abraxaslogs | [ open & closed

Entry tags:

[ open & closed | july & august ]

Who: The Doctor + Others
When: July & August
Where: Free Cities | Nocwich | Horizon
What: Monthly Catch-All
Warnings: None for now, will update if needed!

[ ooc: please feel free to ping me if you'd like to plot a custom starter of any sort, i'm open to anything!
hit me up on plurk or PM | also happy to match prose or brackets~ ]

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On the other end of it, Julia understood what she wanted with him instinctively, because she didn't want to push him away once she was herself again. She wanted to see him in person, talk to him, remind herself that they still have time. Time to make things better, to not go down the same path, to make their own choices. Maybe this will end similarly but it won't be the same, because they're on a new road now. And one she chose with eyes wide open, and so did he. There is equal buy in here, and equal reason to run away.

She takes his hand so she can see the stars and smiles. While it's reminiscent of him locking himself away in his domain full of the same, Julia also knows that it's him. He's a man of the stars, a traveler of space, this is just a physical manifestation of what was already in his soul.

"It's pretty," she confirms. "But yeah, it not being our choice, not great." There is nothing they can do about it though. There have been permanent marks left on them. Julia doesn't plan on letting it hang over her head though. She threads their fingers together, pressing her palm to his stars, and tugs.

"I brought us treats. We could sit on a bench, unless you had another idea?" This being a first date, Julia's happy with just about anything. He can probably smell the apples in her basket, but also on her too, she often smells of cinnamon and apples, due to the orchard.

[ There's a lot to say, a lot to think about. Both outwardly and inwardly, his thoughts always turning over so much he might not necessarily speak aloud.

But then there's the pun and his mind grabs onto it like a child, utterly amused. He can't help his smirk, quick and easy. ]

Be.

[ He laughs under his breath, adoring it. Oh, right! Other things, though. Focus, Doctor. ]

I'm glad for your bees and bes, Claire. As for this — [ he nods to the chalice himself. ] I think you're capable of anything at all. But let them all think otherwise, it's quite fun that way.

It's a lovely decorative item, that axe.

[ — and nothing more.

He speaks with such certainty if only because he wants that to be true. No fan of weapons, of course, he understands sometimes things are dire and they're necessary, but that's an absolute last resort and he'll probably look away while trying some clever ~~possibly foolish~~ diversionary tactic.

Mostly he doesn't want Hilda accidentally in harm's way and needing to use it. He finishes the rest of his own food, rubs his hands together, and grabs light hold of the horse's reins. ]

You want to hop on and we'll head north?

She might have guessed, perhaps, he's not the smoothest when it comes to planning and executing a date. He's fine at actually spending time together, he's thrilled to be in her presence, to have the ability to simply reach out and touch her without hesitation, the moment the thought occurs to him. Talking to her, laughing with her, listening to her, watching her countenance pulse with so much life — he loves it all.

It's the date part that he sometimes fumbles his way into. He's good at having grand ideas, not always the best at smaller details. He's also quite limited by the reality of them being trapped here. But he did have the presence of mind to consider perhaps they might want a quieter, more private space for a little while.

"Well — here is lovely. Or there," he nods to Oleuni Square. "Or over there." He nods to his left, to nowhere in particular. "But I wondered — I mean, I thought perhaps — a quieter space only for us? Do you want that?"

If she doesn't, he won't be disappointed, he only wants to make her happy.

[ His appreciation of the pun doesn't go unnoticed, and smiles. It turns into a grin by the time he's done talking. ]

I've been underestimated more times than I can count, and always, I like to think I've exceeded expectations. Whoever was living in Solvunn, perhaps figuring it out means nothing much in the grand scheme of things. But if this is to be my home for the long haul, I want to know everything I can about it.

[ It isn't as if she felt any differently about Earth. She's curious and eager, and age hasn't slowed her down much. Circumstance has, but she finds ways to adapt and keep learning. ]

What I would love, is to be able to see it all as it once was. That's where you and the TARDIS would come in beautifully.

[ Her chin rests in her hand for a moment. ]

That's not something I ever knew to want before meeting you.

[ It's something he wants and aches for all the time, of course. The memory of his beloved ship. All the things he could do, not for himself, but for others. It's been maddening on so many levels to be trapped here, to be unable to help as fully as he knows he can. ]

If I have anything to say about it, you'll absolutely see it all.

[ The Doctor's distaste for violence and the weapons that come with it isn't a secret. But she wouldn't have come out here without a weapon and she knows that he wouldn't ask her to. She had spent too much of her life around them but knew that it was how someone used it that mattered the most.

