you wear that dress

“I get that. When I eventually have kids of my own I’m going to want to make sure I give them everything I couldn’t get as a child.” It was nice to be able to connect to someone on this kind of level, even though he would never wish a poor childhood on everyone. But unfortunately it seemed those kind of people made the best parents at the end of the day. Licking his lip when she said we’ll see, he chuckled. “Like… not naked or anything. But fully clothed and just posing. It’ll be a stunning one. I’m sure I’d get a million offers on it one day with its beauty.”

As Marline talked about commissioning him for a picture, he shook his head. “As nice as extra cash always is, I’ll have to say no. It would be a gift from me. Sometimes an artist can never really put a price on his certain pieces of his work.” he chuckled a little bit at how dumb that probably sounded and if he was being honest – Matthias was pretty impressed he hadn’t made a total joke out of himself yet. But he knew that Marline was really easy to be around and that was what was making this date go well.

“I’m curious though. What was the name inspiration for your daughter? It’s very unique and I really think it’s beautiful. Makes me think of Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

“Well yeah, I got that, I was just saying let’s see because I don’t know... I feel like I would be far too fussy and moving-around-a-lot for you to paint me. I definitely can’t stay in one spot for too long,” she joked, though in reality that was pretty true. Marline smiled as soon as Matt explained that he’d do it for free. He was such a sweetheart. Why had he been graced into Marline’s life again? Had she even done anything to deserve this man being so kind to her?

She wasn’t too sure.

Marline grinned ear to ear as he brought up Hunchback. “Well, yeah, actually. She’s also a Taurus, and Emerald is the non-modern birthstone of Taurus. Also Hunchback happens to be my favorite movie, so Esmeralda it is. I think that name is just gorgeous anyhow. Do you want to see her?” she asked, moving to pull out her phone and show him some photos of the very bright eyed girl with very blonde hair.

“I’m really hoping her hair dies down to brunette though, because with that hair and her curls, she looks more like her dad than anything.” It wasn’t something Marline liked to always have to be reminded of.

It was pretty awful.

“She sounds like she has an amazing mom who is willing to give her the whole world. You can’t really top that.” Matthias said with a genuine smile as he reached over to give Marline’s hand a gentle squeeze. She seemed to be so well put together and that was made Matthias more drawn to her. It was the complete opposite of his ex who was ramming around at all different angles and starting fights and just being completely out of control. Sure, Marline says she had impulse but most people did.

He nodded though as she talked about what kind of career she wanted that wasn’t an escort and he shrugged. “I’m sure you could model. Like I said, I know painting isn’t photography but it’s still just as beautiful. So – I’d absolutely still love to paint you one day.”

Matthias chuckled a bit. “I also paint awesome pictures for little kids. You think I’m joking but like – I can probably do a picture book for the munchkins of the world if I sat down and tried hard enough to do it. So if Esme ever wants a really good picture for her room, I’m the dude to give it to her.”

“I want to give her what my parents didn’t,” Marline mused, squeezing his hand back. Mtthias was honestly the most genuine guy and Marline couldn’t stop smiling around him. He was sweet, he was nice, and he didn’t apparently have any ill intentions. It still seemed suspicious to Marline, but she didn’t care right now. She’d be uneasy about it later. 

She smiled bashfully at Matthias the second he told her that he’d paint her and so the brunette gave him a teasing wink. “You’re sweet, and we’ll see,” it was a simple thing. But Marline knew she’d eventually say yes. She wanted to see his style anyhow. He was probably incredible with art just like how her brother had been incredible with art. It was probably an artistic Matt thing. 

It was cool to hear her talk about her life, Matthias was pretty jealous. Though much like he anticipated her to say - it wasn’t a practical life. “Yeah, I get that. But at least it’s something you experienced. Those are the kind of things that bring so much inspiration to a lot of people. Feeling so free in that sense? It sounds fuckin’ awesome.” he nodded his head as he traced a few tattoos on his hands with the tip of his fingers before turning to face her.

“Almost five years. It’s been a blast really. Though I’m in the shittiest apartment and all that crap I’m happy being in this area. Plus being a bartender ain’t all that bad. If it’s a good night i can make over 100 dollars in tips.” He chuckled lightly as nibbled on the inside of his cheek and took a sip of his coffee once more. 

