A swinging good time

When Alexandra entered the small room she had a profound sense of deja vu. Shaking it off she went to the computer.

Alexandra already knew what time period she wanted to visit and was researching a good place to go to. She found a cool spot rather quickly and went to go pick her outfit.

She found what she wanted in the wardrobe and used the computer to select it. She took off what she was wearing and grabbed the new outfit. She tried to put it on.

"Fuck."

It wasn't stolen. She could wear what she had been wearing, but it would really ruin her experience. In frustration she pounded the wall. Her first banged with a loud thunk and she saw cracks shoot out in a straight line along the wall.

Tentatively she pushed along the cracks and they got bigger and bigger until she was able to get her fingers underneath and pull the wall back. Behind the panel was a dark passageway. She stepped inside and walked until she found herself at a dead end. She pushed on the wall in front to discover the same feature as before.

The wall gave way and she stepped into a room identical from the one she left. Whoever had been here had already taken the time machine and left. Alexandra hurried to their wardrobe and stole the outfit she had wanted. Thrilled she headed back to start her own date. - - - - - -

Eric opened his eyes, Alexandra was standing in front of him dressed in a 1920s style flapper dress, with pearl earrings and necklace. She wore 5 inch heels of course, putting her at eye level with him. She was grinning. He looked down at himself, he was wearing a suit that wouldn't have looked out of sorts on Al Capone.

They were in a hotel room. A very fancy hotel room. "Welcome to the roaring twenties Eric. We can come back to our room later, but right now there's a party downstairs." She offered her hand, she was wearing long white gloves, he took it and they went downstairs.

"Welcome to Hotel Casa Loma, 1927. The US is still in prohibition but here prohibition has already been repealed. This was briefly a popular spot for wealthy Americans looking for a drink before it would fall into ruin during the depression." Alexandra introduced their surroundings.

Eric took it all in. In the present it was a museum and tourist destination. Restored and preserved, a castle inside metropolitan Toronto. He'd been years ago, not enough to recognize anything. He knew that some parts of it were never finished, still this was its heyday and it looked fabulous.

They entered a ballroom. There were couples dancing, others sitting and talking, a few more at the bar. A band was on stage playing up a storm. Eric wasn't familiar with old music but it had a very jazzy feel. Without a word Alexandra pulled him to the dance floor.

Eric was never a good dancer, but Alexandra was mesmerizing to watch. She guided him and helped him to loosen up and soon they were having a great time.

Eventually the band finished up and announced a 10 minute break and so they headed to the bar. Alexandra ordered two cocktails and paid with the money from Isla.

They found a table to sit and talk for a while. "So what made you pick this era?" Eric asked her.

"I don't know. It just seemed like this period of extravagance and luxury. The worst war the world had ever seen was over, women could vote, industry was booming. I know everything comes crashing down in a couple years, but right now, what a time to party."

"Ya, you are right. This is pretty neat." Eric said as he took another sip of his drink. Just then a man and a woman approached their table.

"Hi there. I heard your voice," the woman says to Alexandra, "tell me you are from New York, you sound just like home."

"You got me." Alexandra says, "Born and raised."

The woman giggled and without waiting for an invitation sat down beside them. "Hi I am Joan. This is my husband Henry. It's nice to meet other Americans here. These Canadians are polite but they just don't know how to let loose."

Henry then reached out to shake Eric's hand. Eric stood up to take it and they introduced themselves to each other. Henry then sat down beside his wife.

"So what's your story? Oh dear, I didn't even ask your name." Joan said.

"I'm Alexandra, and this is my boyfriend Eric. We just came here for the night, just a little getaway."

"Oh boyfriend, how exciting. Henry dragged me along with him on business which was dreadfully boring. I insisted he take me dancing to make up for it. This is kind of fun, at least you don't have to worry about the coppers bursting in here."

Eric got the impression Joan could talk all night. He did kind of want to get back to talking to Alexandra but before he could think of an excuse Henry started to talk to him.

"So Eric what do you do? What brings you to Toronto?"

"Oh I'm a lawyer, my practice is here." He offered.

"Ah of course. You have the look of one don't you. Don't tell me you're a Harvard man, one of those popinjays."

Eric was tempted to say he was, maybe that would make him leave. Except he thought the less he lied the more easily he could get out of this conversation.

"Actually I attended Yale." He said.

