❧ Out ❧ Of ❧ Time

[tinkertank]

➷ Pick A Muse
➷ Post a Prompt: leave a picture, a line, or a full-on tag!
➷ THE CATCH!: AU-it! If they're sci-fi? Stick them in BCE. If they're Victorian? Put them in the 1920s. If they're from Candyland? Put them into Steampunk Dystopian Veggieland. WHERE IN TIME IS CARMEN SANDIAGO? them. Let's do this.
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(Also put what time period/theme, if you have something specific in mind and think it's unclear.)
➷ ♥

Comments

[cruelpatience]

[It was very endearing... and she gladly followed him arm-in-arm, ignoring any looks from the few people they passed... Not intentionally so much as the fact that she just didn't see it.]

[fliesonfour]

[He ignored them as well! Informing her, 'Jealousy, my dear', just in case they made her in the least wary. Once they were in his room at the inn, he went to have her sit in the chair beside the fire, eyeing her curiously,]

Truly, you are not cold?

[cruelpatience]

Perhaps a little now that I've dried off... The water tends to be much colder...

[A sincere smile at that as she tugs his jacket closer, comfortable and content.]

[fliesonfour]

[Nodding, he went to put another log onto the fireplace and knelt to start the flint.]

You will excuse me that after lighting this, I must change; I do not want to catch death, if I have not already.

[cruelpatience]

Would you like your jacket back now?

[She smiles and unbuttons the first button innocently.]

But you should change soon, yes... I imagine the chill is bothering you more than I.

[fliesonfour]

No, no my dear, it's yours for the evening.

[Insisted, glancing back at her... and snorting gently, with a smile. Well! She really wasn't very shy, was she.]

Unless you feel warm enough to take it off, then by all means; I daresay I shouldn't mind.

[Now that the fire was started though, he was quick to his feet, to get something warmer and drier to change into himself.]

[cruelpatience]

[Well, clothing was such a nuisance, after all. Still, she left it at that and just continued to watch him. She shifted her legs up with her, sitting cross legged and smiling.]

Perhaps in a bit. I don't understand why you humans are so insistent with clothing, though... Is it really just to protect yourself from the elements?

[fliesonfour]

Well, yes and no.

[Getting the clinging wet clothing off of himself in a corner of the room; he was not very shy, either, especially since she seemed not to mind... and was a fish, besides!; he dried himself as he spoke.]

Yes, it does keep us warm; we are not built strong, you know! But it also keeps us modest, and fashionable. Nothing worse than a pretty woman who has to suffer the gaze of a hundred unworthy men, eh? Or the sight of a very unkempt man, who you are forced to look at. Better to be well-groomed! But clothing has its limits, I do admit.

[cruelpatience]

[Not only did she not mind, but she did take a moment to admire him. Giggling a little, she shook her head at his explanation.]

Oh, so it is for a woman's sake that clothing is to be worn not solely for protection of the elements.

[She smiles coyly.]

And you, monsieur, would you believe you were worthy of seeing my human body without clothing?

[fliesonfour]

[Glancing back at her yet again at her giggling, he pursed his lips and smiled when she realized she was peeking, then raised a brow.]

I believe I already have, worthy or no! And your 'human' body, I must admit, is without flaw!

But it is really up to the lady, who is worthy.

[cruelpatience]

Then I will be more prudent with who sees it from now on...

[Before she blushed a little at his compliment.]

You are truly a flatterer, I'll admit! You were soaked to the bone and quite shaken up, I hardly think that you could properly appreciate it because of this.

[fliesonfour]

Wise! If only because learning the art of false modesty is a great weapon against men!

[Advised, before grinning a little at her blushing. Delightful!]

Properly, perhaps not; I would not be opposed to appreciating it at my leisure; but appreciate it, that I did! What a sight to see before one dies. Like heaven, but perhaps an improvement on it.

[He winked.]

[cruelpatience]

[At his advice, she buttoned the jacket back properly, grinning but still blushing even more.]

An improvement because you are still alive and not dying at all. And please, your flattery is far too kind.

[fliesonfour]

That which is truthful is not a kindness! More a kindness that you let me see you.

[Getting on a long nightshirt and slippers after, he returned fireside, to sit near her in another chair, still rubbing his hair dry.]

Why did you let me see you, my dear? Not naked, I mean; in the water.

[cruelpatience]

We play a game... Ah-- We follow ships for a short time and allow glimpses, just enough for the sailors to tell tales.

You spent a long time at the railing of your ship... [She shifted to face him easier, grinning a little more.]

I don't know why I decided to watch you, to let you see me when you came swimming out. Perhaps it's because I knew you were a charming fellow instinctively.

[fliesonfour]

Oh, yes, very, I was very sea-sick, the entire journey. And when I was not, the sea air was better than the below-deck air.

[Chuckled, setting the towel aside now.]

It strikes me, I am not as charming as I ought to be, no I am not: I do not yet know your name.

[Usually he made sure to at least ask before seeing a woman naked.]

[cruelpatience]

The sea air is nice and soothing, I agree... But I am biased in this.

[Another laugh at him and she's shaking her head.]

You were preoccupied with death and fish, monsieur, I cannot blame you! I am Musichetta... What might I call you?

[fliesonfour]

[A chuckle at that, amused by her description.]

And by your bits and bobs, if I might be so bold.

Well! Most call me Joly, as that's the family name, but you have given me your first name; so I will give you mine. It is Matthieu, and shortened to Theo, among friends; which we now are.

[cruelpatience]

My bits and bobs? [Sorry, she can't help but laugh at that description.]

Matthieu or Theo it is... My friends call me Chetta, if you wish.

[fliesonfour]

Yes. Bits and bobs. [He agreed, with another chuckle at her good humor.

Getting up from the chair, he now went to get a bottle of wine and a tin pot, to pour it into, with some spices he kept; to put over the flame. Wine was medicinal, and warmed, it was godly!]

Chetta and Theo; I like the sound of it, don't you, darling girl? And your friends-- are they mermaids too, or do you speak to fish, and muck about with whales?

[cruelpatience]

[Well, if he was going to get up, she was going to join him. She walked over to where he was and watched what he was doing curiously, laughing at his question of her friends.]

Mermaids, you silly man. I cannot speak fish or whale, as though that is a thing. What is that you're doing?

[fliesonfour]

Well! Who is to know? I have never lived under the ocean, and I suppose if I did, I should like to be able to speak to whales in order to tell them when they've gotten too close; slightly alarming creatures!

[Giving her a warm smile, he passed her a sprig of cinnamon. He liked a woman who was able to be at odds with him, and his nose wrinkled gaily at being called silly.]

Smell it if you like. I will roast the wine with spices; anise and nutmeg and cardamom and clove and that; because it is healthful. Haven't you ever had wine before?

[cruelpatience]

Alarming, perhaps... But they do not bother us and we do not bother them! They'd sooner keep their distance to be perfectly honest.

[Taking the spice in her hand she went to smell it, smiling at the aroma.]

On occasion I have, but not roasted such as this. It's healthful? In what ways?

[fliesonfour]

Cinnamon is good for regulating blood flow, cardamom stimulates digestive health, nutmeg alleviates pain and headache, clove is anti-inflammatory, and anise simply tastes good.

[He gave, with a shrug and a smile.]

Though your physiology may be different, eh, my girl?

[cruelpatience]

[Her eyebrows shot up and she nodded, smiling as he gave answers to her question.]

I see... And it may be, I will admit I've never truly given much thought to the differences between us... But now I'm finding there are many.

[She holds this cinnamon back out to him.]

You, Theo, are quite an interesting man aren't you?