It was one of those lazy afternoons in which the headmistress and the scientist sat and drank tea at the academy garden.
She was reviewing application documents. He was playing a game on his handheld console. Sometimes the couple would have an animated conversation or a heated debate during tea time, but at this particular afternoon, the tea was getting cold and the scones were becoming stale. It was he who initiated conversation.
"Milly Ashford?" He calls her, but his eyes were glued to his game.
She decides to play along. "What is it, Lloyd Asplund?"
"You're already twenty-four."
"I'm aware of that."
"…and I'm thirty-five."
The headmistress looks up from the folder of student portfolios she was reading. "Is this another age issue you're getting at?" She looks at the platinum-haired man sitting in front of her and sees that he is focused on the little screen in his hands. Either that or he's avoiding eye contact, she thought.
She could feel a pang of irritation somewhere inside her – they had already settled the age issue a long time ago. Why was he suddenly bringing it up?
He continues, as if not hearing her last question. "…I've been courting you for five years now." Ah, so it's that issue, Milly said in her head.
"…when will you marry me?" At this he shifts his full attention to his fiancée who, after six years from meeting her, has grown quite beautifully into a graceful lady worthy of a crown to put on her pretty head.
Her mood suddenly lightens and a playful smile adorns her face. "In due time, love. In due time," she answers him, and she goes to back to working on the profiles. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see him pouting. She held back a giggle.
After gaining a level or two, Lloyd breaks the silence yet again.
"Milly?"
"Hmm?"
"When is this 'due time'?"
"You won't drop this matter unless I tell you, non?"
"Yep." Lloyd felt as though Milly enjoyed torturing him. He thinks that it's her payback for all the times that he was late to, didn't show up for, or totally forgot their appointments. Now he felt the weight of all the consequences of disappointing her. He makes a mental note to ask her out to a normal dinner (not one in a testing laboratory) next time.
He held his breath, waiting for a real answer to escape her lips.
"Soon," she replies while turning a page.
"Mil-ly," he asks in a childish sing-song voice, "when is 'soon'?"
And the tea turns cold, the scones become stale, Lloyd presses on, but to no avail.
In Which Tea Is Forgotten
Code Geass
published 06-18-09
edited 07-22-11