Threedom [Ebb & Flickaha & Wistful Dream]
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Wistful Dream on 20-03-2013, 20:50:32</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>20-03-2013, 20:50:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyjg842Gge1r615eio1_500.jpg)</div><span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">It wasn’t often that she spent more than an hour or two in the white and blue walled gourmet kitchen, even though it had been one of the reasons for purchasing this particular townhouse. With its high ceiling, a skylight and professionally installed lighting on top of that the room was clearly an investment; couple that with the smooth white granite counter tops, the white and black washed cabinets and state of the art appliances and the feeling only increased. Not for lack of love for the room, no it was still one of her favorites, if not favorite in the whole house. But between grad school as a psychologist, work at the non profit she was doing an internship at and making sure she and her fiancé still managed some time together Bethany Lyndstrom didn’t often have hours to devote to her kitchen regardless of the joy she found in it.<br>&nbsp;<br>Tonight wasn’t about joy as much about trying to keep from falling apart in nerves. It was the same reason there was a bottle of Pinot Noir already popped open; some of that sinfully perfect crimson liquid in a wine glass that was never too far from her hand. She wouldn’t get drunk, no, not even tipsy, but a glass might take some of the edge off. Counters were covered with supplies for the feast she was crafting up, and flower arrangements lined the island in the center because she still hadn’t settled on what to use as the centerpiece. The kitchen was full of robust scents, proof of her endeavors.<br>&nbsp;<br>A Boston girl by birth and rearing comfort food for the brunette meant seafood, like the cod that was in the oven baking, or the chowder on the stove that had actually been started a few days ago. Homemade bread was another indulgence she didn’t make more than a handful of times a year. But tonight it was the only thing that would do. A salad for the salad course in line, top quality ingredients even if she had toned down the New England influence there. Not all people liked clams on their salads after all.<br>&nbsp;<br>With a sigh she stepped back from placing her pie in the oven for desert, reaching to the counter where her wine glass sat waiting her attention.&nbsp; The smooth glass felt at home in her hands, another little anchoring point. Since the age of fifteen she had used a wine glass at the table, properly trained in how to taste wines and savor them. Middle class her family might have been but they had ‘aspirations’, as her mother had liked to say, or ambitions as was more honest. So five course meals, wine tastings on the weekends, trips to New York City or D.C. on weekends to museums and shows, endless extra classes to take. All that on top of an honors course load, playing volleyball, cheerleading and student government. Paired with beauty lessons on skin, hair and makeup to ‘compliment’ her natural beauty, with fair skin, a light nutmeg shade of hair that always waved, rather then making curls or being straight and gray blue eyes. In truth she thought herself rather plain, faded out perhaps, but those lessons had also taught her how to use beauty like any other tool.<br>&nbsp;<br>No stone unturned, as it were. Reflecting back on it as she sipped at the wine the twenty five year old wondered if there was any part of her that hadn’t been polished to the brink during her teenage years. Though, yes, there had. The concept of how love was suppose to work, of what was safe and what wasn’t. That she had had to learn brutally on her own, and no one really knew just how brutally. When she had ended up in the hospital with bruised ribs, a concussion and a broken wrist all her parents had cared about was things returning to normal.<br>&nbsp;<br>It had never happened.<br>&nbsp;<br>Making herself move, even though she knew it wouldn’t break the thread of memories that had been haunting her the past few days, Beth left the oven to stir the chowder needlessly. Her mother had urged her to go to counseling, to talk it out with Lucas, after all Lucas was the son of the mayor and such a perfect match for her and the family. That had been the last time Beth talked about what happened with Lucas, at least until just the other night with her fiancé Colin. Being taught to hide the ugly things, to lock them away meant she had only communicated a small portion of the larger whole to the man who had restored her faith in men, in love, in life. It was enough though, that he had listened, had simply held her and let her cry.&nbsp; And now here she was putting herself outside of her comfort zone completely after already being thrown out of it not long ago by discoveries of things her love needed that she couldn’t ever provide.<br>&nbsp;<br>Inviting Ardy to live with them was the right thing to do though, aside from her own ridiculous personal angst over events years passed now Beth believed tonight would go beautifully. It was only for the short term, until her friend could get on her own two feet again. And what odd friends they were, six years in age gap, with Ardy all spunk and sass, that gorgeous dark hair, as well as her laughter. It had been the younger girl’s laughter that had drawn Beth to her, to laugh that freely… it was almost enthralling.&nbsp; The nineteen year old was also the closest to an actual friend Beth had had outside of Colin since she left Boston, and maybe even a bit before that. She had lost a lot of friends near the end, and hardened her heart against opening up to others. Trying to undo the coping mechanism of avoiding any potential hurt was painfully difficult, made only worse by her habit of applying her schooling to her own heart. She was being an idiot, had been for four years and it was time to stop hiding like a child afraid of the dark.<br>&nbsp;<br>Nothing bad would happen just from sharing her home with a friend, or from sharing her pain with her fiancé. In fact those were rather normal things, as much as anything was normal. She wondered why it felt like she was attempting to build a house out of cards, knowing it would only topple down. Negative thinking was one form of self sabotage, and she had surely done enough of that.<br>&nbsp;<br>One breath in, deep, exhale out. The brunette started to clean up her counters, putting up produce and spices, wiping off the flour from where she had rolled out the pie crust for the apple pie. Plates came out next, neatly arranged to make plating a swift thing. She darted into the downstairs bathroom to wash her face, remove her apron and change the black T shirt she had worn to a teal blouse that brought out her eyes more. A glance at the clock told her it was almost time, sending her back to the kitchen even as she ran a hand through her wavy hair wishing she could do something pretty with it. The wine found it’s way back into her hand within a minute, leaving her sipping it, one arm wrapped around her torso and her expression brooding, lips tensed. She could hold it together, she could be normal, somehow.<br>&nbsp;<br>The oven beeped, the cod was finished and setting aside the wine she moved to it, starting the plating and accomplishing it with a swiftness that even a caterer would have approved of. Another lesson, this one at least useful in daily application. With a little smile of pride on her lips she reviewed her preparations, settling on the center piece with the sunflowers because they made her think of Ardy.<br>&nbsp;<br>Before anything else though she slipped a hand into the pocket of the dark washed tailored jeans she wore, the best attempt she could make at causal, and brought out her engagement ring. It was beautiful, perfect really, with the stone aquamarine solitaire that caught the light and shimmered a pale blue that made her think of fairy tales. Fairytales, because in so many ways Colin was her real life fairytale prince. Gazing down at the ring she felt her tension drain, replaced by the certainty that he loved her, that regardless of anything that came in the future or from the past that they could face it together. He had told her they had forever. How she prayed he was right, even if she had long ago stopped believing in God. <br></span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>24-03-2013, 19:50:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/e2/ThreedomGuy.jpeg)</div>With a sigh Colin Emerson regarded the last four boxes piled in the corner. Nothing like the last minute, he thought. Cleaning out the guest room that up until now had been his office had been on his list of things to do all week. He'd done a decent job of moving the furniture and electronics down to the half-finished basement, but then there had been long hours at work, there were parts missing from the new bed, and... well, 'half-finished' described a lot of things about Colin's life. Now instead of helping Bethany with dinner he was finally getting the room in order. <br><br>Some of these boxes had been here, still packed, since they had moved in together. He probably ought to just leave them out by the curb, but he knew as soon as he did he'd find himself missing something vital. Colin ran a hand through his wavy dark hair and stifled a sneeze from the dust. He needed time to get himself ready too. The old concert T-shirt and ripped jeans were comfortable, but not quite up to the level of formality Bethany had chosen for the evening. He'd sneaked into the kitchen a couple of times, and she looked incredible, even in a black T-shirt and jeans. Then again he always thought she looked fantastic, an opinion he was gradually getting her to share with him. He loved her to death but, as the expression went, 'the girl had issues'. Well, who didn't? It's not like he was Mr. Rogers either.<br><br>As he lifted the large cardboard box marked 'Textbooks (Law)', he found it surprisingly light. Something shifted inside, and there was a metal clanking sound. Curious he set the box down on the deep blue duvet covering the full bed he'd finally managed to get assembled last night. The top flaps opened easily, and he gave a sad smile as he instantly recognized the contents. So that's where that stuff had gone. He had vaguely thought it was all in that leather duffle below the basement stairs. First giving a slightly guilty glance toward the door, he proceeded to dig through the box of leather, latex and metal. A few floggers, a multi-tail whip, two ball gags... Nipple clamps -- those had been Julie's favorite, but that had been a long time ago. Honestly there was no point keeping this stuff around. Bethany wasn't interested, and it wasn't worth pushing. It's not like he needed it; it had just been a fun little sideline, years ago. Things in the bedroom with his fiancé were great. Terrific, even. No complaints.<br><br>He closed up the flaps of the box and stacked it on top of another -- this one heavy enough to actually contain books. Two more trips and he'd have all of this stuff downstairs and out of the way. It wouldn't be so bad, setting up his office down in the basement. A little noisy, with the furnace room and the laundry, but maybe he could even get his guitar back out and do some practicing. And with another woman around the house he'd probably enjoy the privacy. Nothing against Bethany's friend Ardy, she seemed like a nice person, really mature for her age, and he loved the effect she had on Bethany. But their townhouse wasn't exactly a mansion. He was sure there'd be more than a little bumping of elbows as they all got adjusted.<br><br>Colin set the boxes down at the top of the basement steps and poked his head into the kitchen. He took a moment to admire her from behind. She'd changed shirts -- now he was even more underdressed -- and was looking at something in her hand. He crept up behind her and gave her a hug, seeing what it was that she held.<br><br>"You look fantastic, Bee. And all of this smells incredible. You're really going all out, aren't you? Don't worry, she'll be impressed." He took the ring from her hand, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger. Gently her turned her around to face him. "The sexiest woman in St. Louis, and she can cook too. Miss Bethany Lyndstrom, I'm going to have to ask you to marry me before someone else snatches you up." He slid the ring onto her finger, and then bent to kiss her.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>25-03-2013, 18:15:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">When arms first wrapped around her she had started slightly, breath coming a touch too quickly, heart racing in her breast. That little first response had dulled some over the years but never fully gone away. It was Colin though, her Colin and she softened back into him with a proud smile on her lips at his praise. That he found her beautiful was still something she found herself in awe over, because there was no denying that with his facial structure and that thick dark hair Colin was one the most handsome men she had ever seen. Like a rockstar, or a movie star, really. <br><br>It was the kitchen she was the most proud of though, the scents that reminded her of simpler times and yet also made her aware that this was her home, her haven. She had needed that, to know she was coming into tonight from a place of strength as she reached out of the little cocoon she had whirled herself into. Though, if she had to only chose one person to share it with Colin was a most excellent choice. “Thank you.” Beth said in response to the encouragement not to worry. They both knew she would worry anyway, it was just a part of who she was. <br><br>The brunette surrendered the ring to him, watching as it winked in the light while he rolled it and then turned her. Her head tilted back, adjusting for their height difference to smile up at him with the belief that they were solid. And they were, even with having to face the fact that there were some things she might never be able to give him sexually. To him, it simply didn’t matter and that was as much a gift as the ring he had pledged himself to her with. <br><br>His flirting had her blushing, the pink tinting her cheeks prettily even as she bit down on her lower lip, smiling without being able to help herself. He still left her giddy, like some school girl when he went all sweet like this. The ring sliding up her finger made her heart turn over in a good way, the belief that they were meant together strengthening even as his lips lowered to her own. Bethany leaned up into him, arms lifting to wrap around his broad shoulders as her lips opened in shy invitation. Regardless of how many times they kissed there was always that feeling of magic in it, as if the world only became clearer, more vivid when they were touching. <br><br>For her, it was. <br><br>With the slowness rather like a flower blossoming open she teased her tongue along the seam of his lips, making a happy little sound when they opened and the kiss deepened. He caught her lower lip gently in his teeth, letting her feel that slight bit of edge and she shivered, pressing herself further against him. Twenty six years old and here she was standing in the kitchen making out with her fiancé like they were teenagers. Only, she loved it, that they still couldn’t get enough of each other, that they trusted each other enough to share themselves like this. Colin backed her into the kitchen island as they kissed, his hands lowering to her hips and then suddenly she was lifted, set on the counter while their lips still clung to each other. A fleeting thought of being grateful that she had cleaned off the counters and thus this was possible came and went quicker than a breath. Beth lifted her legs, wrapping them around him before breaking the kiss to smile at him, eyes bright with love and then a flash of laughter as she realized his clothing choices. <br><br>“Mmhm, I do like your rockstar “I-don’t-give-a-heck” look, have I over dressed again?” The words were offered up even as she playfully kissed along his jaw, and then down his neck, nuzzling the crook of his shoulder to inhale the scent of him better. His hands were on her back, stroking up her spine, one sinking into her hair to urge her lips back to his as if he were just as addicted to her kisses as she was his. Truth was she liked him when he was causal, when he was the man who had charmed her while she had tried to be an ice princess. Sure, he looked killer in suits but there was something about the ragged jeans and band shirt that made her remember that first night they had met, him singing on the stage and how he had found her eyes in the crowd. Colin insisted there had been no going back from there, and she was glad. Wasn’t there some 80’s band that sang about being shot through the heart? Because that was how she had felt back then, shot through the heart so unexpectedly only this time it wasn’t a wound she wanted to recover from. Colin was her sort of grenade. </span></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>27-03-2013, 07:15:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She was a fantastic kisser. Somehow he always forgot that until they were in the midst of it again. With some girls kissing was an appetizer only, but with Bethany he could be satisfied by kissing alone. As he kissed her behind her ear and inhaled the floral scent of her shampoo, Colin thought he could be happy doing nothing else for the rest of his life. He tended to forget that, too, once they were apart and discovering the feeling again with his arms around her protectively was like finding the same sweet surprise over and over.