Open Post: Who invented this calendar anyway?

[futaille]

How unfortunate.

Yes, Grantaire was fully aware that the year being longer at the mansion would logically cause seasons to drift when someone kept track of the old calendar, or at least what had been pinned down as the old calendar for convenience sake, which was almost necessary when people's arrivals weren't necessarily tied to the day they left. He hadn't given it too much thought last year, when his birthday, such that it was, arrived in spring like he was used to.

Dark, though, was unfortunate. Not inappropriate for the next notable anniversary coming up, but for this one, not at all. Of course, it wasn't as if he would have been planning much in the way of an event, Dark or no, but it would have been nice to treat himself to something or other, regardless.

Instead, he has installed himself in the game room, where he is carefully balancing dominoes on their ends to make a domino rally on the billiards table. It's a nice large flat surface, so it should work nicely. Have to keep entertained somehow.

Comments

[futaille]

"I did miss an entire summer. Something about that seems unfair."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"How perfectly dreadful," commiseratingly. Susan steps into the room. "In any event, I've got gifts."

[futaille]

He blinks in surprise. "Oh! Thank you, but you didn't have to. I know things are hard to come by right now."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"That's precisely why I've got them."

[futaille]

"Far be it from me to turn them down, then." He hops up to sit on the edge of the table, which of course sends the dominoes tumbling. Oh well.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'm afraid it isn't much, but I did set it aside for this." Susan hands him a basket. Inside is a bottle of very nice wine, another of brandy, a wheel of soft-ripened goats-milk cheese from southern France that she hopes very much is from the correct region, a crusty bread she'd baked that morning, and the queerest little object she found whilst inventorying one of the new closets on the third floor. It had been in a large box marked fidget spinners. Most of these she'd set aside before dark, knowing - based on the various surveys she's administered to the populace here - the timing of his birthday and his preferred foods.

[futaille]

He digs through the basket, smiling at each item. "No, this is wonderful! More than I would be expecting even if it weren't Dark." He pulls out the fidget spinner and looks at it curiously. "What's this?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I haven't the faintest idea."

[futaille]

He plays around with it a little. "Neither do I, but I like it anyway."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"It did seem the sort of thing that might suit you."

[futaille]

"I agree." He gets a decent spin on it. "Oh, marvelous!"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'm glad you like it."

[futaille]

"I do. Thank you for... all of this, really."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Well, when I realized your birthday coincided with Dark, I couldn't very well not set something aside." Because she's Susan, her tone sounds slightly scolding.

[futaille]

"Truly the mansion's mistress of foresight. I commend you."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'm pleased you like it."

[futaille]

"I'd say again that you didn't have to, but I'm sure you already know that and decided to do it anyway. So instead I'll say... would you like to share some of my spoils?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan hesitates for a moment. "If you're certain you'd like to share."

[futaille]

"Of course I am! Bread, cheese, and wine are all infinitely better when shared."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Well, then. I shan't take much convincing."

[futaille]

"Kitchen down the hall, then? Actual dishes would probably be better to eat from."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"If you insist," with a slight smile.

[futaille]

"Oh, I rarely insist on anything. We could eat off of a chessboard instead, but wineglasses may be slightly harder to come by."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I've never had a problem with drinking straight from the bottle," says Susan, "but I suppose we might as well be civilized."

[futaille]

He pulls out the bottle of wine and wiggles it demonstrably. "I can still grab a chessboard."