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

[vineleaves]

Inside the slim box is a dark green book. It clearly has been hand-bound, by someone without much experience in binding books at that. On the cover, embossed in gold leaf, are the words The Collected Works of Étienne Grantaire.

If he opens it, he will find several of his …plays, which have been printed on the printing press.

“I had Enjolras show me how to get it all printed up. … I didn’t tell him what it was, but I suspect he had close to an idea, because he said I’m lucky he supports free press,” Dionysus says with a laugh. “And then I got Aziraphale to show me how to bind it. I, ah, I did explain to him what it was for.”

[futaille]

Grantaire turns quite a bright pink and he laughs somewhat helplessly as he flips through the book. "Oh là là, I was certainly never expecting to be published."

[vineleaves]

Ughhhh he's so cute when he blushes. "And why not? They're the best plays I've ever seen."

[futaille]

"You are incredibly biased." He does not seem the least bit put out by this.

[vineleaves]

"I'm the god of Drama, so whatever my opinions are regarding plays are clearly the correct opinions," he laughs.

[futaille]

"Clearly I'll have to reenact some sometime, then."

[vineleaves]

"Well, you know, I have a very busy schedule, but I might be convinced to sit in on a reading later this evening, perhaps."

[futaille]

"Perfect. Until later, then." He sets the book aside, giving Dionysus a wink, and grabs the other package.

[vineleaves]

It takes Dionysus a moment to realize Grantaire has started opening the last package, because his thoughts drifted quite rapidly to the realization of exactly what it would mean, for him, if he and Grantaire happen to be sleeping together when Grantaire starts reenacting one of his plays, and that is an incredibly distracting thought for reasons that make him unbelievably glad to be the god of Drama.

...Oh, right, Grantaire is opening the gift. Inside that box is a bracelet made out of a golden vine, with tiny, glittering garnet grapes weaving throughout¹. "I know you don't wear much jewelry, but I thought you might -- you might like this for, y'know, special occasions." Or every day, but he's not going to press his luck.


1. Sort of like this, but with the grape clusters being garnets instead of more gold.

[futaille]

"Oh, I'm impressed." He slides the box over to Dionysus and extends his wrist. "Put it on me?"

[vineleaves]

"Of course!" He takes Grantaire's arm, scoots his sleeve out of the way, and then leans over to kiss the inside of his wrist, lavishing a few moments of attention there before he pulls back and actually puts the bracelet on him.

[futaille]

He holds his wrist up and looks at the bracelet on it. "I feel adorned."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus smiles, staring at Grantaire like he's the only thing that exists. "You should. I should adorn you in jewelry head to toe."

[futaille]

He grins. "Oh, head to toe? That might chafe some parts."

[vineleaves]

"Well, we'll just have to leave those parts exposed, I suppose. What a pity."

[futaille]

He bursts into giggles. "Oh, what a sight I'd make."

[vineleaves]

"A very pleasant sight."

[futaille]

"If you of all people didn't think so, I'd be worried."

[vineleaves]

He laughs. "If I ever say anything otherwise, assume I'm somehow being held hostage."

[futaille]

"Who could possibly hold you hostage?"

[vineleaves]

"Oh, nobody, so you don't have to worry about me ever saying that."

[futaille]

He laughs. "Oh, good to know. Card next, then?"

[vineleaves]

"Ah, I suppose it's time for that part, yes," he says with a smile.

The inside of the card reads simply,
Where I got to meet the real you for the first time.

Yep, it's a scavenger hunt.

[futaille]

Never having seen a scavenger hunt before, he looks up quizzically. "What's this?"

[vineleaves]

"Go to that location and you'll find out."