<br><br>Though with her legs wrapped around him, it wasn't too hard to imagine the rest of the meal. They'd made love here in the kitchen before, though it was a little outside of Bethany's comfort zone. Only just the once, as he recalled. It had been raining, leaving no chance for strangers on the sidewalk outside to peek through the wide bay windows and see anything to offend their Midwestern sensibilities. It had happened just the once, the novelty and thrill not worth the discomfort it had caused her.<br><br>"No, you're perfect. I'm the one who needs to change. Sorry, time kind of got away from me. Do you think I have time for a quick shower?" Before she could answer, there was a distinct knock at the door. He looked over at the door guiltily, then turned his head back for one more quick kiss. "Maybe not. I'll be right back in something more presentable. Don't start eating without me, or I will never forgive you."<br><br>Disentangling himself from her legs, he dashed up the stairs two at a time. Just like before a show, in the old days. Face, pits and crotch, a dash of cologne to cover the sweat, and a comb through wet hair. Only he had never performed in a pale pink dress shirt, designer jeans and a five hundred dollar linen sport coat. As he checked himself in the mirror again, hearing voices downstairs, he wondered briefly just who it was he was trying to impress.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>27-03-2013, 10:47:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>&nbsp;<div class="floatleft">(http://24.media.tumblr.com/893cc23d042decbc359376ff4664f6d5/tumblr_mjn64pE7V41rpkk66o1_500.jpg)</div><br>“I told you, I didn’t <em>want</em> anchovies. I don’t <em>like</em> anchovies.” <br><br>Dark eyes watched the older woman in front of her with a touch of sadness, eyes the mirror of each other except the younger woman’s hadn’t yet been tempered by age. Stress perhaps, but youth so far had saved her from the creases that framed the others. Nobody else in the room even looked at the raised voice, but instinctively Ardelia slid towards the edge of the plastic chair she was sitting on. As if by decreasing the distance between them she could serve to deflect some of the attention. <br><br>The raven-haired teenager pinched her bottom lip between her teeth for a long moment and just sat still. Not speaking, instead just watching, there were ways to handle situations like this. She knew them all, she’d been taught so many times. The same lesson in so many <em>different </em>ways, the first she had learnt as a child. The most fundamental, <em>don’t</em> raise your voice, don’t create a fuss, volume doesn't increase the chance somebody will pay attention to your words it just increases the chances it will escalate. The second as a student, keep your head down and don’t make waves. The third as an employee, defuse the situation and keep your anger tempered. <br><br>None of the lessons had ever really stuck, she wasn’t a girl for rules and her indignity wasn’t easily shut down.<br><br><em>Except </em>in certain situations. One thing she had learnt though was to keep her emotions tuned out, so taking a breath so that she could speak without her tone wavering from the feeling of icy fingers curling around her heart she forced a gentle smile to her lips. <br><br>“They’re chocolates Ma, Turkish delights. Your favourite. Remember?”<br><br>There was a brief moment when her mother turned her gaze fully on her that she thought there might be a hint of recognition there. But it was gone almost as quickly and when she spoke again Ardelia figured she must have imagined it.<br><br>“I don’t know <em>you </em>and I don’t want <em>your </em>anchovies. I don’t <em>like </em>them.”<br><br>Worse than the words though, or the fact that her only family in the world currently didn’t even recognise her own daughter, was the notion that she wasn’t going to change it today. Perhaps if she came back tomorrow it would be a lucid day, unfortunately the lucid days were becoming more and more infrequent. Lee knew she was losing her mother, slowly, but at nineteen she wasn’t even close to being prepared to admit that. So instead she stood up off the chair, ignoring the feeling of her bare skin peeling away from the plastic, and kissed her mother on the head as she passed.<br><br>“I’ll be back soon Momma. Love you.” The words were spoken softly barely above a whisper, no need to antagonise the old woman further, but she somewhere deep down she liked to imagine that her mother was in there, listening behind the layers of crazy. Walking across the room, the sound of her flip-flops squeaking on the tiles lost in the general din of the room, Lee smiled sadly at the guy behind the reception who happily buzzed her out. Not that she made it very far down the corridor.<br><br>“Miss Bennett!”<br><br>Ardelia froze, her stomach clenching before she forced her heart-rate down and turned around to face the nurse who was walking briskly down the corridor to catch her.<br><br>“I’m sorry to stop you on your way out?”<br><br>“Is she okay? Taking her meds? What's wrong?”<br><br>“What? Oh <em>yes</em>, yes, your mother is doing very well” Adry scoffed at this in her head, she certainly didn’t <em>seem </em>like she was doing any better. Though her definition of ‘better’ would be having her mother back fully, something that she knew deep down wouldn’t happen, but still. Her expression must have showed something of her inner thought process as the nurse cleared her throat and got to the point. “It’s just, well this is difficult and it <em>might </em>well be a fault on our end, but the last payment….well….it didn’t go through.”<br><br><em>Fuck</em>.<br><br>Of course it didn’t clear, she had about six cents to her name at the moment and having lost her job two weeks ago that didn’t look set to change. She’d already sold her TV set to buy groceries, was deftly avoiding the pounding of her Landlord on her door at increasingly frequent periods and walking miles across the city because she could afford to do anything else. Medical bills were beyond her capacity at the moment. So she did what she always did when she was stuck.<br><br>She stalled.<br><br>“Oh what? <em>Really</em>?” Genuine shock, if nothing else she was a damn good actress. “I don’t know what that's about. How about I write you a cheque or something?”<br><br>“That’ll be fine” the older woman smiled, “just drop it at reception on your way out. And I wouldn’t worry, these things happen to the best of us.” <em>Patronising bitch.</em><br><br>Ardelia held her smile whilst the nurse tottered off in the other direction before letting it fall away, some daughter she was, couldn’t even afford to look after her own mother. The brunette didn’t stop at reception; instead she headed out of the door. She would think of something by the next time she was here, she always did.<br><br><hr><br>As if the three mile walk back to her apartment wasn’t enough, she just wanted to collapse into bed and let the oblivion of sleep claim her thoughts for a while. Instead of running over everything in her head, her problems just wouldn’t quit. Her stomach was growling and she had at least another couple of hours until she had to be at Beth’s, she wasn’t even sure why she had agreed to go over to the other woman’s house for dinner. It didn’t exactly sound like a party, her playing third wheel to the other woman’s perfect life.<br><br>‘<em>You agreed because you ran out of food yesterday and otherwise you’d be sitting down to a nice plate of nothing, daft cow, now quit complaining.’</em> Biting her fingernails was a terrible habit that she only surrendered too when she was stressed; as such they were a mess and she had very little left to chew on. Still she endeavoured.<br><br>“I’ve been waiting for you.” Said the skinny waif of a guy leaning against her door, Ardelia rolled her eyes.<br><br>“I’ve already told you Day, I have nothing. I haven’t seen Scottie in weeks. This hasn’t changed.” And by God if she had anything to sell she’d do it in a heartbeat. “Honestly, not playing hard to get, I’m just out.”<br><br>“You can’t be out Leelee, you’re the ice-queen.”<br><br>She was fast writing off this conversation in her head. The last thing she was in the mood for now was a confrontation with a desperate junkie and so with a shake of her head she turned around, walking away she tossed over her shoulder casually,<br><br>“What can I say; this ice-queen is fresh out of Snow.”<br><br>That left her with two hours to kill; she’d planned on going home and at least changing into something a little more, well, <em>nice</em>. Instead she was wearing frayed daisy-dukes and a large sweatshirt that’s hem almost met the bottoms of her shorts. The top was hanging off her, probably thanks in part to the food situation, but it had been her ex-boyfriends anyway and had always buried her. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail that had been done with her fingers and not a brush, strands fell everywhere and the only make-up she had on was dark eye make-up from the night before. Smudged but not unattractive, merely perhaps a little too heavy for the time of day coupled with the loungewear; for the people she ran with it would be everyday wear. For Beth however, she had a feeling it was going to be all levels of under-dressed. Then again, who dressed up for a home-cooked-dinner?<br><br>It had already been a long day, so heading to the park she figured she could spend at least the last few dredges of spring sunlight relaxing, even if it wasn’t in the blissful softness of a bed that she would probably very shortly be locked away from. Landlords appeared to be sticklers for silly things like rent. It lasted an hour before her legs were damn near chilled and even with the long walk to her friend’s house she still knocked on the door half an hour early.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>27-03-2013, 17:21:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">There was a moment, as their eyes met and she felt her body flush with heat at the honest desire that lay in his eyes for, that she was tempted to tug his shirt off, to let them go down a path of action they didn’t have time for. Besides, it was a lovely bright day outside, the sun still shinning and someone could see through the windows. Years of stifling her sexuality, of being told good girls were modest presented a rather solid hedge against some of the more adventurous things she knew Colin would enjoy. But he never treated her like she was lacking, for any of the countless hang-ups she had. <br><br>In return she hoped he realized over the past year she had been slowly trying to nudge out her boundaries, and there was the fact that she was always on his side with everything else. Like disengaging his father’s harping on him for not going higher in the firm yet, deflecting the all too familiar parental frustrations at a child not succeeding to the level that was expected. Those were barbs she was deft at handling and it seemed that her father in law to be thought the best thing Colin had ever done was find her. Some nights that made her laugh, because how could the man not see how incredible his son was? <br><br>Of course then he went and said she was perfect and Bethany blushed, shaking her head even as she thought of his words in other contexts. Hopefully he didn’t believe that there, that he should deny or ignore some part of herself for her. That wasn’t love, if someone asked you to do that. It was part of why she was always so adamant about accepting her own weaknesses, claiming them instead of blaming him or anyone else for them. “Sweet talker,” She said, managing a smile before starting to nod in response to his question. Ardy shouldn’t arrive for another half an hour at least. <br><br>But then came a knock on the door, causing a winkle in her brow only to laugh at his guilty look and return the kiss. “She’s early, don’t worry and I wouldn’t, you know I’ll always wait on&nbsp; you…” The last was breathed out after he was already out of the room and for a moment she just sat there, legs dangling over her counter as she tried to get her composure back. Perhaps it was time to find a therapist herself, for all that she was going to be one. To go from desire, to being daring enough to think about removing clothing in the kitchen to fretting over family issues and then to her own lacking… the sheer scope of the spinning in her thoughts was unsettling. But a therapist would mean she’d have to talk about other things, things that so far she had only spoken of to Colin and then hardly at all. No, no she could handle it all on her own. <br><br>With a deep breath she pushed herself off the counter, grateful she had worn a pair of flats instead of heels that would have made that far more dangerous. A glance around her kitchen left her with a sigh, the table wasn’t set fully yet, but Ardy was early so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Less then her best meant Beth felt more nerves then normal as she left the kitchen to hasten down the short hallway that gave the kitchen some shielding from the living room and foyer, just one wall along the side of the kitchen, with the open floor plan taking up the rest of the downstairs. At the door she took a deep breath in and exhaled it slowly before opening it to the chilly late afternoon. <br><br>Ardy standing there had her blinking in surprise at the vision that was presented. The sweater that was hanging nearly off her, the short shorts that had to leave her legs freezing, not to mention the wild hair. Hoping her expression didn’t express the full amount of her shock Beth reached out and grasped the girls hand to draw her inside, shaking her head, “Ardy, dear heavens why are you out in the cold with only those shorts on?” A firm push to the door had it swinging shut behind the younger girl, sealing them into the cozy warmth of her house as well as the scents of dinner. The chowder and pie needed a little longer, so she could take the time to make sure her guest was comfortable. <br><br>“Would you like to borrow a pair of jeans? I have some that might fit you, or even a pair of work out pants? We are roughly the same height I believe. I just… I would hate for you to catch a cold.” Beth blushed, realizing she might be a touch too much of a mother hen, or forward with her offerings. Her hand fell away from the sweatshirt clad limb of the other girl, drawing back into herself with a sheepish smile. “Forgive me, I don’t mean to say you don’t look lovely, you do as always, though I don’t know how you manage to make the wild girl look so casual.”</span></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>28-03-2013, 15:15:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The teenager was dragged inside and appraised with all the horror one might have given somebody who had turned up with limb hanging off. She shifted under the disapproving gaze of her friend and for a second wished she had stuck it out and changed. Then she bit back the thought, this was dinner, it wasn’t like they were dining with the Queen of England. She wasn’t naked. Therefor perfectly adequate and acceptable, except that she should probably have worn something under the sweater, at least a bra. And yes she was cold, but her pride was a little dented by the scorn and so she shook it off.