Well, my son happens to be in another state and all of my direct underlings are busy with their own holidays or covering certain lines of business. I could go missing without too much concern.
[Christmas will do that. It's usually one of the slower days.]
And when I'm looking to wine and dine someone, I prefer not to have other expectations on my time.
Let's both discourage that kind of talk. Putting 'going missing' out into the universe never ends well. We can just call it a Lost Weekend. Sounds more romantic that way.
I tried cooking for one of my boyfriends in the 1900's. I couldn't be fussed. And, the bloody patriarchy. ( It didn't make it any more appealing. ) I managed when Fergus was a young boy, but back then everything went into a stew. Now, there's finesse involved and nitrogen and special knives. Besides, I much like being wined and dined.
( They are adults here, so she does have to pose a question. Or, else, a musing. )
You've never talked about her? Alexander's mother.
[He's mourned and moved on. There's no need to speak of her to anyone other than Alexander. There aren't a lot of people who knew her, really, anymore.]
I loved her, and I miss her, but ... I've been without her for more years than I was with her at this point.
[Which possibly sounds cold, but he thinks that Rowena might understand.]
Well, I can't just disappear, we know what happens when there's a power vacuum. But, taking my own time. Months here and there. More... here than there.
Then let's start there and see where we two end up.
( She waggles her eyebrows, smirking, before moving things in a less PG direction. They spend the next few days together, probably with his son and Cordelia sending updates on the recently returned. )
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( Of all days. And dig in daintily, she does. )
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[Christmas will do that. It's usually one of the slower days.]
And when I'm looking to wine and dine someone, I prefer not to have other expectations on my time.
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( Also like literature. )
You are indeed. Wining and dining. I'm impressed.
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[This is something he does take pride in.]
It was just me and Alexander for a long time, and someone had to feed us. Found that I rather liked it, though.
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( They are adults here, so she does have to pose a question. Or, else, a musing. )
You've never talked about her? Alexander's mother.
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[He's mourned and moved on. There's no need to speak of her to anyone other than Alexander. There aren't a lot of people who knew her, really, anymore.]
I loved her, and I miss her, but ... I've been without her for more years than I was with her at this point.
[Which possibly sounds cold, but he thinks that Rowena might understand.]
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( And she will clink her glass to his, as she continues to enjoy this delectable meal across from a delectable man. )
Are you perhaps older than you let off?
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[That he looks good for his age as a well-seasoned man in his fifties.]
But I was twenty when we had Alex.
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( Now, yes, this is fishing. )
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[If he didn't know better, he'd think she was younger than him by a good decade.]
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( Or like she's just come out of the morgue. )
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Mea culpa. I am a little rusty.
[Not thirty years rusty, but it has been a little while since his last partner.]
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Mea culpa.
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And what are you apologizing for?
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( She has nothing to apologize for, in this case. He barely does on his side. But, she can do things playfully. )
Not that I was actually offended. I am, technically, dead.
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[It clearly doesn't bother him, though, given that they're here.]
I do appreciate how you don't let a silly thing like death stand in your way.
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And why should I? I would be the only monarch in Hell who didn't spread her legs. I did reform down there, but I missed the world.
( and the world missed her. )
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[She's conquered Hell, but she's clearly not done yet.]
Do you have another mountain to conquer?
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( She takes a bite of her food. )
Have dinners with handsome friends.
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Well, I'm more than happy to cook for you any time.
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( They settle into pleasant conversation and light flirtation. By the time dessert comes and goes, she wipes the corners of her mouth with a napkin. )
You outdid yourself.
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[He gets up to gather the dishes for later washing. The pots are already set to soak, but it's a future problem to deal with.]
How much longer can you stay?
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( There is a wrong answer. )
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For right now? I'm not expected back until the day after tomorrow.
[His head tips to the side with a smirk.]
But beyond that, as long as you'll allow me.
🎀
( She waggles her eyebrows, smirking, before moving things in a less PG direction. They spend the next few days together, probably with his son and Cordelia sending updates on the recently returned. )