du_vallon | (no subject)

"But he may like fleurs de lis on them," says Aramis stubbornly. He cannot let go of the idea now - perhaps he can work them into the bedroom somehow, as wall sconces or an accent rug. "I will take pictures on my phone of their wares to show him.

"Maybe," he agrees. "We can paint them on the baby's walls, in a pattern," he promises. "And you can put them in the bedroom anywhere you like. And if Athos likes them, we'll have them in the library too. I'm sure there'll be a wet bar, too," he points out. "Plenty of opportunities to design."

He heads into the store and nudges Aramis towards the throws, picking up the cashmere one that feels like heaven, draping it over Aramis' shoulder and rubbing it against his neck. "Here," he says. "An adult blanket for us."

It is soft, and Aramis tilts his head to rub his cheek against it. "Not quite the same shade of blue," he murmurs, for the baby blanket had been paler. "But it is gloriously comfortable." He turns to look at Porthos without dislodging the blanket. "Where will we put it?"

"I was thinking we could put it on the chaise and curl up with it when we're watching your films," Porthos says. "Or while you're studying," he adds, nudging at Aramis' side, his eyes wide and brimming with hope given that he loves that Aramis is finding a place and a role for himself here.

Aramis' expression softens for the look on Porthos' face, even as hope fills his own chest. "You would sit with me?" he asks, stepping closer to drape a corner of the blanket over Porthos' own shoulder. "Help me to learn all the steps and protocols?"

"Of course," Porthos replies, matter-of-factly like no other possibility had ever filtered through his brain. "I love learning new things, you know that. And if this works out, this is going to be your job," he says. "And I want to be there to support you through it," he says. He's come to terms with the fact that they'll be apart, but he's still after Aramis to follow this dream and still wants Athos to look into work as a detective.

He's not sure where that will leave him, but he's always adapted before and found something.

Aramis leans in to kiss him, heedless of the other customers in the store. "I will need it," he says. "Modernity holds many mysteries for me, yet, and this exam exposes even more of them. I must learn to drive," he admits. "I have already begun with the examination portion of it."

Porthos holds onto Aramis by the waist as he kisses him back, rearranging the blanket over Aramis' arms as he listens to what Aramis says next. "One of those cars?" he asks, but then thinks it silly that he'd asked. Of course he'd need to know that, because it's the job. "I suppose it would be good," he admits, even if he's unsure whether he'll ever follow in those steps.

"I'll help you study for that, too. Just think, then you'll be able to drive the kids in and out of the city. Me, too," he adds with a smirk.

"They must get to school somehow," Aramis tells him with a laugh, "And you to the grocery store. Between the household's needs I might find myself quite busy." Aramis raises a brow. "Perhaps Athos will learn to command a thunder wagon as well, just in case."

Porthos can only imagine Athos behind the wheel of such a thing. "I don't think we could allow him to drink before piloting one of those," he points out, eyes more than a little worried. "But I wouldn't mind the both of you knowing how, I'd trust the both of you with my life," he says, thinking of how they'll get to town much faster with one of them.

He's still wary of it, of course, but it seems necessary. "When are you going to sit for the test?" he asks, picking up a second blanket, just in case.

"I must pass the driving examination first," says Aramis. "I have chosen a date in three weeks time. I always meant to tell you," he says quickly. "It is only - it is rather shameful to fail, I think. They allow their children command of the wagons here."

Porthos doesn't mind being kept in the dark for a time, provided that Aramis eventually tells him the truth. True, there's still small issues of trust since those memories, but he's doing his best to push them aside. "I don't think you less of anything for hesitating," Porthos promises, wrapping his arm around Aramis' waist. "I've got no intention of sitting for an exam to learn how to steer one of those things, so you're already a step ahead of me."

"No?" asks Aramis. "I would think it would appeal to you." Without missing a beat, he sidesteps the couple attempting to reach the chenille lavender throw. "All that speed and danger, hurtling around every turn in the bowels of a steel machine."

"Too many rules," is Porthos' honest reply. If he got to drive one of those things with no rules around a countryside like France's bare roads, he wouldn't mind, but here it's all stops on reds and signs and rules and Porthos already feels restrained just thinking about it. "Maybe I'll get one of those little ones you can ride around our property. One of those smaller ones. Besides, then if you and Athos learn, I get to sit back and enjoy."

"I think you should have basic lessons," Aramis decides, head tilted as he considers. "Suppose something happens to me and, God forbid, one of the children. You cannot put us both atop a horse with you and ride us to treatment."

"There are taxis and if it's a real emergency, I'd be calling for an ambulance anyway," Porthos feels inclined to point out. "Which would be better if medical attention is needed. You and Athos learning will be enough," he promises. "I'll have the horse and a phone, that's all I need," he promises.

Aramis hums. "I find I like the thought of you dependent on me," he murmurs. "Perhaps I'll only drive you to town if you promise to cook only the items I enjoy."

Nevermind that Aramis enjoys everything that Porthos fashions in the kitchen. "No trips unless I am able to touch you during yoga."

Porthos doesn't remind Aramis that he could still very well ride into town if need be, because he also likes the idea of sprawling out in the back seat while Aramis drives (or, really, sitting in the front and trying to distract him). He loads up a third blanket, just in case, and directs Aramis to the cash. "I suppose I'll have to start doing yoga twice as long. Half an hour of actual exercise, half an hour of you pestering me with your hands."

"Are we buying all these blankets?" asks Aramis, even as he's herded towards the register. "Are we going to dirty one or two of them?" he asks with a grin. "Because I believe we may buy specialty laundering fluid only a few stores over."

"One for each of us," Porthos protests. "Blue for you and Athos, and green for me," he says, because he knows how excellent he looks when clothes in hunter and forest greens, earthy tones that bring out the warmth of his eyes. "And besides, we do enough laundry as it is," he says. "We're awful, like that."

"We are conscientious owners of a fickle and volatile fabric," Aramis counters, and now that the idea is in his head, he wonders that they do not buy two for each of them. "That does not sound so awful to me."

Porthos smirks as he noses at Aramis' neck to nuzzle him with a kiss. "We're lucky there's such a thing as the washing machines here," he points out. "Could you imagine having the sort of sex we do, making the kind of mess we happen to, and having to do it by hand?"

The cashier's brows make it quite evident that they been understood despite their French, and Aramis immediately smiles and pays, putting his bright eyes to use until she's too flustered to complain. Thanking her with the brush of his lips to her knuckles, Aramis grins and steers Porthos from the shop.

"We'd buy new sheets once a week," he says belatedly. "Perhaps more."

"Every other day," Porthos jokes, but the truth is probably a little too close to that to be funny. He takes hold of the bag so he's holding the both, heart still accelerated and mad. "Are we to buy anything else? Or are we going to go look at your books and plans again?"

"Books," says Aramis, for it is all he can do not to turn around and go back into the baby store. "I will be lest tempted to buy everything I see on the pages if they are not there before me."