Log: What She Does To Jan - September 16, 2004

Goblin Fruit -- Main Room

With its mural-covered walls, multiple bulletin boards and esoteric smoothie menu -- whoever heard of a cactus and mulberry smoothie? -- stepping into Goblin Fruit can seem a little bit like taking a wrong turn into a painting by a particularly quixotic children's author. The floor is brown tile blunted with rugs patterned in fallen leaves; they edge up against the ferns painted on the walls, creating the illusion that there's no actual distinction between the two. The chairs and tables are a mis-matched assortment, mixing wicker, painted wood and plastic. There are even a few comfy chairs and loveseats around the outside of the room.

The counter itself is either a work of art or the testimony to someone with a modicum of wood-carving skill getting really, really bored one day; it seems to have grown organically up out of the earth, shaped like a particularly twisted tree, with roots that run around the baseboards and branches reaching up to provide support for dangling menus, plants and baskets of fruit. And of course, there are the creatures: small tanks and terrariums are scattered all around the room, holding small reptiles and amphibians, as well as a few exotic bugs. The lighting is smooth and even, and the piped-in music is generally non-obtrusive -- folk or quiet Celtic.

Contents: Li Qin, Jan

Jan is seated in her usual place, amongst the ferns, tapping away on her keyboard in between slurps of smoothie. A small, square box is sitting on the other side of the laptop -- she's booby-trapping with jewelry again, the sneak.

Li Qin looks a little fuzzled as she steps inside -- oh, wait, that's just her hair. She heads straight for the counter...then stops when she spies Jan. She studies the table, the laptop...and the box...then smiles almost shyly before she turns and gets herself properly in line.

Jan keeps typing, blissfully unaware of impending girlfriend. Well, perhaps not blissfully.

Li Qin hopefully brings the bliss when, smoothie in hand, she makes her way over to Jan's table and leans in to kiss her cheek. "Boo," is all she whispers.

Jan lifts her head, blinking once -- and ah, there's the bliss, as a sudden, radiant smile overwhelms Jan's features, lighting her up like a Christmas tree. "Hi," she says, smile not slipping an inch. "I missed you."

Li Qin smiles warmly, and slips carefully into the seat across the table from Jan. "I missed you too. I have scary answers, but I missed you. What's up?"

Jan raises her eyebrows. "I'm glad scary answers don't cancel you missing me?" She leans over to smooth Li's hair back, lightly, and replies, "Not so much. Playing chess with Shell. She's winning. Bitch."

Li Qin blinks, then laughs warmly. "OF course she is. She's probably cheating. Excuse me -- playing smart. You know, checking old Bobby Fischer games."

Jan nods. "Yeah. Pretty the much." She indicates the box, in case it was missed. As if. "You."

Li Qin hesitates, then takes the box and turns it slowly over. "And here I left my box at home. It'll feel lonely?"

Jan notes, solemnly, "We can bring it chicken soup and affection later."

Li Qin laughs, and carefully starts opening the box. As long as it doesn't end up pouting.

The box does not pout. The box just sits there, really. Inside is a plain silver charm bracelet -- not fancy at all, really -- and two small, tissue-wrapped packets. Jan watches, biting her lip.

Li Qin oohs softly as she pulls out the charm bracelet -- it may be plain, but Li seems pleased nonetheless. She glances up toward Jan, lifting a brow at that expression, then laughs as she starts to carefully unwrap the separate packets.

The first packet? Has a small gold heart, with a garnet set at the center. The second packet has a tiny jar, full of polished crystal chips, with a little gold 'starfish' in the middle. Both are no larger than a thimble, sized for the bracelet.

Li Qin blinks, then slowly beams. "Oh! They're so pretty!" She laughs, and starts looking at how to attach them to the bracelet. "Hearts and stars, what else could I ask for?"

Jan beams back, and leans over to tap first the heart, then the jar. "February," she explains, "March."

Li Qin blinks again, then laughs softly. "Oh, now you're planning ahead, are you?" That just seems to please her even more. She bites her lip as she gets both charms attached, then carefully puts the bracelet on before she holds out her arm, chiming gently. "What do you think?"

Jan beams, and leans over to kiss the back of Li's hand, replying quietly, "I think you'll be even more beautiful when you're wearing the whole year."

Li Qin flushes, and laughs warmly as she brushes her fingers against the edge of Jan's cheek. "I certainly hope so."

Jan shrugs. "Well, if not, it's because you've broken my heart and dumped me."

Li Qin blinks, then delicately taps the heart dangling from her bracelet. "How could I break this?"

Jan studies the heart for a moment, then chirps, "Hammer."

Li Qin blinks once, then giggles helplessly. "Okay. If I take a -hammer- to things, then I start to worry about my sanity."

Jan blinks. "Really? But...hammers! Fun!"

Li Qin sighs. "Hammers are lovely fun...but not to your -heart-, Jan."

Jan considers this a moment, then leans over to kiss Li's cheek, gently. "Fair enough. Happy anniversary, beautiful. I'll give you another charm next month."

Li Qin smiles brightly, and turns to kiss Jan's lips fleetingly while they're still in each. "And here I thought I'd get a surprise!"

