John (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fundamentally) wrote2015-12-17 07:52 pm
fundamentally) wrote2015-12-17 07:52 pm
Effie
After the night and most of a morning spent in the hospital, John and Effie made it home. Princess was on Effie instantly, purring and chatting with her. John goes to make tea to soothe frayed nerves, and when it had brewed he also fetches Effie's hair brush. Not her wig brush, he'd made that mistake only once. Then he turns on the telly to a mindless cooking show and gently begins to untangle her locks. He knows she's well doped. He thinks the repetative motion might soothe her.
"When you've drunk your tea we'll go to bed. I'll deal with the police. You need your rest," he says.
"When you've drunk your tea we'll go to bed. I'll deal with the police. You need your rest," he says.
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"It's for Christmas, Effie. Christmas eve gift. And tomorrow is Christmas proper and we have reservations and Lis d'Or for dinner...if you'd like to go. If you'd rather stay home I can go get the food and come home and we can celebrate together," he says gently. He's not sure if it's the trauma or drugs or a bit of both, but like always he is gentle and patient with her as he explains things.
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It's a special holiday, she can remember that now. She's even got a gift for him all wrapped and waiting under the tree. They had plans, there was something else...it doesn't matter now. Effie takes a seat and places the box on her lap and begins to unwrap it.
The lights from the tree shine off of the necklace and make it sparkle like there are trapped stars inside of it and it makes her breath catch in her throat for how beautiful it is. She's never seen anything like it in Darrow and she certainly never expected John to buy her anything so unbelievably precious.
"John." She looks at him with wide, slightly unfocused eyes. "It's stunning."
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"I saw it and knew you needed it," he replies, sitting beside her so he can kiss her lightly. "And now that you've opened something half as beautiful as you are, let's retire, hmm? Come along. Bed for us both."
He's not sure she'll even remember this in the morning, which is fine. The necklace can be a gift all over again. He wishes he could have afforded more but the necklace took all his savings and the rest of her gifts had put quite the dent on his credit card. Every penny absolutely worth it.
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"Thank you. It's so perfect, John." She runs her fingertip across the jewels and as intoxicating as the idea of sleep is, she can't just leave the necklace there. It's too precious and it's something of John's and she wants him to see it on her. She wants to feel the weight of it. "Can you put it on me first? Can I wear it now?"
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"Of course, Effie, darling," he replies and takes up the pearls and diamonds to put them on her. They fit her slender neck beautifully.
"Lovely," he said, admiring her. Even in pajamas with her hair hanging stringy and damp she is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. "Truly lovely. You're beautiful, Effie. Always and forever."
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"Now we can sleep." His gifts can wait until tomorrow, until they both feel more like themselves. All she wants is to close her eyes and hear him breathing next to her and feel his skin against hers and shut out the rest of the world. Anything else she's meant to feel, any consequences of what she's done, all of it can wait.
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"To bed. Come along," he says and takes her by the hand to take her to bed. The room is dark, the heavy blackout curtain liners covered with decorative velvet curtains. No light gets in without them opening them to let the light in. And right now John doesn't want sunlight. It's early afternoon but time means nothing right now.
He tucks her in and then goes round to his side and pulls the covers up over them. Then he moves in close, ignoring his aches, and puts his arms around her.
"Sleep, love. Everything will be better in the morning."