i'll stay vulnerable

Before Drew came back down from putting Nora down, he swung into his own room and grabbed a flannel button up for Julie to change into after he also changed. He held it out like a peace offering, “Why don’t you get de-Nora-fied and I’ll finish cleaning up? Then you can decide if you still want to talk to me about what’s going on.” Drew brushed some of the flour from her hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “And thank you for today. It was really sweet of you to come hang out with us and make some treats for Nora.”

Julia was finished wiping down all the countertops and was doing the dishes when Drew came back. She looked down at his shirt as he offered it, smiling softly at both the gesture of the shirt and the kiss to her head, feeling...cared for. It was nice. Everything was always nice with him. She hummed softly as he spoke, looking up at him then, “I love that little girl. And I love spending time with her--with both of you. So really, it should be me thanking you for letting me intrude.” Her gaze lingered up on him for a moment more before she finally nodded and headed off towards the bathroom. 

She left on her skirt but pulled her blouse off, smiling fondly at all the flour and chocolate smudges on the shirt. She took the ponytail out too, letting her hair fall down her back as she buttoned his shirt on. It was big on her to the point that she was swimming in the material but it was soft and cozy and smelled like him so she happily snuggled into it before padding out and following the sounds of movement to where he was, smiling softly up at the Dom as she motioned for them to go ahead and sit down and relax. “Fair warning. It’s..probably silly at this point, what had me upset hours ago.”

“No?” he asked her. “Well, color me interested, babydoll. So no need to get all blushy.” Daring, he reached out to catch her face and trace the apple of her cheek with a gentle thumb. “Though I like being the one who put it there.”

There it was. Her wanting him. It all clicking right into place. As she caught his hand, he let his fingers slide up to press the first two against the thrum of her pulse in her wrist. “Think we could come up with something.” Stepping close, Xavier leaned down to murmur, “You wanna get out of here? You take care of me, and I’ll take care of you.”

Julie felt her heart skip as the man’s thumb brushed over her cheek, his fingers tipping her chin up a bit more to face him better and, well, he got what he wanted as the flush very much stayed on her face thanks to his words. She was moving to stand up then, feeling her heart flutter once again as he pressed his fingers against her racing pulse, knowing it left no room to hide how he was affecting her.

His offer made her swallow, a rush of heat flooding through her just at the thought--and she swallowed as she nodded, “Okay.” She agreed, moving her hand enough to give a little squeeze to his fingertips before she finally slid off the stool to stand up properly. “Lead the way, Sir?”

Nora looked up at her with wide, bright eyes and asked, Am I really your favorite? Drew looked down at the floor, a smile on his face as he let them have their moment. He looked back over to her and nodded. “If that’s what you want.” The dom wasn’t about to push her so instead he nudged her gently with his shoulder before taking a few quick strides to Nora, picking her up so she could open the cabinet that held the baking tins as he looked over at Julie with a twinge of concern disguised by a smile, “Hmm, I’m thinking cupcakes or brownies. What do you think, little Norrie?” With the clamoring sound of Nora grabbing a cupcake tin, if there was any question on the verdict of their upcoming baking adventure, it had to be Nora shouting at the top of her lungs, Cuppy cakey time!

Julie crouched down to smile at the little girl, nodding, “Of course you are. Just don’t go telling others or they might get jealous.” She teased, glancing up to Drew for a moment as she said it before righting herself. When cupcakes were decided Julia laughed and got them all settled in the kitchen. For the next hour or two she was just...happy, smiling easily around the Dom and his wonderful little girl. She felt safe here, wanted, and Julie reveled in it--even if the trip ended up with flour in her hair and melted chocolate smudged on her shirt. It was all worth it to feel this content. 

By the time they were done (and more than a few cupcakes were eaten) Julie was all around feeling better, but she’d still told Andrew she’d talk and..well...she figured maybe it might be a good thing, to talk about it to someone who wasn’t her older sister. So while Drew got Nora down for a nap she focused on cleaning up the kitchen, methodically wiping everything down, wanting to make sure his space was spotless once again as she waited and tried not to feel nervous.