And if they encountered things that required them, they would be prepared. Because there was no way that Hilda would be able to live with herself if something happened to him. ]

Ready when you are!

[ For once she had packed light. Or lighter, rather. You never knew when you had to be prepared for the unexpected after all! ]

I know it's been a while but...how have you been since we came out of that dream?

[ If there are any lessons to be learned while she's on this planet, Claire knows that not taking what time she does have with people for granted, no matter what they have or don't have. Balancing a piece of cake on her fork, she holds it out to him in a little toast, smiling softly at him. ]

Then it's a future date. But for now, we'll enjoy our cake, and I'll fill you in on all the good things happening in Solvunn.

[ Because they can always focus on the bad, but right now, while there's cake, she decides they deserve nice stories. And so she begins, starting with Baby the comfort seal. ]

I'm ready yesterday and an hour from now.

[ It's said with a cheeky grin, though. He can't help it, it's the energy that's always present and demanding attention in him.

He's eager to get moving, like an itch under his skin when they've been in one place for too long, and so he's quick to lead the way as they walk. Even when he appears to be sitting or standing still, he's always watching, listening, observing, studying. There are various objects he's collected and tucked into his pockets even now, things from the desert that he wants to look into more closely when they return. What can be learned, if anything? Perhaps nothing at all, but that's hardly ever shut his mind off regardless. ]

Oh, that dream! Well, since then I've been very glad to be awake. Love it, actually, big fan, trying to pack full every waking moment I can.

[ That's not what she asked, he knows, he knows. Watch him shift it back quickly, though — ]

Were you okay?

[ In a certain definition of the word... ]

[ The cheeky smile is met with one of her own as they start off for the last leg of their journey. The ever present ready to go energy is one of the many reasons they got along.

It doesn't go unnoticed however that he doesn't really answer her question in his usual Doctor way but she doesn't press him on it. She can't blame him; they had all dealt with it in their own ways. But if there is anything to glean from his answer it was that he had been distracting himself from it and putting distance between himself and what had happened to them. ]

Okay as I can be, I think. I'm just glad that most everyone else seems to be moving on from it in their own way.

[ She'd go on to say more but the horse whinnies drawing her attention. Her posture astride the horse immediately straightens as she squints out into the distance. ]

I think we might have company.

Julia is someone who thinks of spending time together as dates, which is why she feels like they've been dating for a while and simply not calling it that. There is a small difference between friendship hanging out and dating, but they've had a vibe for longer than both of them wanted to acknowledge. Sometimes she and James would just go on a walk in the park or wander into a bookstore for a half hour, and that was just as fun to her as a fancy dinner or college party.

"Hmmm do I want to spend quiet alone time with you?" She taps her chin. "Yes, that's why I came!" Julia laughs and reaches out to take his hand, curling her fingers into his. She comes to Nocwich frequently so she looks consideringly toward the rest of the square, narrowing her eyes as she thinks about where they could actually be alone.

It's amazing how just being near him makes her feel all those butterflies and excitement and like this has already been the best day of the week by holding his hand. It's ridiculous, it reminds her of middle school, but it's sweet too. The Doctor has such a light heart and positive spirit, she thinks he brings her back to that time, a more innocent one. He knows her dark spots and she knows him, but they seem far away when they're together. The future they saw said otherwise, but she's ignoring it.

"I think I might know a spot, unless you already had one in mind?"

[ He wants to ask her more about that later, not wanting to let that thread go, at least as it pertains to her. But everything suddenly takes a turn on their little jaunt. With all the things this world has taken from them, how it's changed them, granted them powers beyond his own imaginings, and even at times altered the fabric of his own memories — there are some things he's thankfully never lost. Here, that proves to be invaluable, when he can lift his head towards the same direction and see so far ahead he might very well be hefting around binoculars. ]

You've always wanted to be right in the middle of an action adventure story, right, Hilda? One with daring suspense, thrills at every turn, a real page turner. Small group, no more than 10. Weapons, yes, in abundance.

[ They're blocking the path, of course, but there are always alternatives. They can't be certain there won't be an ambush, though. He's careful, at least, not to move and draw further unwanted attention towards them. ]

Good news! They might not have spotted us and we can take that other path just behind us, through the canyon walls. Bad news! They might have already spotted us and have reinforcements ready to ambush us, but good news again, we can absolutely manage whatever happens. Let's backtrack a bit. Slightly longer way 'round, but if we can avoid them entirely, all the better.

