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Description
Oliver had picked up a lot of beliefs and habits from his time under English rule.  One of the greatest was his ability to brew some of the best tea Alex had ever tasted.  One of the worst, which unfortunately went hand-in-hand, was that he'd immediately snatch the cup and try to make wild predictions based on how the stray leaves stuck to the bottom.

Generally Alex would nod and continue on with his meal.  Even if it was silly superstition, he wasn't about to shoot his friend down about something that obviously made him so happy.

This time, though, Alex had looked over suspiciously as Oliver gasped and told Alex quite urgently that he needed to rid Jane of all her hair ribbons.  He refused to say anything else, probably because he was making things up while he stared at a dirty cup, but suddenly Alex was uneasy.

It wasn't at all because he thought this silly prediction would come true, nothing of the sort.  It was just that now he could only see those ribbons getting caught in machinery, or being used to subdue her by the less than savory men which inhabited the undeveloped states…

He'd practically (and, often, literally) raised the girl, after all.  It wasn't as if he was wrong in worrying once and a while, particularly since he really hadn't seen her since the war, and even then only briefly.  Who knew what could have happened to her.

When Alex stepped off the train he realized, glumly, that he'd been gone significantly longer than he'd thought.  Jane's focus, in his absence, had shifted from the farms to Chicago.  Because of it, the city blossomed. It was no longer the fledgling he'd approved plans of, more idealization than town.  She'd taken full advantage of the location, and the ports and railroad hubs chugged along efficiently.

All over were the sounds of construction, and a newly-contained smell of men and livestock.  He could feel the building wealth and population in his bones.  Alex had become quite good at detecting things like that. The feeling was strong, so it seemed Illinois had lived up to her promise.

What she'd done with so little time was phenomenal, and it was no wonder her body had also used the opportunity to grow.

She had been 8, and unapologetically covered in mud, when he'd first shown up to court her for statehood.  She'd been no more than 12 by the war, and ran about in breeches and caps so she could ride along with her men.

Jane was 17 when he was brought to her.  With a mind set more on refinement, she'd finally accepted that it wasn't horrible to dress like a woman.  She moved, then, without discomfort in the corset that made her waist so delicate above a flared-out skirt.

Were it proper, Alex would have complimented her on even picking a dress close to the proper fashion of the day.  He stayed quiet because that would have brought attention to how he watched the floral print move as she rushed over to wrap her arms about him.

"It's been too long, Alex."

He whispered his agreement into her hair as he cautiously returned the embrace.

She led him about, proudly, to show off the zoos, museums, and stockyards.  Jane showed him the inner workings of her locks and train stations, and bragged about her conquering issues of housing so many people on her own.  She showed him detailed plans for a water tower, as they passed where it'd be constructed.

She thrived in his eyes when they finally made it back to her apartment.  They took wine in the sitting area, lit softly by gas lamps and the setting sun drifting through the bay windows.

Jane watched him, slightly anxious, as he undid the hair ribbons he'd come for.  And, as he watched the umber hair tumble down her back, he began to think that perhaps the ribbon which held her corset might have been dangerous as well.

*****

When it came to teas, fresh Oolong leaves were always the most reliable.  It helped they were delicious, which he swore was the reason he'd chosen them then.

Oliver chuckled, softly, as he analyzed  leaves which clung to the cup.  He beamed down at the china.  "I'm amazing, you know."

Jean didn't bother to look up from the paper.  "No, you're just weird."

Description
Oliver had picked up a lot of beliefs and habits from his time under English rule.  One of the greatest was his ability to brew some of the best tea Alex had ever tasted.  One of the worst, which unfortunately went hand-in-hand, was that he'd immediately snatch the cup and try to make wild predictions based on how the stray leaves stuck to the bottom.

Generally Alex would nod and continue on with his meal.  Even if it was silly superstition, he wasn't about to shoot his friend down about something that obviously made him so happy.

This time, though, Alex had looked over suspiciously as Oliver gasped and told Alex quite urgently that he needed to rid Jane of all her hair ribbons.  He refused to say anything else, probably because he was making things up while he stared at a dirty cup, but suddenly Alex was uneasy.

It wasn't at all because he thought this silly prediction would come true, nothing of the sort.  It was just that now he could only see those ribbons getting caught in machinery, or being used to subdue her by the less than savory men which inhabited the undeveloped states…

He'd practically (and, often, literally) raised the girl, after all.  It wasn't as if he was wrong in worrying once and a while, particularly since he really hadn't seen her since the war, and even then only briefly.  Who knew what could have happened to her.

When Alex stepped off the train he realized, glumly, that he'd been gone significantly longer than he'd thought.  Jane's focus, in his absence, had shifted from the farms to Chicago.  Because of it, the city blossomed. It was no longer the fledgling he'd approved plans of, more idealization than town.  She'd taken full advantage of the location, and the ports and railroad hubs chugged along efficiently.

All over were the sounds of construction, and a newly-contained smell of men and livestock.  He could feel the building wealth and population in his bones.  Alex had become quite good at detecting things like that. The feeling was strong, so it seemed Illinois had lived up to her promise.

What she'd done with so little time was phenomenal, and it was no wonder her body had also used the opportunity to grow.

She had been 8, and unapologetically covered in mud, when he'd first shown up to court her for statehood.  She'd been no more than 12 by the war, and ran about in breeches and caps so she could ride along with her men.

Jane was 17 when he was brought to her.  With a mind set more on refinement, she'd finally accepted that it wasn't horrible to dress like a woman.  She moved, then, without discomfort in the corset that made her waist so delicate above a flared-out skirt.

Were it proper, Alex would have complimented her on even picking a dress close to the proper fashion of the day.  He stayed quiet because that would have brought attention to how he watched the floral print move as she rushed over to wrap her arms about him.

"It's been too long, Alex."

He whispered his agreement into her hair as he cautiously returned the embrace.

She led him about, proudly, to show off the zoos, museums, and stockyards.  Jane showed him the inner workings of her locks and train stations, and bragged about her conquering issues of housing so many people on her own.  She showed him detailed plans for a water tower, as they passed where it'd be constructed.

She thrived in his eyes when they finally made it back to her apartment.  They took wine in the sitting area, lit softly by gas lamps and the setting sun drifting through the bay windows.

Jane watched him, slightly anxious, as he undid the hair ribbons he'd come for.  And, as he watched the umber hair tumble down her back, he began to think that perhaps the ribbon which held her corset might have been dangerous as well.

*****

When it came to teas, fresh Oolong leaves were always the most reliable.  It helped they were delicious, which he swore was the reason he'd chosen them then.

Oliver chuckled, softly, as he analyzed  leaves which clung to the cup.  He beamed down at the china.  "I'm amazing, you know."

Jean didn't bother to look up from the paper.  "No, you're just weird."