upstairs_wardrobe | (no subject)

( Edmund slides a quiet glance in her direction, amusement at the fringes of his expression. He's never been one for crowded social gatherings, but the Narnian spring festival has always had a special meaning for him. He's actually enjoying himself. ) Not nearly as lovely as the one who says so.

( He's parroting the words of an errant Lord they'd both had the misfortune of meeting earlier that evening. )

[ she nearly cringes as she hears the words. that lord has never been one to use subtlety, and each of his compliments sound rather... well, insidious to her ears. not that she will admit it, if asked.

susan casts a wry glance at her brother. ] Do try not to spoil it, Ed? I am trying to enjoy myself, as you very well know.

Etiquette dictates your gratitude for the compliment paid, Su. ( He meets the glance with a quirked eyebrow. )

Would you prefer that we, too, converse about how beautiful this day is for a good hour or so?

( He laughs, muted but warm. The weather? Honestly? Women and their ridiculous courtesies. ) Do that and I may find it in myself to inform Lord Horse-Face that you've taken a fancy to him.

Horse-Face? Honestly, Edmund! [ but then she turns away and hides her laugh with a hand over her mouth and a discreet cough. ] Besides, if you do that, then I may just tell the good lord's sister that you've taken a fancy to her.

( Don't think Edmund missed that laugh, Susan. But he's too busy paling to a ghostly shade to call her out. ) —he has a sister? By the Lion, haven't we enough Talking Beasts in Narnia itself?

Your manners really are deplorable. [ but there's little sting to her words. ] I've met her this afternoon and she really is quite lovely. [ which almost makes her question how she's related to lord horse-face in the first place ]

( A soft, considering hum. This is not going to turn into a conversation about Edmund and his proposed relations with women, not if he has anything to do with it. ) Perhaps lovely Lady Horse-face is more to your liking, then?

Oh, no. [ and that's saying things lightly. ] Besides, [ she places a hand on his arm and says, quite conspiratorially, ] I'm not the one she took quite a liking to. Almost all her questions to me are about, and I quote, 'your shrewd and quite handsome brother'.

( Edmund sighs, bearing Susan's teasing with a patience he wouldn't have shown when he was younger. ) Well. Seems as if it's well past the time that you introduce her to our legendary High King.

Peter won't like her. She's too... [ she hesitates, trying to find the right term to describe her. ] ...inquisitive.

Peter's opinion is hardly relevant. ( If there's one thing that Edmund has no trouble conceding, it's Peter's superiority when it comes to dealing with the fairer sex. ) Really, he'd only find her interesting if she grew into an Ettin and tried to bludgeon him to death with a tree trunk.

[ ah, peter's definition of a date. susan smiles. ] There is that. Then there is also the fact that Peter is not here, and you're deflecting.

Terribly sorry for the girl, then. ( His face is very straight. Very, very straight. ) I've long since been tormented by a rather passionate longing for my trusty steed. She doesn't stand a chance.

...Edmund. [ she very nearly rolls her eyes at him. really, one of these days her siblings ought to realize the importance of building ties with other nations outside of the board room.

she straightens her gown. ] I wasn't asking you to marry her. Merely indulge her for a little chat. We do need their hand in winning over Terebinthia.

Lord Horse-face's father is wedged quite deeply into my pocket, dear sister. I don't need to indulge in mundane niceties with his silly little highborn daughter to make that treaty a reality. ( It's said with a lofty air, but the truth stands — Edmund's just uncomfortable with the social necessities, and her continually forcing him into such things often grates on him. )

[ she sighs. it's almost always like this; she tries to persuade him, he continuously, stubbornly resists. sometimes she wonders why she even tries. ]

Very well. [ a pause. ] Would you like some tea? [ it's almost an unconscious effort on her part - her way of surrendering, as she oft do ]

I'll fetch a pot for the both of us. ( And that's his way of replying in kind. )

There's no need for that. [ she rises from her seat. ] The fawn dance is starting. I'd like you to see it.

( He reaches up to steady his crown as he rises to join her, the smooth undulations of the silver-wrought leaves warm under his fingertips.

It's easy enough to change the subject. ) This is the first year since Spare Oom that Lucy's missing it, isn't it? I suppose we'll need to find ourselves the best vantage point in her honour.

Spare Oom. [ she hasn't thought about it in a long while, and it's quite jarring, the images it manages to conjure. she shakes her head slightly to clear it. ] Yes, I believe - though I'm quite certain she regrets missing this. [ after all, the narnian spring festival has always been a sight to behold - and this one isn't an exception. ]