The X-men run missions and work together with the NYPD, striving to maintain a peaceful balance between humans and mutants. When it comes to a fight, they won't back down from protecting those who need their help.
Haven presents itself as a humanitarian organization for activists, leaders, and high society, yet mutants are the secret leaders working to protect and serve their kind. Behind the scenes they bring their goals into reality.
From the time when mutants became known to the world, SUPER was founded as a black-ops division of the CIA in an attempt to classify, observe, and learn more about this new and rising threat.
The Syndicate works to help bring mutantkind to the forefront of the world. They work from the shadows, a beacon of hope for mutants, but a bane to mankind. With their guiding hand, humanity will finally find extinction.
Since the existence of mutants was first revealed in the nineties, the world has become a changed place. Whether they're genetic misfits or the next stage in humanity's evolution, there's no denying their growing numbers, especially in hubs like New York City. The NYPD has a division devoted to mutant related crimes. Super-powered vigilantes help to maintain the peace. Those who style themselves as Homo Superior work to tear society apart for rebuilding in their own image.
MRO is an intermediate to advanced writing level original character, original plot X-Men RPG. We've been open and active since October of 2005. You can play as a mutant, human, or Adapted— one of the rare humans who nullify mutant powers by their very existence. Goodies, baddies, and neutrals are all welcome.
Short Term Plots:Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
The Fountain of Youth
A chemical serum has been released that's shaving a few years off of the population. In some cases, found to be temporary, and in others...?
MRO MOVES WITH CURRENT TIME: What month and year it is now in real life, it's the same for MRO, too.
Fuegogrande: "Fuegogrande" player of The Ranger, Ion, Rhia, and Null
Neopolitan: "Aly" player of Rebecca Grey, Stephanie Graves, Marisol Cervantes, Vanessa Bookman, Chrysanthemum Van Hart, Sabine Sang, Eupraxia
Ongoing Plots
Magic and Mystics
After the events of the 2020 Harvest Moon and the following Winter Solstice, magic has started manifesting in the MROvere! With the efforts of the Welldrinker Cult, people are being converted into Mystics, a species of people genetically disposed to be great conduits for magical energy.
The Pharoah Dynasty
An ancient sorceress is on a quest to bring her long-lost warrior-king to the modern era in a bid for global domination. Can the heroes of the modern world stop her before all is lost?
Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
Adapteds
What if the human race began to adapt to the mutant threat? What if the human race changed ever so subtly... without the x-gene.
Atlanteans
The lost city of Atlantis has been found! Refugees from this undersea mutant dystopia have started to filter in to New York as citizens and businessfolk. You may make one as a player character of run into one on the street.
Got a plot in mind?
MRO plots are player-created the Mods facilitate and organize the big ones, but we get the ideas from you. Do you have a plot in mind, and want to know whether it needs Mod approval? Check out our plot guidelines.
Okay. So Booker was a little embarrassed. It was not the first time that Nessa had technically walked in on him with a girl. Svetlana had been a last minute thing, something that Booker really hadn’t expected to happen. What made the situation worse, though, was that this evening had been entirely planned. He planned to scare off his sister, he had planned to spend the evening entertain Juliette with a movie and good food. Did he expect it to go as far as it almost did a second ago…not necessarily, though in the back of his mind he knew the possibility was there. Still, that was not an excuse to exile his sister from her home.
Now it seemed as if Booker’s hubris were about to come crashing down on him. Both he and Juliette seemed more than embarrassed at being discovered in this most compromising position. Added to the fact that a few more seconds and things would have gotten even more compromising, only made the whole situation a whole a lot more awkward. Still, at least they managed to avoid that little faux pas.
Like a teenager caught by a parent, Booker didn’t want to meet Nessa’s eyes. Instead he awkwardly turned to Juliette, seeing the panic on her face as Nessa gave them both the most scathing of gazes. When she brought up the “evil ex” that Booker had mentioned would be being here, he couldn’t help but toss back a little of the commentary she gave him when she ran into Svetlana.
It did not land well.
>> ”I left my phone in my room…You can relax, I’m not staying,”
He was not relax. In reality, Booker was probably the farthest from “relaxed” as he should have been. He was caught, in his own lie, making out with a woman that his sister didn’t entirely trust. But while it was true that Booker had made some mistakes this evening, Nessa was hardly one to be throwing stones. The realization of that started to make him just a little irritated.
