#Where to buy Petal & Pup dresses

[geekshoppers]

Petal & Pups Women's Franklin Dress

[insufferablelust]

Cockwarming Don Reid with his men in the next room

Warning : Cockwarming, mob boss! Spencer, Mean dom!spencer, mention of killing, degrading name calling, filthy.. so fucking filthy, exhibitionism, literally almost fucking in front of people, mention of sub space, d/s theme obviously, and yeah.. 18+ please.

MASTERLIST HERE.

“Princess, come here.” Spencer pat his lap with a burning gaze directed to the cute little thing sat ontop of his office couch like a queen. Work days usually means no playing around, for Y/N it’s one of those days where she’d usually spend at her apartment doing her tasks or paint something for the young don.

But on rare occasions such this, where all the workload of responsibilities upon responsibilities piled on his shoulder, he’d bring her in, he’d tell her to sit all pretty, and continue to study unless daddy calls and that’s exactly she has been doing for hours now, sketching the wooden figurine on his shelf with her legs up the table and her back rests against the couch. She looks prettier than usual he thought, not that his butterfly never look anything less than amazing but she just radiates that softness, that gentle and tender touch which he often depraved himself of— being in the mob especially as the leader, he has to be on the rough rugged edge all the time, he cannot be tender and soft but he can certainly have you as his own personal reminder that not all things in life is as bad as what he has seen.

Y/N, the darling butterfly happily obliged as she stood up after placing her sketchbook down the table and make her way to where he sits on the large chair— colored burgundy red. The soft knitted knee high socks that clad her feet anxiously drags her to the edge of his desk with her fingers fumbling on the hem of her flower dress, no matter where and when, or how and why— he always intimidates her in ways that seemed to flutter her insides with pure wanton yet desirable lust, all for him.

Encased in a black suit, he sat up straight as he holds her hips before placing her down atop his lap with her back against his front, his perfect little princess. “Dressed so prettily for daddy. Haven’t seen this one before pet, did you buy them just to impress me hm?” if it were any other man, talking to you like you owe them you would flip their asses off and beat them to pulp— but when he says it, demands it, caress your soul with it— you couldn’t refuse nor deny.. not that you would ever want to anyway because yes, yes you did buy them to impress him, to make him as weak as she is for him.

She nodded shyly with a small “yes daddy” before squirming gently ontop of his lap whilst Spencer caress her inner thigh— calloused rough fingers brushing up and down her god glowing skin, intensifying all the tension that builds inside of her. Her skin prickled with heat as he inches his sinful fingertips up up up creeping upon her clothed dripping wet cunt, causing her to mewl lowly in frustration, grinding her ass back against his growing crotch.

“Daddy has so many things today pet, so many fucking things to keep you happy, to buy dresses like this one.” He whispered onto your ear, his lips pressing against your temple with his curls gazes against your heating cheek as you nod and shut your eyes tight— feeling his knuckles graze right against your clothed aching swollen clit, making you buck up your hips as he laughs behind you, chest rumbling with triumph.

“Jesus petal, haven’t done anything and you’re soaking my pants already? are you always this needy? fucking hell.” He shook his head as he keep on laughing condescendingly, whilst you writhed and squirm on his lap, your face nudging against his neck. “Please d-daddy..” Oh how he loves your mewls, your sweet sweet moans just sent all the blood from his head rushing down toward his cock— making him all dizzy and dying to feel your clutching heat.

“Shh you want Morgan to hear you, is that it? want my men to hear your filthy moans, bunny?” His words sent tingles up your spine, through your bloodstream as his fingers skillfully tear your panties apart, with you gasping— eyes as glassy as ever and mind absolutely mush with tension and pleasure. “Daddy asked you a question.” He growled, before slapping your bare wet soaking cunt few times which you respond with loud cries and squirm on his lap.

“Sorry daddy! f— please i... oh mmh!” Your eyes rolled to the back of your head as you feel his thumb grazing innocently to your little nub of pleasure numbing nerves, flicking his thumb up and down it focusing on the rhythm as he might as well play you like his favorite instrument. “All needy and you can’t even get a proper word out, such a mindless baby.” He scoffed before slapping right on your clit multiple times.

“Ah! Ah oh! daddy!” You screamed, having no care in the world if his men heard— you knew in the back of your mind that they heard and that alone sends a new surge of adrenaline throughout your body, leaving you pliant and in need for daddy— daddy’s cock, fingers, anything just anything. “Here’s what you’re going to do, pup. You’re going to keep daddy’s cock warm whilst i do my job, if you behave like a good little girl then i’ll let you cum, but if you decided to think with your cunt and move i swear to god i’ll edge you six fuckin ways to sunday, you hear me?” You felt him fumbling with his zipper as he took his cock out, with you whining— babbling ‘yes yes yes daddy’ against his skin, eyes all droopy and fucked with your neatly applied mascara drip down your cheeks.

“Up you go pet, slide daddy in.” You shakily stand, bunching the hem of your dress on your hips before you straddled his thigh and looks down to get ahold the base of his well endowed cock— pulsing with need and heat. “Fuck, go on.” He urged you as he grab ahold of your hips before you lined him up with your sopping wet entrance and sink down slowly— down his massive throbbing length that has you moaning, panting.

“You can do better than that slut”

Smack!

“N-no! daddy please help! please i— ungh you’re too big!” You shook your head as you tried and tried to take him, all of him but everytime you sink another inch— your body felt like it’s been penetrated into a whole new level as if it hadn’t this morning or the night before, “Fucking helpless baby, look at you, pathetic and needy.” He growled before thrusting up inside you at once, forcing his thick length to slip fully inside your pumping dripping heat causing you both to moan out.

“Oh! oh mmh daddy.. shit..” You felt him deep, deep deep inside you, the tip of him grazing against your spot oh so deliciously, whilst you pant and convulse against him, clutching his cock like a vice. “Perfect little cunt, such a perfect doll for me.”

—

You’re convinced that if god was real, at this moment god must hate you for existing, must hate you so much that the universe sent you this adonis of a man to torture and blur the line of sanity and lunacy for you, torment your pleasure in mockery and sarcasm of how he stayed calm with you perched on his godly lap, panting like a puppy in heat as his thick length penetrated your insides as if it belongs there— forcing every bit of your self control over the teetering edge. You’re loosing your mind, that you’re sure of.

It has been no longer than 30 minutes but your toes have curled and uncurled themselves for eternity, your walls grew slicker and slicker each time he ‘shift’ accidentally, as you mewl and bit the skin on his neck, by the last minute of the long 30– you were trembling in order to resist yourself not to move, for the last bit of your working mind still recognized how severe the punishment would be if you were to move, the don is not one to fuck around with— oops.

Just as he stretches his hand, the knock of the door sent you into a spiraling mess, looking up to Spencer with wide eyes— all glassy and doe as you shook your head, “Daddy, d-daddy n-no..” Shivers runs deep and thrumming lively on your bloodstream as you saw his devilish handsome smirk.

“Be good and quiet, pup.” He whispers

“N-no! no daddy please! i—“

“Come in.” The sound of his voice and door cracking open has you shutting your eyes as tight as you could, face buried on the crook of his neck as he grips onto your thigh. You took a peek at the tall standing figure on the middle of his office, recognizing so clearly that it’s in fact Hotch not only that Emily and Morgan were also present, fuck— you’re fucked as you clenched hard causing the don to hiss and slap your thigh.

“What did i tell you about behaving hm? are you going to behave or should i let them deliver your punishment for you little one?” He growled in your ear, making you let out a pitiful whimper, trying as best as you could to resist the need to look at your patrons and to stay still. “No please, i’ll behave.” you muttered meekly, panting at the raging burning release that has been coiling inside your body.

“No please what? you know better, minx.” He shook his head before grasping your neck with his palm as he take a look at your messy figure. “No daddy p-please..” you bat your eyelash at him as he went in to kiss your lips with a small ‘good girl’ before getting back to his business.

“What is it?” He muttered coldly, one hand on the whiskey glass that he took a sip off every once in awhile and the other secured tightly around your lower tummy— you knew what he’s doing, the game is clear, you knew he likes to feel how you can feel him inside of you, pressing against your sweet spot and your slick canal tried so hard not to clench at the thought.

“The shipment hasn’t arrived yet to midtown, it supposed to days ago but we just heard from Garcia that the Kingsley’s hadn’t even reached out to her in weeks.” Although confident, you could tell there’s a hint of fear and worrisome latched behind Hotch’s voice, one does not fuck with your dom, one does not absolutely delay the shipment of his drugs— no no those cannot do.

“Have you traced it back to them?” The voice that rumbled against your back was eerily calm and deeper, resisting every urge inside his body to lash out— you know that very well. His fingers tighten and tighten its hold onto the glass which you could clearly see his knuckles turning white, you just hope that the poor glass won’t break.

“Yes don, Walker and Alvez went to their base and it was empty, looks like they left in a hurry.” You could feel it before you even see it, heard it, the way his blood pumps just even faster before a lound cracking of the wood sent fear and adrenaline through everyone’s bloodstream, “I don’t fucking care how many, and who’re you going to kill, but i want that fucking shipment arrived to midtown by dawn or i’ll pluck their own eyes myself.” His voice somehow rise and fell deeper at the same time, rumbling deep inside his chest which send shivers on everyone’s spine as they nod with a small uniformed ‘yes don’ before heading out hurrily— no one questions him, no one dared to speak against him, even if they know they’ll have the bloods of people (though bad) on their hands by nightfall.

His threat lives like a venom that stuck on their throat as they pursued their mission— one don does not get his hand dirty let alone going round plucking some low life mob’s eyes— or the end result could be.. would be catastrophic. These Kingsleys have one hell of a problem heading their way.

and you.. you have one hell of a raging frustratingly mad Mob boss in your hand.

—

Y/N’s head couldn’t even process the whole thing before she screamed in absolute pain when he pulled out harshly and bent her over his desk, knocking his whiskey glass onto the floor, clattering with no care in a world. Your mind begs for you to soothe him, soothe his anger yet your cunt aches and throbs with the need to let him use you— take the anger out to you, and ruin you for eternity. You’re his, and you’re ready.

“Stay fucking still.” Spencer slapped your ass harshly, causing you to jump in the position, your legs curled up for a moment as he gripped your hair tightly and grasp your neck with his unoccupied hand, “You’re going to stay still and be a good cocksleeve for me, i’m going to use you like you’re my toy and i won’t stop unless you say your safeword, got it?” His breath fans over your heated skin as you shake and tremble, your mind fuzzy with needs and mush of pleasure— blurring your absolute senses and submitting yourself fully to the mercy of his hand— his cock.

“Use your words, dumb little slut.” He hissed, choking your neck even tighter, with much force and you cried out, “Yes! yes sir, use me, i.. i’m yours..” just as you muttered out, your walls involuntary clenching at the intrusion of his cock plunging deep deep deep inside of you in one go, making you scream out in absolute pleasure and pain.

Spencer might’ve seen red— but when he delves deep inside of your tight heat, he saw the absolute heaven on earth as he begins to thrust in and out of your cunt in a brutal space, knocking his desk toppers off, and making you mewls and screams.

“Fucking tight little cunt— mine huh? isn’t it fucking mine pup?” He slammed into you over and over again as his balls hit your clit in an antagonizing pleasure whilst you writhe below him, forcing your eyes to stay open with all the power in your body looses control. “Its— mmmh ngh fuck! it’s y-yours sir! yes yes yes!” Your moans filled the entire building but neither of you care as Spencer drove his cock home everytime he sinks inside your tight pussy.

“Being such a good whore, letting me use you as my personal fucktoy, just to let my anger out.” He laughs maniacally, pistoning his hips as you clench your walls tightly to elevate the pleasure for you both, causing the room to tremble as you moan and cries out loud, “ungh yes! yes yes your whore daddy— mmh fuck me!” You could feel all the drool drips down your lips as he fucked you stupid atop of his desk but neither of you care nor have the patience to even pay attention because in his mind— the messier the better.

“Won’t be able to walk for days, pet. Fucking cunt going to drool for me everytime you see all the marks i fucking left on you.” He growled, bringing his palm over your ass before giving it a smack over and over again as your body lunges forward trying to get away with how all the friction is causing you to went into over sensitivity. But being the mean dom that he is, Spencer laughs as he pulled you back towards him by your hips. “Where are you going, bunny?”

“Please p-please let me cum, sir... ah!” You arched your back perfectly when the tip of his finger move down down down to where your swollen sensitive clit was, rubbing quickly in a fast pace just to send you over the edge, testing you, daring the orgasm out of you. “Wanna cum petal? hm wanna make a mess on daddy’s cock?” He whispered, one hand continues to rub your clit as the other focuses on holding you against him whilst his hips drives up deep— so deep that the tip grazes against your cervix.

“mmhh ah uh uh uh!” Your eyes lolled back trying to find a cohorent sentence— anything you can say to him but no matter what you’re trying to say was rendered to sinful moans and cries instead as you were right on the brink, “You can do better than that, c’mon bunny, beg daddy to cum.” he stills for a second, pressing in deep as he slaps your cheeks not once but twice— bringing fresh tears flows from your eyes.

“I.. ungh please daddy please! let me cum! been so good for you, please— want you to fill me up too.. fill your baby up, daddy!” Your high pitched voice rang an alarm through the circuit of his lust and anger laced mind, you’re slipping into your space and you’re slipping fast with your eyes just glazes absolutely flying through the realm of pleasure sensitivity.

“Good girl butterfly, such a good fucking girl, wanna cum? c’mon cum..” He whispered, before thrusting his hips in and out slowly, feeling the bliss of your overly wet and tight cunt engulfing him— milking him to cum inside, “Cum for daddy, princess, that’s it.. ohh... that’s it baby, good girl.” You cried out silently as you cum hard around his cock, muscles clenching so tightly that you sent him to release himself inside of you, thick ropes of cum paints your inside as you both moan and tremble.

“My good girl, shh thats it— best cunt ever.. that’s it, so so good for me.” He whispered softly, backing down to where his chair was pushed aside, bringing you with him before sitting down. You groaned out a loud scratchy, “daddy..” As you feel his cock shifted deeper inside of you, your eyes closed as he holds you and calms you down.

“Shh shh princess, just stay here like this. such a good girl, gonna keep me warm while i wait for them aren’t you?”

Although your cunt practically ache and scream for you to not say yes, your love and lust filled mind fogged with utter desire— just nods whining an agreeable mumble— just for him.

This will be a long long day and even a longer night.

[lovemesomesurveys]

Is your window in your room open? Not anymore. There’s a fire/was a fire somewhere in my city yesterday evening, but it’s super smokey all over. I had to close my window because it was too much, which sucks because my window fan really helps to make it cool in my room at night. Do you like blue cheese? No. Have you ever smoked? Just weed. Do you own a gun? No.