[ He's not naive enough to believe it will be that simple, but he'll always try for the most direct way to avoid a fight if he can. ]

[ Despite what is clearly reading as a little bit of a concerning situation for them, Hilda can't help but let out a slight titter. ]

I don't know about that. I'd rather read about it if I'm being honest.

[ Her mind is already going through the paces, working a muscle that she hadn't had to use in a very long time. Strategy on the battlefield was hardly her forte. If she wasn't complaining about wanting to be on the sidelines, she was being pointed in a direction and told to fight. Or at least, that was her perception of herself.

They're outnumbered in both bodies and weapons, so in that sense they're at a disadvantage. But she's taken down more men on her own. If it comes to that she'd do it again. That's merely a cautionary mindset though, especially when she's more than happy to take up the Doctor's suggestion. Her voice is still light despite the slight edge that begins to creep into it. ]

Of course we can manage it. We're together with our valiant steed Juniper.

[ At this she gives the horse a reassuring pat and urges her to turn wasting no time at all.

The Doctor is right of course and it isn't that easy because there is, in fact, another check point awaiting them when they eventually do arrive between the canyons. Spotting the sight of at least two men up ahead Hilda lets out a huff. ]

What do you think the chances are that if we just ask nicely they'll let us through?

A lived story is always worth it, Hilda, even — and especially — with a few bumps along the way.

[ Evidently, to him, potentially running afoul of bandits equates to merely a few bumps. Easily overcome! He's faced far, far worse. This is simply a plot twist in the story of their little adventure. Just another Thursday. There haven't been enough of those lately...

He's quick to smile at her and Juniper, though, finding himself not the least bit ill at ease. There's no fear for him here, not yet, no, it would take a lot to conjure those feelings in him. Being outnumbered — on the surface of it, he's hardly worried about that, either. It's only that people with nothing left to lose, who survive out in the wilds at any means necessary — people with weapons — they tend to be unpredictable. If they can very simply take an alternate path around them, it's their best option. The most boring yes, and that call of the unknown is something he can never quite shake. Danger or not. But danger is its own thrill. Especially when you're the Doctor and you always know you'll find a clever way out without anyone being hurt.

Of course they will. ]

Us? You mean the three of us, the most amazing trio that ever roamed this well-loved little stretch of land? Can we talk our way through it? Not a single doubt!

[ He makes it sound good, right? Completely confident, this one, even if it's half delusion. He fondly pats Juniper's snout for a moment, speaking a few words of reassurance to the horse before striding forward with like this is an ordinary day and they're out for a stroll. ]

Hello! [ He calls out, with a smile to boot. ] Absolutely splendid, crossing paths like this! Good you're here, looking after things. You won't mind us passing through?

For this sort of thing, this designated time together, he tends to think of spending time out amongst a crowd of others as a first thought — being with each other, but not necessarily alone, where it's only them. Perhaps he's still quietly reeling from the implications of what they experienced in that...dream. That vision. That — future that may or may not be theirs. Well, certainly not all of it will be, at least as it pertains to so many of his own actions that he's not at all proud of and won't allow himself to repeat.

As she takes his hand, it feels solidly like a moment to catch his breath and anchor to this, to her, to what they are and could be. He's so used to fumbling this sort of thing before it even gets this far. It's so rare in all these long years that he's let himself get close enough to anyone to hold their hand, let alone to kiss them, to be thought of as — together. He does get in his own head, though, far too much of the time. This is just a pleasant night together, just them connecting again after too long apart. He's missed her.

None of the thoughts tumbling about in his mind are betrayed on the surface, of course, though he does look briefly at their joined hands like it's a marvel to study. And he smiles softly, briefly running his thumb across her knuckles.

"Good news, then, Julia, you have all the time with me that you could possibly want," he teases back, fully at ease in a way he's not entirely in his own head. "But I thought — the Arcanis, perhaps?" That night had meant more to him than he knows how to say. He's not sure why he's nervous about a room alone with her later, but that's a thought reserved only for later so, he won't consider it or worry about it.

[ The finer points of living a lived story versus hearing about it can come later - because it turns out they're about to do just that.

(But for the record she's lived plenty of stories already. Everything that happened in Fódlan, arriving here, surviving a dragon attack and now this. Hilda doesn't really have a leg to stand on.)

They approach and while Hilda's posture is relaxed and lackadaisical as ever, she's acutely aware of where her axe is in relation to her hands and where all of them stand in accordance to them. She hasn't been in a situation exactly like this - but there have been enough that she knows what to do. And would frankly try to talk their way out of it if they can.

