"Yes, seasonal festivals work, that's exactly what I'm talking about! Harvest festivals, flower festivals!" Then it hits him. "Wait - there was a spring festival in Central Park? Fuck, I missed it."
At that moment, he sees a bookshop, and a cute, little, excited gasp leaves his lips as he drags Midge inside. A cat is sleeping on the table of new releases, and Jaskier gives her a scratch before checking the titles. "My Family and Other Animals" makes him laugh pretty hard.
“We’ll go next year,” Midge says with a smile. They have a lot to get through before spring comes, but she would like to think that they two of them can make it as a couple of they want to. And Midge really wants to.
As if they could pass a bookstore without Jaskier going in. “Accurate book title,” Midge comments. “I should probably look for a beach read.”
"Sounds like a plan~" It's an automatic response. He isn't even thinking about next year.
He takes a copy of "My Family and Other Animals" for himself before he keeps looking around. The romance section gets a chuckle out of him.
"These covers are insane," he say before picking up a particular one. "Next time we shall ride like this." He tilts his head. "Something tells me that 'a beach read' isn't just something you take to the beach."
Midge takes the book from him so that she can read the description. “Jaskier, I trust you, but that woman is falling off the horse.” Not doing a whole lot for her apprehension about riding. “They’re usually books that aren’t too heavy or serious. This one is perfect, actually.”
She loves a good medieval romance, which might explain her whole relationship with Jaskier.
He's checking out the poetry when she makes her decision, so he immediately comes back to her side when he hears it.
"I was joking! You're truly choosing that one?" He takes the book back and starts reading the description aloud with his best reciting voice, adding a bit of sultriness in there.
"He rode out of the darkness astride a coal-black stallion, appearing from nowhere like a phantom in the night. To the lords and ladies he robbed, he was an unprincipled highwayman, a common thief who deserved to swing from the gallows on Tyburn Hill. But to Lady Bliss Paynter, he was a thrilling enigma, an uncommonly skilled lover who had stolen nothing from her but a breathless kiss. Promised to an influential nobleman, Bliss knew she could have no future with the man who haunted her daydreams. But before she resigned herself to a loveless marriage, she would know one night of ecstasy in those forbidden arms... one night of wild passion in her lonely bed... one night of throbbing intimacy that would change all nights to come."
There's a big, knowing smile on his face as he hands the book back to her. "Oh, geez, I wonder why you would've possibly chosen this one. A reeeeal mystery." He kisses her cheek. "I'll borrow it later."
Midge turns the color of a tomato as Jaskier reads the back of the book aloud. People are starting to look, some of them with shock and mild horror. She snatches the book back when he’s done. “And I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that the supposed highwayman is actually a member of the nobility too.” Yeah. When art imitates life, huh?
She picks up another book. “Maybe I’ll also get this book on indoor plants to restore some of my dignity.”
I've downloaded the novel so he can read it aloud to her later lol
Sorry, Midge, he's laughing. "You always look so cute when you blush. I missed your blushing. I've corrupted you too far."
Jaskier waves at the people staring and winks at a college student. This is enough to make everyone look away - it's easy to judge in secret, but the minute they're noticed, they're cowards.
"You still have your dignity, dear." He returns to the poetry section. "Don't ever let anyone make you think otherwise."
But okay, he makes it up to her by reading from a Lord Byron book, too.
"She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies; / And all that’s best of dark and bright / Meet in her aspect and her eyes." He winks at her. "I think I'm taking this one too."
It’s true. Most of what he says or suggests no longer makes her blush. She just hates everyone staring at her. It’s not the same sort of attention that she gets onstage.
Taking her plant book, she follows him to the poetry section. The color in her cheeks this time is in response to his flattery.
“You can’t go wrong with Lord Byron,” she tells him.
He takes the Byron book before moving to check out the stationary. When he notices that Midge is blushing again, her cheek gets another kiss.
"You weren't kidding about the plants," he says when he sees that she took that book. "I can't imagine you gardening. What would happen to your pretty nails?"
“He is,” she replies, smiling when he kisses her cheek.
“This book is about indoor plants.” Midge shows it to him. “Not a lot of planting or digging in the dirt. I’ve got nowhere to plant anything anyway.” She’s seen people utilize planters on the roof, but she’s not going to do all that. “I keep a lot of flower arrangements around the apartment, but not any plants.”
"Some nice colorful plants would make the apartment even prettier," he agrees while choosing a bookmark. He's fallen in love with the concept since he arrived in this world and he's been collecting them. "If you need help, just text Geralt. It may get him to say more than one sentence at the time."
“And with this, I can be a domestic goddess,” Midge says jokingly. Or maybe not so jokingly. She’s been struggling trying to run a household as well as have a career all on her own.
He's ready to go to the register, to share stories about Geralt connecting with plants. But the other thing that Midge said is stuck in the front of his mind, and he just can't let go. So he leans against a bookshelf and tilts his head at her.
His hands tighten around the books as he wonders if he should poke at that a little more. She won't be able to run a household if she goes on tour - hell, she's already gone on tour. He wonders what she felt while she was part of Shy's troupe - did she actually miss running a household? Is she still clinging to that part of her previous life because she's still getting used to the change, or does she truly want it?
Jaskier is dying to ask, but he got the feeling that the Shy tour is still a sour subject. (He doesn't want a household.) Definitely not to be brought up in a fucking bookshop. (If she truly feels these things, he'll be right about their relationship not lasting long, won't he.) Of course, it's a little late to think about not being awkward in public, since he already opened his big fucking mouth.
