Love is in the air

[npc-excolo.livejournal.com]

Sunday, February 14th
Valentine's Day

I sit on my bed with my legs crossed, writing real careful in my notebook. MRS CLARA GRANGER I write, all tidy, then underneath I practice my signature. Clara Granger. That nice man at the market swore it wouldn't take too long for him to propose after he drank the potion. After I practice my signature a few times I write our names together. PETER AND CLARA, and I put them inside a nice big heart.

I hear Momma shouting for me and I sigh. I know she won't approve when Peter and I get together, cos he is a bunch older than me and she says seventeen is way too young to settle down. But I know she married Pop at nineteen, so she's just a hypocrite. And Peter's a real good catch - got his own job, his own place. There's that Maya of course to worry about, I think, and I push my pencil a bit too hard into the page and the point breaks. But once Peter's had the potion he won't remember that he likes her. I just need to work out how to get it to him.

Momma shouts again.

"Coming!" I shout. I know she wants me to go to that dumb Valentine's market and help her sell quilts. Ugh. But Peter might be around town, so I check my hair is nice before I go down.

***

This punch just don't look too appetising. I sigh and shout for Clara again. What is that girl doing? Probably dreaming about that barman. She thinks I don't know she's moony about him. I'm just glad he's got a sweetheart, or else he might go for my Clara - she's real pretty and men like adoring girls. He's much too old for her. I taste the punch and it's real nice, course it is, made from our fruits, but the colour just don't pop. Feeling a bit guilty, I get out some food colourant and drop it in, and it goes a nice reddish colour. That's about right for Valentine's, ain't it? I stopper up the barrel. Clara comes down.

"Get those quilts in the cart, will you?" I say, hustling her out and then getting the punch on the wagon. Roads are clear, so we get set up easy. Just a few stalls for this - jewellery, flowers, all kinds of novelties. I put out the prettiest quilts - maybe some guy'll think one'd make a nice present for his wife, and more practical than earbobs - and set up the punch.

"Free punch, sir?" I say, holding out a cup. After a bit of prodding I get Clara dishing up punch too. Hopefully it'll be a good day.

[OPEN]
[Closed]

Comments

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

He looks up, offering his hand to shake. Ah, good morning, Damien. How are you today? I take it and smile, feeling suddenly shy, I don't know Valmont very well but I don't want him to think badly of me.

"Well enough," I answer. "And you, Valmont? How is this day treating you?" I try not to hold my breath I as I find I really want to hear his answer.

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

"And you, Valmont? How is this day treating you?"

"Oh, very well," I say, smiling at him warmly. "Better, of course, for seeing a friendly face." He really is a pretty sort of boy, isn't he? He reminds me of some of the experiences I had as a young man... They were rather more convenience than preference, but I find myself thinking of them fondly as I look at Damien. "Are you shopping?" I say. "Buying something for Johnny, perhaps." Johnny is a lucky boy, I think, to have a handsome youth like Damien as his partner. Given that in a small town like Excolo if one is queer one doesn't exactly have a huge choice of partners, Johnny really has done well for himself.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

I can feel my smile get bigger as he returns it, such a nice smile makes me feel a bit warm I can't help blushing a bit as he asks Are you shopping?Buying something for Johnny, perhaps. I nod.

"Yes, at least, trying to." With no luck, as I haven;t found a single thing. I kind of want to ask him for help and at the same time the thought of actually doing so makes me so very nervous. I lick my lips and try to find something else to say. Ah, yes. "Is that why you're here? To find something for Hermia?"

She's very lucky to have found someone as nice, as good looking as Valmont. I wonder when the wedding will be.

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

He licks his lips, and I find myself idly wondering if he puts it to much use with Johnny. Do country boys like Johnny know much about the art of sex? I have been in towns where oral satisfaction was seen as near-witchcraft... I smile at Damien.

"Is that why you're here? To find something for Hermia?"

"Ah, yes," I say, feeling a little sting of guilt, and then I wonder at that. It is not as if I am doing anything, and it is hardly a sin to think... "I haven't found anything yet. I am quite particular about the things I like," I say, and I find I am smiling thoughtfully again. "Look," I note, glancing over the crowd, "there is Johnny."

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

I haven't found anything yet. I am quite particular about the things I like, I really like the way he's smiling as he says it, makes me feel all warm inside. He looks away and then say, Look,there is Johnny.

I turn and follow his gaze and yes it is Johnny. and then I feel a kind of nervousness about it. I'm not sure if I want him to spot me and come over right away or not. Still I smile and agree. "Yes. There he is."

