Lucanis continued to hem and haw over the tea as it brewed, but he didn't actually refuse it. It was ... nice. He never considered himself much if a forest person - existence in them was a necessity at times, but he did not spend time in 'the great outdoors' as his fun.
(Just don't ask what he DID do for fun, as that list was basically nonexistent. )
Being out here with Davrin - and Assan - though, it was good. There was a peace he had not considered before. The sunlight felt warmer, the breeze gentler.
It was, kind of, their first date.
He had not yet dealt with his cousin. There was a plan in action for it though. He was going to make a power grab for First Talon at the end of the month. It would be smarter for Caterina to not be around for it - but it would have been smarter to kill her immediately. If he had not done so yet, he would not before he had the position of First Talon, whatever stayed his hand.
("He wants her to see him take power," Lucanis had told Davrin and Rook later. It was a trial, realizing the whole of his life had been basically a power struggle between cousin and grandmother.)
Acting before then would only put Caterina at risk. So they had to wait, and gather as much information as they could. It was making Lucanis restless, even if it gave him the time he needed to talk more with Spite one on one now that the worst misunderstanding between them was past. And for Teia to tease him about 'his Warden'. Viago disapproved of the match initially - 'He's not even FROM Treviso' had been said at least once, but Teia argued successfully that Davrin had done more for Treviso than any noble in power put together. That counted for something. Lucanis had to wonder if Viago would still be so judgemental of Lucanis' romantic choices if he had any idea that he had once been one of them - and that Lucanis was definitely taking that secret to the grave, as far as any Crows were concerned.
"Assan is surely agreeing with me."
But he wasn't going to turn down a chance to tease Davrin.
Lmk if this works, I can modify anything!
(Just don't ask what he DID do for fun, as that list was basically nonexistent. )
Being out here with Davrin - and Assan - though, it was good. There was a peace he had not considered before. The sunlight felt warmer, the breeze gentler.
It was, kind of, their first date.
He had not yet dealt with his cousin. There was a plan in action for it though. He was going to make a power grab for First Talon at the end of the month. It would be smarter for Caterina to not be around for it - but it would have been smarter to kill her immediately. If he had not done so yet, he would not before he had the position of First Talon, whatever stayed his hand.
("He wants her to see him take power," Lucanis had told Davrin and Rook later. It was a trial, realizing the whole of his life had been basically a power struggle between cousin and grandmother.)
Acting before then would only put Caterina at risk. So they had to wait, and gather as much information as they could. It was making Lucanis restless, even if it gave him the time he needed to talk more with Spite one on one now that the worst misunderstanding between them was past. And for Teia to tease him about 'his Warden'. Viago disapproved of the match initially - 'He's not even FROM Treviso' had been said at least once, but Teia argued successfully that Davrin had done more for Treviso than any noble in power put together. That counted for something. Lucanis had to wonder if Viago would still be so judgemental of Lucanis' romantic choices if he had any idea that he had once been one of them - and that Lucanis was definitely taking that secret to the grave, as far as any Crows were concerned.
"Assan is surely agreeing with me."
But he wasn't going to turn down a chance to tease Davrin.