<br><br>“No, I’m fine thank you. It’s warm in here anyways.” It was warm, but she knew she’d be warmer in jeans; it was the same sort of short-sighted pride that would have somebody refuse a hand up from the edge of a cliff merely because they’d stated that dancing along the edge was probably not the wisest choice. Irrational but still very real and Ardelia was a very prideful person. “I’m sorry, I didn’t have time to run home and change and I’ve been running errands all day.” It was a blatant lie, she’d had nothing but time, but it seemed better than confessing she couldn’t be bothered. Or worse even still, the actual truth.<br><br><em>Sorry Beth I would’ve gone home but one of my clients was trying to score and you know how these addicts get, never take no for an answer even when you’re fresh out of Coke.</em><br><br>She tried not to smirk imagining Beth’s kind attempt to disguise her horror. Well intentioned, lovely to be around but completely sheltered from the nastier sides of life. Except that Ardy had noticed the shadows sometimes, even Miss Perfect had something haunting her, which at least gave the brunette hope that maybe everybody was secretly as fucked up as she was. <br><br>Lee pulled her arms further into the sleeves of the black band-hoody so that only the tips of her fingers were sticking out and wrapped her arms around her stomach rather defensively. It was sometimes difficult to remind herself that Beth meant well, they were so completely different, for instance when her friends invited her over for dinner it was usually pizza, Xbox games and beer. Anything that wasn’t underwear was considered acceptable wear. This was a different world.<br><br>Never more evident than at that moment, looking around her house, perfectly neat, smelling inviting, food and heat. Her stomach responded to the former, clenching tightly, she hadn’t realised quite how hungry she was. Yes Ardelia felt completely out of place here, it was more than obvious she didn’t belong and she bit her lip for a moment before smiling at Beth’s attempt to nullify her shock at the teen’s appearance. Jumping to compliments, it was hard to stay irritated at her, even with damaged pride.<br><br>“What can I say; it’s the lack of effort that does it.” Ardelia was all too aware that she was an attractive girl; she used it to her advantage a lot. However she was also aware that her beauty was very based in her youth and confidence. It wasn’t quite a classic beauty like Beth had, she couldn’t pull off the grown-up, sophisticated look without looking like a kid playing dress up. Besides, Ardy always suspected she looked much better with her clothes off. “I’m really sorry though, I didn’t know there was a dress code. I thought it was just dinner?” She smiled. And then wrapped her arms around the other woman in a crushing hug.<br><br>“I’m not being sweet by the way” she grinned, personal boundaries were certainly not things she believed in, “just ruthlessly stealing your body heat! Now <em>please </em>tell me there is food to eat, because otherwise I might just go and eat your kitchen. I’m fucking starving.” 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>28-03-2013, 17:07:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Success at putting her foot in it, or rather in her mouth. She should have known better, Ardy was proud, always had been and Bethany admired that quality in the younger girl. That sort of pride and confidence spoke of the fact that the teen was a survivor and would always find a way to take care of herself. It left the older woman with a new rush of nerves that she would blunder through tonight and she retreated a little further behind the perfectly polite smile, that friendly façade she had lived a great deal of her life behind. <br><br>“Oh, of course. And I understand, errands do come first. Forgive me for overstepping.” The apology, if not the smile was genuine. The brunette took a few steps further into the foyer, wondering how her home might seem to Ardy’s eyes. It wasn’t exactly her dream house, but it was pretty close, with touches of Colin’s tastes as well. But he had wanted her to feel comfortable, to be able to chose a place of her own. <br><br>A haven. They had made a refuge here, and she wanted to share that but with her social skills already beset by awkwardness Beth despaired over the chances of the offer being accepted. And that was enough to break up her composure a bit, to allow a real, self deprecating smile touch her lips. <br><br>“I’m sorry Ardy… I am afraid I’m not very good at this friends thing.” Which might explain some of why she had treated tonight as if she were getting ready to host a dinner party of the like her parents use to have rather than just a causal night in with friends. For a moment Beth felt anger well up inside her, at herself, for over doing everything yet again, for making this more complicated then they had to be. “It is just dinner, of course and you are here which is all you needed to do, I promise. I’m just being a silly….” <br><br>Beth trailed off with a surprised squeak at the hug, the sudden contact from someone outside of Colin unnerving in that first moment. But the fierceness of the hug, after her bumbling attempts melted away a good deal of the tension, as did the grin in her friend’s voice and she shyly returned the embrace, wrapping her arms lightly around the younger girl but not tight enough Ardelia couldn’t get away if she wanted to. A little laugh came to her lips then, eyes crinkling, “Even if you were being sweet I would never tell, I know you have your rep to maintain. It can be our secret.” That was part of what friends did, right? Have secrets together? The threat to eat her kitchen had another laugh, louder this time spilling out of her and she hugged Ardy tighter for just a moment before stepping away. <br><br>“There is plenty of food to eat, I only hope you like seafood, I went with comfort food from my childhood. We are eating in the kitchen tonight, so just follow me.” She had actually planned to eat in the dining room but Ardy had come expecting causal and compromising on location to make her friend feel more comfortable wasn’t a large sacrifice to make. She led the way down the one sided hallway of sorts, and into the kitchen where her salads were still neatly laid out, the cod resting and the chowder simmering away. “I just need to let Colin know we are ready, but if you want feel free to start without us.” <br><br>Not at all in her plans, in fact quite squarely outside of them without any of the order she preferred but making Ardy’s back go up with her perhaps rather overly organized life wasn’t what she wanted to accomplish. </span></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>28-03-2013, 21:05:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She wasn’t going to lie, she felt kind of bad, Ardelia knew she had a habit of taking things to heart and she also knew her defences usually went on the offensive instead. It was obvious as soon as she stepped into the kitchen that Beth had gone all out, this wasn’t just dinner, this was an event. Nobody had ever cooked for the brunette before, even growing up the only thing they’d eaten ‘round a table was ramen noodles. And that was usually when the TV was on the fritz. This was, well, as her eyes scanned everything in the kitchen the only thing she could think was that she had seriously underestimated the lengths Beth was going to, what, impress her?<br><br>That was lunacy. <br><br>Why would Beth need to impress her?<br><br>Because she’d already realised that Beth needed to create the aura of perfection, wasn’t that one of the reasons she found her so fascinating? The other woman hid behind perfection like a defence, everything she did, said, wore it was a shield. One that made Ardy both stunned and more than a little jealous; Beth was the type of person that people gravitated towards. The type people looked at and aspired to be.<br><br>And she was what? The perfect poster-child for why you should stay in high school?<br><br>It had taken a while for her to see that Beth didn’t resonate the perfection though, it wasn’t accidental, it was layers, something to disguise behind. Since that point she had endeavoured to see what was beneath the façade, though she wasn’t entirely sure whether it was to make herself feel better or to see whether she could show the other woman that perfection wasn’t always needed. Then again the brunette hadn’t ever achieved perfection so perhaps she wasn’t an expert. Part of her severely hoped the fiancé was at least ugly, one woman couldn’t have everything, it was unfair.<br><br>The change in her friend in the kitchen was almost instant, she suited the kitchen, something she almost said aloud before she bit it back realising it made her sound like a chauvinistic male. But she wasn’t male, so she made the observation anyways. A joke to break the tension that she was feeling from showing up here looking like she’d fallen out of bed, having clearly missed the entire tone of the evening.<br><br>“I’m not going to be that girl that eats without everybody” she laughed, “besides once I start there’s no way I’d leave you guys yours.” As if to note how hungry she was though she did pinch something long and crunchy from one of the salad plates. Seafood Beth had said; well the only fish Ardy usually ate came in the shape of fingers and covered in breadcrumbs, but whatever was cooking smelt amazing.<br><br>“I feel really underdressed here” she confessed, watching Beth check the food. Perhaps a little too closely when she bent over to check something in the oven. “I honestly thought it was going to be pizza or something. I didn’t know you were making a banquet.” The light teasing was expected, Beth might hide behind perfection, Ardy hid behind humour. The most uncomfortable she was the more inappropriate said humour became. <br><br><em>Yikes</em>, perhaps she was part chauvinistic male after all. Still, at least the boobs let her get away with it lest somebody suspect. <br><br>“I could run home and put something prettier on, since we have some time?”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>28-03-2013, 21:26:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">The tension, already lessened by that utterly unexpected hug, was further let go upon the laughter that came from her friend. Beth glanced at the younger girl before turning her attention to the pie in the oven making sure it was setting up right. After all what was more wholesome than a home made apple pie with vanilla ice cream. All American, okay, maybe that wasn’t the best message to send to Ardy who clearly had had some struggles on that point. But she did have her secret pleasure of … ice cream stashed away. She could bring that out for desert as well. <br><br>“Yes, but… I suppose I should have thought of appetizer’s as well. I can at least get you a drink?” Ever endeavoring to be the perfect hostess the brunette decided the pie was progressing along find and turned her attention back to her friend and guest. <br><br>“Don’t feel undressed, truly I seem to um.. have a habit of making people feel that way.” Thinking of Colin, and the position they had been in when the door bell rang had color flushing into her cheeks, a little smile that was distracted with thoughts of the man upstairs on her lips. “He, uh… had an old band T on and some ripped up jeans. If anything I’m the over dressed one out of the trio.” Beth offered a laugh of her own, moving closer to Ardelia, shaking her head at the idea of her leaving. <br><br>“No, don’t leave. It’s cold out there and I’d rather you not go out into the cold. But um, why don’t you come down with me to the basement, I have a basket of freshly laundered jeans down there, as well as a top or two I’m sure would look beautiful on you. In fact…” Daringly she reached out and grasped the other woman’s hand, tugging her after her out of the kitchen and down the stairs with a giddiness to her step. “I know something just perfect, I have this black top (http://www.whitelacetop.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/55b3b_lace_top_41CvEtfoSkL.jpg) I bought on whim a few weeks ago only it doesn’t suit. Black, lace with a mock corset feel will be much more you, so you can keep it if you like it.” Reaching the bottom of the stairs she froze, glancing back at Ardy with dismay on her features, realizing that her earnest reaction might have been off putting. <br><br>“I… uh.. I don’t mean to treat you like a life size Barbie or anything, I swear it Ardy I just… um, habit, to want to help and I really think you’ll look gorgeous in it and it’s not for me at all and um… I… please, don’t be cross, if you don’t like it, or if I have made a fool of myself then feel free to leave, I’d understand. I… haven’t ever had a friend over like this before.” The last part was soft, spoken in a voice that was almost small. There had been plenty of things she and Colin had gone out to do together, or attended for his work or her school but normally she didn’t actively want anyone inside her home. Too bad so far venturing out of that habit seemed to involve some serious foot-in-the-mouth.</span></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>28-03-2013, 21:58:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ardelia’s first thought was that she was being dragged away from the food. But then she realised upon further inspection she was also surprised.<br><br><em>Genuinely </em>surprised at the fact that she was suddenly being pulled from her seat and towards the basement, it was out of character for the other woman. Ardelia was a touchy feely person, she grabbed, hugged, jumped on absolutely anybody but Beth always seemed to shy away from contact. It was only recently she’d been able to hug her without the other woman stiffening in her arms. It was refreshing that she had clearly crossed some line now that made Beth feel comfortable with her and she certainly wasn’t going to hinder that with repaying her kindness. <br><br>Okay so she wasn’t particularly enamoured with the idea of being dressed up, but she had wanted to dress up and if this made Beth feel more comfortable then it was the least she could do. Besides, what woman in their right might turned down the offer of free clothes?<br><br>When Beth stopped at the bottom of the steps to apologise Ardy had to bite her lip to keep from giggling. Instead she rolled her eyes and ruffled Beth’s perfect hair. “Sweet, if you really think I’m going to leave without eating whatever it is that smells so nice upstairs then you don’t know me very well. Besides, who doesn’t like make-overs?” In fact Ardy had never had one; she was the type of girl that didn’t play nicely with other girls. They were awesome for sex but all of her close friends really were men. Mainly because as far as she had experienced, women were down right crazy; aside from the fact she’d always been a bit of a tomboy. For the first time she wondered if this was something she had genuinely missed out on, but then refocused her attention on the moment.<br><br>She was glancing around the basement, in fairness the house was huge, she was pretty sure her entire apartment would fit in just the kitchen. <br><br>Brushing past the other woman she unabashedly pulled the hoody over her head. The shorts which had barely shown under the hoody clung to the curve of her arse perfectly, sitting low on her hips and finishing before they’d barely started. Ardelia was a fan of short shorts and short skirts. Anything that showed off her legs was a plus, she had self-conscious issues about her upper body but her legs she was more than happy to display. Not that you’d know she had self-confidence issues because now aside from the shorts she was standing pretty much naked in Beth’s basement. <br><br>“Barbie me up already. Make me pretty!”<br><br>Then she stuck her tongue out at the other girl and pulled the loose elastic from her hair letting the unnaturally dark locks fall over her shoulder and down her back. