In line with classics romance, I have my couple break up once. But generally speaking, the revolving door relationship bores me. So after the required single break up, I had to find other sources for relationship growth. I took the slice-of-life approach, what Bones actually did (despite the tiresome Pelant arc) with Brennan and Booth. Relationship events focus on Booth's charity, Brennan's birthday memories, whether or not Brennan should run for president, Booth's father's bones (a big topic but handled in a very family, everyday way).
In connection with one of my favorite Lathen's, Sweet & Low, I have Thatcher and Damien deal with the issue of presents. If you ever want to get people heated up about a topic that you think no one could possibly get heated up about, try presents! There's the issue of presents not being what people really want; there's the issue of presents representing emotional needs; there's the issue of power (the burden of a too expensive present); there's the issue of timing (when to give a present).
For Thatcher and Damien the issue is the relationship's status. Thatcher is still accustoming himself (in the 1970s) to the idea that his and Damien's relationship is not some que-sera-sera arrangement that will fall apart at any second. Damien is still adjusting to finding a lover who wants the same type of monogamous-picket-fence-in-the-city relationship as he does. They aren't sure WHAT their gifts mean.
* * *
[Damien: Not so much an issue. It was more amusing than anything.]
Damien got me tickets to the Statue of Liberty. I got my subway-train-bus-rider lover a $6,000 car. Damien was less than enthused. And uncomfortable. When I suggested we use the tickets a few months later, he tried to shrug them off. I insisted. We New Yorkers have a tendency to avoid our own icons. It was an enjoyable outing.
On the way back on the ferry, I said, “The car was a mistake, wasn’t it?”“Yes,” Damien said. “Sorry.”
He didn’t need to apologize. Damien is adept at gift-giving. I couldn’t match him. Remember, Miss Corsa often arranged for the gifts I purchased.
Damien assured me that he also enjoyed our day together.
I said, with only partial self-mockery. “That’s the kind of thing a young man says when he takes an older man on an outing.”
And then my impish lover said airily, “A car is the kind of thing an old man gives to pacify a young lover.”
I had to agree, but I felt it necessary to point out that I didn’t think of Damien as a “boy.” Or gigolo. Whatever the current term was.
[Damien: That’s about the time we started reading Ellery Queen together.]
Yes. Things got better.
