Catching up

[Quinn du Paras]

I laughed, feeling myself relaxing. “That’s because you are as good a friend as I could ever hope for,” I told him, smiling.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"Hey, no getting sentimental on me now, it'll ruin my reputation," I said with a teasing grin.

[Quinn du Paras]

“You mean your reputation as a bumbling lover and clueless leader?” I asked, grinning again.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"I believe the words you're looking for are fearless and superb," I retorted merrily.

[Quinn du Paras]

I tilted my head to the side as if thinking things through. “No, bumbling and clueless were the words I wanted,” I said, grinning.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

I flicked another nut at him, and it spun off his shoulder. "I'll have you know that many a woman have found me anything but bumbling."

[Quinn du Paras]

“At least that’s what they say to your face.” I was still grinning as I dusted off any bits of nut that might have stuck to my shoulder.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"Well they come back for more, so I take that as a vote of confidence," I shot back with a grin. "And that was before I had any title at all."

[Quinn du Paras]

“Must have been the money you were paying them,” I said, flicking a nut at him.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

The nut landed in my lap, so I picked it up and ate it. "Think what you like. Besides the dairy maids are a thing of the past. I have a very beautiful, very intelligent woman in my bed now."

[Quinn du Paras]

I came very close to making a comment about Phreya’s bedroom tendencies, but I caught myself.

“We’ll see if she stays once the drugs have worn off,” I said, chuckling.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"So we shall," I replied, almost keeping a straight face. "The gods know she's far too good for me."

[Quinn du Paras]

“I concur,” I said, chuckling.

Then I smiled and shook my head a little. “She’s lucky to have you brother.”

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"Thanks," I replied with a smile. "I just never thought I'd court a princess. Not to mention a princess actually worth my while."

[Quinn du Paras]

He was smitten, whether he realized it or not.

“What a fine pair we turned out to be,” I said, chuckling. “So much for wild bachelor’s about the city.”

[Lucien de Clairmont]

I laughed. "We got into enough trouble at Paras to make up for it I think."

[Quinn du Paras]

“True enough,” I said, grinning at the memories. “Some of our antics are still talked about.”

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"Surely they're not still blaming us for Michel coming home blue are they? That couldn't have been our fault. He clearly fell into the dye tub all by himself," I said with a wide grin.

[Quinn du Paras]

“For some reason they don’t believe our version of that story, but his,” I said, chuckling wryly. “They also refuse to believe it wasn’t us that ate all the pies before Mother’s fall party.”

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"But we had help," I protested, laughing. "It wasn't all our fault. As I recall, Anne-Marie's face was covered in apple pie filling."

[Quinn du Paras]

“No one remembers she was part of it,” I told him, laughing. “They only remember us.”

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"Why am I not surprised? Anne-Marie looked innocent enough to get away with murder," I said, laughing still.

[Quinn du Paras]

“I was never able to pull off that innocent look.” I shook my head and took another drink of ale.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"And everyone assumed that I was guilty, even if I could have looked innocent," I replied with a grin. "Not that it was possible with balckberry stain at the corners of our mouths."

[Quinn du Paras]

“Besides, you always were guilty,” I reminded him with a laugh.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

I laughed as well. "Aye, I usually was," I agreed merrily.

[Quinn du Paras]

“We both were,” I added, smiling. Gods it was so good to have him around again. I had missed him more than I realized. I was never as relaxed and happy with anyone else as I was with him, except Joie of course but for very different reasons. I couldn’t wait for them to meet.

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"You managed to weasel out of it sometimes though," I said with a grin. "You always were smarter than me."

[Quinn du Paras]

“Very true,” I agreed with a wide grin. “I still am.”

[Lucien de Clairmont]

"Hence why I'm not rushing myself in finding a wife," I said with a grin. "I know the province will be in good hands if I don't get around to making heirs."