Freddie smiled politely at Darla’s slightly mocking response to his explanation regarding escargots, chalking it up to a slightly unsightly character trait; an inability to simply be gracious, or to resist the urge to offer a ‘sassy’ retort - which was fine, he had no shortage of unsightly little traits himself; as did everyone - and the fairy chuckled at her compliment to his accent, giving a little shrug in response. “French is one of the languages I’ve spoken the longest,” he said, “If my accent isn’t any good by now, there’s no bloody hope for me.”
Taking one more sip of his Scotch, Freddie set it down on the counter to be returned to later, flashing Darla another smile and nodding at her idea to start at the top and work their way down again, setting his oven timer, and then waving his sister-in-law back toward the living room. Following her and then leading her on to the foyer, proudly pointing at Bigfruit, Ephram’s large wooden sculpture, as they passed it, heading for the stairs. “That’s one of your brother’s pieces,” he told her, “Brilliant, isn’t it?”
Freddie led Darla up the stairs, pausing here and there to point out another sculpture of Ephram’s - the one called ‘A Little Sincerity’ on the landing made of wire, fur, and feathers to represent Ollie, wearing a smoking jacket and pince-nez - or a painting of his own, usually of Ephram himself; then began pointing out bedrooms as they ambled down the second floor hallway. “That’s a guest room,” he said, letting Darla poke her head in, “And so’s this one; and that. And here’s another loo…. I work out in this room here…”
He smirked a bit as he passed the locked door of his and Ephram’s special room, murmuring, “And that room we use for a bit of fun…”
Suddenly, there was the soft sound of Ephram’s voice, muffled behind a door, and Freddie smiled, opening it just far enough to blow his rocking-chaired husband, and the baby in his arms, a kiss, before shutting it again unobtrusively. “And that’s, quite obviously, the nursery.” Leading Darla across the hall, Freddie opened the next door and stepped inside, waiting for her to follow, totally unconcerned about the nudes of her brother adorning the walls.
“And this is the Master.” Freddie pointed first at one door, telling her, “Bathroom’s through there,” and then at another, “And that’s my closet.”
Smirking, “Am I right in thinking it’s been our goal all along?”
Darla followed close during the tour, honestly a bit quiet as she took everything in. She commented dutifully on Ephram’s art pieces, but she didn’t quite ‘get it’. She didn’t let that on at all though, and mirrored Freddie’s excitement for each piece. She knew Ephram had done well for himself and married rich, but she’d had no idea just how well off they were. “That’s so many rooms, Freddie. You plannin’ on openin’ up a backup hotel in here? Christ alive.”
Her brow furrowed a bit at the ‘playroom’ but she’d always known her brother was a sexual creature. As was she. It was nothing to be ashamed of. Still, the thought of them fucking in this house was both disgusting to her and...oddly hot, if she compartmentalized her brother out of the equation.
That was pretty impossible to do though when nudes of her brother lined the walls of the master bedroom. “Yikes,” she said, putting up a hand to shield her eyes from it. “Coulda warned me. I ain’t keen on seein’ my brothers dick as much as you are.” She shot him a teasing smirk though. She wasn’t too upset, just a bit shocked, and probably would have been regardless of who’s it was.
“Aw shit, am I that easy to read?” she asked, dropping her hand as they turned away from the pictures toward the closet. “Can you blame me for wantin’ to see the home base of your envious sense a style?”
