all my riches will rust like a summer lost

g. pendragon, 27, events coordinator (roleplay sideblog for Fableton RP. Not the real Yvonne Strahovski or Guinevere. Reader discretion is advised.)

[gxpendragon]

thelionheartking‌:

“A wise evaluation,” he smiled with a fraction of a nod. “So, I-” He blinked through the darkness to faint glow of city light on the horizon. “Which way is it to my home. I assume I have a home that is. Only, it’s a little cold out and I think,” he fingered a hold in his shirt, “I have been better dressed.”

Guinevere shrugged.  “Wise... or learned the hard way.  I suppose they are rather the same, aren’t they?” She watched him struggle and blink, and she frowned.  “You do not remember?  I have never been to your home, so I don’t know.  But I do know a way to find out.  You have a brother here, John.  Do you mind if I ask him?”  She looked over his clothing.  “You have indeed.  You are usually well-dressed.” 

[gxpendragon]

i’m gonna rob a bank on your dime || g. & lance

[gxpendragon]

knightedlancelot‌:

Lancelot was fully capable of playing the long game. He had a good memory and an eye for opportunity. It made him a good knight. It wasn’t all that useful here, but a tiger didn’t change its stripes. They were gradually testing the limits of being together in public. It was a slow process, but other than the one near-altercation, it seemed to be going well.

She looked like she wasn’t sure whether she believed him. He hadn’t thought about it in those terms before, but that didn’t mean they didn’t feel right to him now. He met her gaze, smiling softly as he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “Truly, there is nowhere I would rather live with you than a place that is open and full of light.” Where they didn’t have to hide.

“Your doubt wounds me, my lady.” That was unlikely, given the smile spreading across his face. “Perhaps I have deliberately led you astray for nefarious purposes,” he teased back, giving her hand a playful tug toward the building in question. They both knew they were in the right place and that he’d never had a nefarious anything in his life.

His reassurance went a very long way.  When he phrased it as he did, she found no argument.  His gaze, his smile, his tone -- they were very convincing.  For all that she knew he wasn’t perfect, she also knew he was true and sincere.  Something in the intimacy of his kiss on her hand, though they had obviously been much closer to one another, sent a thrill through her.  “Then that shall be where we live.” 

And then he was teasing, tugging her around, being full of light and life himself.  She smiled brightly, even laughed once.  “And is part of the nefarious purpose not revealing yourself until now?” She asked, arching an eyebrow.  For all the show, it was mostly amusement.  She narrowed them.  “Do you even know what a nefarious purpose may be?  I have my doubts about that, my love.” 

[gxpendragon]

i’m gonna rob a bank on your dime || g. & lance

[gxpendragon]

knightedlancelot‌:

“I accept your challenge,” he chuckled, a mix of playfulness and anticipation in it. Their current location was perhaps a bit too public, even for him, but their realtor was bound to leave them alone at some point. They both had a weakness when it came to the other, but there wasn’t even a small part of him that regretted that, at least in the present moment.

Some of the humor faded from his expression, though he wasn’t unhappy. What she’d described was the exact opposite of the castle walls in Camelot, and he couldn’t think of anywhere he’d more like to live than a place full of light with Guinevere. “That would be ideal,” he agreed quietly. He considered the options and wasn’t sure it mattered that much, but taking into account what she’d just said, age didn’t seem to be a factor. “I think I prefer light and space to other considerations as well,” he decided.

He glanced up at the sign as they reached the right street. He was positive he hadn’t looked closely enough at the photos to recognize it from the outside. “What was the number?”

She knew him well enough to know that his rising to her challenge wouldn’t be immediate.  He’d spring it on her at some point with an intermediate level of privacy, most likely.  They had already learned their lesson about getting too carried away in open public, even if what they were doing there was mild and Arthur had been deeply disturbed. 

She did cease her walking to watch his face.  She wanted to be certain he wasn’t agreeing with her just to agree.  She didn’t think he was, but she wasn’t sure he’d thought about it in those terms before.

It took a glance at the page she’d printed off to remind her the answer to his question.  “2307.”  She pointed with the page still in her hand.  “I believe it’s the one on the ground level just there.  As long as you’ve led us to the correct street.”  There was a soft note of teasing in her voice, but she trusted he had and really she would follow him anywhere because of that trust. 

