[Mixed Muses] A Meeting with Simon Skinner

[his_sarah_jane]

It has been a long week and Sarah Jane is ever so grateful when her attic door opens up to Milliways again. While she has found herself really enjoying Luke, Maria, and Clyde's company, a part of her still seeks to be alone. And to be in the company of adults that will accept her.

So, it's with a cuppa and her notebook that Sarah settles into a booth. She won't admit it to herself, but she's looking for someone in particular. Christmas shopping has been taking it's tole, resulting in her buying a few gifts she hadn't planned on. Including one for her one-night stand.

If he ever shows up.

Comments

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Not if applied properly," Sarah answered without missing a beat.

Perhaps a one night stand could be turned into something more akin to a fling. She certainly wouldn't mind. It had been so long since any sort of relationship anyway.

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"You speak from experience?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Oh, do I wish."

They were only fantasies, fantasies a young girl had about a scarf and a curly haired man. They were fantasies that never came true.

"Absolutely none to speak of, unless you count a particularly trashy romance novel I read in my youth."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

Simon inclines his head slightly, his face a mixture of disapproval and amusement. "Never saw the appeal of romance novels."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Most men don't," she answers with a laugh. "If it helps, I never saw the appeal of war movies."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"...my favorite movie was The Red Shoes, if that tells you anything."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah's grin brightens. "Then why the stigma against romance novels?"

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"Are you comparing the films of Powell and Pressburger to romance novels?" A hint of amusement.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"What if I compared it to a novel such as Pride and Prejudice. That is, you know, often considered a classic amongst romance novels."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"Pride and Prejudice isn't the same thing as the trash they consider 'romance' these days. The covers for that novel are less farcical, for starters. Besides, the romance in The Red Shoes is incidental. The film is about ballet, not romance."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Rather than continuing the argument, Sarah asks a question that is rather on the tip of her tongue. "Do you like ballet, Simon?"

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"I studied it as a teenager."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Really? I'd love a demonstration some time."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

A rueful grin. "It's been year--decades since I last did anything related to ballet."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"And it's been years since I last had a proper game of field hockey. It only means we're rusty," she says, still smiling. "I believe us both capable of anything we set our minds to."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"--field hockey?" He laughs as he speaks. The irony's not lost on him.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane nods, chuckling herself. "I was very much the tomboy in my youth."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"And I, apparently, was just the opposite."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't make any less of us."

Beat.

"I rather fancy a man who can dance and isn't afraid to admit it."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"We've already established that you're exceptionally odd," he says fondly.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She chuckles again. "I believe this time, that isn't a quirk belonging just to me."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"You aren't the only one who thinks that about me."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"I would imagine so."

[slasherofprices.livejournal.com]

"Back when I was--" Alive. He flicks something off his arm. That statement, perhaps. "--they used to call me 'Sissy.' Because of the ballet. I never really liked it. I tolerated it. On the other hand, everyone else seemed to love it."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane shakes her head. It's a ridiculous nickname in her opinion. Then again, she had never been one for such names in the first place.

She hesitates for a moment and then reaches out to place a hand on top of his. "I wouldn't consider you 'sissy' at all. If you ask me, your more of a man than half of those I've met."