>>”Booker. Could you please give Jules and I a moment… I was hoping to have a chat with her, girl to girl, before I left.”
He eyed her closely. This wasn’t a good thing. Nessa only wanted personal time with one of his paramores for two reasons: to steal them or to read them the riot act. Considering Nessa’s feelings concerning Juliette thus far, it was painfully apparent that it wouldn’t be the former. He sighed a bit as he looked between her and Juliette. He didn’t want to leave Juliette to his sister, but he also didn’t want has this out in front of the woman either. Frankly, he was getting annoyed.
Besides, it wasn’t as if she had the best track record either.
>> ”Now, please.”
She was holding herself together. The same could be seen in Booker’s face. While he got that he lied about this, there was no reason for Nessa to be acting this way. So with a grumble the man stood up, smoothed down the shirt that Juliette had disheveled moments before. Gave Juliette a small smile as he said something along the lines of, ”I’ll just be in the kitchen.”
Straightening himself up, Booker moved to pass his sister, easily towering over her. The two side by side looked almost comical, but their relation was oddly clear. Still, Booker didn’t fully pass Nessa as he moved, instead he stopped directly by her side and stood there for a second. Taking in a soft breath, he tilted his head down as he whispered to his sibling.
”I know you’re pissed off at me right now. Every right to be.” A pause. ”But you and I can hash that out later.” A breath. ”I really do like her, Nessa. Please remember that.” Reaching up, he gave his sister’s arm a squeeze as he moved past her, a sigh on his lips. He glanced at Juliette and mouthed a silent “You’ll-be-fine” and gave her a sweet smile. With that Booker disappeared into the kitchen and busied himself with washing dishes that needed to be cleansed, all the while praying that Nessa stayed civil.
Most conscious thought had left Booker now and he was living only for this single, perfect moment. What had started as an evening of just watching a rather amazing movie, with some amazing company, had quickly descended into something that was far more fiery and passionate. In the background he could hear the movie being played: an altercation between a pirate and a king, an albino warning a prisoner that he shall never escape, and while some of these were Booker’s favorite scenes of a much beloved movie, they weren’t enough to pull his attention away from what mattered most right now…Juliette.
A few tender kisses soon became much more as they found themselves getting lost in the sensation of one another. Juliette maneuvered herself so that she was straddling his lap, a position that he in no way was bothered by. His mind was on fire with the fact that he and this woman were together, that they were actually doing this. For some reason it felt like they had waited an eternity for them to reach this point. There had been tension since they first met and they were finally going to get to release those muscles.
His hands slipping just under the back of her shirt, roaming over the bare skin, Booker could feel her playing with the hem of his shirt. He smiled a bit in satisfaction, his kissing growing more passionate as he made to remove his overly constricting shirt. However, just as Booker was about to, there was a sudden shift in the air. He ignored it at first, believing it just to be a gust from an open window or something, but instead he noted that the sensation only got thicker in the air.
Something was wrong. Like a storm hovering over the horizon, he felt as if danger had arrived.
>> ”How goes the video planning?”
The sudden, and familiar voice, cut through the air, causing Juliette and Booker to both jump. Juliette half turned in confusion, while Booker tilted his head to look past her shoulder. While his mind was still a little foggy with the fact that he had been interrupted from something so sweet and amazing, the man suddenly felt any libido he had collapse, despite the absolutely gorgeous woman who now shifted herself to climb off of his lap.
>>”You know, with the evil ex-girlfriend you told me would be here.”
F*************************k… he could hear it in the tone of her voice. Oh he was so in for it. He had crafted some elaborate tale that Nessa’s ex, Rebecca, was going to be dropping by to discussing show and gaming stuff. While he was sure that Nessa would have cleared out if he was truthful, he knew one very important and undeniable fact about his baby sister…her tendency to be a brat.
The last few weeks Booker had been on cloud nine. Since his first day with Juliette, the man had been singing and dancing his way through the apartment. While Nessa tolerated this, he could tell that there was another part of her that was suspicious. Considering how Juliette and he met, he could only guess what Nessa thought about her, which was a rarity since Nessa had always been one to speak her mind. The fact that she was quiet on the issue only made him all the more suspicious of her.
”Ummm…” he started to say.