Do you like the American or British way of spelling words? American. I do like the spelling of “grey” with an E instead of an A, though.

Do you get nervous before going to a doctors appointment? Always. Even the one I go to weekly. What do you think of hot dogs? Not a fan. Favorite Christmas movie? I have a lot. I love Christmas movies. What do you prefer to drink in the morning or nothing? Coffee is the first thing I drink. Do you hate celebrities with big boobs and have had plastic surgery? No, I don’t care what they do. It doesn’t affect me in any way.

Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry? Yes. Favorite hobby? Reading, coloring, surveys. What’s the one thing you hate about yourself? Where do I start? Current worry? Health stuff. Do you own slippers? No. Would you ever want to be a pirate? No. Where would you like to go? Sweden. What type of songs do you sing in the shower? I have a shower playlist. If you could make everything on earth one color, what would you choose? I wouldn’t want that. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I never have slept on satin sheets. How do you bring in the new year? The past couple of years I’ve just stayed home and watched the New Year’s festivities on TV with my family. I don’t make a thing about it anymore. Favorite place to be? My bed. Would you rather live in 1980 or 2080? Hmm. At least in the 1980s I’d kinda know what to expect, ya know? 2080 is completely unknown and that’s scary. I’m also curious, though. Favorite color? Yellow, teal, mint green, and pastels. What color of shirt are you wearing? Black. What’s the last thing that made you laugh? Something on TV. What artist to do you find yourself singing a lot of? It varies. Can you whistle? Nope. Where do you wish you were right now? Somewhere cooler. When you were younger, did you ever have cartoon sheets? Yeah. I specifically remember this Lion King comforter I had. What’s in your pocket right now? No pockets. I never put anything in them anyway. Do you love where you live? Not the city. Do you care what strangers think about you? Unfortunately, but it would also seem like I don’t since I go out of the house looking like I do nowadays... I really don’t put much effort anymore. Do you use any acne medication? No. Do you know when it’s just a little crush vs. true love? I thought I experienced true love, but I’m honestly not sure anymore. But yes, I know when it’s just a little crush and what I felt was more than that, but I don’t know if I was truly in love. Have you picked out flower petals, saying, ‘He loves me, he loves me not? Yeah, when I was younger. I did it jokingly. Are you a small town girl, or from the big city? Just a small town girl living in a lonely world. Do you ever look in the mirror and are surprised by how good you look? Hahahahahahaahah thank you for that laugh, I needed it. Do you ever look in the mirror and feel revolted? All the time. I avoid looking in the mirror as much as possible. Do you have a hard time talking to people? Yes. Is anybody in your family schizophrenic? If so, what is their life like? I have a cousin who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. They say it was drug induced after he OD’d. He struggled for awhile at first after that, but he’s come a long way since then. He’s in a stable, healthy relationship and about to be a father soon. What’s something somebody can do to make you hate them instantly? It’d have to be something major for me to hate them, but they could instantly make me not like them by being super cocky and arrogant. Do you like it when you find yourself in a conflict? Uh, no? Are you emotional or very stoic? I’m emotional. How late do you go to bed during summer nights? I go to bed late all year round. I’m usually up until 4AM, sometimes later. Are you feminine, masculine, or quite androgynous? Feminine. What’s the first red object you see in the room? My clothes hamper. Who did you last have a text conversation with and what was it about? My brother briefly regarding a photo he sent me. Are there regular trains in and out of your town/city? Yeah. Do you have a mailbox or do you collect your mail from the post office? Mailbox. What was the last animal you saw, and was it a pet? My pup. Have you ever had an ear infection? No, not that I can recall. If you could watch any TV series right now, what would it be? I’m ready for Riverdale to come back. Would you have any clue when your best friend last got their hair cut? Last month before her best friend’s wedding. Someone messages you just as you’re about to go to sleep. Do you reply? No. I likely wouldn’t even check it until later. Is there anything you need to remember to do before the day ends? I have a bill to pay, but I have a reminder on my phone for that. Do your parents have any authority over who you date? No, but they’re opinion does matter to me. How many different shades of nail polish do you have? I have a few somewhere. I’m sure they all have to be thrown out now cause I got them a few years ago, and  I haven’t even painted my nails in over 2 years. What did you have for breakfast this morning? It’s only 2:25AM. I did just eat something, but I wouldn’t call that breakfast. Are you lucky enough to have an ice maker in your refrigerator door? No. Are you the type to wake up before the sun has even risen? I’m still up until it rises sometimes, and definitely before. Have you ever watched an anime series, start to finish? Yes, actually.

Do you feel the need to rant about anything right now? If so, go for it. Nah. Have you seen any films with Judy Garland in them?: Just The Wizard of Oz. How did you feel when you woke up today? Why? I haven’t gone to bed, yet. Who was the last person you messaged on Facebook? A friend. When was the last time you saw them? Last September. Do you have a friend named Nick? What’s his favourite food? Nope. What are you listening to? Catfish. Do you prefer non-diet or diet soda? Regular, but I like a Diet Coke now and then. Do you like seafood? I’ll eat a tuna sandwich, but I have to add mayo and mustard to it and I don’t like to think too much about what I’m eating haha. Are you craving anything right now? Not at this moment.

Do you dress appropriately for your age? Yeah. If McDonald’s sold hot dogs, would you buy them? No. I don’t like hot dogs. How long is your hair? It reaches my butt. Do you like your neighbors? I don’t like when their dog excessively barks late at night/early morning. What’s your school motto? I’m finished with school. Has a bird ever flown into your window? No. Which word did you say first, mama or dada? I don’t know. How old were you when you learned to walk? My accident occurred before I could. What was your first pet’s name? Scruffy. How many kids were in your class in kindergarten? Maybe like 25. Who was your best friend in elementary? I feel like it changed all the time. I had my first real best friends in 6th grade, and I’m still friends with one of them today (if I can still call her a friend since I don’t deserve to have her as one anymore). Who was the best athlete in your freshman class? *shrug* I didn’t pay attention to that stuff. Where do you see yourself in a year? I can’t think about that. One day at a time. If you were able to change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Better mental health would help a lot with the physical health and everything else. Are you content just blending in with the crowd? Yes.

[toomanysurveys9]

Is your window in your room open? no, it is not open. we always have the a/c on so that would be pointless. Do you like blue cheese? i’ve never actually tried it but it doesn’t sound appealing. Have you ever smoked? nope. Do you own a gun? i do not. my dad and jacob own several, though.

Do you like the American or British way of spelling words? american i guess. that’s probably just because it’s what i’m used to though.

Do you get nervous before going to a doctors appointment? yeah. especially when pregnant. i’m always nervous until i hear ellie’s heartbeat. and until i know i don’t have to get undressed from the waist down. those appointments will be here before i know it.. What do you think of hot dogs? i don’t really like them. but i’ll eat them if i have no other options. Favorite Christmas movie? oh man. i don’t even know. there are so many good ones. What do you prefer to drink in the morning or nothing? usually milk or orange juice. Do you hate celebrities with big boobs and have had plastic surgery? no, i do not hate them. it literally has zero effect on me.

Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry? wedding and engagement ring, which did end up being found. Favorite hobby? my only hobby these days seems to be hanging out with wy. lol. which is definitely a favorite! also i love reading. i want to get a library card again soon. What’s the one thing you hate about yourself? the awkward/anxious/shy parts of my personality. Current worry? if i should confront vanessa or not and whether that would piss her off. but letting people think jacob and i are horrible to her, or are keeping wyatt away from her when we’re not, is going to seriously piss me off. every time she asks us to go over, i go. most of the time when i dropped off money when we were staying in her trailer, i would take wyatt in to see her and/or tom. i didn’t have to. i didn’t have to go over when she asked. she never came to see him really since he was a newborn. always me going there. i’m not doing it anymore. Do you own slippers? i do not. i don’t see the point. Would you ever want to be a pirate? i did once upon a time (i was a lot younger and going through a phase). i don’t want to be anymore though. Where would you like to go? italy would be cool.. What type of songs do you sing in the shower? whatever song comes on my ipod that i know the words to. If you could make everything on earth one color, what would you choose? that would be horrible. and boring. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? i’ve never slept on them so can’t say. How do you bring in the new year? with my family (jacob and wyatt at least, but usually my parents, siblings, and grandparents are also there). Favorite place to be? anywhere with wyatt is really okay with me. Would you rather live in 1980 or 2080? 2080 seems.. i don’t know. so unfathomable. i guess i would rather live in 1980... Favorite color? black, blue, and i still like gray. What color of shirt are you wearing? mostly a dark gray color. What’s the last thing that made you laugh? wyatt made a cute little sound when he woke up for a minute. What artist to do you find yourself singing a lot of? there’s not really one i sing more than the others... Can you whistle? not well, no. Where do you wish you were right now? i wish i could fall asleep but my mind is racing so i can’t. When you were younger, did you ever have cartoon sheets? yes. i know i had barney and winnie the pooh when i was super young. and i remember scooby doo as well. What’s in your pocket right now? no pockets. i’m in pajama pants. Do you love where you live? not the city, but i do love our house quite a bit. Do you care what strangers think about you? i mean.. i guess to some extent, but mostly no. Do you use any acne medication? i do not. Do you know when it’s just a little crush vs. true love? yeah. it’s a pretty obvious difference. Have you picked out flower petals, saying, ‘He loves me, he loves me not? lol, when i was a lot younger than i am now. Are you a small town girl, or from the big city? closer to a small town girl. Do you ever look in the mirror and are surprised by how good you look? no. i can’t say i’ve ever had that experience.

Do you ever look in the mirror and feel revolted? ugh. yes. story of my life. only thing i don’t hate about my appearance is my baby bump. Do you have a hard time talking to people? yes. which is why i don’t really have friends. Is anybody in your family schizophrenic? If so, what is their life like? yeah. my grandpa’s brother is. he lives in a group home and is on a bunch of medications. he’s pretty out of it most of the time because of them, and you don’t always know what he’s talking about when he speaks. he plays guitar really well though and makes his own songs up, and it’s so much fun to listen to him. What’s something somebody can do to make you hate them instantly? say something horrible about my kids. Do you like it when you find yourself in a conflict? definitely not. yet i keep finding myself in it because people can’t move on from shit a year ago. Are you emotional or very stoic? definitely emotional. How late do you go to bed during summer nights? i’m usually in bed by like now. but i can’t make my mind stop tonight. Are you feminine, masculine, or quite androgynous? i guess i’m more feminine but i don’t know. What’s the first red object you see in the room? wyatt’s red shirt that he is wearing. Who did you last have a text conversation with and what was it about? the last actual conversation was about my one year old cousin’s birthday party with my mom. she was asking how it went. i have texted jade since then (about the situation with jacob’s mom and basically that entire side of the family) but she was probably sleeping so she didn’t reply. i also texted jake asking if he was coming up to bed soon so i could go bathroom, but he didn’t respond by text. he just came upstairs. Are there regular trains in and out of your town/city? yup. Do you have a mailbox or do you collect your mail from the post office? we have a mailbox again! What was the last animal you saw, and was it a pet? phe. she’s my pup. :) Have you ever had an ear infection? yes. i was getting them pretty often for a little bit right before and after i had wyatt. If you could watch any TV series right now, what would it be? eh. don’t really care about watching tv right now. Would you have any clue when your best friend last got their hair cut? nope. tonight (on facebook) was the most we’ve talked in awhile. Someone messages you just as you’re about to go to sleep. Do you reply? depends who it is and what it’s about. but probably not. Is there anything you need to remember to do before the day ends? the day is pretty well over, so no. Do your parents have any authority over who you date? as an adult, no. How many different shades of nail polish do you have? none. i got rid of all my old makeup, including the few nail polishes i did have. What did you have for breakfast this morning? yesterday (it’s 12:08 am which is way too early for breakfast), i didn’t eat breakfast. Are you lucky enough to have an ice maker in your refrigerator door? we actually do now. Are you the type to wake up before the sun has even risen? noooooo. Have you ever watched an anime series, start to finish? i have not.

Do you feel the need to rant about anything right now? If so, go for it. i could but i already did a little mini rant so we’ll just leave it at that. Have you seen any films with Judy Garland in them?: the wizard of oz. that is all though. How did you feel when you woke up today? Why? i was tired yesterday. i haven’t slept yet since then. Who was the last person you messaged on Facebook? kayla. When was the last time you saw them? july 14th for erin’s 16th birthday party. Do you have a friend named Nick? What’s his favourite food? not really friends... What are you listening to? jake is watching youtube videos. i don’t know what about. Do you prefer non-diet or diet soda? regular. i don’t really like any diet sodas. Do you like seafood? i do not. Are you craving anything right now? eh. nothing super specific, no.

Do you dress appropriately for your age? i think so. with the exception of some of my shirts maybe. today i wore a five nights at freddy’s shirt... If McDonald’s sold hot dogs, would you buy them? noooo. How long is your hair? if it’s totallly straight it goes slightly past my breasts. if not, it kind of just rests on them. Do you like your neighbors? don’t really know my neighbors. my grandparents have talked to them and seem to like them though. What’s your school motto? no longer in school. Has a bird ever flown into your window? when we lived in the house before the trailers one did. Which word did you say first, mama or dada? dada i think my mom has said. How old were you when you learned to walk? i don’t know. What was your first pet’s name? first pet that was actually mine was named angel. How many kids were in your class in kindergarten? i don’t remember. Who was your best friend in elementary? leslie. juliet. ariel. those were the three main ones.. Who was the best athlete in your freshman class? don’t know. i’ve never been into sports really. Where do you see yourself in a year? here. taking care of my kiddos. If you were able to change one thing about yourself, what would it be? this is stupid, but i would want to be more attractive for jacob so he wouldn’t tell his playstation friends that they wouldn’t find me attractive. Are you content just blending in with the crowd? yeah. i definitely don’t like standing out much.

[dominicffs]

tea party | dimone

simone has dominic over so they can enjoy the tea they bought together.

Simone had been thinking about Dominic a lot since they'd been tea shopping. Granted, she'd always thought about him a lot but things had changed. They'd spent the day holding hands and had kissed more than once. She caught herself smiling about him at work rather often and it had become a bit distracting. They'd agreed to get together and enjoy the tea they'd purchased and since he was coming by the cottage she'd made sure Fitz would be out for the day. He didn't know that she had feelings for Dominic and she intended to keep it that way for a bit longer. She'd tidied up a bit before heading to her room to change and had only just finished when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it with a smile and stepped aside so he could enter. "Hello. Come on in," she greeted.

Dominic decided not to dress up too much, but not to be too casual. He didn't want to show up at her house looking like he was going to the opera and then feel silly. But he didn't want to look like he'd just rolled out of bed either. He wanted things to be perfect. He wasn't nervous, but he really wanted his interactions with her to all be perfect. He brought some biscuits to her house, even though he knew she was hosting the tea party. It was always polite to bring something. He knocked and stood back to wait, smiling brightly when she opened the door. "Hi! How are you today?" he asked as he stepped in.

