Log: Complete

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

When; Aug. 4 (afternoon)
Rating; PG?
Characters; Edmund Pevensie lionpassant, Caspian X treadingdawn
Summary; Amidst the horrors of this particular curse, Edmund actually has the time to get down to business.
Log;

[Working on an old pirate ship isn't a task for a king, but with his long hair tied back and his tunic half soaked in sweat, no one would even know that this is in fact a king of Narnia. Caspian is rather glad for it anyway. Huff huff, he's pulled rivets out to loosen a board on the hull.]

Comments

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

[Edmund licks his lips. He's walking with intent. Posture set and rigid. Oh, isn't he supposed to be working today? Well, that, he forgot. He's sorted out the thing with Kara, now he has another thing to deal with, then he'll be finished for the day. Edmund steps on board the deck, finds Caspian amongst a low number of volunteers.

Time to get serious now.]

Caspian.

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't like the sound of that. Caspian pauses a moment without looking to Edmund, then continues deriveting. He still has a dark color circling the bottom of his eye, and the cut on his lip has scabbed over.]

Edmund.

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

You free now?

[Free or not, Edmund doesn't really care. They're going to work this out now. Edmund's not very into real social niceties today. He doesn't sugar coat it. He's not very happy with Caspian. His next words seal the deal of the matter.]

We need to talk.

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

Would it really matter to you if I was?

[He knows what's coming, so Caspian sets his work down and cleans his hands briefly on a rag. This doesn't help much to sweep the dirt and grease away but it's something.]

Of course.

[Caspian gestures for Edmund to lead the way. He knows better than to argue right now.]

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

No.

[Edmund admits, because, yes, it's the truth. He's not being kind today. When Caspian turns, Edmund catches it. The bruise and split lip. His sister did that? Edmund knows he really shouldn't be proud, but he is. At least even now Susan still packs a punch.]

Over here.

[He spins on his heel, takes them somewhere on the deck far from prying ears and eyes.]

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

[Caspian would be proud of her too, but right now he isn't quite feeling congratulatory. He follows Edmund away from the others, knowing what he wishes to discuss. He huffs a low sigh.]

Yes?

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

[The boat overlooks scenery that does little for Edmund's amusement. He turns, gives Caspian a look. He is oddly quiet, unamused. It takes a couple more seconds after Caspian's query before Edmund sighs. A frustrated, impossible, unbelievable sort of sigh.]

You couldn't have had better timing? I mean, really.

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

Did you think there could ever be a good time for that?

[Caspian counters with instinctual bristling. He's not mad at Edmund, but he is frustrated and wants to blame something, anything. He's already blamed himself.]

She had to know, Edmund.

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying she didn't.

[Sigh again. Caspian's not getting it. He's upset, and it can't be help. Edmund really shouldn't blame anyone but himself now. He hadn't discouraged Susan, he had encouraged Caspian. Prig. Really. He shouldn't have done either. He should've stood at the sidelines and watched, not prodded and poked like an inquisitive court jester. This was not good.]

What did you say to her exactly?

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

[Waving a hand casually.]

I told her I do not feel for her what she feels for me. It is an honest truth. She is a friend to me, Edmund, I did not want Susan to believe otherwise.

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

[Why couldn't Caspian be less sensitive? More ass-like, Edmung doesn't know. It would've made things easier.]

You really should've pushed her away when she kissed you then.

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

[Oh that again. He turns away from Edmund, giving the other a wave of dismissal. He doesn't mean it, but this is Caspian's temperamental way. Edmund knows it well, almost as much as Peter.]

You were all leaving. And I would not slight Queen Susan in such a way.

[But Caspian needs to understand that not doing so is what led to this problem.]

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

You should've. Or at least told her from the time she arrived. Did you think she'd forget? Careless, Caspian.

[He feels bad saying it. However, Caspian's seemingly indifferent self is beginning to grate at Edmund's nerves. It's like dealing with a child. Such obstinacy. It's almost ridiculous remembering that Edmund was once like that himself.]

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

My apologies, I could not do what you would.

[He says coolly without looking at Edmund. Caspian is busying himself with a tied rope. A Gordian's Knot metaphor would fit.]

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

[It really doesn't matter what Caspian thinks Edmund would or would not do. Because it's not him who did a wrong. Edmund's eyes narrow in distaste. The child just went back to being a newborn in his eyes.]

Do I take that as saying you have no proposals as to how to rectify the issue then?

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

Not yet.

[Caspian admits just as coolly. He may be reverting in Edmund's eyes, but to Caspian he is maintaining a diplomatic distance. Who knows if it's better in the long run or not. What had Toshiko said? Sometimes it has to hurt first.]

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

And what of Peter?

[Edmund voices his detachment. He is done with this business. He's washing his hands clean. Dissatisfaction towards any Caspian's answers would lead into a rather nasty result. Yet, it can be avoided. Edmund is not a part of this anymore. He's a judge master, card counter. He's fair authority. He just wants to know, and all can be left to is or her, or their, own devices. It's really none of his business to get involved, he's known this from the start.]

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

[That name makes his brow furrow briefly. His expression loses its flint-hard facade, and then just as quickly, Caspian is steeled again.]

You may tell him I will not return until she invites me.

[Caspian says firmly. It's the way it should have been, Aslan sent them away, and in a future the king has yet to experience, white lilies confirm this.]

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

[Edmund wants to urge Caspian to be rational. It's useless. Already his mind seems to be made up. There's no fixing these wars. Caspian's obstinacy rivals the Pevensies' own. An observation, rather clear, springs to Edmund's mind instead.]

So you haven't given up?

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

[What? He doesn't like the question, it's a two edged sword. To say he's given up would be a complete lie and render his situation with Susan for nothing. She deserves more than that. To say he hasn't renders his own argument with Edmund a total fallacy, and Caspian isn't sure if his pride can take that right now.

Damn him.]

I have done my part, Edmund.

[Vague Caspian is vague.]

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

[Curious Edmund is curious. Perception is his forte. He picks up on the slight change. There is difference. Not much, but there. It isn't clear however, and Edmund wants to make sure of it is.]

Well? Was it any useful?

[Because Edmund really does expect an answer.]

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

I don't know.

[It's an honest answer, and the source of his confusion. Caspian doesn't know what he can or should do because he doesn't know about the other half of this equation. The same half who emphasized the importance of his family, and look where that got Caspian!]

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

You don't know?

[Edmund echoes, in slight, stupefied disbelief.]

How could you not--

[He shuts his mouth. What happened to being on the side?]

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

I don't.

[Blame that ball of angry zombie rage. Not that Caspian ever can. Except for the problem with Susan. He certainly partially blames him for that.

Caspian turns his gaze back to Edmund finally, when he silences his own words.]

I am going to continue working.

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

Right.

[Edmund's brows furrow for the briefest of moments. Well, that killed that story then.]

I should actual go to work from time to time.

[Because not going is worse than going. Edmund needs to remember to actually go in the first place.]

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

You may come as you wish. He pays fairly for what you do with your time.

[He's dismissed the subject already.]

[lionpassant.livejournal.com]

I'll see you tomorrow, then.

[Edmund's a stubborn one if need be. He turns away, having said what he needed to.]