About the aging thing- I GENUINELY daydream about tending to Richard's aches and pains from aging like, rubbing his back or his knees with pain relief cream or getting him heating pads or making him tea after a long tour. Massaging his hands after a long rehearsal and redoing his manicure; I genuinely care about him and his well being, I just want him to be happy and healthy, no matter his age β€οΈ
Hi π€
First of all:
While of course I'm sure Richard is fully capable of taking care of himself (not wanting to deny his independence here), I love this energy. That's the energy we need around here. We stan a group of old(-ish) men, the youngest of them being 52, so I think we all should have some kind of understanding that yes, aging is happening in this group and what changes this can bring. Hell, even I have bad knees and I'm not even 30, I would not even think of lamenting about the aging process of the R+ guys because we all willl eventually grow old, have bad knees/backs/whatnot and wouldn't say no to a heating pad and some pain relief.
So yes, I get what you mean, I know this tendency from myself (always wanting to take care of others, maybe that's the cancer sign in me acting up) and I think this take and train of thought is just lovely. We all should just be gentler with the people around us, the people we adore and with ourselves. π€
βThen I went to Mick's chΓ’teau in France and, rather embarrassingly, I stupidly didn't have any money. I'd got a later flight, got a taxi and had to borrow the money off Mick for the taxi. Anyway, Charlie was nearby, so Mick had a little party.
He's very inclusive, he invited me and Charlie, and Tom Stoppard, the playwright, was there. Mick was doing a film with him. Maybe three other people, a handful. Mick had a little thing around a camp fire and made us food. It was lovely. I remember Charlie saying to me [about Mick]:
βHe is amazing, isn't he? Wherever he goes, he gathers these amazing people. I've never known anybody like him.β
"I've helped coordinate a feast tonight. There's many different dishes and I've tasted them all. I hope it's to your liking."
Ulysses, despite his reservations about heroes, took great care in preparing a sumptuous feast for Trinity and the other heroes in her sanctuary. He wanted to show his support for her and make the occasion truly special. Knowing that Trinity had a deep connection to the river, Ulysses incorporated elements of water and nature into the feast.
Here's a sampling of what he prepared:
Riverbank Salad: A refreshing mix of crisp greens, adorned with edible flowers and drizzled with a tangy citrus dressing. The salad was garnished with delicate watercress, representing Trinity's affinity for riverside foliage.
Poseidon's Catch: A platter of freshly caught seafood, including succulent grilled fish, buttery lobster tails, and plump shrimp. Ulysses took care to infuse the seafood with a hint of herbs and citrus, giving it a delightful flavor.
Enchanted Spring Soup: A velvety soup made with seasonal vegetables, infused with the essence of a mystical spring. Ulysses added herbs and spices known for their healing properties, creating a nourishing and comforting dish.
Harborside Roast: A centerpiece of the feast, Ulysses prepared a tender, slow-roasted prime rib, cooked to perfection. He seasoned it with a blend of aromatic herbs and served it with a rich demi-glace.
Nymph's Delight: For dessert, Ulysses crafted a masterpiece of sweetness. It consisted of delicate pastry shells filled with a light, fluffy cream infused with hints of vanilla and the subtle essence of wild berries. The dessert was adorned with edible flowers and drizzled with a delicate honey syrup.
Trinity knew that Ulysses had a hard time with the fact that she had to help everyone who came to the sanctuary- at least she knew that he was worried. Which was fair considering she worried about him when he was out in the world too. It was hard on them both though perhaps she didn't understand his worry about the people as much. She didn't see heroes and villains or heroes and monsters in the same way because here those labels meant nothing to her.
But He- well he knew what happened outside of the invisible walls of this place. And she knew that made it more difficult for him even if she didn't fully understand why he was so worried about specific heros sometimes.
That's why she was so surprised to come in and see the spread across the table. Not just for her but for everyone. A sort of peace offering but so much more thought out. Her eyes widened as she moved around the table, taking in the well-thought-out beautiful dishes that he had clearly put a lot of mental and emotional energy into. Her Long fingers dragged across the table with a little smile as she took in everything from the lovely salad all the way to the mouth-watering desert.
This was the big bad warlock they all feared. The boogy man of the sea. She saw the way they flinched sometimes when he stood behind her but here he was, making them all a feast worthy of a king. Her eyes finally lifted to meet his with a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "My love....you didn't have to do this Darling. You have nothing to prove." She dipped her pinky finger into the honey syrup leaking from the side of the pasty, eyes closing in delight as she sucked it off.