He wanted to know more about her though. “Have you ever wanted to be anything else? Like I know your childhood dream was not to be an escort, but you know. What is something you really wanted to do with your life?”

“When I started out in this city, my apartment was atrocious. But now I’m able to afford a good apartment-- two bedrooms for me and Esme. I want her to be able to have a good life and not remember this city as the awful place she grew up, but the place she loved to grow up in.” She smiled at Matt talk about his job. It seemed really nice, honestly. She didn’t get tips, usually. Only the guys paid the service that she was going through. She’d always thought to do it on her own time however cutting out the middle man could get messy and Marline wasn’t sure she wanted to do that yet.

When asked about her childhood aspirations, she shrugged quietly. “I guess I liked music but I didn’t actually want to do it. I didn’t have a whole plan for my life. I was a very impulsive child. Hell, that impulse is still around. No one can really stop Marline Halen.” She laughed and then took another sip of her drink. 

“I guess if I could be something else, though,” she started, chewing her lip in thought as she tried to come up with an idea. “I don’t know. I guess I’d want to keep this job. Maybe do modeling? I know my body well enough and I know sex sells, so I could make it work for me.” 

matthias: you deserve it, so thanks for letting me, babe. sex will happen when it's time.

matthias: we spend time together, text every day and send funny snapchats. that's enough for me.

matthias: i do... i just don't want you to feel like you have to. i like you no matter what, marline.

marline: i've only been told that someone liked me while we were having sex.

matthias: yes... like i don't require sex. i just like you, you know?

marline: ... no.

marline: i don't...

matthias: of course i do. you're funny and beautiful. sex with you is a bonus to being around you already.

matthias: if you're sure like it's not a necessity but god you're gorgeous

matthias: wait... it's for ME?

matthias: nah. it's uh super sexy. it'll be a good surprise for the guy.

matthias: uh is like 20 and option???

marline: really? i was worried the white made me look too pure.

matthias: holy shit...

marline: ok new best friend aka mattyboy. i need your opinion on this purchase i just got in the mail. 1-10 rating scale 10 being the best.

She was stunning. There was no lie about that and when she walked in, Matthias had to clear his throat because even when she was dressed in a not so formal sense she still managed to look beautiful and Matthias had to remind himself to actually be a person and talk to her. She was witty and headstrong and as much as he wanted to pay for the coffee because that’s what a date was, he knew better than to fight too much. Knowing his luck it would make him end up with coffee in his face.

When the two of them were sitting with their coffees, he took a sip of his and licked his lip. “Well, I’m an only child. When I was in school I drew a picture that was way more advanced than the class and they called my parents and told them that I took a picture from the internet and brought it in.” Matthias laughed a little bit as he remembered that story. “I had to sit and draw it again so they believed it was actually me.”

He shook his head at the detail. It also felt weird lying about being an only child. But since he hadn’t seen his sister in years it was like she didn’t exist.

“Your turn.”

Marline snorted at the story and shook her head before taking another sip of her coffee. God, that story. That was hilarious. “Well, at least that’s probably what I’ll have you do as well. Repaint something once you show me your art so I know you’re not just printing out other people’s work and claiming it as your own,” she teased, winking at him.

“Well, I never knew my family, actually. So kudos to you there for at least having parents.” Marline paused, remembering she had told Matt about her parents. She didn’t want to be caught in a lie. “I-- I mean, I knew them but they weren’t good. I didn’t know them for very long. I’ve spent the majority of my life living in a very vintage station wagon, traveling with freedom fighters, and smoking a heck of a lot of weed,” she said with a smile. “It was incredible. I felt like the princess of the Earth itself. Have you ever ran barefoot in a field after it rained? The mud that clings to your feet, the smell of the fresh dew. It’s all... so great,” she mused, smiling softly. That was definitely some things she missed about her old life. 

“But you gotta grow up sometime, and while I could have stayed with them, I wanted to try something new, and I didn’t want to raise a child around pot and drugs anyhow.” A lie, it wasn’t the real reason why she left but Matt didn’t need to know anyhow.  He wouldn’t tell him anything like that in the first place. 

matthias: yeah those kind of parents are the worst. i didn't want to have anything to do with music. they tried to force a lot of instruments on me to make me well rounded and shit. i just wanted to paint. so my parents kinda stopped caring about me.

matthias: yeah, you bet.

matthias: won't that cause more jealously with your dates?