❧ 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

[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?

[fliesonfour]

[He took it back with another swift smile, put it into the pot, and went to (carefully!) place the tin over the fireplace, to warm. With a chuckle,]

I don't know about all that, 'Chetta! You, after all, are a mermaid; it makes you more interesting than me.

Besides, you're also a woman. Doubly, doubly more interesting, yes, that you are.

[cruelpatience]

[And again she followed him, taking his hand in hers after he set the pot over the fireplace.]

We both find the other fascinating, since neither of us are used to these circumstances. But you must be interesting if I found myself compelled to follow your ship and watch you on the beach.

[fliesonfour]

[Entwining their fingers as a matter of course, his eyes twinkled when he glanced at her, catching onto that little confession. Bringing their hands up, he gave a kiss to her knuckles.]

You were at the beach just to watch me! I am flattered and abashed, little miss. Why, the more you speak, the more I should very much like to keep you. You have precious turns of phrases! And you wear my coat better than I do.

[cruelpatience]

[She brightened at the kiss to her knuckles, squeezing his hand gently.]

You would keep me, would you? Isn't it too soon to say such things, monsieur? And dare I say I would wear far more than your coat on a day to day basis if you were to keep me.

[Suggested coyly as she swayed a little in place before him.]

You really are a charming fellow. I should like to keep you myself, if this is the case.

[fliesonfour]

Never too soon, my girl! We have but short lives, and we are attractive and virile for less of them than even that. When you have found a very witty, amiable little thing, best to say you'd keep it, least it skip away.

[He smiled again and went to have a seat, but did not release her hand, nudging so that she might sit with him in the chair, if she was intent to stay close.]

Alas! I do not have gills, and would drown, or freeze.

[cruelpatience]

I have no intention of skipping away, particularly not after such perfect reasoning.

[And she did remain close, resting first against the arm of the chair before deciding sitting sideways in his lap would be far more comfortable.]

And that fate would be entirely against the point of me keeping you... Regardless, I would wish to keep you on land so we needn't fuss over the logistics of underwater life.

[fliesonfour]

[Much better! He agreed. Draping an arm across her waist, he leaned in, giving her a shady look.]

Well, you know, only one thing to do if you agree with me then, hm?

[cruelpatience]

[She mimicked the action, raising her eyebrow as her lips curved upward.]

And what might that be, pray tell?

[fliesonfour]

Absolutely, you must kiss me. To see if it is right, and so that you do not turn into sea-foam, or however the story goes-- I don't have a memory for stories.