Simone shut the door once he'd come inside. She turned to smile at him again and took the box of biscuits from his hand. "I'm doing very well, thank you. How are you?" she asked. She nodded for him to follow her into the kitchen where she had the tea set up on the table already. "Thank you for bringing these. I'll set them out on a little plate. You can sit down, if you'd like," she offered as she went to grab another plate. She emptied the biscuits onto the plate and set it next to the rest of the variety she had spread out. "Fitz isn't here, by the way. He's out doing some work."

Dominic smiled back at her, letting her take the biscuits. "You're welcome! I'm doing well, too. I'm very happy about having tea with you, to be honest," he said with a small laugh. He followed her to the tea, smiling and nodding. "Of course, love. It felt only right for me to bring something," he said. He sat down, looking around a bit while she was gone. He smiled at her when she came back over. "Oh good. Wouldn't want him eating all the biscuits," he teased.

Simone smiled softly. "I'm very happy about having tea with you as well," she promised. Of course he'd brought biscuits to be polite. He was just the most perfectly sweet man, she thought. She used her wand to pour tea into the two teacups on the table before she took a seat. "I made the rose tea first," she explained. "And I set out some of the snacks I thought went well with it." She looked over at him with a shy smile for a moment. She couldn't believe how sweet this was. "He would be eating all the biscuits," she laughed.

Dominic really felt like something was going on between them, and he liked it. He thought this could maybe go somewhere, which excited him. He hadn't even realized he maybe would want a relationship, but he really wanted one with Simone now. "Oh, I can't wait to try it. Have you tried it yet, or did you wait for me?" he asked with a soft smile. "Good idea. I think I'll try the tea first, and then the snacks with them. What about you?" he asked her with a smile. He grinned, letting out a small laugh. "Good thing he's not here."

Simone shook her head slightly at the question. "No, I was waiting for you to try it with me. We bought it together," she smiled. "It seemed right to wait." She nodded as he spoke. "I'll do the same. I want to really taste the tea, and I worry having a snack first might alter the flavor." She poured their cups with her wand before setting it down. "It is," she grinned. "Have you met Eclair by the way? Fitz's dog? He should be around here somewhere," she mused, glancing around. "He must be napping. Shall we try the tea?"

Dominic smiled when she said she waited for him. How cute was she? He thought she was the cutest thing ever. "That's really sweet of you," he smiled. "It does seem right. I haven't tried mine yet, either," he added with a smile. He nodded in agreement. "That's the best way to really taste something, to isolate it," he smiled. He frowned a little, shaking his head. "I don't think I have. Maybe I can meet him later," he suggested. He nodded, lifting his cup up to clink against hers. "Let's!"

Simone felt her cheeks tint a bit. She didn't find it that sweet. "If I'm sweet for not trying mine, that makes you the same for not trying yours," she countered softly, a hint of a smile on her lips. "We'll be able to decided if we really like it." It surprised her that he'd yet to meet the dog but that pup was a wild one. "Hopefully," she smiled. She nodded slightly, raising her cup and clinking it to his before taking a small sip. It was nearly perfect. "What did you think?" she asked with a smile.

Dominic smiled a little, nodding reluctantly. He really liked her. "I guess it makes me sweet, too, huh?" he grinned. He took another drink after the first, letting out a happy sigh. "I think it's lovely. What do you think, though?" he asked curiously. He thought her opinion mattered more, seeing as she had something she was comparing it to, and he didn't. "Is it the same as the other?"

Simone smiled gently at him. "You're very sweet, Dominic," she told him with a quiet voice. She took another sip of tea and hummed pleasantly. "It is lovely. It's mostly floral, the rose taste is the strongest but there's something else... honeysuckle, I believe," she complimented as she had another sip. "It's not the same but..." she paused, stirring it a bit after adding a bit more sugar. She hesitated slightly. "It's better."

Dominic liked the way her voice sometimes got soft and sweet like it just did. There was something about her that was a different kind of magic. He didn't know how to explain it. "Thank you," he smiled. He frowned a little, taking another sip. He sort of noticed that, but only because she'd pointed it out. "Is the honeysuckle good?" he asked curiously. "Maybe we could make a rose tea that would be just right. It can't be that hard, right?"

Simone watched how he'd taken another sip after she'd spoken. It was sweet. "I like the honeysuckle. It's just a little different," she explained. She considered that for a moment, her head tilting slightly to the side. "We could try to. It's not that hard. It's just rose petals and whatever else you want to add to the flavor," she smiled. She took another sip before setting the cup down and mostly gazing fondly at him. "Shall we try a biscuit?"

Dominic nodded. She had such a well developed palette. Funnily enough, he had thought he was a bit of tea fiend, but it really seemed more and more that she was far more versed than he was. "We should try. Maybe you'll get the right blend if you do it yourself," he suggested with a smile. He just wanted her to find the right tea. If they were in Paris, it'd likely be much easier. "Oh, yes, let's try one," he smiled.

Simone wondered why she'd never tried before. Making the rose tea would have been so much easier than just buying countless boxes to find what she liked. "I'd love to try if you're open to helping," she said softly, her smile sweet. "It'd be much more fun than on my own." She reached for a biscuit and handed it to him before taking her own. "Can I just say," she began quietly, her eyes flickering up to his, "this is the best tea party I've ever had?"

Dominic nodded, smiling widely at her. "I'd love to help. I don't know if I'll really be much help, as I don't know what your favorite one tastes like, but I'd be happy to help anyway," he said with a smile. It would be more fun than doing it by herself. He took the biscuit from her, taking a bite. It went very well with the tea. He looked up at her when she spoke, smiling a bit. "It's the best one I've ever had, too, and not just because it's sort of the first."

Simone shrugged softly. "It's okay. I can explain and we can just try our best together. I'm not as concerned as recreating it so much as I want to spend time with you," she told him truthfully with a soft smile. "It's not so much about the tea as it is about you." She took a bite of her biscuit and then had a sip of tea, letting out a hum. "It doesn't count if it's the first, really, does it?" she asked with a laugh. "There's nothing to compare it to."

Dominic thought that was news to him. He was really under the impression that they were aiming to get the tea that reminded her of home all this time. "Has it been about that all this time? Because you could have just asked to spend time with me," he said with a soft smile. "Here I was wanting to get you a little piece of home," he said with a small laugh. He laughed again and shook his head. "I suppose not, but I have had tea with people, and this is better than that by far. And not because of the tea or biscuits."

Simone took another sip of her tea, letting it linger on her tongue before setting it back down again. His words surprised her and she felt a little bit warm as she looked at her tea cup. "I did want to spend time with you. I didn't know how to ask you at first. I didn't think you really noticed me in the beginning," she admitted quietly. "I did want to find the tea. It's... it's not so much finding a piece of home. I don't need that. It just reminds me of my best friend from back then. She was the only one I ever drank it with. My mother wouldn't let me at home," she told him slowly. Her eyes stayed on the biscuit in her hand as she spoke until she heard his voice. She smiled softly. "I've always really enjoyed spending time with you."

Dominic shrugged a little bit. Maybe he hadn't much, but it wasn't personal. "I wouldn't say I didn't notice you so much as I just am not much of a people person. I knew you were there," he said with a small smile. He nodded a bit. "Well, I meant more of Paris than your actual family," he amended. "I imagine it's hard, even if you're happy to be out of there," he added. "Why didn't she want you to drink rose tea? That seems silly," he said honestly. "I enjoy spending time with you, too."

Simone hadn't meant that. She knew he was aware of her presence but he had never really noticed her more than that. He hadn't known that she was gazing at him with wishful thoughts for the past few months. "You knew I existed but you didn't really see me," she smiled. That made more sense. He already had picked up on her feelings towards her family. "The city is beautiful. It's..." she sighed softly. "Something out of a dream. Without Fitzgerald and Camille, it was more of a nightmare. But the tea reminds me of the good. The beauty," she smiled. "It's hard but I have you. I have Fitz. I have my friends," she listed. She shrugged lightly. "She didn't want me to do much of anything." She sipped the tea, wondering what she should tell him. "I'm glad. I'm glad I know you, Dominic."

Dominic thought she was probably right there, but he still felt like he deserved more credit than that. "I guess I didn't," he said honestly. "I'm sorry for that," he added. It really wasn't personal. He hoped she knew that. In fact, now that he did know her, he thought about her an awful lot. "I've heard it's beautiful. I feel like I can't really imagine just how beautiful without being in it with all of its energy," he said honestly, smiling. "I'm glad we make it easier," he said. He frowned in confusion. "What? That's ridiculous. What did she want you to do? Were you allowed to do anything? You're an adult, I don't understand," he said honestly. He smiled at her after taking a small drink of tea. "I'm glad I know you, too, Simone."

Simone shook her head slightly. "No, it's alright. There's nothing to apologize for. I tend to blend in a bit and I didn't really talk to you much for quite a while," she added. "Besides, I like how things went," she promised, reaching over to touch his hand for a moment. She wasn't bothered. "It's hard to explain it. It's softer than London. Not that it isn't beautiful here," she corrected. "It's just a different kind of beautiful." She smiled at him gently before looking at her cup. "She just had a plan for my life and I listened." She frowned, taking a sip of tea as she considered things. "If I tell you something, will you keep it a secret?" she asked. She wanted to ask him to not think less of her but she decided not to.

Dominic liked how things went, too, so he was glad there were no hard feelings between them. "I do, too. I like you," he said with a smile. He nodded a little. He could see that. "London is sort of gloomy sometimes, and a lot of sharp edges," he laughed a little. "It grows on you easily though, I think," he said with a smile. He frowned a little at her words, and at the frown on her own face. "Of course I will. You can trust me," he promised.

Simone smiled at that, taking a sip of her tea. "I like you too," she told him. She shrugged slightly. "It is a bit gloomy, I suppose. It's still rather beautiful," she added. She looked down at the cup again, pursing her lips for a second. "My life... it was planned out for me before I even really knew any better. I just sort of assumed that was how things went. My parents, they're very specific people. They have a lot of pride. They want things done a particular way that reflects well on their... reputation, I suppose? After I finished my training for becoming a healer, I was sort of pushed into finding a partner," she paused to take a deep breath. "We were together a really long time. He was exactly what my parents could have hoped for and I just wanted to please them. He proposed, I said yes. It fit into the plan perfectly and I didn't see a reason to say no. Until one day when I was getting ready for some event, I realized I couldn't remember the last time I had changed my hair. It seems so silly," she admitted. "But that had always been one thing I had control over. It was my special ability that no one could take away from me but I'd let them." She hesitated a little bit, not quite looking at him. "I packed my things my things that day while he was at work and I left my engagement ring on the table. I didn't leave a note. I just left. He didn't deserve that, it wasn't his doing. I just knew that if I tried to say anything I could have been talked out of it. I came here, stayed in a little inn for a bit before I found Fitz. I didn't want to put him into a weird position but... he's Fitz. Of course he didn't mind."

Dominic was glad she thought it was beautiful. He did, too. But he also had a tendency to find beauty in every little thing. Maybe it was a talent of sorts. He nodded along as she spoke, frowning a little, but listening intently. It didn't really surprise him all that much. He had never really gotten a fantastic vibe off of Wren's familial situation, or a lot of the other purebreds he knew that had lived similarly to Wren. He knew Wren's parents were disapproving of his work, and of the fact that he wasn't married or even dating the sort of person they wanted him to be dating. And he had always gotten a feeling from Fitz that he really had just gone his own way, which made sense with the story she was telling. "I understand. Not in the, I've experienced that before, sort of way, but I understand why you did it. And I don't blame you. And honestly, I doubt he blames you either. You probably set him free, honestly. Gave his parents someone to blame other than him. And I'm sure he knows it wasn't personal. I'm glad you're able to take control of your own life now. I'm sure it feels sort of weird, getting to make all these choices when the plans were always laid out in front of you before, but I'm sure over time it'll feel more natural and fun, if it isn't already feeling that way," he said with a smile.

Simone hadn't really expected to tell him all of this. She hadn't even told Rosalind yet, though she'd been planning to soon. It felt weird to say it all out loud; she hadn't had much courage to even talk about it with Fitz or Wren. She met his eyes when he spoke, a bit surprised. Then again, she realized, this was Dominic. He always understood. She blinked away tears as he spoke, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "I," she started, though she wasn't quite sure what to say. "I don't know. Maybe. It was still a really cruel thing for me to do," she said finally. "It hasn't been easy. I was so afraid at first because I didn't really have anyone except for Fitz. Then he brought me to Nikolai's bar and Wren was there. Then I met all of you and things were easier. I had people. You were all so kind and welcoming to me," she said, smiling just a bit. "Things are better now. I don't regret leaving but I wish I'd done it in a different way," she said quietly.

Dominic noticed she was getting a bit teary, so he smiled softly at her. "I'm sure he's forgiven you for it. And if he hasn't, then that means he doesn't get it, and he probably never would have," he said honestly. He nodded along. He could imagine how terrifying it would be. But he thought if he had his siblings, he would be able to make it work the way she and Fitz had. "I don't blame you for being afraid," he said honestly, smiling at her. "I'm glad we were able to help you feel better. I don't think any of us had any idea what was going on in your life, but I'm glad our kindness brought you into our circle anyway," he smiled at her. "If it's as bad as you make it sound, I don't know how many other ways you could have gotten out of it at that point. I think you did what was right for you, which may not have been the easiest thing in the world, but you did it, and it worked out," he smiled. He paused for a moment, trying to decide if he wanted to say something. "My dad was teaching during the war. My mum begged him to go into hiding with us, but he insisted he stay at the school. At the time, I hated him for it. I worried every day about him," he said softly. "But I heard stories when I went to school about what it was like. And I heard stories about how he stood up for students every single day, about how he protected them. It was the bravest thing he did. And I think it was the only way he could live with himself. It was what was best for him, even if it didn't feel like what he should have done for us. I don't blame him for doing it, and I don't wish he had stayed with us, just to ease our worries," he said, hoping that didn't come off the wrong way.

Simone wasn't sure he was right. Then again, she could be the one who was wrong just as easily. "Maybe," she said again. She just hoped she hadn't hurt him but she didn't think she had. It had been scary to leave but things had become easier and easier as time went on. He'd been a big part of it without even knowing. "It was because you were so kind without knowing. I knew Fitz wouldn't have told anyone anything. You're just good people. That made it better." She shrugged again, though she knew he was right. When he started talking, she leaned forward a bit as she listened. She hadn't really thought much about how terrifying that must have been for him to go through. It hadn't even really connected that his father had been at the school when the war had happened. "I can't imagine what you went through. Especially as the oldest of your siblings," she added, frowning slightly. "That was really brave of him to do. He must have been terrified too. I bet he worried about all of you." She gave him another smile. "It's hard, isn't it? Knowing it was the right thing but not liking the way it happened. You were a terrified child who wanted his father but you know now that those kids were all terrified as well and needed someone to look out for them. It was such a horrible time," she shook her head. "I'm glad he was okay."

