whiskey in a teacup

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28, I have big plans for you #bdayqueen

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Lorenzo flushed softly but grinned over to her. “It’s a gift really. Seduction with Scientific facts. There’s even a course in university that helps you hone it.” He smiles and chuckles. In all honestly, she surprised him. Other woman would have been zoned and looking around for someone better by the time he said anything about making dinosaur calls. He knew he was a bit of a nerd in some ways but it was part of him. Theresa seemed to accept that about him and somehow that made her all the more beautiful. 

He smiled letting his hands settle at her waist swaying with her to the music. There was something about Jazz that was so smooth. Far better than anything they played in the club. Usually that music had your blood pumping from the base but this was more relaxed and he loved it. “Its in the past really, honestly I was pretty much just quiet back then. Until I got adopted by the Lacroixs, they helped me come out of my shell a bit, my siblings mostly that is.” 

Theresa loved dancing. As a little girl, she’d stand on her father’s feet as he danced her around the living room, Sam Cooke blasting in the background. The background music had changed over the years, but the feeling of being safe and secure never had. Even now she felt more relaxed than she had in days. There was just something about music that got under her skin and undid all of the tension that she’d been carrying. “Now that sounds interesting,” she commented. “You do know you’re going to have to share these scientific facts so that I can test how seductive they really are, right?” 

As they danced, Theresa’s hands moved from where they were resting on his chest to wrap lightly around his neck, as best she could considering how tall he was. Thank god for heels. “They sound great. I’m glad you have them.” Everyone needed a family, regardless of if you’d chosen them or they’d chosen you. It was why Theresa would always be grateful for Mariana and Alba; they’d loved and accepted her when she’d felt all alone in the world. “Okay, rapid response. No thinking, just first answer that comes to mind. Favorite place you’ve ever visited?”

“Me either. I don’t know how time exists anymore.” Ivan found himself absent-mindedly stating, although keeping his eyes scrolling through various news articles on his phone, a habit out on break from a work shift. Despite the fact he didn’t even know it he was the one being directly addressed at the moment. Her following remark had his head finally raising. “But, I think if the date on my phone is in fact correct, you do still have a few days to go till Halloween, so I wouldn’t say that.”

“It’s almost pointless now,” Theresa responded with a sigh. She was being dramatic, she knew, but that was hardly a reason not to indulge the emotion. “By the time I decorate, it’ll be time to pull out the Christmas things.” With a slight smile, she turned to regard the kind man who’d entered into a conversation with her. “I’m sorry to lay this all at your feet. You must think I’m strange.” 

our muses relationship in one gif

@msmarianavargas​

@mrlorenzolacroix​

our muses relationship in one gif

@albaxsutton

Lorenzo can’t help but laugh and shake his head. “I learned it as a kid, from my dad. He got me dinosaur toys to play with when I was little and when he’d join me he’d make the little roars. Over the years I just perfected it. And granted we don’t have a good way of testing it but I do know a few paleontologists who have been able to recreate a dinosaur’s larynx using the bones. Which does help recreate the sound. Beside, I help out with some of the tours at the museum the kids love the sound effects.” He smiles and shakes his head head, “This isn’t exactly the right venue for the raptor call I don’t think” 

He frowns faintly at himself. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed. my time there wasn’t all that great, but I was young, scared and quiet so not always the best fit in families. I’m glad you had a better experience” He smiles at her request and nods taking her hand. “I’ll warn you it’s been a while since I’ve dance but you can smack me if I step on your toes” 

“Who would’ve guessed that listening to someone talk about dinosaur calls and the science of sound would be so attractive?” There was something different about him whenever he spoke about his passions -- he lit up, and Theresa loved it. She’d met enough people who were living lives they hadn’t dreamed of, working jobs they absolutely loathed, to recognize the way passion died. So, meeting someone who was literally living their dream was refreshing. “That’s honestly not something I ever thought I’d say.”

