[She rests her chin on her free hand and looks at him across the table. Just like on their way here, holding on to his hand like this is sending little tingles up her arm all the way to her elbow. Nothing that she wants to escape from - it's exciting, thrilling even, to pull so sharply away from the kinds of things that would have always been expected of her in matters of romance.
Propriety could, at times, be truly stifling.]
But this is a special occasion.
[Jane smiles, stroking the side of her thumb against his.]
So I thought we'd do something special. Is there somewhere you'd like to go after this?
[ He means to say it, he thinks, but sometimes he speaks without consideration. But he's not embarrassed by himself. He's actually glad that he said it. His eyes drift towards their hands then back towards her. ]
Why don't I show you my favorite spot in the park?
[ It's where he usually likes to nap because it's quiet, but the scenery is nice and relaxing. And for some reason he always feels a small, nice breeze when there. He doesn't go out much, not really. But he figures he'd give her some insight to finding out things he likes. That's the goal of a date, right? Getting to know each other. ]
[She'd feel strange if this day was all about her.
When one of the ladies serving comes over with their tea and a delightful display of cakes and sandwiches, she almost twitches her hand out of Hypnos' grip instinctively. It's still very deeply drilled into her to not be seen doing such things with a man she doesn't intend to marry. At the last moment, though, she settles her fingers back into his.]
That looks lovely, thank you. [Jane beams another of those sunny smiles and waits until the woman is gone to extract her hand from his, though this time it's only to set up their cups and peek at the tea.]
We should let it steep a little longer. Oh, this is wonderful.
[ He'll follow her lead when it comes to tea. He doesn't make a move to release her, fine holding onto her hand as long as possible. The moment she moves her hand away from his, he blinks up at her and turns his attention towards the tea and cakes. Neither of which are things that he has much experience with. ]
Alright.
[ He takes in the beautiful tray of treats before them. It's like nothing he's never seen. ]
It looks like it tastes good. It's pretty beautiful.
[ He has no idea how much skill it takes to cook. He just appreciates when something is tasty to him. He observes the treats with admiration, before he takes a perfectly put together sandwich.]
[The cakes would have taken some effort but she expects they would have been brought in from a bakery rather than made here, given the size of the shop. As for the sandwiches, she knows they make them here and they're delightful.
She picks one up for herself and takes a bite, humming with barely-concealed delight.]
I'm not a very good cook. [Admitting that isn't hard. There are plenty of things she's good at. Cooking... is not one of them.]
I never had to cook growing up. I've been trying to learn.
[ He nods and listens, taking a bite of his sandwich as he does. He agrees with her sentiment. But he's never had to know, either. Why would he, though? His life never made it necessary. ]
That's okay. I can't cook either. I mostly get food out. Not everyone needs to be able to do it when there's places like this around.
[ Which is fine by him. He probably wouldn't really go out if all if not for the work he picks up or the food he needs. ]
But this - is amazing. A very nice pick, Jane. Thanks for sharing something new.
[ He laughs a little. Being sensible doesn't mean much to him. Why earn money if you can't do things you like with it. Like this - or things associated with this. He watches her sort out the tea, pouring it, and then he'll reach for it himself so he can mimic it. ]
That's really neat.
[ He starts to pour some tea with a strainer, too. ]
Thanks for showing me.
[ He's learning a lot of things. He reaches to take a sip for himself and then looks towards her. It tastes great. So far, he's liked pretty much everything he's tried. ]
I like everything. Good company with great food and tea.
Oh, I'm sure you could have found it if you were looking for it. [She tells him with a warm smile.
The rest of the meal passes by in pleasant conversation and Jane decides on cutting each of the cakes in half so that they can both try all of them. Now and then she reaches over to touch Hypnos' hand, any time it's in range so she can do so, and...
... the flirting is outrageous, honestly, particuarly by Edwardian standards.
Once they're done she's more than happy to go with him to the spot in the park he'd mentioned as being his favourite. Once there, she sits down next to him in the grass and looks around with a happy sigh.]
