing a piece of the telescope, he passed her the open heart ring box. “It’s not an engagement ring,” He started, because he was sure that was the first thought. “It’s a promise ring. It’s a promise that once you’re ready to get remarried, be it months from now, years from now, I will be there. I will be hoping that I’m the man you see standing next to you, holding your hand.” It was cheese, he knew it was cheese but it was his feelings. It was probably the most completely honest and bare that his face had been in front of her. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears, and there was a slight panic that she might ask to go home now.
Her lips curved against his in a smile at the quick kiss. She liked his penchant for stealing little kisses here and there. It was nice. Affectionate.
It wasn't difficult. She'd set up telescopes at least as many times herself as she might have in school. She'd always found it to be a good exercise for the kids, whomever she was taking care of. So it wasn't difficult especially with him handing her the parts as she needed them.
"Of course I do," she said absently as she carefully made an adjustment before holding her hand out to get the next part. "I worry about what she'll be like. If she'll be able to navigate the world." Better than her mother, the words remained unspoken. Her myriad of other worries also remained unspoken, that what would happen when Auri went to Hogwarts. Would Fee have magic. Would she be able to raise a son without a father? Would she be allowed to finish raising them at all?
Caught up in her thoughts and his questions and the telescope, she missed his tell though she knew it whenever she did see him do it. So when she looked down at the ring box she was momentarily confused even as she carefully flipped the old thing open.
Her first thought was indeed that it was an engagement ring, and her heart did one almost panicked pound before she caught his words. A promise ring then. A promise that he would ask her to marry him later. Or perhaps a long term engagement. She didn't know if there was a label for this sort of thing.
Her eyes were large in her face as she stared up at him, lip caught between her teeth. "I... you don't have to make that kind of promise to me," she said the words tumbling out in a rush. "I don't know when..." when she'd be ready. Certainly most people would be ready by now. It would be two years in August. He'd died before she'd ever realized she was pregnant again, and their son was almost one. She didn't even know why she was being so slow.
But she wasn't saying no. She was worrying about him. Him committing himself to her, promising he'd marry her at some point when he had no idea when that could be. What if he found her boring soon or got tired of waiting, but he didn't want to break that promise?
Her hand reached out and skimmed up his cheek into his hair reassuringly though, even if she radiated a fair bit of anxiousness, then to the nape of his neck to pull him down into a soft kiss. "I don't want you to make a promise you might regret," she told him very softly. Trying to make it clear she wasn't turning him down.
It was a lot of fun to watch the realization dawn on Quin. He had that roguish smile gracing his features as he watched her. His stomach was giving a nervous flip as he heard her words. She wasn’t concerned about her, she was worried about him. That was ridiculous. He may have even given a small chuckle, but it was just because he found it utterly ridiculous that she was worried more about him than herself.
“I know that I don’t have to make that kind of promise to you but I want to. I know you don’t know when, that’s completely okay.” He said as he stepped just a bit closer to her. “I’m not in any sort of rush. Before I met you, I had never wanted to get married. I’d never really thought about marriage, children, really any of it. I had chosen work over every woman I had been with… With you though? It’s different. I want all of those things. I want to grow old with you, watch your children grow, creature our own fur family, and just enjoy life.” He still was under the impression that he was really too old to be having children.
When she pulled him into a kiss, his arms slipped around her and came to rest gently on her hips. He held her against him, smiling as his nose gently bumped against her’s in an eskimo kiss. “I promise that I will never regret promising you this.” His words were soft, they were so close. His bright eyes lifted to look into her’s, “I want you Quin, whatever way you’ll let me.” He didn’t mean anything dirty by it, he meant more like he’d be her boyfriend forever if she wanted.
She had no idea why he would change his mind because of her. She didn't consider herself anything special. Sure, she was pretty enough, now, but that would change as she got older. Why would he want to choose her over work? Not that she would ever ask it of him. She wasn't the sort. She'd send him off with a kiss and a smile and owrry about him while he was gone. Write to him, cheerful letters full of news.