That smirk was back as he looked at her. Clearly, he was feeling bold tonight, as he easily volleyed back: “First we’re discussing how you should be wetter, then we’re talking about getting me out of my clothes. Careful, doll, or I’ll start to think you’re flirting with me.” He was clearly flirting with her, and he was making it damn well clear. 

“Nice to meet you, Julie. Xavier,” he responded, watching her for a moment before extending his hand to shake hers. “Kind of a cold night, isn’t it?” He remarked. “I’ll be shivering on my walk. Gonna have to figure out a way to warm up.”

“I...” Julie floundered for a moment, clearly more than a little flustered as the man spoke. Maybe if she had a drink or two in her she’d even be bold enough to shoot something witty right back, but as it was now, she’d been reduced to embarrassing stutters and a flush that just wouldn’t go away. Just the same though.. “Well..I wouldn’t stop you from thinking that at all, Sir.”

She looked down at the hand that was offered, only hesitating a moment before slipping her own smaller hand into his to shake in greeting. “Nice to meet you too, Sir.” Julie replied, trying to summon up any of the boldness that was still lingering inside her. “Could there..maybe be anything I could do to help you out with that? I mean after all, damp clothes can’t help with the cold and that’s my fault..”

His laugh was amused and full-bodied as she nodded her agreement. Someone had left her in the stable too long, apparently. Horrible treatment of a girl with a mug like that. “No?” He asked, quirking a brow. Alright, alright. He could work with ‘not that awful’.

Looking at the drink, he considered. “If you want. But it’s kind of chaotic in here, so I was thinking about wrapping it up.” He ran his finger around the rim of the whiskey glass before humming. “You got a name, doll?”

Julie bit her lip as she shook her head, agreeing to his question because, well, it wasn’t awful to say, especially coming from someone who looked like him. The man in front of her was older, obviously, but still incredibly handsome--and clearly not a jerk since he hadn’t scolded her for her accident. When he looked to his glass, she was already ready to flag a bartender down to get a refill for herself and for him as well, when he instead spoke and said he was thinking of leaving. 

She admittedly deflated a bit, the little smile on her lips dimming before she nodded, “Right, of course. Besides, you should...probably get out of those soon anyways.” Julie murmured, nodding to the wet stains on his clothes, and when he asked for her name she looked up to him again, humming softly. “Oh um, Julia, Sir. Or just Julie.”

As she moved to start to flutter around him, Xavier watched her with a quirked brow. Poor girl looked like she might cry if he looked at her wrong and no one should be under that kind of stress on a Saturday night in a bar. He shook his head. “It was an accident,” he told her simply.

He had just moved to say more when she kept talking and he paused before raising a brow. He’d had a few drinks and, well, she might humor him considering she had just soaked him with alcohol. “Well, that’s a damn shame, isn’t it?” He teased. It was clear he wasn’t taking such a thing too seriously. Hey, if it offended her, at least she couldn’t throw her drink in his face, right?

“Sorry. That was… awful to say,” he said with a laugh, shrugging out of his wet coat. “But you did walk right into it.”

Julie opened her mouth to reply but then immediately closed it a moment later, that flush on her face just getting darker at his blatant insinuation. It didn’t help matters that her first, knee jerk reaction wanted her to nod in agreement. Instead she just let out a breath, a bashful little smile pulling onto the corners of her lips as she shrugged, “It....wasn’t that awful.” she found herself replying.

She shifted on the spot then, readjusting herself as she put the napkins down and she tucked some of her long hair behind her ear, finally looking up to the man’s eyes again. “I really am sorry, and..I’d really like to make it up to you in some way? Can I buy you a new one maybe?” she asked, nodding to his glass.

Nora hardly paid attention to what Julia had said, instead opting to shout her hello and tap her small fingers on the containers in the submissives hands. Ohhhh, what’s that? Are we going to play a game, Miss Julie? Drew, who’d been just a fraction of a second from scolding her now chuckled. “We’re very happy to have your company, but you’ll have to tell us what we’re signing up for, darling.” It wasn’t lost on him that it had been a while since he’d seen her, longer still since he’d been with someone, and that his mind had fleetingly flitted to a more adult kind of game for the evening. A thought he scolded himself for as he led their guest to the kitchen while processing that she’d come for some sort of comfort. “Do you need to talk about what’s wrong or is this an avoid it and get your mind off of things situation?”