Their leader she presumes because he steps up in front of them offers them both a slimy smile that she immediately equates with the slimy salesmen in the markets. So he was one of those types, huh? Still, her smile doesn't budge, giving them a somewhat shy, hesitant smile to counter the Doctor's bright sunny one.

Of course. But the thing is we've recently instituted a fee in order to keep these parts safe for travellers like you. ]

Julia's been an overthinker her entire life and it's important sometimes to do that, but when it comes to him, from the start she's just sort of wanted to throw her hands up and go with her instincts instead. She's wanted to be drawn closer to him every time they spoke, every time she's been near him. No matter her fears or the shadows in her mind, he's pulled her in and made her feel safe. The disaster of a marriage doesn't change her mind. They made it work for centuries first. And there was still so much love there. The potential is in them.

"The Arcanis!" She flashes him a bright smile. That's definitely more exciting than her little picnic date idea and she's pleased. Her red eyes glow with warmth and she squeezes his hand, leaning into his side. "I want to go back there with you, yes. We had a great time before." It meant a lot to her too. She feels like they're these two shooting stars who have somehow been pulled into the same gravity for a time, and moments like those stand out because of it.

It also fills her with excitement and nerves, since this is more intimate than she expected, and it causes a little flush in her cheeks. She'd accuse him of being a romantic if she didn't know he'd get flustered about it and protest otherwise. Being whisked away to a fancy boat for the night sounds like heaven to her. She isn't going to overthink the future, only the time they are actively together.

"Come on then!" Julia rolls up onto her tip toes to kiss his cheek again and laughs, tugging him toward the Luna side. This is a much preferred distraction from the fact they're in a land that's at active war. For now, they can think about anything else, although it wouldn't be them if they didn't also address what was going on.

With that in mind she presses her head against his shoulder while they walk. "How are things in Cadens now that the initial ahhhhh is over?"

The Arcanis isn't anything at all like setting foot on a new planet and exploring a place they've never been before. There aren't untold dangers to quell or people to save on what promises to be a relatively calm and predictable evening, but if there's even the slightest chance of small thrills to latch onto — exploring secret passageways or somehow finding themselves in a bit of delightful, good trouble — he wouldn't at all mind. Quietly, he does lament that he can't simply pull a few levers on his TARDIS and take her for drinks on the moon, or an evening on the planet Florana where the seas are made of milk. He wishes for a moment he could show her starfire and mountains that sing. To see it all anew through her eyes — it's all that he wants right now as he holds her hand and they make their way towards the great ship.

But he's trying very hard to keep hold of the simple joy that's found in small moments like this, too. There doesn't always need to be the majesty and grandeur of a journey through the stars, perhaps. Though, he's loath to admit that out loud. That's his life. But nearly a year here, and — his life is other, smaller moments. Moments where, evidently, he can make her smile, make her look forward to the evening ahead, bring a bit of joy to her.

His mind is always in a thousand places at once, so while they walk and she leans against him, he's contemplating how very strange it is — or maybe not strange at all, maybe this is normal — that he could feel such contentment from the simple act. There's not much to it. She's simply laying her head against his shoulder. This is a basic and expected gesture, yet he feels — warmth. Comfort. A feeling like all is well. How could that be, just from this? And why has it escaped him all these years?

— at the same time, she speaks about Cadens, and his mind is there, too. Thinking of all that's gone wrong, all that could still go wrong, everyone he wants and needs to keep safe. That's his duty of care, here — to protect the people of this world.

"There's been unrest, infighting, worry and panic and fear," he starts. First with the straight answer, blunt sometimes, but just as quick to find the hope and the goodness as he adds, "And so many people doing absolutely everything they can to help others. To keep each other safe. The noisier the bad stuff gets, there's far more of people stepping up to say, not on my watch. I don't think any of us believes it won't get worse before it gets better, but we take care of each other, don't we?"

Julia would love to go on any of those adventures. She's an explorer at heart. She got bogged down in the real world and not believing in magic and excitement, she planned on settling down in a boring normal life where she could do good things but not find the invigoration of the life she used to dream about. And then everything changed and while she's glad for it, it took her down such dark roads. She had magic, but at what cost? The Doctor doesn't deny her darkness or try to push it away from her, he understands that it's in her to stay, but that he can offer so much light to counteract it. The two of them are the yin and yang in a lot of ways. Both seeking balance.

