Snippet: On Magazines and Books

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“What are you reading?” Lynn asked.

I looked up as Lynn entered The Lady of Refreshment. I smiled and closed the magazine and held the cover towards her.

“Yssian Fashion Quarterly? Huh,” She said. “I never thought of this era having magazines.”

“Me either, but I took a different route this morning and I found a shop that sells books and magazines. They’re pricey compared to what we would have paid back in our old lives, but nothing I can’t afford.”

“Could a commoner afford them?” Lynn asked.

“Yes, but it wouldn’t be a smart purchase I don’t think.” I smiled and sipped my green tea. 

Lynn looked at the cloth bag sitting beside my purse.

“It looked like you bought more than a magazine. May I look?”

“Of course,” I waved at the bag.

Lynn reached into the bag and began to pull items from it and read.

“A Survey of Agarthan Fashion. No surprises here, Ren. The Fashion of Lady Paquin. Again, what I’d expect. The House of Gordon and Grant. What’s this? Oh, it’s a fashion house. I see.”

“What did you expect? I love fashion. And we’re still new here. I’m re-educating myself on the norms and the history of the world.”

“So this is education?” Lynn asked, still digging through bag.

“Basically.” I said. 

“And this?” Lynn asked, hefting a paperback from the bag, “ Annie Courser: Tales of a Lady of Pleasure?”

“Hey!” I tried to grab the book back, but Lynn pulled it out of reach.

“So naughty, Ren.”

“I’m allowed. I think it’s this world’s version of Fannie HIll.”

“And it’s not all you bought I see. A Queen’s Secret Lover. Lady of the Evening. A Night of Ecstasy. How’s the sex life Ren? Should I worry about your relationship?”

I gritted my teeth, and then whispered, “I read to them.”

Lynn smiled like a Cheshire cat, “Oh my gosh, that is adorable! I love it.”

She kept digging in the bag, then “Ren? Is this a comic?”

I winced. “They don’t have any manga in Ossedei. I’m making do.”

“The Adventures of Lady Barrett. The Kitzmiller Kids. Logan’s Alley. The Tales of Viktor V: Vampire. High class reading here Ren.”

She giggled.

“I’m allowed pleasure reading!” I objected. “Now order your drink before I smack you.”

 

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