Jane Foster (astrosearcher) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2018-09-23 21:55:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !complete, !completed gdoc, !log, [plot] wild wild west, ~2018 september, ~25 points, ~~jane foster (astrosearcher), ~~ty johnson (allthingsdark) |
WHO Jane Foster & Ty Johnson
WHAT Meeting after school
WHEN Monday afternoon
WHERE Outside the schoolhouse
WARNINGS Kissing in an alley! Scandalous!
STATUS Closed | Completed gdoc
Autumn was upon Madison Valley sooner than anyone realized. Anyone save for Ty, that was. The very first signs of the change of the season was the time he needed to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Ice harvesting wasn’t the most glamorous career, they were fewer and farther between than farmers in these parts and served a much larger area. They travelled further and worked in harsh conditions, chipping away at glaciers in freezing temperatures, until hands were raw and bleeding and frostbite threatened to creep in.
Ty was used to all of that. But since he’d come back to town last spring, enough cash lining his pockets to last him the slow months, he’d been trying to court the new school teacher. Miss Foster was bright, daring, with a smile that stopped his heart when it was turned his way. He had no idea how no one had managed to get her hand, but it was his luck. And for the first time, he was getting ready to say goodbye to her for weeks on end, couldn’t say when he’d be back in town once he left.
He made his way to the school house one afternoon, a bouquet of late season flowers in his hands, waiting for her to emerge.
***
Jane was frustrated beyond belief at the town she'd been exiled to. And that wasn't even the tiniest bit of an understatement because everyone thought she was some kind of crazy lady for thinking that women deserved to have the option to learn more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic. Well, mostly everyone. She assumed the Sheriff would like her since all his deputies were women. Plus, there was Ty Johnson. He didn't think she was crazy.
With another day of school finished, she started to gather up her papers and books for the walk back to the boarding house. Maybe she would stop by the Osbourne's to borrow another book from Hermione. She was a source of support, even though Jane was very close to just throwing her hands up and saying fine, be dumb housewives for your whole life. It was incredibly unhelpful that so many of them were just used to the idea of only being housewives or whores. Women deserved better than that.
Her bad mood evaporated almost as soon as she caught sight of who was waiting for her outside the school house. Jane's entire demeanor brightened, as did her smile, as she closed the distance between them. It wasn't proper to do anything more than that, but she stood maybe a bit too closely.
"Good Afternoon, Mr Johnson," she greeted warmly.
***
In the second before she saw him, Ty saw her expression, was able to watch her brighten and that was certainly a sight. He hadn’t made much effort since coming to this part of the world to spend time with any women, courting always came second to just living, and with her he was seriously considering settling down.
All the more reason to take any work he could. Building a home would cost more than a few dollars. He needed to be able to provide before anything else.
“Miss Foster,” he greeted as she came closer, offered her the flowers. “I was hoping I might be able to entice you into taking a stroll.” Even if he was allowed nothing more than to see her home, though, the way she smiled would make that enough.
***
Jane shuffled her books to one arm so that she could take the flowers he offered her. "Thank you." Somehow, Ty always brightened her day, no matter how frustrating it got to be. She'd been perfectly content to be alone the rest of her life, but he'd shown her that maybe there was a chance that someone could want her, what with her 'crazy' ideas.
"A stroll would be perfectly lovely after the day I've had," she replied, though much of her stress had already melted away. He had that sort of effect on her. "And I would not mind taking the long way back to the boarding house." Jane hoped he wouldn't mind. "To what do I owe the beautiful flowers?"
***
The long way back sounded just perfect to Ty. He couldn’t ask for her to give him too much of her time, he knew she was busy, but he wanted to see her, to be with her for whatever time they might have together this autumn. It might very well be the last he saw of her until the ice stores were full again.
“I saw them roadside on my way into town,” he explained, moving to take her books from her before offering his arm. “Thought you might like them while there’s still flowers to give, that’s all.” He didn’t feel like he needed a reason to give her gifts, whether those be a sweet from the shop or a new ribbon for her hair or just wildflowers that couldn’t begin to compare to her.
“Were you getting into it again with the headmistress?” he wondered, trying to brush his gesture of affection aside. It wasn’t much, hadn’t been any hardship to stop and pick a handful.
***
Most women might have scoffed at wildflowers, but Jane appreciated them and appreciated that he thought of her often enough to pick them. She happily traded him her books and looped her free arm in his, careful to be proper. There were enough rumors and ill will circling her. Ty didn't deserve that, not in the slightest. She wasn't so selfless that she'd rebuff his advances, though. It was turning out that she was very selfish indeed.
"They're perfect," she insisted, and she gave his forearm a slight squeeze, since it was all she could do. At the mention of the headmistress, Jane's expression soured slightly. "Apparently, other parents have complained about my approach to teaching. As if I shouldn't be encouraging my students to learn the basics of philosophy and questioning the world around them." Jane 'hmph'd in annoyance, although that was clear from her tone, no matter how quietly she spoke.
