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Jack is not good at tying Windsor knots. His fingers fumble around the fabric, somehow completely unable to make a satisfying knot. Something was always wrong, it was either too loose, or too tight, or uneven somehow. It was so frustrating. All the tasks that came so naturally to other men were natural to Jack, except this one thing. It made him want to rip his hair out.
At least until he met Madeline. She’s so talented at it, for whatever reason. She could tie perfect, neat Windsor knots quickly with her nimble fingers. In a matter of seconds it seemed. She’d tie it so neatly and then she’d kiss his cheek and say, “Break a leg, Mr. Midnight.”
It’s just another little thing that makes Jack love his Minnie even more.
She has so many little things about her. From her laugh to her smiles to her beautiful eyes. He’d have to be alive for a millenia to be able to list every reason why he loves his Minnie so much. Every three reasons, he’d probably come up with another five. A truly Sisphyean task.
One hot summer evening, Jack is trying to get ready for that night’s broadcast. He’s just got out of the shower, his hair still wet and hanging into his face. Minnie is watching him from their bed, relaxing in a bathrobe as he buttons his shirt up. Once that’s done, he grabs his tie (a lovely orange paisley tie) and tries to tie on his own. He’s gotten better over the years, but the way he still clearly fumbles makes Minnie giggle to herself. She stands, walking over.
“Jack, what are you doing?”
She gently bats his hands away, taking the fabric in her hands.
“Minnie, you don’t have to do it for me. I’m a big boy, I can do it myself.”
“Hush. You didn’t even flip your collar up, let me do it.”
She folds the fabric up, making it infinitely easier to tie it for him. Jack is blushing. He loves when Minnie does small things like this for him, and he loves doing things like this for her. He wishes she was less effortlessly perfect just so he could reciprocate somehow. But he couldn’t! The most he could do was help her put on lipstick or mascara. He’s very good with makeup, he doesn’t know if he should attribute it to practice or steady hands.
“Is that too tight?”
“Hm? Ah, no, it’s perfect.”
Minnie smiles, flipping Jack’s collar back down and making sure the knot is centered.
“There you go. You look great.”
She brushes Jack’s damp hair from his forehead, sort of combing it into his usual hairstyle. Not perfect, but he can properly style it later.
“No,
you
look great. You’re gorgeous.”
He kisses Minnie’s forehead. She laughs.
“Stop it Jack! I haven’t even gotten dressed yet.”
“I still think you’re beautiful.”
Jack feels that Minnie always thinks he’s bluffing when he says that. He doesn’t know how to tell her that she is the most beautiful person he’s ever seen. She was the most handsome man he’d ever seen when they first met, but now she’s the most gorgeous woman Jack has ever had the fortune to lay his eyes on. Even when she’s only wearing a bathrobe, with her hair wet and unbrushed. Jack wished he could spend his whole night with her, instead of going to host his show. He wished he could have spent far more time in the shower with her, just to be close to her. He loves his Minnie so much, he’d kill if anything happened to her.
As Jack is getting his jacket on, fishing through his pockets for his box of cigarettes and lighter, Minnie is putting on her pajamas. Tonight, just a plain yellow nightgown that belonged to Jack when he was a young woman. It looks beautiful on her.
He finds his cigarettes and lighter. Minnie wrinkles her nose when she sees them.
“You know I hate when you smoke.”
“I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry, I’m right out the door.”
“I wish you wouldn’t do it at all.”
Her face flashes with genuine disappointment, making Jack feel a bit guilty. He leans over, kissing her cheek.
“I’m sorry. I love you Minnie, you look gorgeous.”
The disappointment leaves her face.
“I love you too.”
They kiss, brief and chaste.
“I’ll see you when I get home.”
Minnie smiles. It’s so bright and beautiful.
“Alright. You get out there and knock em dead, Mr. Midnight.”
He leaves, his head in the clouds. He’s so happy. He loves his Minnie more than anything.