"Ha, how wonderful. A fellow Yalie! Tell me, you must have been in Europe too. Where did you serve?"

Now Eric was very nervous. If it was 1927, then he would have been the prime fighting age during the war. He didn't want to fake military service, but also didn't want to seem like a draft dodger. He really just wanted these two to leave, but Joan was talking Alexandra's ear off and Henry his, he was afraid that wasn't going to happen.

"No, I'm afraid I missed the action. An accident during training kept me home. I spent the war as an aide in parliament." It seemed believable enough to Eric at least.

"Ah rotten luck that. I had some trouble myself. Took some friendly fire in France, took me out of the fight completely. Never even got to fire my rifle."

Finally the band came back and started playing again. This gave Eric and Alexandra the chance to get away as they went to start dancing.

Unfortunately Henry and Joan also got up to dance right beside them. At some point Joan managed to **** a partner swap so Eric found himself dancing with her.

Joan smiled at him as they danced. Eric kept trying to get back to Alexandra but Joan expertly boxed him in.

They kept this up until Eric had enough and left to go get another drink. While he was gone Henry came with him.

"So chum, what do you think of Joan?" Henry asked.

"She's a lovely woman." Eric said diplomatically.

"She is indeed. Love of my life. I'd do anything for her. What about your gal? Is she the one?"

Eric hesitated. Really he didn't know where they stood right now. Alexandra was destined to only ever get pleasure from him, to be addicted to him, that meant their relationship would never be normal.

"She's truly amazing." Eric said.

"Indeed." Henry nodded along. "Listen friend, in France I never fully healed. Joan still loves me, and I her, but I can't give her what she needs anymore. We have an arrangement, and she has her eye on you. What do you think? We have a suite upstairs if you two are interested in joining us."

Eric couldn't believe what he was hearing. This man he'd just met was asking him to fuck his wife. This was bizarre.

Before Eric could reply Joan and Alexandra came over. "So what are you boys talking about, did Henry ask for your help yet??" Joan asked.

"Uh yes he did." Eric replied.

"Well then? Shall we go upstairs? I've already talked it out with Alexandra. She's ok as long as she can be there. Henry too of course, he likes to watch" Joan said with a smile.

Eric looked at Alexandra, was she serious? Then he saw a glint in her eye, oh I get it, he thought, she's trying to tease me. Well two could play that game.

"Well how could I refuse such an offer. I always suspected Alexandra had such fantasies. If you are truly ok with this dear." He said giving her a mocking smile.

Alexandra frowned. He wasn't supposed to actually agree. Sje pushed past Joan and grabbed his hand. "No, I'm sorry Joan. I just can't share. Come on Eric, let's go." She pulled him away from the disappointed couple.

Alexandra led him outside, to the castle grounds. The night was peaceful and the sky seemed so full of stars. She leaned into his chest. "Sorry for teasing you. I couldn't believe the audacity of that couple. I thought they were way more uptight about sex back then."

"Ya they were pretty forward. Don't worry about it. What do you want to do now?"

"Well part of me says have you fuck my brains out. But really I want to spend some time just being with you. Let's walk the grounds and just appreciate the beauty here."

So they walked, enjoying the gardens and the beauty of the castle. They came to a bench and sat down. Alexandra leaned into his shoulder.

"Wow, just look at the sky. I've never seen so many stars. There so much light in the city, you have to drive for hours to get a view like this. It's so beautiful." Eric said.

"Ya, you're right. Even as a kid in the city I never really bothered looking up, except at all the buildings. And how about this castle ? Who builds a castle in the middle of a city?"

"Like you said, a period of excess. It was fun dancing with you. Have you always been a fan of jazz?" Eric asked.

"Ya I guess so, and that was swing music by the way. I've just always been a fan of dance. Anything I could move to, I could always just lose myself in the movement. As you know I took dance classes as a kid, but even once I had to drop out I never stopped dancing.

That's what's cool about swing, and Jazz, is that you don't need to take lessons and follow a rigid format, it's all about improvisation.

Really I don't even need music. I just want to move. Come on, I'll show you. Get up." Alexandra stood up and offered her hand. Eric took it and stood too. She put her arms around him and started to sway. She moved to a tune only she could hear and she led him around the garden dancing, and twirling, and laughing.

They danced, both as happy as they'd been in a long time, until they both disappeared.