17th Letter; video

[discretion]

[It's late morning, and Franz is rather fetching in a gray three-piece suit. It appears he's stopped in the kitchen for a moment. It's a pleasant scene, nearly as put-together as a magazine scene.]

Maybe I'm just in a bit of a strange mood, but, I want to know - what are you thankful for?

I'm thankful that we, as Newcomers, have each other. And I invite any of you who've just turned up on this dreadful island to please feel free to ask me anything you'd like about life here. I'm sort of an expert.

[Franz looks thoughtful, and then amused.]

I suppose I'm also thankful that I got all of my shopping done ahead of time.

Comments

[gaveherwings]

Fine, fine, I don''t give a damn if it's yams or squash or seven kinds of pie.

People eat themselves sick. Or have spats with relatives that end up in broken dishes and a trip to the ER. And so a would-be short shift becomes overtime-

Hopefully I'll be home by sirens, dear. If not, I suppose there's always next year for trying on the local customs.

[discretion]

Don't worry about it. The only major holidays I expect you to celebrate with me are birthdays, anniversaries, and the New Year. [It's one of the reason he goes to church, he thinks - because Franz can be nostalgic in the worst way, and at least he feels like part of something there.

How ironic, his mother used to have to beg him to go.]

[gaveherwings]

Of course.

We'll always have the New Year. I promise. I asked off for it months back.

private||very difficult to hack

[discretion]

[The reply is so quick, he almost nearly forgets to lock this out of public sight. Franz is giving that pink glow. Silly moments like this remind him why he's still head-over-heels.]

Je t'aime.

Re: private||very difficult to hack

[gaveherwings]

I love you too.

Look at us, pair of romantics.

[discretion]

I'm saving the more disgusting kissy noises for when I know your co-workers are around.

[gaveherwings]

Ah-HA! I won't be hearing the end of it, you know. Rascal.

[discretion]

Hmm. I should send flowers every once in awhile to keep the gossip going. How does a nice apology bouquet sound?

[gaveherwings]

That depends... what are you apologizing for?

[discretion]

Not sending you 'come home and have sex with me right now' flowers instead, when that's actually my intent.

[gaveherwings]

Ahhaaaah, the prince of hidden messages!

Only no one notices flower delivery in a hospital, you know. Happens all the time.

[discretion]

And if the delivery person mixed up the orders, oh, that would be awkward. Especially if I sent along some of those "I am going to be naked and waiting for you and you'd better be ready"-type flowers. You get the Get Well soon arrangement with a little teddy bear, and my order's going to someone's grandmother.

[gaveherwings]

Care~ful! Or you'll have a eager old woman with high blood pressure and a catheter with her dentures out, waiting for you to make good on that promise.

...give them any reason expect visitors, sweet things, and they'll tell every nurse and orderly on the floor to keep an eye out. Every five minutes.

But go ahead. Send me a teddy. I promise it will make a little someone up in PICU very happy.

[discretion]

[And that latter comment is nearly causing the adoration to come off of Franz in waves. Pink ones, probably.]

--I'd rather send you something to raise your blood pressure. Maybe photos are the way to go.

[gaveherwings]

You really are determined to start yourself a little scandal. Haven't we shown up on enough cameras?

[discretion]

You'll protect me from that, won't you? [cloyingly] You always know where the cameras are!

[gaveherwings]

I do.

But no dirty pictures while I'm on duty, is that clear?

Or when I come home, there will have to be Consequences.

[discretion]

[Oh. Franz swallows quite obviously, straightening his tie. Daedalus is an adept at getting the upper hand in conversations, isn't he?] When you put it that way, I somehow find the idea of misbehaving irresistible...

[gaveherwings]

Hey, hey now. I have to get back to my rounds. You behave.

[discretion]

[GRINNING.]

Yes sir.

[But he does send along a picture, a little while later - it's nothing too scandalous, just a picture of him loosening his tie, a little of his neck and collarbone.]