>> ”You must be…Nessa…”
He was thankful that Juliette managed to jump in, however meekly. Booker himself was preoccupied with carefully grabbing a nearby throw pillow and ever so subtly moving it onto his lap, to hide certain reactions until he calmed down. Awkwardly he cleared his throat, trying to be a little upset at his sister but knowing that he didn’t have a leg to stand on.
Really, the only excuse he could think of was a play that Nessa had used on the morning she walked in on him with Svetlana. ”Ugh…plans…changed?” He offered, his very Booker-like grin upon his lips. However he knew he couldn’t leave it like that so he glanced over to Juliette, making awkward eye contact with her before he turned his gaze back to his sister. ”I…thought you were going out with your friend after work?”
They were supposed to be watching a movie. Not just any movie, but one of the best movies that had ever been created. That was no small feat either, but there was something just so beautiful, campy, and romantic about the whole thing that it was difficult to not fall in love with it. Those that didn’t either, A.) didn’t get it, or B.) didn’t have a soul. At least that was Booker’s opinion. He was just thankful that Juliette actually enjoyed the movie as much as he did; but like himself was distracted by the other matters.
Throughout the film the two of them seemed to be having a grand time. They watched the moved closely, their eyes rarely lingering except to look at one another in amusement, like sharing an inside joke. Both of them seemed to know the movie inside and out that it was just too easy to slip into quoting lines or needing to share a laugh. But there was another aspect of this adventure that was happening at the same time.
They easily fell into more comforting and cozy positions. His arm draped around her shoulders, his thumb running up and down her arm while she rested her head upon him. As the seconds ticked away, their comfort grew even more, Booker’s caressing her arm as he hand found its way onto his knee. Neither seemed to think anything was wrong with it so they continued on, laughing and chuckling and watching with rapt awe. But all that would change once the dread pirate and his princess bride re-enacted their rendition of Jack and Jill.
Booker turned, his eyes seeking Juliette’s. When she turned to face him, the two shared a small, silly smile. They knew they should be watching the movie but in that moment it seemed as if neither of them cared. Cautiously he started to lean down towards her, just as she leaned up, one of her hands finding his jaw as she turned him so their lips could meet.
It was tender, sweet, caring. Booker moved, just as Juliette did, the both of them at a better angle as his hands upon her hips as she pushed closer to him. The movie continued on the in background, drowned out by the passionate that started to pound in his ears. His heart racing a bit faster, Booker felt himself falling into the sweet embrace of this woman as she edged closer and closer to him. There was no turning back now – not that he would ever want to; he would have been crazy if so…
Seriously.
At some point Juliette found her way up, straddling his lap as she pressed her lips more firmly against his. Booker responded in kind, pressing his lips to hers, his hands moving up the outside of her thighs, over her hips, and up her lower back. Through closed eyes, Booker lost himself through the sensations, the scent of her perfume swirling about him, so close it was intoxicating. It seemed almost as if he had been waiting forever for this moment, and now that it was actually here, he couldn’t be happier.
He didn’t know why he found this just the tiniest bit awkward at first. Now that he was sitting on the couch with Juliette, it seemed that any of his fears were completely and utterly groundless. Why would he be worried about this? The two of them had chemistry. The dinner they just shared was amazing. They had fun talking to one another. Hell, they had slow dance and kissed before! So why was it that he was nervous about just sitting next to her?
He had several theories on the matter. The most prominent was that it was because the two of them had such a fantastic time before that he was worried that the simplicity of the evening would prove too boring. They both knew that it couldn’t be little romantic restaurants and dancing in central park ALL the time. They needed to see what one another was like it far more basic settings. Dinner and a movie at home was the perfect experiment for that, but considering how much Booker actually liked Juliette, he inherently feared that she would be scared off.
Thankfully that wouldn’t prove to be the point. As he sat back on the couch, his legs stretched out and crossed, he glanced to Juliette as she claimed the seat to the left. He gave her a small, encouraging smile as he turned his attention back to screen and conducted his search for their film for the evening. He didn’t want to suggest that Juliette could sit closer, just on the off chance that he didn’t want her to feel like he was pushing things too fast. Instead he just leaned back and rested his left arm along the length of the back support.