Jan nods. "That, too. But I thought, y'know, I'd let you know that you didn't need to go chasing charms from other girls."

Li Qin mmms softly, then pushes herself up and walks around to the other side of the table, settling in next to Jan with a tiny sigh. "No 'complete the set as fast as you can' games, then. I think I can live with that."

Jan promptly puts her arms around Li. Stimulus, response. "Good." Hug. "Love you." Second hug. "Scary answers?"

Li Qin beams quietly. "Love you too." She nods then. "A little. Kind of. So...well. I asked about what was going on. Why, really. Most of what I got was pretty...simple. Magically compelled, just like the witch and the addictive ruby slippers and all that. But then there were..." She pauses. "The other images? Like pixies, or tinkerbell, or sugar plum fairies."

Jan blinks. "Sugar...plum...okay, that's not scary, that's _weird_."

Li Qin laughs. "Blame Tchaikovsky. I was raiding my music collection for clues."

Jan nods, and squeezes Li again. "Creepy. Freaky, creepy, a little bit unnerving. Cool. But."

Li Qin oofs softly, and sighs. "Yeah. So I'm not sure where to go next. Miles suggested playing mapping games? But that'd require getting everyone to tell you when and where they had a musical number."

Jan grins. "I haven't had any yet."

Li Qin blinks. "Really? Aww. And here I wanted to hear you sing!"

Jan points out, "If I _had_ sung, you wouldn't have been around to _hear_ it."

Li Qin pauses. "Point! So I just need to keep my fingers crossed now."

Jan laughs. "You're sweet when you're insane."

Li Qin shrugs, smiling sheepishly. "I must be sweet alot."

Jan pauses, then strokes Li's hair back, replying, "You have no idea."

Li Qin blinks for a long time, then blushes. "I...suppose I don't."

Jan strokes Li's hair again, expression thoughtful. Someone, somewhere, starts playing a piano. Run. Or not, because Jan sighs, shaking her head, and sings:

"I never gave my heart to anyone who wandered by.
I kept myself apart, and never told anyone why.
It seemed the path to choose;
Don't risk too much and you can't loose,
But I never counted on you.
I never thought you could get through.
Do you know what you do to me?

I always said I was happy with nothing;
Nothing's the best thing of all.
If you never let yourself climb those mountains,
There's never a chance that you'll fall.
I would lay myself down in the shade of your forests,
I would bury myself in your eyes,
I would bring you the moon and the stars for your chorus,
But still, I don't think I'd know why..."

Li Qin stares intently, then swallows sharply as she reaches over and delicately claims Jan's hand, fingers tightening around the other woman's as she listens.

The music swells a bit, adding drums and a string section, but stays reasonably simple -- it's a romantic ballad, after all, for all that people who can't hear the music are twisting around to stare at Jan. She shakes her head, and keeps singing, tune changing as she hits the chorus:

"I can see a thousand days, a thousand nights, with you.
I can see that everything can be all right, with you.
I can see nothing's ever quite this simple;
Things can still go wrong.
But if you left me tomorrow, I'd always remember
The touch of your hand and the sound of your song...

I never meant to love you; I'm scared, I don't know where to turn.
I don't know how to hold you...but if you can stay, I can learn.
I'm scared that I might fall;
But what's a mountain, after all?
I never counted on you.
You came too close, and you got through.
Do you know what you do to me?"

Li Qin bites her lip hard at the lyrics, but she still stays quiet. Let people stare -- she's listening, dammit!

Jan bites her lip in turn, and looks down, singing quietly,

"I always said I was happy with nothing;
I've always been good with my lies.
I know that I wasn't happy with nothing,
But you were the sweetest surprise.
I can lay myself down in the shade of your forests,
And sleep in the peace that you bring.
I'm afraid and I'm lost and I'm clutching at shadows...
And baby, I won't change a thing.

Do you know what you do?
Do you know what you do...
Do you know what you do to me?"

Jan looks up again, swallowing hard as she watches Li, and the music fades away.

Li Qin just stares at Jan for a very long time after the music fades, then leans in as she gently cradles Jan's chin between both her hands. She bites her lip, then whispers softly, "I hope my roots don't trip you up too often."

Jan swallows, letting her head rest against Li's hands, and whispers back, "I can handle a little falling down."

Li Qin sighs gently. "Good. Because I'm going to catch you as much as I can." She kisses Jan delicately then, shivering a little as she does so.

Jan blinks a bit, and kisses Li back before she murmurs, "You're shivering. Why're you shivering?"

Li Qin laughs. "Because I didn't know what I did to you, and I hope I've been...good enough?"

Jan blinks again, and puts her arms around Li, tightly, pulling her close. "You've been amazing."

Li Qin sighs, and leans in to curl against Jan. "I...I hope so. I just hope so."

Jan ducks her head, enough to kiss Li's cheek, and whispers, "I have no reason to lie to you, love. Maybe you'll fuck me up before we're through. And it'll have been worth it. All I want is you."

Li Qin strokes Jan's face delicately, then swallows hard and whispers, "Then I suppose you'll simply get what you want."