#first time operas | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

corralinesage · 1 month ago

Text

Learning you by heart (3/?)

Happy Saturday!!

Chapter 3: Light as a feather

You looked at yourself in the mirror, tilting your head as you analyzed yourself from head to toe. Your outfit was simple but classy. It looked good. You had nicely fitting trousers on and a plain but neat top. You squinted at the reflection. You came off as boring. You didn’t look good enough, just average. You yanked off your shirt, staring at your half-naked body in the mirror, your gaze focusing on the way your bra supported your breasts. You needed more cleavage. A different bra. She would- No, you could not let yourself think like that. It wasn’t a date, just dinner. Yet you could not deny the giddiness that you felt when you went back to your closet to find a more revealing shirt and a more flattering bra for you to wear, hoping somewhere in the back of your mind that she was going to appreciate the effort you were putting into your appearance. You returned to the mirror after yanking on your change of clothing. The shirt had long sleeves so that you wouldn’t freeze to death with the low v-neckline that gave your breasts a chance to shine, at least a little bit. You didn’t want to give everything away on the first date- not date… The first non-date with Natasha.

You moved on to your makeup, carefully enhancing your appearance to make sure you looked nice. No other reason, just to look nice and presentable. You even styled your hair as a final touch to complete your look, unable to deny the fact that you had just spent nearly two hours getting ready for a casual dinner with a woman you had met less than a week ago. You stared at yourself in the mirror again, scrunching your face in disgust when you realized how obsessive you were being over your appearance. How unfeminist of you. A frustrated groan left you as you pressed your hand over your reflection in the mirror, cursing yourself for being so affected by the mere thought of her. It was way too early to be feeling any type of way toward Natasha. Way, way too early, yet you skipped to the door like a complete fool to put on your coat and leave the house.

The restaurant of your choice was The Nines. You had been there on few occasions with a few of your cast members, and it had been the first place to pop into your mind when Natasha had agreed to your offer to go for dinner. The place screamed elegance, high-class, and NYC. It was an absolute dream, and a perfect location for a comfortably spent evening together. You were using your one day off that week on a dinner with her, so you were certainly not going to skimp out on the opportunity to spoil both yourself and Natasha. You met up at the restaurant, going inside together so that you could get to your reserved table at the same time.

You took off your outerwear and left it at the coat rack, your heart nearly falling between your legs at the sight of her. She was dressed in a gorgeous dark red knitwear set that somehow suited her incredibly well. The off the shoulder sweater was loose in a relaxed manner, the foldover neckline presenting her sculpted shoulders and collarbones rather perfectly. She was strong. You needed merely a single glance at her to determine that, her lean shoulders stealing your attention with ease. Her bottom half was donning a matching maxi skirt that hugged her hips perfectly, the outfit paired with simple silver earrings, a few thin rings, and a small black purse. You couldn’t help but to stare. She fit into the restaurant perfectly, her elegant, yet sufficiently casual appearance complementing the red and gold interior of the restaurant. Her auburn locks had been swept back into a ponytail at the back of her head to let her neck and shoulders shine.

“You look beautiful, gorgeous.” It might have been slightly weird for you to compliment her so openly, but hell, what did you care? You were speaking the truth, but you did want to soften the blow a little by directing more attention to what she was wearing to avoid coming off too strong. “The color suits you so well. Where did you get this? Is it a dress or a skirt?” Somehow asking for those specific details made your comment friendlier. Natasha smiled brightly.

“Thank you”, she hummed, pursing her lips slightly to hide just how much she liked that her efforts had gained your attention. She had based her outfit specifically off your weak spots after all. “It’s a set.” She lifted the loose fabric of her sweater up, just enough to flash you the lines of her abdominal muscles that brought an instant heat to your cheeks. She seemed excited to share that little secret with you; anyone else would have thought it to be a dress.

“It looks amazing on you.” Her smile widened against her own will.

“Almost as amazing as you tonight”, she countered, her eyes trailing down your figure as you sat down to your reserved table for two. The atmosphere was beyond comforting. It made you want to curl up and close your eyes so you could properly take in the live piano music that played Christmas themed music, the low lighting of the dining hall tying together all the different elements that made the place so elegant and cozy. You could hear quiet chatter, glasses and cutlery clinking, the bartender shaking up drinks at the bar. The decor was nothing short of old Hollywood, the deep, rich red of the curtains, the golden yellow lighting, and dark wood begging you to spend less time staring at Natasha who looked like she had been made for the place.

“What do you want for drinks?” You asked her after getting over the rush of excitement you felt. Natasha was already eyeing the seasonal cocktails.

“I was thinking of having a snickerdoodle martini. It sounds interesting”, she hummed, bringing a smile to your face. “What about you?”