"I don't know how anyone expects progress to happen if women are not allowed the dignity of thought." It was repulsive.
***
“You know how people around here can be,” Ty sympathised. She brought it on herself, though Ty didn’t disagree with her philosophies. He’d come to Madison Valley from the colony of New South Wales, where education was a rare enough thing that anyone who could get some would cling to it and he’d never seen any difference between the education of boys and girls. Not that any of his brothers back home had any children to be educated. Not that he was there anymore to see it even if they did.
He did know, however, from letters he received, that there were murmurings of independence and of women voting.
Ty hoped to hear news of something coming of that in his lifetime.
“I’m sure you’ve won over a few mothers, at least, haven’t you?” There had to be some, in a town like this. Most of their lawmen were women here, and living under that had to spawn a few people who were more interested in educating their daughters.
***
Jane nodded, though it didn't always make things easier to deal with. Her frustration was an all too familiar one, but she didn't like feeling so worked up and angry all the time. "There have been a few, the most surprising one being one of the women at the brothel," she admitted quietly. "Recently came to care for her niece." It was sweet actually, but Jane couldn't help but think that maybe Diana would have had a better life for herself if she'd been well educated.
"People find it hard to believe that someone as old as I could have any real insight into what might be best for young women." She knew the argument well, but it still stung every time someone accused her of being a bitter old maid. "An educated woman is a poison, or so I was told in New York." It was sad, really. Jane had always believed in herself, and still did, but even she couldn't ignore the fact that there wasn't much love shown to her outside of her parents.
"No one can see that I want to make their lives better."
***
“Maybe they just don’t see an education as better yet. They will one day,” Ty assured. He didn’t know if it was true, if people would, but life here wasn’t like it was in cities like New York, or London, or Auckland. Life was harder. He’d definitely learned that since coming out this way.
“I know you understand why they don’t think it’s as important as you do, though.” He didn’t agree with the way things were, but he understood them. A further education wasn’t very useful when most of a person’s life was focused only on surviving. Things were changing, quickly, though. Even in the short years that Ty had been in this part of the country had taught him that.
***
Jane sighed and looked down at their arms looped together. "I feel sometimes as if I were born too soon," she admitted. "I wanted to make a difference in the world, to change things for the better. I don't think I'm very close to it, Mr Johnson." It was disappointing, but she knew there wasn't anywhere else to go. If she pushed the Headmistress too far, she would be kicked out and then she'd have nowhere to go.
"It is enough to know that there are a few mothers who support my ventures, even if they aren't so inclined to do so in public. Or else aren't the sort that would make my case more palatable." A whore was still a whore, no matter how well intentioned she might be. "And to know that I have your support. I'm still not certain what I did to deserve as much, Mr Johnson."
***
“Maybe not. But please don’t give up trying. If you can change one girl’s life, that’s still a change.” Were he not carrying her things, Ty would have patted her hand reassuringly. As it was, the best he could do was flex his arm to squeeze hers gently. He understood feeling out of place, though the way she did was very different to him. And he knew how hard it was to go through life wanting something out of reach. He’d travelled across the world looking to catch what he wanted, and maybe he’d gotten lucky and found it in her.
“And you will always have my support in it,” he assured. “No need to do anything in return.” He didn’t support her because he wanted to court her. He supported her because he believed in what she was doing and was courting her because he thought she was beautiful and charming and because his heart swelled whenever he laid eyes on her. “Though I’d hope you’ll still be wanting to take a walk or two with me in the spring.”
The late spring was, nearly summer, was when he usually anticipated on being back to town regularly.
***
Jane appreciated his encouragement, valued it and reminded herself of it when she needed it. It dawned on her though that his season was about to begin and she impulsively pulled him between two buildings, behind large barrels full of something or another. She didn't particularly care what it was, only that it hid them from view of the street. It was highly inappropriate, but it was worth the risk.
"You're leaving soon." It was something they'd talked about in the abstract, and it'd slipped her mind truthfully until he'd said that. Jane looked him in the eyes, wide and sad, even though she knew there was no changing it. He had to go, to earn a living, but she would miss him terribly.
"I know you have to go, but I-" she paused for a moment. "I will miss you terribly."
***
Startled when he was suddenly pulled off the street, to somewhere a little more hidden from prying eyes, Ty very nearly dropped her books, scrambled to shift them more steadily under his arm, took her hand with his free one. It wasn’t something they should be doing, and he never would have made the move himself. He respected her far too much for that, wouldn’t dare attach anything untoward to her name when she was already struggling so much with people in town.
But she’d made the move, and he couldn’t resist taking it just a little further, holding her hand close to his chest.
“I’ll think of you,” he promised. “I’ll be waiting for the day I can come back again.” He might have a day or two in town throughout the winter, but he couldn’t make any promises, not about that. He wouldn’t get her hopes up for something he couldn’t give to her.