But if there is a future where they can run across the stars together, she'd take it in a heartbeat. They've found in each other someone in simpatico, who can step in stride. Maybe all they have are little things in this world, but they're worthy. She never thought she would want to be near a man again, let alone want to be with a man. The Doctor's swept her off her feet and now he continues to.

Julia listens to him attentively, grave for a moment, but she smiles when he immediately tries to look at the bright side of things. It's a skill. She's such a pessimist in comparison. She takes his hand and threads their fingers together, holding it with a squeeze. "I just adore you, you know. My endless optimist." It's one of his best qualities without question.

"Solvunn on the other hand is fine? I think the Elders are concerned about Thorne getting all power-hungry so they're calling on the gods to watch out for Solvunn, but otherwise life is pretty normal. And weird because it's normal." The rest of the world is not normal at the moment, but Solvunn's always been neutral and avoidant of trouble. But they're ready to defend their borders with the gods, which is a pretty smart idea in Julia's opinion.

"Michael and I were talking about maybe testing out the boundaries between Solvunn and the Free Cities. We don't know if everyone's just accepting that we can't cross over without testing it out more." Julia's not saying she's defecting, she's just curious if they are imaginary lines. "Teleporting out doesn't work but I don't know about just walking." People almost never think about leaving Solvunn.

"But we're going to bring a normal human with us maybe, because a goddess and archangel aren't the proper tests for these things."

Big things or little things, good moments and bad moments and sad moments, and every single point in between — he'll take it all with her. Everything they can have now, everything yet to come. He can't stop his mind going ahead of itself, too far ahead, thinking of the inevitable pain that's forever a possibility, but hope sits alongside it, too. It always does with him. He's pragmatic, he knows reality even when he seems to live in dreams. He just prefers to do everything he can to make the hope louder than everything else.

It's heartening to know it means something to her, just as much as she's meant to him. Grounding him, keeping him steady, ushering in the glimpse of a life he never really thought he could have.

He adores her, too, and he's clunky sometimes in saying the words, skirting around them, but he kisses her knuckles when she threads their fingers together, and he smiles against her skin.

"Yours. Lovely," he hums under his breath. It's perhaps the understatement of the year for him, but it's also more directly about his feelings than he's usually capable of conveying without a bit of fumbling. But now he's focused on hearing about Solvunn, listening with rapt attention.

"It's a good theory to test! You have any volunteers for this or yet to be determined?"

"Mine. Yours. If you don't mind." Julia's not possessive in the way that she would say mine over everyone else, and she trusts that the Doctor knows her well enough to guess that. He's the type of person who draws other people to him, and she knows that he's made beautiful connections here, the same as her. But he is hers, in the ways that matter to them. A piece of her belongs with him too. Whatever this is they built, it's incredibly genuine, and she doesn't take it for granted. Weirdness aside.

It's not the same thing as asking what they are because frankly, she figures the two of them know exactly what they are to each other. Titles seem kind of silly after a Time Lord and a goddess were married for centuries in another timeline. Mine and yours seems like a good enough explanation. They get onto the ship and through check in, and she tugs him eagerly toward the deck. It's not far from where they stood before, although the sky is very different now from then. The company is no better though.

"We were going to ask Claire, she's close with both of us and probably would be up for a little adventure. I don't think she'll mind being the test human." Claire's everyone's friend, to be fair, but she is especially close to Julia and Michael. And neither of them would ever put her at risk so she will be extremely safe. Julia knows there is a barrier to teleportation but it'll be interesting to see what they run into if they try to walk. Will it just be like an invisible wall they bump up against? It seems worth finding out.

"I assume someone has tried before, but who knows." No one's said so if they have! Julia believes in the scientific method, testing the theory is necessary. She releases his hand only so she can go up to the deck and put her hands on the bannister instead, looking over the side. "I can't believe I missed out on meeting the Fey in real life, it's the only place I haven't gotten to see yet." In the AU they did, obviously, but that was all mental, it might not be the same in reality.

He's not possessive in that way, either, though he finds himself enjoying the words once they're said out loud.

Mine. Yours.

That's not a terrifying thought, not like it might have been to him once. It's steadying, comforting, a truth that feels known already when he considers the memories they still hold from that shared vision. Despite them not ever really explicitly discussing it, he's almost sure it's something understood between them; that they can belong to one another while not only belonging to each other. What they are to one another feels bigger than all of that, as big as a heart (hearts) can hold, which is as grand as the universe itself.

