American to English: Bangs are Fringe

Arthur flopped onto the faded plaid couch, shoving his sweaty bangs away from his forehead. It had been such a long day at work. But fish didn't catch themselves, he supposed.

Moments later, Alfred pushed open the door. He didn't look much better off. He worked in a construction site, though the job was supposedly only temporary. Arthur hoped it lasted longer. They really needed the money.

Times were tough, and they were definitely in a pinch. It wasn't the sort of "college-kid" poor. It was the sort of "do-you-think-we-can-do-without-phones" poor. (And, by the way, they could in fact do without phones.)

Alfred flopped on the couch beside Arthur. He smelled of asphalt, which was quite foul, but Arthur figured he didn't exactly smell any better. They both looked like rags hanging on a tattered rope, blowing limply in the wind. Arthur sighed and heaved himself forward, glaring at the bills piling on the coffee table in front of him.

"We should sort through these, Al."

Alfred stared at the offensive papers, a look of contempt hiding his attractive features. "No," he said, simply.

"Al, I know we're tired, but we have to do this. We can't put it off an-"

Alfred cut him off. "Let's get rich."

Arthur blinked, and pushed back his bangs again. Maybe the work was getting to his head... "What are you on about?"

"Let's get rich," Alfred repeated. "We can buy a house in England, you like England better, anyway. A big house. With five bedrooms and five bathrooms and a huge dining room and a five-star kitchen."

Arthur couldn't imagine why Alfred was speaking of such obvious child-like dreams, but he couldn't exactly tell him to stop. He looked too happy. He looked as if he could make fiction reality by believing in it hard enough.

"It will be on a mountain, they have mountains there, right? And we can get a jacuzzi, I've always wanted one. And a big king sized bed that doesn't squeak and it will have a wooden frame an everything. And you can open a dance school, because damn, you're the best dancer I've ever seen in my life. And I can study astronomy, instead of just staring at the stars."

Arthur smiled. Perhaps, just maybe, if you believed something hard enough, it might have the slightest chances of coming true.

"We'll have to have a library. Books everywhere. All the way to the ceiling. And a fireplace. With a large, leather couch and a rug."

Alfred tugged himself up, so he stood on tired legs, and he bowed to Arthur. "My lord," he began with a smirk, "I take it that you will be staying home this evening?"

Arthur laughed. He wasn't in the shabby, second-hand (forty third-hand) apartment with minimal furniture and leaky pipes. He was in that house on the mountain. In the grand library that was so large it looked like it belonged to a king. He took Alfred's hand, brushing aside his red velvet cape. "I do believe I will retire early, my good man."

"Such a shame," Alfred tsked, shaking his head. "And the chefs were to prepare an Italian special..."

Arthur pretended to look disappointed. "Ah, well, would you mind joining me in my...'retirement'?"

Alfred smirked, the tiredness of his limbs completely gone. Because he hadn't worked hard a day in his life. He was a noble, of course.

"It would be my greatest pleasure."

So the two noblemen made their way down the grand hallway to their four-poster bed, where they made love without feeling a stitch of fatigue. They held each other through the night, because they knew that no bills awaited them in the morning, that they would not have to rise and get ready for work, and that a grand Italian meal will await them in the morning.

"God, let's get rich."

Inspired by "You and I" by Ingrid Michaelson.

I'm tired, but this was a bit of a refresher for me. I feel like I haven't written anything for pleasure lately. It's been notes, writing exams, creative writing tests, French themes...it sucks.

So sorry if I'm a bit rusty, but I'm so tired right now. Also, please overlook mistakes!

(If you read Greensleeves, I may have an update soon, but no promises. Life is draining me right now.)

-Mallory