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>28-03-2013, 22:14:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Bethany never squeaked. Or at least, she didn’t believe she had but a sound perilously close to such a label caught in her throat when Ardy ruffled her hair and had a laugh welling in the throat in response. This was why she wanted to make the offer she did to Ardelia, because she made her laugh, because she pushed her out of her comfort zone but showed her at the same time it was safe to trust that the other girl wasn’t going to reject her for not having the perfect response on hand for it. To be fair, Colin provided a way out of her comfort zones as well at times but he was also fairly protective and when she had first met him it had been about recovering herself. <br><br>This was something completely new, because Beth had never had a friend who would ruffle her hair or roll her eyes at her, who would be so blunt and yet kind at the same time. It was enough to replace the smile on her lips, one that went all the way up to her eyes and had her all but glowing in a way that normally only her fiancé saw. She was terribly private about things like emotions, yet Ardy got under the shields, helped remove the mask. <br><br>“Oh..” the word was soft, with that smile, “Okay then.” Relief tinted her assent, though she hadn’t expected for Ardy to proceed by stripping off the hoody and revealing she had nothing on beneath it. <br><br>For a moment all the brunette could do was stand there, one hand on the railing of the stair and stare wide eyed at her friend. The type of confidence to flaunt her body like <em>that</em> had never been hers, for heavens sake she had only ever wore a one piece swim suit and even doing racy under things was a big step for her. Though to be fair to Colin he had totally made the investment in that black lace thong and bra set worth it. Only why was she thinking about that while staring at her friend? Why was she wondering if Ardy liked silk or lace more? Did girl friends talk about things like that? Favorite underwear? <br><br>Blushing she finally adverted her gaze, though of course she ended up admiring the slope of Ardy’s ass, and then the tone of her legs. Ardy had curves to her, where Beth’s strictly monitored diet and exercise routine as well as natural genetics left her willowy. After the… time in the hospital she had been a little heavier, but that weight had been regulated back to the physician provided ‘ideal’ for her size. Looking at the younger girl it seemed there were other ideals. “I um… right.” A cough, trying to clear her throat and the older woman moved toward the little laundry room directly off the stair, more an alcove then anything. But there was the laundry basket, a light blue whicker that she always had for her jeans and it was easy to pull out the pair she had been thinking of, tossing them over to the teen without looking. <br><br>She wasn’t sure how she would respond if there were no panties as well as no bra. In fact she felt a touch oddly flushed. Above the washer and dryer was a self with a tote bag with some clothing she was iffy on, and tugging it down the black top she had intended was right on the top. A little bit of digging and a lacy red bra that had seemed a bit garish to her, and that she had never shown to Colin, was found and added to the bundle as well. Keeping her eyes politely averted she moved toward her friend, hands out offering the bra and shirt. “I think your… your bosom is a little larger then mine, but it should still look okay. Feel free to keep the bra as well, it.. well it didn’t really suit.”</span></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>28-03-2013, 22:53:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It blew her mind a little that people would buy clothes that '<em>didn’t suit</em>' and then not wear them, Ardy wore everything she bought whether it fit or not. Suiting never really came into it, if she’d paid for it then she would damn well wear it! Then again this was the same mentality that went hand in hand with her confidence; the girl would be as happy wearing a bin-bag as she would designer gear. Self-confidence was all in the mind, or at least that’s what she’d always thought. It didn’t occur to her that she might not look good; as long as she felt good then it was all she really concerned herself with. Everybody else could have their opinions.<br><br>She was about to take her shorts off when she caught sight of the top, it was – <em>well yes</em>- she couldn’t imagine Beth wearing it. Which was a shame, because the Beth in her imagination was looking pretty darn good in it. Pulling it over her head, whilst Beth was still rummaging, she grinned and smoothed it down. It covered her arse, which was <br>a win. She slipped her fingers into the waist of her shorts for a second but had to grin at her friends words. <em>Bosom</em>? Had she really just said bosom.<br><br>“Sweet, with the best will in the world, my tits are never going to fit in that bra.” She slid the shorts down her legs deftly, whilst keeping the top modest enough that Beth wouldn’t find out if she was wearing knickers or not. Instead she ran her hands down her body, checking that the hem of the top was low enough, and then ran her fingers through her hair. In truth the top was a little tight on her, but it was stretchy. Even so it clung to her like a second skin, and it was rather evident that she wasn’t wearing a bra because though her breasts had the pertness of youth it didn’t do much to negate the fact that the thin fabric noted every movement. It was unforgiving and that was after weeks of not eating. A moment of body envy passed quickly enough though. Ardelia liked sugar far too much to ever be as thin as Beth. The hemline was about in line with where her shorts had finished, another win.<br><br>Well, now she wasn’t entirely sure whether she was appropriately dressed for dinner, but if they were going clubbing she would be, <em>well</em>, probably wearing a top that cost more than her entire wardrobe. Coupled with the flip-flops, who wouldn’t be impressed? She smiled to herself at the silly notion. Turning to her friend she realised the other woman wasn’t even looking at her. She cleared her throat, still nothing, was that a blush? Ardy grinned and decided a more direct approach was in order.<br><br>“<em>Oi</em>” she waited until their eyes met then putting her arms out she twirled for effect before grinning wickedly.<br><br>“What do you think? Do I look suitable to feed?”<br><br>"You look lovely but um... pants, pants will make you more... er, warm."<br><br>Ardelia laughed outright then and rolled her eyes, sometimes she wondered just how conservative Beth was. The girl needed to loosen up, but then wasn’t that why Ardy was here? <br><br>“How could you be anything but warm in your house? It’s like an oven.” She addressed the disguise first but then winked. “As long as you can’t see what colour panties I’m wearing, then we’re good to go. Or at least that’s what my mother always said.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>28-03-2013, 23:28:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">There was no doubting that her friend had a very colorful way of speaking. Tits had the blush flaring a bit darker and Beth stood, hands clasped neatly together before her as she waited for Ardelia to dress and thus avoid any awkward moments of possibly nudity. Her mother, heavens help her, had trained Beth that even in the girls locker room one changed in a stall rather then out in the open. Modesty was of upmost importance, and it had taken a month even after she and Colin had moved in together for her to get to the point of undressing in front of him. <br><br>It had taken another six months to get her to try sleeping nude and she still favored her silk night gowns, though she had seen the perks to his suggestion of more daring silk nighties. At least once a week she wore one of the more revealing garments to bed, and often now she would drift off to sleep after they had made love naked without fretting over it. <br><br>The throat clearing brought her head up, a smile ready on her lips only to melt away as she froze, eyes wide again at the picture Ardelia presented. The teenager apparently was born to flaunt herself, because she turned that top into something rather more like a mini dress, with it hugging every single curve leaving very little to the imagination. Oh, dear. She had never seen Ardy in anything like that and picturing Colin meeting her friend in that had her stomach doing odd things. No matter how she tried she couldn’t stop herself from staring, from feeling that odd heat even beneath her blush. <br><br>Was she really becoming attracted to another woman? That was impossible, it simply didn’t happened. And if she was feeling flustered then Colin…. No no. She would not fall apart into paranoia. It was a matter of pride that she managed to speak works at her friend’s question, though the laugh had her blushing anew, wondering if she was perhaps being foolish to think pants were such a solid, good idea. <br><br>“I don’t… think cool is a word that could ever be applied to you.” Bethany finally managed to say, but she picked up the jeans all the same and offered them out to Ardy. “As… riveting a question as what color your panties might be, please, I’d hate for you to scald your thighs if you dropped something from dinner on them, and um… I fear seeing you like that leaves me a little bit distracted so I’m going to go uh… set the table. Take your time.” The last was said quickly, a bit of stumbling about before she backed her way to the stair and nearly bolted up it. Surely it was just the nerves, just the nerves. </span></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>29-03-2013, 17:25:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Colin descended the stairs, then looked around the first floor in confusion. No one in the living room, an empty kitchen. Then he heard voices from down the basement stairs, though not distinct enough to make out words. That was odd. There wasn't much down there -- storage, his new office, the laundry, some neglected exercise equipment. He was reassured to see that the last set of boxes he'd brought down still sat in the hall at the top of the basement stairs, the 'Textbooks' box on the bottom. Colin hoped Beth's friend didn't suddenly develop an interest in old dry legal materials.<br><br>Well, whatever they were doing didn't need his help, unless maybe they came across a spider. Which meant he could do something he'd been wanting to do for the last hour, but hadn't dared. With exaggerated stealth he crept into the kitchen and slid a long-handled spoon from the drawer. The chowder was bubbling slowly, sending bursts of fragrant steam into the air. How could any man resist temptation like that? Bethany led a pretty busy life, which didn't leave her that much time to cook. Most of the time they shared the job, keeping things pretty simple. Which meant the occasions when she went all-out like this were all the more special.<br><br>He blew across the steaming spoonful of soup and tasted it, letting the thick cream drizzle across his tongue. Then footsteps from behind him alerted him to the fact that he'd been caught. He turned, caught red-handed, with a smile on his face. Only something was wrong. Bethany looked flushed, upset. He dropped the smile immediately, falling automatically into his normal protective mode.<br><br>"Bee? What's the matter, honey? Is there a problem with your friend?" The evening had barely started, and already something had gone wrong.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>29-03-2013, 17:43:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Entering her kitchen she had expected to be alone, a sorely needed moment to recover her composure. Regardless of how the day was going so far Bethany normally was in complete control of everything in her life, at least outside of how busy it was. But Colin was there, leaning over her chowder and when he turned to look at her he had the guilty smile a boy who had stuck his hand n the cookie jar when he shouldn't have. For some reason it made her laugh, the giggle parting her lips before she could think about it and she blushed in response, her cheeks already warm as her hand flew up to stifle the sound. She didn't laugh at Colin, it wasn't polite. <br><br>That question, the note of worry that told her instantly that her fairytale prince was ready to swoop in and slay the dragon if need be softened her though and she went straight to him, pressing herself into the familiar comfort of his body, her face burrowed in against his torso so she could hear his heart. What was wrong? Well there was the fact that she had managed to likely come off as both a prude and a bitch to her friend, that she was angling to ruin the offer before it was even made. That she was so utterly incapable of being friends with someone outside of the rather strictly polite manners she had been taught growing up. Colin still had friends outside of her, she knew because she often encouraged him to hang out with them, to even invite them over if she wasn't studying. She didn't want to become the 'old ball and chain' to him, she knew how much that sucked. <br><br>But seeing him, stealing a taste of the soup and knowing he was there to support her made that jumble of fears and insecurities simmer down, letting her focus on breathing in and out to match his heart beat rather than her own. Whatever had happened down in the basement wasn't as bad as she thought. Ardy looked lovely in that shirt, and it wasn't wrong to admire another woman looking beautiful. She wasn't attracted to her, just admiring, and that made every bit of sense. "Nothing," she murmured, having relaxed enough to tilt her head back to look up at him with a gentle smile that didn't fully hide her nerves. "It's just harder then I thought. Ardy is wonderful, lovely and funny, I'm just not so good at bring a friend I guess. I found myself staring at her and it unsettled me, but it's just because she suits the shirt I loaned her so well." <br><br>Beth glanced at the soup, that laughter coming back into her eyes before she looked up at him again, "I'm sorry, I've been neglecting you lately haven't I? So caught up with my thesis and the wedding plans... I'll try and cook like this more often, just because you deserve it." The brunette moved up on tiptoe, though he leaned down to her to make it easier as she brushed a gentle kiss against his cheek. "I love you."</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>29-03-2013, 18:00:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You're a great friend, Beth. You've just been too busy to make too many connections out here. That's part of what this is all about, right? I'm sure everything's fine." It was the kind of blanket assurance, offered without evidence, that Colin found himself offering liberally to his fiance. Most of the time all she needed was a little boost to her confidence, and he certainly didn't begrudge her that. From time to time, though, he wished she had more of a support structure. Her family was useless, and she really hadn't made any friends at all out here since the move, except for this Ardy. It could be he was putting too much hope into this, offering to open his home up to a woman he'd never even met. If it was good for Bee, though, it would be good for both of them.<br><br>"Hey, don't worry. Everything's fine," he repeated. "Most guys would give their left arm to be neglected like you neglect me. Or do I have to remind you about last night?" He reached down and squeezed her ass. With one hand still holding a spoonful of hot soup and the other groping his beloved, he looked up in surprise as their prospective housemate entered the room."<br><br><em>Holy cow.</em> Beth had not mentioned, to the best of his recollection, that her new best friend was drop dead gorgeous. No, he was pretty sure that hadn't come up.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>29-03-2013, 18:07:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She was laughing, it wasn’t a giggle either it was a full on laugh as her friend bolted up the stairs. Seriously, Ardelia had never known anybody get quite so flustered at a bit of clothing. It was cute, endearing even, but it was also amusing as anything. The brunette eyed the jeans for a moment weighing up the pros and cons to having Beth distracted all night and decided that they were much better than modesty. So placing the jeans back where Beth had gotten them from. Somebody needed to loosen than woman up a little and she fully planned to be the one to do it.<br><br>There was a part of her that wondered if she would have been as flustered if Beth had gotten undressed in front of her? No, but then nudity had never really bothered her. It just was. Plus she never pretended that she wasn’t attracted to naked people. Yes she was attracted to Beth, Beth was an attractive woman and Adrelia wasn’t one to overlook an attractive woman. Still, she was also experienced enough to know that straight women were generally off limits.<br><br>At least without copious amounts of alcohol at one’s disposal, drunk women were never entirely straight.