Tame the Wild

[text] If only Sir! She belongs to the couple whose claim ceremony I’m planning. Do you really think Duchess would let me bring another cat into her territory? *several crying emojis*

“Pleasure to meet you, Sir,” she said with another grin before falling into step with Damian. “Rome is gorgeous. I’ve spent some time there and I love it, but I don’t know if I could live there. I moved for work. A lot of recording artists live in and around Verona so it’s easier to meet with them if I live here. What did you do in Rome if you don’t mind my asking?”

“Oh, you’re a musician?  What kind of music?”  He shook his head.  “I don’t mind at all.  I was in the Carabinieri.”  As they got to the bar, he opened the door and held it for her.  

Cristian took a moment to let the fact Damian had been present sink in, an odd feeling settling in his gut. Damian and him weren’t together— so what did it matter if the Dominant saw him out socializing? Though, Cristian would be lying if he said he hadn’t hoped for more in December. Damian has been easy to submit to. He’s enjoyed the other’s company outside of work, and their friendship, so the lack of such since then had only left him wanting and a bit fussy. Socializing had been a means to deal with it— and hopefully find someone to get his mind off of the fear he was doomed to be alone forever.

“Perhaps…. or perhaps not,” he replied nonchalantly. “Some of the Dominants I spoke with were… easier to chat with than others,” he added, turning back to the kettle to finish preparing the cup of tea. He sighed, opening a ton and pulling out a tea bag. “Some— well— I certainly have no intention of reaching back out to, but others, I suppose, if they have an interest in me and a second conversation, I’d be open to it,” he concluded with a shrug of his shoulders, turning back around to face Damian as he let the tea steep briefly. “I’m not sure how fruitful these events really are, but who knows. If I don’t hear back from anyone, oh well. That’s that.”

Any attempt not to develop feelings for Cristian had been abandoned at this point as a total failure.  Damian had only kept his distance this long because Cristian had made it clear that he didn’t want to date someone he worked with.  Cristian liked to keep clear boundaries in his life, and Damian respected that.  If not for that, he would have done this months ago.  But seeing Cristian at that event, chatting up single Dominants for the purpose of finding dates, had ignited a jealousy that had surprised Damian.  He didn’t want Cristian dating anyone else.  He didn’t want anyone else to see him soft and vulnerable, as he had been on Christmas Eve.  And that, more than anything else, made Damian realize he needed to say something.

He moved further into the room and leaned against the counter, closer to Cristian but still giving him some space, so he wouldn’t feel cornered.  “I didn’t intend to see you there, but I’m glad I did.  It made me think.  I thought about it a lot, this weekend.  I know you’ve said in the past that you wouldn’t want to date a coworker.  That you wanted to keep things professional.  But... I want to ask you to consider breaking that rule.  And I want to ask you to go to dinner with me.”

“Oh, that’d be amazing. It doesn’t matter how cold it is,” she started, pulling her coat just a little tighter around her shoulders, “…a beer is always a good idea. Especially in the company of a good sandwich. I’d really appreciate it, if you honestly don’t mind showing me.” Remembering her manners, she reached a hand toward the man. “I’m Viola by the way. Just recently moved into town, in case you couldn’t tell.”

“Of course, I don’t mind at all.”  He gestured for her to come with him as he continued down the block.  “Damian.  Recently moved back.  I grew up here, but I was in Rome for a good while.  Just came back a few weeks ago.  What brings you to Verona?”

Cristian tensed for a moment, surprised by the voice as he turned to face Damian. “Spying on me now?” He replied with a relaxed smirk as he tried to think of what the other was referring to. Deep in conversation… Had Damian been at the speed dating event? It was the only thing that came to mind from his weekend out. “Or were you also at Posey’s event as well?” He added, one eyebrow raised inquisitively. Damian has mentioned potentially being interesting in dating people again, he thought, though was surprised if the other had been there he hadn’t seen him then.

Originally posted by dbahh

“Entirely unintentionally.  I’m not stalking you.  But I did see you at that event, the speed dating thing.  Only because I’d failed to take note of which par it was happening at, or I’d have gotten a beer somewhere else, since I wasn’t participating.  You seemed like you were getting on pretty well with one of the Dominants.  Any forth-coming dates?”

While she had been living in town for a few weeks now, Viola hadn’t really gone out much for anything other than the basic needs of getting groceries and setting up her new apartment with a couple things she hadn’t brought from home. Now that the last signs of Valentine’s day were gone from the town, she had decided it was high time to venture forth and do some exploring - possibly even some socializing. 