Dominic didn't think knowing or not knowing would have made a difference in how they would have treated her. She was a nice person, and Fitz was a nice person. I think, if nothing else, they had been prepared for her to talk their ears off like Fitz did. But just like he and his siblings were different people, so were she and Fitz. He liked her more than Fitz, honestly. "You are, too. A good person. We wouldn't like you if you weren't," he said honestly. He nodded a little. It was hard. Especially with the other two. He had been seven, and he knew a fair amount of what was going on. He knew enough to be scared. "It was an awful time," he said honestly. He nodded, smiling a little. "It was really brave of him. I'm sure he was. There was a lot on him, but he handled it really well. We didn't even get to talk to him much during that time, because he didn't want to give us away," he explained. He nodded, smiling again. "They probably needed him more than we did, honestly. Some of them didn't really have anywhere else to go but school. I'm glad he was there for them," he said honestly. He laughed a little and nodded. "So am I. My life would have been very different he hadn't been there," he said with a smile. "The point though, we were all okay, even if it was a difficult period. He did what was right, and fought through it, and made it all work. I know it's not quite the same, but you had to do what was right for you, and in the end, it'll all work out."

Simone knew he was being sincere about that. He didn't seem the type to just say something like that. "Thank you," she smiled. "It's been really nice being so warmly welcomed into the group," she said honestly. She thought it was really brave of him to have been so young and afraid but still hold it all together. "That makes sense. He must have been really worried about all of you, especially if he couldn't even write to check in. It must have been really hard on you," she said quietly. She nodded, completely understanding. "It was a terrible time. I know it wasn't as bad in France but I've heard about how it was here. Those kids were probably terrified at school. I'm glad your father could be there for them," she said, smiling softly. At the sound of his laugh, she felt herself smiling more. "It's a bit crazy how one thing could change your life so much." As he went on, she nodded a bit. She hadn't really expected their conversation to go this way. She'd been too afraid something would change that she kept putting off telling anyone. He'd understood, though. It meant everything to her. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I think I've just been so afraid that you would think less of me if I told you," she admitted. "And here you are, making sure I know it'll all work out," she smiled, reaching across the table to touch his hand. "Thank you, Dominic," she said again.

Dominic was glad the group had been so good for her. He felt like they were a nice group of people, and he was glad she did, too. He was glad they'd accepted her the way they had, that they'd made her feel so welcomed. "Of course. We're happy to have you," he smiled. He thought it was probably as hard on his dad as it was on him, if not worse. "It was difficult. I'm glad he was there for them, too," he smiled. He nodded in agreement. Such small details could change the whole way your life played out. It was insane, really. "Why would I think less of you?" he asked, frowning softly. He didn't think he could ever think less of her. "You're welcome, Simone. I'm glad you told me, even though you were afraid."

Simone liked how she could always tell that Dominic's words were genuine. She just really liked him in general. She always had. "I'm glad that you are," she smiled back at him. She really felt like a part of their group. They'd accepted her easily and none of them had ever let her down. It was wonderful. It made her past not feel like so much weight on her when she had such lovely friends. "I don't know," she admitted. "I think I'm just afraid of losing you in my life. You're just such a kind person and I did something awful and I suppose I was afraid you'd see me the way I did for so long. I should have known that you wouldn't," she said with a smile. "I'm glad I told you too. It feels good to have talked about it."

Dominic didn't know that she could get rid of him so easily. He was pretty hard to shake, honestly. "I think you'll have to put forth a little more effort to lose me," he said playfully. "I don't really think you did anything that awful. You did what you needed to do for your survival. It's okay to do things for you. I'm positive you were harder on you than everyone else, except, your parents, from the sound of it," he said with a small smile. "Maybe now you can start trying to see yourself more the way I see you."

Simone let out a quiet laugh. She felt so lucky to even be able to know him. "That's good to know," she smiled. She liked that he didn't think she had done something horrible. He still saw her the same way. "Maybe. I am rather hard on myself," she admitted. "I'm trying to go easier on myself lately." Her smile went a bit more fond and she took a sip of her tea. "I'll do my best. I want to see me the way you do. You might have to help some," she told him.

Dominic didn't have to be told that to be able to tell. He wasn't sure what it was, but it was just very evident to him that she had a tendency to be hard on herself. "I'm glad to hear that. You deserve that," he smiled. He thought it was good that she even wanted to see herself the way he saw her. "How can I help?" he asked curiously, smiling at her.

Simone thought it was amazing how much he cared about her and wanted her to feel good about herself. He made her so incredibly joyful. She loved it. "Thank you," she smiled back at him. She had another sip of her tea as she thought. "I don't know," she admitted. "I think just being around you makes it easier to see myself as more than what I have been. I can tell you truly mean what you say," she smiled.

Dominic liked that being around him made her feel better about herself. He would do anything to help her like herself more and more. "I'm glad. I'm glad I can help. I would never lie to you, you know, Simone," he said with a soft smile. He picked his tea cup up, bringing it to his lips, but not taking a drink yet. "You're the loveliest woman I've ever known," he said before taking a drink.

Simone knew that. She trusted him. She trusted him more than anything. "I know you wouldn't," she matched his smile. "You're far too kind to do something like that." She watched him for a moment, mostly just taking it in. His compliment made her feel a bit warm and she smiled at him. "I'm glad that you think that of me," she told him. "You're the loveliest man I've ever known as well," she said after a moment.

Dominic didn't know if it was that he was kind that kept him from not lying to her, or if it was simply the relationship the two of them had. He didn't want to break her trust. He didn't think he'd lie to anyone he cared about, really. "Maybe, so, I guess," he smiled. "How could I not?" he said with a grin. "I'm glad to hear that. I think we might just have something nice here," he said with a soft, shy sort of smile.

Simone could hardly believe how much she liked him. It was almost harder to believe that he liked her too. She'd never thought her crush would be reciprocated. She felt a little flush from the whole conversation and the implications of it. There was something between them. Maybe they'd even be together soon. "I think you're right about that," she agreed with a smile to match his. "I really like you. I have for a while."

Dominic felt relief wash over him. It was good to know she felt that between them, too, and it wasn't just in his mind. He had a feeling, but there was always something about actually putting the words out there and hearing them back. "Have you now? How long is a while?" he asked curiously. "I really like you, too. I'm not sure when it started. You've always been cute."

Simone felt a bit more flush when he asked. It occurred to her that he now knew everything and if she said she'd had one since she'd arrived in London it might seem a bit like he was a rebound from her failed engagement. "Just... a really long time. I was always so captivated by you. I'd never met anyone like you before in my life," she admitted. "It was nice to know my heart could still race when someone looked at me," she added. "Probably the entire time," she finally gave in and admitted. "Oh?" she smiled. "Looks like my efforts to get your attention worked," she laughed quietly. She set her empty cup down and snapped a biscuit in half. "When you got hurt, though. I felt like I'd been hurt too. I know that's silly," she laughed.

Dominic thought that was so odd. He never really felt like he was anything special, most especially in that department. It was odd to him that she felt like he was something really magnificent. "That's rather cute," he admitted. "I'm glad I could make your heart race," he smiled a bit. He smiled a little when she said the entire time. She was something. "I suppose they did," he laughed a little. "I think that's actually when I really realized how lovely you were. I got better. It was worth it," he said with a smile.

Simone felt so warm. It was such a mixture of the slight embarrassment at her admission of having liked him since the day they'd met and the way he was looking at her. Her affection for him strengthened with every beat of her heart. "Oh, I don't know how cute it is," she admitted with a timid smile. "I liked how kind you were. Not just to me but to everyone. I'd never met someone so fascinated with muggles before. You were so different from anyone I'd ever known. In every possible way. And the way you're always so engaged in conversations. It's beautiful," she smiled bashfully. She couldn't believe she was telling him all of this. He just made her feel safe; she knew he wouldn't laugh at her for saying such silly things. "I was so worried about you. Every time you so much as grimaced with pain I felt such a pang in my chest," she told him, her hand absentmindedly moving to the spot. "The fact that you thought to ask for me, though," she trailed off with a smile, though it faded when she remembered the way he'd looked so frightened when she first saw him. "I don't think the pain could have possibly been worth it. I was so worried I wouldn't be able to fix you. I hated leaving your room to check on my other patients. You just looked so..." she shook her head. "I'm just so glad that you're alright."

Dominic smiled fondly, a warmth in his expression, as she talked. He wondered if she appreciated those things so much because they were in such stark contrast of everything she'd experienced in Paris. "I imagine you've never had as much exposure to muggles as you have in Nik's bar, huh?" he said with a grin. "Why have a conversation if you aren't going to pay attention to every word the person you're speaking with says?" he said with a small laugh. He smiled sadly as she talked about how upset she'd been. "I think it may have hurt you more than me," he admitted softly. "I've done worse. I'm not always the brightest, especially for a Ravenclaw," he said with a small chuckle. "I appreciated everything you did for me, though. And not just as a healer, but as a friend. My siblings and mum came by quite a bit, but they're all rather busy. It was really nice to have you just sitting with me and talking."

Simone shook her head slightly. She never really saw muggles much back in France. "Only when I went out with Camille. She tried to expose me to the culture and we'd go out for tea or she'd take me shopping. It wasn't the same though as Nikolai's bar," she admitted. "I've never talked so many muggles." She smiled fondly at him when he laughed, though she'd known plenty of people who didn't pay attention. He was different. "Maybe it did but in a different way. You were in physical pain and I didn't know how to fix it at first. Everything that I tried at first seemed useless," she admitted. "I just... I want you to be more careful. Seeing you like that, it broke my heart. I didn't know if I could fix you," she said again. She smiled softly as he went on and explained, touched by the sentiment. "I tried to make as much time as I could to come sit with you. I didn't want you to be alone. And I felt like... I felt like if I was sitting with you, I could keep you safe."

Dominic thought that made sense. "I'm sure it's quite different. Muggles live very differently from us, and at the same time, very the same," he said with a small laugh. "And now you even have a friend who is dating a muggle! I bet you never would have expected that in your life," he said with another chuckle. He nodded. "I know. It was scary for a lot of people, myself included. I'm working on being safer. I promise," he smiled. "You're very sweet. Did you know that? You're just, you talk about how you hadn't met anyone like me, but I don't think anyone like you exists out there in the world."

Simone nodded a bit. "They really do. It's amazing what they can do without magic. They work so much harder than us. I don't know why my parents looked down on them so much," she admitted. "I know! You're right, I never expected it. Anastasia is so lovely, though. I really like her. I hope we can become friends even if talking to muggles still makes me a bit nervous. I'm always worried about slipping up," she admitted. She nodded slightly. "Please be safer. Don't put me through that again. I don't think I could bear it," she admitted with a slightly sad smile. His compliment took her a bit by surprise. "Oh. I don't know about that," she said a bit shyly. "I don't think I'm all that special. There's bound to be people like me."

Dominic shook his head. He didn't know why anyone did. "Fear of the unknown," he decided. That was the conclusion he came to a lot, actually. "Anastasia is really nice, isn't she? I like her. I'm sure you can become friends! I doubt she'd turn you away," he said with a grin. "I think you can't do any worse than Nik," he said with a laugh. He nodded seriously, smiling at her. "I promise. I'm working towards being safer. And at a lot slower of a pace, at that," he promised. "I do. I've met quite a few people, muggle or magic, and you're one of a kind in the best way possible."

Simone thought he could be right about that. "I can see that. Or maybe they're just terrible people," she said a bit sadly. "I don't think my family is afraid of what they can't understand. I just think they don't see muggles as worth as much as people like us. I'm ashamed that I come from a family like that," she admitted in a quiet, sad tone. "She is really nice. I hope we get to spend more time with her," she smiled. "Nikolai better treat her well so she sticks around," she teased. "Oh? Has he slipped up around her?" she asked with a smile. She believed he was trying to be safer but she still worried about him. "I just don't like you working alone. I don't want something to happen that makes it impossible for you to even get to the hospital," she frowned slightly. His words had her feeling warm again and she wished the table wasn't between them so she could kiss him. "I like that you think of me like that. Like I said before, I know you mean every word you say. I believe you."

Dominic frowned a little when she called them terrible people. "I suppose that could be. Don't be ashamed though. We can't pick where we come from, but I think you've made it rather clear where you want to go. You and Fitz don't seem a thing like your family. No shame in moving away from that and becoming a better person," he said with a soft smile. He laughed a little when she said Nikolai needed to treat Ana right. "I think he will. He really seems into her. It'd be nice to hang out with her more," he smiled. He laughed and nodded a little. "I think he said Merlin around her the other day. She hasn't seemed to question any of his weirdness, so she must really like him, too," he laughed. He nodded a little and smiled. "I know. I'm trying to find someone else to work with me, actually, but I don't really have tons of money to pay them, and it's a rather odd line of work," he said with a small laugh. "I would never lie to you," he promised.

Simone shrugged slightly. They were terrible people. "I was raised on the opposite side of you, you know. Your father was risking his life to protect kids during the war and my parents were sympathizing with Voldemort." She still didn't like saying his name. "We're not like our parents but that is where we came from. We don't talk about it. Even Fitz is bothered by it and he tries not to let anything get to him." She smiled at him, delighted at the thought of Anastasia being around more. "It really would. She seems good for him. Especially if the word Merlin didn't send her running," she laughed. She nodded slightly, pursing her lips. "Well, what if you looked in a student? You could ask your father, he teaches Muggle Studies right? Maybe one of his older students is really interested and could do some extra credit work by working with you a few times a week?" she suggested. "Then maybe you wouldn't have to pay." She wouldn't mind pitching in to get him an assistant but she knew he wouldn't accept. "I know, Dominic. You mean everything you say. You care about me," she smiled softly. "I'd quite like to kiss you again if you've finished your tea.'

Dominic nodded. He knew. He went to school with kids who didn't like his dad. But he also went to school with kids who didn't care about what their parents thought, because his dad was a good teacher, and they liked him. "I know. Wren's parents were like that, too. I don't hold it against him, and I don't hold it against you," he said with a small smile. "I understand. I just don't think you should let yourself feel like you're less because of them," he said with a small shrug. He laughed a little and nodded. "Maybe he'll tell her, and then we can really talk to her," he said with a small smile. He shrugged a little. "I could see if someone was interested after they finish the school year, but I wouldn't want to get anyone in trouble," he said with a small smile. "I do. I care about you a lot," he smiled. He laughed a little and stood up, taking her hands and pulling her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her lightly and kissing her lips softly.