[mostnoblelancelot]

found family dinner | lana, g, & lance

[gxpendragon]

alloutofmatches‌:

knightedlancelot·:

He wrapped an arm briefly around Lana when she pressed to his side, the gesture so familiar he didn’t have to think about it. Perhaps he would have stayed only her bodyguard if that was what she needed, but Lana’s life had never been in danger that he knew of. What she needed was someone who wouldn’t leave, and you would have to have a harder heart than Lancelot’s to walk away from that. It was sort of impossible not to love her, though it wasn’t as if he’d tried.

The skillets were ready, and he glanced over his shoulder when she spoke. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pressing a quick kiss to her shoulder. “I was going to stand here and look pretty. But you have it covered,” he teased. Well, halfway teasing, since the second part was just true. He picked up a dish of chopped vegetables and poured them into the pan to cook, with another quick glance at Lana to make sure she was still doing alright.

@alloutofmatches·

She couldn’t quite imagine a life in Fableton without Lancelot in it, as he had been with her from nearly the beginning. It had given her a chance to get comfortable, to maybe have someone who would stay with her even though she knew it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t as though she was easy to communicate with, and it just added challenges that some people didn’t like.

“I am too,” she agreed with a small smile. The question made her pause and think about everything she was trying to learn. “I’m learning English so we don’t need a translator anymore. Then I’m going to try and learn sign language. And I’m trying to learn normal things, too, since I didn’t really go to school.”

@gxpendragon·

Guinevere couldn’t totally help it.  When Lancelot kissed at her shoulder, she turned her face toward him and kissed his nose.  He was ridiculous and she was ridiculously in love with him because he said things like that all the time.  She’d been told more than once that she was pretty, had it implied that was all she really had to offer the world, but he never made her feel like there was anything other than a genuine compliment involved in the statement.  Ultimately, though, it was all a passing gesture and she had to let him go so he could work.  

HIs stepping in to cook gave her the opportunity to take the phone that provided the only real means of communication with Lana.  “I didn’t go to school either.  I taught myself to read and that has made all the difference. Is there anything I can do to help you learn? I know I’m a stranger, but I would love to help if you want me to.”

@knightedlancelot​

[thelionheartking]

gxpendragon‌:

“In my case, mostly with my ex-husband.  I’m not sure he’s transitioning to life here all that well.  But he basically hates my living, breathing guts.” 

“Oh. That’s sad to her. But I suppose one can’t hold themselves accountable for another’s failings.” Now,  that was something he felt in his core. Though he wasn’t sure who or what he was, something in bones knew it for certain.

[gxpendragon]

“That is true,” she acknowledged. Where she was treading a bit lightly and Richard didn’t seem to be quite himself, she didn’t disclose that most of the fault in the marriage had been hers. “So long, I suppose, as long as we provide an honest accounting of our own, at least to ourselves.”

[gxpendragon]

i’m gonna rob a bank on your dime || g. & lance

[mostnoblelancelot]

gxpendragon‌:

G clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and shook her head.  “That is not an innocent question,” she pointed out.  Though her voice carried a reprimand, it wasn’t a serious one.  They had kept their feelings under lock and key for so long, being unable to express them publicly, or in her case to even open up to them privately, she knew they could last.  They had done it before under much greater scrutiny.  “But if you’re ever willing to find out, I could be persuaded.”  

Instead, they fell into step next to one another and her mind switched with agility to the topic at hand.  “I believe it to be a little newer, but smaller and so the same price.  Otherwise, I do not know much.  The pictures satisfied me enough to reach out to the agent, but I still have trouble seeing things in my minds eye after looking at photographs.  ‘Tis not a skill that has come naturally.” 

Originally posted by slytherinnpride

“It was not meant to be,” he agreed with a small, slightly devious smile. It wasn’t that much of a surprise that she might be willing to test the boundaries of how affectionate they were in public, since his own inhibitions didn’t exactly extend that far. He was perfectly willing to test the theory with her. “I may have to persuade you then.”

