Well, as luck would have it,

[averygoodshot]

Aramis is not having a great series of days. He's having to make promises that he is not entirely convinced are the best for all involved. He is glad to have those he cares for most close, but there is danger and who is he to shirk danger?

This is all weighing on his mind, that and the idea of perhaps exploring one of the doors, at least for a taste of adventure when he finds d'Artagnan coming in his direction. The one Musketeer who may not know of the things Aramis has done. Another reminder of the dangers that lurk just beyond one of these doors. He offers a small smile and touches the brim of his hat. "d'Artagnan."

Comments

[temperamentalsteel]

"Aramis!" he said. Of late, he was in a much better mood, buoyed up by his friends and Constance especially. What had been a dark set of days for him was now vastly improved.

[averygoodshot]

"d'Artagnan." Aramis's smile is sincere enough. "I have seen Constance. This must be a good development, indeed."

[temperamentalsteel]

D'Artagnan smiled brightly, always eager and hopeful when things with Constance were good. "We're all here and safe and Bonacieux is nowhere to be found."

[averygoodshot]

"Let us hope it stays that way," Aramis agrees, more than glad to see that at least one of them was happy and without ghosts haunting their every step. "I understand that Constance comes ... well, from our future, it seems." After Marmion, at least.

[temperamentalsteel]

"She does," he said, nodding. "I've asked only what she's willing to tell." D'Artagnan knew he was missing several chunks, but it wasn't Constance's lot to be a soothsayer and tell him his own future.

[averygoodshot]

"She - "

In a kind of penance, Aramis nods. "She is a very good friend to the Queen and to us. Do you have a moment, d'Artagnan? To talk?"

[temperamentalsteel]

That much he already knew and he nodded, gesturing toward his quarters then. "She told me, when she arrived, that Rochefort had attempted the unspeakable. Against the Queen."

[averygoodshot]

That doesn't make this conversation any easier. Aramis still feels that knife's-edge of rage at that reminder. He nods, following. "I have promised her Majesty that I will stay here. But ... "

But if given the chance, he will kill the man. With great satisfaction.

[temperamentalsteel]

"But our duty is in Paris and Rochefort is a very dangerous man who shouldn't be trusted?" d'Artagnan filled in. His mouth curled in disgust.

[averygoodshot]

"Something like that," Aramis says, following d'Artagnan inside the room and letting him shut the door.

"About the Queen .... " he starts, glancing at d'Artagnan before making his way to the window.

[temperamentalsteel]

"Is she still here? Unharmed?" he asked, trying to understand the grieving look in Aramis' face.

[averygoodshot]

"Yes. She is. As is the Dauphin," Aramis notes. "That is what I need to speak to you about." Finally, he turns to face d'Artagnan. "Constance already knows. But ... the Dauphin is my son."

[temperamentalsteel]

"What."

It comes out flat as he stares at Aramis. For a moment, d'Artagnan's mind simply can't process what Aramis has said, because that would mean he slept with the queen and therefor he committed high treason...

D'Artagnan leans back on the wall, heels of his hands pressed against his forehead, "Aramis."

[averygoodshot]

Yes, well. That's the response Aramis is used to. "For what it's worth," he adds, though it has mattered little to anyone else, "I love her."

[temperamentalsteel]

To that, to loving a married woman clearly trapped in a miserable marriage, d'Artagnan can sympathize and know that he's he last one to throw stones in that/i> glass house.

"I don't doubt it."

[averygoodshot]

"And it seems that ... that Rochefort knows," Aramis adds as perhaps the last nail in the coffin that d'Artagnan might wish to construct for him.

[temperamentalsteel]

At that, d'Artagnan groaned again, not so much because of Aramis' actions, but because of Rochefort and how dangerous he is.

"He's too sharp for anyone's own good."

[averygoodshot]

"I know." Aramis steps closer. Perhaps d'Artagnan of the Musketeers will understand. "The Queen made me promise not to seek him out." The "but" goes unspoken.

