Participants:
| Scene Title | Parental Permission |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Plans for the festive season… and far beyond |
| Date | December 14 2008 |
A comparatively large and well-maintained apartment occupying one corner of its floor. Windows dominate two sides of the living room, illuminating it brightly throughout most days. A kitchenette occupies one corner of the lounge, while several doors offer exits.
Luxurious but slightly worn brown leather furniture is arranged around the television in the main room, with a small dining table and high-backed chairs diagonally opposite the kitchenette. Wall-mounted shelves and stand-alone cases take up a lot of space along the walls, almost wholly filled with books. A collection of full-size geographic, political, and historical atlases have been given pride of place - though academic texts on history, international relations, conflict theory and linguistics are also prominent, alongside a fair collection of DVDs. The one sizable decoration is a blown-up photograph of mist-shrouded Edinburgh castle at sunset, a black silhouette rising out of white and luminous gold.
Of the exits, one (with an extra lock, deadbolt, and a sturdy chain) leads out of the apartment; another to the bathroom; and the next to a small room that has been converted into a rather cramped home gym. A computer desk, filing cabinet, and a single bed take up most of the space in the next room, while the last is the master bedroom - dominated by a double bed (upon which sits a two foot tall cuddly penguin) and more bookshelves (these holding a jumble of magazines, art books, Neil Gaiman graphic novels, and a collection of science fiction and historical novels), with a clearly well-traveled laptop resting on the bed-side cabinet. Here, high-quality art-prints of dragons decorate the walls, while a small cabinet holds a collection of cycling trophies.
It's a lazy Sunday morning, apparently. Clad in the barely-more-than-hip-length silk robe that Jennifer likes on her, Ygraine is curled up on the sofa with her laptop on her upper thigh. Damp hair is now free of the towel in which it had been wrapped, tumbling over her shoulders. A half-drunk mug of coffee sits close to hand, but she looks as if she's rather more intent on relaxing than waking up.
Jennifer yawns, stumbling out from the bedroom. A morning person Jennifer is not. She takes a few steps out, and spots Ygraine, giving a bleary wave as she heads kitchenwards.
Ygraine giggles amiably at her, rather better adjusted to mornings after many years of getting up for training. "I left you coffee in the pot", she calls out affectionately. "Should be warm enough for you…"
Jennifer nods. "Breakfast." She mumbles, as she tries to nab her cereal box from atop the fridge.
Ygraine watches, eyes gentle and smile fond as she observes her lover's bumbling response to the new day. She opens her mouth to say something, then thinks better of it while Jennifer's in this state, and instead settles for a brief rattle of fingers on computer keys.
Jennifer fishes down her box, applies contents to bowl, applies milk to contents. A yawn follows, and then she comes out to join Ygraine at the table.
Ygraine lets Jennifer sit down, before extending one bare leg, foot rubbing affectionately at her hip. "I love you", she murmurs fondly now that the younger girl is in easier conversational range.
Jennifer smiles. "Love you too." She takes a bite of her cereal. "Whatcha doing this morning?"
Ygraine offers a self-conscious little squirm, before speaking quickly, as if afraid that she'll lose her nerve if she doesn't hurry through it. "Oh, just a couple of minor things. Ummmm. Checking out possibilities for Christmas, and looking at rings."
Jennifer smiles brightly. "What are your holiday plans, anyhow? I hadn't asked." She caught the reference, but she'll let Ygraine present at her own speed.
Ygraine giggles, foot-stroking once more. "I'd… I'd like to spend Christmas with you. But I don't know what your usual arrangements are. I… we could invite ourselves to my parents' home, if you wanted. And break the news of our engagement at the same time. Or, if you liked, I could go and ask your Dad for permission to take his daughter's hand in marriage."
Jennifer admits "I usually go home to my folks." And a giggle. "And boy, won't THAT blow his mind some. Besides, we still have to find a place that allows it."
