lone ranger

Emeline had always enjoyed Halloween and felt quite in her element at the Castlebrac. The party was starting to heat up and she looked around with a smirk curling her lips. “How long before it starts to smell like sex in here?” she wondered aloud.

@bretonstarters​

“As if it doesn’t already,” Sarai said with a smile. “I’m sure it’ll be no time at all before it’s really apparent though.” She would probably duck out before that but there were a lot of people who clearly would be very happy to continue in the night’s festivities.

Part of Win’s job was playing the role of a good host to all of the guests until a paying customer decided to take him upstairs for the evening. At the moment, he was still in the main event room, taking suggestive pictures and flirting with everyone he came across. He spied one guest sitting alone and made his way to them, leaning across their chair a little suggestively. “You want some company?” Win asked.

Sarai glanced up, startled out of her thoughts, and offered a bemused smile. “I believe the appropriate answer tonight is yes,” she said. She had only attended because she felt a little obligated, and the thought of just returning home had occurred to her more than once. “But I don’t want to keep you from any of the many other people who undoubtedly would enjoy your company.”

Alexei let out a laugh then, one that was full of mirth and one that very few people managed to get out of them. Though if he was being honest– they’d begun to become more and more common in recent months. “Yes… perfect– then when asked I can come up with some grand tale. Though… I think my ability to keep that mystery is becoming more and more difficult as of late… especially when people seem to be seeing more in me than they probably should.”

Sarai smiled, pleased at hearing him laugh so fully. She wasn’t funny, and she accepted that, but it was always nice to bring that out of Alexei. “Yes, precisely! An air of mystery is always appealing - but if you want to drop it, that’s fine as well.” She wasn’t sure what to make of his comment precisely, and shot a quick glance at him. “Unless you don’t want them seeing things in you, I suppose?”

“In that case, you should have my number to make it easier to get in touch and ask.” Pulling out her phone, she handed it over to the woman with a slightly challenging look, letting Sarai know this was not only convenience but an invitation. Still, she let the moment fade with the waitress who took their order and came back shortly with their food. “You absolutely should. In the meantime, what have you been up to?”

The comment and look both seemed a little pointed and Sarai took the phone without protest this time, smiling slightly as she did so. It took only a moment to enter her name and number into and she passed the phone back with a larger smile for Elle. “Oh, just research, mainly. I have a couple of projects with some of the other members of my house, and some personal things. And there’s always some general upkeep at the library as well, even though it’s smaller than the public one.”

Jadon woke up slowly, fatigued and freezing. The world seemed to move around him in flashes of movement, pain, and sound. A few familiar voice broke through the haze and he’d ask a question before being pulled back into the dizzying abyss. Where was Rory? Was she okay? Did Aramis get Kit out too? The most painful question came when he realized where he was and why; Was Liana alive? Every time he came to he’d ask the same questions, too groggy to recall having asked them or the responses he’d been given.

It took time to heal, but when Jadon really woke up, saw the long shaggy hair, thick beard hiding a much more lean face, and discovered he had two physical wounds to heal from, not one; he wondered if he’d ever see his anxiety settle. Every loud sound seemed to echo around him, causing his chest to tighten and his heart to race. This time it had been a nurse dropping a chart in the room next door. Jadon had shot upright, palms already clammy as one clutched the hospital’s sheets and the other went to his immediately throbbing wound in his abdomen. The threat of another panic attack was only made worse by the machines beeping around him. Then he saw you and his steely blue gaze fell to the floor ashamed as he tried to mask his jagged breathing.

reference | @bretonstarters​

Sarai stood in the doorway for a long moment after Jadon saw her, lips pressed together tightly. She didn’t do well with emotions; she had never been able to express them well, and spent most of her time squishing them down until she could ignore them. So she waited until she didn’t think there was any danger of her crying before she stepped inside the room, opening her mouth to say something only to realize that . . . she had no idea what to say. Weeks of pent up worries and now she was at a loss for words. “I can go,” she finally said, waving a hand aimlessly. “If you aren’t ready for company. I just needed to see -”

“Might be fun– but it helps to keep some mystery to me.” He told her with a quick smile. “Ah exclusive. Then who would be our mysterious third member?” He raised an eyebrow, “Did you have someone in mind?”

Her brow furrowed thoughtfully. “I don’t have anyone in mind particularly, but it should be someone surprising, I think. To throw people off the scent - that way we can keep your air of mystery and have people wondering what we meet for.”

“Ah, it’s all about exploring so you can find the restaurants tucked into weird corners. I don’t like to visit the same places too often in case I find a new favorite and I really like food.” When the waitress came over, Elle smiled up at her. “Hey! I’ll take the iced Victorian Rose tea and whatever your cupcake special is for today. Thanks!”

“I’ll have to find you next time I need a recommendation,” Sarai said absently. She took a moment to look over the menu although she would have to study it more later. When the waitress turned to her, she ordered a cucumber sandwich and the iced tea as well. “You sold me on the sandwiches,” she said with a laugh. “But I’m going to come back and try a cupcake someday soon.”

“I did enjoy it, so there is that. Not that the research is ever really going to be seen by anyone other than me.” He shrugged his shoulders quickly and offered her another smile. Even after all these years he felt a little awkward talking about his love for astronomy. Especially when it had been one of the biggest things he’d fought about with his father. “Ah, a book club. Perhaps. Though you are probably one of two people who has ever heard me talk about books. It might come as a shock to others.”

