[guineveremallory-blog]

"What? No! Another woman to woo. I know for a fact there is no woman in your breeches at this moment. I’m sure the king will be both flattered as well as slightly unnerved that your passion is for him alone."

"Excuse me, just because I do not make the clothes all the time does not mean they are not my passion. I oversee everything. I also have a fair few animals in my possession. I do adore them. Actual animals mind you, just so we are clear."

[alec-hartell]

"Yes, I'm sure I will. Ladies at court are like wild flowers, new ones always springing up at every second. Most certainly lovely, but they do tend to all blend together. And, I don't actually try to woo eight year old girls. Just so we're clear."

"What sort of animals? And how many is 'a fair few'? That's actually a rather charming passion and I find myself disappointed yet again."

[guineveremallory-blog]

"That really is a shame. I am sorry for your poor heart. I am sure you will find another. Preferably one over the age of at least fifteen. So if your passion does not lie with majestic wooden animals, pray tell where does it lie? I am dying to know."

[alec-hartell]

"Another heart? Yes, I'm sure I have another lying about here. Probably tucked in with my breeches. As for passions... you know I am of the Kingsguard. My passions lie with my King. And with Corstorphine."

"Though, I grant you, small elephants are quite tempting.

"What about you, what are your passions? Since we both know it is very clearly not making clothes."

[guineveremallory-blog]

"Alec, I can not presume to know whether or not you enjoy tiny statuettes of majestic animals. You might have a secret passion that doesn’t involve trying to woo women related to women of the court."

[alec-hartell]

"Hmm, very true. Though the Lady in question was turning eight -- or was it nine? -- so I think my wooing was in vain... She seemed far more taken with the elephant than with me. My heart was quite crushed, I assure you."

"Though there are worse secret passions to have, I daresay, than majestic wooden animals."

[alec-hartell]

Late Night Summit || Xavier & Alec

The kitchens were bustling even at this time of night and Alec did his best to slip stealthily past them, throwing small pebbles to distract the palace cooks and maids like he was still a child of five. He had long since learned that most were immune to his smile and charms and would still happily chase him out with a broom to his bottom, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard or not. "When you're Lord Commander of the kitchens, you can have all the duck you like!" Margaret, the head cook, had told him once as she led him out by his ear, and he had loved her all the more for it. One young footman appeared to be getting a talking to near the entrance to the cellar and Alec skidded to a halt behind a counter, cursing his luck with a silent yell of frustration. 

Peering over the flour-covered surface, he watched the scene play out, Margaret berating the boy something awful -- ah, good old Margaret -- until he spied a jug balanced precariously behind the youth and a split second later, the bottle was crashing to the floor and Alec was scurrying toward the cellar door with the sounds of the boy's apologies and Margaret's yelling.

"Ha!" He yelled in triumph as he gathered his arms full of breads and cheeses and dried cherries, figs, and walnuts. Of course he felt terrible for making the boy's evening even worse than it had previously been, but he consoled himself knowing that the boy would be happy to know that it was all in service to his King. After all, Alec never raided the kitchen's for just himself.

Times were hard on Xavier, and Alec considered part of his sworn duty to protect the King was also protecting him from himself. He slipped a bottle of wine into each of his back pockets and made back for the cellar stairs, pleased to see the path back out of the kitchen's was clear. 

"Xavier!" He cried as he pounded once on his King's door. "It's me, and whatever deep thinking you're doing can wait, because--"

Alec burst in without waiting for a response and frowned immediately. "You look like hell," he pronounced plainly, dropping his loot onto the table. "Looks like I've arrived just in time."

[guineveremallory-blog]

Guin laughed at his ridiculous faux hurt, “I apologize for the lie you feel you’ve been sold on, but it was never my intention. Handling Balthazar, his estate, and the trade is very taxing on my time. Though should you ever desire anything else to be made I promise if you make me aware I will make it myself. No one should be deprived of my work should they truly desire it.”

She paused when she realized she had completely skimmed over a big part of what he just said, “You bought an elephant statuette? Can I see it?” This had gone from awkward to hilarious so very fast for her.

[alec-hartell]

He blinked, not expecting such a request, and shrugged with a hand waving dramatically in the air. "If you know Lady Whateverherface, the younger sister of Lady Whoosiwhatsit, to whom I gave it as a gift on her birthday, than certainly you may see it, but I apologize, there are far too many ladies at court presently for me to remember every younger sister."

"Really, do you take me for a man who buys whittled elephants for himself?"

[guineveremallory-blog]

"I believe you do not have an accurate impression of what it takes for a person to make clothes. No one has ever done a fitting with me in the nude. Plus I don’t even do most of it myself anymore. The seamstress makes the clothing. My laborers make the cloth. I only do it myself at my own whim anymore. I am sadden to inform you that my hands had no part in creating your clothing. I just volunteered delivery." 