[temperamentalsteel]

But if Rochefort were to trip and end up on the pointy end of a sword, none of them would rush to help.

"And I assume we're all bound to that promise."

[averygoodshot]

"I don't know," Aramis replies, not looking away. "If she has not asked you to stay, it may be that you have never heard of such a promise."

[temperamentalsteel]

"Indeed. She hasn't said anything to me and swords..." he shrugged his shoulders extravagantly, playing the innocent pup that everyone thought him to be.

[averygoodshot]

While Aramis doesn't grin, there is nearly a savage light in his eyes and he shrugs. No, nothing. "Constance would not forgive me," he feels compelled to remind him, "if something happened to you, however."

[temperamentalsteel]

Despite the tension of the moment, d'Artagnan laughed at that even as he recognized it as the truth. Perhaps she wasn't a trained Musketeer, put she could cow all of them like little boys with he right look.

"She'd blame me first."

[averygoodshot]

"If you are able to find your way back," Aramis warns. "Be careful." Rochefort is a far more insidious foe than the Cardinal ever was.

[temperamentalsteel]

At least the Cardinal had been more interested in advancing France than making advances on the Queen. It had made him dangerous, but at least calculable. Rochefort was far more erratic.

"Rochefort is a terrible man."

[averygoodshot]

No argument there. Aramis just nods. The worst is that he is a threat to the Queen's safety and that cannot be countenanced.

[temperamentalsteel]

D'Artagnan nodded back, even as he tried to find some humor in their situation. "You do so love children."

[averygoodshot]

Finally! Someone who appreciated that. Aramis can even muster a smile. "I'm very good with them." Especially the Dauphin. He's very much loved the time he has gotten to spend with his son.

[temperamentalsteel]

He smiled back, equally wry, and shook his head. If only he sired a child with someone who wasn't the most powerful woman in France.

"I still remember it with Henri. You cossetting the child while Constance fended off her attacker."

[averygoodshot]

Ah, Agnes. Aramis thought of her on occasion most fondly. "Constance has proven quite apt with the sword."

[temperamentalsteel]

D'Artagnan nodded, taking on an expression of distracted pride. "She's very talented. If only they let women fence."

[averygoodshot]

"Here, they might, seeing as women wear trousers," Aramis says. He might have run into a wall or two, distracted by the tight clothing women here wear.

[temperamentalsteel]

It was very true; the initial sight had had d'Artagnan wondering if he should be glancing away.

"I had noticed. Constance must find it freeing."

[averygoodshot]

"I would imagine she would. And that is a benefit to you as well," Aramis agrees with a smile. What is love if not a chance to freely appreciate your lover?

[temperamentalsteel]

D'Artagnan flushed bright red but he couldn't deny it. Seeing Constance in modern clothing had been...breathtaking.

"I'm trying to be a gentleman!"

[averygoodshot]

Aramis laughs, clapping d'Artagnan on the shoulder. "Of course you are."

But when had being a gentleman got any of them anywhere?

[temperamentalsteel]

"I said I was trying," he said, emphasizing that it wasn't necessarily working. In truth, he and Constance had not been as intimate as Aramis suggested, if only because of the shock and newness of Constance's time here.

[averygoodshot]

Well, that was an opportunity lost, wasn't it? But then, Aramis's "opportunistic" nature is what got them into at least part of the situation they were in. So.

He gives d'Artagnan's shoulder another squeeze. His expression is grateful for the ear that wasn't immediately censorious. "I shall leave you to it," he tells his friend, standing.

[temperamentalsteel]

"Thank you," he started, Then he paused, reached out, and laid a hand on Aramis' shoulder. The press was one of concern, only a little questioning.

"Aramis, have care."

[averygoodshot]

Yes, Aramis knows.

He gives d'Artagnan a small smile and he leaves him to rest. It seems he has no choice but to have care, since he can't do what he wishes to do: kill Rochefort.