<br><br>But this one was engaged and even with her low morals she had lines. Seduction was off the table, even if the blush had betrayed that it might not be entirely impossible. Aside from the obvious though she looked good, and she was stubborn enough that somebody telling her to cover up made her more inclined to wear less. Since there was no possible way she could wear less without walking upstairs in her panties she smoothed down the dress and smiled. Running up the stairs two at a time (<em>not an easy feat in flip-flops</em>), food clearly gave her a burst of energy. Or at least the incentive to be speedy.<br><br>When she skidded into the kitchen though she stopped, surprised to find Beth wasn’t alone. With a short wave by way of ‘hello’ she scrunched her nose up playfully, feeling altogether like she’d barged in on something important. Her eyes scanned the man very quickly, but she was unsurprised to find that in fact, he wasn’t the ugly midget she’d hoped for. Tall, dark and handsome. Every box checked; and thus Beth was evidently the luckiest women alive. <em>Figured</em>.<br><br><em>Maybe he has a really small cock and the universe balances out that way.</em><br><br>“<em>Wow</em>, I feel like I interrupted. I’d say get a room, but you have a house so" she trailed off with a shrug. "Do you guys want me to make myself scarce whilst you have a quickie? I don’t mind really.” She was grinning; there really wasn’t a thought in her head that she didn’t voice. Part of her wanted to see that blush stain Beth’s cheeks again, part of her wanted to see whether Colin was as prudish as his soon-to-be-wife. <br><br>There was a momentary afterthought where she thought that politeness for the people who were going out of their way to invite her into their home for such a lovely dinner might have been the way to go. But then, she was being polite enough to offer to make herself scarce. Naturally, food would be going with her. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>29-03-2013, 18:22:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Was she? She hadn't had a close friend since she moved to St. Louis, and even before that, the last time she really had a girlfriend had been at the start of her relationship with Lucas. And back then her relationships had been regulated by her mother. God, what was she, some porcelain doll to live life through rules that created a protective bubble around her? At least now she was living by rules of her own making, and she was <em>trying</em> to make friends. Ardy counted. And so did Colin, because he was her best friend, ever, knowing just what to say to make her smile a little more. Of course he had to go and mention the night before when she had felt particularly daring and it had her cheeks heating up all over again. <br><br>Apparently it was beyond hope that the blush would fully die tonight. Every time the color eased from her cheeks even a little it was surging back and she made a little sound when he squeezed her rear in his hand. It wasn't at all proper to do in the kitchen but it... was nice, and made her shiver slightly at the memory of his hand lightly impacting on her skin the night before when she had been on her hands and knees with him behind her. That it had taken her eight months to offer that position didn't matter, she had done it and heavens it had been worth it. <br><br>She felt him stiffen slightly in surprise, heard the footsteps and looked up at Colin's expression before turning to face Ardy. Yup, he found her attractive, because there was no hiding the instant reaction and Bee's stomach did an odd twisty thing that wasn't particularly comfortable. She was starting to wonder if anything tonight would be comfortable for her. <br><br>Or would go at all according to plan. <br><br>Ardelia's wittiness only had her blushing all over again, particularly at the thought of a quickie and she disentangled herself from her fiance, taking steps back from both of them almost like a cornered rabbit might, right up to the point of brushing her back against the oven. She had to stop there, shrinking into the oven wasn't exactly the most brilliant of ideas. "Uh... no, that is um... we don't... I... the chowder is done, so if you two go sit I'll bring the salad over first." From stuttering she fell back into what she knew, hostess, and she found that smile locked firmly back into place the panicked, nervy Beth, disappearing beneath the hostess mask that might have a few things in common with the Stepford Wife type. Her mother could have been the poster child for that psychotic place. Red cheeked she turned, giving them both her back to check and make sure the salads were ready, which of course they were but she just wanted them to sit down. and to not have to see if they were attracted to each other, because considering a mutual attraction wasn't something she felt up to just now.</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>29-03-2013, 20:24:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Well, the girl had spirit too. If he didn't know better, he'd imagine that Beth had planned this whole thing as a practical joke. A half naked sexy teenager skipping into their kitchen and opening with a sexual reference? Colin wondered how much of Ardy's brashness was a front, perhaps covering up for nerves. She looked like a girl who was well aware of her body, and the effect that it must have on most men. Himself included; he was hardly a Buddhist monk after all. Colin had stronger urges than that, though, and one of them kicked in as soon as he saw how flustered Beth became at her friend's comment. The girl might not have intended to fluster Beth, but his fiance was clearly taking all of this badly. He could only imagine that whatever had gone on in the basement had been more of the same.<br><br>Which meant he suddenly had a very clear role to play, and it wasn't being a guy who ogles nubile young girls in their underwear. The first thing was to not give her the upper hand. Colin smiled broadly at Ardy's joke. "No, we were just finishing up. Sometimes these things go faster than you'd think. So you must be Ardy. I'm Colin. I've heard an awfully lot of good things about you." Shaking hands seemed to formal, and a hug was out of the question. Colin grabbed the red wine. "Can I pour you a glass? No ID required."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>29-03-2013, 21:20:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Ooohhh</em> he was the domineering type, Ardy smiled at the sudden change in posture and tipped her head a bit. She had been watching Beth’s reaction closely, watching her retreat behind her perfection because she was caught off guard. She might have felt bad if she didn’t think the other woman needed it so much; but then he was there picking up the slack and putting up his own shields to deflect from hers without even so much as a seconds hesitation. It was sweet she supposed, but Ardelia didn’t much like white knights. Beth was a grown woman who granted, wielded her social disabilities with the productivity she gleaned to everything, but until she realised that it was okay to be caught off guard she’d be a terrified little lamb forever. It wasn’t the lamb Ardy fought so hard to be friends with, it was the wolf cub hiding inside, the one she glimpsed every now and again, the glitteringly amusing Beth who said something before she realised she shouldn’t. Who forgot for a second that she was supposed to be perfect. That Beth seemed like a Hell of a lot of fun.<br><br>Maybe it was Ardy’s upbringing, but she was a ‘<em>throw them in at the deep end</em>’ kind of girl. Subtly was not her thing and delicacy, whilst having it’s place, was time consuming and never as effective as it could be. So Colin could protect her all he liked, but Lee would drag her to her own two feet kicking and screaming if she had to; after all it wasn't her job to pick Beth up, it was his. <br><br>The brunette had learnt to be quick at reading people, she was an excellent judge of character, one had to be with extracurricular careers like hers. Beth was the first person in a long time that she had struggled to read and the more she tried the more she realised just how much she wanted to get inside her head and figure her out.<br><br>He on the other hand, was more or less an open book. The way he instantly stood up as Beth backed down, probably the type of guy who really liked to hear himself speak. Who always managed to work logic to his side. Prim and proper with a perfect house and a beautiful woman on his arm. May well he disguise it as protectiveness, but these things usually all boiled down to control.<br><br>“Good things? I doubt Beth has a bad word to say about anybody. If she was being honest I’m sure all the things you’d hear about me would be bad.” There was an impish grin on her lips, but it faltered when he offered her wine. She shook her head. “I don’t really drink. And when I do it’s definitely not wine.” See this is why she should stick to her own wardrobe, nobody ever asked the slacker-types if they wanted wine. <br><br>This suddenly seemed like an entirely different world. Then she squinted at Beth;<br><br>“You want us to go and sit down whilst you bring food out? That seems a little backwards, we all have hands, can’t we help?” Her tone was softer now though, it wasn’t a critique of the way Beth was doing things it was genuine curiosity. This was not at all what she was used to and when Ardy was trying to make sense of things her mouth usually worked overtime. “Makes more sense than you doing all the work? Especially when you’ve already done loads. Unless that was code for, ‘<em>Ardy go away</em>‘ in which case – just say that. Subtly has never worked on me and I’m almost impossible to offend.”<br><br>Ardelia shifted her weight awkwardly for a moment; she’d never been to a dinner party in her life in which the most heated topic of debate was more serious than who gets the last slice of pizza. Nor was she used to sitting around whilst people did all the work for her, she’d grown up mostly fending for herself and her mother and even when her mother had been well the lesson had been very clear. Everybody eats, everybody helps. Suddenly she was feeling like an intruder into the perfect world of Colin and Beth, some kind of alien entity that didn't quite belong. <br><br><em>Oh well,</em> she was entirely used to not belonging. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>29-03-2013, 22:40:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Of all the things she had expected Colin to say in response to that question it wasn't 'we were just finishing up', in fact that had the affect of educating Bethany that her ears in fact could turn red. She had never blushed so much in her life before, surely. But inside she almost wanted to laugh. Who knew Colin had that much of a smart ass in him to meet Ardy's sally with a rebuttal of his own that was nearly perfect. Now if only she had some home of keeping up with the two of them. Which there wasn't. Still wanting to laugh was better then wanting to cry and the strangled sound that caught in her throat had much more in common with a giggle then a sob. <br><br>Though the mention of wine had her hand going for her own wine glass, helpfully close on the counter to toss a gulp of it back far quicker then her normal way of drinking wine. The alcohol burned a little going down her throat, making her cough but her shoulders loosened as it settled and she started to line the salad bowls up with precision a military sergeant might envy. Yet she froze at her friend's comment about saying bad things about her, grey blue eyes turning to fix on the younger girl with a firm shake in denial of her head. <br><br>"There are no bad things to say about you, Ardy." And in her mind there wasn't. She had bad words for some people, for her mother, for Lucas, for ... but those she locked inside herself, caging them until they caused inner emotionally bleeding. But no one would ever guess the internal damage. <br><br>Her friend's honest question had the brunette blinking in surprise at the thought of having help when she had invited people over. "Guests don't... " was the first response, trailing off before being fully spoken. Another breech in protocol as she had grown up learning it. But really, did she want to be just like her mother? Did she want to have to live by those rules for the rest of her life? No, no no, it was part of why she was actively working to nudge out of her comfort zones. She wanted to know she could be a fully partner to Colin, that she could handle her own baggage as an adult would, not at the terrified and broken girl he had met had. So she found herself glancing at them both before smiling tentatively and giving a nod. <br><br>"Sure.. help would be nice. I was planning for the salads to go first, with the cod, and then the chowder. I um.. my family was very old fashion so I'm use to doing all the work. But I don't, I don't want you to go away Ardy." She left the salads, the counter, left the safety bank and reached for the younger girl's hand, clasping it with that shy smile still on her lips. "I want you to stay, and if you want to help I'd be grateful for it. I'm just not use to it, at least not yet." And that applied on so many levels.</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>02-04-2013, 05:20:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				This was not getting off to a good start, Colin thought. It was clear that Beth's friend had a strong personality, which was not at all a bad thing. The look on his beloved's face as she clasped Ardy's hand was one that Colin hadn't seen in ages. Sure, she was happy with him, or at least she professed to be and he didn't think she was being deceptive. But man does not live by bread alone, and a woman needed more than just her husband. He realized that what they had together was at some level unhealthy, both for her and for him, and that was what was led to his agreeing to invite Ardy into their home, sight unseen. There were times when he could picture their future if they stayed on the path they were on. He would shelter her from every storm, year after year, until eventually, inevitably, he would falter. And then no amount of love in the world would make up for her inability to stand alone.<br><br>But what did he know? She was the psychologist, and he didn't discuss his fears with her. Not those, nor the even darker ones. About what might happen to him over time, for no man was a constant either. He would always love her -- he felt he loved her more each day, and he relished the moves that she made to come out of her well-earned shell. But sometimes, only very occasionally, he wondered if he had made the right choice.<br><br>He shook his head briefly. He had wandered into his thoughts, and now was not the time. He wanted tonight to go well, for her but also for him. And, he supposed, for Ardy. Though they had only just met, there was something about her... He didn't see what Beth saw, not yet. Perhaps in time.<br><br>"I think Ardy's right," he announced, though of course the decision had already been made. He pitched in to help bring out the food, and between the three of them it took only minutes. Sitting down before the crisp salads, he ventured a reset of their conversation. Humor didn't seem to be working too well for him, with little surprise. He knew it was a nimble tool in most people's hands, but sincerity had always worked better for him.<br><br>"I just wanted to say, Ardy, that I am really glad you came over tonight." He waved his fork over the table setting. "We don't eat like this every night, not even close. This is kind of a special occasion. But I'm not going to steal Beth's thunder. So tell me, did you grow up in St. Louis? I was born and raised just over on the west side of town, up by Barksdale."<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>15-04-2013, 11:03:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Glad at least that Beth was letting them help, she had to wonder why Colin hadn’t suggested it. But then Beth seemed to have old fashioned values and those values hardly leant towards chivalry in Ardy’s experience. Nevertheless he’d seemed more than happy to back her up in helping, so perhaps he was more accommodating Beth’s views rather than pressing his upon her. Ardelia didn’t have much experience with healthy relationships, her mother had been single for as long as she could remember and her only significant relationship had been the antithesis of anything healthy. Once the food was on the table, the brunette slid into a seat and didn’t waste much time in eating. That didn’t mean she didn’t listen to what was being said, she was just hungry.