futaille | Open Post: Who invented this calendar anyway?

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.

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Dionysus wraps his arms around Grantaire. "See, that's better," he says before giving him a warm kiss.

"Mm." He kisses back, content, and then settles comfortably into Dionysus's arms. "Love you," he says, warm and happy. "Marry me," he adds, unthinking.

His eyes widen.

Dionysus stops breathing for a moment, staring at Étienne, in shock at the suddenness. "Yes -- of course -- okay -- yes --" he says, as soon as he's able to speak again. "Are -- are you sure?"

"I..." He's honestly no less surprised by it than Dionysus is. Possibly more. "I didn't think about it. At all. So I must be."

There's a half million thoughts swirling around in Dionysus's head right now, but before he can even begin to untangle any of them, he kisses Grantaire again and starts crying.

Grantaire kisses back, of course, and reaches up to brush Dionysus's tears away with a thumb.

"I love you," he says between kisses.

"I love you too." It's about as earnest as he ever gets. "So much."

He goes back to kissing, and then asks, "When?" as his thoughts start to very slowly untangle themselves.

"I..." He pauses. He has absolutely no idea. Maybe he would have if he'd planned on asking at any point, but he didn't. He's not upset that he did, but he has very little idea of what the next steps could possibly be. "... After Dark?"

"Oh -- oh yes, definitely after Dark, I can't -- I want to make you a crown, and make us rings, and I want them to look good, so -- so definitely after Dark." Nothing bad will probably happen between now and then, right? It's not going to be -- to be another situation like happened with Ampelos, right?

He's fairly sure of where Dionysus's thoughts are going to wander at that. He squeezes him. "If you want me to say safe in this bed until it's time, I'm perfectly willing."

“No no, you don’t have to stay in bed,” he says. “I’ll just find some more bubble wrap and wrap you up in that.” This is an attempt at a joke.

"Ah, see, a perfect solution." He gives Dionysus a kiss. "Don't worry. I'm sure the spirits want to see this almost as much as we do."

He smiles and starts running his fingers through Étienne’s hair. “So — d’you want a big formal event like Claudius and Galahad had? Or… or something else? Oh, ooh, how do you feel about seeing if Claudius wants to officiate?”

"Oh, he'd enjoy that." A little laugh. "Maybe not quite as formal? Something Sunny won't be as bored by, so she isn't put off of weddings forever."

“Right, so, regular wedding, but in the bouncy room, got it.”

He’s joking but Sunny would actually really enjoy that.

"Oh yes. Obviously the simplest way to go about it."

He pauses, then says, “If we wait a little bit longer it can be warm enough to have it outside in my vineyard.”

Edited 2025-06-18 19:44 (UTC)

"Oh. Yes, that sounds perfect."

He kisses Étienne again, then starts smiling around the kiss, which turns into delighted giggles. “We’re going to get married.”

He can't help but laugh in response to Dionysus's giggling. "Happy birthday to me?"

"One two three, one two three, one two three four. This is the new song we sing for birthdays. Bouncy and merry and not quite as scary, the new birthday song..."

"So how many birthday songs do you know?"

"Do you mean songs about it being someone's birthday, or songs you sing to someone on their birthday?"

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