Liscil 11-20
11) Memory
Maybe it's just because they're moving, but lately Lisa can't get enough of old photo albums, favourite stuffed animals and other pieces of memorabilia of her childhood in Springfield. Despite the fact that she spent the better part of her formative years coping with teasing and disappointment, she wants to remember. Cecil knows it is all down to rose tinted glasses, or to put it more crudely, nostalgia goggles. For his part, Cecil prefers to forget such things.
12) Insanity
Although relations with Bob are far more tranquil than they once were, Lisa can never really get used to the sensation of having him in their flat, doing something as simple as bringing news of the Terwilliger family to Cecil or sitting down to dinner with them. The funny thing is, she's sure that if the situation had been different, she would have loved having Bob for a brother in law – even though she loves Bart, Bob could have been the wise older brother she'd always yearned for. But then, if one changed the circumstances that brought Bob and Bart against each other, she may never have met Cecil, and ... she's been down this road too many times, and the only thing she ever gets out of it is a bad headache.
Having the man who tried to kill her brother sleeping peacefully on their couch is a whole different breed of insanity to the days when she would help Bart foil the ex clown's latest scheme. But when she sees the playful way he and Cecil snip at each other, so reminiscent of her relationship with her own brother, how they comfort each other after Judith takes her first fall ... it's insanity, but she'll take it.
13) Misfortune
Cecil is familiar with misfortune. They are practically old friends. He would recognise it a mile away. What he struggles with is figuring out which emotion to categorise his engagement to Lisa under.
14) Smile
"What on earth is so funny about that?!" Cecil asks in bewilderment.
"I just ... I'm sorry Cecil, it's just you're so ... sensible! It's hard to imagine you being silly in a clown costume for the amusement of screaming kids," responds Lisa through helpless giggles.
"Well I never have a problem making you smile."
She has no comeback to that.
15) Silence
"That's when you know you've found somebody really special: you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably share silence."
Mia Wallace says her line on the small TV screen, and Pulp Fiction continues. Lisa and Cecil miss it – they are discussing 'The Great Gatsby' (Lisa thinks that Gatsby is a romantic who idealised a woman too much, Cecil thinks he is a manipulative bastard).
They can never take Mia's advice and be comfortably silent. That's how they know they've found someone special.
16) Questioning
"Lisa, do you love me?"
"Why? What's going on?"
"Just answer the question."
"I love you with all my heart. I would love you even more if you'd tell me where this is going."
Cecil is sure he had some kind of speech prepared, something more worthy of the woman before him, but at such a prospect as the one she's just offered him, he decides to just get on with it.
Cecil gets on one knee, opens the box (thank goodness Judith guided him towards the more tasteful ring selections) and pops the question. Impossible as it might seem, she does manage to love him even more for it.
17) Blood
It's funny, Lisa is normally downright careless when it comes to her own wellbeing – according to Bart, she once sprained her wrist after falling from a horse and simply tried to get back on. Yet she's a big baby when it comes to papercuts. And given how much she loves reading old, dog eared tomes from the library, she's plagued by them. As Cecil presses a kiss to her 'injury' (earning a giggle from Lisa) and covers it with a plaster for her, he can taste a small drop of blood, and suppresses a shudder at the .. grimness of such an action. But still, even though he loves her independence, he can't help but cherish the occasions when he gets an opportunity to coddle her.
18) Rainbow
"Never. Again." Cecil practically spits the words out through gritted teeth.
"Don't grind your teeth," is the only response Cecil gets, but it doesn't matter, as he's not paying attention anyway.
"Lisa, I respect that you are a passionate woman who supports many good causes – it's one of the many things I love about you," he begins.
"Are you saying that the fact that people now have the right to marry whoever they love in this state isn't good cause for celebration?" asks Lisa indignantly.
Cecil takes a deep breath.
"It's an excellent cause, and an excellent victory to celebrate. But I don't think the outfit is necessary."
"You look adorable!" Lisa insists. Leaning closer, she asserts," In fact, I'll have you know that I find policemen rather ... sexy." All this communicated in a sultry whisper, as she straightens his tie.
"I don't think policemen tend to include as much leather and spikes in their costumes as this," says Cecil, slightly mollified.
Before Lisa can answer, a drunk, muscle-laden 'pirate' sashays up to the couple, seductively draping the huge rainbow banner he bears around Cecil's shoulders.
Lisa can't help but squealing with laughter while Cecil glowers. Well, he does look adorable when he pouts!
19) Gray
Cecil adds a little gel to his normally limp hair. Not too much, he wants to look his best when he meets Lisa's parents in the official capacity of 'live in boyfriend'. He has bought a bottle of wine to bring to the Simpson house, and Lisa picked up flowers on her way home. He thinks he chose an outfit that makes him look like desirable future husband material – he always favours colourful sweater vests and imaginative (some would say dorky) ties. Colour looks good on him.
Lisa enters in a pretty, strapless little evening dress, and Cecil kisses her cheek and tells her she looks lovely. Bright colours look good on him, but his (hopefully) soon to be fiancé rocks the colour gray.
20) Fortitude
Lisa has all the strength of character in the world. Cecil knows this because despite everything, she knows what she wants and remains with him. He admires it about her.
He also knows that because he remains with her, he has none.