for ambitious_woman Versailles through the years.

[quitehomoerotic]

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Jack had slept. He'd slept a full and good night's sleep for the first time in longer than he cared to remember. And so when he woke it was comfortable and rested.

He was sprawled out on the couch, his coat that he'd pulled over some hours earlier now largely lying on the floor, and his head was nestled into the cushion beside his and Reinette's heads.

Awareness started to return to him, and with a yawn and a shift that settled his body a little more, he blinked his eyes open.

He realised then where he was and who he was with. A friend. A very good friend. He smiled.

"Morning," he said, and his voice was thick from sleep.

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[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette was brought slowly to wakefulness, something that she was not alltogether familiar with. She and Charles and no desire to share a bed, and it had simply been an impossibility with Louis. As her eyes opened and came into focus, for a moment she just took Jack in -- not entirely certain he was there.

She would have imagined herself to be a selfish bedpartner, set in her ways for obvious reasons. Yet despite that they seemed to have made it through the night with no small amount of contentment. She allowed herself a long, feline stretch that was fundamentally woman.

"Hello, Jack," she murmured, forcing back any awkward awareness at awaking in the same bed. It was not as difficult as she would have imagined. She fully looked at him then, taking in his tousled hair and sleep-tinged voice.

"You listened," Reinette said with no small amount of approval. "Good."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"What?" he asked, his face scrunched up and eyes squinted. He didn't notice the irony in relation to his words and the ones she had said.

He lifted his arm from around her and rubbed the heel of his hand over his eyes and blinked a couple of times to try and will away the sleep.

He yawned and leaned his head back a little, letting it loll before forcing himself to lift it. "Time to get up," he said with something of a displeased noise.

"Sleep well?"

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette made every attempt to smother her smile at the sight of Jack struggling into wakefulness, but she was not entirely certain how successful she was. She caught her lip with her teeth and commanded that it obey.

"Very well," she finally admitted, her smile firmly in check. "I do not even remember drifting asleep."

She kept to herself how rare that was.

"And you, Jack? Did you sleep well?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Luckily, Jack was far too busy blinking his vision into something close to normal to be able to notice the look on Reinette's face.

"Yeah," he said before stretching out slightly tightened muscles; straightening his legs and arching his back.

"Still want to go on a trip?" he asked, yawning. "Best get things ready."

He moved again, this time curling out his fingers and his toes. And finally he looked to her, vision sufficiently altered, and he smiled.

"You look good in the morning."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reclined on her side, Reinette allowed her chin to rest in her hand, still enjoying the sight of Jack coming into wakefulness. He was taking his time with it, she could tell. And since experience taught her quite early on that he was a man pressed quickly into action if required of him? His presence now suggested a sense of ease between them that was pleasing and warm.

She continued to take in the scene.

"I am not a woman inclined to easily change my mind," she admitted with a smile, as a way of answering his question.

His next words, however, gave Reinette a small pause. Still, her smile lingered.

"I am not accustomed to sharing my bed -- or bench, Jack. So that is gratifying to hear."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

The smile on Jack's face only widened in receipt for Reinette's words. "Well that's what I'm good at," he leaned in a little, and spoke in a naughty little whisper, "Gratification."

Moving towards her he pressed a kiss to the side of her cheek and moved over her to climb and to shift so he could get up from the couch and stand beside it.

He looked around, standing in nature's finest, and frowned. "Where are... any of my clothes?" he laughed, and he made to the task of retrieving them from where he'd let them fall the night before.

"Like I said, I'll have to go ahead. Sort a few things, get you something to wear, that sort of thing. Shouldn't take me too long though and I can be right--" he stalled as he noticed quite a glaring absence from his person "--where'd you put wrist strap? I need that thing."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette laughed, unabashedly enjoy the picture that Jack presented as she gathered himself and began the process of collecting his shoes. They had made a fine show of covering the majority of the floor.

With Jack gone, he left behind a deeper, warm expanse of the couch with she allowed herself to stretch out and fully enjoy, silently wondering when he would remember.

He did, quite soon enough.

"I see," she teased, presently the strap from where is rested beneath the pillow. She held it out to him. "How quickly I am set aside."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

It took Jack only a moment to realise her laughter was directed at him, and he stopped, his tshirt hanging from his hand, and looked at her with a half smile.

"Something funny over there?"

She presented his wrist strap and he dropped the tshirt and stepped forward with his arm outstretched to retrieve it.

"Thank you," he said, still amused, and he reattached it to his wrist before even considering any of his clothes.

When it was in place, he returned to collecting his clothes and re dressing in them. "Oh is that what I'm doing?" he asked with a small laugh. "You know I wouldn't know what to do without you around to tell me."

