Closed Post: If at first...

[futaille]

Grantaire has seen the coffee maker being used in passing. He has not had to use it himself, as usually when he's in the kitchen, he opts for other beverages. But he knows he really should speak to Enjolras. And he also knows that even if Enjolras already has coffee, that coffee will probably either be horrible or it will have congealed into unrecognizable sludge that he will still somehow be attempting to drink, and that's just not acceptable.

So he's bound and determined to make Enjolras some coffee. It can't be that difficult, right? He grabs a bottle of wine, just to sip at while it brews. (Also, to fortify his courage. He's surely going to need it.)

On his first attempt, he has no idea what happened. Cleanup is a chore, but he actually gets assistance with both cleanup and strategy from a helpful mademoiselle with quite a bit of hair who explains the need for coffee filters, as well as the general steps one needs to take to brew the coffee in this thing. She's apparently taken one apart.

The second pot actually manages to brew into actual coffee without grounds everywhere. But upon tasting, he didn't use nearly enough coffee. Rejected.

Third pot? Too much. Rejected.

The fourth pot looks promising but the coffee is just nowhere near as good as he wants to present to Enjolras.

He finds a different variety of coffee for the fifth pot. It looks much more like it. But that sets the ratios all askew again.

Finally. Finally, pot number six turns out to be what he was looking for. He pours it into a large insulated mug that he finds in a cabinet, puts the lid on tightly, and heads off with a large mug of hot coffee in one hand, and a (now...) half-bottle of wine in the other.

There's a conversation that needs to be had.

Comments

[untamedantinous]

“You’re going to have to try harder than that,” grinning, as he maneuvers to slide Grantaire’s blade to the side.

[futaille]

"I don't know," he says with a shrug. "I've already lasted longer than I thought I would, so I'd say I'm doing quite well."

[untamedantinous]

“I told you it wasn’t so hard.” He settles back into a guard position, considering his next move. After a moment, he starts to feint to the right and then attempts to veer around to the other side. It may or may not work, depending on how well one judges Enjolras’ body language.

[futaille]

Out of the things that Grantaire has made himself familiar with over the years, Enjolras's body language is somewhere near the top. He parries the strike and takes the opportunity to try a quick answering thrust of his own.

[untamedantinous]

Oh, good, making things somewhat challenging now, and he's trying to dart out of the way but not quite making it. "Well, a point for you, then."

[futaille]

"Even score, then!" He smiles wryly. "Egalité. You must be thrilled."

[untamedantinous]

There's a mildly amused eyeroll in answer. "Ah yes, what I strive for, as you know."

[futaille]

"I think I may have heard you mention it once or twice. At length." He goes back into a ready stance, shifting his weight. He delays a bit, just to alter the timing, before springing forward and striking at Enjolras's leg.

[untamedantinous]

“Ah—“ He almost loses his footing, scrambling out of the way looking far more undignified than he’d like, but he doesn’t get a hit. “That was clever, well done.”

[futaille]

"And well-dodged," he concedes with a grin. "Clearly you're just a bit more clever."

[untamedantinous]

“Or more in practice,” with a wry lipquirk. He settles back into that ready position, circling some as he considers his next attack.

[futaille]

"Or that," he agrees cheerfully. "Very likely both." He stands ready as well, watching Enjolras closely¹.

¹ Like always.

[untamedantinous]

He continues circling for a moment or two before finally deciding on his attack, a feint to the left and then he’s going to try and sweep at Grantaire’s feet.

[futaille]

He doesn't fall for the feint but he does try to do a bit too much and jump over the sword, which is probably not the best idea having had an entire bottle of wine. Not only does he, in fact, get hit, he stumbles on the landing and very nearly falls over, only just managing to recover. But, at least, recover he does. "Another point to you, then."

[untamedantinous]

There's a mildly amused snort, seeing as Grantaire has not managed to hurt himself. "Yes, but I wasn't intending for you to almost fall."

[futaille]

"But I only almost fell, so that's fine, even if I wasn't exactly at my most graceful."

[untamedantinous]

“Whatever makes you feel better,” amused. “It’s your go now.”

[futaille]

"Yes, yes, of course." He stretches some and gets back into ready stance, watching for an opening before coming in low but sweeping the blade higher than might be assumed.

[untamedantinous]

Now it’s his turn to almost fall, tripping over his own feet as he tries to back up and avoid that touch. He does recover from that, at least, but alas, the touch lands. “Two for you as well, now,” he says, laughing a little.

[futaille]

"Now, I've had a good amount of wine. What's your excuse for that one? That committed to egalité?"

[untamedantinous]

“I have none,” and it’s a tad sheepish, but he’s laughing. “But certainly, we’ll go with your suggestion.”

[futaille]

He laughs, then as he readies himself to defend Enjolras's next pass. "In that case, I am pleased to help."

[untamedantinous]

This one, then, is very direct, if only because he's mildly getting his bearings back from almost falling: a quick lunge towards Grantaire's chest. "You are already helping, but I do appreciate it."

[futaille]

He does manage to parry the blow, stepping to the side as well. "Perhaps I have decided to be at least somewhat useful here."

[untamedantinous]

"If so, then I will continue to be pleasantly surprised." There's still a grin.