EBZ Write: Love and Light
Prompt: What is Love?
Summary: They speak of idle things when getting ready for bed and heading off to sleep. Paperwork, teatime and what love is.
Notes: Spoilers for the latest Particular Day in the 'Neath storylet and the Clathermont storyline.
Out of all the things she was self-conscious about, it were the scars and the marks of her toil and struggle that were littered across her back that made her feel the most insecure. Symbols of her oppression and her pain that were difficult to get rid of, hard to hide. Try as she might to 'carry on' with a smile, Jamieson did take note how she dressed quickly when slipping into one gown into another, or how she avoided looking at reflected things when tugging off her suit.
If Jamieson could move the earth and heavens for her, he would in a heartbeat. If he could convince her that she was still beautiful despite the scars and the injuries she had, he would. If both actions were things that could be succeded, it would have been done a long time ago. But still he tries. Gives her tenderness every morning by kissing her skin, gives her support by keeping a steady hand on the small of her back when she needs someone to stick by her side after she returns from work. Some day it works, some day it doesn't.
Tonight they're getting ready for bed, chatting of idle things like their work and their day so far. Jamieson has made progressed with the latest reports he's been forced to slog through thanks to the Feast encouraging the more debauched side of the 'Neath. Andrea is taking some time to relax from work because even spies in the shadows can feel the romance in the air. Most days.
"I found Mr Clathermont's wife at long last," she tells him as they slip in bed, a change of topic and speaking this surprising turn of event with the same tone she used when talking about her teatime with Mr Monday. "We spoke with one another today at Veilgarden. She was Lilac all along so she was right under our noses all this time. Rather funny, really."
His surprise is apparent while he moves closer to her but he takes this change of topic with ease and follows down this path because the way her eyes dance when discussing this is intriguing. "Her of all people? She's a daring woman, I have to say. Taking all those daggers and stoles from people."
"She seems to be fascinated with love. Wanting evidence of it be it chess pieces or glasses of teeth. Even asked me about my opinion for it when we were watching a play together somewhere."
"What did you say?"
"That love is light," Andrea says with confidence in her voice, with a naturalness that suggests that this is Fact to her. "Love is beautiful and amazing. It is a wondrous thing, being able to move mountains and change history due to someone's devotion for another. Its important to people and what separates us from the others down here, you know. Love is something kind and patient and without any envy if you love truly. I believe that's what I told her, word-by-word."
Her answer was very much her, he thinks while mulling her words and savouring her whisper soft voice. Romantic and idealistic despite what happened to her and to him, what happened to the last four Cities and showing her stubborn side at the same time. It makes him smile against the curve of her neck. "And her reaction?"
Andrea 'replies' by making the face of the tattooist for him and Jamieson snickers a bit at the sight of it. "Apparently she liked romantics. She assured me of that when I made a face of my own at her remark. But then she made a relation between the Empress and I so of course that did make me have my doubts. But my answer seems to have pleased her. Offered me something special."
"What's that?" Jamieson asks her, curious about this 'special' item that was bestowed on her. Instead of getting an answer, a straight one at least, she laughs and kisses the top of his head and suggests they go to sleep now. He's rather put off be the evasion of his answer but agrees all the same, having to face the pile of documents and complaints on his desk early in the morning.
In the middle of the night, he does find out about what it is that she got. He wakes up for some reason, perhaps he heard a noise or had a dream of buttered stoles and glasses of daggers, and sees her back is to him. Her night gown's laces tied too loosely, exposing gapes of her skin here and there that she normally tries to hide away even from him. Thanks to the inky darkness of their bedroom, he sees her tattoo that shimmers and glimmers in gant ink, secret silver lines and circles that join together to depict the gentle curves and wild streaks of the sun he has never seen before in his life. Hidden in the curves and the angles, tucked away in the beauty that's camouflaged in the reminders of her pain and her loss, he thinks he can see his and Jeremy's names there.
Summary: They speak of idle things when getting ready for bed and heading off to sleep. Paperwork, teatime and what love is.
Notes: Spoilers for the latest Particular Day in the 'Neath storylet and the Clathermont storyline.
Out of all the things she was self-conscious about, it were the scars and the marks of her toil and struggle that were littered across her back that made her feel the most insecure. Symbols of her oppression and her pain that were difficult to get rid of, hard to hide. Try as she might to 'carry on' with a smile, Jamieson did take note how she dressed quickly when slipping into one gown into another, or how she avoided looking at reflected things when tugging off her suit.
If Jamieson could move the earth and heavens for her, he would in a heartbeat. If he could convince her that she was still beautiful despite the scars and the injuries she had, he would. If both actions were things that could be succeded, it would have been done a long time ago. But still he tries. Gives her tenderness every morning by kissing her skin, gives her support by keeping a steady hand on the small of her back when she needs someone to stick by her side after she returns from work. Some day it works, some day it doesn't.
Tonight they're getting ready for bed, chatting of idle things like their work and their day so far. Jamieson has made progressed with the latest reports he's been forced to slog through thanks to the Feast encouraging the more debauched side of the 'Neath. Andrea is taking some time to relax from work because even spies in the shadows can feel the romance in the air. Most days.
"I found Mr Clathermont's wife at long last," she tells him as they slip in bed, a change of topic and speaking this surprising turn of event with the same tone she used when talking about her teatime with Mr Monday. "We spoke with one another today at Veilgarden. She was Lilac all along so she was right under our noses all this time. Rather funny, really."
His surprise is apparent while he moves closer to her but he takes this change of topic with ease and follows down this path because the way her eyes dance when discussing this is intriguing. "Her of all people? She's a daring woman, I have to say. Taking all those daggers and stoles from people."
"She seems to be fascinated with love. Wanting evidence of it be it chess pieces or glasses of teeth. Even asked me about my opinion for it when we were watching a play together somewhere."
"What did you say?"
"That love is light," Andrea says with confidence in her voice, with a naturalness that suggests that this is Fact to her. "Love is beautiful and amazing. It is a wondrous thing, being able to move mountains and change history due to someone's devotion for another. Its important to people and what separates us from the others down here, you know. Love is something kind and patient and without any envy if you love truly. I believe that's what I told her, word-by-word."
Her answer was very much her, he thinks while mulling her words and savouring her whisper soft voice. Romantic and idealistic despite what happened to her and to him, what happened to the last four Cities and showing her stubborn side at the same time. It makes him smile against the curve of her neck. "And her reaction?"
Andrea 'replies' by making the face of the tattooist for him and Jamieson snickers a bit at the sight of it. "Apparently she liked romantics. She assured me of that when I made a face of my own at her remark. But then she made a relation between the Empress and I so of course that did make me have my doubts. But my answer seems to have pleased her. Offered me something special."
"What's that?" Jamieson asks her, curious about this 'special' item that was bestowed on her. Instead of getting an answer, a straight one at least, she laughs and kisses the top of his head and suggests they go to sleep now. He's rather put off be the evasion of his answer but agrees all the same, having to face the pile of documents and complaints on his desk early in the morning.
In the middle of the night, he does find out about what it is that she got. He wakes up for some reason, perhaps he heard a noise or had a dream of buttered stoles and glasses of daggers, and sees her back is to him. Her night gown's laces tied too loosely, exposing gapes of her skin here and there that she normally tries to hide away even from him. Thanks to the inky darkness of their bedroom, he sees her tattoo that shimmers and glimmers in gant ink, secret silver lines and circles that join together to depict the gentle curves and wild streaks of the sun he has never seen before in his life. Hidden in the curves and the angles, tucked away in the beauty that's camouflaged in the reminders of her pain and her loss, he thinks he can see his and Jeremy's names there.