Trousers and t-shirt on, he made to rebutton his shirt. And when he spoke again it was gentle. "You're not the only one who doesn't do this much. Trust me, I'm not setting you anywhere. I know right where you are."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

She watched as he replaced the strap into his wrist, her expression softened somewhat. Truthfully, she had not expected him to sleep without it. And it suited him.

"[Precisely where I am? I am not being mysterious enough, I think, of that is the case."

There was humor in her voice, contentedness. But there was some truth as well. She was not accustomed to being so simply seen. But it seemed to be a particular skill of Jack's. Was it inherent? Or did it come from traveling?

She stood them, reaching for her chemise and slipping it over her head. It settled about her legs with a familiar weight.

"Will you be gone long?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

By the time Reinette was standing, Jack was slipping his feet back into his boots and reaching for his coat.

"Oh you're plenty mysterious," he told her, "I'm just good with mystery, what can I say?"

He beamed a smile at her as he slipped into the coat. "Moments," he said in response, and he leaned in to press a brief kiss to her lips. As he was, his hand went to his wrist to open the strap. He pressed a button, and as he pulled back from her... he pressed it.

He was gone.

Three seconds later and he was back, standing in the doorway with different clothes on (a darker shirt covered with a waistcoat), and a bag in his hand.

"Miss me?"

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Her mouth compressed briefly at Jack's kiss, and she blinked as he faded once again into nothingness. He was closer, this time. Like like breakfast or across the distance of her bedroom.

It made no sense that the Gazebo should feel smaller with his gone. Without his talent for manipulating space. But Reinette hardly had a moment to gathering her abused gown into her arms before Jack reappeared.

Standing, she took in the sight of him in the doorway. As her back straightened, a formal air settled over Reinette that belied the fact she was in her shift and standing in bare feet.

"You, sir, are a show off."

She smiled.

"And I have already confessed that I missed you once. You told me to stop, if I recall correctly."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack grinned at her words, evidently pleased by them.

He took a step forward, a spring in it as he moved. His hair was a little different to when he'd left, a small marker, other than his changed clothes, that it had been longer for him than for her, even if only by hours.

Stepping forward still he came to stand in front of her. "Yeah? Well I could stand to hear it once more."

He held the bag in his hand out for her. "For you. For Paris, 2013. Lets see how you like the 21st century."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Her gaze narrowed slight, as she took in the changes in his hair and dress. More time measured in his favor. But he wore it well, and when he was smiling as he was now? He was a difficult man not to forgive.

If only he were not so aware of it.

Reinette brought her own gown closer, vainly smoothing at the wrinkles before placing it on the settee. He made his own time while he was away, he could wait while she made her own. Stockings and garters were collected then, as well as shoes -- all placed neatly aside.

Finally she crossed the room.

"Very well then, Jack. I missed you with all the ferocity that three seconds might allow." Bolder than before, and in good humor? "Did you miss me?"

She accepted the bag from his hands.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

She took the bag and both of Jack's arms moved behind his back, clasped together there as though he were being inspected. Perhaps it was just that he noted how she did.

But still, she asked a question, and so he had one to answer.

"Yes," he said with a curt nod. "I missed you. There, feel better?"

He laughed slightly, but it was honest. He might have only been gone a matter of hours, but he'd been enjoying their time and so didn't want it to be paused.

He nodded down to the bag in her hand. "I hope you like purple. I read somewhere you did."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"I do, actually."

A different, softer smile teased.

Before she had carried Jack's offerings away to the privacy of her room to examine them. This time it was not a possibility so instead Reinette moved to sit in one of the armchairs that flanked the dormant fireplace. Carefully she withdrew the contents of the bag.

"There it is, that book of yours Jack. One day I shall discover it for myself. Or at the very least even the score."

Item after item was removed until she looked at them over her lap, somewhat confused. She recalled how Rose was dressed, though, and supposed there was something in these closes that suggested it.

"Are the women of this time very angry, Jack? That they no longer wished to be perceived as beautiful?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Oh I've no doubt of that." And he didn't. Oh maybe not that she'd find out about herself; Jack would of course be avoiding that. But that she would at least strive to even things out? Of that he was sure.

Her question though, could do nothing but make him laugh. A full laugh that seemed to involve his entire face.

"Now Reinette I wouldn't think you'd be so unwilling to accept change. I'll have you know that this sort of thing is pretty damn sexy to 21st century society. And trust me, you'll look gorgeous. You think I'd get you something where you wouldn't? Please, Reinette, come on!"