[ It's nice to have his hand touched. It's nice to be flirted with when he makes his own attempts to flirt with her, too. It's nice and new and almost weird, but it doesn't feel weird with Jane. It just feels good. Which is what he suspects it would feel like if they were to go on more dates. He settles in the grass, closing a little distance between them and taking her hand in his. He looks towards her. ]
I really love it here. It feels good, you know? Like - just being here makes you feel good.
[Jane almost can't believe what she's doing. Outside of being so boldly brazen with her displays of affection and her flirting, she's still very aware of exactly who she is flirting with. He's a god, with who knows how many years behind him, and here he is devoting all of his attention to her.
It's baffling, and yet he's so simply and purely happy that it's hard to see him as anything but a man.
When they're on the grass and he takes her hand, she looks up at him in faint surprise and then smiles as a clear blush races across her cheeks.]
I do like it. I've liked a great deal about today. [In fact she'd be hard pressed to find something she hadn't liked.] I'm glad you asked me to come out with you like this.
[ He doesn't really realize, fully, that the way he looks at her is with some admiration. And he notices how she's treating him kindly, she isn't treating him like a god. She is making him feel special, and that's -- well, new. It's nice and he feels his face flush a little against the grey and he gets comfortable with her hand in his as he sits next to her. ]
I've really enjoyed myself.
[ And it's been a lot of activity. More than he's ever done in a single day. Or in a week, even. And yet he doesn't want it to end. And he wants to do it again. He hopes she does, too. He thinks she might. ]
I like to get to see new things. Before I got here, I hadn't even seen the sun or real sky. I saw how people dreamed it, but dreams are -- someone else's perception. It's never been my own.
[ His eyes shift, glancing towards the sky, then back to her. ]
I've had a great time with you. I'm glad you said yes. I've never asked someone on a date before. I don't really have any examples for this sort of thing.
[She chuckles a little as she listens to him talk, feeling his hand against hers and keeping her eyes on the sky. It is nice here. She's been here before, but it's different when you have someone with you and it's someone you enjoy being around.]
I've never been on a date before. Where I'm from... dating isn't really something that's done.
[In the future she knows that it becomes a very accepted thing and it was always something she had wanted to try, but she had never been sure enough of where she stood with anyone before to be able to ask them.]
If I didn't have such an eccentric family and my father wasn't to accepting of my nature, I expect I'd be married already to some petty noble. We might like one another, if we were lucky enough.
[ He's a romantic at heart, he thinks. Because he doesn't know if he likes the idea of that for him. It seems kind of... sad. Like, maybe it's because he could only see himself marrying someone he committed himself to so fully that they were his entire world. ]
Same. But...I hardly think that anything that happens around me at home would be normal here. So it's probably a bad comparison, anyway.
[ He still smiled, though - head tilted in her direction. ]
I think... [ He pauses ] I like that we get to pick who we spend our time with like this. To me it means that you made the choice to go out with me.
[ That's the point he was getting at, he thinks. ]
[She flushes slightly, looking down at her knees and to where her hands are lightly twisting in her lap.]
I don't see any reason why I wouldn't have.
[Jane can be timid in some ways, but when it comes to going for what she wants she's uncommonly bold for a woman of her era. Even before the experiences she's had, which have undeniably shaped her, she was always bold.]
You're very sweet, Hypnos... and I'm happy that you want to spend time with me too.
I mean, if you didn't want to that's a perfectly good reason to me.
[ As it is, she doesn't have to have a reason to do anything. She can just do it if she wants to or not if she doesn't. It's how he sees it, at least. There's a lot of chances to make choices for yourself here. He reaches over, and gently taps one of her hands with his a couple of times before holding it - palm up - in offering to be held.
He's still plenty nervous himself, if he were to be honest. He didn't understand a lot, but he was doing his best with what he knew. What he did know was that he was happy to be here, and wanted to be here. And he liked holding her hand and being close. He liked it almost as much as he liked an afternoon nap. ]
I think if someone doesn't want to spend time with you, they're missing out.
