[ louis would like to think he wandered down to the lake to get some fresh air, but he knew who would be there. he expects to try again to coax armand from the lake, to carefully ask him to join him on shore, to no avail. this time, however, he approaches the water and pauses, seeing armand whole and hale, different from the last time he saw him beneath the moon at this lake.
part of him wants to run to the water, a boyish and relieved thing inside of him that armand has only seen in the quiet dark of libraries and museums where they laid tucked together giggling up at the ceilings. instead he huffs a little laugh, allows his eyes to burn with bloody tears. they don't fall, but they don't have to. he begins to pull his shirt off, tossing it aside, then his pants, then his underwear. it doesn't matter who is there to see. ]
Doesn't smell like the Seine, either.
[ gentle, a smile on his face as he steps into the water, right up to armand. he can see the scar here - the great trial alicent went through - and he can't help but reach to curl his hand around the side of his neck, thumb gently skirting the scar. what does he want to say here? an apology is at the tip of his tongue but instead he takes a breath. ]
It's good to see you. [ because it is. because he'd watched him dying, couldn't help him, couldn't save him. maybe armand lied, maybe the world fell apart around them and he still wants to be angry about it, but not today. not now. ]
Can I join you?
[ he steps into the lake, ankle deep. it’s cool, refreshing. he wants to reach for armand. ]
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part of him wants to run to the water, a boyish and relieved thing inside of him that armand has only seen in the quiet dark of libraries and museums where they laid tucked together giggling up at the ceilings. instead he huffs a little laugh, allows his eyes to burn with bloody tears. they don't fall, but they don't have to. he begins to pull his shirt off, tossing it aside, then his pants, then his underwear. it doesn't matter who is there to see. ]
Doesn't smell like the Seine, either.
[ gentle, a smile on his face as he steps into the water, right up to armand. he can see the scar here - the great trial alicent went through - and he can't help but reach to curl his hand around the side of his neck, thumb gently skirting the scar. what does he want to say here? an apology is at the tip of his tongue but instead he takes a breath. ]
It's good to see you. [ because it is. because he'd watched him dying, couldn't help him, couldn't save him. maybe armand lied, maybe the world fell apart around them and he still wants to be angry about it, but not today. not now. ]
Can I join you?
[ he steps into the lake, ankle deep. it’s cool, refreshing. he wants to reach for armand. ]
Please.