"Why? Why would you change your mind for me?" she found herself asking, and then she flushed bright pink at her audacity.
She nuzzled him lightly back, curling into his embrace. And perhaps naively, she took his words at face value, trusting that he wasn't just saying this to get sex. He could have pressed at almost any time during the last few months, and she would have given in. She knew this about herself. And it wouldn't have been that she wouldn't have enjoyed it either. Just that it took a bit of pressure.
"You know if you married me, you'd not just be marrying me. You'd be taking on all of us" she said softly fingers playing with his soft shirt. She meant, of course, her and the children and, yes, her brother, and the crazy cats and the dogs and whatever else came along. "You'd... Fee is very little, Lancelot. You'd essentially be his father." She didn't want anyone to adopt her children, unless it was absolutely necessary or they ended up really wanting it when they were older. She wanted them to have Ambrose's legacy, or the choice to have it at least.
She knew she probably shouldn't be saying it, it would scare him away, wouldn't it? But it was true. And her mind told her that there could always be more children, too. She wasn't that old, though she didn't know what her lifespan could be like as a squib.
Lancelot was a bit surprised by her question but he wasn’t mad, he just smiled at her and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders after a moment. “Because you don’t see just how special you are, and I don’t mean any of the angel stuff. Yes, you’re gorgeous. I’ll never deny that, I’m sure you’ll even look gorgeous when that blonde hair has turned a beautiful silver that shimmers in the moonlight while you walk the beach and play in the water.” He had maybe thought about growing old with her, “But that’s not why. It’s because when I watch you laughing, as I tell a terrible joke, my heart aches because I don’t want to leave you that night. I’d like to hear that laugh every day for the rest of my life.” And it was ridiculous, it was one of many equally ridiculous reason he would cite for just why her.
As Quin curled into him, he started to very slowly sway them in place. He may have been humming some Frank Sinatra under his breath, as he moved them in place listening to her. “I wouldn’t be his father, I’d be Lancelot. I’d be a father figure but I would never claim to be anyone’s father. I will help them grow, I will love them like they were my own… Which, I’ll admit, I already love them.” His own cheeks may have been a bit pink. “I’ll share a secret.” He told her, giving her a very soft loving expression before he bent his head in and whispered into her ear. “I have never in my life wanted children of my own, I always thought with my line of work, it wasn’t necessary to my existence, just in case. That first date? When I sat across from you at that restaurant and watched your face and Auri’s, as they lit up when everything became animated and moved… I knew I was hooked and in. I wanted to be a part of your world, children and all.” It had been a very big moment for Lancelot and he was sure it’d been but a small blip on the radar to Quin.
It was then he reached one hand up between them, to pick up the little worn ring box from her fingertips so that he could it between them so that they could both see it. “I got this at an antique shop. I looked all over London for the perfect gift and I couldn’t find a thing. I came across this at this little muggle antique shop. They had acquired it from an estate sale, it had belonged to an old woman who had been married to the love of her life. She had never remarried. I thought it was a good luck omen. It just… I couldn’t walk out of there without getting you this. It spoke to me, it whispered your name.”
His words caused all sorts of butterflies in her middle. Because those were the silly things that you always heard old married couples say. Their laugh. The way they smile. Like how she liked his stupid jokes, as he called them. And how he got down on her daughter's level and played or explained something and never got impatient with her. Or with Fee and the way she couldn't be away for too long and how the little boy liked using Lancelot's pants to try to pull himself up to stand or liked to be cuddled sometimes.
Or like now, the way he always hummed and danced them around to a song in his own head. Quin just smiled softly and listened. She was good at just listening. She didn't think he understood that if he made a commitment to her and the children, he would essentially be their father. They were small. She knew that already Auri didn't remember her father as well as before. She did still have some memories but they were faded. Tim filled part of the spot, Uncle Pug, but it wasn't quite the same.