[She looks at his hand for a moment as he offers it, then smiles and reaches over to first brush her fingertips over his palm, and then to tuck her hand into his.
It hasn't occurred to her that he might be nervous. Jane hasn't given a moment of thought to the idea that a god might be nervous to spend time with a mortal like this. Though Hypnos certainly doesn't have the mythological black marks against his name that Zeus does, surely if he wished he could have any mortal he wanted.]
That's very nice of you to say. [She hums softly.] I'm afraid that most people tend to think me rather odd.
[ He likes odd. He thinks that people who are different are more fun to be around, too. Which, if she's considered odd, he only sees that as a good thing. But the reality is that he doesn't see why anyone would consider her odd. She seems -- well, she's better than normal, but odd doesn't sound the most complimentary. He knows his perspective is not the same as a human's, which is fine. He's used to having a different perspective anyway. ]
If you don't mind me asking, why do they think you're odd anyway?
[Jane has never struggled on account of her eccentricities, aside from not having many friends. But then, with her father around she has never felt like she needed them. She shrugs slightly and shakes her head, giving a wry little smile.]
There are... certain expectations of a woman my age, and of my social class, and have an unfortunate tendency to ignore them.
[Then she lets out a laugh, letting her head fall back slightly.]
I don't care what people think of me. If I did, I'd never do anything fun.
I like the sound of that, then. No one should miss out on having a bit of fun.
[ Plus, he just generally likes Jane as she is. Even if she's considered odd, he thinks he maybe wouldn't like her as much as she does if she were exactly as it is expected her to be. Even at his age, he's still figuring out how to not care what people think of him. He just really wants to be liked. ]
I think it's good to not care. And I think you're great as you are.
[ He pauses, comfortable here with her. He's starting to feel very... relaxed. ]
I think it makes you stand out -- like in a good way.
[No risk of Jane not liking him. Despite how odd he might come across as to others, she finds that she likes him quite a bit. Enough to go on a date with him at the very least, and she thinks she would very much like to go on another one. Maybe several.]
Oh... you think so?
[She laughs softly, looking up at the sky and watching the clouds moving slowly overhead. Ah, it's such a nice day...]
I suppose I don't mind it. If the people I care about think I'm worth knowing, who cares what other people say about me.
I think so. I'm pretty old, as you probably know. Like I've been here for along time, and I've always found that the only ones I actually remember are the people who were different.
[ And to be honest - Jane stands out even more because Hypnos isn't simply seeing her as someone he's fond of. He is interested in her romantically. He likes her, he's attracted to her. It's an entirely different and new thing. And he's glad to be experiencing it for the first time in quite awhile. And it's nice to actually have it seem like it's returned. ]
I think...it's great that you know what's important to you.
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cantgetanyworse) wrote2021-03-04 04:14 pm
no subject
[She rests her chin on her free hand and looks at him across the table. Just like on their way here, holding on to his hand like this is sending little tingles up her arm all the way to her elbow. Nothing that she wants to escape from - it's exciting, thrilling even, to pull so sharply away from the kinds of things that would have always been expected of her in matters of romance.
Propriety could, at times, be truly stifling.]
But this is a special occasion.
[Jane smiles, stroking the side of her thumb against his.]
So I thought we'd do something special. Is there somewhere you'd like to go after this?
no subject
[ He means to say it, he thinks, but sometimes he speaks without consideration. But he's not embarrassed by himself. He's actually glad that he said it. His eyes drift towards their hands then back towards her. ]
Why don't I show you my favorite spot in the park?
[ It's where he usually likes to nap because it's quiet, but the scenery is nice and relaxing. And for some reason he always feels a small, nice breeze when there. He doesn't go out much, not really. But he figures he'd give her some insight to finding out things he likes. That's the goal of a date, right? Getting to know each other. ]
I don't actually go too many places.
no subject
[She'd feel strange if this day was all about her.