Julia smiled down at the girl, humming, “I brought some stuff for us to play in the kitchen, yes. I’ve missed my favorite baking partner.” she teased lightly, poking the little girl on the nose before looking back up at her father, “Oh, well I figured that could be for us to figure out together? I brought some fruits and other ingredients to bake...virtually anything we’d like. So I guess that’s more up to you and what you’re in the mood for, Sir?” She offered with a little smile, figuring they could make cupcakes or..something. She watched Nora rush off to the kitchen in excitement and, now alone, Julia let out a breath and looked up at him again, her expression now tinged with sadness as she shrugged, “I’d...rather talk about it once she’s asleep. If that’s okay?”

Xavier had been eyeing several of the submissives in the bar. He didn’t usually just go to people watch, after all. He could and would go to a brothel were he unsuccessful, but he always preferred the thrill of the pick up, knowing that he was still perfectly desirable. However, the downside was the atmosphere. Sometimes it was hard to talk when it was crowded like this.

The girl sitting next to him who looked exhausted, who he had been debating engaging, suddenly ended up half in his lap, her drink all over his shirt, jeans, and jacket. Xavier blinked before shaking liquor off of himself. “Not the brand of cologne I usually prefer.” And now he was fuckin’ wet. “You okay, Doll?”

A dark flush of embarrassment flooded Julia’s face as she took it all in, seeing that she’d not only half landed on the man, but had effectively soaked and ruined his entire outfit. She was so mortified she’d barely even caught the little pet name and she let out a huff, shaking her head. “I’m so sorry..” she said again, only hesitating a moment more before she reached over the bar to grab a wad of napkins. She was inches away from dabbing at his clothes then, and if she hadn’t been red before, she sure was now as she bashfully handed him the napkins instead.

“Me? I’m not the one wet right now..” She replied, not quite thinking of her choice of words. “I...--can I get you anything? Do anything?”

Julie had stayed late at the library, doing an extra credit assignment for her class after spending the entire morning shadowing at the hospital. She felt a bit strung out and vaguely wondered if she was starting to crack, if it was starting to show. Maybe she just needed a night off, a couple hours. And that’s why she’d allowed herself to head to the bar that night, figuring maybe a drink or two would help. The place was crowded, though she’d managed to snag a stool, and she was a couple sips into her drink when she was knocked into from behind by a group of rowdy men, causing her to slosh her drink over herself and the man sitting beside her. “Oh! I-I’m sorry! I’m so sorry.”

Seo looked at the advertisement about the Valentine’s days celebrations. Hands crossed over his chest as he considered all the options, a crease formed between his brows.

“You going to any of these?” He asked the person next to him.

@bretonstarters​

Waiting for her coffee to be finished, Julie looked over at the question, a little smile pulling onto her lips as she shrugged, “While it’s probably smarter to stay home and do schoolwork, I guess I can see the appeal. Not to mention I feel like the entire city will be there..no one wants to be the odd ball out.”

   Seeing someone approach him where he sat outside on the patio of the small cafe, he cleared his throat and put out his cigarette, “Sorry about that– the owners don’t mind.” He remarked as an explanation. It was a nasty habit, he was aware– but he still held onto some of the nasty habits even after all of these years. 

    The sun was just going down, putting everything into a beautiful light. He’d brought a book out with him but it was still sitting closed in front of him. “You can sit if you want…” He remarked, wondering if that’s what they’d come over to ask. “I mean– not that you have to.”

She’d just been looking for a place to sit, long enough to finalize some paperwork for school. She noticed someone vaguely familiar from her time spent in the hospital and she decided to take a chance and she smiled politely, waving off the apology, “No it’s fine. I um...--I do need to sit for just a couple minutes though, leech off the cafe’s wifi. If you don’t mind?”

