HIGH MEAT

He was too busy tickling the little boy's palm with his index to notice his parent, only when he heard talking did he look up. And he had to double - uh - triple take. He was stunned to stillness for a moment.

"Oh." was this luck? He'd never been lucky before, either. Was this day the start of a brand new life for him? "Hello. It's nice to see you, too." oh gosh. Oh goodness. He didn't know how to behave! He felt incredibly nervous all of a sudden!

"yes, i'm his mother." a pause. "it's-- well, it's my weekend with him. so it's just the two of us." it's said barely above a whisper, because despite doe's belief that the situation with her son and his paternal grandparents in unjust, she's fully aware that others may see the situation as a reflection of her ability to parent. divulging always made her a little shameful, but she feels admittedly comfortable around the other. he's been nothing but kind and... and doe likes the softness that surrounds him. "which is why my shop was closed. i apologize if you wanted to pick up some flowers today." so maybe she'll be a little vulnerable.

Olivia rolled her eyes while chewing on that gum, because yeah, of course Lauriel would say that. "You know how fricking expensive all of that is." She gestured at her own body because yes, sadly, becoming who she wanted to be was expensive. And the last step yet had to be done. "Any hand that meets my pretty cute butt pays me extra." She is watching her partner, looking cute with his puppy eyes while acting as if she was right for beating up Olivias customer. "I am not sleeping with these guys, a hand on my butt doesn't kill me and doesn't kill you." But the jealousy was flattering, she liked being loved so passionately.

when they pull up to their usual late night haunt, lauriel takes off her helmet and runs a hand over her mussed up, grown out buzzcut. she'll probably ask olivia to dye it some crazy color when they both have the time.

"i don't beat up all your clients," lauriel pouts indignantly. "just the ones that deserve it, liv. and you can't tell me they don't deserve it. the other girls think so, too." he's shared a cigarette or two with olivia's coworkers during their breaks and lauriel's inevitable eviction from the club, and she's heard enough horror stories to stoke a righteous fury for a lifetime. the bassist leans over to kiss olivia's cheek and then her gloss-sticky lips.