&nbsp; <br><br>A crooked smile at his welcome she smiled genuinely when he said they didn’t eat like this all the time.<br><br>“I guessed that, you’d be the size of houses. Or I would at least if somebody put food like this in front of me. My willpower with food is non-existent. I’m just lucky food is so expensive or I’d be a whale.” She turned her eyes to Beth “seriously, this is amazing food!”<br><br>Serious conversation, she wasn’t used to it and she took a moment to adjust to the fact that she really was eating with grown ups now. No belching during meals, no crude jokes, she didn’t belong here at all. But it might be entertaining to fake for a night and geography was a simple enough topic. <br><br>“Moved to Jennings when I was fourteen from down south, Louisiana girl, took me a very long time to shake the accent. And even now when I get annoyed or excited it comes out. What about you” eyes met Beth’s “I don’t think I’ve ever asked where you’re from before.” In truth she and Beth never discussed much of consequence, small talk and jokes, teasing, but never really a genuine attempt to get to know each other. Beth asked questions, Ardelia dodged them expertly. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>16-04-2013, 00:20:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Hopefully the fact that she was unnerved to see them both carrying food to the table was mostly masked. Hopefully they didn't think she was utterly insane to be so fretful over something that was rather more the providence of a 1950's housewife than a modern grad student. But her manners had been something of a resting place, and now they were helping when in her mind she felt like she had to do it. It kept her quiet as they set the table, though she decided to forego multiple courses and just take everything to the table, save for the pie still in the oven, in one go. <br><br>The brunette was slightly muted after that, fussing with her napkin to lay it precisely over her lap, sipping at her wine before she even picked up her fork to taste the salad. Colin's welcome of Ardy softened her though, draining some of the tension that was riding in her shoulders out. He truly was an amazing man, on so many levels and their relationship was one of the brightest things to ever happen in her life. In that moment she fell in love with him all over again. Not because he complimented her cooking, but because he complimented her as a person. Colin was what made her believe in soul mates, that there were others who had pieces of your soul that you just clicked with. <br><br>Ardy's praise of the food brought a happy, lively flush back into Beth's cheeks, the smile that surfaced to her lips tentative but proud. She was good at cooking. "I'm glad you like it." Another bite of food, the cod had turned out perfectly this time which was good. Something better go perfectly as her plans most assuredly were not. <br><br>Louisiana, she would have never guessed that. Nor was she ready for the question about herself, leaving her blinking for a moment before she gave a sheepish grin, gesturing at the table laden down with seafood. "Can't you tell? New England girl. I was born and raised in Boston, indoctered to believing seafood is the best food at an early age. I moved out here after... " her voice caught, perhaps a bit oddly as memories stirred, wanting to surge forward and her smile turned a little forced, slightly plastic. "After I graduated from undergrad at Harvard. I didn't put down roots here until I met Colin though," She glanced at him, a smile full of love on her lips. <br><br>"We only moved in here, what, a year and eight months ago now?" the question was posed to him for confirmation, though she knew she was only delaying, trying to build up courage to put out the offer. Pathetic, really. But then she had never had overly great experiences with sleep overs so having another woman living in her home, particularly one as pretty and confident as Ardelia was no little bit intimidating. <br><br>"So... have you sorted out the job situation yet?" Yes, that was a nice lead in, surely.&nbsp; </span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>16-04-2013, 21:22:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Colin watched Ardy eat, trying not to be too obvious about it. It was good to see that there was more to her than just the hard-bitten cynical front. As he saw her enjoying her food he could see that there was a spark to her. She was still a girl, and Colin imagined he could see a little of what Beth liked about her. She was spontaneous in a way that his dear fiancee was not, open where she was closed, and, truth be told, crude where Beth was genteel. Colin frowned a bit, realizing that drawing comparisons between the two probably wasn't fair to either of them, and a bit worried that Beth seemed to be getting the short end of the stick in his quick appraisal.<br><br>He loved her utterly, of course. He just wished she weren't so, well, nervous all of the time. She didn't hide it as well as she thought, at least from him. Was she ever really happy, save for those times when she seemed to lose herself completely with him for a time? It was a question he'd asked himself many times over the course of their relationship. He knew she was working on it, she had a therapist, and God knew she had enough reasons to be this way. It would just take time.<br><br>"Hmm, what?" She'd asked him something, interrupting his thoughts. "Right, a little over a year and a half. I guess eight months sounds right. Silly that we still have boxes to unpack, but life gets busy." He could tell from her face that she was getting more nervous, edging toward the reason they'd invited Ardy over. He smiled at her and nodded slightly in encouragement. <em>It's okay, honey. We're all friends here, right?</em> When that didn't seem sufficient he reached under the table and gave her leg a squeeze.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>19-04-2013, 09:44:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Lucky you, I was 'indoctored' into believing that fried chicken and ramen noodles were the height of haute cuisine.” Her nose scrunched when she grinned playfully, her brief interjection over whilst she let Beth continue her story.<br><br>Ardy may well have been pretty focused on her food, but not enough that she was foregoing paying attention to her friend. Seconds from scoffing at the fact Miss Perfect went to Harvard, <em>naturally</em>, the only thing that stopped her was the look in Beth’s eyes. It was enough to curb the question of why she left Boston, with the sudden foresight that the topic would make the other woman uncomfortable in all the wrong ways. People were allowed their secrets and Ardelia wasn’t one to pry. It was all okay anyway, because now she was gushing over Colin and the look was gone, Ardy took another mouthful of food hoping she wouldn’t be required to intervene in the conversation until she had swallowed. <br><br>This whole sitting and chatting at the table thing came with an entirely new host of complications.<br><br>“Don’t feel bad about it, I don’t think I ever unpack boxes. I’ve been in my apartment for three years and I still don’t actually own much besides a couch and a microwave. I think on the slacker scale you’re still in the ‘forgivable’ range.” That wasn’t even entirely true, she was pretty sure the microwave had come with the apartment, which wasn’t even hers, her ex-boyfriends name was on the lease she’d only moved in, not even officially. It was testament to her powers of charm and manipulation that the landlord hadn’t adjusted the paperwork yet, despite Scott having vanished months ago.<br><br>Then the topic turned to jobs and Ardy looked up for a second, as if processing the question, really she was just deciding how best to swerve it. It was a wonderful feeling, being in the home of two successful people and being asked to highlight her failures. Her instinctive reaction was to say something scathing, but it had occurred to her after a few weeks of knowing Beth that she didn’t do these things to make Ardy seem inadequate. She simple didn’t see how they might, because the other woman seemed to be lacking in absolutely any judgemental tendencies at all. <br><br>Nice was a rare concept to the teenager, she had been sceptical at first but she was starting to think that Beth really was genuinely too nice for her own good. She was nineteen, not even a high-school diploma to her name and save for her excellent entrepreneurial skills (<em>a girl could scarcely put ‘crack pusher’ on her resume</em>) her skill set was vast. Her job history long but not exactly impressive. As such, with the economy the way it was, things were far from promising.<br><br>“Nah, I know a guy who runs a bar though. I just need a fake ID to apply” she smiled, “and adequate begging.” Ardy was seconds from making a quip about being on her knees but reminded herself just in time that she was at a dinner table with posh people. With a dismissive shrug, “no worries though. I always land on my feet.” <br><br>However this time her luck really was testing its limits.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>19-04-2013, 17:25:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Colin seemed... distracted. Was it because of her nerves? Or because of how beautiful Ardy was? Or, well it could be any number of things. And worrying over that wasn't going to help anyone, least of all her. When he gave her a smile of encouragement, his hand on her knee she softened into a true smile as well. There was no reason to doubt Colin, he was always honest with her and insecurity about his love wasn't something she wanted to entertain. In fact she was rather good at working past those, it was just the insecurities that came from her own lacking qualities that haunted her like demented ghosts. <br><br>Ardelia provided a fresh breath though, someone who had more adversity in her life than Beth had ever had to face and was so utterly nonchalant about it. Did the teen have any idea how strong she was? Likely not, and that made Bethany admire her young friend all the more. Though she didn't hide a shudder at the thought of living off fried chicken and ramen noodles, for surely that couldn't be healthy on one's stomach. The dark haired girl's comment about her apartment balanced humor and admiration with concern. A couch and a microwave? Even if she could manage to keep her current place it clearly wasn't somewhere safe, stable or healthy for her. And that gave Beth the needed platform of 'this is the right thing to do' to work up her nerve, even as a fake ID was mentioned. <br><br>Delicately she put her napkin on the table, blue gray eyes warm as she gave a soft smile to the younger girl. "I wanted, or rather, we wanted to see if we could help you get back on your feet as it were. I know we haven't known each other long but it's been long enough that I feel comfortable extending this invitation. We cleaned out one of the extra bedrooms, Colin was a gentleman and moved his office to the basement instead of mine in fact. I... " Beth laughed, realizing she hadn't just simply stated what she was offering yet. "You could consider this a safe place to stay, if you wanted."<br><br>The oven timer went off, leading to her head turning toward it before she pushed to her feet, "That would be the pie, I'll just pull it out while you think it over."</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>25-04-2013, 18:07:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ardelia froze at the first hint of the conversation heading towards what she gleaned to be an invitation. Suddenly she wanted to bolt, niceness and politeness be damned. This was a pity party, population <em>her</em>. Taking slow breaths as Beth spoke she tried not to speak without thinking, it was a detrimental habit of hers, which she acknowledged and was trying to change. The answer to this was to remain stock silent. Right then her pride was warring against her, as were several other emotions. <em>Logically </em>she knew all too well that Beth was trying to be nice, this was a helpful offer and by God it was what she needed more than anything. A place to crash, somewhere she could hopefully get together enough money to maybe stand a chance at paying her mother’s medical bills, a steady address where she could get another job. <br><br>It was an impossibly nice thing to do.<br><br>So why did Ardy feel so humiliated? So utterly tricked? It was hard to feel anything but ashamed, still that wasn’t Beth’s fault, it was her own for letting herself fall so violently into such a pathetic situation. She’d done her level best to keep from Beth how bad things were; still clearly it hadn’t been enough.<br><br>Realising she’d been quiet for too long, especially when so much rested on her answer she was instantly relieved when Beth excused herself to go and get something or other out of the oven. Ardy wasn’t really paying attention to anything but the fight or flight instinct threatening to overwhelm her. <br><br><em>They </em>had planned this, talked about poor pathetic little her.<br><br>It was nice, this was what friends did wasn’t it?<br><br>Except her friends would <em>never </em>have done <em>this</em>, it felt like she was being patronised. Her weaknesses and failures paraded in front of her and sweetened with nice food. Not that the food mattered, her appetite had evaporated. She was a <em>fool</em>, the clothes, the food, she was a charity case. A poor little stray that Beth wanted to take in and fix. It made the brunette feel very, <em>very </em>small. In truth the only thing holding her tongue was the fact that she genuinely didn’t want to offend Beth or think that this had been in any way intended maliciously. <br><br>Instead of speaking Ardelia focused on pushing the remaining food around her plate absently, trying to keep her defences in check whilst also fighting the urge to run away from the overwhelming feeling of inadequacy. How had she been so stupid to genuinely think Beth was getting something out of this friendship beyond some perverse satisfaction in being so much better? It went deeper than that, she knew that she had a crush on the older woman, had done since they met. Perhaps that was why this stung so fervently. <br><br>With no response to offer, the silence stretched out.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>28-04-2013, 22:18:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Beth made the offer, Colin's eyes were on Ardy. This was not going well. Colin wasn't sure exactly what response Beth had counted on, but he was fairly sure it wasn't fear. At least that's what he saw in Ardy's carefully frozen expression. He tried to turn the situation in his head, to put himself into her position. It was obvious from the moment that she'd arrived that she wasn't really comfortable here, and now this must seem like... an ambush? Beth must see it too, he thought. She had invested so much in this plan, and he knew how badly she wanted to be a friend to Ardy. A rejection now might take a long time to get over. Which meant more damage control. Colin looked over at Beth trying to tell if she saw just how much of a disaster this was turning into, and what she might want to do about it.<br><br>Then the timer went off, and Beth was gone. A burnt pie might not have been quite the end of the world here, he thought. Colin sat alone with Ardy, watching her push food around on her plate.<br><br>Enough. It wasn't that this was 'the man's job'. It's that it was someone's job, and nobody else was doing it. He didn't have a relationship with Ardy to ruin.<br><br>"Listen," he said. "Beth means well. You know that. She wouldn't have made this such an event if she'd known you'd be so uncomfortable. She's just imagining what she'd want if she were in your shoes and trying to do that. In case you hadn't picked up on it, she's not really... good with people, but she has a good heart."<br><br>He stood up, crumpling his cloth napkin into a ball on the table. "So this doesn't have to be a big deal. I'm sure you've crashed on friends' couches before; it's not like we're planning to adopt you. Stay, don't stay, eat, don't eat... whatever makes you happy. Sleep on the couch if you want. And if it's me you're worried about -- well, I kind of have my hands full already." Colin strode off into the kitchen, worried that either a burnt pie or another rejection might be just the straw to break the Self-Confidence Camel's back.