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]

"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."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan laughs, briefly but genuinely. "Perhaps a plate is in order," she says, and adds, hopefully, "I shouldn't want food to get in the way of a rousing chess match."

[futaille]

"I suppose that makes sense," he says with an exaggerated sigh. "Under most circumstances, I would trust the mansion's capability of providing another chessboard, but this is certainly not most situations. Chess and snacks, then?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"That sounds ever so lovely," Susan says, venturing a smile.

[futaille]

"Excellent. I can go grab some dishes, then."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Perfect."

[futaille]

"If you'd like, you can set the board while I'm gone. If not, also fine." He darts out of the room to go get some plates.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

The problem with Grantaire, Susan thinks as she starts to set up the board, is that he ought to stand more firmly upon his convictions and more clearly express his preferences. It's awfully hard to get a read on him when he's so obliging. Naturally that sort of biddability can be appealing in certain contexts, but perhaps the reason she's struggled to get to know him better is because he doesn't often express a position upon which she can hinge her understanding.

Naturally, she shan't let this stop her.

[futaille]

He returns forthwith with a couple of plates in one hand and a couple of glasses in the other which he holds up. "Optional. In case we change our mind on the bottle. I have a few napkins in my pocket, too."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, clever," says Susan approvingly. "I expect you've fetched a corkscrew as well?"

[futaille]

He sets down the glasses with a little laugh and pulls the napkins out of his pocket, folded around a corkscrew. "It's safe to say in general that I want to get into the wine, yes."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Very good."

[futaille]

He shrugs with a little smile. "It was simple enough, but thank you."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Look, Susan is willing to try out different approaches to make in-roads with people she isn't as close with: "Accept the compliment, you silly man," lightly.

[futaille]

"Ah, yes. Right. Thank you." His smile grows the faintest bit wry. "All present evidence to the contrary, I really am getting much better at accepting compliments."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Naturally Susan, who is not given to tests whatsoever, immediately tests this. "Ah! Well done."

[futaille]

He laughs a little. Obviously it's a prompt for a demonstration. "Oh, thank you. It's been a process."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I imagine it must be."

[futaille]

"I suppose that after all my old reliable tricks to wriggle out of the way largely stopped working, I had to start adapting."