His words also greatly relieved a small part of her. No matter how much she cared about him, if he wasn't up for caring for her children too she would never be able to commit back. But he did love them. And that meant the world to her. She wanted to remind him that he wasn't past having his own kids yet but this didn't seem like the right time. "It makes me so happy that you love them too," she said quietly.
"It's beautiful," she told him. "It looks like it just came out of the sea."
Lancelot smiled at her quiet words, “How could I not?” He asked genuinely, he honestly didn’t see how anyone could not fall in love with the entire family. He was just very glad that Quin had been single when they had met. He knew deep down that he’d have tried to pursue her anyway.
“Will you wear it?” He asked in a soft, slightly nervous, voice. She hadn’t really said yes out loud, just like she had not said that she loved him back out loud. He didn’t need the verbal confirmation for the love, he could feel that she loved him. He however needed the verbal confirmation that she would in fact wear the ring and was promising herself to him as well. It was silly and such a petty small thing but he wanted to know.
“It does look as though it came from the sea. I thought it was perfect for you. It matches not just your eyes but… Well, all of you.” He bent his head in, letting his lips brush against her cheek in a feather soft kiss. “Since that day in Egypt.. I can’t help but associate you with water, like you’re some water elemental.”
Quin knew there were plenty of people who wouldn't love her entire little family. Some people didn't want kids who weren't theirs. Or the fact that she had a brother who was overprotective. Or any number of other things that could have and maybe should have scared him away by now.
Her eyes flew up to his. "Oh, yes, I'll wear your ring," she said softly, never having wanted to give the impression she wouldn't. And she knew if he changed his mind later, she wouldn't blame him, but right now she felt so much so intensely that she was just happy he wanted to see any kind of future with her at all. A hand cupped his cheek and she drew him down for a soft kiss. "I know I'm not very good at all of this, but I do want a future with you," she murmured quietly as she drew back again. She'd never dated, she didn't know what she was doing, not even within the bounds of a formal courtship, something she'd also never had.
She flushed faintly and gave him the option of her hands. He could slip it where he wanted. She already wore two rings on the middle finger of her right hand, the rune birth stone rings of her children. But otherwise anymore she only wore her old wedding ring when she was missing her husband especially.
"First an angel, and now a water elemental," she teased very softly.
When she gave him her hand, he just stared at them a moment. Which did he want? He knew what one it would fit because he had only been able to snag one ring while she was busy and matched it with it. It had matched the one that he was just now realizing had probably been her wedding band to her ex-husband. “Oh… I hadn’t..” He hadn’t thought about that, he lifted the ring from the box and took her left hand. His eyes met her’s, nervous but confident, and slid it on her ring finger. That was one that it fit. “You can choose a different one, if you want.” Because it was up to her, it was her body, her hand, her ring.
“I’ll figure it out eventually.” Lancelot said with a brighter smile. He suddenly wished again that he had a camera, it was definitely something that he was going to need to invest in. He kept finding these moments with her that were absolutely perfect. He leaned in and stole a soft kiss, not moving far as he pulled away. He kept his forehead to her’s. “I know you’re my angel. I don’t know what I did to get so lucky but you’re absolutely amazing. You’re not just beautiful, you’re brilliant, creative, an amazing mother, I know that I can’t compete but I absolutely love that you let me try to keep up.”
She didn't know how he'd gotten it right sized. She didn't consider that he might have borrowed one of her rings but she wouldn't be upset about it. She had a fair selection of rings, though she never went gaudy or overboard. They were almost all dainty things. But she gave him a small, warm smile as he slipped it onto her finger.
"No, this one is fine." Timmy was going to have a conniption, but that was the finger such promises went on and she was fine with it.
She flushed bright pink and shook her head though she didn't pull back. "I am not," she replied softly. "You're much better than I am. I'm just a little old squib with two small children." With two conniving pureblood families after her and two weird cats and two poof balls and a brother who was sometimes a puppy.