He nodded thoughtfully at her description. “Do you prefer newer to more space?” He wasn’t sure he had a preference, given that anything they chose was bound to be larger than their current place. “I have difficulty with it as well. The places are too unfamiliar.” As miraculous as he found modern photography, it didn’t take a lot of observation to realize it could be misleading, especially if he hadn’t yet seen it with his own eyes.

[gxpendragon]

Her sideways glance was more amused and affectionate than it was assessing. She had no doubt he would manage. For all her strength, conviction, and stubbornness, she wasn’t impervious to him. She was quite the opposite. “Do your worst,” she challenged. But she did it with a smile and perhaps some anticipation.

“I think the most important thing to me is light. The age is of no consequence so long as I can see the sun and the daylight and I feel like I can breathe.” She had experienced enough of stone walls, no windows, being trapped, and being in the dark. Candlelight was soft and potentially romantic, but at some point it was just insufficient for her to feel like it wasn’t just masking the dark. Not to mention the discomfort and terror of whatever lurked in her apartment at the church. No, she wanted open and air, and anything else was inconsequential. But his feelings on the topic mattered too; this was to be their shared home. “And yourself? Do you prefer one trait over another?”

[gxpendragon]

thelionheartking‌:

“Oh. That’s sad to her. But I suppose one can’t hold themselves accountable for another’s failings.” Now,  that was something he felt in his core. Though he wasn’t sure who or what he was, something in bones knew it for certain.

“That is true,” she allowed.  “Though I think perhaps a small part of his discomfort is that I’ve moved on and he’s seen the evidence of it with his own eyes.  And... the person I’m moving on with was once quite important to him.  Regardless, our focus here should be on you.  How can I help you?” 

Originally posted by itsboundtobetragic

[gxpendragon]

i’m gonna rob a bank on your dime || g. & lance

[gxpendragon]

knightedlancelot‌:

“We are in public, after all. How distracted could we get?” His smile reached his eyes, making them sparkle with mischief. This particular distraction had been strictly clothes on, but that was far from their usual. He kept her hand as they started toward their new destination. A map would have been helpful, and quicker, but for now, he headed in the general direction they needed to go. He thought he’d be able to narrow it down with other familiar landmarks once they got closer. “What do you know about this next place?” He would see for himself soon enough, but he wanted to talk to her and sensed they needed a lighter subject, at least for a little while.

G clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and shook her head.  “That is not an innocent question,” she pointed out.  Though her voice carried a reprimand, it wasn’t a serious one.  They had kept their feelings under lock and key for so long, being unable to express them publicly, or in her case to even open up to them privately, she knew they could last.  They had done it before under much greater scrutiny.  “But if you’re ever willing to find out, I could be persuaded.”  

Instead, they fell into step next to one another and her mind switched with agility to the topic at hand.  “I believe it to be a little newer, but smaller and so the same price.  Otherwise, I do not know much.  The pictures satisfied me enough to reach out to the agent, but I still have trouble seeing things in my minds eye after looking at photographs.  ‘Tis not a skill that has come naturally.” 

Originally posted by slytherinnpride

[beautaplinpoems]

[mostnoblelancelot]

found family dinner | lana, g, & lance

[gxpendragon]

alloutofmatches‌:

knightedlancelot·:

Lancelot didn’t go far, only a few steps away, but he didn’t think they could truly start to bond with him hovering over their shoulders. He knew that Guinevere wasn’t in any way a physical danger to Lana. He didn’t think she was any sort of danger at all, but there was no way to reassure her of that before they even knew each other. He knew how much she worried about not fitting in or being left behind, and he also knew that Guinevere could be sensitive when it came to children. It could be a very good match, or it could be a disaster, and he was trying not to let his imagination wander too far in either direction. He stayed out of their conversation for a time and busied himself with pulling out a pan for sauteing and any others they might need.

@alloutofmatches·

She shifted all of her things so she was between the pair, choosing to keep both of them close. It also made it easier to interact with both of them, since her and Lancelot had become very good at not needing words or text all the time. As she worked, she saw Guinever typing and paused to look over at the offered message. 

‘I do! Papulya and I cook a lot when he’s here with me these days. It’s a nice break from studying.’ She paused and bit the inside of her cheek before she typed the next bit, wanting to help Guinevere understand where she comes from. ‘It is very different from where I came from. I did not have all of the things I do here. Honestly… I did not have much at all.’ She offered the phone shyly and ducked her head, leaning to the side to press against Lance for a moment before straightening and going back to work.