Theresa laughed as he accepted her hand. “Such a sweet man,” she said, “You’ve got nothing to worry about, boy toy. I got you.”  Theresa rested her hands flat on his chest and tucked her body close in to his, swaying lightly. “I’m sorry you didn’t have the greatest experience in care. Though I can’t imagine you as anything less than an adorable and very serious little academic.”

msmarianavargas‌:

Mariana smiled softly as Alba joined her inside, she nodded to her friend’s response. She couldn’t deny that their nights just the three of them were a type of therapy. Whenever one of them needed the others they always showed up. The mutual support between the trio was something Mari needed in her life. She knew her ladies would always be there. Her hand rubbed Theresa’s back softly. “You have nothing to apologize for Beautiful. You know you never do with us.” She frowns softly and her eyes shifting over to the pictures on the table. “I’m sorry, have you talked to him lately?” 

@albaxsutton​

Alba’s heart broke for Theresa, for the idea that she had someone who loved her so dearly taken away due to injustice of the highest degree. Alba was never good at comforting people, it was something that hadn’t been done to her on a regular basis. But with the two women in front of her, it was like something clicked. An instinct to make things better for them. Even if she didn’t really know how, she’d try at least. She pursed her lips and gestured with her head to Theresa’s living room. “Why don’t you go sit down, okay?” She offered to her. “I’ll go get us some much deserved glasses of wine.”

Theresa nodded, sniffling quietly, as she padded to the couch and pulled her legs up. She hated crying -- tears did nothing to change a situation -- but she’d held them in for so long that now it seemed impossible to keep them from flowing. “It’s been weeks.” She usually spoke to her father at least once per week but ever since she’d started working and studying for classes, she hadn’t been able to devote the time necessary. “I plan to visit him for his birthday, but that means getting through the holiday season and it’s always difficult doing that alone.” 

Theresa had resigned herself to the idea of having a roommate ever since she’d moved to New York City; it was simply a fact about living in the city on a student’s budget, with or without her night job. Now that it was becoming a reality, though, she found that she was nervous. Seraphina had seemed nice enough and she hadn’t objected to the fact that Mariana and Alba spent a considerable amount of time at the apartment, but there were still doubts niggling at the back of her mind. 

“I hope you enjoy pink,” she lightly joked as she ushered the other woman into the apartment. They were all but agreed, though Theresa had figured that she’d want to see the place before they made anything official. “The living room area is mostly pink. I’m fond of it, but it can be changed if pink isn’t your color of choice.” 

        “I can’t say I’m prepared for a costume any time soon, I usually just ask my assistant to get me a costume that will be comfortable and easy to move around in for a party.” Thea confessed, she wasn’t all that very festive when it came to holidays. Always getting lost within her days and being home for Thanksgiving or Christmas was never a homey feeling.

“Your assistant?” Theresa wasn’t sure if she was jealous or offended. Though, even if she had a personal assistant, she’d still end up searching for her own costume. “So is it assistant’ discretion or do you give them some kind of parameter when it comes to costume selection?” 

Lorenzo chuckled softly hearing her response. He was never very good at talking about himself. Mostly because he had always felt a little out of place in his family’s world. There was still the question whether he was adopted as a campaign ploy in the first place. He had always been the quiet one like Tristan, standing off to the side until he needed to play his part. “Well I was going to say that I like dinosaurs and do a killer raptor call but I figured you’d have them throw me out so I dont embarrass you.”

He smiled softly as she explained. He liked the way her face lit up when she talked about her dad. His face dropped however when she continued, a mirror image to his own past. “I’m sorry for whatever bad happened, foster care is..” He shakes his head unable to finish his sentence. “Do you miss Chicago?”

“Why didn’t you lead with that,” Theresa asked feigning mock shock. “Because now I have so many questions;l: how’d you discover your prehistoric party trick? How do you know you’re doing it well? It’s not like we have a way of accurately testing it?” As usual the lawyer inside of her was reeling out of control. She was faced with a situation and all she wanted to do was probe deeper. “I do have to thank you for refraining from showing me your raptor call just yet.”

Theresa laughed only to sober at his apology. “They weren’t awful. Actually, they were really great.” Theresa felt the need to defend the couple that had housed her for two years. The Johnsons had been great. Mrs. Johnson has been a foster child herself and as such, had been determined to provide a stable and loving environment for teens whose life was anything but, and she’d managed to do just that. “I was just sixteen and angry.” Which was how she’d ended up with a misdemeanor vandalism charge, which was now, thankfully, a part of her closed juvenile records. “Sometimes. I try not to think about it though.” The conversation had taken a turn and Theresa wasn’t exactly sure that she was comfortable with it, so pushing back from the table, she stood and extended a hand in more command than permission. “Dance with me.”