Simone knew he wouldn't hold it against her but that didn't mean she wasn't ashamed of it. There were some things she didn't know if she'd ever be okay with. Then again, she'd been disowned so maybe it didn't matter so much anymore. "I know you don't. I'm still learning to accept parts of me, remember?" she smiled slightly. "It's a work in progress." She smiled, thinking it would be lovely for Anastasia to know the truth and for them to really be able to talk to her but she wouldn't mind pretending to be a muggle when she spoke to her for a bit longer. "Well, couldn't you ask your father? I'm sure he could help you. Or, I could help you out sometimes. I don't know much but I can learn. And keep an eye on you," she suggested with a smile. She ducked her head a bit when he said he cared about her a lot but she looked up again when he laughed. She let him pull her to her feet and slipped her arms around his neck. She kissed him tenderly, savoring the moment. She liked him so much, she ached.

Dominic smiled and nodded. He understood. He could imagine how hard it was for her to have such conflicting feelings about herself. "I still think what you've done with the information you've learned is far more important than where you came from," he promised. He shook his head, shrugging a little. "He doesn't really have time during the school year, which of course, just started. Maybe in the summer. If you wanted to help me, I wouldn't say no," he smiled. He liked how her arms went around him with ease. He wasn't sure where along the lines they'd become friends who care about each other and kiss, but he liked it an awful lot. He kissed her softly, holding her loosely in his arms.

Simone liked the way he thought about things. He had such an interesting and beautiful way of looking at the world, she thought. It was all quite positive. "I like that about you," she told him with a smile. She thought for a moment with a slight frown. "Maybe he knows of a student that has graduated recently that might be interested?" she suggested. "I could help you, though. I'd be happy to. I could learn more about muggles that way as well," she realized with a smile. She liked being in his arms like this. She felt warm and safe and so happy. No one had ever made her this happy before, she thought. She kissed him back just as delicately, letting everything stay soft.

Dominic smiled softly, and only for a moment. He liked that she saw the kindness and positivity in him, but he hoped she didn't think of it as something too special. He just felt like he was doing what everyone ought to do. "He might. I'll ask around. I'm not in a big hurry," he promised. "That would be lovely. And it'd be neat for you to learn more. Muggles are quite interesting," he promised. He held her close, rubbing the sides of her arms gently, kissing her for a few more moments. She was soft, and sweet, it felt easy to kiss her. He wasn't sure he'd ever kissed someone where kissing them felt as normal as walking. He pulled back, smiling at her. "Thank you for having me over today."

Simone understood that. She wasn't going to rush him back into work, anyway. She was still a bit frightened from seeing him so battered up. She didn't want to go through that again anytime soon but she knew she couldn't stop him from doing what he loved. She wouldn't want to. She'd just keep an eye on him. "I'd love to help, then. They are rather fascinating," she smiled. Everything felt so perfect. For the first time in ages, she wasn't worried about anything. "Of course. Thank you for coming," she smiled at him. "And for listening to me."

Dominic wanted to spend more time with her all the time. He really rather liked her. He thought it was so interesting how someone could be in your life and over time your feelings could just change, and it was amazing, really. He liked how universal these feelings were, too. "I'll always listen to you. I promise you that," he smiled. "Would it be rude of me to ask you to show me around your home a little?" he asked curiously.

Simone nodded a bit. She believed him. She had no reason not to. He'd been nothing but genuine since the day they'd met. How unfortunate that it had taken her so long to confide in him, she thought. "Thank you, Dominic," she smiled back. "No, not rude. I was going to offer to. I simply forgot," she admitted with a laugh. "Come, I'll show you." She took his hand, leading him from the kitchen. "It isn't very big but I suspect it's since Fitz expected to live alone."

Dominic smiled when she laughed. He was glad. He didn't want to push his boundaries with her, but he wanted to see her cute little home. "Oh, good," he smiled. He took her hand, following her through the house. "As long as there's enough room, that's all that matters. And it being small just makes it cozier," he smiled. He was sure Fitz was happier to have her in his small home than to have her back in Paris.

Simone walked with him, showing him the first floor. "There's enough room. I don't suppose it'd be hard to add more if we needed it. We don't often find ourselves home at the same times, except in the evenings sometimes," she admitted. Work kept them both plenty busy. "It's very cozy, though. You're right." She nodded towards the steps, leading him that way. "I bet the dog is asleep upstairs if you'd like to meet him."

Dominic thought it was interesting they weren't home at the same time. He would have pictured them spending dinner together, or both working on things in their spare time on the weekends. He supposed though that they both had rather busy lives, and that wasn't bad. "That makes sense," he smiled. "It's nice that it's cozy, though, isn't it?" he smiled. He nodded, following her upstairs. "I'd love to meet the dog. I like animals a lot," he admitted.

Simone didn't mind that sometimes her and Fitz didn't see each other much in a day. She was happy to even get to see him at all. When they'd lived in two different countries so much time would pass between visits. "It's really nice. Much better than a big empty home," she hummed. She'd spent too long in those. She called out in French when they were upstairs, pushing open Fitz's bedroom door. She frowned when the dog wasn't in his room and went to check hers. "Oh, there he is," she smiled when she spotted the dog on her bed. "Éclair, mon chou, come meet Dominic." She watched the dog's tail thump against the bed and laughed, tugging Dominic into her room instead. "Or we'll go to him."

Dominic could imagine a big empty home wasn't comfortable at all. He'd never been in a home like that. In his family home, everything was always crowded, but in a good way. Just so full of love. His apartment now was pretty small, but it was enough space. "I'm sure," he smiled. He followed her up, smiling when she spoke French. He laughed a little when the dog just stayed on the bed. "He's cute," he said with a grin. He nodded, following her into her room. "Is it alright if I sit on your bed?" he asked, leaning his hand down to let Eclair smell.

Simone glanced over at him when he laughed and couldn't help but smile brightly. She loved hearing that sound. "He is rather cute, isn't he?" she hummed fondly. "Oh, of course," she nodded. She sat down too, letting him be closer to Éclair. She watched as the dog sniffed his fingers before licking them and bumping his face against Dominic's hand. "He likes you," she smiled fondly. "I knew that he would. She murmured praise in French to the dog, petting his back softly. "He's a sweetheart."

Dominic sat down next to the dog, letting him smell his fingers before leaning in to pet him. "He's sweet," he said, smiling still. He wasn't surprised. It was Simone's dog, after all. Or, Fitz's, rather, but he thought it was close enough, really. "I'm glad he likes me. I think he's rather adorable," he said honestly. "Does he know French and English?" he asked curiously.

Simone watched Dominic with the dog, smiling to herself. "He is. He's a real delight to have around," she admitted. It was nice to come home and have the goofy little pup. "He does. I mostly speak to him in French," she admitted. "I know Fitz mostly uses English. He can understand you as well as he understands me," she smiled. She pet the dog gently and turned her attention to Dominic. "I'm glad you like him."

Dominic thought it was so nice that Simone had such a wonderful life here. She had her brother, and her friends, and her job, and this cute little home, and a lovely dog. He was so happy for her. He knew animals couldn't entirely understand their words, but he thought it was cool their dog could understand both of them. "That's really neat," he said with a smile. He looked up at her and smiled. "How could I not like him?" he said, meeting her eyes for a moment before looking back down. "When did you learn English?" he asked curiously.

Simone really liked having Dominic over. She should have thought to have him come by sooner but then again, it wouldn't have been anything like this. It likely would have been awkward as they had only just become close. Then it wouldn't feel as natural as this. She smiled when he did, watching him more now than the dog. "I don't know, honestly. I know a lot of witches and wizards don't like dogs," she shrugged. "But he's such a good one." She thought for a moment, trying to remember. "I was still little. Our parents had a lot of English speaking friends, like Wren's. They decided it was important for us to learn."

Dominic shrugged a little. He didn't really see why they didn't like dogs, but he did. "I like all animals. I only have an owl, but they're all nice. He's a really good dog," he promised with a smile. "Muggles love dogs," he added, smiling at her. He nodded as she spoke. That made sense. Both she and Fitz had perfect English. "Oh, that's really cool. Makes sense, too. It's easier to learn when you're younger, too, right?" he said with a smile.

Simone smiled as he spoke. She really, really liked him. "I always liked owls but I haven't had one since school," she admitted. "Having Éclair is nice, though. I like having a pet, even if he's technically Fitz's dog. He is a good boy," she smiled. "Do they? I'm not surprised by that at all," she admitted. She nodded a bit. "I think it is. Though, I only ever used it when they had friends around or we were learning."

Dominic liked having an owl. It was convenient, and he liked the company. Plus, his owl was very free, and not a lot of work. "I think he's practically your pet, too, really," he said with a smile. "I'm sure he's lovely to have around," he said with a smile. "He is a really good boy," he agreed. He nodded, smiling at her. "Oh, yeah. They call them 'man's best friend'. It's real cute," he said honestly. "It's nice that you know it, though, otherwise I imagine moving here would have been a lot harder."

Simone thought about that. He was right. She did take just as much care of him as Fitz did. "You might be right," she smiled. "He is. Even if he's a bit silly at times," she admitted, her smile not faded. She watched the dog lick Dominic's fingers again and smiled. "Man's best friend. That's so sweet. They do make great friends." She hummed out a sound, petting the dog once more. "I don't think I would have come here without knowing it. I would have been too scared," she admitted. "I can't imagine Fitz would have come either."

Dominic nodded in agreement. He thought it counted. "I think I am," he said with a grin. "I think it's the silliness that makes it really quite lovely, right?" he said, smiling still. He leaned down, petting the dog more, before focusing back on Simone. "It is, innit? They love them. And they are quite lovely friends," he agreed. He wouldn't have blamed her. He didn't think he would have gone to another country if he hadn't known the language already. "In that case, I'm very glad you already know English," he smiled.

Simone smiled when he grinned. She thought she just might agree with anything if he was smiling like that. "You're definitely right then," she amended. "It is. He's an odd one but he's so full of love." She liked that the muggles loved their dogs so much. She figured that was why she saw so many of them with them. "They're some of the best friends," she agreed. His words had her smiling again and she looked back at the dog. "I am too. I'm glad that we're here. I'm glad that I met you."

Dominic thought it was so sweet how much she loved their dog. He loved his owl, but even that, he thought, wasn't the same as how she loved her dog. Plus, he felt the dog was really good for her. "I can tell," he said with a smile, petting Eclair's ears. He was really glad that she'd ended up here. He knew that it would have been nicer if she'd just been happy with her family and Paris, but he was selfishly glad that she was here with him instead. "I'm glad you're both here, and I'm glad I met you, too," he smiled.

Simone felt so happy and at peace. She couldn't wait to tell Rosalind about today, even if she'd likely end up also talking about Paris. It didn't seem as daunting since she'd spoken about it once. She leaned closer to Dominic and kissed his cheek lightly when he smiled. "You have made being here extra special," she told him as she pulled back. "And, of course, you have too," she added with a laugh when the dog pushed between them.

Dominic smiled fondly when she kissed his cheek. She made him happy. "I'm glad to hear that. If you're going to be here in England, you might as well like it," he smiled. He laughed a bit when Eclair moved between them, petting his head again. "I'm really happy for you and the life you have here. I think you fit in here wonderfully," he said with a smile.

Simone gave him a fond look. She was really happy. She couldn't remember a time where she'd been happier. "You're right. And I really do love it here. I can't imagine anyone wouldn't," she admitted. It was just so welcoming. "Thank you. I am too," she smiled. "I was a bit worried I wouldn't fit in but that seems silly now," she laughed. "I fit in better here than anywhere else. Maybe I was meant to come."

Dominic was glad she was so happy. It meant so much to him, especially since he knew she hadn't been the happiest before she came here. He was so glad she was in a better place now. "That's fair," he said with a low chuckle. "I'm glad you love it here, though," he said honestly. "I think everyone's worried they won't fit in when they go somewhere new. I would agree that you fit here wonderfully, though," he smiled. "Maybe you were."

Simone moved her hand from Éclair's back and let it rest on Dominic's instead. She just felt like touching him. "I am, too." She shrugged a bit, though he was likely right. "I can't imagine anyone not being a bit afraid of that," she agreed. "Maybe," she repeated. She let out a quiet sigh, content. "Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?" she wondered. She wasn't sure how long he could stay and she didn't want to distract him and make him late if he did.

Dominic couldn't imagine it either, and he wasn't even one to particularly care about fitting in. "I can't imagine it myself," he admitted. He liked that she was touching him. He felt so comfortable and at ease with her. He hummed quietly and shook his head. "No. Well, I'm supposed to help close at the bar, but I won't have to be there until much later," he said honestly. "Do you?"

Simone shook her head as well. She hadn't made any plans since she didn't know how long they'd be spending together. "No, I'm free today. I just wanted to see you," she admitted. "Maybe I'll see if Rosalind wants to get a drink with me later," she mused. "I'm sorry that you have to work tonight." She thought for a moment, looking around her room. "Did you want to go for a walk, maybe?" she suggested.

Dominic smiled when she said she just wanted to see him. "That would be nice. You two get along well," he said with a smile. He knew Rosie liked her a lot. "It's okay. It's not too long, and I don't really mind it too terribly," he admitted. He thought for a second before nodding. "Yeah, I would really enjoy talking a walk with you," he said with a smile.

Simone nodded slightly. "Yes, we do. She is my best friend after all," she smiled. She loved Rosalind and couldn't wait to tell her about her and Dominic. "As long as you don't mind it too much, I suppose that's all that matters," she smiled. She waited while he thought before standing up with a smile. "Okay. I'll show you around outside a bit," she said, offering him a hand to take.

Dominic smiled, liking that they were best friends. "You two are perfect best friends," he said honestly. He nodded a bit. "It's not bad work. It's not too long either. Plus, once the muggles are out, I just clean everything with magic and go home," he said with a small laugh. He took her hand as he stood up, following her outside. "Do you like being a healer?"

Simone thought so too. Rosalind had been such an unexpected gift to her. Her friendship meant the world to her. "She's wonderful. I love her very dearly," she smiled softly. A musical laugh escaped her. "That's one way to get home quickly." She led the way out back, letting the dog follow them. He could run and play, she thought. He always came back. "I do. It's been my dream for so long. Some days can be hard," she admitted. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm really cut out for it but... then I see how I've helped someone. That makes every stressful moment feel like a worthy price to pay."

Dominic thought they were a really excellent fit for one another. They were rather similar, really. And he was glad they both had each other. "She is very lovely," he agreed. He smiled when she laughed. "Whatever works, right?" he said with a laugh. He smiled as Eclair ran out with them, walking with Simone slowly, keeping her hand in his. He just listened to her as they walked. He was glad she liked being a healer. He worried she'd maybe been pushed into it from her family, so it was a relief to him that it was something she liked. "I think everyone sometimes questions if they're right for what they're doing. I think you're a lovely healer, though. Very good at what you do."