“Hmm, I usually go for a White Negroni.” You received your chosen drinks and a small array of complimentary snacks before moving on to deciding what to have for dinner. You watched Natasha take a sip of her beautiful cinnamon-topped drink, your eyes focusing on the way her lips pressed over the rim as you waited for her verdict.

“Is it good?” Natasha gave you a look, licking her lips clean from the foam on top, your hand bringing your own glass to your mouth.

“It’s amazing, here.” She handed the drink to you without so much as a hint of hesitation about sharing with you. “Tastes like a cinnamon cookie”, she hummed as you received the glass. You didn’t wanna offend her by rejecting her offer, and you did actually feel a little left out because of your own very unoriginal choice of drink. You took a sip, your eyes meeting hers as she waited for your reaction.

“Wow, that’s creamy. I like it.” You chuckled softly, handing the drink back to her, her fingers stroking over your own. They were warm, the skin smooth and soft. “Do you wanna taste mine?” Her straightforwardness made you curious. You were intrigued, which naturally made you want to reciprocate. Did she share with everyone or was it just you, and what did it mean?

“Yes, of course. Thank you.” She seemed to appreciate the gesture.

“What were you thinking for main course?” You observed her alluring appearance, unable to quite get over her beauty. It seemed to demand for your attention. She took a sip of your drink, nodding in approval at the pleasant flavor before handing it back.

“You’ve got good taste.” It made you smile, maybe even blush. “The wood roasted salmon sounds delicious.”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve heard good things about it.” Your eyes were stuck on the smudge of lipstick that decorated the rim of your rocks glass. One might have assumed that it was off-putting, but any thought of germs or crossing boundaries flew right out the window, replaced by a hint of giddiness over her willingness to share.

“What about you?” You had been intending to get the infamous burger, but you couldn’t deny the fact that you wanted her to learn that you also possessed a more refined palette, deciding to match your order to hers.

“Hmm, I’ve never had the duck in plum sauce. It could be good. I think I’ll have that.”

“Perfect.” While you waited for a server to come around, you got back to talking about your lives, looking to get to know each other better.

“So, any plans for Christmas?” Natasha asked in curiosity, taking another sip of her martini. “Any friends or family around?” She wanted to see how well you matched the version of you she had once known.

“I might visit my parents, but mom will most likely be working and dad I just saw last week, so I might not bother to go to New Jersey. They live nearby anyway, and we never cared for Christmas all that much.” You shrugged your shoulders casually. “And what comes to friends, I might see if my roommate wants to do something special. She’s bigger on the holiday shenanigans.” Natasha chuckled in understanding.

“You have a roommate?”

“Yeah. We’ve been living together for two years now. She helps with rent and the company isn’t too shabby either.” You laughed quietly, your attitude toward your roommate coming off as affectionate. “She’ll probably strap me down and make me watch sappy movies and eat her newest baking concoctions. She’s a manic baker. Owns a bread bakery in Chelsea.” Natasha gave you a knowing smirk.

“I like her style.”

“Strapping or stuffing?” You both burst into laughter.

“I’m not drunk enough to get that inappropriate yet”, she hummed in visible amusement, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

“No?” Natasha shook her head.

“Maybe a few more of these and I’ll be on my way there.” She lifted the class in her hand before bringing it to her lips.

“Do you have family around here?” Natasha didn’t know. She didn’t know the answer to your question, and she suddenly grew very curious about the possibilities. Perhaps she hadn’t always meant to be an orphan.

“I’m estranged from them. All of them to be exact.” She laughed it off, just like she always had. “I didn’t have much of a childhood, and before you let my tragic backstory become irresistibly attractive, I wanna mention that it’s better this way.” You smiled softly, sympathetic to her situation.

“You don’t need a tragic backstory to be attractive.” How awfully bold of you, but it was true. Your hand reached over the table to touch her right one that rested over the tablecloth, your fingertips touching. You almost regretted your rather obvious and straightforward move, but you could no longer backtrack without making it awkward for the both of you, your hand covering briefly her own in a gesture of comfort and understanding. It made her smile.

“Wait ‘til I reveal my wounded side to you”, she hummed teasingly, giving you a subtle wink that you laughed off. “Now, there’s something for you to work on.”

“Don’t worry, I’m already itching with the need to fix you”, you mused playfully, pleased to hear the low rumble of her laughter. It was soft and melodic, the sound of it caressing your lower abdomen. She had such an energy about her, yet you couldn’t pinpoint it.

“Good. Then I know where to look for a healer if I need one.” You grinned, maybe with a little too much excitement. You glanced at the drink on your table, noting that it was probably wiser to slow down.

“Do you have plans for Christmas? Or how do you like to celebrate?” Your fingers played with the sides of the rocks glass, drawing patterns into whatever condensation was left.