Drew had been running around the house doing laundry and playing games with Nora all day. His dark curls were unkempt, flannel button up half open, and he if he’d been expecting company he would’ve definitely put on jeans instead of the gray sweats he donned. When the doorbell rang he probably wouldn’t have heard it over the television if he hadn’t been headed to the kitchen to do dishes in the first place. “Julie,” Drew greeted her with her own name, a pleasant tone of surprise as he noticed all the items in her arms. “I see you’ve come with a plan. Care to fill me in?” He reached out and took her things before hollering to the living room over the television, “Nora someone came to see you.” Slipping around Julia after shutting the door he heard the pitter patter of Nora running and the inevitable squeal of delight as she said hello and gave Julie a hug.

Admittedly, Julie felt kind of...out of sorts, her thoughts all over the place. Maybe she should have scheduled an appointment with a Dom..but instead she was here, armed with a bag of baking ingredient and a hopeful little smile that she wouldn’t get turned away at the door. “O-Oh I um...I just needed a distraction..and I’d hoped you two would be home and not too busy as to indulge a poor girl for a little while?” she asked, her tone equally as hopeful. When he turned and called for Nora, Julia’s smile grew even more; she’d quickly grown to absolutely adore the little girl, genuinely loving spending time with her, making her smile. She let Drew take the things out of her arms just moments before she crouched down and wrapped her arms around her, hugging Nora back, “Hi, little bean. Hope it’s okay with you that I came over? I wanted to see you and your daddy for a little bit.”

Julie saw him again- her ex-claim, looking as happy as ever with his new submissive, their baby. It certainly threw her off for the rest of the day, made her own insecurities skyrocket. So after a couple hours of trying to study she instead decided to distract herself in a much better way: baking. And even better, baking with company, so Julie packed up a few ingredients into a bag and headed out to Drew’s home, not even bothering to call ahead since she’d gone over a couple times now to spend some time with him and his sweet little girl. And hopefully, being around them and their happiness could maybe rub off on her, make her stop feeling all the negative emotions that’d been swirling through her all day.

“Good. it’s nice to see you again.” Henri affirmed with a nod. “Pity? For a beautiful girl? More like you are doing me a favour. Have a seat. Let me move my stuff out of the way.” He pushed away his bag and frankly was relieved to have an excuse not to deal with it at the moment.

“Just something I’m trying to figure out. I’ll work on it later. What about you? How’s school?” he asked quietly, desperately seeking a change in topic. 

Julie smiled at that- one that both grew and turned bashful as he complimented her, called her beautiful. “It’s good to see you again too, Sir.” She murmured, letting him move his things aside before she sat across from him, still curiously glancing to his things he’d been so focused on just moments ago. “Alright. Sorry to pry.” she didn’t want to seem too nosy after all.

“Oh--it’s going well. Busy. But I guess I should’ve never expected anything less from med school.” She told him with a laugh. “I feel like all I ever do is sleep and schoolwork but..it’ll be worth it, in the end. To take care of children. To finally get to follow my dreams.” her words turned a bit wistful, airy and she practically let out a little sigh before snapping out of it. “And you, Sir? How’ve you been?”

Kit eyed the back in her hand before shaking his head. “That’s okay. Thanks though.” He wasn’t sure he’d be able to eat comfortably right now, anxious as he was. Accepting food from someone he didn’t really know, despite feeling like he’d seen her before, also seemed like a bad idea, though he knew rationally that there was no reason to suspect her of anything. It was nice of the woman to offer it to him nonetheless. 

Julie kept the same little smile on her face, nodding at him. “Right, of course.” She probably did seem a bit crazy- offering a total stranger food. “Sorry to have bothered you. I guess I just um...--wanted to check if you were alright. I’m sorry.”

Kit looked at the woman. She seemed familiar, like he’d seen her somewhere before. But he couldn’t place her and she didn’t seem to know who he was, so maybe he was just imagining it. Deja vu. “I’m…fine,” he said to her. Did he looked weird to people passing by? Maybe he should move to another bench so nobody saw him sitting there too long. Though he supposed it was too late for that.

It took her a second more, but then it clicked just who this was--one of the people who’d been kidnapped, who she’d tried to go and rescue with the others. It felt like months ago and yet just yesterday at the same time. “Alright...good.” She agreed, giving him a little smile, hesitating before she lifted her arm up a bit, the bag dangling. “Weird question but...you hungry? I let my stomach get ahead of myself and I bought one too many pastries.”