When one of the ladies serving comes over with their tea and a delightful display of cakes and sandwiches, she almost twitches her hand out of Hypnos' grip instinctively. It's still very deeply drilled into her to not be seen doing such things with a man she doesn't intend to marry. At the last moment, though, she settles her fingers back into his.]
That looks lovely, thank you. [Jane beams another of those sunny smiles and waits until the woman is gone to extract her hand from his, though this time it's only to set up their cups and peek at the tea.]
We should let it steep a little longer. Oh, this is wonderful.
no subject
Alright.
[ He takes in the beautiful tray of treats before them. It's like nothing he's never seen. ]
It looks like it tastes good. It's pretty beautiful.
[ He has no idea how much skill it takes to cook. He just appreciates when something is tasty to him. He observes the treats with admiration, before he takes a perfectly put together sandwich.]
Even if I were picky, I think I'd love it.
no subject
She picks one up for herself and takes a bite, humming with barely-concealed delight.]
I'm not a very good cook. [Admitting that isn't hard. There are plenty of things she's good at. Cooking... is not one of them.]
I never had to cook growing up. I've been trying to learn.
no subject
That's okay. I can't cook either. I mostly get food out. Not everyone needs to be able to do it when there's places like this around.
[ Which is fine by him. He probably wouldn't really go out if all if not for the work he picks up or the food he needs. ]
But this - is amazing. A very nice pick, Jane. Thanks for sharing something new.
no subject
[But right now, this is fine. She has another bite of her sandwich and savours it, then sets it down and picks up the teapot.]
It's loose tea, so you need to use this-- [Jane picks up a little metal strainer and places it across the top of one of the cups.] And then pour it.
[She tips up the teapot and pours, and the strainer handily catches the little bits of loose tea that fall out along with the golden-coloured liquid.]
Just like that!
no subject
[ He laughs a little. Being sensible doesn't mean much to him. Why earn money if you can't do things you like with it. Like this - or things associated with this. He watches her sort out the tea, pouring it, and then he'll reach for it himself so he can mimic it. ]
That's really neat.
[ He starts to pour some tea with a strainer, too. ]
Thanks for showing me.
[ He's learning a lot of things. He reaches to take a sip for himself and then looks towards her. It tastes great. So far, he's liked pretty much everything he's tried. ]
I like everything. Good company with great food and tea.
[ He's delighted. ]
I would have never found this place without you.
no subject
The rest of the meal passes by in pleasant conversation and Jane decides on cutting each of the cakes in half so that they can both try all of them. Now and then she reaches over to touch Hypnos' hand, any time it's in range so she can do so, and...
... the flirting is outrageous, honestly, particuarly by Edwardian standards.
Once they're done she's more than happy to go with him to the spot in the park he'd mentioned as being his favourite. Once there, she sits down next to him in the grass and looks around with a happy sigh.]
This is lovely.
no subject
I really love it here. It feels good, you know? Like - just being here makes you feel good.
[ He's pretty happy. ]
...I'm glad you like it. I was hoping you would.
no subject
It's baffling, and yet he's so simply and purely happy that it's hard to see him as anything but a man.
When they're on the grass and he takes her hand, she looks up at him in faint surprise and then smiles as a clear blush races across her cheeks.]
I do like it. I've liked a great deal about today. [In fact she'd be hard pressed to find something she hadn't liked.] I'm glad you asked me to come out with you like this.
no subject
I've really enjoyed myself.
[ And it's been a lot of activity. More than he's ever done in a single day. Or in a week, even. And yet he doesn't want it to end. And he wants to do it again. He hopes she does, too. He thinks she might. ]
I like to get to see new things. Before I got here, I hadn't even seen the sun or real sky. I saw how people dreamed it, but dreams are -- someone else's perception. It's never been my own.
[ His eyes shift, glancing towards the sky, then back to her. ]
I've had a great time with you. I'm glad you said yes. I've never asked someone on a date before. I don't really have any examples for this sort of thing.
no subject
I've never been on a date before. Where I'm from... dating isn't really something that's done.
