Oh, he can absolutely get that dense. He quickly learned in this world to keep it a bit lighter, but he refuses to let go of all of it. Flowery is nicer.
Midge's face makes him laugh, so he kisses the top of her head before showing her the full poem for context. "It's very metaphorical, so a few things are up to interpretation. It mentions 'modest worth' and 'rank'-" He points at those words on the page. "--so it appears that he's talking about the value of a powerful bond between people over differences in social standing. If it's mere friendship or it evolves into something sexual, well, dear - that's up to you."
The stanza makes more sense when she reads the whole poem in context. “He mentions friendship, but you’re right. He could be angling for something else. People, especially upper class people, had to be flowery back then. They couldn’t just ask if someone wanted to fuck them.”
Midge looks up at him with a teasing smile. “You made your intentions known pretty quickly.”
Oh, she has such a pretty teasing smile. He laughs at her comment.
"And you like it," he teases back. "Ah, but worry not. There have many a time back in my world where I had to be smooth as well. Especially with men - and in that case, that happens here too. That's why places like Rainbow Road are so important. We don't have to guess there."
“I do like it,” she confirms. “It was very flattering to be wanted like that.”
What he says about men who want to have sex with other men makes sense. Coming on to the wrong person could mean prison, or worse.
“I’m surprised that the police haven’t tried to shut it down yet. Not that I think it needs to be, of course, but anything that’s so open like that is a target for people who hate it.”
"Of course!" He tilts his head, clearly amused. "I may not be fucking you well enough if that's up for question." It's just teasing - he understands wanting reassurance. Hearing the words is nice.
He glances at her book and grins. "Want to read together? We could push the chairs against each other and cuddle." Cuddling in public can't be that bad, right?
Why the hell not? Her parents aren’t here yet. She gets up and helps push the two chairs together, then lays back down. She leans against him, snuggling in close as she picks up her book again.
It is, to say the least, the perfect afternoon. Which is funny to think about after their argument. Jaskier falls in love with Byron's flowery words and sometimes reads lines to Midge. Having her snuggled close is wonderful, and he basks in what is a simple yet powerful form of affection. He sometimes peeks into her novel, too, to read aloud any funny (or saucy!) lines. He doesn't stay the entire afternoon on the chair, though; every now and then, he returns to the sea for another swim. It makes coming back so much better because it means he can recharge his energy by feeling Midge's skin against his and smelling her perfume mixed with the smell of the ocean.
Eventually, she falls asleep on his shoulder, and while part of him thinks she's missing the fun, he doesn't have the heart to wake her up. At least, not until it's time to leave.
"Hey, dear," he says while gently shaking her shoulder. "It's getting late."
Midge joins him in the water a few more times, but she likes relaxing on the shore, enjoying the cool sea breeze as she reads. It’s been such an active day and the fresh air eventually puts her to sleep.
She wakes to Jaskier rubbing her shoulder and she mumbles as she tries to shake off the sleepiness.
She's so cute! Jaskier just has to kiss the top of her head, grinning at the taste of the sea salt.
"Time to go back to the hotel if you want to take care of your hair and still make it to a restaurant at a reasonable time for dinner." He explains as he takes a bookmark from his bag and puts it on her book to close it. "If we were on a normal vacation, I'd be happy to stay up late and sleep until noon, but we have to think about your parents and any potential wedding stuff."
He laughs. "You look good in everything, love. Even nest hair."
After putting his book in his satchel, he puts on his sandals and shirt.
"Are you kidding? It was perfect!" His smile is wide and bright. "The only thing missing was an orgasm in the water, but we can do that after dinner when the beach is empty." Wink~
"Hey, hey," he scolds her playfully as he grabs her hand to get going. "I won't take any protests, mocking, or judgment from you, missy. We rehearsed this on text, and I'm quiiiiite sure you liked it."
“Oh is that what that was?” Midge asks, squeezing his hand. “I thought that was a fantasy where we had a private beach all to ourselves and could fuck in daylight without worrying about trying to see where we were going on a dark beach?”
"It can be both!" he answers as he laughs. "And you live in a world with flashlights, so the dark beach complaint is invalid. Try to find your way out of a bush labyrinth after a good fuck in the middle of the night, then we'll talk."
"Ugh, yes," he replies while completely missing her joke. He's lost in his memories, so he hasn't noticed the double meaning. Sorry, Midge, it was a good one. "After some old crazy duke got one, everyone else copied him. I seriously doubt anyone ever actually used them as labyrinths. Great places to hide in, though."
The second comment, though, does make him chuckle. "A beacon to whom? Are there cops on the beach? If it's other guests, they'll want to avoid us in return!"