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>29-04-2013, 00:26:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">The pie was perfect. <br><br>It was beautifully golden brown, with that hard won crisp to the crust that begged for a fork to touch into it. The top was a dome, the scent of apples and cinnamon wafted in the air around her like incense almost. It was probably the best pie she had ever baked but as she stood staring at it, resting so mundanely on the counter she felt the panic in her chest brewing. The panic was illogical, founded in nothing that had true substance. She knew that. The analytical part of her brain was detached, examining her emotional distress over the sense that her plans were crumpling around her and she was destroying the very thing she wanted to build up. Maybe it would be best to focus on just one relationship at a time though, to focus on becoming better for Colin and her. Only how could she do that if he was the only person she interacted with on a personal level? <br><br>Agitated she discarded the oven mitts, letting them go sliding across the counter to lay where they fell in a very un-Bethany like fashion. As was the way she slammed the oven shut. Her hands clung to the oven bar though, white knuckled as she felt the heat from it started to penetrate through the metal, as if it were reaching out for her. With a shudder she pulled away, taking in one breath slowly, exhaling it with a sigh at the end. Social butterfly she might not be, but she knew how to read people, that was part of her work after all and even though she had done everything she could think of it was clear she had only upset Ardy. <br><br>It was just that it was... rather impossible for her to have friends on a superficial level, and yet she struggled with any sort of intimacy that required her to speak of things that fell outside of the 'polite' spectrum she had been taught as a child. Through research and her work she knew it was likely an issue starting from what had happened with Lucas, with the abuse and assault, though compounded by her family's reaction to it. To be told her pain was unseemly, that it didn't matter, not as much as doing the 'proper' thing. It was part of why she got so furious with herself for being trapped within the walls of a prison in her own mind. She only interacted well on a 'proper' level when speaking with other people, anything else had her feeling dangerously out of control, as if she were slipping down some rabbit hole by feeling and sharing those feelings and the fear of just where she'd end up when she landed from the tumble had her clawing at the roots of the tree rather then letting go. <br><br>She could let go. Possibly. But the clinging to what she knew was at least passably safe had become ingrained in her, and fear kept her in that holding pattern. Something had to break, had to give eventually. There were some nights when she lay awake at Colin's side and thought of how much he meant to her, of how happy she was with him and yet she never said it, not well. She loved him, but those words were a struggle for her to say. If even half the stuff she thought to say actually came out of her mouth she would be talking constantly. Instead she was known to be soft spoken, demure. <br><br>There were steps she had taken though, Bethany pointed that out to herself. She had learned to trust again, with Colin, though she knew that trust couldn't go much further because she didn't trust herself. How could she? But she had reclaimed her body, found love, a sexual relationship that was tender rather than humiliating and she had her work. Surely it couldn't be that hard to cultivate a friendship. Only it was. Because with Ardy she didn't have the short cut she did with Colin. She couldn't just walk up to her friend and kiss those full lips and let that kiss speak all the words she never had the strength to voice. Or... well she could but that wouldn't go over well. Amused at her thoughts a half hysterical laugh welled to her lips as she turned herself back toward the pie. She couldn't hide out in the kitchen like a coward after making that offer. <br><br>Pie. And ice cream. <br><br>A tug had the freezer open, her hand going to bring out the cherry ice cream she loved, as well as more traditional vanilla. Spoons, dessert plates, tray, she was assembling it all when she heard Colin's footsteps and turned toward them, her blue gray eyes concerned, teeth digging into her lower lip. "I made a mess of it, didn't I?" The question was out before she could think about it, and for a moment that self loathing she normally hid so well spilled out. "I know I can do better then this, I know I can improve, I refuse to be stuck here, to let what... to let that pain stunt the rest of my life. Why is it so damn hard for me to act like a normal person?" Defeated her shoulders slumped, head bowing as tears rushed to her eyes and she raised her hands to cup her face, trying to hide them. "Why do you put up with me?"</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>06-05-2013, 21:49:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Colin cringed as he heard the oven door slam shut. The kitchen door lay to his left, the door to the outside world down the entry hall to the right. He wasn't nearly cowardly enough to take that route, but he entertained the fantasy briefly. Leave the girls to work it out. But he didn't trust Ardy to respect Beth's soft points, and he didn't trust Beth to not break down entirely. What a dinner this was turning out to be. With a sigh he pushed through the swinging door, just in time to see Beth's anguished expression. To her credit she didn't try to hide it from him. So they could skip the preamble, at least, where he tried to convince her it was okay to show him how she felt. That was progress, right?<br><br>He longed to scoop her into his arms again, but something held him back. Physical comfort was easy and automatic, and maybe it was doing as much harm as good. He stopped on the far side of the kitchen island and leaned forward with a low voice. Private, but not intimate. Supportive, but not... invasive? He wondered when exactly things had gotten so complicated.<br><br>"It's fine, Bee. I think she's just confused. I get the impression she has about as much experience in people being nice to her as you have with..." He should have thought that one through, perhaps, and now found no good way to end the sentence that wasn't insulting or vapid. Colin picked vapid. "...all this. Look, she's a kid. A good kid, probably, but all this is probably just overwhelming. How about we go out, have some dessert, and just see how things go? Don't press her. If she goes home later and thinks about it, maybe she'll see your heart's in the right place. Which, by the way, is exactly why I 'put up with you'. That and the pie are probably two of the top three reasons." When she raised her eyes to look at him he licked his lips in a cartoonishly suggestive manner.<br><br>His lawyer's mind kept running in the background, trying on scenarios. "What if we charged her rent, just something nominal to balance the pride scales? Or put her to work, doing... okay, I'm drawing a blank. You know her better than I do. C'mon, Bee. I'll carry the desserts, you go back in first. We're all friends here."<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>10-05-2013, 22:25:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Unfounded resentment welled up when he paused there, on the other side of the island, rather than moving to hold her. Anger that he wouldn't give her what she felt would make this all easier to handle. But as soon as it was there, as soon as she realized what it was it vanished. Because they both knew she couldn't make him her constant life line. She loved Colin enough that she refused to let either of them fall into that trap, to ruin their relationship because she was weak and afraid. Better to struggle, better to fight then to pretend that nothing was wrong and destroy what they had. So she inhaled, exhaled deeply and dropped her hands from around her place, her shoulders stiff with the effort to not raise them again. <br><br>No hiding. She had promised herself that she would stop hiding her emotions from him, and that had to be a promise she kept. <br><br>Her fiance's attempt at being polite at her ineptitude in social situations garnered another desperate little half laugh from her lips. The brunette shook her head, realizing just how deeply her need for a protective cocoon had gone, and just how massive a uphill battle they both faced to get to a healthy, balanced relationship. She wasn't aiming for perfect, no relationship was, but she as aiming for making good on the promise she had given him when she said yes after his proposal. Bethany knew he was part of her soul, kismet, and she would do everything in her power to work to keep him in her life. Even if it meant facing unpleasant truths about herself and having to be grown up when she just wanted to hide in his arms and will the world away. <br><br>Still.. her hands started to fuss with the silverware, lining them up precisely so, obsessively fixating on something she could give perfect order to. "I hadn't... I only thought about the ramifications for us, about where I might struggle. I should have thought about her, about what it might make her feel like." Another sigh, this one resigned, and a little rueful even as she found a smile twitching on her lips at his compliment to her heart and her pie. "I think I know the third reason..." as close to suggestive flirting as she got, but she managed to say it and turn pink, instead of crimson. Surely that counted at progress as well. <br><br>Taking the few steps to carry her around the island Bethany went to him, leaning upward to kiss his cheek softly. "Maybe we could set up an interview for her at your work? Weren't you guys looking for office help? But yes, rent might make it easier. Thank you, you are the best friend, and the best man, any woman could want." She picked up the tray, settling it lightly in his hands with a flash of the private, playful smile that was Colin's alone. <br><br>"I bet she'll like my cherry ice cream, however weird you think it is." It was a good thing to latch onto, that simple thought of her friend preferring her favorite ice cream over the bland staple of vanilla. And it was enough to help her square her shoulders and head out of the kitchen, not letting herself linger, or lean on Colin. She had to do this, and more importantly she <em>wanted</em> to do this. Beth kept that in mind as she entered the dining room again and flashed Ardy a smile. <br><br>"So... I believe I win the award for most awkward friend of the year. Colin's bringing in the desert, fresh made apple pie with ice cream. There's vanilla or... cherry. I know it sounds weird but I love cherry ice cream with apple pie. Think you'll want to give it a shot?" Only that last question might have not been <em>just</em> about the ice cream.</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>10-05-2013, 22:56:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ardy really didn’t know what to make of the situation, at all. But Colin’s words were right, she <em>knew </em>that, hadn’t she been telling herself that Beth wouldn’t do this to make her feel like this? Ardelia rested her head on her arms on the table for a long time, trying to decide whether to bolt or not. What to say, what to do? She felt attacked, completely, but there was nothing in the situation to warrant it. Not a single thing. It was her own issues projecting, but if she could identify <em>that</em>, why the heck couldn’t she sort her head out enough to stop feeling like this. She turned her head to the kitchen door, eyes opening for a second, raking everything through in her head over and over.<br><br>The teenager felt suffocated, absolutely suffocated, <em>breathe Ardy</em>. How much of an immature brat was she being. She needed the help, it wasn’t like Beth had reached an unjustified conclusion. Not only had she not eaten in days but she was going to be on the street pretty soon. How could her pride be wounded at such an accurate assessment? Oh God, why couldn’t Beth have just asked her somewhere else so she could squirm away politely and hide under her pillows? This was beyond normal, this wasn’t going to slot back into place, her head had been firmly buried in the sand for weeks now and pretty soon she was going to be in enormous trouble.<br><br>Except these weren’t things she wanted to be thinking about, these weren’t topics she had answers for. So she avoided them. Told herself that Scott would come back, that she’d find a job, that something would happen because her luck always held out in the end.<br><br>Wasn’t this what this was? Displaced luck that she had found somebody generous to extend this offer? <br><br>She glanced at the door. They’d been gone <em>ages</em>. Would they even notice if she slipped away? Would Colin breathe a sigh of relief that he didn’t have to put up with a strange girl in his house for any extended length of time. Because surely he couldn’t be as nice and kind-hearted as Beth. <em>Nobody was</em>. Ardelia knew for a fact that if Scott had brought home another guy and said he was staying there – well she wouldn’t have had a choice because he never generally asked her opinion on things but that was so entirely not the point.<br><br>By the time Beth came out of the kitchen, Ardy wasn’t sitting at the table. Her chair was empty. It was pretty obvious that Beth was staring intently at the pie because she hadn’t even noticed Ardy had moved. <br><br>The brunette piped up from the sofa,<br><br>“Oh God, I’ve never done anything even slightly vanilla in my life. How boring would that be.” Then she looked a little sheepish and gestured to the TV, and then the couch, biting her lip and shrugging it off she stood up. “Well you two were gone <em>forever </em>and you basically said make yourself at home <em>and </em>my battery died – do you know how annoying it is when you can’t check the football scores?”<br><br>Perhaps the invitation didn’t quite extend to emptying the bread basket and helping oneself to the television. Surreptitiously sweeping some crumbs off the couch she waited to see whether she was in trouble.<br><br>“But really, if you keep feeding me like this you may actually have to reinforce the floor in your guest bedroom…”<br><br>Which was pretty much the only way Ardelia could stomach saying <em>yes </em>to the invitation. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>14-05-2013, 06:33:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Somehow, so easily, Ardelia startled a laugh out of Bethany when she was set to be braced for rejection. With her work, and Colin's interests that she felt unequipped to satisfy, she knew very well the slang for vanilla was. And it was enough to put a flush of a blush bright in her cheeks as the laugh trailed off, the sound having been bright, surprised and uncertain. But she gave a smile that was tinged with those emotions, added to the warmth of her affection for her friend at the sheepish smile she was given and the TV garnered only a shrug from her shoulders. <br><br>"No, it's fine and.. I do want you to do that. Make yourself at home that is. That was the whole idea, though there would need to be.. " She trailed off, wondering if she had become entirely too much like her mother. Rules? How lame. Way to go in impressing her friend. "Is your team winning?" <br><br>Not the smoothest of segways possible, yet the brunette was trying, and working actively outside of her comfort zone. She even abandoned the table with dishes still on it, uncleared away when her mind was urging her to clear them off and rinse them now. It could wait. At least a little while. So she moved slowly, eyes fixed on the younger girl's face as she drew near almost as if waiting for a sign that she shouldn't keep going, waiting for that moment of being shoved away. The moment where she knew not only how she had offered, but what she had offered were unworthy. That was the crux of it all, wasn't it? The doubts of self worth, the nagging insidious voice she was never able to fully conquer no matter how perfect her clothing was, or how well her makeup was applied, or how loving Colin was. <br><br>It was part of the reason why she couldn't be anything other than vanilla, for all her love of wild cherry. Because she was afraid that once she removed the boundaries that kept her relatively 'pure' her areas of lacking would only be made more clear. Beth never ever wanted Colin to have to deal with the aftermath of PTSD that playing in such dark spaces could evoke. She also didn't want him to be left with a shattered wreck of a woman tonight if her attempt at bonding further with a friend went utterly horrid. He deserved more than that, and hell so did she. And so she tried to convince herself that if the teen rejected the offer that it wouldn't mean a thing about her, it would be Ardy's own issues. Her own wounds. <br><br>Silly of her to forget that Ardy would have them, but her friend seemed so strong, so fearless. <br><br>Feeding her like that... <br><br>The words took a moment to sink in, coming just as she paused a few steps away from the couch, blinking like an idiot for a moment. Because she couldn't believe it, couldn't breathe. But it sank in, her whole face lighting up with a joy that was pure in the best of ways, like a child first introduced to Christmas. "You mean it? Really?" Breathless she let out a happy little sound halfway between a squeal and a laugh and threw herself down on the couch to hug Ardy tightly without giving herself time to over think it. "I normally make more salads and such but I'll make whatever you want at least once a week, sort of a treat, and you could help me, if you wanted, we could work together and that would be fun, wouldn't it? Oh... but maybe it's more normal for girl friends to do nails together instead of cook... do you want to go get our nails done? I don't know how to do my own really..." Yes, she had babbled, was babbling still infact but that delight was still shinning out through her eyes, an unusual level of animation suffusing her features and turning her from classically beautiful to something warmer, more engaging.