Lancelot wondered if it was fine, but he wouldn’t poke at it. It wasn’t his fight to have with Tim, though he was certain that Tim was going to make it his point. He already had his rebuttal in order too, it wasn’t an engagement ring. It was a promise ring that once Quin was ready, he would propose. He wondered if Tim would understand it, he had doubts because it wasn’t something pureblood families did.
When he heard her call herself a little old squib, his brows furrowed and he frowned just barely. “You’re not just a little old squib, I really do hate that word.” Even if his brother seemed to find some sort of hope in the fact that even though on one side of their family there had been a squid that this might potentially mean that magic did return the line. He still hated the word. “You are an amazing force of nature that other’s should bow to. The things you’ve done?” He gave a slight shrug, “I don’t know many witches or wizards that would have done them, not without the use of their wands. You’re phenomenal and it is my life goal to one day be able to show you that.”
Her brow furrowed with slight confusion. "Well, it's the word for what I am," she said pragmatically. "I mean, magic less pureblood is a bit of a mouthful, anyway."
She just gave him a look of bemusement because she didn't really understand why he was saying that. "I'm just a mother, Lancelot. I work part time at the clinic and I read big books. That's nothing particularly special in any of that." She wasn't discontented with her lot, either. Oh, sometimes she still wondered what doing magic was really like, but she was entrenched in what she was. Aside from her fears about her family, she was exceedingly happy of late, really.
A soft sigh left Lancelot, “It’s the word that other’s have given you, and while yes it is much simpler.. You’re just Quin. You may not have the type of magic that I possess but you do have your own special brand of magic. I don’t… Know how to explain it, but either way? It shouldn’t be the way that you measure someone or identify them. It sounds like someone is trying to say squid and they just happened to mess it up with a b.” He really hated the word, it was such an ugly word and it didn’t fit Quin at all.
“There isn’t any particularly special in any of that, it’s you that makes it special.” He let out a wistful little sigh, and his hand easily found her’s while the other slipped more securely around her waist. And in one quick motion he twirled her just far enough away from the telescope so that he could twirl her out, before he twirled her back in and gave her a little dip. It was here that he stole a quick kiss, before he brought her back up right. “There’s nothing special about a librarian that really needs to stop taking side jobs either, but it’s me that makes me special. Just like there’s nothing special about all the things you do, except that it’s you that’s doing them. You make them extra special.”
Quin couldn't help but snort softly. "A dyslexic squid," she murmured, amused. "Well I promise I don't have tentacles." She couldn't help it, it struck her as amusing. Her smile was gentle as looked at him. "Lancelot, I don't have magic. At least not more than a thimbleful that let's me see what truly is. That's the God's honest truth. I am never going to measure up in wizarding society but this is nevertheless the world I know and love. It is what I am."
He startled a laugh out if her as he twirled her, and her feet followed his without a problem. She was a good dancer and not even the surprise could keep those instincts from following his lead. Her hand curved around the back of his neck, and she smiled against his lips. "You are special, Lancelot. You're so special to me."
“Are you positive? I may need to check…” He wouldn’t talk more about the views of the world and her magic. He knew she didn’t have magic, she had her own special form of.. Something. It was a magic all it’s own. She was like Snow White, she had this sort of Disney magic about her that was all her own. He had no idea how to explain it, instead he made jokes and avoided what she believed to be the God’s honest truth.
Lancelot gave her that winning smile when she told him that he was special, he only really cared about being special to her honestly. He bent his head in to press a kiss to her cheek, murmuring “You’re special to me too.” He wanted all the things. He wanted to live with Quin, though he knew it was much too soon for that. Too much explaining to do for the children. He wanted to marry her, but again it was much too soon for that for generally the same reasons plus some adult ones. He wanted his things to revolve around her, he wanted her to be the center of his universe in such a basic wife sense that he didn’t understand the feelings. It was why he’d bought not one but two rings, her engagement ring sat in his safe at home next to a few other precious artifacts that were deemed worthy enough to live in the safe.
