for ambitious_woman: Time for a party

[quitehomoerotic]

Follows this.

It had been five days since Reinette woke up. She was doing much better now, her health had picked up considerably and she had more colour in her cheeks than Jack thought he'd ever seen her with.

Still, he knew, time ticked on, and the better she became the more restless too. That, and as time passed yet more and more questions were raised as to her identity. Jack could deal with them, of course, but he much preferred that he didn't have to.

Of course, he wanted to take her home. And home, of course, he meant 1752. But that was hardly that simple, and turning up to take her back there now felt cruel. Jack could be cruel, of course. He'd been cruel on many occasions. But he didn't want to be, not to her, not after everything. So he needed an alternative.

Luckily, an alternative presented itself.

So it was with an idea fully formed and a oversized set of bags in hand that he walked into Reinette's hospital room, a grin painted on his lips.

"Bonsoir," he said. "How about a trip?"

Comments

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

At Jack's entrance Reinette sat straighter and obviously welcomed the distraction. Al of the tubes were now removed from her person, so that only the odd monitors remained. She now was allowed to feed herself, even if what was presented could be called food. They served some of the oddest things.

Odder even than pizza, she informed Jack.

Still, she was rarely allowed from the bed and the television was filled with the most ridiculous people.

Her eyes moved over the bags.

"We are going somewhere?"

She felt herself smile.

"I thought you would never ask, Jack."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack placed the large bags down to the side of the bed and moved himself down to perch on the edge of it.

"What they got you reading?" he asked, sounding unimpressed as he gestured towards a pile of womens magazines that had been left on the side.

"Those things'll warp your mind," he said before tapping both hands down against his thighs.

"Yep!" he said, belatedly answering her question. From his pocket he pulled out a folded leaflet. An advertisement for a charity gala taking place at the Elysée Palace in Paris. 'An extravagant 18th century ball' it said on the front.

He handed it to her.

"What do you think?" he grinned.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Her eyebrow arched at his accusations.

"My mind is quite sound, thank you. Though there are some remarkedly informative questionnaires in them. Perhaps you would like to take some?"

Reinette now sat fully within the bed to reach out and take the small colored paper from Jack's hand. She studied it intensely for several moments.

"This is my home," she announced, looking back to Jack. "At least, I believe that it is. It looks different."

She studied his features more, understanding dawning.

"You wish to attend?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack raised his own eyebrow and glanced back towards the magazines. "I don't need to read '20 ways to please your man in bed'" he said, and leant forward, smirking a little. "I already know."

He looked at the leaflet as she read it, hoping she'd like his idea and that his formulated plan wouldn't fall at the first hurdle.

"Mmm it was," he agreed, "once upon a time. Not now though. It belongs to the President of France." He reached forward and opened the leaflet, allowing two smaller pieces of paper to fall from it. A pair of tickets.

"Well," he said with a grin. "Do you?"

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette in no way moved to lessen or to increase the space created between them as Jack did his best to tease her. Though -- well not precisely his best. But he was still making a fine show of it.

Her gaze slanted towards the reading and then back to Jack himself.

"And 'Six things men notice about you in six seconds' or '77 posistions in 77 days'. Are you also well versed in those Jack?"

The President of France. Not the King. Privately Reinette wondered at what that meant. Jack had said it quite matter of factly. It had not even registered, perhaps. She kept her thoughts to herself, even as she reached out to take the two pieces of paper.

"You know me well enough to know my answer, I think, Jack. Or is it merely that you wish to hear me say yes?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"So well versed I could be on their writing staff," Jack said with a self satisfied grin. "And 77? Is that the best they can do?"

He laughed a little, and glanced back to the leaflet, peeking his head up over the top.

"Oh you know me so well," he said in a sing song voice.

"Costume is compulsory," he told her, "I took the liberty of picking us a couple up." Turning his head, he gestured to the bags.

"What did the doctors say today?" he asked casually.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"Yes, Jack," she teased, her voice low and warm.

Before continuing.

"Yes, Jack. Only 77 positions. Such failure should not be permitted. I am surprised you have yet to take them to task."

Reinette cast a speculative glance towards the bags, wondering just what rested within them. He had certainly not been kind to her clothing in the past. But then Jack had also provided her clothing for numerous adventures.

His words demanded her focus again.

"That I am well," she answered. "To a point. At least as much as they might do for me now." She glanced at her bedside table, and four large bottles on pills there. "They said I must take them faithfully if I am to recover. For six months."