</span></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ebb</strong> on <strong>28-05-2013, 20:53:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Yes, he was eavesdropping. It was his house, and that was his wife who had just nervously marched into the living room armed only with a carton of cherry ice cream and her own neuroses, so it felt justified. Colin stood next to the cracked door listening to the conversation between the two women as the pie began to warm his hands even through the thick potholders. His delay would be noticeable, if the two were not focused entirely on each other. He smiled as the conversation played out. Bee had made a friend. Somehow he felt like a proud parent, though he'd had little enough to do with this particular relationship forming. That made it all the better, though. He realized how little credit he sometimes gave his wife. One more thing to get better about, and maybe having Ardy around would help keep him more honest there.<br><br>Colin wasn't a good enough actor to feign ignorance. As he entered with the pie it was clear he'd already heard the resolution of the current crisis, and his smile was genuine. "I guess this is welcome aboard then, Ardy." The sight of the two of them on the couch, with Bethany babbling like she was the one just out of high school, cheered him. Things were going to be all right. With a sudden burst of what would probably count as madcap recklessness on Bethany's scale Colin set the pie directly on the coffee table in front of the TV, scattering the forks next to it. "So when do we make this official? Want to drive over and get your stuff after dinner, or do you need some time to pack?"<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>30-05-2013, 20:35:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				For a brief moment, Ardelia had entertained the notion of tidying her apartment before Beth came. Or at the very least straightening up a bit. But well, it hadn’t exactly transpired as of yet. The day had gotten away from her, in that predictable way they can do when you’re expecting company, she wasn’t even close to ready. The plan was that they would pack some stuff, no matter how many times she’d insisted to Beth she was perfectly capable of packing alone, and then go out for drinks. The outfit was perfect, if unfinished. Her dark locks were curled to within an inch of their life so that they hung in thick, loose ringlets around her shoulders.<br><br>Heavy makeup, and a red leather (http://beautyxpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/NMT575P_mx.jpg) dress completed the outfit. That currently was lost under a worn, enormous zip-up sweater and paired with some Ugg boots. It was half finished, but she was cold and in a rush and the heels she was going to wear were crippling.<br><br>Last minute stuff.<br><br>Such as the fact that she was currently standing in the middle of the one room apartment and wondering why she had thought makeup and clothes were more important than, well, everything. Things were half packed, her entire wardrobe was strewn around waiting to be sorted and packed. There was an empty pizza box on top of one of the piles. Her bed was lost under shoes and nik-naks from under the bed, she’d slept on the couch the night before in order to avoid sorting through it all.<br><br>Today had been the day for cleaning.<br><br>Except a friend had shown up and somehow they’d ended up doing everything but clean. There was no way she was going to get this place to a state that wouldn’t’ horrify Beth. Ardy was horribly worried that she might change her mind upon seeing this and revoke the invitation. Sliding some large silver hoops into her ears beneath the dark curls she rolled her eyes. <br><br>This was absurd.<br><br>But if it wasn’t? Then she would have nowhere to live. Looking down at the floor she kicked some DVD cases under the couch and picked up a few dirty clothes. Realised she didn’t have anywhere to put them and dropped them into a pile on the other side of the bed.<br><br><em>Tidy, tidy, tidy</em>. If she thought it enough times she might just feel the overwhelming urge to do it.<br><br>“No, screw it” she rolled her eyes and took a swig out of the vodka bottle in the kitchenette. Opening yet another pizza box on the counter she poked at the cold food inside, decided that it was probably still viable and took a bite. It wasn’t but washed down with vodka it didn’t seem to matter much. She dropped the crust back into the box, looked at the bin, realised it was full and so stashed the box in the oven. Viable storage space. It wasn’t like she cooked.<br><br>This was absolutely a lost cause.<br><br>Catching her reflection in the mirror she grinned, <em>ah well</em>, at least she looked hot. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>02-06-2013, 03:41:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">There might have been a <em>little</em> bit of over preparing. Just a tad. With the fact that she had cleared her whole schedule for the day, taking a vacation day from work, putting off her research and waking up early to give the house one last, thorough cleaning. And if she had spent hours in the new bedroom for Ardy fretting over if she would like the simple bed they had picked up from iKea the other day, and arranging paint samples across a dresser to show that if she wanted to her friend could make the room a bit her own, well that was just being a good land lady. Wasn't it? She told herself it was, even as she made breakfast for Colin and shared that time with him. He had a court date and some stuff going on at the firm, so there would be little chance of seeing him before late tonight, if then. Sometimes that happened. But he had kissed her goodbye and told her to have fun and breathe. Bethany had been proud of the fact that she had half tartly told him she would. <br><br>Left alone she had gone to the salon to get her hair done, a fresh cut and styled, followed up by a trip to get her nails done. And a bit of window shopping to find the right outfit. Because nothing had seemed right to have a 'girls' night with Ardy. All of her clothing was rather classical and elegant, focused on the picture of respectable. Well there were a few pieces of more teasing clothing but those never left the house, and it had rather dismayed her to realize that at the age of twenty five she didn't really have anything youthful in her wardrobe save a sundress or two. Normally she was very careful with money, for all that Colin never brought it up. The fact that she had spent so much in one day might have bothered her if she hadn't thought it necessary. Or rather, bothered her more, because it did worry her some.<br><br>There was of course the fact that he would likely approve of the dress (http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc77/hyperdrive_photo/MAY%202012/1197-TEAL-AMAZON-1.jpg) she had finally settled on, a bright lovely teal that held nothing in common with the white, cream, grey or black dressed hanging up in her closet at home. It was flirty, floating and made her feel incredibly feminine. She had paired it with a pair of cream wedges that seemed to go well, her undergarments by necessity matching the shoes over the dress, though she did have earrings that had stones nearly perfect a match. Makeup only took maybe half an hour, and then there was the worrying she had over done it, before reassuring herself it was just how most girls got dressed up before a big night out with friends. Or a friend. <br><br>In nerves she almost was late going out the door, though deviation from the carefully laid plan was not encouraged when there was still traffic to encounter. Her obsessive attention to detail in planning paid off though, for she made it to Ardelia's apartment exactly five minutes before they were suppose to meet. The neighborhood gave her pause, wondering how safe her friend could have been here even without the rent issues. But what was to say the pristine high end of town was any safer? She had certainly found out the truth of that lie. Shoving such thoughts away Bethany forced herself out of the little coup she drove, and up the stairs, finding the apartment in question without too much difficulty. She knocked, lightly, hoping her being on time wasn't a negative thing. Hoping Ardy would like the whole outfit. Hoping Colin would too when she got home. Hoping... so many things. <br><br>Now if only she could breathe. </span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Effeari</strong> on <strong>02-06-2013, 16:05:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Well, that was it, she was out of time. Officially. Rolling her eyes and refusing to appraise the still inexcusable mess of the room. She walked to the door, pulling it open and paused a second on the precipice taking in the image of Beth in her doorway. Beth and cleavage. Beth’s cleavage. Which was undeniably and very actually on display. The woman looked like she was ready for a cocktail party. Something glamorous. With boobs. Ardelia realised then that she really needed to look up, otherwise she was going to be delving into the realms of rude.<br><br>Then again, tact and she were never particularly on even footing.<br><br>“Your tits look amazing in that dress.” They were women after all and though she didn’t have many female friends, she suspected that this was a valid and understandable compliment. “Really.” The brunette finally looked up and then stepped back in a silent invitation to let the other woman walk in. “It’s a bit of a mess, but, I was in a rush.” It was a blatant lie but there were definite parts of her that wanted to impress this woman. Especially since she had technically not moved in yet and there wasn’t much to stop Beth changing her mind at the last minute? If she did? Well Ardy was supposed to be moving out tomorrow, her landlord had insisted she leave days ago but she was all about pushing her luck.<br><br>Most of the mess was hidden, well the actual rubbish. There were still clothes everywhere, the sink was piled high with unwashed pots. Since all the crockery had belonged to the apartment she had mostly been filing that under things that were not her problem. Boxes were everywhere, not a single one was anywhere close to being finished.<br><br>But well, they had <em>all </em>night. <br><br>Ardelia took another swig out of the bottle of vodka she had been using to embellish her enthusiasm for cleaning and then held the bottle towards the other woman with a doubtful glance. “Go on. It’s a party.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Threedom [Ebb &amp; Flickaha &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>03-06-2013, 05:36:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Out of all the things she had imagined greeting her upon the door opening it was not anywhere near the picture she was confronted with. <br><br>First, there was Ardy. Lovely, lovely Ardelia standing there in a red dress with that sweater half hanging off her and the oversized boots, somehow utterly adorable and sexy at the same time. If she didn't adore the girl so much she would be flat out jealous. Her hair was gorgeous, and the make up and just... everything. Bethany wasn't sure if it was that she admired her friend so much or if she was attracted to her. <br><br>But she wasn't attracted to other women, surely? <br><br>Shoving that uncertainty to the back of her mind she forced a smile, eyes moving to the apartment before what she was seeing sank in. Clothing everywhere. Boxes strewn, half open, unsorted, a chaos that had no order to it at all. And her fingers itched, wanting to step in, to clean, for all that she was in a nice dress, hair and make up done and the whole nine yards. Her throat worked, because whirling into the apartment and taking over to clean was not the way to make Ardy feel like she was perfect just the way she was, that she would be welcome in Beth's home. Having grown up constantly told she would never be good enough unless she matched a certain standard she was not about to go inflicting that on others, particularly not her teenage friend. <br><br>No, no no. Control. So she dragged her eyes away from the chaos that her mind yearned to order and put a bright smile on her lips, promptly turning red when the compliment sank in. "Oh... well, thank you. I... wasn't sure. I normally don't buy anything like this at all, most of my dresses are more muted but I figured it would only be proper to have something playful and fun for a girl's night out so I went shopping and this stood out. Are you certain the color looks good?" Because asking silly questions like that did fall under things one could do with a girl friend, correct? Oh heavens she hoped so. The red the dark brunette was showing off looked stunning on her. Bethany had chosen the teal because she thought it played up her cream colored skin, the richness of her hair and the tempest hue of her eyes, flattering everything. But who knew, she could have been completely off base and the whole thing could be washing her out. <br><br>This would be why she normally stuck to her staples. <br><br>"Do... you want more time? Or some help? I wouldn't mind helping though.. maybe heels wouldn't be the best idea if we are staying here, I mean I'd hate to step on something important and I..." her babbling, a habit that was becoming far too common around her friend, trailed off when the vodka was proffered out to her. An automatic rejection rose to her lips, no, thank you, she didn't really drink. Only they were suppose to go out for drinks tonight, that was the whole point of all the dress and flash, no? So then perhaps she was over thinking it all and should simply accept the damn bottle and pray it loosened up the tight ass she wasn't aware she had become. <br><br>Dear lord, she was becoming her mother. And that thought was enough to let her hand close around the slender neck of the bottle, shocking herself and likely the younger woman by lifting it to her lips and taking a knock of it back. It slid down her throat and made her cough, burning like a fire to someone who wasn't use to straight alcohol, even the weaker stuff. "Wow that's... that's something." A sheepish grin accompanied the comment even as the slender woman stepped into the apartment and let the door swing shut behind her, sealing her into Ardy's chaotic little world.</span></span>
			</dd>
		</dl>
		<div id="footer" class="smalltext">
			
			<span class="smalltext" style="display: inline; visibility: visible; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=credits" title="Simple Machines Forum" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF 2.0.19</a> |
 <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php" title="License" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF © 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org" title="Simple Machines" target="_blank" class="new_win">Simple Machines</a>
			</span>
		</div>