S2/03. Convergence

3.3 Retrospective: Mae West
Summer 1996, West residence, Windenburg, Mae's room

Mae flopped on her bed and squeezed her pillow.

She'd just returned from a first date; and what a strange date it'd been!
So different than what she was used to.

First of all, the man was so different. Mae'd never dated a man so cautiously avoiding being too close to her. When she'd only taken his hand, he'd almost jumped!

She'd start to wonder if he just didn't like her, but the ending of their date suggested otherwise.

His face lit up like a christmas tree when she asked him if he'd like to meet again. And though he shrieked when she took his hand, he eventually eased into it.

No, he was just a real gentleman.

"Herbert."

She said it out loudly, tasting every single syllable.

His name was already different than what she'd been used to. Funny, Linda'd said, but the more Mae thought about it, the more she'd rather call it interesting instead.

Herbert was much more shy than Mae would've liked, but she'd give him the time he needed to warm up to her. It was still so much better than another pushy guy, wasn't it?

He was clumsy, too, but he took it with humor and she couldn't help but like him even more for it.

He also was... kind of subdued, one could say? no, content, Mae decided, settled in his life.

Some might say a man without aspirations was boring, but Mae didn't see him lacking aspirations. More like, he'd found his place and it was a cosy and comfortable place. A place she found she'd wish to belong to, too.

Next to the side of someone to lean on, someone trustworthy. Someone with big, strong hands that didn't care for fine car mechanics, for example, or... or guitar strings; someone with a calm composure, someone who'd maybe want a warm home, and maybe a family, someone who didn't seek adventures and excitement.

She wondered if Herbert had family. He was a good deal older than her, he must have had a past, right?

He wasn't the man that made your head turn when he entered the room, but he was anything but unattractive. Almost too bulky, but it fit him; tall, and with a deep, soothing voice. Certainly he couldn't have been alone all his life, there must've been women who'd liked him.

Mae found herself to be one of those women, and it surprised her. If someone'd asked her about the prince of her dreams, not long ago she would've described a completely different type of man.

Now she couldn't understand what she could've liked about said different man.

Now, she couldn't wait to see Herbert again.
 

Would his moustache prick her if he'd kiss her? Mae'd only kissed stubbled faces before but never a man with a fully grown beard.

She'd be so gentle not to scare him away, but not for too long, she was too greedy to taste him, she might even lightly bite his lip –

His strong, big hands could wrap all around her waist. His grip would been firm, but warm and protective.

They wouldn't stay long there, soon they'd slide down her waist, lower and lower, down to her thighs...

and then gently moving upwards again, but under the interfering fabric of her skirt...

She shivered when her excitement dissolved into hot, pulsing waves from the center of her body, washing all over it.

Herbert.

Gentleman or not, there'd definitely happen more next time than holding hands.

She'd make sure of it!  

Mae was in love again.