Simone thought all of the Suttons were incredible people. They were so warm and welcoming. She hadn't had a bad experience around them. "She's wonderful," she smiled. "I feel bad that muggles have to stay and clean everything by hand. That must be exhausting. We're rather lucky, aren't we?" she mused thoughtfully. She liked just walking with him like this, hand in hand with Eclair running around them. It felt like more. "Do you question what you do?" she wondered. "You're only saying that because I helped you," she smiled. "But thank you. I appreciate it."

Dominic laughed and nodded. "I do, too. I can't imagine having to do all the work they have to do. Though, they have created machines to do some of their work for them, it doesn't really compare," he said honestly. He was so glad they had magic. It was a lot of work, being a muggle. He nodded a little. "All the time. I barely have a real profession. I work at my brother's bar and write articles to make extra money. I don't make any money from my research. The Ministry never really wants to hear what I have to say. But I really think we could benefit from opening our eyes. Muggles continue to advance, and we haven't changed much in years and years. It's just a lot of work for what feels like nothing," he said with a shrug. He laughed a little. "Exactly. How many people could have fixed me without knowing what was wrong? You're quite skilled," he said with a smile.

Simone couldn't imagine it either. They had to do so much by hand. She didn't really understand all the machines that they had. "They still have to do the work to use the machine, right?" she asked with a slight frown. Thankfully Dominic didn't mind explaining things or she'd feel too foolish to ask. She frowned slightly as he spoke. It didn't seem fair that he did all of this work and no one cared enough to listen. "Maybe you need to find a way to make them want to hear you," she suggested. She wasn't sure how that would work but he was the smartest person she knew, if anyone could figure it out it was him. "I think we could benefit from it too. You're doing such good work. I'm sorry they don't take it seriously." She squeezed his hand. His laugh had her smiling. "I just wanted to make your pain go away."

Dominic nodded, but also shrugged. "Mm, yes, but it's still easier. Like they have this machine that washes their dishes. They have to put the dishes in the machine when they're dirty and take them out when they're clean and put soap in it, but it washes and dries all the dishes," he said with a shrug. "It reduces the work significantly," he added. He frowned and shook his head. "I don't know how to make people listen. It's a work in progress. I think though, the more we mix with muggles, like my dad with my mum, the more the muggle world is going to mix with our world. We'll have to deal with it eventually," he said honestly. He smiled at her, squeezing her hand back. "Thank you. It's okay. Just frustrating," he promised. "And you made it go away and stay away. What more could I want from a healer?"

Simone frowned slightly. How did muggles think of this stuff? A machine to wash dishes? "Sounds a lot like magic to me," she admitted. "I wouldn't know how to go about any of the stuff that they do." It was fascinating to think about. She didn't really get it at all but she liked to learn. "I'm sure you could think of a way. Maybe you just need to find a way to combine something all wizards and witches love or do regularly and a way that muggle technology could improve it?" she suggested. "I don't know, I'm sorry. I'm not good with this stuff." He probably had a point, though. If they continued to mix, things would combine. She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "You'll figure it out." She let out a laugh and shook her head. "I'm sure I could have figured it out sooner if I hadn't been so upset and worried about you," she admitted.

Dominic laughed a little and nodded. "Yeah, it sounds a lot like magic to me, too," he said honestly. "They're interesting. They're smart. I like the things they've come up with," he said with a small smile. He nodded a bit at her ideas. "Yeah, you're right. It's just hard," he said. He shook his head, smiling at her. "You're doing rather well, seeing as it's an odd topic most people don't mix in," he said honestly. He laughed when she did. He didn't think she'd taken all that long, really. "You fixed me that day! Stop being so hard on yourself."

Simone didn't think she'd ever understand them but she was enjoying learning from him. "They are smart. They seem to find ways to make their own magic to make life easier for them," she smiled. She had no doubts that it was hard but she hoped he could think of something. "I think what you're doing is important. I'm certain that you'll find a way to get your work known," she said genuinely. "I'm doing my best. I think you're just a good teacher," she smiled. She thought she would have figured out what was wrong with him a lot faster if she hadn't been so upset but she let it go. "You're right. I'll stop."

Dominic had always liked that about muggles. They were more fun than wizards in some ways. They lived more carefree sometimes, he felt. "They do. They make films and stuff, too, which are fascinating. I love watching them," he said with a grin. He nodded a little, but he thought she just thought highly of him. "I hope so. I think the wizarding world could be even better," he said with a smile. "Oh, thanks. I do my best," he smiled. "You're an excellent healer," he smiled, squeezing her hand.

Simone glanced over at him with a questioning smile. "Films?" she repeated. "What do you mean by that?" She was certain that anything he did would make the wizarding world better. He had so much care in his heart for this type of thing. "I think you do great work. I'm always willing to learn if you want to teach me," she said with a smile. "Thank you. I appreciate that very much," she admitted. "I do the best I can."

Dominic hadn't realized she didn't know what films were. He smiled a little. "Uh, they're like. Well, it's like a series of pictures that move together. Only they also have sound. Like when you watch a play. Except it's on this little black thing that's a rectangle, or it's on this little flat circle thing, and you get a television and you watch them. It's like a big box with a screen that you can see things on. I'll have to take you to one," he said with a smile. He smiled and nodded. "I would be happy to teach you more. I appreciate that you think my work is worthwhile," he said honestly. He nodded a little. "You're welcome. I experienced you as a healer first hand, and you're the best I've ever seen."

Simone watched him as he explained. He was so cute going into such detail about something she didn't understand. It made it a bit hard to focus on the words he was saying. "Oh, that sounds lovely. Muggles really figured that out without magic? How resourceful! It's so incredible that they're able to do that," she smiled. "I'd love to go see one with you. I'm really enjoying learning everything from you," she admitted with a smile. "It's very much worthwhile. It's so important," she told him. She smiled warmly at him, touched by his words. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."

Dominic smiled when she started talking about films. She seemed to grasp it, even if it did seem like the kind of thing that was sort of hard to explain without seeing it. "They did! They're interesting, aren't they? If I didn't know any better, I'd say they had a few wizards sneaking them ideas," he said with a laugh. "I'll take you to one. And sometime I'll show you the films my mum has. I'm enjoying teaching you everything," he promised. "Thank you," he added, smiling again. "Of course, Simone."

Simone could hardly believe that muggles were capable of so much. She'd never really known much about them in the past but she'd assumed that their lives were harder. It seemed they'd just figured out how to best use what they had. It amazed her. "I can't imagine trying to figure out how to go about that," she admitted with a laugh. She smiled at him and nodded. "I'd love that," she smiled. She was glad he enjoyed it as much as she did. "Hopefully you won't get hurt again and you won't need to experience me as a healer again."

Dominic shook his head a little in amazement. "I can't either. Even though I know technically how it works, I can't actually wrap my mind around how they do it. I don't think I could do it," he said with a small laugh. "We'll go there when you have free time again," he said with a smile. He laughed a little, squeezing her hand a bit. "I hope I don't get hurt again, too. Trust me," he promised.

Simone could understand his fascination with muggles. It seemed surprising so many wizards were so against them. She thought they were intriguing. "I couldn't either," she agreed. "It just seems so complex." She nodded with a smile. "That sounds nice. I'll check my schedule and let you know," she promised. Her smile brightened when he squeezed her hand and she glanced at him. "That's reassuring," she said honestly.

Dominic nodded in agreement, just so amazed by it all. "It does. It is. It's wild. And they've had films for nearly a hundred years! Isn't that wild? Sometimes, I think we could all benefit if we intermingled more," he said honestly. "I can't wait," he smiled at her. He looked down at her for a moment and smiled. "I'll be careful," he added, still smiling. He looked back at her dog, watching him run.

Simone found that surprising. "Nearly a hundred years?" she repeated. "That's so fascinating," she admitted, shaking her head a bit in amazement. "I think you're right. I think it'd be nice if we did that. Think of all the things we could learn from them. It's fascinating," she said again. "I can't either." She believed him when he said he'd be careful. She knew he wouldn't want to end up in that much pain again. "Thank you."

Dominic nodded at her question, getting a bit excited. "Nearly a hundred years! I don't know how they do things the way they do. They're so interesting," he said honestly. He nodded a long. "I think there is so much we could learn from them, and then so much they could get from us. If we just all combined our knowledge, I feel like so much good could come from that," he said with a smile. "You're welcome."

Simone found herself smiling at how excited he became. Oh, he was so cute. "They are very interesting. It's remarkable what they can do. I can't wait to see one of these films," she smiled. She really enjoyed how much he cared about this. He had such a passion for it and it really showed. "I think your work will show people how much it would benefit everyone," she told him. "If anyone can do it, it's you."

Dominic couldn't wait to take her to a film. They'd have to go to the theater and all. It'd be so great. "Have you ever had popcorn? They eat popcorn while they watch films. It's a thing for some reason," he said with a smile. He smiled a little and nodded, though it honestly felt like too big of a job for him. "I hope so. That's my goal," he said. "Thank you."

Simone thought about that for a moment, trying to remember. "I think I had it once with Camille but I'm not sure," she answered finally. "We should get some when we go," she suggested. "That way I know for sure. And we fit in better," she smiled. She could really imagine him making a difference with his work. "I have faith in you," she promised. "You're very welcome."

Dominic wasn't surprised. Her friend sounded great. She should try to contact her again. "Definitely. It'll complete the experience. And we will fit in better," he said playfully. He smiled and nodded. "Thank you," he said again. He let out a small, happy sigh. He was so content just walking with her. "Do you want to do anything else when we go back in?"

Simone smiled. She thought it'd be a lot of fun trying to blend in with muggles with him. It'd be a bit different from going to the bar but she knew she'd have a good time with Dominic. "I'm excited," she promised. She looked towards the dog for a moment before smiling at him again. "Oh, well, I'm sure we could find something to do. I didn't really plan anything else for today except the tea," she admitted. She'd be happy to do just about anything with him.

Dominic thought a bit about what they could do next. He smiled. "Tea is a good plan," he said with a grin. "We could talk more. Maybe sit around. You could show me anything you and Fitz have in your home from Paris, if you have any," he suggested. He was really just happy to spend time with her. "You can ask me questions about things if you'd like."

Simone didn't mind just talking to him. It actually sounded perfect to her. "That sounds lovely," she smiled. "I'm sure I can find something to show you." She called for the dog and rubbed the top of his head briefly before turning back towards the cottage. "I'm not Fitz," she teased. "Though, I do have questions for you. You're quite fascinating to me," she said with a smile.

Dominic was glad she thought it sounded nice. He enjoyed chatting, but he knew that was mildly boring at times. "I'll be happy to see anything you want to show me," he said with a smile. He smiled fondly as she pet her dog as they walked back. He laughed and nodded. "I know. But I feel like that goes with the getting to know people better thing. Plus, most of my friends have known me for years and know all the awful and embarrassing things about my life, but you don't," he said playfully.

Simone wondered what all she had that was worth showing him. She'd left a fair amount of her possessions behind but she had a few things that she'd been unable to part with. "I have some photographs from school, if you'd like to see them?" she offered. His explanation had her laughing quietly. "Right. And you want me to ask you about all the embarrassing and awful things in your life?" she wondered with a playful smile.

Dominic nodded with excitement when she suggested showing him old school photos. "I would love to see them," he said with a wide grin. He laughed a little when she did. "Well, not particularly," he said, laughing again. "But the idea was that they know all the things that have happened to me in the past fifteen years. You don't know any of them. And I don't them of you. It'd be nice to know more."

Simone liked how excited he seemed. She thought it was quite cute. "I'll show you then," she promised. The photos from her time at school brought back the happier memories of Paris and she definitely wouldn't mind showing them off. His laugh had her smiling at him again. "Okay, let me think." She opened the door to the cottage, letting the dog in first before following suit with Dominic. "What were you like at school?"

Dominic followed her in, excited to see her pictures. He imagined in a lot of ways she looked similar to how she looked now, just younger with school clothes. But he felt like it would be a glimpse into her past, and he was eager to see that. "I can't wait." He waited as she thought and opened the door. He followed the dog in, turning back a little to see her again when she spoke. "Mm, quiet. Oblivious. Studious. I was rather aloof. Not intentionally. It kind of goes with the quiet and oblivious, I think. What about you?"

Simone smiled fondly. She didn't think the pictures were that special, especially not to other people. They meant a great deal to her but she kept them away because she didn't think anyone would want to see. "They're not that exciting," she told him with a smile. His description of himself had her laughing quietly. "I'm not surprised by that," she admitted. "I think I was similar. I was very quiet. I never forgot my homework. I was shy," she smiled a bit. "I'll go get the photos, why don't you sit down and make yourself comfortable?" she suggested.

Dominic shrugged a little and smiled. Maybe they weren't exciting to her, but he was excited to see them. They were part of her, and he liked that. He wanted to know all the parts of her, even the boring ones. "Maybe, but I'm excited anyway," he smiled. He laughed when she did. "Yeah, I'm still rather similar," he admitted. He nodded a bit, but shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sure you were kinder than I was. I was unintentionally a little condescending. I've matured, thankfully," he said playfully. He nodded a little. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be here, waiting for you," he smiled at her.

Simone didn't think she could imagine him being unkind or condescending. He had never been anything but sweet to her. Perhaps, she thought, it tied in with his obliviousness. "Well, at least you didn't mean it. That's something," she smiled. "I mostly kept to myself," she admitted. "I'm not sure that really made me very kind. I probably seemed very uninterested in people." She was just shy. When she returned with the photo album she smiled at him as she took a seat at his side. "It's been a while since I looked at these," she told him as she flipped the cover open. The very first picture was of her and Fitz during first year.

Dominic nodded. He had never intended to be anything other than nice. "I do think that counts for something. I was just very in my own mind," he said honestly. "I was uninterested in people. I'm sure people knew you were nice, just shy," he said honestly. He perked up a little when she sat down with the album. "I'm sure it has. I haven't looked at mine in years," he said. He smiled brightly at the picture of the two of them. "Oh my, weren't you two adorable," he said with a smile.

Simone smiled over at him kindly. "There's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it's better to be in your own mind than in the real world. It can be a nice break." As long as the thoughts were nice ones, at least. "How on Earth did you make friends with Dot then? Rosalind mentioned the two of you being close in school," she remembered. "I think people mostly just saw me as Fitz's twin sister if they ever saw me at all," she admitted. She shifted a bit closer to him, smiling at the picture for a moment. "We were so small. Look at his hair," she laughed airily. She flipped to the next page, a scattering of photographs taken throughout the year. "I think there are some of Wren around the holidays. Oh! There's Camille!" she pointed excitedly.

