After an Afternoon (for quitehomoerotic)
When Reinette awoke, the relative quiet of the house told her she was most definitely alone. Though his home was more than suited for his needs, Jack had a way of filling the space all the same. And his footsteps and voice carried fully within the walls. No, she was certain that whatever occupied his attention that particular morning, Jack was not there.
They had fallen into an easy, almost unspoken routine in the previous two weeks of ease and companionship. It was never addressed when they might leave, and Reinette found she could not mind. Indeed for days filled with nothing but conversation and good companionship? Without the hectic pressure of court and her obligations there? The time had not passed slowly. In some ways it went far, far too fast. She did her best to savor it.
Some time was spent together. And the rest, of course, was spent apart. Jack often wandered into town and quite possibly further than that. Once he reappeared with coat askew, shoes scuffed, a smudge of dirt on his cheek and the most ridiculous smile. She had not even bothered to inquire. Reinette, for her part, took her time to master the house and its many devices. On the days that the weather and wind permitted she found pleasure in walking the cliffs and watching the sea below. There was a sort of peace with time and idleness she had never allowed herself before.
This morning, however, Reinette was content to remain indoors. She pulled on her dressing gown -- the one that Jack had followed through on his promise and had cleaned -- and made her way from her own bedroom into the kitchen to see to an easy breakfast of fruit and coffee. Afterwards she made her way to the long, modern sofa and curled on it in a way that spoke slightly to Jack's influence and her ease in this space. The television still did not fail to fascinate her.
There was often the most ridiculous things to be found there juxtaposed against information and feats she might have once found impossible.
They had fallen into an easy, almost unspoken routine in the previous two weeks of ease and companionship. It was never addressed when they might leave, and Reinette found she could not mind. Indeed for days filled with nothing but conversation and good companionship? Without the hectic pressure of court and her obligations there? The time had not passed slowly. In some ways it went far, far too fast. She did her best to savor it.
Some time was spent together. And the rest, of course, was spent apart. Jack often wandered into town and quite possibly further than that. Once he reappeared with coat askew, shoes scuffed, a smudge of dirt on his cheek and the most ridiculous smile. She had not even bothered to inquire. Reinette, for her part, took her time to master the house and its many devices. On the days that the weather and wind permitted she found pleasure in walking the cliffs and watching the sea below. There was a sort of peace with time and idleness she had never allowed herself before.
This morning, however, Reinette was content to remain indoors. She pulled on her dressing gown -- the one that Jack had followed through on his promise and had cleaned -- and made her way from her own bedroom into the kitchen to see to an easy breakfast of fruit and coffee. Afterwards she made her way to the long, modern sofa and curled on it in a way that spoke slightly to Jack's influence and her ease in this space. The television still did not fail to fascinate her.
There was often the most ridiculous things to be found there juxtaposed against information and feats she might have once found impossible.