Now that she had gone outside of the area directly surrounding her apartment, she felt a little out of her element. She wasn’t familiar with the city or the whereabouts of anything - but it didn’t bother her too much. As long as she remembered the general direction of her home, she was confident she’d find it again before too long. Still, she was getting a bit hungry and decided now would be a good time to grab a bite to eat. 

“Excuse me,” she said brightly to the nearest person, “but could you tell me the best place for a bite around here? Doesn’t matter the type of food - I’ll pretty much eat anything.” 

Damian paused to look at the girl who’d spoken to him.  “Well, there’s a bar at the end of the block that has good sandwiches.  I’m headed there for a beer right now, I can show you if you want to come.”  It was nice and a little strange how at home Damian felt in Verona again.  When he’d moved back, he’d expected it to all feel different, but after only a few months, walking around the city felt like he’d never left.  

[Text] Guess it is then

[Text] Why are you telling me all of this about your previous job again?

[Text] ... I dunno, I’ve been drinking too, you know.

[Text] Different?

[Text] I worked a lot at my last job too.. More than with Lord TYBALT if you can believe it

[Text] Got dumped over it

[Text] …so I can relate I guess. And shush. I did no such thing. Hpefully you’re right though and he’s late as well tomorrow morning. I’ll just say I was lettin g Lucio have his walk of shame in private

[Delay]

[Text] Is it a walk of shame if you’re dating?

[Text] Doesn’t matter

[Text] Well, my job’s different, for one thing.  A lot more predictable.  I have yet to have to work overnight.  And it’s less dangerous.  Much as the need for my job in the first place implies a possibility of danger, it’s far less likely on any given day than in my old job.

[Text] And maybe I just want different things now.  I’m older than I was then, less caught up in myself and my job and what I wanted all the time.

[Text] and yes, I can believe it.  You’d work twice as much as anyone else if we all let you.  

[Text] I thought you didn’t do relationships? Seems like an awful lot for a hookup

[Text] Sorry

[Text] That.. came out poorly. I was just surprised

[Text] I suppose if I keep putting my foot in my mouth hre you’re right about driving. Please don’t mention this to Ty if he inquires to my tardiness?

[slight delay] 

[Text] No, it’s alright.  It’s not that I’m against relationships.  I just never felt drawn to one before.

[Text] Back when I was in the carabinieri, I worked long hours, and odd hours, weekends, overnight, and it was unpredictable.  And I cared more about my job than any of the brief connections I made.

[Text] Things are a little different here.

[Text] You really are drunk, aren’t you?  You called him Ty.  I think that’s a first since I’ve known you.  

[Text] I did, actually… I use to go grocery shopping the night before and I’d prepare a home cooked meal… I’d make a point to get home before her to start, so it was almost done by the time she was home. She’d be responsible for the wine and dessert, and we’d spend the night just… spoiling each other. It was perfect.

[Delay]

[Text] Sorry if that was.. a bit much?

[Text] Oversharibf I mean.

[Text] Oversharing**

[Delay]

[Text] Yes, and I’ll make sure we both do.

[Text] It wasn’t too much, it’s okay.  That sounds incredibly sweet, actually.  That is the kind of Valentine’s day I could get behind, honestly.

[Text] Eh I don’t like the commercialism, sure.

[Text] But some people are more.. affectionate, you know? And it’s one day a year they can be open about that and don’t need to make an excuse for themselves, be it in public or private. It’s just.. accepted. 

[Text] Thanks.. I think? 

[Text] In the past I usually spent it in. 

[Text] When I had a Domme, I mean. I guess I ignored it the other years.

[Text] Sebastian.. . He’s had it rough the past year and is someone who cares about the day. So we’re sharing wine and problems tonight. 

[Text] That is actually the sweetest description of Valentines Day I’ve ever seen.  I’ve never thought about it that way.

[Text] I’ve always been more annoyed that it’s expected, you know? It’s not that I don’t want to be affectionate.  It’s the feeling that making a big gesture on Valentine’s day ends up feeling like I only did it because of the day, not because of a genuine emotion.

[Text] Did you like spending it in, when you were with her?

[Text] Ah

[Text] Who said I wasn’t a Valentine’s person?

[Text] I’m doing the same, except swap the beer with wine and Netflix with keeping my cousin from overdoing it.

[Text] I just can’t picture you caring about all the trappings of it, the heart shaped candies and pink teddy bears.  

[Text] I could picture you spending the evening out with someone you care about, though, maybe at a nice restaurant...  You’re a classier person than I tend to associate with Valentine’s Day.  More genuine sentiment than store-bought romance.

[Text] Perhaps I was curious?

[Delay]

[Text] And was making sure Lord Tybalt played nice with Montagues in attendance. 

[Text] He’s at it with Lucio officially finally. 

[Text] Least it looks that way to the public.

[Text] There we go, that makes so much more sense.