He made a shooing gesture with his hands towards her. "Come on, get dressed." And he grinned, "I promise I won't peek."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"I did not say 'sexy' Jack," Reinette countered firmly though not without humor, still set in her opinion. "Or alluring or even attractive. I said beautiful. The dress, for London? That was beautiful." She spared him a glace, and knew quite well he understood what she meant.

"This is something else."

But just as eager as Jack seemed to depart, Reinette stood and once more slipped the chemise over her head.

"I believe my feeling might be hurt if you did not sneak at least one glance."

That said, she addressed that matter at hand. Once again Jack had provided undergarments that while still a novelty were at least somewhat more familiar. After a moment she managed them. The fabric of the pants was awkward and unknown but eventually they were conquered as well. It was strange, to see her legs so. The shirt seemed to be designed to pull over her head as well, made of the deep purple tones that Jack alluded to. A sshort, cropped jacket followed.

Reinette finally sat to examine the boots.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack merely smiled. Clever woman, frustratingly clever and frustratingly sharp. He liked that about her.

"Oh come on," he said, gesturing out with his hands, "since when were sexy and beautiful mutually exclusive? Because believe me, they're not. And you? Will look both."

He rocked back and forth on his heels and raised an eyebrow as she lifted the chemise. "Oh now really that isn't fair," he said with a smirk.

He did as she said though, he'd hate to let her down, of course, and so he gave her a look up and down, examining her form in the morning light. He watched her as she worked with the clothes and fitted them against her.

"See," he said, "just like I told you, gorgeous."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

From the chair she looked up at Jack, a single eyebrow lifting as she moved to better study the boots. They appeared to merely slip on, which was manageable enough. The fabric was strong, yet supple, and there was something appealing in the texture.


But alltogether, she remained uncertain.

"I am still afraid I must withhold my opinion on the matter."

Reinette stretched her legs out before her, quietly marveling at her ability to see both so distinctly.

Only one task remained, the one that Reinette had been quietly avoiding. Gently she reached back to remove the last, lingering hairpins of what had just a day before? Been an intricately designed hairstyle. She pulled them out, and then tentatively ran her fingers through the length of it. It would have to serve.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

It made Jack smile to watch her, but it was a smile he kept to himself and in no way would comment on. It was nice, just to look.

That smile though, only widened when she released her hair. She looked all the more natural, he thought. And at the same time he imagined that was all the more rare.

He liked that he got to see that.

When her work was done, he took another step forward and held his hand out towards hers.

"You'll just have to take my word for it then, won't you?"

A smile. "Shall we?"

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"As I seemed quite suitably dressed for our last adventure," Reinette admitted after a brief moment seemed designed entirely to make him wait. "Yes, I shall take your word for it."

She met his smile with one of her own, thinking that she would have given a great deal for a comb of some kind. But the desire was not strong enough for her to wish to delay their departure.

Reinette slipped her hand within Jack's, and allowed him to assist her from the chair.

Standing she took a moment to become accustomed to the clothes.

"Yes. Yes, we shall."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack smiled.

He'd already prepared his wrist strap with the year, it was just a matter of putting in the place. But he was so enamoured with the moment, it somehow left his mind.

And so, holding her hand still, he reached out his wrist strap and brought it towards one of his fingers.

He looked at her, and smiled. "Hold on tight."

And he pressed the button, tugging them through time and space. Time and space until there they were...

Standing in front of Versailles.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette pressed herself close to Jack, again a task made more manageable by his close fitting offerings. Her fingers tightened around his own as the edges of the world blurred and then filled her vision.

Again, the wave of nausea rose up and then passed as Reinette willed it away.

She simply had neither the time nor the patience for it.

As the world pieced itself back together Reinette pulled herself away from Jack, taking in the scene around them.

"Really, Jack," she teased. "We might have walked."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack looked around, confused.

"No, no no, this isn't right," he said, looking back and forth. He turned his head and a car came past them on the gravel driveway. To the side a bunch of people huddled in a group, and to another he could see a plaque detailing the museum and opening times.

Oh this was bad.

"We have to go," he said immediately, reaching back for her hand. "I made a mistake, I forgot to-- we have to go. Now, we have to go, we can't be here."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

The car made its way past them, and Reinette's chin upturned sharply. The sight of something so associated with elsewhere, now seen in the place associated with home for so long.

"This is the future," she wondered aloud, fully stepping away from Jack as her gaze took in the horizon searching for what else might be altered.

"It is still here."

There was no certainty of that, Reinette knew. She was enough of a student of the world to have that understanding. Without another word, she worked past the crowd and began making her way towards the main entrance of the palace itself.