#lionthings

Knocking...knocking..knocking...He awoke with a start, grunting and groaning as he turned over in bed to bury his face in his pillow. Maybe if he ignored them…Knocking...knocking…He rolled over to squint an eye at his clock beside his carbuncle lamp. Just past three in the afternoon, based on the strip of light he could see at the edge of his window curtains. Only a couple bells of sleep then...ugh.Running his fingers through his bed-mussed hair, the Elezen ascended the stairs, putting the kettle on along the way. More knocking…

“I’m coming,” he called groggily, turning on the light and heading for the door. He opened it, wincing slightly at the much brighter light outside. Lily’s hand was lifted up to knock again, but the door moved and she smiled sheepishly up at the Elezen. “Sorry Lion...did I wake you?” Lionnellais squinted at the light outside, stepping back to allow her inside, “Well yes…” “Sorry, I just thought you were downstairs and couldn’t hear me…” Lily laughed a bit nervously and bent down to pick up a box of tea, carrying it inside. Lionnellais closed the door behind her and closed the curtains to stop more of the sunlight from coming in. “You know I go to bed around one. I assumed you got lost on your way here and weren’t coming so I went to bed,” he sounded amused as he made a space for her box on the table, stifling a yawn. “I lost track of time,” Lily toed the ground for a moment, “I was weeding the garden and the next thing I knew it was two thirty and…” she cut off at the hand atop her head and looked up at the sleepy Elezen. “It’s alright, we can still have tea.” She beamed up at him. “...and then I’m going back to bed.” They both laughed as the kettle started to whistle.

It had been a long time since he’d been on the water again. How long ago had it been? Was it four moons ago or five when he had gone with his brother to Eureka? He always got anxious when getting ready to go out on the water though, regardless of how long it had been or where he was going. He always had to think twice about the first step onto the dock. At least he was a lot better now than he had been in the past.

Lionnellais blinked slightly when he get a tug on his hair. “Cookie!” the child in his arms demanded.

It was easy to say that it was the fight’s fault. To say that they shouldn’t have gotten involved in a fight in the first place. To say that if they hadn’t been fighting, he wouldn’t have died.

It would also be easy to say that it was the observer’s fault...for not saying something sooner. To say that they should have broken it up. To say that they should have done something more than they did. By that same token, it would also have been fair to say that it was the fault of the transporters. To say that they were the ones who jostled them around too much. To say that they shouldn’t have removed the blade when they did without a healer present. But while it would be easier to say that all the other parties involved were at fault...I felt that I was to blame for his death. That were was something more that I could have done. That if I had only been a little faster...if I had only used my spell just a tick sooner...I could have saved them.

It would be easy to blame someone else.

“What if she says no, Sylviel?”

The old Elezen looked up from his tea, bewildered, at the other Elezen that sat across from him. “Say what now?”

“What if Colette says no?” Lionnellais anxiously shifted in his seat, shoulders hunched as he clutched onto his tea cup.

Sylvie barked out a laugh, “What ever would make you think she would say no?”

“She said no when I first tried to give her chocolate,” Lionnellais reasoned, looking aside with a worried sigh.

“That was literal cycles ago though. How long have you been courting her now?” Sylviel leaned back in his chair, legs crossing as he sipped his tea.

“Ah...six summers? Perhaps seven...” The younger of the two sighed.

“If she hasn’t tired of your company by now, I don’t think she’ll say no,” Sylviel smiled, leaning forward to pat Lionnellais’ arm. “Just ask her. It’s the only way you’ll know.”

“Uuuggghhhh...” Lionnellais groaned as his head slowly sank down to rest on the table. Sylviel chuckled and poured him more tea.

They both sat staring at their cards. Occasionally one would glance up at the other, then back down. The Triple Triad game has gotten intense. The ‘winning spoils’ included a bottle of red wine, cookies and chocolate. Both were eager to take the prize home with them.

“So, plus and chaos, right?” Lily asked, glancing up at Lionnellais as they prepared their hands for the final match.

“Mm, that was the agreement,” Lionnellais nodded.

“Great...” Lily frowned, grumbling, “I hate plus...”

“You could always withdraw,” the Elezen glanced up at her.

Lily barked out a laugh, “No chance. Alright I’ve got my cards. Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” Lionnellais said. They exchanged hands briefly to shuffle without looking, then returned the cards to their original owner face down. Lionnellais took a coin. “Heads or tails?”

“Tails,” Lily smiled at him.

Lionnellais flipped the coin up, commenting, “Keep your fingers crossed then.” He caught it in his palm and showed it to her. Tails.

“Hah! My turn first,” Lily grinned, drawing her first card.

The match grew incredibly quiet as each thought. Lily took every tick of the clock she could for her turn before she was forced to play her card. Lionnellais in turn took one glance at his card, playing it after doing some quick math in his head.

Lily captured some of his cards with the plus rule, and he would capture them back. On the last card...the game resulted in a draw. Both of them looked at each other, then at the winning spoils. They shared another look.

“I’ll open the cookies,” Lily said.

Lionnellais started to get up, “I’ll get the wine glasses, then.”