@gxpendragon·

Guinevere was out of practice, these days, with keeping her feelings to herself.  Not that the years of practice would have mattered at all now that she was seeing Lancelot in such a fatherly role.  It opened her heart up in a whole new way, watching Lana embrace him casually, and reading her words about the things they did together.  She knew he was hired to be her bodyguard, essentially, but the role he was playing was so much deeper.  The fact they were so attached to one another made her appreciate Lancelot in a whole new way. 

She had to remind herself to look away from him and down at the phone.  ‘I’m glad you have him,’ she replied.  While she could’ve guessed how Lana felt toward Lancelot from their gestures and general mood around one another, she didn’t know the situation well enough to be more specific.  She redirected herself to basics.  ‘What are you studying?’    

Once she’d slid the phone back to Lana, she resumed chopping and glanced over her shoulder at Lance.  “So are you just going to stand there looking pretty, or do you want to start cooking while we chop?”

@knightedlancelot​

[gxpendragon]

thelionheartking‌:

He tilted his head and offered a slight shrug. It didn’t quite line up with the dictionary definition of ‘help’ as he understood it, but perhaps that was how things worked in reality. “Really? Such as?”

“In my case, mostly with my ex-husband.  I’m not sure he’s transitioning to life here all that well.  But he basically hates my living, breathing guts.” 

[gxpendragon]

i’m gonna rob a bank on your dime || g. & lance

[gxpendragon]

knightedlancelot‌:

They did have trouble staying on topic, but at least in this instance, everyone still had their clothes on. The discussion seemed rightly timed, a conversation that needed to happen, and they’d managed to find some relative privacy for it even in a public place. He couldn’t find it in him to be sorry about the way it had happened, not when they both seemed content, even hopeful, about the results.

If he’d thought for a moment she wanted to be married, he would have already asked. He would have happily married her, and he would have just as happily stayed unmarried with her for the rest of their lives. He had no wish to trap her into another unwelcome relationship. But everything else about their relationship was different from either of their previous attachments, and it was likely that a marriage would be too.

She looked somewhat overwhelmed, and for a brief moment, he thought perhaps home would have been a better place to talk about this. Having a task to complete helped him though, gave him space to sort out his thoughts while he did what needed doing. He wasn’t sure if it was the same for her. He gave her hand a light, reassuring squeeze as he leaned to read the address. “I believe I know where that is.” He nodded. He would have much more trouble with trying to use the GPS on his phone than with simply navigating the way he always had. Most of the town was designed to find one’s way easily, with perhaps the exception of Wonderland.

In spite of all the questions and all the distraction, and his keen awareness of her feelings of that nature, she found strength in his presence.  There was comfort with his hand in hers and an overriding sense of peace and calm.  As she (they) returned to the topic at hand, finding a suitable home, she found herself contented with ‘someday’.  The topics had been introduced and they could revisit them at their leisure.  They had time and freedom, time to answer questions and freedom make choices.

“Then lead the way,” she said with a smile.  “Before we get distracted again.” 

Originally posted by yvonestrahovski

[gxpendragon]

thelionheartking‌:

He frowned a moment and nodded, though he was wasn’t entirely certain he agreed. Sure, it could go badly. But so could a lot of things. “Some help is always better than none, though.”

She smiled, even wrinkling her nose at him.  “Do you believe so?  Because I have some experience where attempts to help actually worsened a situation.” 

[gxpendragon]

@knightedlancelot

[gxpendragon]

i’m gonna rob a bank on your dime || g. & lance

[gxpendragon]

knightedlancelot‌:

It had been the truth for a long time, but it was a relief to be able to say it openly and without guilt. Here, he was free to make her his first priority, his only priority if he wanted. It wasn’t a freedom he’d ever expected to have, and he couldn’t pause and consider all the choices that had brought them here every time he was grateful for where they were. He wouldn’t be able to move under the guilt if he did. They had an opportunity to be happy, and selfish or not, he was taking it.

