« I am thinking of you. I love you, play. » (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
solosection) wrote2021-09-28 11:21 pm
solosection) wrote2021-09-28 11:21 pm
O P E N P O S T .
[ following this. ]
[ He didn't tidy up before she got there, which means to say he got nervous about ten minutes before she arrived and tidied up everything in a complete hurry, so nothing looked too tidy, but at least it was presentable. No clothes on the couch, for example. Elio generally isn't a very messy person, he's extended his sheet music orderliness to the rest of his life, too. Well, at least the most physical parts of it, sometimes his head could need a hand, he thinks.
Not that he's giving that much thought now.
Chloe's in the kitchen, he let her in fifteen minutes ago and told her to go wild, so she went to prepare food and he watched her for a while, awkward about whether to offer his help or not, then deciding they'd probably need mood music first and putting on a CD with some Beethoven sonatas, Claude Arrau playing. Currently, it's the third movement of Tempest, on a pleasantly low volume, resonating between the walls of Elio's apartment. His own piano is taking up most of the far end of the living room, Steinway-sponsored.
Once done, he returns to the doorway leading to the kitchen, leaning agains the doorframe and watching her again, quietly, a small frown on her face. Why doesn't he just ask her? Really. ]
Tell me if you need help. [ Okay, so not a question... His frown deepens for a moment, until he just gives up and smiles, apologetically. ] I'm not a bad cook, but I'm sure - neither are you.
( Going overboard is not really a concept Chloe is familiar with. Always keen to be the consummate hostess - even if she's in someone else's home, she has a basket full of ingredients to prepare for both drinks and nibbles. Far too much to be consumed at one little tasting party, no doubt, but then Elio can have a variety of leftovers.
As he seems content for her to have free rein, she's taken and run with it. It feels a little intrusive to be pottering around in his kitchen, although it's not like she's inspecting every inch of private spaces. There is a bustle of activity from her as she balances having several dishes on the go at once at different stages of completion; salmon rillettes, cheddar pecan crisps, spicy grilled shrimp, balsamic bruschetta. All chosen to complement the martinis to follow.
When she catches sight of him again, she's piping cream cheese into large green olives. She greets his presence with a smile. )
Oh, no, I'm fine. Really. I'm sure you're a perfectly good cook but this is my treat to you. Though you could keep an eye on the crisps to make sure they don't burn, if you don't mind?
( While it may no longer be her role to wait on or serve anyone, it remains something she takes pride and pleasure in. Everyone can use a little care. )
As he seems content for her to have free rein, she's taken and run with it. It feels a little intrusive to be pottering around in his kitchen, although it's not like she's inspecting every inch of private spaces. There is a bustle of activity from her as she balances having several dishes on the go at once at different stages of completion; salmon rillettes, cheddar pecan crisps, spicy grilled shrimp, balsamic bruschetta. All chosen to complement the martinis to follow.
When she catches sight of him again, she's piping cream cheese into large green olives. She greets his presence with a smile. )
Oh, no, I'm fine. Really. I'm sure you're a perfectly good cook but this is my treat to you. Though you could keep an eye on the crisps to make sure they don't burn, if you don't mind?
( While it may no longer be her role to wait on or serve anyone, it remains something she takes pride and pleasure in. Everyone can use a little care. )
[ Something about her efficiency reminds him of Mafalda, their help back at his mother's summer house. Not because Chloe is here as his help, but because her hands move with the same experienced assuredness, the same no-nonsense speed. He likes watching her, it fills him with a sense of homeliness that he doesn't actually associate with his home most of the time. His home is a place where he sleeps or a place where he plays or a place where he longs, not much besides that. Mafalda, the same way as Chloe is now, would have prepared him a feast if he'd asked for a glass of water. ]
It feels like an unfair trade-off. You preparing all of this and me checking on the cheddar pecan crisps.
[ It's said with a slight laugh, not sarcastic or ironic, but just soft. She makes him feel kind of cared for and that's not really a feeling he's used to. Elio doesn't know how to handle it with the necessary appreciation, honestly. Even so, he walks over to the oven and checks on it once, the crisps still looking a bit under. Leaning against the counter, only the oven and the stove between them now, he turns his face towards her. ]
But care isn't a trade, right? I think that's the point.
It feels like an unfair trade-off. You preparing all of this and me checking on the cheddar pecan crisps.
[ It's said with a slight laugh, not sarcastic or ironic, but just soft. She makes him feel kind of cared for and that's not really a feeling he's used to. Elio doesn't know how to handle it with the necessary appreciation, honestly. Even so, he walks over to the oven and checks on it once, the crisps still looking a bit under. Leaning against the counter, only the oven and the stove between them now, he turns his face towards her. ]
But care isn't a trade, right? I think that's the point.
