(no subject)

[tu_vas_triompher]

Feuilly's new commission has rather shuffled around his usual schedule. The man wants it as soon as possible, so--as soon as possible Feuilly will have it. But it's an ambitious project for him. And ambitious means research. Lots of reference material. Reclining nudes. Reclining nudes with their faces turned away to show the curve of the neck. And boudoirs. Artistic lady's boudoirs.

Really, though, by the time you're sitting there trying to figure out how necks work, much of the eroticism has worn off. Or at least gotten pushed well out of the way. He fills some pages with sketches of naked ladies--and sketches of beds, painted screens, birdcages--then pats Hector on the head and calls it a reasonable day's work.

Off to grab a practice sword and fence a bit with Harry.

Comments

[harryhotspur]

"I have been up since dawn, sir, in defense of my honor!" --oh right, he forgot to mention that.

"This was to be the day of my duel, but 'twas forestalled, which was the cause wherefore I was so passing vexed when I met with thy friend."

[tu_vas_triompher]

"Hold on, what? That was this morning?"

Damn. He had meant to find out more about it, see if there wasn't any way to redirect things. (Not that he had high hopes there.) "What happened?"

[harryhotspur]

"Well, it was meant to be," Harry says. Yes, he's still irritated about it. "But the security did intervene and most unjustly force us to part."

[tu_vas_triompher]

"Tell me about it? --That is--if you like--" You don't actually have to go over the whole story if you don't want, Harry. "But who was it with?"

[harryhotspur]

"Ah! This I can at last report. He was called Eric Northman, and this I learned of Bahorel. And with Bahorel," he adds, puffing up his chest with pride that is equal parts smugness and eager hope that Feuilly will be proud too, "Did show me the library."

Yes, it's true. Harry Percy looked at books. only don't ask him too many details because the OOM hasn't actually happened yet

[tu_vas_triompher]

"The library!" Feuilly grins a moment despite his concern over the extraordinary number of fights Harry has managed to have in the course of one day. But he will not be distracted because the OOM hasn't happened yet! "You'll have to tell me all about it. But--Eric Northman?"

[harryhotspur]

"He hath some compact with the devil," Harry says solemnly. "Bahorel says men such has he hath no soul."

[tu_vas_triompher]

"Compact with the devil." Feuilly, it must be said, looks doubtful. "Well--I suppose in a place like this-- Bahorel seemed to know about it? Or was Bahorel just--" You know. Talking.

One of the great wonders of Milliways is the sheer amount of interaction two people can have without ever learning one another's names. The person who commissioned fans from Feuilly doesn't seem like a person with a compact with the devil, and so it never occurs to him that he and Harry share an acquaintance here.

Also the muns think that's funnier.

[harryhotspur]

Does Feuilly think Harry of all people would be able to tell the difference?

"He seemed most knowledgeable," Harry says. "Of both the man and his nature, and the nature of those like him. But 'twas this nature caused security to force us part ways. He said I knew not what I did, that I would sure be bested, and this Northman sought not a fair trial, but to trap me by craft and drink of my blood." He was more skeptical of this caution before speaking with Bahorel-- but still, honor is honor, and the fight should have gone forward, damn it.

[tu_vas_triompher]

"Your--? He's a vampire?"

Huh. Feuilly scratches his head. "What would happen if he did drink your blood? You wouldn't--I mean--I think I've heard some stories that a, an ordinary person can be turned into a vampire that way."

[harryhotspur]

--huh, good question.

"I know not," he says. "I warrant I should be dead, if he did take a great deal, as with any much-bleeding wound. Canst become a vampire without consent? Even a witch must give over willingly to the devil, it cannot be forced upon them, so they say."

[tu_vas_triompher]

"I don't know." He's seriously thinking about it now. "It's not really--there's all sorts of different stories and I haven't paid a lot of attention. But that would be--"

Well, it's a thought that makes him glad someone stepped in. "Who was it? From Security, I mean."

[harryhotspur]

"He was called Teja," Harry says, a bit sullenly. I mean, sure, he might have been turned into a soulless undead blood-drinking thing, but that's not the point. "And some other string of titles I marked not."

[tu_vas_triompher]

"Oh, Teja! I've spoken with him. He was king of the Ostrogoths." Feuilly looks down at his practice sword, a little sheepish. "I'd thought--I thought maybe I could--he runs the forge, and I'd thought I could save some money to buy a sword."

But that's beside the point. He can see Harry's sullenness clearly enough. "Still, you were fighting outside, weren't you?"

[harryhotspur]

"Ah! I did speak to one did take one in our fight with the northmen," he says. "I was a fool not to think of it-- I might have given it thee."

Harry sighs, just a little melodramatically. Only a little, really! "We were! And both consenting-- I can see no harm in't."

[tu_vas_triompher]

"Well, I'll come by a sword somehow." It's not as though he can't still talk to Teja about it. Once he has some money.

Feuilly waves the sword question away for now. "If all he would have done was drink some blood, then--" Shrug. Feuilly is still quite grateful to Teja for stopping the fight, mind, and he would have tried to talk them out of it himself if he'd known.

Buuut this seems like a good time to spare some extra sympathy for Harry. "Well, no wonder you had no patience for Lesgle."

[harryhotspur]

"But it was no less ungently done, to speak to him as I did." Look how mature he's being!

He grins. "But it does mean I am short a bout this day."

[tu_vas_triompher]

It's good of him to say so, and Feuilly smiles a little. And smiles more at the following remark. "Then let's begin!"

Feuilly has started to notice that he's--well, not getting good with the sword, that's far away. But getting good enough at practice with Harry that perhaps he's not too tedious a partner.

[harryhotspur]

He's definitely becoming competent! Not that Harry ever found it tedious-- a fact that surprises him, too.

"Come-- I did leave mine own outside."

[tu_vas_triompher]

Feuilly glances over to Duncan and bows, mock-formal. "If you'll excuse us, sir? --Poor Duncan, I wouldn't want to upset him with the sight of violence."

[harryhotspur]

Harry laughs. "A mild and gentle soul, 'tis true. He would seek to intervene on thy behalf, when he sees how o'ermatched thou art." He's just teasing, of course.

[tu_vas_triompher]

"Oh, no, I doubt he's forgiven me for the terrible beating I gave him with my feet just trying to get on his back--"

As they pass out the door, he sees Harry's sword and scoops it up to hand over.

[harryhotspur]

"Ah, but once thou wert on, 'twas very well! We will ride again," he says. Asking if Feuilly actually wants to? Nahh. He takes the sword with a nod of thanks and starts for a clear patch of grass.

[tu_vas_triompher]

"Good, I'd like to." He's been a little hesitant to ask, not wanting to presume upon Harry's time. But mostly he's just been busy.

Right, well. Swords. It's getting hard to find a patch of grass they haven't scuffed up pretty badly in their matches; really they ought to find the proper practice area. But--Feuilly likes this spot by the stables.

Swords.

[harryhotspur]

They're definitely doing a number on the grass. But swords! It's not quite as good as a duel, but given time and a sword in his hand at last, he's mostly come down from the morning's heights of temper and frustration.

"Ready?"