He still grinned a little, thinking about all the references the two of them had been dropping concerning the film. It was clear that they were both fans and that was a big A+ in Booker’s mind. There were some things that could be forgiven but if it had turned out that she absolutely hated this movie, then he certainly would have found that to be a tragic happenstance. But that wasn’t the case and two of them seemed like they could have been pleased with just an evening of quoting an excellent film; even better was the fact that they got to watch it now.
The title card appeared on the screen and Booker found himself already grinning. He knew this movie inside and out and still, every time, he was utterly enraptured by it. However, for this particular time, things were somewhat altered. He didn’t notice when Juliette scooted closer to him. All he knew was that at some point he felt a small addition of weight to his shoulder. A glance and he found that Juliette was resting her head upon the joint, smiling as she watched the film.
Moments later, again not with him realizing it, Booker had wrapped his arm loosely around Juliette’s shoulders, his hand finding a spot upon her arm that he slowly began to caress with his thumb. It was such a natural move and they clicked together so easily that Booker didn’t feel awkward about it in the least. Seconds passed and apparently Juliette didn’t seem bothered about it either.
Well alright…
”Assssss youuuuuu wiiiiiiiiisssssshhhh!” The Man-in-Black shouted as he rolled down an overly large hill, shoved by his Princess Buttercup.
Booker chuckled heartily at that moment. It was one of his favorites in the film, something that the man could suddenly recall in the middle of a day, with absolutely no reason, and find himself chuckling at it. This really was one of the best and most romantic movies that he had ever had the pleasure of watching and being able to share that with the woman next to him was something that he simply couldn’t believe. How lucky was he?
Watching as the princess rolled after Westley, Booker turned to slightly to check on Juliette. She seemed to be enjoying herself, the smile on her lips was encouraging and the look in her eyes was that of something who was being entertained. He smirked a little, watching her for a second. He was about to turn back to the screen when he caught her gaze. As Westley and Buttercup embraced their reunion, Booker found himself getting lost in Juliette’s warm and caring eyes.
Booker was pleasantly surprised when Juliette got up and started to help him put most of the dishes away. Truth was that he didn’t ask her because she was considered a guest. He never allowed guests to help him with dishes, if he could help it. However he had a feeling if he tried to throw his weight around like that that she nurse wouldn’t all-together appreciate it. Therefore he kept his comments to himself and merely gave her a smile of gratitude as she started to bring in the serving plates, basket, and wine glasses. She set them down, carefully, upon a nearby countertop, surprisingly not setting any of it on fire before she retreated and listened intently to his story.
It was rather silly with a tinge of sadness to it. they both had been in that predicament where they suddenly weren’t in a relationship anymore and didn’t have anywhere to go. Juliette, well, he wasn’t entirely sure what had happened with her but he wasn’t going to pry. In his own case, at least he had his sister to take him in. He still would owe her until his dying day for that one.
But he digressed.
His story came to its conclusion, a small chuckle on his lips about it. He wasn’t so much laughing at the student’s misfortune, but at the Ms. Washington’s reaction to her. It really was extremely funny but the sadness was still there. What does one do with their life after something like that? Juliette seemed to latch onto this idea as she smirked but inquired on that very thought…
>> "Do you know what happened to the student, though? I would hate to think that she ended up with no place to stay..."
God she was sweet. Booker nodded. ”Oh she’s fine. She was arrested for breaking and entering but the library didn’t press charges. Last I heard she had moved back home with her parents and took a break from the university.” He shrugged his shoulders. ”We’ve all had those times,” he laughed.
Once everything had been set aside, Booker returned to Juliette, his hands in his pockets as he quietly asked if she were ready to watch the movie? He knew he must have looked like a child at that point, hands in his pockets, shy look staring down at the floor. Thankfully she didn’t judge him too harshly and simply nodded her head. He was about to get the snacks when he thought better of it. They had just eaten and if Juliette didn’t want any more, he wasn’t going to make her feel guilty for laying them out when she wasn’t hungry. Maybe in the middle of the movie they’d want a snack? Yeah, he’d prepare them then.
>> "Ready,"
”Good!” he beamed happily. ”Theeeeen…so am I.” He was about to make his way over to the couch when he was stopped by Juliette as she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the couch.
>> "Come on, before the man in black catches up to us."
He genuinely smiled and chuckled at that. It was such a sweet, nerdy, and all-together oddball thing to say that Booker just couldn’t help but feel real joy from it. Again, he counted his lucky stars that he had managed to find someone like this. She was sweet, sexy, and she loved one of his favorite movies! What else could he ask for? With a sudden brave look on his face, Booker nodded in agreement.