Ygraine shrugs amiably. "Home does. And since you'd be tying the knot with a Brit, they'd let you in for the purpose without any trouble. Would… would you like me to ask your father for permission? Have you told them about me yet?"
Jennifer nods. "I've told them about you, but not about the proposal part yet. Haven't had a good time to bring that up."
Ygraine giggles, stroking again. "Well… do you want to see in the New Year in Times Square, or the like? Or would you prefer to go to Scotland for it? Edinburgh's got a rather famous street party, which I might still be able to wangle tickets for, if you wanted. We could maybe do Christmas with your parents, then the New Year in Edinburgh..?"
Jennifer laughs. "I've never been to Scotland, so I have to admit, I'm rather in favor of that plan. I've done New York lots."
Ygraine grins. "I've never done New York, but… though it's cold there, it can be a beautiful time of year to see Edinburgh. And we won't have to pay through the nose for a hotel, fortunately. So… ahhh. How far away are your parents? I vaguely wondered about driving up today for a visit and to ask permission, if you were feeling brave."
Jennifer chuckles. "No more than an hour's drive, probably. And phew. Yeah, I can probably do that. Just requires me to find a backbone."
Ygraine laughs softly. "I can drive up alone, but… heh. Just imagine me getting slightly lost and asking the wrong father." She winks impishly.
Jennifer laughs. "Oh, no. I'll go. I just have to get over the butterflies over it." She finishes her cereal.
Ygraine grins. "And I suppose, if we're to drive an hour in this weather, I'd better let you dress sensibly", she mock-grumbles. "Believe me, I'm nervous, too. But… I'm here to face down my fears and demons. And however scary this… situation is, it's one that I really should sort out. For your sake as well as my own."
Jennifer laughs. "You're certainly going to behave, or I'm not going to tell you where to go." She sticks out her tongue.
Ygraine giggles. "You mean that you don't want us to turn up in latex to meet your parents as a couple for the first time? Bah! Heh…. What would you like me to wear? I can bring something smarter - and less overtly bull-dykeish - than cycle leathers, to change into once there, if you want."
Jennifer laughs. "Just wear normal clothes, silly. T-shirt, jeans, that sort of thing. Nothing fancy."
"Wear something warm, that you don't mind getting a bit mucky. At least as outer wear. The roads'll be wet, and we'll get hit by spray from passing vehicles. A nice top under your jacket should be safe enough, but…. Hmmmm." Ygraine purses her lips. "Should probably get you some proper leathers, come to think of it, particularly if we're going to be doing these trips at all frequently. Which I'd like to think we could. If it's just an hour's trip, and if you wanted and your parents liked me, we could make this a much more frequent journey…."
Jennifer grins. "Yeah, I should get something suitable for wearing on the motorcycle. Though you'll want to be careful; the roads will be icy." She smiles at Ygraine. "And don't worry about my clothes, my little exhibitionist." she quips.
Ygraine giggles, and pokes her tongue out. "Oh, I love to see you dressed up. And yeah - I'll be careful. I'm quite aware that you're not going to be in leathers, and that the balance of the bike'll be different. But if we stick to the main routes, we should be okay. It's not as if the highways tend to be left uncared for, here. So… d'you want to call ahead and invite us to lunch?"
Jennifer nods. "Once I've showered.' she says. "I'm not even dressed yet." Indeed, she's still in her PJ's.
Ygraine grins happily. "I've not exactly been busting a gut to get dressed and make myself presentable to the world", she points out. "But sure. Once you've given them a call, I can show you a few of the ring designs that've caught my eye, if you like. I was thinking that it might make sense to get ones that either match, or are complementary in style."
Jennifer nods. "That sounds nice, and sweet." Another yawn, then a smile. "I'm going to go have that shower now, and see if I can wake up." she announces.
Ygraine dithers momentarily, then cocks her head and offers a mischeivously hopeful smile. "Should I come with you…? Purely as a safety precaution, to make sure that you don't fall asleep in there, of course…"