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

I catch Damien's smile at me and smile back, makin' my way over t'where he 'n Mr. Laclos are standin'. "Good day, Mr. Laclos," I greet him, offerin' my hand. "I hope you're doin' well."

We ain't got any trouble from him, really. Mr. Laclos seems pretty - well, like the sort 'a person who might understand 'bout me 'n Damien. "Hey," I say t'Damien, my eyes slidin' back t'Mr. Laclos.

He sure does dress well.

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

Johnny comes over and shakes my hand, and suddenly the air between us all is a little charged. Not that I find Johnny particularly attractive... I am sure part of Damien's charm is his almost-feminine features. But I can tell when a man is looking at me admiringly, and I smile back at him. It is flattering, after all.

"It must be lunchtime," I say to the boys. "And I find myself quite hungry indeed." The corner of my mouth turns up. Oh, I cannot take this too far, but... It is fun like this, isn't it? "Would you care to have some lunch?"

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

He has HAS noticed us! Johnny returns my smile and comes right over to us, greeting Valmont first then me. I Slide a look at him and fins he's watching Valmont and I feel nervous again.

Would you care to have some lunch? Valmont offers us. I slide another look at Johnny. "Think I'd like that. Johnny, what d'you think?" I hope Johnny says yes. Well maybe. Maybe, if Johnny says no I can....What? Abandon him to go have lunch with Valmont?? No. If Johnny says no then I'll have to politely decline as well. So I hope that Johnny says yes.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

Oh, he's got a nice smile too. "It must be lunchtime," he observes, and I find myself noddin' in agreement. "And I find myself quite hungry indeed. Would you care to have some lunch?"

Damien looks sidelong at me but I'm already noddin'. "Yessir," I say, and then I look over at Damien. "It sounds nice," I tell 'em. I'm glad Damien wants to as well.

"I'll grab a nice little desert!" I tell them, and I dart off quick t'the bakery stand, runnin' my hands through my hair and makin sure my teeth 'r clean. I figure Mr. Laclos is the sort as notices that kind 'a thing in others.

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

I smile, amused, as Johnny dashes off. I had thought we would go to the cafe, but if he wants to get dessert, we shall have to eat at home, won't we?

"He's energetic, isn't he?" I say, quirking an eyebrow at Damien. Then Johnny comes back with cake, and I smile. "Excellent. Come along, then, boys," I say, "I'm sure I have something suitable to eat in my apartment." I wonder if Hermia will still be there.

When we get in, I find that Hermia is out. Surely I'm not relieved?

"Make yourselves at home," I say. "Will a cheese tart and salad suit?" I get out a bottle of red wine, because really, it's quite civilised to drink with company.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

As soon as we've both agreed, Johnny runs off to get a dessert. Leaving me blinking in surprise and Valmont smiling in amusement. He's energetic, isn't he? Valmont observes and all I can do is nod and try not to blush too hard.

We end up going to his apartment which is part of the Inn and very nicely furnished, makes me a feel a little self-conscious of how little I've done in my own place.

Make yourselves at home, will a cheese tart and salad suit? our host offers. I nod in agreement, I can't think of anything he could offer me to eat that I might not like. "Yes, that would be alright." I see him getting out a bottle of red wine. I expect this will be better than any I've had in a long time.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

Wow, I ain't really bin in the Whitechapel. The common room's a bit rough, but Mr. - Valmont's - home is real nice. "Make yourselves at home," he tell us. "Will a cheese tart and salad suit?"

"Yeah," I echo Damien, lookin 'round. "I'll just put the pie down here," I say a bit absently, settin' it on the table. "D'you need hand with anythin'?" I ask, blushin' a bit.

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that would be alright." Damien does have a pleasant voice - light and musical.

"D'you need hand with anythin'?" says Johnny, looking a bit flustered, and I give him an indulgent smile.

"You could slice some bread," I say, nodding at the bread board. "I'm sure you're good at that with your work in the bakery." I pour three glasses of wine and set them on the table. "I heard about that business at the tavern," I add, more gravely. "I'm sorry you boys went through that. I hope you know you are welcome at the Whitechapel, and I will make sure no one troubles you."

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

Johnny offers to help and I wish I'd thought to offer help, especially with the smile Valmont gives him for it. Our host asks him to cut some bread while he pours the wine.

I heard about that business at the tavern,I'm sorry you boys went through that. I hope you know you are welcome at the Whitechapel, and I will make sure no one troubles you.

"Thank you." I say, not sure what else to add. I haven't been to the Whitechapel since That night Verdi called me to her tavern and let me play her anything I wanted on the piano. And with more recent happenings there were actual reasons not to visit. But with Valmont offering protection, maybe we ought to consider dropping sometime. "We'll visit sometime." I promise with a smile.