He follows her, though just a touch slower, just so he can watch her movements with affectionate curiosity. He loves to hear her mind working through theories, too, planning practical ways to test the limits of this world. At the mention of Claire, there's a fond smile. "Claire! Oh, she's brilliant, that one. You couldn't have picked a better person to ask. She's always testing things herself." She's so very dear to him, too. And if it were anyone but Julia and Michael testing this, he'd be more worried, but he of course trusts Julia implicitly, in turn trusting anyone that she trusts.

"You never know, of course. Meeting the Fey," he gives a little nod, following her to position himself near the bannister, too.

Then he looks around briefly before looking back to her. "This would almost be the perfect spot to dance."

"I know, she's been doing this archaeological thing in Solvunn, which involves a lot of digging and we've been helping out." Julia's not sure how helpful they're being or what they're learning but Claire seems very happy with the experience. She's beloved in the Solvunn community so people are just glad to do something for her.

"We've been closer since the whole god thing. It's rare for me to find a positive female role model." AKA a surrogate mom. Julia has a horrible relationship with both her human mother and her goddess mother, so her mommy issues are a driving force at this point. Claire came in and made that so much more tolerable. If only she had someone like her growing up, but she has her now. Everything feels better with Claire around. Julia hasn't expressed some of her darkest sides with her, she cares about her opinion almost too much, but she knows she could if she needed to.

Julia hopes they do meet the Fey. She heard they threw a rocking Masquerade party and that's something she'd love to do. She turns when he says that and flashes him a flirtacious smile. "Oh Doctor, are you asking me to dance?" The last time they danced was in Ikorr right before things went a little wonky. It was the first truly romantic thing they did together, when they stopped being in denial about what was growing between them.

She doesn't care if there are other people around or if there is no music. In fact, she can solve that. Julia flings up her hand in a cross and then twirls a hand, and the air around them turns into the sound of a beautiful rendition of Make You Feel My Love. People do look over at them after hearing the piano sound out from nothing, but she doesn't look at them.

"There's a spell for everything." Julia offers him her hand and steps closer, her red eyes soft. She's shorter than their last dance although infinitely more comfortable without those heels. "Another version of it makes us sing our feelings." A favorite of Quentin's.

Edited 2024-10-11 16:40 (UTC)

He's glad to hear that Claire's involved in some way, of course, thrilled for all of them and whatever they might discover. But then everything shifts, along with his focus; he's danced before, of course, and most recently with Julia herself only a few months ago. But this is different somehow, this is, well, it's obviously different just by the music alone that's being played. He doesn't pay much mind to the words at first, he's concentrating on holding her hand, wrapping his arm around her to keep her close and steady. He's always loved dancing; mostly. Even when he'd forgotten for a time, even when it hurt to embrace that bit of joy so soon after the very worst had happened.

Now it feels easier, so much feels easier, especially with Julia. It's hard to let himself feel that sometimes, even now. There's still always this instinct to pull or run away from that, the joy that lingers. It's that worry in his mind that he'll ruin this or ruin her in some way by being him. But she tugs at his hand and she steps close and she knows what he's done and she's here dancing with him regardless.

"I suppose this is better than the song I'd had in mind, which was the old classic, Twist and Shout." He can't help teasing a bit, but there's a softness in his eyes as he smiles and briefly kisses her forehead as he holds onto her.

"Oh here I am being the romantic when you wanted to cut a rug!" Julia laughs and purposely lifts his arm high so she can spin underneath it, moving back into him. "Do you know how to waltz? We can do a middle-ground. It's a one-two-three."

Of course Julia with her fancy education and being raised by socialites would know all the ballroom dances. She was a little girl when she could waltz among the best of them, and she can lead him if he doesn't know how. They can make a little box area around them to dance and not bump into other people. That way they have some movement while also slow dancing. Plus she considers it the most romantic of the dances.

"I had a coming-out party and everything, it was so embarrassing." Debutante city here. New Jersey elites weren't the same thing as New York ones, but her parents managed to be as close to both as they could. That was not a good time in her life, actually, it was a miserable time, but she can find some humor in it now. "At the time I was like, didn't these things go out of fashion centuries ago?" If only!

"Did they have anything like that on your planet? You don't talk about it much." Julia knows why or at least guesses at why, the obvious painful reason, but they're on a date and grilling people is part of it. They've shared so much information with each other and yet some other topics have been left by the wayside.

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[ open & closed | july & august ]

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wrap!

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Sorry for the wait I was on vacay AND I PRESSED ENTER TOO SOON

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you're golden!

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talk about emotional whiplash from the other one to this!