metem_logs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

ariadne,
gawain

(no subject)

Characters: Ariadne and Gawain
Date/Time: Starting Friday, August 5.
Location: Lincoln, NE
Rating: TBD
Warnings: Potential weapons-grade cuteness
Summary: Ariadne comes to Lincoln for a weekend visit.

After a long flight, the plane finally touched down in the city. The view below hadn't been much to look at once they had gotten over the mountains, but the city itself seemed bustling enough from what she could tell.

Walking into the airport, Ariadne looked for Gawain among the people milling there, both on the upper levels and looking over to the balcony.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He laughed and gently patted her on the back. "These days, about the only challenges I defeat or jousting I do is of the virtual kind. Not very exciting, I suppose."

He looked at her slyly. "When it comes to beasts, though ... I know a certain feline familiar of mine who would be delighted to make your acquaintance."

"Oh, that's right. Your cat. Well, I'd be delighted to meet him," Ariadne said, grinning back.

"Then come with me to his lair ... that is, the bookstore," Gawain said, motioning back toward his car.

"Very well," Ariadne laughed, following him.

He led her back to the car, and they drove to his bookstore, which was an older two-story brick building with a slightly Victorian feeling. Gawain lived in the apartment space upstairs. Over the front windows was a hanging sign that read "Hawk of the Plain Rare and Gently Used Books."

He shut off the engine and smiled at her. "Here we are."

"Nice," she said, nodding appreciatively, "I'll bet the parking down here is hell, though."

"You better believe it," he said, unlocking the front door.

As he opened the door, the in-store cat, Darius, a large, roly-poly calico, greeted them with a friendly meow from his trademark spot in the window.

"Ah, and this must be Darius," she said, petting the cat's head.

"Yep, he's my main business partner. He's great with the customers," Gawain said. "He likes you, I can tell."

"He's a very sweet kitty," Ariadne said, scratching his ears. "How's business been for you guys?"

"It's been about what I would expect for the summertime," he replied. "Things will get busier after the semester starts in a few weeks. In the meantime, I've been researching my Arthurian roots along with Nimue. I've forgotten so much over time, I feel as if I'm finding myself for the first time."

He watched her play with Darius. "Have you done much research into your mythic past?"

"I know my story," Ariadne replied. "I know it, I acknowledge it, but, overall, I don't mind putting it behind me."

He nodded in agreement. "That's pretty much how I feel as well. I think that's why I'm disinclined to fight with the others for supremacy. I want to live new mythology, here and now, rather than 'reclaim' the past."

"Between you and Hades, there's a good chance the Asgardians will win it all," Ariadne said, shaking her head. "So, then, what is the plan?"

Gawain looked off into space and contemplated her very reasonable question. "Presently, I'm trying to not act rashly, as I have in the past, and see what happens. A time requiring action on my part may come along, but I want to handle it properly." He turned back to her with a wry smile. "In the meantime, I intend to focus on what I do best: look for the Grail. What are your plans, then?"

"Truthfully? Keep my head down, do my job... And hope Hades doesn't come asking for romantic advice," she answered with a grin. "Do you really suppose the Grail's still out there somewhere?"

"So even the Lord of the Underworld is perplexed by romance," Gawain said, laughing. "I would like to think the Grail is still out there somewhere. At least I hope the spiritual enlightenment it represents is still attainable."

"If he becomes king of Olympus, apparently he's gotten Aphrodite to agree to be his queen," Ariadne explained.

"I'm sure the spiritual part is still available. After all, it's kind of why I carry this." Reaching into her purse, Ariadne pulled out a pocket-sized replica of the Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth. "The real one in France was for people who wanted to make a spiritual pilgrimage, but couldn't go to the Holy Land. Instead, they could walk through the labyrinth and the Church considered it an equivalent in the eyes of God."

"That is really beautiful, my friend," he said, admiring the replica. "I like to think it is possible to attain enlightenment anywhere one happens to be, by successfully traversing the labyrinth of one's soul."

"Well, it makes for a good meditative exercise, anyway," Ariadne said, lightly tracing her finger over the familiar grooves. Normally she used the stylus, but she wasn't going through it right now. "It helps clear my mind when I need to concentrate."

He lightly touched her finger with his and followed it as she traced the pattern. Doing so indeed provided a sense of serenity and clarity.

"You like it?" Ariadne asked gently, looking up when she felt his touch.

"Very much so," he said, taking her hand in his.

"Are we still talking about the labyrinth?" she teased gently, curling her fingers around his.

"Maybe we are, maybe we aren't," he teased in response. Before he knew it, he found himself gently pressing his lips against hers.