An Advanced Victorian Steampunk Roleplay discussion
Characters' Havens
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Vivian's New Start
message 751:
by
Ji Mei , The Meticulous Secretary
(new)
Jul 22, 2013 11:25AM
"Me neither, but then tomorrow might be missed if I were to sleep in," Joeri commented, enjoying her comforting presence despite his words.
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"I wouldn't mind just staying in here with you all day, to be honest."Vivian scooted away to lie down, tugging on his hand for him to come lie next to her.
Laughing, Joeri moved so he laid down facing her. "And if I were to be honest, I say you've convinced me to change my mind," he replied with a smile.
"Change your mind about what?" Vivian asked drowsily, curling her body into his as she snuggled close.
He wrapped an arm over her body. "I see no harm of staying here all day with you either," Joeri murmured, his eyes growing heavy already.
Vivian smiled and shut her eyes. "Maybe we should leave a note for Bridget..."But then she was asleep.
***END OF SCENE***
When he felt the heat of the sunlight, Joeri opened his eyes, the dream disappearing as his mind became conscious. Rubbing a hand across his eyes to chase away the tiredness, he glanced over at Vivian. Seeing her calm face, Joeri thought over the pain and hurt she felt over the years and wondered how anyone could be able to rest so peacefully. But, then again, he was glad he could be the one to comfort her and be there for her. He propped himself up on his elbows and saw that Bridget had so kindly brought food for them and he noticed Shakespeare wasn't sleeping in his basket. Letting himself lay back down on his back, he gave Vivian a kiss on the forehead to wake her up gently.
Vivian stirred a bit and instinctively snuggled closer. "What time is it?" she asked groggily, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight by turning her face into his shoulder.
"I'm not sure," he answered, stroking her hair. "But breakfast is out for us already."
Vivian peeked over Joeri's arm and saw the food as well as Shakespeare's empty basket. "Bridget must've taken him to keep him from bugging us," she said, thinking out loud as she sat up. "Are you hungry? We can eat on the balcony if you want."
"Sure," Joeri said as he sat up, running a hand through his hair. It stuck out at odd angles and was made even more messy as he ran his fingers through it.
Vivian slid out of bed and went over to the tray. She picked it up in her delicate hands and looked at him with a smile. "Let's go then. Can you grab the doors?"
Nodding, in his long strides he swiftly went to the doors and opened them. Gesturing for her to step through, Joeri gave a small bow, grinning. "This way, my lady."
Vivian laughed and set the tray down on the small table there before settling down on one of the wicker chairs. Judging by the sun, it was just after noon."Did you sleep well?" she asked, pouring him a glass of milk.
Taking the glass, Joeri nodded again, giving her a small, bright smile. "Yes. The dreams have been fading away more easily when I wake up," he told her, taking a sip of the milk.
Vivian prepared a small plate for him with fresh fruit and two strawberry pastries before starting on slicing up the cheese."You don't wake me up anymore with it." She smiled and handed him his full plate.
Still rubbing sleep from her eyes, Vivian took a sip of milk from her own glass and nibbled on a piece of cheese.
He looked sheepish as he took his own plate. "I know. I'm sorry that I interrupted your sleep so much," Joeri replied. "But it seems you don't have to worry about it so much now."
"It's fine, Joeri." She ate some grapes and nudged his leg under the table with her bare foot. "Really."She sat back a bit in her chair and turned her face up to the sun.
Savoring the strawberry pastry, Joeri let himself relax and enjoy the sunshine. As he ate a slice of cheese, he thought how wonderful if each morning was like this. Glancing over at Vivian, he realized it could be like this every day once they take their engagement further. Facing forward again to watch the birds fly by, Joeri asked, "What shall we do today?"
"We could read all day," Vivian suggested with a laugh. "And...maybe you could help me with a problem I'm having with my plants."
"What is going on with your plants?" he asked, raising a brow, his blue eyes bright in the light.
"I...I don't have any yet," Vivian said ruefully, "because they keep...dying on me."
He gave a laugh and shook his head, smiling in amusement. "Then I must help you," Joeri commented. "Can't let this house go without the plants it deserves."
Vivian smiled. "I bought a book on plants," she told him, "and borrowed one of Geoffrey's as well, but...I have no idea what grows where, you know?" She laughed at how silly and lost she sounded, and began eating a strawberry pastry."Does...does your mother plant a lot of things?" she asked hesitantly.
"Just the typical garden herbs," Joeri answered, smiling. "I used to help her, well, pretended to help her when I had free time. Eventually I learned how to plant a little. But I'm sure we can tackle the challenge of a garden once we research."