“I like being with someone I care about.” She looked wistful for just a moment. “And just sharing the holidays with them. I like the small, little traditions that people have… I like the atmosphere. People seem happier, lighter.” She smiled fondly. “So, I just try to soak up as much of that joy as I can.”

“Do you have any favorite traditions?” You were then interrupted by the waiters who came to take your order and ask if you wanted more to drink.

“Hmm, do you mind?” Natasha asked you as she took the seasonal cocktail menu into her hand, mindful of your attitude toward drinking.

“No, not at all. Knock yourself out, girl.” You waved your hand in dismissal, Natasha’s amused eyes moving down to the menu.

“I think I’ll have a Naughty or Nice. Mmh, it’s got maraschino”, she hummed in mild excitement, placing her order right after voicing out her dinner of choice. She was being such an embodiment of Christmas somehow that it made you feel left out. You hadn’t even looked at the seasonal cocktail menu, but you were easily influenced, especially by her. You grasped the menu into your hands, eyeing the drinks available. You couldn’t decide. There were too many options, too many liquors, and too many words, not to mention that you felt pressured to be quick since the waiter was waiting patiently beside you.

“What would you order for me?” Natasha smirked immediately. She had almost expected you to say those exact words. It wouldn’t have been the first time.

“Hmm, something fruity with the duck. You could have the Pear Tree Martini. That might go well with your meal.” She eyed the menu, pursing her lips as she went over the list again. “Actually, scrap that. The Sugarplum Spritz, you’ll love that one.” You eyed her in curiosity. She sounded like she actually had an idea of what you liked, but you knew that to be impossible.

“I’ll have the Sugarplum Spritz and the duck, please”, you said to the waiter. He smiled at you kindly.

“An excellent choice.” The waiter thanked you before leaving to go take your orders to the chef.

“Where were we?” Natasha asked, finishing off the remnants of her martini.

“Traditions.”

“Right. I like all the basics. Gift exchange, movies and cuddles, hot chocolate and decorating the Christmas tree. I’m not much of a cook but I like a nice Christmas dinner, maybe some easy baking, a walk outside. You know, a bit of everything.” You nodded along. It did sound really nice. You couldn’t deny that.

“Sounds lovely.” You both smiled. “Who are you spending the holidays with this year?” Natasha’s heart ached like it had crudely been ripped out of her chest.

“We’ll have to see.” It sounded like she didn’t want to admit to you that there might not even have been any options available, so you decided not to pry further, simply nodding in response.

“What’s your favorite tradition then? If you had to choose one.”

“Ah, that’s a hard one. I don’t think I can choose. It’s just the general atmosphere.”

“Humor me. Choose one”, you persisted, giving her an encouraging smile. Natasha looked at you for a moment, clearly in thought before a small, almost shy smile found her face.

“Cuddling up under a blanket in the evening with candles and Christmas lights on.” Her voice was dreamy, her gentle gaze holding your own. “The smell of gingerbread in the air, and you just feel so warm and cozy.” You felt your own features soften at the image she was painting.

“That sounds lovely.” You took a sip of your drink to cool off your blazing cheeks, or subsequently only adding fuel to the fire that was all Natasha’s doing.

“And with the right person, it’s nothing short of magical”, she whispered, the budding tension between you getting broken by your cocktails that arrived at that moment.

“Oh, I’m so excited”, you mumbled softly as you brought your glass to your lips. You had never had any kind of plum drink in your life, and somehow Natasha’s involvement in the choice made it that much more exciting. You took a small sip, your eyes widening slightly from the flavor experience.

“Is it good?” Natasha had a bright grin on her face.

“Yeah. Your choice was spot on.” Your smile only widened. “It’s exactly what I like.” You handed the drink rather automatically to Natasha who had just taken a sip of her own. She offered her cocktail to you just the same. You quite liked how casual it was. You had yet to learn just how much you were going to like it once they brought your dinner to the table. She had such an effortless ability to make you feel seen and included as she offered you forkfuls of her food to try. She seemed to genuinely want you to be a part of her own experience without any pressure for you to reciprocate. It came off as authentic and unapologetic.

You returned home that night with your mind floating somewhere far away from your buzzing body. You couldn’t wipe the smile off your face, going over the most unimportant details of the night as you shut the cab door and stepped out into the crisp air. You took a deep breath, feeling so whole from the interaction you had had with her. The entire night had been so comfortable and casual. You let out a long exhale, tilting your head up into the sky to look at the stars as the car behind you revved its engine and was on its way to another destination. Your chest felt full, full of what, you couldn’t tell. You were perhaps slightly tipsy, your physical being feeling lighter than a feather. You felt warm and satisfied. Your stomach was full of delicious food, and you had a comfortable, soft bed waiting for you inside, not to mention the fact that you already had another little date arranged.

28 notes · View notes