milliways_bar | (no subject)

*Susan sees Peter first thing as she walks downstairs. She hurries to him.*

Peter? What's wrong?

Peter doesn't raise his head.

"Lilly's boyfriend is here."

Boyfriend?

Oh, Peter...

*She sits down beside him, putting an arm around his shoulders.*

I'm so sorry to hear, brother.

"Well, he was her boyfriend on and off before she died, from what I've gathered. She just told me."

He looks at Susan. He hasn't been crying, but he looks completely lost.

"She was so happy, Su."

*She leans her head against his and hugs him tightly.*

I know you're dreadfully hurt. Did you know she had a boyfriend before this?

"I knew she'd had one at home. She's had relationships - brief ones - here, as well. But she really cared about him, and now he's here."

How beastly...

That does complicate things somewhat.

Peter shrugs glumly.

"She never would have cared about me, anyway."

Peter Jackson Pevensie, I'll have none of that. You know that's not true, and if - if - it is, she's not worth your time anyway.

"But she wouldn't - not in the way I want her to. I'm far too... British for her."

And did she tell you that, or do you just assume the worse?

"I can't give her what she wants, Susan."

What exactly do you think she wants?

"She wants fun. And sex."

He spits out the last word, angry for a moment, then just lost again.

Oh.

*She blushes. A lot. It's rather obvious they're related.*

I don't think I've advice for you in regard to the latter.

As to the former, you are fun. Look at all the things you've done with her you'd have never done otherwise.

"She has to coax me into all of it. I'm certainly not the sort of fun she's used to. And she knows I'm not going to give her the latter."

He rests his face in his hands again.

"Oh, hell, Susan. I'm an idiot."

No, you're a gentleman. You're noble and upstanding.

I think that kind of fellow doesn't exist in her world.

"So why can't I love someone who does have that sort of fellow in her world?"

I don't know. I don't think we get to choose that sort of thing.

"Apparently not. Much as I care about Lilly, I don't think I ever would have chosen to love her."

He sighs.

Maybe... maybe this is a good thing, then. Perhaps she's not for you, after all. She is so very different from you.

*Susan bites her lip, not wanting to further trouble her brother.*

Are there any other young ladies here who've turned your head?

He smiles grimly.

"It's quite possible that not choosing to love her would be idiotic on my part, though. I never would have thought it, but..."

Why do you say so, Peter?

*She sighed.*

I want you to be happy, but I don't want you pining for someone who's not right for you.

"She's nothing like... anyone I've ever met, Susan. I told her about Narnia the first time I met her. I don't even know why, it just... came out, even though I've been so careful about keeping it a secret all these years. I'm not sure I can really explain it."

I'll grant you she's unique and spirited.

Tell me more about this fellow. Are they engaged? If they're simply seeing each other then I am here to tell you, all is not lost. You may know your way around a battlefield, but I know my away around the matters of the heart.

*She pauses.*

Or leastways, I used to know. In any case, we can figure something out.

"Engaged? Good heavens, no."

Peter looks terrified by the very idea.

*She brightens.*

If they're not engaged then she's not entirely spoken for. There's hope!

*She pokes Peter playfully in the ribs.*