It’s a pity. A joke becomes less funny if you have to explain it to a person, so Midge just smirks to herself and lets it go.
“That’s true,” she concedes as they walk into the hotel. “I guess anyone who comes out there and sees what we’re doing shouldn’t be all that surprised to find it.”
Not that she wants to be walked up to by a random person while she’s having sex. Midge has a feeling that this will be a quick outing.
“I’m sure you’ve already looked,” Midge replies, giving him a kiss in the elevator.
Back in the room, Midge examines herself in the mirror. Her face looks a bit red from the sun, but nothing too bad. She puts on some cold cream and has a look at her hair.
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Midge leans over towards him. “Whatcha reading?”
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He shows her the cover of the Lord Byron book before reading aloud with his classically trained reciting voice:
"Our souls at least congenial meet,
Nor can thy lot my rank disgrace;
Our intercourse is not less sweet,
Since worth of rank supplies the place."
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Her jokes aren’t hidden by such flowery language. Even Jaskier’s poetry isn’t as dense.
totally stealing the analysis from the website lol I'm not good with old English
Midge's face makes him laugh, so he kisses the top of her head before showing her the full poem for context. "It's very metaphorical, so a few things are up to interpretation. It mentions 'modest worth' and 'rank'-" He points at those words on the page. "--so it appears that he's talking about the value of a powerful bond between people over differences in social standing. If it's mere friendship or it evolves into something sexual, well, dear - that's up to you."
steal away
Midge looks up at him with a teasing smile. “You made your intentions known pretty quickly.”
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"And you like it," he teases back. "Ah, but worry not. There have many a time back in my world where I had to be smooth as well. Especially with men - and in that case, that happens here too. That's why places like Rainbow Road are so important. We don't have to guess there."
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What he says about men who want to have sex with other men makes sense. Coming on to the wrong person could mean prison, or worse.
“I’m surprised that the police haven’t tried to shut it down yet. Not that I think it needs to be, of course, but anything that’s so open like that is a target for people who hate it.”
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The mention of the police makes him snort. "They're bribing the cops, Midge. The day the club doesn't pay, you can say goodbye to it."
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Midge picks up her book again. “Do I make you feel exhilarated?” she asks.
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He glances at her book and grins. "Want to read together? We could push the chairs against each other and cuddle." Cuddling in public can't be that bad, right?
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“Alright.”
Why the hell not? Her parents aren’t here yet. She gets up and helps push the two chairs together, then lays back down. She leans against him, snuggling in close as she picks up her book again.
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Eventually, she falls asleep on his shoulder, and while part of him thinks she's missing the fun, he doesn't have the heart to wake her up. At least, not until it's time to leave.
"Hey, dear," he says while gently shaking her shoulder. "It's getting late."
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She wakes to Jaskier rubbing her shoulder and she mumbles as she tries to shake off the sleepiness.
“What time is it?”
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"Time to go back to the hotel if you want to take care of your hair and still make it to a restaurant at a reasonable time for dinner." He explains as he takes a bookmark from his bag and puts it on her book to close it. "If we were on a normal vacation, I'd be happy to stay up late and sleep until noon, but we have to think about your parents and any potential wedding stuff."
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It’s clearly the late afternoon; the beach is a lot less crowded than it was earlier. She stretches and stands up.
“Did you have a good day?” she asks.
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After putting his book in his satchel, he puts on his sandals and shirt.
"Are you kidding? It was perfect!" His smile is wide and bright. "The only thing missing was an orgasm in the water, but we can do that after dinner when the beach is empty." Wink~
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She laughs as she puts on her cover up and hat. “Why am I not surprised?” As if she’s protesting.
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He pokes her ribs just to be annoying.
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Someone is talking from experience here.
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“Sure, a flashlight won’t be a beacon to anyone looking that somebody is out on the beach doing something.”
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The second comment, though, does make him chuckle. "A beacon to whom? Are there cops on the beach? If it's other guests, they'll want to avoid us in return!"
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“That’s true,” she concedes as they walk into the hotel. “I guess anyone who comes out there and sees what we’re doing shouldn’t be all that surprised to find it.”
Not that she wants to be walked up to by a random person while she’s having sex. Midge has a feeling that this will be a quick outing.
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He's kidding. Hopefully, the bellboy didn't hear that. Oh well, to the elevator they go.
"That said - worry not, darling. It's not like I plan to just walk down the beach and take the first spot we see. We'll find a nice, hidden corner."
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Back in the room, Midge examines herself in the mirror. Her face looks a bit red from the sun, but nothing too bad. She puts on some cold cream and has a look at her hair.
“The braids stayed mostly intact,” she says.
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