[ it's the opposite of a gilded cage, what philippa offers her. it's meant to be a longer taste of that kind of life, quaint and vibrant, an escape from the world madeline knows. it's an offer that only someone like phil can make, not any sort of temptation, just another act of kindness to someone she has come to care about.
the touching, she likes, keeping it tender and benign, and she already misses her hand when they return to their breakfast. she pulls the kettle over and replenishes her own floral cup with her personal blend of white tea and blueberries. her long legs are pulled onto the adirondack chair, folded into a pretzel, her hair braided away from her face with ribbons woven through her black strands. she seems to glow with happiness today, though that might just be because madeleine seems to be happy. at peace. ]
I can certainly conjure that up, [ she replies after a sip of her drink, deciding she needs a spot of sugar. as if the jam she had brought wasn't enough for her sweettooth. ]
[ Nature's so close out here, nothing like living at the centre of Paris where the closest to nature you'll get is Jardin du Luxembourg or Bois de Vincennes with their sculptured trees and flower bed arrangements. That, at least, she's learned from growing up in Chartres, isn't nature, is it? That's humanity's attempt at reining nature in. It's pretty, but hardly very wild at all.
Out here, when she looks out the windows, the trees are untouched, the lake is crystal clear and no one's around for miles and miles. They're just the two of them, Philippa and her and Madeleine, very much in spite of herself, likes the lonesomeness of being together with just one other person. The solitude in companionship. It's new to her and Madeleine likes new.
Watching the other girl as she makes herself a new cup of tea, she mixes herself a cup of coffee, water and instant, teaspoon clinking against the sides of her plain, white cup. She drinks it black, when she isn't out - her coffee. Not even milk. Coffee to the core of it, like she's stripped to the core, too. Here. Now.
Managing a smile at Philippa's question, she glances towards the large window panels that offer a view of the lake, if she could be bothered to stand up. She'll bother in a moment. She wants to go out, after all. ] Can you bathe in the lake? Is it safe? [ Meaning, are there more leeches out there than in general society? It's not a trick question, she'll probably go no matter the answer. Madeleine was never afraid of getting bitten, just a little. ]
[ she likes the excitement of city life. the ways of humans never cease to spark her curiosity. but like a plant kept out of the sun, she knows she would surely begin to wilt being so far from the wilds. even her older brother who travels so often still manages to come back home. they lived in many places before his child was born and he found himself a single father, and she the aunt and co-parent.
it is a good life, a life that makes her happy.
despite her planning, couple getaways such as this one are unusual if only because she tends to venture out here solo or with family, tending to the land, resting, and recharging. to bring someone out here for an extended period of time is rare. at madeleine's question, she smiles around the rim of her cup and shifts to sit back on her heels, leaning across the table. a lake bath? that is her idea of a good time. ]
Oh. Yes, it will be safe out there. Most people come out to play in the warmer months but I think it'll be just warm enough when the sun is high in the sky.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
the touching, she likes, keeping it tender and benign, and she already misses her hand when they return to their breakfast. she pulls the kettle over and replenishes her own floral cup with her personal blend of white tea and blueberries. her long legs are pulled onto the adirondack chair, folded into a pretzel, her hair braided away from her face with ribbons woven through her black strands. she seems to glow with happiness today, though that might just be because madeleine seems to be happy. at peace. ]
I can certainly conjure that up, [ she replies after a sip of her drink, deciding she needs a spot of sugar. as if the jam she had brought wasn't enough for her sweettooth. ]
What would you like to do today?
no subject
Out here, when she looks out the windows, the trees are untouched, the lake is crystal clear and no one's around for miles and miles. They're just the two of them, Philippa and her and Madeleine, very much in spite of herself, likes the lonesomeness of being together with just one other person. The solitude in companionship. It's new to her and Madeleine likes new.
Watching the other girl as she makes herself a new cup of tea, she mixes herself a cup of coffee, water and instant, teaspoon clinking against the sides of her plain, white cup. She drinks it black, when she isn't out - her coffee. Not even milk. Coffee to the core of it, like she's stripped to the core, too. Here. Now.
Managing a smile at Philippa's question, she glances towards the large window panels that offer a view of the lake, if she could be bothered to stand up. She'll bother in a moment. She wants to go out, after all. ] Can you bathe in the lake? Is it safe? [ Meaning, are there more leeches out there than in general society? It's not a trick question, she'll probably go no matter the answer. Madeleine was never afraid of getting bitten, just a little. ]
no subject
it is a good life, a life that makes her happy.
despite her planning, couple getaways such as this one are unusual if only because she tends to venture out here solo or with family, tending to the land, resting, and recharging. to bring someone out here for an extended period of time is rare. at madeleine's question, she smiles around the rim of her cup and shifts to sit back on her heels, leaning across the table. a lake bath? that is her idea of a good time. ]
Oh. Yes, it will be safe out there. Most people come out to play in the warmer months but I think it'll be just warm enough when the sun is high in the sky.