”OH No! We better get going.” he said as he rushed towards the couch, holding her hand just a little tighter. ”It’s probably the Dread Pirate Roberts.” he pretended to gasp before he whispered to her. ”I hear he doesn’t take prisoners.”
He covered his mouth in shock before he smiled and turned back to the couch. As he approached he took a seat, picking up the remote and waiting for Juliette to claim a seat of her own. The couch was quite large, to behonest, and extended large enough for four people. He wasn’t sure where Juliette was going to sit, but, taking a center cushion, Booker sat forward, pulling the remote up and tapping the Binge button. With only a little bit of scrolling, he found the film already queued up on his watchlist before he sat back against the sofa with a sigh.
The title card for the movie, “The Princess Bride”, came up as Booker turned to glance at Juliette, giving her a smile. His nerves started to melt away again; this was good.
Booker really was having the best time. Unlike their first dinner date, this one didn’t feel as wrought with complications. He wasn’t scrambling to find the right words, nor was he worried about how she would react to him. Rather he was just allowing himself to get swept up in the moment, smiling broadly, chuckling, and laughing as he listened intently to the stories that he and Juliette shared. It was a good second date: calm, relaxing, easy going, everything that Booker could have wanted a date to be. It was almost too good to be true, but what was that anecdote about looking a gift horse in the mouth?
Not that Juliette was a horse. She wasn’t a horse. She was a human. Okay, he was side-tracking himself. Pulling himself back from that derailment, Booker instead refocused entirely on Juliette as the pair of them finished their meal.
He was delighted to see that she seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. A glance at her plate showed that all the food he had was essentially gone, except for a biscuit that she was tearing apart into little bits as she regaled him with her story. Much like himself, she was dipping the bread in the remnants of the butter sauce that he had concocted, and the two of them happily munched towards the end of their meal.
Taking up his wine glass, he took another small sip, just savory the flavor at this point before he set it back down, its contents briefly catching the light. A cascade of rainbow twinkled upon the table top, as Booker took another bite of his biscuit, grinning and shaking his head at Juliette. This really was a good night.
After another tale concerning a fairly obvious misdiagnosis, Booker accused the nurse of making up stories and warned her against such dealings.
>>"I'm not kidding…Thankfully, the woman was nice enough not to sue, although she was a little angry that he thought she was pregnant. The doctor's yet to live it down, though; every once and a while, someone will come up to him and point at whatever he's holding and tell him to make sure that he has the right one before using it."
Booker laughed heartily, again, feeling both guilty for making fun of the man’s now branded label and elated by the story. With a chuckle, Booker popped the last of his biscuit in his mouth, chewing it as he stood up. Their meal was gone, now, and so it was movie time. He started to gather the plates, sharing a smiling glance at Juliette as she folded her hands underneath the table. He gathered up her plate, set it atop his own and piled the silverware. Dishes could be washed later. For now, they just needed to soak.
>> "So do you have any crazy stories from work?"
He snorted. ”It’s the New York Public Library. If I didn’t, I would assume something was wrong.” He carried plates back into the kitchen, the faint sound of a sink coming on filled the air as he answered her question. ”Well I don’t think I told you this but last year we discovered a woman was living in the library rent free.” He wandered through the kitchen, putting food away, the sounds of storage containers and plastic bags filling the air. ”She was a college student. Living with her girlfriend, when they had some massive fight and broke up. BUT, the apartment was in the girlfriend’s name and she kicked her out. So this student, who was in the library all the time study, had figured out the security walks and came up with some elaborate system for propping open a disabled back door, pretending the leave, and then coming back when she knew that security wouldn’t be passing through and camped herself out in one of the storage rooms.” He appeared a few moments later, drying his hands with a dish towel, smirking at her. ”I gotta tell ya, I never heard Ms. Washington scream so loud as when she stumbled into her bathing in bathroom.”
The image of his colleague, Ms. Washington, the same woman whom he was working at the counter with when Juliette had gone to visit him, screaming at seeing the younger nude student hand bathing herself with sponges was probably the funniest sound he could recall. He shook his head, chuckling, as he tossed the dish towel onto a counter before returning to the table, hands on his hips. He gave her a wide smile as he nodded over to the television set and the large comfy couch sitting in front of it.