He clears his voice and starts making his way to the register again, always keeping an eye out for any interesting books. "I'm guessing Joel will have the kids this whole weekend? I bet he liked that."
His whole reaction to her response makes her want to fall through the floor and die. Midge takes a deep breath so that she doesn’t start crying in the middle of the bookstore. This isn’t the best place for this conversation, she agrees. But she’s not going to let it just go by this time either.
“I don’t know if that’s sarcasm or not, but he does actually like having his kids,” Midge tells Jaskier. “He was a shitty husband, but he’s a good father.”
They pay for their books and leave the shop. There’s a bench across from the store, one that looks out to the beach and ocean. “Sit for a minute,” she says.
Midge stares at the water for a moment before speaking again. “What’s wrong with wanting to run a household and take care of my kids?”
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
At that moment, he sees a bookshop, and a cute, little, excited gasp leaves his lips as he drags Midge inside. A cat is sleeping on the table of new releases, and Jaskier gives her a scratch before checking the titles. "My Family and Other Animals" makes him laugh pretty hard.
no subject
As if they could pass a bookstore without Jaskier going in. “Accurate book title,” Midge comments. “I should probably look for a beach read.”
no subject
He takes a copy of "My Family and Other Animals" for himself before he keeps looking around. The romance section gets a chuckle out of him.
"These covers are insane," he say before picking up a particular one. "Next time we shall ride like this." He tilts his head. "Something tells me that 'a beach read' isn't just something you take to the beach."
no subject
Midge takes the book from him so that she can read the description. “Jaskier, I trust you, but that woman is falling off the horse.” Not doing a whole lot for her apprehension about riding. “They’re usually books that aren’t too heavy or serious. This one is perfect, actually.”
She loves a good medieval romance, which might explain her whole relationship with Jaskier.
no subject
"I was joking! You're truly choosing that one?" He takes the book back and starts reading the description aloud with his best reciting voice, adding a bit of sultriness in there.
"He rode out of the darkness astride a coal-black stallion, appearing from nowhere like a phantom in the night. To the lords and ladies he robbed, he was an unprincipled highwayman, a common thief who deserved to swing from the gallows on Tyburn Hill. But to Lady Bliss Paynter, he was a thrilling enigma, an uncommonly skilled lover who had stolen nothing from her but a breathless kiss. Promised to an influential nobleman, Bliss knew she could have no future with the man who haunted her daydreams. But before she resigned herself to a loveless marriage, she would know one night of ecstasy in those forbidden arms... one night of wild passion in her lonely bed... one night of throbbing intimacy that would change all nights to come."
There's a big, knowing smile on his face as he hands the book back to her. "Oh, geez, I wonder why you would've possibly chosen this one. A reeeeal mystery." He kisses her cheek. "I'll borrow it later."
no subject
She picks up another book. “Maybe I’ll also get this book on indoor plants to restore some of my dignity.”
I've downloaded the novel so he can read it aloud to her later lol
Jaskier waves at the people staring and winks at a college student. This is enough to make everyone look away - it's easy to judge in secret, but the minute they're noticed, they're cowards.
"You still have your dignity, dear." He returns to the poetry section. "Don't ever let anyone make you think otherwise."
But okay, he makes it up to her by reading from a Lord Byron book, too.
"She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies; / And all that’s best of dark and bright / Meet in her aspect and her eyes." He winks at her. "I think I'm taking this one too."
omg yaaaassss
Taking her plant book, she follows him to the poetry section. The color in her cheeks this time is in response to his flattery.
“You can’t go wrong with Lord Byron,” she tells him.
no subject
He takes the Byron book before moving to check out the stationary. When he notices that Midge is blushing again, her cheek gets another kiss.
"You weren't kidding about the plants," he says when he sees that she took that book. "I can't imagine you gardening. What would happen to your pretty nails?"
no subject
“This book is about indoor plants.” Midge shows it to him. “Not a lot of planting or digging in the dirt. I’ve got nowhere to plant anything anyway.” She’s seen people utilize planters on the roof, but she’s not going to do all that. “I keep a lot of flower arrangements around the apartment, but not any plants.”
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“Geralt does all the gardening at your house?”
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He's ready to go to the register, to share stories about Geralt connecting with plants. But the other thing that Midge said is stuck in the front of his mind, and he just can't let go. So he leans against a bookshelf and tilts his head at her.
"Do you want to be a 'domestic goddess'?"
no subject
“I don’t know. I want to be able to run a household and take care of my kids.”
no subject
His hands tighten around the books as he wonders if he should poke at that a little more. She won't be able to run a household if she goes on tour - hell, she's already gone on tour. He wonders what she felt while she was part of Shy's troupe - did she actually miss running a household? Is she still clinging to that part of her previous life because she's still getting used to the change, or does she truly want it?
Jaskier is dying to ask, but he got the feeling that the Shy tour is still a sour subject. (He doesn't want a household.) Definitely not to be brought up in a fucking bookshop. (If she truly feels these things, he'll be right about their relationship not lasting long, won't he.) Of course, it's a little late to think about not being awkward in public, since he already opened his big fucking mouth.
He clears his voice and starts making his way to the register again, always keeping an eye out for any interesting books. "I'm guessing Joel will have the kids this whole weekend? I bet he liked that."
no subject
“I don’t know if that’s sarcasm or not, but he does actually like having his kids,” Midge tells Jaskier. “He was a shitty husband, but he’s a good father.”
They pay for their books and leave the shop. There’s a bench across from the store, one that looks out to the beach and ocean. “Sit for a minute,” she says.
Midge stares at the water for a moment before speaking again. “What’s wrong with wanting to run a household and take care of my kids?”