is anybody listening?

JULIAN: I'm sure there'll be busy days, too.

JULIAN: Perhaps we can see how we feel tomorrow and decide based on that? I'll talk to Bobbi, too.

JULIAN: Hey, I hope you're having an alright day?

JULIAN: I was wondering whether you might want to cook with me again tomorrow? Perhaps we could go to the farmer's market to stock up with fresh ingredients?

OPHELIA: I'm having a good day thank you for asking sir~ Business is a little slow

JULIAN: Hello, Ophelia!

JULIAN: Thank you so much, you really didn’t have to.

JULIAN: Of course, I‘d be happy to! Did you have anything specific in mind?

OPHELIA: Ah well I live with you two for now so I'd like to contribute and Bobbi doesn't want me paying rent.

OPHELIA: Hello sir!

OPHELIA: I just did the shopping for the week so that's been done

I like to think of myself as a master of leaving people wanting more– just a taste, you know? It was quite wonderful, though, thank you. That’s fine! I’m not the one people tend to know, really. I’m Riss Holcomb, Emily Barton’s Domme. Er.. Emily Garcetti. 

Well I certainly know Emily. It’s a pleasure to meet you then, Miss. Ophelia Abrahams.

You right. But who knows if’n they’re really tryin’ to cure people or stick ‘em in a camp somewhere. 

I guess nobody really knows what the government is planning. They could even be using donated blood to track people who’re becoming afflicted, but we won’t know till we find out. Either way I’d advise against..afflicted people donating, for now.

Yeah.. ‘skinda where I am. For real? I don’t know anyone– Not even hearsay. I guess we’re.. gonna find out more soon? 

I guess. What are we supposed to call these people? Sick? Mutated?

It’s a smart idea, the blood drive. Even if not used for this thing, but also just in general. We can never have too much blood saved for emergencies. How are you doing, Ophelia? You seem better.

Well, it’s why I’m the office manager I suppose. Bring cookies in, organize the board, organize blood drives. Or Bobbi just loves me.

Issues getting easily resolved with those in charge at this time? That’s a far stretch, for sure. How have you been, lately? Last I heard, you were on…a vacation of sorts. 

I’ve taken to liking the term ‘sabbatical’, I think. I’m feeling much better but I still feel like I would’ve preferred to stay there. One day I’d love to just have a house in France and...move there. Have a nice dom, stay away from people. It’s the dream.

So check it– Ya girl’s been hella gettin’ lit these days but like, I’ll be damned if I’m gonna be missin’ out on what’s goin’ on in this good good city of ours. That bein’ said, have you seen the kinda stuff folks can do out there? I saw a video of a dude totally bustin’ through a wall like the kool-aid dude. That’s fuckin’ lit as hell, if you ask me. Why would we ever wanna fix or “cure” that? 

I had to wonder briefly if you were speaking English. Also not everybody wants to be a giant pitcher of diabetes fuel, Malia. Some people would like to be cured.

And judging by your tone, you’re not exactly impressed despite not know what it is– Which, if that’s the case, I’m going to have to ask you tone it down a little until you have the full facts. Which! Again, that word, wow.. Anyways! It was a chocolate mousse tart topped with a raspberry compote. I’m almost offended that you assumed it was as simple as something dipped in chocolate, but you know, that’s totally okay. Considering, you know, I have no clue who you are and I’m figurin’ you don’t know who I am. 

Well the description given wasn’t very detailed, you have to admit. Though with the full description it sounds tasty enough and I hope you enjoyed it. And you’re correct, I don’t have the foggiest clue who you are.

Did they want regular ol’ folk to donate or the people who were havin’ them troubles? Wasn’t ‘xactly clear either way. 

I mean, if they’re trying to cure the afflicted then they’d want un-afflicted blood. Unless an afflicted person is volunteering to be a guinea pig.

Do you really believe that this is happening? It sounds like a hoax– and a way for the government to cause chaos again.

Unfortunately I’m not entirely sure what I should believe with this. My sister says one of her old friends has been...harmed? Afflicted? Whatever it is.

Dude, you legit went straight for robbery, I dig it, you go some shithead in you. The tall building shit doesn’t sound like a bad idea, not gonna lie. Poking a bear or whatever sounds fun but running isn’t on my repertoire. 

I don’t have shithead in me, thank you very much. You just said you wanted some insane and dangerous ideas, and I delivered.