Dominic had to agree with that one. He rather liked the world in his mind, especially compared to the real world, and especially when he'd been younger. The real world was just so overwhelming. And not in a good way. "It can be a nice break indeed," he smiled. He laughed a little. "That was Dot's doing. I don't know why. She just made herself my friend," he said with a shrug. He wasn't really sure how that happened himself. "I think you're much much more than Fitz's sister," he promised. He laughed when she did, glancing at her and smiling to himself. "His hair does look rather silly. I enjoy that I've seen these of him," he said playfully. He nodded, looking at each picture as she turned the pages. He turned his attention to her friend, smiling. "She looks very kind."

Simone didn't find that to be surprising at all. Of course that's how it happened. It seemed fitting for their personalities. "I wonder why she was so set on that," she laughed. "She must have seen something in you. I never would have guessed the two of you to be friends. You're so different." It was funny how things happened, she thought. People could just find their way into your lives and make an impact. "I'm glad that you think so. He's always been the charming one, I mostly fade into the background," she admitted casually. She traced her hand over a picture with a smile. "He was always such a happy child." She looked down at the photo of her friend, heart aching a bit. "She is. She was my first friend. Aside from Wren but he was much older and we only rarely saw him. Camille was my very best friend, though."

Dominic frowned playfully, the smile still on his face. "I honestly don't know. Maybe it was homework. Or maybe it was because she and my sister were in the same house. I don't know. We are rather different. It balances us out, though," he said honestly. He could see how people thought that about Fitz. He imagined he was always bright and friendly. But Simone had a different kind of charm. "Fitz is like a good semi-sweet chocolate. Everyone likes chocolate. Everyone likes the balance. But you, you're like. You're like a dark chocolate with a hint of fruit. You're far more charming, you just have to pay attention," he said honestly. "He seems always happy now, too. That doesn't surprise me one bit," he admitted. He smiled fondly as she looked over the photo of her friend. "We'll have to find her for you one day. I bet she'd be so proud of where you are and who you are now."

Simone laughed delightedly. "Homework! Of course it was! I bet she talked you into helping her study. She's so bright and charming, it's hard to say no to her. Rosalind told me she'd fancied you at one point and just moved on from it like it was nothing. She's quite the character," she smiled to herself. "It makes sense you're friends. You're good for each other." She blinked a bit in surprise, looking up from the album to turn in his direction. His words touched her and she felt the softest smile curving her lips. Before she even thought about it she was leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "It means a lot that you think of me that way," she told him when she pulled back. She didn't think anyone ever really noticed her but here Dominic was and he actually saw her. "I wouldn't even know where to look. It's been years. I don't know if she'd even want to see me," she admitted, sighing before she flipped the page.

Dominic laughed when she did. "Yeah, I think that was it. It makes sense. And I know I helped her with coursework an awful lot," he said with a laugh. "I don't think I really put up much of a fight. I was like, sure, alright, and we just became friends. You know, I didn't even know at the time until she told me. I didn't even have my first girlfriend until I graduated," he admitted. He nodded in agreement. They were good for each other. They were a good balance. He looked over at her, noticing she was looking at him. He smiled when she leaned in and kissed him, kissing her back softly. "How could I not?" he said with a smile. He understood. "Maybe we can find her anyway. Maybe Rosie can help. I'm sure she'd want to see you. She sounds quite nice."

Simone found that quite precious. "You said you weren't the kindest person but I think this proves you were. You helped her with her work. You had a good friend in her. She's still your friend to this day," she smiled. "I think that says a lot about you that you could maintain a friendship for so long." That information surprised her. Looking at him, she would have expected differently. "No one in school? Why not? I had a boyfriend in school. He was a half blood so I had to keep it a secret. Fitz would cover for me. He covered for me a lot when I'd sneak off with Camille in the summer," she smiled fondly. "It's just nice to hear someone thinks of me so highly," she admitted. She stared down at the picture of Camille for a moment longer before sighing and flipping the page. "Maybe. I have to work up the courage to tell Rosalind why I left Paris in the first place. I really hurt her when I cut contact with her. I wouldn't want to see me if I were her," she admitted. "Oh, look! There's Wren at a holiday. I think this was at his house."

Dominic laughed softly when she said this proved him wrong. "Oh, I don't think it makes me the kindest. Maybe it makes me kind, but not the kindest. She made herself my friend, but we are good friends now," he said honestly. "I never said I was an awful person or anything," he said playfully. He nodded a bit. "No, no one. I wasn't really interested in dating. Wow, a half blood. You must've kept that really secret. Of course, I'm a half blood, too, but it's different now," he said with a smile. "He's a good brother. I never covered for Nik. Though I have covered for Rosie," he said with a smile. "Doesn't Fitz think highly of you? We all do, too, especially me," he said with a smile. "I think she'd understand. Rosie. I would hope that Camille would, too, though I think it's rather normal to be hurt when someone stops talking to you that you care about," he said with a small smile. "Oh, wow, look at that. He doesn't look all that different. How wild."

Simone shrugged gently, nudging him with her elbow softly. "It makes you kind. You didn't have to be her friend. Though, I'm not sure many people can say no to Dot. You balance each other well. It's nice that you've been close for so long." She laughed a little before shrugging. "I suppose that was my way of rebelling. My parents would have been furious if they found out. He was kind, though. We mostly just did our homework together," she admitted with a laugh. "Really? With boys? Or just in general?" she wondered. Her smile turned soft. "He does. And I think highly of him. I think highly of all of you. Especially you," she smiled at him. "I'll tell her soon. Maybe she can look into finding Camille so I could at least send her a letter and let her know I think of her. And that I'm sorry," she sighed. Maybe. "No, he doesn't. He just looks like Wren," she laughed. She flipped the page again, pointing out different parts of her school.

Dominic wasn't really sure he'd had that much of a say in it. It really felt more like they'd just become friends and he didn't know how. "Maybe it does," he said with a smile. "It's really nice," he agreed. He figured he was kind. Why would she have dated an unkind person? She was very kind. She didn't seem like the kind of person who would willingly surround herself with unfriendly people. "I'm glad you had a nice person to spend time with," he smiled. "In general. I didn't need to cover for her often, but I don't think there was ever a time when I didn't," he said honestly. "I'm glad to hear that. I think especially highly of you, as well," he smiled. He nodded a little. "Did you two stop talking when you left? Or was it before that?" he asked curiously. He was sort of getting the idea that it was more than just she ran away without saying bye. "How funny. Smaller, and scrawnier, but Wren," he said with a smile. "You were very cute," he said with a smile.

Simone didn't revisit memories of school much. It had been quite some time since she'd even looked at this photo album. For so many years it had made her too sad. She'd see herself smiling with friends, her hair different in each photograph. Then she'd shut it and go back to her life, playing the part her parents had written for her. It was hard to even remember a genuine smile from that time unless it involved seeing Fitz. "It's good that she had her brother looking out for her," she smiled at him. "I'm glad, too." She ran her hand over the page, staying quiet for a moment. "I stopped talking to her when I got engaged. I'd started to make myself less available to her, trying to ease her away gently but once Étienne proposed I cut off the contact. I wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to see me again," she said, clearing her throat a bit so she didn't get choked up. "It's strange that we both knew Wren but we didn't know each other. Maybe strange isn't the word for it," she corrected with a smile. "Thank you."

Dominic smiled and nodded. He was always there for Rosie when he could be. He wasn't the best at some things, and he knew she went to Nik for certain things, and he understood that. But he would always do anything for her. For Nik, too, but he also had to give him a hard time. "It is," he smiled. He watched as she seemed to think it over. "Why did you do that?" he asked curiously. "I don't judge you for it. I just don't understand why. Isn't that the best time to have a friend around?" he asked. "Did your parents not want her around? Am I asking too many questions?" he added. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. "It is. No, I think strange is the right word. It's really crazy to think that we had a connection all along and never knew it." He smiled up at her and nodded. "You're welcome."

Simone thought it must have been nice to grow up the way that he had. He had a warm family and siblings that adored him. She had a feeling his parents loved them all more than everything. She had Fitz, of course, but the idea of a real family had always been at the edge of her mind. She sighed a little bit, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. "It's okay. You can ask questions. I have to talk about it at some point." She stared down at a photograph, biting her lip. "She wasn't a pureblood. My parents... they're stricter than Wren's. It's different in France. I wasn't supposed to be friends with her. I hid it for a long time. I suppose they didn't care so much when I was in school but I started to change. I was a bit less reserved. I'd come home from the summer and I had more of a spark than I had before. I think... I think they realized I was making more decisions for myself. And Fitz had always done his own thing. There was no controlling him. I mean, imagine telling him what to do," she laughed, though the sound was sad. "It started with little comments from my mother and then my father wouldn't speak to him. And Wren had already broken the mold from his family and Fitz looked up to him. I guess they started to think that they'd lose their grasp on us and it was tense. I wanted to please them to take some of the pressure off of Fitz even if he didn't feel it. Then they introduced me to Étienne, I started pulling away from my own life. It was just easier to give in." She shifted a bit, fidgeting with the ends of the page of the book. "It was my own doing. I didn't have to stay around. I didn't have to cut anyone out. I just wanted..." she trailed off, clearing her throat. "It's silly."

Dominic nodded a bit, but he still felt bad that she seemed rather upset about the idea of talking about it. He listened as she spoke. It seemed so sad to him that her parents were upset with her for becoming her own person. It made him even sadder that she felt like she could be told what to do and Fitz couldn't. He couldn't imagine parents being so cruel to their own children. He took the book from her, setting it on the coffee table, taking her hands instead as she cleared her throat. "No, it's not silly at all. I understand. I've always wanted my parents to be proud of me. I work with muggles and my father is a muggles studies professor and my mum is a muggle. I've been shaped by them. I think we all want our parents to be proud of us. It's our nature. It's a shame that they think they're so far above others to the point of belittling their own children for wanting to be individuals if it means not being like them. I am certain, from the sound of it, that Camille understood and knew that about you, and doesn't have the slight bit of resentment against you. I wouldn't. I would be sad, and I would miss you, and I would think you deserved better, but I wouldn't be mad at you."

Simone let him take the book away, not really realizing just how sad she'd become. His hands felt nice when they took hers, reassuring her that she was in a safe place. She didn't have to be upset. She'd left. It was nice that he understood even if it wasn't quite the same. His parents had wanted him to be his own person, to find what he wanted to do in life and pursue it. And he'd had the perfect parents for what he wanted to do. "I've never really talked about this before. It's still fresh. If Fitz didn't let me stay with him, if he hadn't told me Wren was here... I don't know. I thought about going back. It wasn't until I started getting to know everyone that I felt like I could stay. Rosalind was so quick to become friends with me. It was easy. And then there was you," she shrugged a bit. "I felt like maybe things would be okay. Maybe Camille would understand," she found herself getting a bit choked up and cleared her throat again. "You're one of the nicest people I've ever met," she said honestly. She almost didn't feel like she deserved all of this kindness but she was working on it.

Dominic nodded as she spoke, a small, sad frown on his face as he listened to her. It broke his heart, really. "I understand. You don't owe anything to anyone, you know, Simone. You don't owe anything to your ex fiance, or to your parents, or even Camille. I do think she would understand, if you ever found it in you to talk to her," he said honestly. "I think you're far too hard on yourself for a lot of things that truly aren't your fault. He smiled a little at her, leaning in, pulling her to his chest. He kissed the top of her head. "You're one of the nicest people I've ever met," he said, putting emphasis on 'I.'

Simone knew that. It was hard to come to terms with but she knew it. Even if it didn't feel that way sometimes. "I know. I know. It's a process. I'm still learning. It's almost my twenty sixth birthday and I'm still trying to learn who I even am. It makes me feel... small," she admitted finally in a quiet voice. "I see everyone and they know who they are, they're so unapologetic about it. Nikolai, Dot, Wren, Fitz. You. Who am I?" she asked. She leaned into him, holding onto him as she took a deep breath to steady herself. "I just don't know how you can think of me that way. I'm not fishing for compliments. I just don't see it. I'm trying, though. I promise."

Dominic frowned and shook his head. Not everyone always knew who they were. "You aren't alone in that, you know. Not everyone knows who they are your age. Wren didn't. Not really. He was dating that woman who was eerily like his family, even though she was a magizoologist. Even in his own world, he was aiming to please. He's had a hard time, too. I've watched him. I don't know who I am or what I'm doing all the time. I know what I want, but is that the same as knowing who I am?" he said, holding her close still. "You know a lot of pieces of yourself, you just have to figure out how to rearrange them back again to be a you that you recognize," he said honestly. "This is the best part of adulthood," he said with a soft smile, hoping she could see it his way. "Simone, love, you have never done a single thing wrong to me or my sister or my friends. Your brother speaks about you with the brightest light in his eyes. You were in a bad situation. That isn't a reflection on you or your worth."

Simone hadn't really meant to get so upset around him for a second time today. She felt silly, like she was just some sad little puppy complaining about her life that wasn't even that terrible. "I know. I know he hasn't. He's had all of you, though, for a lot longer than I have. He's been putting his pieces together longer. And you had your family. I'm not--I don't mean to complain or sound ungrateful. I really am working on it," she insisted. She hoped he didn't think she was whining too much. She really was trying her best. At least she'd finally told someone. "I know I haven't. I just... I don't know. I'm sorry. I just have a lot of work to do on myself. I spent a long time thinking that was how my life had to be."

Dominic shrugged a bit as she spoke. Maybe that was true. But did that mean she couldn't still become someone she was proud of? Someone she liked? He didn't think so. "So you have to work harder than he did, or than I have. You'll just come out stronger on the other end," he said with a smile. "You aren't complaining or ungrateful. You're just struggling. It's okay to struggle. It takes a lot out of you, but how else are you supposed to discover who you are and who you want to be?" he said with another soft smile. He put a hand on her face softly, smiling down at her. "It's okay to do work on yourself. Better to do work on yourself and feel improved than to never learn from anything and always be the same person you've always been. We're constantly growing and changing. You just have to learn how to adapt to that change in a positive way. You can do it. I know you can."

Simone didn't know how he had so much faith in her. She'd kept so many secrets. She'd ran out on her fiance. She'd thought before about running away from London, thinking it wasn't safe to be so close to Fitz. She'd changed her appearance at work, giving a fake last name. She'd told them her real last name but asked to be called by another and they'd understood. She just couldn't risk her parents finding her and dragging her back. "I almost left London. Multiple time," she told him, not meeting his eyes until his hand was on her face. "You're so wise, Dominic. I don't know what I did to deserve a friend like you. Well," she smiled slightly,"more than a friend, I think." She touched his face softly before kissing him gently. "Will you do something for me?" she asked quietly.