[In the future she knows that it becomes a very accepted thing and it was always something she had wanted to try, but she had never been sure enough of where she stood with anyone before to be able to ask them.]
If I didn't have such an eccentric family and my father wasn't to accepting of my nature, I expect I'd be married already to some petty noble. We might like one another, if we were lucky enough.
no subject
Same. But...I hardly think that anything that happens around me at home would be normal here. So it's probably a bad comparison, anyway.
[ He still smiled, though - head tilted in her direction. ]
I think... [ He pauses ] I like that we get to pick who we spend our time with like this. To me it means that you made the choice to go out with me.
[ That's the point he was getting at, he thinks. ]
And that means a lot to me.
no subject
[She flushes slightly, looking down at her knees and to where her hands are lightly twisting in her lap.]
I don't see any reason why I wouldn't have.
[Jane can be timid in some ways, but when it comes to going for what she wants she's uncommonly bold for a woman of her era. Even before the experiences she's had, which have undeniably shaped her, she was always bold.]
You're very sweet, Hypnos... and I'm happy that you want to spend time with me too.
no subject
[ As it is, she doesn't have to have a reason to do anything. She can just do it if she wants to or not if she doesn't. It's how he sees it, at least. There's a lot of chances to make choices for yourself here. He reaches over, and gently taps one of her hands with his a couple of times before holding it - palm up - in offering to be held.
He's still plenty nervous himself, if he were to be honest. He didn't understand a lot, but he was doing his best with what he knew. What he did know was that he was happy to be here, and wanted to be here. And he liked holding her hand and being close. He liked it almost as much as he liked an afternoon nap. ]
I think if someone doesn't want to spend time with you, they're missing out.
no subject
It hasn't occurred to her that he might be nervous. Jane hasn't given a moment of thought to the idea that a god might be nervous to spend time with a mortal like this. Though Hypnos certainly doesn't have the mythological black marks against his name that Zeus does, surely if he wished he could have any mortal he wanted.]
That's very nice of you to say. [She hums softly.] I'm afraid that most people tend to think me rather odd.
no subject
[ He likes odd. He thinks that people who are different are more fun to be around, too. Which, if she's considered odd, he only sees that as a good thing. But the reality is that he doesn't see why anyone would consider her odd. She seems -- well, she's better than normal, but odd doesn't sound the most complimentary. He knows his perspective is not the same as a human's, which is fine. He's used to having a different perspective anyway. ]
If you don't mind me asking, why do they think you're odd anyway?
no subject
[Jane has never struggled on account of her eccentricities, aside from not having many friends. But then, with her father around she has never felt like she needed them. She shrugs slightly and shakes her head, giving a wry little smile.]
There are... certain expectations of a woman my age, and of my social class, and have an unfortunate tendency to ignore them.
[Then she lets out a laugh, letting her head fall back slightly.]
I don't care what people think of me. If I did, I'd never do anything fun.
no subject
[ Plus, he just generally likes Jane as she is. Even if she's considered odd, he thinks he maybe wouldn't like her as much as she does if she were exactly as it is expected her to be. Even at his age, he's still figuring out how to not care what people think of him. He just really wants to be liked. ]
I think it's good to not care. And I think you're great as you are.
[ He pauses, comfortable here with her. He's starting to feel very... relaxed. ]
I think it makes you stand out -- like in a good way.
no subject
Oh... you think so?
[She laughs softly, looking up at the sky and watching the clouds moving slowly overhead. Ah, it's such a nice day...]
I suppose I don't mind it. If the people I care about think I'm worth knowing, who cares what other people say about me.
no subject
[ And to be honest - Jane stands out even more because Hypnos isn't simply seeing her as someone he's fond of. He is interested in her romantically. He likes her, he's attracted to her. It's an entirely different and new thing. And he's glad to be experiencing it for the first time in quite awhile. And it's nice to actually have it seem like it's returned. ]
I think...it's great that you know what's important to you.