He had trouble holding on to a single thought when she was touching him, innocent though it was. Her palm was a warmth on his chest, and he could feel his heart beating steadily beneath it. It was something of an effort to bring himself back to the conversation they were having. “She mentioned that science here has advanced to help couples who wish to have children. I can show you the reading material.” He’d been very careful in that conversation not to give away more than he thought Guinevere would wish to share about their personal lives, but it was possible he’d overstepped by discussing it at all. She looked hopeful though, not angry, so he smiled as he reached for her hand. “I would like that. Shall we continue?”

G had been fully derailed from the initial goal by their new topic.  It happened so often with him, the infuriating and distracting creature he had the capacity to be.  This conversation, though, was worth going off the rails for.  Something cautious, but previously well-hidden, was growing again in her and it felt an awful lot like hope.  She’d had no idea she still possessed any, nor the capacity for it. 

She nodded, questions coming to mind faster than she would’ve been able to given them voice.  Would they need to get married?  How dangerous were these advancements?  How successful were they?  In the end, her nod was just about all she could manage.  If there was an option to read, perhaps it would answer some of her questions. 

His next question had her reaching for the messenger bag hanging from her shoulder, forgotten and largely unneeded.  He had taken one of her hands, and she tangled it with his freely, but she used the other to free the information about the next apartment.  “’Tis an open house...” she trailed as she tried to get her bearings.  On the whole, he was so much better with the navigation than she was.  “I believe a few blocks east.  I can use my phone to create a map if you need.” 

[gxpendragon]

thelionheartking‌:

“Well, I commend you for it,” he smiled softly. Perhaps, if all the souls in town were just as nice, he’d be back to normal in no time. He hoped…. whatever normal was.

G had no idea what had happened to him, but it was becoming more obvious by the second it was something drastic.  He was so different from the person she’d known him to be.  “Perhaps you can hold off on the accolades until I figure out what the something might be.  It’s entirely possible my efforts to help are misguided or insincere.” 

[gxpendragon]

i’m gonna rob a bank on your dime || g. & lance

[gxpendragon]

knightedlancelot‌:

Lancelot valued that laugh because he didn’t get to hear it often. Almost never in Camelot, but gradually more now that they were free of all the pressures there. He liked being the person who could make her laugh. It was likely the nearest thing to carefree that he’d ever see her. “Perhaps we should. We can find out,” he agreed. He happened to know there was an orphanage in Fableton, but only because he’d walked by it from time to time. He didn’t know the formalities involved in an actual adoption.

There was an intimate level of eye contact going on, so there was no chance to hide a flicker of surprise at her next words even if he’d wanted to. “Meg said as much. But you need not feel compelled for my sake. You are my primary concern, not a potential child. As lovely as that might be,” he added, a smile warming his eyes. He’d have loved to see a child with Guinevere’s eyes and smile, but not at the expense of her well-being. He knew how much she’d suffered in Camelot.

“She’s very easy to love,” he chuckled. It was hard for him to imagine someone who didn’t take to Lana, and she seemed to be making friends easily enough. “Perhaps the three of us can spend more time together. In the meantime, it sounds like another bedroom would be wise.” It was strange to have come to that decision so simply, but he didn’t think it was as sudden as it looked. She’d clearly put thought into it prior to this conversation and so had he, especially in light of his talk with Meg. It felt like a natural addition to their search for a new place.

You are my primary concern.  How often had she wished that to be the case, her selfish heart taking over when her partner could not possibly make the statement?  She knew what it had cost to bring her to the point she heard the fateful words, but she could not make herself regret the past.  Not if it led to these decisions and this moment.   She rested a hand against him, her fingers idly feeling the landscape she knew well though it was hidden under his clothing.  She could feel his warmth through and through, from his body temperature to his statements.  She was rendered nearly speechless (but not entirely.) 

“What exactly did Meg say?” She questioned, a little derailed but grateful for something to latch onto nonetheless.  She renewed her appreciation for the differences in this present world, because it meant he’d been able to speak about her with someone else.  That was a freedom previously not available.  She could overlook the more uncomfortable implications of that, especially because it was giving her hope that it may be possible for them to have and raise a child together.  “We have nothing to lose investigating both options.  From there, we can decide which suits our needs and desires the best.”