“Should we go back to the stars? I believe I distracted you..”
She danced with him, looking completely happy. And that smile of his only made her happier. When he kissed her cheek, she turned her head and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
"You've already given me a star tonight," she told him softly, and for a moment she pressed her forehead against his. But then she twined her fingers with his and tugged him back over to the telescope. It was almost completely set up but she took a moment to finish fiddling with it before she looked back up at Lancelot. "What do you want to look at?"
A soft chuckle left Lancelot when she said he had already given her a star. “I have not.” He murmured, nuzzling his nose to her’s for just a moment. “You are my star.” He gave her a geeky grin, knowing just how cheesy that sounded. While it may have been a lot of cheese, he did know that it did ring a little true for him. He wondered idly if he should start calling her that, his star. Then she wouldn’t contest she wasn’t an angel, though it’d be the same. Stars lived in the heavens, as did angels. Who was to say they weren’t one in the same?
“How about…” He said as he looked up at the clear sky then, it looked so vast and he felt so very small. It was one of his favorite parts about trips like this to areas with such clear skies. You could feel as small as you really are in the universe for a moment. He sucked in a breath, shrugged, then looked back to Quin. “Your favorite stars? Do you have favorites constellations?”
"Did so," she whispered, and she waggled her fingers playfully, making the stone blink in the dim faint light. She laughed softly at his cheesey line, even she thought it was cheesey but it was really sweet, too. Her nose nudged against his gently.
Quin hesitated for a moment, thinking with her lip caught in her teeth, and then looked out at the sky, finding something by sight before she positioned the telescope. She took a long moment to position and focus the telescope. "The Pleiades," she murmured. "The Seven Sisters. There's many bits of folklore about many of the constellations, but there's at least three peoples, across the world, who all saw this set of stars and called them a group of girls who were running away from someone who threatened them."
Lancelot grinned as she waggled her fingers, laughing as her nose bumped against his. These moments made his chest tighten in such a new and wonderful way. It made him have that thought of, where has she been all my life?
As Quin set the telescope, he watched her a moment. He liked these stolen little moments he got to watch in on. When she let him take a peek, he slipped an arm around her waist and leaned in to peer into the telescope. He grinned as he saw the constellation that she was pointing out. He could see why she might like that one best, the story alone spoke volumes. He stepped away then, smiling at her. “I like when you share your passions with me,” A soft yawn slipped from him then.
“Do you want to head to bed? I can get the treat that I had for dessert and we can eat it in bed.” He had a feeling she didn’t usually eat in bed.
She gave him a smile. She liked sharing what she enjoyed with him too, even though she sometimes worried it was all boring to him. She was awfully mundane after all. Practically a muggle.
"Eat in bed?" she said with a faint laugh. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten anything in bed. "What is for pudding, anyway?" she asked curiously.
“Eat in bed. It’s something you don’t do often, isn’t it?” He asked with a playful chuckle, shaking his head as he led the way to the bed. He helped her into it, before he went about grabbing the dessert from the counter that it was on. He had to use his wand for a moment, just long enough to heat the little bowl of chocolate. All around the plate was various little snacks, fruits, short breads, pretzels, and things that could be dipped into the chocolate.
He brought the tray to the bed then, the legs on the tray extended so that it would stand up between them so that they could easily dip the fruits and things in it. “I hope you like freshly dipped fruit?” Lancelot sat down carefully on his side of the bed, his shoes slipped off and abandoned on the floor.
She looked at him and then bit her lip, smiling around it. "I don't honestly remember the last time I ate in bed," she confessed. "Maybe when Felix was born? With a breakfast tray?" She faintly remembered that. His had been the harder of her two births, but mainly because he'd been bigger and he'd been in no hurry to arrive. But it hadn't been a bad birth, just a lot longer.
Quin crawled into bed, propping herself up comfortably with pillows. "Oh, this is wonderful, Lancelot!" she said happily, reaching for a piece of fruit to dip.