( Chloe just looks quietly bemused at the suggestion of this being somehow unfair. She offered to do this, and was the one to decide to go to the lengths she has. She wasn't ordered or asked. There was no implication that she should. She chose. Trivial as it may seem to others, it's anything but for her. )
You're exactly right - it isn't transactional. You don't have to earn anything nor do I expect anything.
( Chloe doesn't conduct tests. Doesn't play games to illicit reactions that can be studied. Or simply because. To be sincere in all things - perhaps overly so, at times - is how she conducts herself. Connections with others aren't bargaining chips or means of exploitation. They are what they are, and she is what she is. Who she is.
Partly to lighten her own thoughts, she gives him a more playful smile. )
Though I would claim that this is all utterly selfish on my part since I enjoy doing it.
( The last of the olives are plated, joining the other dishes in a magazine worthy arrangement of hors d'oeuvres. Sure enough, the cheddar pecan crisps join shortly after, once they've reached the optimal colour. )
Now, are we to start with a chocolate, fruit, tea or coffee based martini?
You're exactly right - it isn't transactional. You don't have to earn anything nor do I expect anything.
( Chloe doesn't conduct tests. Doesn't play games to illicit reactions that can be studied. Or simply because. To be sincere in all things - perhaps overly so, at times - is how she conducts herself. Connections with others aren't bargaining chips or means of exploitation. They are what they are, and she is what she is. Who she is.
Partly to lighten her own thoughts, she gives him a more playful smile. )
Though I would claim that this is all utterly selfish on my part since I enjoy doing it.
( The last of the olives are plated, joining the other dishes in a magazine worthy arrangement of hors d'oeuvres. Sure enough, the cheddar pecan crisps join shortly after, once they've reached the optimal colour. )
Now, are we to start with a chocolate, fruit, tea or coffee based martini?
[ continued from here. ]
There's magic in music, one of my teachers once told me. You have to be a bit of a witch to play. Maybe we can chant a married men-repellent spell of some kind.
What genre would that be?
I'd think a chant like that would be in French, possibly Portuguese. I’d imagine dexterous fingers would spell the enchantment and amp what lives in the heart.
So, it would be psychedelic soul. Or melancholic jazz.
So, it would be psychedelic soul. Or melancholic jazz.
If you ever write such a song, send it to me. I have an ex who'd love it.
If we’re talking exes then I already have a title, based on my colorful history.
— ‘fuck it all up again’.
— ‘fuck it all up again’.
I bet it’s a nice laugh. Ever laughed in an auditorium? Could enchant anyone with those acoustics.
One or two. I'm not the kind of person to think there's a right and a wrong place for showing your emotions, an auditorium's as good a place as any.
But with better acoustics, true.
But with better acoustics, true.
I can get behind that sort of freedom. I never plan a trip to my favorite bar in London, it just happens when the mood hits.
No point in containing an impulse.
No point in containing an impulse.
I just like being ultimately very truthful, towards myself, towards others.
How am I doing?
How am I doing?
I can respect that. Carrying truths and unfolding them openly. Some take courage to tell, others are far easier to embody.
You’re doing better than most.
You’re doing better than most.
Thank you for not making it sound like a compliment. I'm awful with those.
Being in tune to people is the first I had to learn. My best compliments are less words, more actions.
More actions, less words is good.
I can be awful with that as well, but I recognize the value.
I can be awful with that as well, but I recognize the value.
It depends on where it's coming from. Takes trust to build most of what's truly satisfying.
At least, I've learned to value it does.
At least, I've learned to value it does.
Misplaced. I realize I don't shine when I'm alone.
Few people do. And even the ones who have that ability shine more when they're with others.
Maybe it was a phase. Or are phases just stages of evolving into something worldly? To be dripping in gold would be nice.
We're all changing constantly. I'm sure some pre-Socratic philosopher has said the same thing in wiser words.
You'd look beautiful. Dripping in gold.
You'd look beautiful. Dripping in gold.
I don't think you would have liked me when I was attending grad school. Something about being changed for the better.
Now look who's handing out compliments. Resplendent, coming from you.
Now look who's handing out compliments. Resplendent, coming from you.
I didn't like myself in grad school. We've both improved.
And I'll admit, I'm better at giving compliments than receiving them. I like the look on people's faces when I do. What's your expression like right now?
And I'll admit, I'm better at giving compliments than receiving them. I like the look on people's faces when I do. What's your expression like right now?
Page 1 of 5