Vivian nodded. "Herbs. I like the sound of herbs," she told him, biting again into her strawberry pastry. "I also want some low-maintenance flowers, and maybe some vines for the trellis."She finished the last few bites of her pastry with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Joeri," Vivian said after a long moment, "are you...are you thinking of seeing Anne?"
Setting down his glass of milk, he leaned forward, thinking. "I do. I was thinking perhaps tomorrow during the day sometime. It would be a short visit and I think I owe it to her to say hello to me before I disappear to the barracks again," Joeri replied.
Vivian smiled at him and reached across the table to caress his cheek. "That sounds good. I can drop in on work while you're there and see how they're faring without me," she laughed.
"Sounds like a plan," Joeri said with a smile. Though he felt worried to see Anne again, especially after so long, he hoped that she'd still be her normal cheerful self.
"Don't worry about it, darling," Vivian said. "She still adores you. And who wouldn't, even after so long?"She grasped his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.
With a smile, he squeezed back and nodded. "I'm glad to hear that. I can't imagine her acting upset and I don't want to bring her more sadness," Joeri commented.
"It'll be fine," she assured him. "Would you like to me to send word for her to...to come here?"
He shook his head. "No, thank you for the offer though. I think I want to meet her somewhere else that we are both familiar with, like the park or some other place," Joeri explained. It would be nice for them to reminisce if nothing else.
"Okay." Vivian gave his hand a final squeeze and continued picking at the fruit.
Eating the last of the grapes on his plate, he put his empty glass and plate on the tray and glanced over at Vivian. "Are you done? Perhaps we can start that research now. It wouldn't be good to garden at nigh."
Vivian finished off her grapes and cheese and nodded. "If you want," she said brightly as she stood up, "I can see if Bridget can make you up a basket to bring for Anne?"
"That would be great for tomorrow," he agreed, rising from his chair and picking up the tray.
Vivian followed Joeri back into her room and set about making the bed, her curls still bed-tousled and her green silk robe hanging loosely around her shoulders. She hummed to herself as she fluffed up the pillows, taking a moment to bury her face in Joeri's pillow, catching his scent and breathing it in.
As Vivian made the bed, he briefly set the tray down and went to change his clothes. He dressed in clothes more casual, feeling so free compared to his military uniform.
Vivian padded into her dressing room, catching a glimpse of Joeri getting dressed and smiling to herself as she allowed herself the small indulgence of peeking. Then she turned away and took out a simple green cotton dress with pale white flowers and a lace collar - perfect for sitting around at home with him.A bark at the door to her quarters told her Shakespeare was back, and she asked Joeri to let him in while she dressed.
He gave a nod as indication that he heard her, then went over to the door, still in the process of tying his tie. Opening the door, Shakespeare flew through in a ball of excitement.
Vivian buttoned up the front of her dress quickly and flew out to greet the puppy, cooing and fussing over the chubby, barking ball of fur.Gathering the squirming pup up into her arms, she followed Joeri down the hall to the reading room.
Stepping inside the reading room, he already was drawn to the bookshelves. Running a hand along the spines, he glanced back at Vivian, a brow raised questioningly. "What shall we read this day other than those book on plants?"
"What do you think, Shakespeare?" Vivian asked her puppy. "King Lear? Romeo and Juliet? A Midsummer Night's Dream?"Shakespeare wagged his tail but only whined.
"Joeri, you pick one. The dog can't make up his mind," Vivian laughed, setting the pup down on the floor.
Laughing, he glanced down at the puppy. "You let me down, Shakespeare! I was hoping for your wonderful opinion," Joeri joked. Going through the books, he pulled out The Merchant of Venice and went to take a seat.
"I think he prefers to choose books by eating them," Vivian laughed, shaking the dog's ruff gently. She scooted up onto the alcove bed with Joeri as Shakespeare worried at his tail before sniffing around and finding one of his knotted-up rags to chew on.
"Well, he eats them literally and I eat them figuratively. Same difference," Joeri commented with a grin, opening up to the first page.
"I love you both, but I love you more," Vivian quipped, laughing as she dropped a kiss on his cheek. She settled against him, sitting comfortably between his long legs with her back against his chest.
With a smile, Joeri began to read out loud the first lines from Antonio. "In sooth, I know not why I am so sad. It wearies me; you say it wearies you," he read.
Vivian loved it when Joeri read out loud; she thought he did have a voice rather well-suited to reading aloud and made a mental note to herself to surprise him later with a recitation of Tennyson, with whom she'd become reacquainted over their last few weeks apart. After the end of the second scene, Vivian looked up at Joeri. "I can't believe I almost forgot," she exclaimed. "I was walking by the theatre on my way home from work the night of my birthday and...and The Tempest is opening tomorrow night!"
