[It wasn't until she sought out advice in the form of a letter in a bottle that Jill discovered her interest in reading. Back at home, most of her years were spent doing anything but relaxing and the rest of them were filled with rebuilding a society in flux. Here she has nothing but time to reach out and ask for guidance on courtship issues, only to come away with suggestions that she seek out novels that deal with that subject. The rest, as they say, is history. One lead to another and then another and next thing she knew, they were lining her previously empty bookshelves in her apartment.
Except for the paperback that horrified her to the bone—the one featuring a rather spicy scene with tentacles that Astarion neglected to warn her about— yetit still did nothing to quell her budding interest in the genre.
Jill is so shocked by the words on the page in front of her, it takes her a moment to realize someone is speaking. Not only are they speaking, but they're speaking to her. Founder, she's been seen.]
Oh, I-I'm sorry for interrupting you.
[She looks horrified, eyes wide and face red as she slams the book closed and shoves it back onto the shelf. Only she doesn't place it well enough to be stable and the novel clatters to the floor between her and the man, title side up.]
Nonsense, you've nothing to apologize for! I can hardly fault anyone for getting so engrossed in their reading.
[His smile softens, and he takes half a step back when the book she'd been so quick to re-shelf falls to the floor. He puts a hand up to stop her from bending over to retrieve it, along with offering a shake of his head.]
Please, allow me.
[Going down on one knee, he takes the book from where it had landed, getting a clear look at the cover and title when he does so. Though he looks momentarily surprised, he laughs again, clearing his throat as he offers it back to her while drawing back to his full height.]
Here— you've nothing to be embarrassed about, miss.
[So he says, yet Jill wants to do nothing more than apologize, except have the ground open up below her feet and swallow her whole. She was doing so well skulking about with these salacious texts in her hands, but apparently something has to give and it gave in such a way that brings her shame to the forefront. A lady, a noblewoman (at least by behavior), reading such filth and in public too!
The Duchy gossips would have a field day with this.
And then the gods twist the knife they've stuck in her back for a little more misery. The man kindly picks up the book, clearly reading the title, and hands it out to her. Jill doesn't take it. Her hands are busy with pulling the edges of her hood over her now completely reddened face, wishing Ramuh would strike her down here and now.]
I-I don't usually——This is not my usual fare.
[She's generally not such a poor liar, but it seems being put on the spot about her new interest turns her into a stuttering mess. And she had the nerve to think Clive and his attempt at pretending to be Lord Underhill was terrible.]
[His voice is even as offers his reassurance; whether she does or doesn't read these sorts of things on the regular is no business of his, and he'd rather not make her apparent embarrassment worse. Clearly, she'd rather nobody know she'd been looking to expand her horizons, so to speak.
That said, even a dedicated academic such as himself has more than a few of these sorts of books in his collection.]
Even if it were, you'd hardly see any judgment from me. As a lifelong scholar, I believe that all books have something to offer us, regardless of genre. Knowledge is hardly undermined by the existence of escapism— but I digress. I assure you, I'll not breathe a word of this to anyone.
[At least being an academic would give one the proper excuse to have such texts in their personal library. And it would make sense to have them amongst other genres, easily convincing others they just want to be well read.
Jill is neither an academic or well read, what with her small collection being made up of only romance novels at this point. Sure, the less spicy ones are front and center with the more salacious one tucked under her pillow for a little secret reading by candlelight when Clive's not spending the night.
His promise to keep things quiet gives Jill some measure of relief and she drops her hand from her hood to finally accept the book. It's not like he could tell anyone anyway, not knowing her name and armada, but still, the fear of embarrassment clouds her judgement.]
Ah... I must thank you then. It may seem silly, but reputations exist for a reason.
[Not that she truly has one here, but only Joshua knows what she's been reding so far (and Astarion because someone had to yell at him for not warning her about tentacles) and it would be nice if things remained that way. Especially since Jill isn't only reading them for entertainment, but studying them as well for guidance in lieu of asking someone more experienced for advice.]
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no subject
Except for the paperback that horrified her to the bone—the one featuring a rather spicy scene with tentacles that Astarion neglected to warn her about— yetit still did nothing to quell her budding interest in the genre.
Jill is so shocked by the words on the page in front of her, it takes her a moment to realize someone is speaking. Not only are they speaking, but they're speaking to her. Founder, she's been seen.]
Oh, I-I'm sorry for interrupting you.
[She looks horrified, eyes wide and face red as she slams the book closed and shoves it back onto the shelf. Only she doesn't place it well enough to be stable and the novel clatters to the floor between her and the man, title side up.]
no subject
[His smile softens, and he takes half a step back when the book she'd been so quick to re-shelf falls to the floor. He puts a hand up to stop her from bending over to retrieve it, along with offering a shake of his head.]
Please, allow me.
[Going down on one knee, he takes the book from where it had landed, getting a clear look at the cover and title when he does so. Though he looks momentarily surprised, he laughs again, clearing his throat as he offers it back to her while drawing back to his full height.]
Here— you've nothing to be embarrassed about, miss.
no subject
The Duchy gossips would have a field day with this.
And then the gods twist the knife they've stuck in her back for a little more misery. The man kindly picks up the book, clearly reading the title, and hands it out to her. Jill doesn't take it. Her hands are busy with pulling the edges of her hood over her now completely reddened face, wishing Ramuh would strike her down here and now.]
I-I don't usually——This is not my usual fare.
[She's generally not such a poor liar, but it seems being put on the spot about her new interest turns her into a stuttering mess. And she had the nerve to think Clive and his attempt at pretending to be Lord Underhill was terrible.]
no subject
[His voice is even as offers his reassurance; whether she does or doesn't read these sorts of things on the regular is no business of his, and he'd rather not make her apparent embarrassment worse. Clearly, she'd rather nobody know she'd been looking to expand her horizons, so to speak.
That said, even a dedicated academic such as himself has more than a few of these sorts of books in his collection.]
Even if it were, you'd hardly see any judgment from me. As a lifelong scholar, I believe that all books have something to offer us, regardless of genre. Knowledge is hardly undermined by the existence of escapism— but I digress. I assure you, I'll not breathe a word of this to anyone.
[Just in case she was worried about that.]
no subject
Jill is neither an academic or well read, what with her small collection being made up of only romance novels at this point. Sure, the less spicy ones are front and center with the more salacious one tucked under her pillow for a little secret reading by candlelight when Clive's not spending the night.
His promise to keep things quiet gives Jill some measure of relief and she drops her hand from her hood to finally accept the book. It's not like he could tell anyone anyway, not knowing her name and armada, but still, the fear of embarrassment clouds her judgement.]
Ah... I must thank you then. It may seem silly, but reputations exist for a reason.
[Not that she truly has one here, but only Joshua knows what she's been reding so far (and Astarion because someone had to yell at him for not warning her about tentacles) and it would be nice if things remained that way. Especially since Jill isn't only reading them for entertainment, but studying them as well for guidance in lieu of asking someone more experienced for advice.]
no subject
[His smile persists, and he places a hand over his heart before bowing his head to her briefly.]
As I am a gentleman, I would never dream of doing anything to besmirch a lady's reputation. Your business is your own.
[His tone is warm, genuine; she has nothing to fear from him.]
Though perhaps I'm a bit out of line, calling myself such without offering introductions— Gale of Waterdeep, at your service.