Dominic shook his head a bit as she spoke. "And if you had, restarting like that would have been difficult and strong of you. But I'm glad you didn't," he said with a soft smile. He hummed quietly at her words. "I think you do deserve me, but, for arguments sake, why do you have to have done something to deserve someone for them to fit in your life?" he asked with a smile. He kissed her back, smiling softly when she pulled back. He nodded a bit. "What is it?"

Simone shrugged a little bit. "It would have been cruel of me to do that to all of you. Especially out of fear," she laughed bitterly. She shrugged again, letting out a sigh this time. "Because I haven't done anything to deserve anything good in my life. I've been an awful person in my past," she told him. She didn't want to talk about it anymore. She kissed him again, still touching his face. "Will you stay with me? We can just go upstairs and lie in my bed. We don't have to do anything, I just want to know what it's like o lie with someone who cares about me and be held by him."

Dominic tilted his head to the side, taking her hand. "Don't be so hard on yourself. Please, Simone," he said honestly. He sighed softly. He hated that she felt that way about herself. "I wish you'd try harder to see you the way I do. You're really not an awful person," he promised. He nodded, leaning into her touch a bit. "Of course I will. I would love to lie in bed with you and hold you close." He stood up, reaching his hand out to take hers.

Simone nodded a little, though she knew it would take time. She had a lot of work to do. She needed to talk to Wren, honestly. He would understand. "I am trying. It's not easy. I spent my whole entire life being told who to be, who to love, what to do. Then I just stopped and I don't know who I am. I don't think I ever knew." She smiled when he agreed, taking his hand and standing up. She led him back to her bedroom, the dog trotting along behind them. "Did you want to borrow something of Fitz's to be more comfortable?" she asked him.

Dominic nodded. He couldn't pretend to understand how that felt in the way she did, because he didn't know how it felt. He hadn't experienced anything like what she had. But he believed in the strength people had within them. "I know. I don't think it will be easy, and I don't think it will happen over night. I just really want you to try and be nicer to you. You have time to figure out who you are," he said with a smile. He held her hand tightly, following up to her room. "Oh, if he wouldn't mind."

Simone would do her best. She was already trying as hard as she could. It was just so difficult. It had taken her six months to even confess why she'd left Paris in the first place. "I'm working on it. I promise," she told him before kissing him on the cheek. She let out a laugh and let go of his hand once they were in his room. "It's Fitz. Of course he won't mind. He'd be thrilled to know he did something nice without being directly involved. I'll be right back." She disappeared in Fitz's room and found a pair of pants and a soft shirt for him. "There's a bathroom down the hall. I'll change in here."

Dominic smiled a bit. "Take your time. Don't rush yourself into it. I just want you to try," he said with a smile. He chuckled at her explanation. That did sound like Fitz. Despite what she said of their upbringing, the two of them were such kind souls. It must just be natural for them, he decided. Some people really were born as good as they come. "Alright," he laughed. He felt weird wearing someone else's clothes, but it wasn't that odd, really. He waited, glancing around a bit, but trying not to snoop too much. He turned and smiled when she came back. "Sounds perfect. I'll be right back," he smiled, taking the clothes and heading to the bathroom.

Simone nodded at him. "I'm not rushing myself. I'm working on it. I'll talk to Wren. And I'll tell Rosalind. They are who I'm closest to aside from you," she admitted. She didn't see herself telling Nikolai or Dot any time soon. She would have told him to just take off his pants and top but she wasn't sure he'd be comfortable with that so Fitz's clothing was the best option. She nodded at him and changed into a pair of silk shorts and a matching top. She sat down on her bed, rubbing Eclair behind the ears and murmuring to him in French about Dominic.

Dominic nodded, smiling proudly. "That's a great start. Be easy on yourself," he said with a smile. He went to her bathroom, getting dressed, and folded up his clothes, doing away with them for the time being. He'd get them later. He walked back to her room, knocking on her door softly, waiting for her to give him the okay before he came back in. "Quite comfy," he said with a smile. "Mind if I sit?"

Simone felt a little silly. She really was trying her very best. "I'm working on it," she said again, matching his smile. She waited for him on the bed with the dog, looking up when he knocked. "Come on in," she called out. She smiled at the sight of him in Fitz's clothes and let out a laugh. "You look quite colorful," she told him. "Yes, please come sit," she smiled. She patted the spot next to her gently. "We can lie down."

Dominic nudged her gently. "That's all anyone can really ask," he said. He laughed when she did, holding the hem of his shirt out and looking down at himself. "I do look rather different, but I like it," he smiled. he nodded, sitting next to her on the bed, laying down when she said so. He got himself all situated and wrapped his arm around her, making room for her to get comfortable, too. "This has been the best tea party I've ever been to," he said playfully.

Simone smiled at him, rather delighted by how bright he looked. Fitz certainly had a very eclectic style. It looked good on Dominic, though. "You look very handsome. It brings out your eyes," she told him. She moved with him, letting herself get all tangled up in him. She felt safer than she ever had before in her life. It was the most magical she'd ever felt. She let out a laugh, pressing her face to his chest for a moment. "I almost forgot that's why you'd come over in the first place."

Dominic smiled, moving closer to her. "Does it? That's a nice bonus then I suppose," he said playfully, still smiling. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close to him. It was nice, doing something so soft, so innocent, so sweet. This was so nice. He wasn't naturally the most touchy person, but with Simone he felt the need to have her physically close. "We've done quite a bit after the tea," he said with a smile.

Simone nodded with a smile. "It makes them very blue," she told him. She snuggled into him, her leg sliding between his. She wanted to be as close to him as possible. "You should wear the color more often," she teased, though she was actually quite serious. "We took Eclair for a walk and I spilled my entire life story to you. It's definitely the most unique tea party I've ever had," she admitted. She took a deep breath and pulled back to smile at him. "I like this a lot."

Dominic smiled fondly at the compliment. He thought that was cute. "Maybe I should dress like Fitz more often," he said with a quiet laugh. He laughed again when she said something similar. "We're in agreement then," he said playfully. He wrapped his arm around her, rubbing her back soothingly. "I'm sure it is. I doubt you'll ever have a tea party like this again, either," he said with a smile. He smiled down at her when she leaned back to smile at him. "So do I."

Simone laughed a little before shaking her head. "No, don't dress like my brother too much," she teased him lightly. "That might be a little weird," she added on. "Just more of this color." She settled against him, letting out a sigh. She looked up at him with a soft smile and nodded. "You're right about that. Unless I have another one with you," she suggested. "I'm glad that you're here. I'm glad that I met you," she smiled, kissing him very gently on the lips.

Dominic laughed when she did, nodding a bit. "It would be a little weird, wouldn't it?" he teased, leaning a bit closer to her. He liked how she felt in his arms. He felt relaxed, relieved even, knowing she was safe and happy. "More of this color I can do I'm sure," he smiled at her. "I don't know that all of ours will be this eventful either," he said with a playful smile. "But I'm sure we could try to make them exciting," he added. "I'm glad I'm here, too. I'm glad I met you, too," he promised, leaning in and kissing her softly.

Simone nodded with a smile. "Just a tad. The last person I want to date is my brother," she laughed. She realized they hadn't really talked much about dating and shifted a little, slightly embarrassed for bringing it up. She didn't know if she wanted him to comment on it or not. "Maybe they'll all end with a bit of cuddling, though. That would be nice," she said softly. "Or we'll find something new to liven them up." When he kissed her back, she trailed her fingers over his body. one hand stayed on his chest and the other snaked up to draw patterns on the skin of his neck.

Dominic nodded, shrugging a bit. "I think that's fair," he laughed, smiling still. He wouldn't mind cuddling with her again. It was rather nice, really. "I could cuddle after tea again. Tea is soothing and so is this," he smiled. "That might work too," he added. He wrapped his hand around her waist, resting it on her back and holding her close. He liked her a lot. It had sort of snuck up on him out of nowhere, really.

Simone was glad that he hadn't commented on that little slip. She could get used to doing this with him again and again. Being held by him was the safest she'd felt in ages. It was warm and gentle and she could feel his heartbeat beneath her hand. She couldn't think of anything more perfect. "It is very soothing," she agreed. "It can become our thing. Tea and a cuddle," she smiled at him before kissing his cheek. "Thank you."

Dominic liked that he felt the same way. He really enjoyed spending this time with her, and he felt so good about it. "Tea and a cuddle. Sounds good to me," he said with a smile. He rubbed her back, holding her close. "You're welcome," he said, though he wasn't entirely sure what she was thanking him for. "Did you wanna take a little nap?"

Simone smiled warmly at him. They officially had a tradition, it seemed. She liked that an awful lot. She felt so at home in this moment. It filled her with such warmth she wondered if he could feel it. "Sounds perfect to me," she agreed. She thought for a long moment, tracing patterns with her fingertips against his shirt. "I could probably fall asleep. Do you want to?"

Dominic held her close, his hand still moving slowly up and down her back. He really did like her. He was glad he had figured it out, otherwise he would still be obliviously missing out on such a wonderful relationship. "I could too," he said honestly. "Sometimes tea and biscuits make me sleepy," he said with a smile. "Let's take little nap, then," he said.

Simone felt warm and safe and cozy in his arms. She couldn't remember ever feeling this relaxed. She smiled softly at him, moving a hand up to press against his cheek for a moment. "They make me sleepy too," she agreed. She leaned closer and kissed him lightly on the lips. "We can nap," she murmured. She cuddled closer to him, nestling her face in the crook of his neck. "Sleep sweet, Dominic."

Dominic kissed her back softly, his grasp on her both gentle and firm at the same time. He wasn't sure exactly how they'd progressed to this, but he liked it an awful lot. "Napping sounds nice," he smiled. He held her close, getting settled, rubbing her back softly. "Sleep sweet, Simone," he repeated, smiling to himself.

[saveexchange-blog]

Giving Back

Callum McAllister

Max and the mouth piano. 

The first gig I remember going to at The Exchange was the Deadpunk Bank Holiday Special in 2014, as I was coming to the end of my first year at university in Cardiff. I grew up in the countryside near Bristol, and while I enjoyed living in Cardiff, Bristol’s music scene was beginning to pull me home. After an emotional day seeing The Front Bottoms for the first time, gigs started to bring me back to Bristol a handful of times every month, lending a dull familiarity to drunk late night trains and that maudlin post-gig feeling. The Deadpunk Special in particular — and I’m not the first to say this — was too much of a pull to ignore. Every year it fell exactly between my deadlines. My English Literature deadlines fell on the Friday of the bank holiday, the Saturday was the show, and the following bank holiday Monday were my philosophy deadlines. A more sensible student wouldn’t have gone for a full 12 hours of train rides, punk music and binge drinking. But, I went every year without fail until the final Deadpunk Special.

During my time in university I went to gigs at venues in Cardiff — places like Gwdihw and The Moon/The Full Moon and Clwb Ifor Bach, as well as DIY Cardiff’s yearly all-dayer “Da Iawn Fest” — but in Bristol my commitment to The Exchange became almost religious. And it isn’t an undeserving or an illogical commitment. Gigs at The Exchange were the first time I saw bands like ONSIND, Martha, Great Cynics, Pup, WOAHNOWS, Petal, Bangers, Shit Present, Caves, Doe, Fairweather Band, Petrol Girls, Tigers Jaw, Foxing, Austeros, Honeypot and Probably Not and more recently bands like AJJ, The Hard Aches, Camp Cope and countless others — so many artists that I came to gigs not intending to see but surely discovered and fell in love with. And although going to gigs at The Exchange encouraged me to start listening to music in a particular scene, it has never been about conformity — having to act a certain way or dress a certain way or listen to certain things in order to fit in. It’s the kind of place that, I think, discourages strong divisions between bands and genres and is all about fostering great music. I was not the kind of person who grew up addicted to his headphones. It wasn’t until later in life that I began to engage with music in a deeper and more fundamental sense, and The Exchange was an indispensable part of that awakening. Around the same time, I was beginning to start a band with two friends from school — in large part inspired by the sense of a thriving creative community we’d begin to glimpse at The Exchange. We began meeting up in Dom’s living room and playing some quite awful cover songs and some pretty ill-formed originals. It was a weird setup. I played acoustic guitar and Max, a guitar player by trade, played bass very badly. For certain songs we swapped and I played bass where he played guitar. We took it in turns singing. In one memorable cover of Cage the Elephant’s “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” Dom played drums and bass guitar at the same time. Our equipment sucked and we sucked pretty badly, too — but it was a lot of fun. A year later we were trying to write an original set of songs for a friend’s festival, Inglefest, inspired mostly by the bands we’d been going to at The Exchange at the time. More than once me and Max had talked about how, maybe in 5 years, if we were extremely lucky, we could play The Exchange, and then we could die happy — that was when we’d have properly made it. Not just as a band, but in life. It was a pipe dream in the truest sense, for us. The band that became Toodles eventually played our first “real” show in Bristol a few years ago and our friend Will messaged The Exchange’s email address to invite them to the show and Iwan Best decided to come along to our little gig in a tiny venue called The Hatter. At almost zero notice, to a band no one had ever heard before, a guy leading a life where he worked at a venue and listened to bands every night of the week, he decided “what the hell” and came along anyway. He was perhaps the kindest, friendliest, most genuine person we’d ever met and his generosity — and the generosity of everyone we’ve met since — has been the thing that’s kept us going. We were not a good band. I’d argue we’re still not a great band. But at the time, we were young, enthusiastic musicians with a passion for live music — and that’s all that we needed to be in the good books of people like Iwan, and later the majority of our friends. He wanted to put on shows and go to shows and we wanted to play them. That’s the sort of community The Exchange nurtures. Without it, we wouldn’t be a band right now. That’s no great loss to the world of music, but we’re not the only ones. Without venues that nurture young bands, there is no scene. The encouragement and kindness of the people who work at The Exchange and contribute to it, led inevitably to Max’s band Little Baby Sharks. It led to an EP that we recorded in the studio underneath The Exchange, mixed and engineered by a talented friend we met there. It’s also kept us going through hard times. The Exchange employs Max (God knows why) and at times when I’ve been in financial difficulties, have given me the odd shift. They support our band, launched our first record, and have always found the space to put us on the bill and in their words and deeds have always made us feel welcome.  This is one example. It’s not great loss to the world if our band didn’t exist, but communities like the community that exists around The Exchange create and nurture dozens of young musicians and other creatives and without that support network, it wouldn’t be happening. It’s given us so much, which is why I’ve decided to give back. As you may be aware, The Exchange is currently going through a transition to community ownership in order to secure its future. Venues all over the UK are under constant threat of closure, and we don’t want that to be on the cards for spaces this important to Bristol’s scene. You can find out more information about buying shares or making a one off donation below. The share offer ends on the 31st. I’ll be buying my share shortly before then. The Exchange has given me far more than I have given to it, in terms of support, community, friendship, creating a safe and welcoming space — in its ethical and community-focused approach. And it’s time that I should give back.