Guinevere shut her eyes and shook her head knowing he was intentionally making her uncomfortable now. It was a tactic that Balthasar used on a regular basis, “I can not say I have heard the same, but maybe you are more an expert on that aspect of Travers than I am?” She laughed, “In any case I think he will live to whittle another day, but it might be a while. Last I heard moving was a bit hard for him.”

[alec-hartell]

"That is incredibly disappointing to hear," he said, looking far more troubled than he felt as he picked up one of the doublets. "Though I am gratified that you came to delivery it personally, and so I suppose I should be nicer and tease you far less than I do." With a heavy sigh he turned to her, pretending to be put upon but eyes twinkling. "I suppose."

The further conversation on the topic of Dean Travers gave him pause, though Alec tried to maintain the same boyish and carefree manner. "Why would you suppose me to be an expert?" It was meant to sound offhanded, but light nerves prevented him from being able to tell. "I've... purchased a trinket from the man, true, but I hardly think one wooden elephant qualifies me..." He pressed his lips together.

"Well, thank you for my clothes, Guinevere, they are lovely, even if you could not be bothered to sew them yourself -- which I confess is still rather distressing me; I feel as if everything I've worn to now has been a lie."

[guineveremallory-blog]

"My dear man I would call you anything you like if you would merely cover yourself." Guin was positive that she had never blushed so deeply in her life. This had to be ten thousand times worse than the time she saw the king without his shirt on. There were certain parts of a man that should only be seen when sharing a wedding bed. Now she had seen all of the parts of  a man she would never in a million years marry.

Not that he wasn’t worthy.

That he wasn’t attractive.

Just.. Honestly it was way too much of a shock. The last man she had seen a man so undressed was a homeless man who did not have clothes to dress himself with. 

"Trousers would be nice, yes please." She put the clothes down where she was told then waited for him to dress before turning back to face him, "Thank heavens there have been no trade scandals for me, but I did hear a bit of gossip. Had you heard about the mead distributor’s wife caught with the Dean Travers, the man who sells the whittled animal statuettes? The mead distributor beat him with one of his own statuettes. Quite the upheaval."

[alec-hartell]

With a roll of his eyes, Alec reached for trousers and a loose fitting shirt, not willing to take the time for locate tunic, doublet, etc etc of the things required for him to be considered Fully Dressed for Polite Company.

"You know, you're awfully modest for someone who makes clothing for a living. I should have thought you'd seen your share of arms and thighs and other parts after all this time," he teased, fastening his cuffs.

Her stories were always entertaining, and today's was no exception. He did know the man who sold the little statuettes, actually. He'd bought one not very long ago as a gift for some younger sister of some Lady at court whose name he couldn't be bothered to remember. "Oh yes, Travers... well, she can hardly be blamed really, Travers is quite--" His mouth snapped shut and he cleared his throat. "He is a skilled man and makes beautiful things," he said simply, lazily making his way to the new clothing she brought him and running a finger over the fine brocade. "One might imagine he is quite good with his hands." Making Guinevere blush was fast becoming his new favorite past-time and he waggled his eyebrows at her. "But yes, quite the upheaval indeed. Will our dear Travers be whittling again soon, or has the mead distributor done more damage than I assumed? I do hope he at least paid for the statue..."

[guineveremallory-blog]

"Oh dear gods." Guin hid her face in her hands, "M’lord you have my most urgent apologies. I was told you were out. The seamstress was busy, but I did not wish for your orders to be delayed. I.. I will make my leave just… Where should I set your clothing?" She paused and blushed deeper, standing up and averting her eyes to the farthest wall from him, "The new ones I mean of course."

[alec-hartell]

Alec truly did his best to look stern, but soft snorts of laughter continued to betray him and eventually he lay the whole enterprise aside in favor of a genial smile. "Come now, you know I've no stomach for "m'lord"s. For the last time, you will call me Alec, or at the very least Hartell... I should think we wouldn't want word of this little episode to get around, Mm?" His grin was sly, bottom lip caught between his teeth. "M'lord has quite a big mouth, I hear, but Alec is very discreet." The last two words he whispered for emphasis, punctuating them with a wink.

"As for my clothes, just there will be fine," he said uncaring, with a waggle of his finger toward the heavy wood chest by the foot of his bed. "What news have you? Castle intrigues? Trade scandals? The Kingsguard is so boring recently, you must have something interesting to relate." 

"Perhaps I should put on trousers for this."

[alec-hartell]

Normally I do require guests to knock and then, of course, await my request to enter, but I suppose as you're already here...

[guineveremallory-blog]

"We also have that in a lovely shade of teal as well."

[alec-hartell]

Oh. Yes, teal. Doesn't that sound... lovely.

[shannonwyatts-deactivated201409]

"I’m sorry, what? I didn’t get much sleep last night."

[alec-hartell]

I was about to ask how my favorite messenger was fairing, but I suppose now I needn't bother. 

Everything all right?