***
If anyone saw them, if anyone suspected, she would certainly have a very difficult time of things when he was gone, but she couldn't bring herself to care when she'd be bereft of him for months. Winter was her favorite time of year, too. Cold, yes, but the stars shone so brightly at night and she loved to look at them when she had the time. She could at least console herself knowing he'd be sleeping under those same stars.
"As will I," she replied softly. "Promise you'll come back to me?" Jane wasn't the impractical sort and though she knew it wasn't something he could guarantee to her, she still wanted to hear it. She stepped closer to him, the risk making it all the more enticing to show him how deeply she cared for him. If he was to leave until spring, he had to know that she loved him.
"Please, Ty." Jane knew she was pushing him, knew it could very well backfire on her and he could be put off by her behavior. It was worth the risk. He was worth the risk.
***
She was so close, so beautiful and wonderful and he cared so deeply about her that even if it might not be a promise he could keep, it was one he would make unhesitatingly. She deserved a bit of peace of mind if he could give her nothing else.
“I will,” he swore. It didn’t escape his notice that she used his given name, knew it was a gesture of closeness that filled him with affection for her. “Of course I will.” He only hoped that he wouldn’t betray her trust by dying up in the mountains.
His grip on her hand tightened, and he leaned closer until his forehead bumped against hers. Hopefully no one would come down this way, no one would see them to cause trouble for her over being salacious or some such nonsense. “As long as you’re here, I’ll always come back.”
***
Jane breathed a sigh of relief when he promised he'd come back for her. She let her forehead stay pressed against his and closed her eyes, just reveling in the closeness for these few stolen moments. "I won't do anything to get run out of town between now and then," she promised, and that was certainly a hefty promise for her to make. She meant it though, because she didn't want to risk losing him.
"Or else I might come join you. That is an option, isn't it?" Jane knew full well that it wasn't, but she could dream. She'd probably be much happier tagging along with him than proverbially banging her head against the wall.
***
Ty laughed softly, tilting his head up, pulling her to him so that he could press a gentle kiss to her forehead. It was a dangerous gesture, might be overstepping, but she’d pulled him here and gotten close to him first. He hoped he didn’t wind up offending her.
“I’m afraid it might be a bit dangerous for someone such as yourself.” Ice harvesting was not women’s work. “But if you find it just impossible to stay until I’m home again, swear to me you’ll leave a letter with the postmaster so that I might find you again.”
He could get work anywhere, doing any number of things. He was a strong, healthy man, and around these parts those were in high demand.
“But for now, I’d like to see as much of you as I can in my last days.” There were a few left, days he had to fill with preparations but wanted more to fill with her face. “Wouldn’t want to forget the colour of your eyes while I’m away.”
***
She was learning that there wasn't much that he could do to offend her. The kiss he pressed against her forehead made her feel loved, when before it had only made her feel devalued. As if she were a child. Ty respected her and shared her views though. That was what made him different. So many others had thought it just a phase, or that it was something worth indulging her in instead of taking it seriously.
"I swear," Jane promised earnestly. "Although I will do my utmost to not leave town until after you've returned." The implication that they could leave together more than clear. She wouldn't risk them getting separated, or the postmaster losing her letter.
She did blush when he said he didn't want to forget the color of her eyes. "It...would probably be wise to continue on our way. I...have an overwhelming urge to kiss you."
***
“Would that be so bad?” There was a definite teasing in Ty’s tone, but he did step back, pulled her arm to loop back through his, a much more socially acceptable posture. He didn’t want to do anything that would cause her any embarrassment, or stir up any more rumours to follow her around. As much as he wanted to kiss her too, then and there wasn’t opportune, and a chance wasn’t likely to present itself in the next few days. “I’ll see you home,” he said instead of indulging them both.
Ty would just have to satisfy himself with knowing she was waiting back in town.
“I was hoping I might trouble you for something before I leave, though. A token of some sort?” Something to carry with him, to look at and think of her, to remind him to stay safe and alive and the woman of his dreams waiting back in Madison Valley for him.
***
Jane couldn't help but smile at his teasing, but she did do her best to give him a look that told him how they both knew it was a bad idea. She appreciated that he looped her arm in his and promised to see her home. Luckily, no one seemed to notice that they'd disappeared behind those barrels, and they were able to continue on their way without issue.
Well, except for the issue that he would be leaving for months.
Jane looked at him with a bit of surprise when he asked for a token. That was definitely a normal thing to ask for, especially during courtship, but no one had ever asked her for one. It meant a lot to her that he'd ask, and so her surprise morphed into a huge smile.
"Of course," she replied. She would have to think on what to give him, since he would have to carry it with him on his journey, but there was enough time for her to find the perfect token. That was focusing on something quite awful, really, so she quickly changed the subject for the rest of their walk to the boarding house.
***