Her voice betrayed her doubts on the matter.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Well I would," he said, "but it might mean giving away some of my secrets, and you know how I'd hate to do that."

He shot her a wink, but as the conversation drifted to one a little more serious, so did his expression. His head ducked just a little and he nodded.

"Right," he said, responding almost to something unsaid.

"Well," he said, "we can take them with us."

But still, that said, he doubted the bottles would ever become empty.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"Yes," she agreed. "Yes can."

And with that something felt decided. Reinette did her part to put the conversation fully aside. She saw no reason to linger there.

And more? There was a promising distraction. She gifted Jack with the full force of her smile, something she had yet to use in this place.

"You have secrets, Jack?" Her voice was teasing and light, relying on a delicacy she could not have managed with the various tubes before."I never would have thought."

Of course he had secrets. But then so did she.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded once more. He felt a sadness, an inevitability. But maybe it was right, history having the chance to slip back into place.

But that didn't mean he had to like it.

Luckily though, there was distraction enough in their conversation, and he found himself smiling again, at her expression if nothing else.

"Now that's what I like to see," he said with a grin.

"So, want to see your 'costume'?"

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

And at the sight of Jack's own smile, if it were possible, hers grew wider still. There was a moment as the expression settled, as if she was not entirely certain of it. Reinette, it seemed, was out of practice.

But it was always like this after long disagreements with herself and herself. She was always left feeling a stranger after.

Jack made her feel less so.

"You do not wear it so poorly yourself, you know."

Again, her gaze bright and curious found the bags. Reinette moved to push back the blankets that covered her.

"Yes," she teased again. "Jack."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Reinette I don't wear anything poorly," he told her with a smirk, far too self assured for it to be entirely real.

"Right," he said, that beaming smile getting a little wider.

He stood and reached for the bags, one for him and one for her.

"Here," he said, and handed the bulky bag over. "The shop supplied everything, so blame them for problems."

Inside was a dress, overly bright blue and almost gaudy, supposedly designed in the 18th century style. The label had once said 'Mary Antoinette Dress', but that had long since been pulled off. There was, to go with it, also shoes and an over the top white wig (though he'd never seen her in one).

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"I will remember that Jack, and challenge that assertion sometime. If only for my own amusement."

Surely, somewhere, there was something that did not suit Jack. Perhaps canary yellow. They idea of the challenge encouraged her to action, and Reinette moved to take herself from the bed. Set high from the ground, it required one long, awkward step down she managed with as much grace as possible.

There she stood for a moment, testing her legs. It was not that she felt weak, rather that her use of them had been severely rationed of late. Once certain of herself, Reinette reached for the bag had for her.

Carefully she removed the gown within. She ignored the wig for more pressing matters.

"That color cannot be natural!"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack, though he might not have shown it, was concerned as to how her strength would be. He reached an arm out towards her, for her to lean on, if she should need to.

He wouldn't comment on it.

As her attention turned to the contents of the bag so too did his, and he smirked as she examined what was within.

"Summer blue I think they called it," he said. "Best I could get. Wait till you see mine."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

She would too busy examining the gown to even give notice to Jack's quiet offer of assistance. It remained unseen. The dress however? Did not.

Reinette's fingers trailed over the rather uninspiring workmanship.

"I have spent many summer in France, Jack. All of them that I have known. And I have never once seen or experienced that particular shade."

It occurred to her then that complaining too loudly might not be the best way to ensure she actually was allowed to leave the hospital. And as such she would fully resolved to let any other offenses pass. She held to that resolve for a fully minute, until she lifted the gown to examine it from all sides. Something was not quite right.

"I think your dress is broken, Jack. It does not all seem to be here."

The laces seemed more fashion than actual form, and much of the underskirts were stitched to the down itself.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"It's a costume, Reinette," Jack pointed out. "And made in the 21st century, not the 18th. What, you expect people to have the same intimate knowledge that you do? Trust me, if you'd seen some of the other costumes then you'd be pleased I got this."

He moved over and took a hold of the dress, turning it around and pulling down a zip that ran along the seam.

"Like so," he said, and smirked a little, waiting for her reaction.

"Not broken. Perfectly functioning."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"I am well aware of what a costume is Jack." She purposefully matched his tone. "I am an actress, remember. I have worn enough more than enough of them in my time."

She was still smiling, yes. But indignant all the same.

"One should always pay attention to the details."

Which, of course, was the precise moment Jack chose to demonstrate the finer points of just how the gown would be worn.