“I suppose the question then is do you want to shock the others? Because it can certainly be fun at times.” Sarai rarely did anything out of her norms but she had to admit to enjoying it when she had the opportunity to surprise people around her. “Otherwise we can make it a very exclusive book club. Three member limit.”

“If you like black teas, they’re Victorian Rose tea is really lovely and surprisingly not overwhelming. But they also do rose flavored marshmallows to go in their hot chocolate which is really fun. I am a sucker for their cupcakes and any of those little mini sandwiches cut into triangles though, so don’t make me pick between those.” Spying an open table, Elle led the way over and slid in, pushing her hair out of her face as she looked up at the Domme. 

Sarai nodded thoughtfully; it wasn’t quite hot chocolate weather, but the rose flavored marshmallows did sound delightful for when it got cooler. Tea felt like the right choice for today though; hopefully something that would help soothe her frazzled nerves. “I can’t believe I haven’t made it in here before,” she said as she followed Elle to the table and took a seat as well. “It’s quite charming and I don’t cook very much so I’m always looking for more restaurants to add to my list.”

“Honestly… Not all that much. I had a theory I wanted to read more about so it’s been solely astronomy books.” There had been something he’d tracked in his star charts that he was focused pretty closely on lately. “Not a lot of pleasure reading. Probably should take a break and pick up a new book.” He told her with a slight smile. Sarai was probably one of two people that truly knew how much he read.

“That happens to the best of us,” she murmured with a sympathetic expression. Time just seemed to slip away without her awareness and then suddenly she realized all of her reading had been research. “Did you enjoy the astronomy books? If you’re enjoying the research, that probably should count for something.” Chuckling, she reached up to push her hair off her shoulder. “Maybe we should start a book club, as encouragement to read more.”

“That’s fair enough. Well, Rose Buddies is a great place to slow down. They have an awesome selection of teas, and they do some great sandwiches and pastries. And, obviously, they work roses into a bunch of their specialties so it can be a fun thing to explore.” Elle led the way to the cafe, making sure to open the door for the Domme when they arrived at the friendly cafe with florals painted on the window.

That certainly sounded like the sort of place she would appreciate at the moment. And any time in the future, really. “It sounds charming,” she said, her expression brightening as the shop came into sight. It was every bit as lovely as the description; Sarai didn’t really believe much in fate, but this encounter might be enough to change her opinion on that. “What would you recommend?” She asked, turning to Elle after they had stepped inside the cafe.

Jadon smiled, satisfied in her response because he may have been fully intent on meddling just a tiny bit, so long as he could manage it discreetly. His blue eyes looked down at the book on his lap. “I walked past it sticking out on a shelf, incorrectly shelved by someone that thought shoving it onto a shelf like this was a grocery store was okay.” Wondering if it was stupid to pity a book that was chucked aside, there he was, thumbing through it’s pages.  “Portney’s Complaint by Philip Roth. I’ve read Goodbye, Columbus… Have you read it?”

“Oh, I hate seeing things shelved incorrectly. Even at the grocery store.” Sarai shook her head absently and wondered just how much work would have to be done the next day to restore order to the library. Hopefully the patrons here tonight wouldn’t cause too much chaos. “Mmm - I think so, but it’s certainly been a while. I’ll have to see if I have it on my shelf when I go home tonight. Are you enjoying it?”

“I don’t mind.” He told her with a grin. He didn’t have to eat right that second anyway, not that he had been all that hungry lately. It had mostly been coffee and whatever Theo had put in front of him since the shooting. Though he supposed you could blame his anxiety for that.

“I’m very glad,” she said with a smile. Company was better than solitude right now and she was quite happy about seeing Alexei. Gesturing, she began walking slowly down the path again, glancing around the park absently. “Have you had a chance to read anything interesting lately?” Her own reading had slackened lately; she’d done a lot of rereading and probably needed something fresh now.

“I did ask you first. If it was an imposition, I wouldn’t have said anything,” Elle replied bluntly. She had a few friends who tried 4to be considerate that way, but it was often more work than just accepting. She hadn’t expected to have that kind of interaction with a Domme. “There’s a great cafe just around the corner. Have you ever been to Rose Buddies?”

A soft, surprised laugh huffed out at the statement; Sarai appreciated the bluntness, and supposed she shouldn’t second guess people who invited her places. It still felt a little surprising though, and she couldn’t quite help herself. “Of course, I would be happy to accompany you.” The name of the cafe was familiar, although Sarai couldn’t say for certain if she had been there or not; she tended to stick to places that she recognized. “I don’t think I have, although I might simply have forgotten. Things have been a bit hectic lately.”

Elle nodded sympathetically. “Yeah. I didn’t have exactly that feeling, but I was getting pretty edgy which is why I figured I’d try running and seeing if that helped me work out some of the wiggles. But, since I clearly can’t be trusted, do you want to get a pastry or a tea or something before you go back?”

“Fresh air is supposed to be good for the soul,” Sarai said with a soft sigh. The invitation took her by surprise but she found that she was inclined to accept; company was preferable to work at this point, and Elle was entertaining. “If it wouldn’t keep you from anything. I think I would appreciate the company, although I don’t want to impose.”