~ [closed post]

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Now that the Mansion is producing goods again, it's very easy for Susan to compile a picnic basket full of, essentially, the makings of a rather international charcuterie board. Four cheeses (a good British cheddar, a French camembert, an Italian sheeps-milk ricotta, and a wedge of Dutch Leyden), three meats (jamon Iberico from Spain, mortadella with pistachios, and something labeled as an American bison-blueberry salami), along with some honey, fruits and fruit preserves, a baguette, olives, nuts, and crackers. She tops this off with nice linens and silverware and all the necessary ingredients for French 75s. It's definitely more than enough for two people.

Something about the end of that dreadful month has her considering wearing color again. As a first step toward moving past mourning clothes, she experiments with a very flattering deep navy dress that's definitely not black, though it looks it in most lights. She adds a coat of lipstick, and then takes herself and her basket to Janet's room, where she raps lightly on the door.

NSFW!

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[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose if you're so adamant about seeing my derriere," Susan says, musingly.

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet laughs; she's a little bit tipsily thrilled over the word derriere, actually. "I'm so fucking adamant." She sets down the empty champagne bottle, which makes a hollow thunk on the floor, and aims a look of haughty anticipation at Susan. The effect's maybe slightly diminished by how their faces are inches apart.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan's noticed that, too. "Another bottle of champagne," she says, punctuating her words with kisses. "I shall return posthaste."

And then, reluctantly, she drags herself off Janet's lap and goes off in search of another bottle of champagne... purposefully swaying said derriere as she goes. She hadn't thought the drink was hitting her, but as she slips out of the room she realizes she feels loose with it, and warm.

Luckily, now that Dark is over, it's rather quick work to force the Mansion to produce a bottle of nice champagne in a closet down the hall. She's barely gone six minutes.

[sorrowandsorrow]

Considering all that it took to get there, Janet watches Susan go with all the attention and heat she's earned, eyes lingering on every step and every curve until she's well and truly out of sight.

Once Susan's slipped away down the hallway, Janet fills the time with attacking the rest of the charcuterie. As Susan returns, she's drizzling honey across a baguette slice topped with ricotta.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"What's this," says Susan, pausing in the doorway, one hand resting on the jamb. "A snack for me?"

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet leans back on her free hand, looking over Susan with clear appreciation. She eyes the contents of her hand, faux-assessing, like she's considering whether she wants to give it to Susan or not, then smiles at her. "Sure. I think you earned it."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Very good," says Susan, letting the door swing shut behind her as she comes inside, then striding over and leaning down to kiss Janet thoroughly.

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet straightens into the kiss. If she wants to keep her balance without wiping out or setting down that baguette slice, she can't use her hands, but she gives as good as she gets despite that, making it a lingering kiss, rich with the faint, lingering taste of the last bottle of champagne.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Eventually, Susan breaks away long enough to pop open the second bottle of champagne and take a seat next to Janet. The bottle she places between the two of them; her empty hand she places high on Janet's thigh.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Hi," Janet says, mouth sliding into an easy grin in the aftermath of that kiss. "Don't forget your snack. The inanimate one," she clarifies as she offers that nearly-forgotten bread, cheese, and honey to Susan.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, I meant you," says Susan, but she leans over and takes a small bite from the food, too, lips brushing against Janet's fingertips.

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet watches her contentedly, a contentedness that borders on smug. "Right. I'm the animate one. But we did say we wouldn't let all this food go to too much waste."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan takes another tiny bite from Janet's hand, chews, swallows. "Would you like another cocktail, or just the champagne?"

[sorrowandsorrow]

Satisfied, Janet flips the baguette slice back around and takes her own bite, then uses her thumb to pick up a little honey from the corner of her mouth. "Let's be civilized. Cocktail, if Your Majesty would be so kind."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan tracks the movement of Janet's thumb with hungry eyes, and then tears herself away to mix them both more of the cocktails. This time she makes them stronger, not entirely on purpose. "I shall trade you yours for a kiss," she tells Janet, once they're poured and topped off with champagne.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"You drive a hard bargain." Janet leans in, catching Susan by the shoulder to kiss her. She's careful, but only because Susan's holding their drinks -- the kiss is still a pointed one, brief as it is.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Dutifully, Susan passes Janet her glass as she pulls away.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Thanks," Janet says, awash with sudden and disorienting sincerity. It's nice, more than nice, to be spoiled, to feel a little doted on, and to have some faith that the rug's not about to get pulled out from under her. She takes a sip, then tips the glass a little, the stem between her fingertips. "I'll be the mixologist next time, if you want."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I should like that." Susan keeps looking at Janet's mouth.

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet smiles at her, clocking the direction of her attention. "I bet I can think of some cocktails that were invented after you. Hey, did they have blenders when you were?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"They did," Susan says, "but I've never used one."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Shit. When summer hits, if it ever fucking does, we're having daiquiris."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan hums, lips quirking. "Summer shall hit," she says, "if it knows what's good for it. I should like to be indolent with you and any number of daiquiris by the lake." She pauses. "Perhaps we might even borrow the boat."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"You think Laertes could resist both of us asking him? We can definitely borrow the boat." Janet mimes tossing her hair, since there's not enough of it to do it for real, and then takes a pointed sip of her drink.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

A smile, amused, that's as good as a laugh. "He shan't know what hit him."