"And what," she pressed, steeling her expression. "Is the intended function?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"To wear," he said, still amused, teasing her just as she teased him.

"Come on, it's got the boning in the lining, right? I asked for it. It's--" he reached forward, giving the gown a bit of a squeeze with his hand. "Well okay it's not perfect, but it'll do for a party. It's not like I'm asking you to walk into court with this thing on."

He stepped back a little and grinned

"And hey, at least it's no bin bag."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"The bin bag," she repeated, pulling the gown in closer and testing the weight of it. "I never did have the opportunity to try one of those."

With something of a resigned sigh Reinette brought the gown against herself, measuring. Whatever the finer points of this discussion might be, she could not fault Jack's assessment of her size. It would serve.

"Very well," she agreed, seeming to come to some sort of conclusion. "If this is what I am required to leave this place? I shall wear it. I would wear one of your bin bags. Or even what I am wearing now. It does not matter."

Or at least, she considered?

It did not matter much.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"You know, I'd take you in that," Jack said casually, "but I'm not sure they'd let us into the party."

He turned and grinned, taking up his own bag.

"I'll go change, you change, and I'll meet you back here. Don't go running anywhere now."

He shot her a wink and moved to the door, the bag in hand, and he left the room with a flourish.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette watched Jack leave, and allowed herself to release a slightly exasperated sigh. The man really was impossible.

"Where, Jack? Exactly would I run."

Not that he was there to answer. There was a moment, of course? A very brief moment at the height of her hurt and disappointment at Jack's refusal to remover her from the hospital that Reinette had considered running. In the only way open to her. In calling the doctors and nurses and guards back, and confirming that Jack was indeed upsetting her. They would have been effectively separated. And there was no way he could have returned her home.

It had been a fleeting thought, at best. Because she knew without doubt it would have emotionally severed whatever she and Jack had come to share. And she did not want that. So dutifully Reinette remained. Remained in a hospital and surrounded by doctors, her world and sense of self turned upside down.

They spoke and laughed and avoided now. Because neither wished to deal with the alternative. And that suited her.

More than the down.

Stripped of her dressing down Reinette noted how nearly all the bruises had faded from her skin. Only a few, faint lingering scars remained. She suspected they would always be there.

Placing the lose fitting cotton aside Reinette stepped into the gown, and zipped it up as best she could manage. The color was no less offensive on. To distract herself from it, she directed her attention to her hair.

Had Jack really intended for her to wear that wig?

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

The corridors of a hospital were hardly where someone might expect to find a man head to toe in over the top 18th century French costume. But still, any walking along these halls this day would find exactly that. Jack, after taking far too long to get changed, and after a quick hop to hide his own clothes back somewhere safely, he was walking along, back to meet Reinette.

Never one to do anything by halves, Jack had gone all out on the costume. That said, it was still that, a costume, and as he dressed himself in it he couldn't help but agree with Reinette's earlier comments on the items.

He wore an outfit in full, no detail missed from the stockings to the wig that adorned his head. Nor the makeup that now covered his face, powdered white and detailed with a black beauty spot and a red heart painted over his lips.

He stepped in the room. and shut the door behind him.

"How do I look?"

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette turned at the sound of someone at the door, her hands still on the offending wig and her gown not entirely on. She very nearly dropped the wig.

"Jack..."

There was no time to contain or edit her laughter, and it filled the room bright and clear. It struck her then she did not feel as out of breath as she often did.

"Oh, Jack. What have you gotten into."

She stepped forward to survey him, completely a full circle through brisk steps.

"And what am I to do with the fact that you are now prettier than I am?" Her gaze narrowed.

"A beauty spot?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"What?" Jack asked, utterly sincere. "That's right isn't it. I've checked your guys out --in more ways than one--. I know what I'm doing, and this is right. Don't you go telling me it isn't."

He smirked at her and turned so that he faced her a little front on.

"And don't worry, I don't think we're in any danger of that now."

Taking one step back, he regarded her dress. "See, it looks... just right." She wore it well, of course, and he'd expected little else.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette could barely contain her laughter as she watched the painted heart on Jack's mouth move. It was not that she was unaccustomed to seeing such pomp and circumstance. But she was not at all used to seeing Jack wear it.

"It is right Jack," she agreed with as straight a face as possible. "Though I must warn you, you must take care not to kiss your heart away. It is always far too simple to tell who has stumbled into an alcove."

Her mouth pressed into a firmer line, still revealing an opinion of her gown. But she still turns to present the back so Jack might finish zipping her into it.

"If you would?"