”Soooo…” he smiled, his hands hooked into the pockets of his jeans. He looked rather awkwardly and shyly again. It was odd how he felt around her, especially since they had already danced and kissed. And yet sitting together on a couch, side by side, for some reason that made him blush a little. ”…um…ready to movie?”
Having her taste the sauce, Booker had stepped back, somewhat defensively, just in case she absolutely hated his creation. To him it tasted good but he knew that people had different feelings for what their favorite flavors were. Some people like bitter, some sour, some salty, some sweet, it was a cornucopia of possibilities and seeing as he was still in the very early stages of dating this woman, he still wasn’t sure exactly where they stood. He would, though, he would learn with time. For now, he just wanted to know how she was going to react in this current situation.
He was happy to see that it would be favorable. As she stepped closer, her lips momentarily pursed as she advanced on the spoon, she tasted the smallest sample of the buttery sauce. The sound that came from her was more than telling. She was enjoying it. When she stepped back taking the drop or two that clung to her full lips, he had to smile a bit as she nodded her head.
Thank god.
>> "That tastes amazing,"
His smile broadened as he blushed a little at her praise. Nodding his head in thanks, he directed her towards the dining room again, her basket of biscuits in hand. ”Excellent.” he said with a relieved smile. ”Um, just place those on the table, okay? I’ll set up everything else. It’s all done.”
He turned watching her go, his eyes trailing her from behind as she stepped out of the kitchen and the man sighed a bit heavenly as he leaned against the counter. She really had an aura about her that was absolutely unexplainable. He was drawn to this woman and it seemed that with every passing moment it was a fact that grew more and more potent. But, they had only been on one date and now were on their second. Booker would have to see how things unfolded but he was more than patient enough to find out.
In short time Booker had rejoined Juliette out in the dining air, his hands laden with two plates, each one filled with the food he had prepared for the evening. The chicken breasts were a beauty to behold, golden colored with sealed glaze wrapped around it. One could easily smell the citrus fruit and sweet honey that went into making the appetizing glaze. Set on the plate next it was a small pile of veggies, corner, broccoli, and peas, all of which had been infused and coated in that delicious butter sauce that he had had her sample. Once the plates were down, he returned with his wine, barely touched, and small dish with butter for the biscuits. Only when every was prepared did he sit and join her.
Dinner had gone extremely well. Much like at the restaurant where they had gone for their first date, they sat, they talked, they shared their interests and events that had led up to this day. Most of it was thankfully already known thanks to their copious amounts of texting and phone calls that they engaged in, but still it was nice to hear those stories all over again.
On top of that, Booker had to admit that the food he had prepared was actually quite good. Normally his chicken could be dry sometimes but he had thankfully marinated it enough for a change. However, despite the good food, his attention was not enraptured in his own achievements but instead with the woman he was spending the evening with.
Having left the Amazing Amazon apron behind, Booker looked far more casual, sitting at his table, chuckling at an anecdote that Juliette had just went on about. He shook his head, laughing as he took a sip from his wine glass which was only now slowly starting to reach the bottom. He had never been much of a wine drinker but he could appreciate it from time-to-time. It did pair fairly well with the food he had prepared so that was a plus.
A smirk on his lips he reached over, picking up the last half of his biscuit. Most of his meal as already gone by this point save for a few scraps of chicken and a pea or two. The biscuits he always liked saving for last. Dipping an end of it in the sauce, he took a nibble of the slightly soaked end and grinned up at her as she regaled him with a story from her nursing.
”Oh come on,” he said with disbelief, shaking his head. ”You’re making that up.” he snorted and shook his head, pointing accusingly at her with his remaining biscuit. ”Shouldn’t lie to people who feed you.” He was only teasing, of course. With the life Juliette lived, he was willing to believe a lot that she engaged in.
>> "Well, good. Wouldn't want you getting any ideas. Now, do you have horses, too?"
Her wink make him chuckle as he nodded enthusiastically. ”Four white ones.” he added with his own wink.
God, he sincerely could do this all day but that would mean that food would burn and they would actually never get to see the movie. However, considering how much they were actually quoting the movie, it didn’t seem as if it were really that big of a problem, but there was still food that needed to be eaten. He wasn’t about to let it all go to waste because he wanted to set and quote movies to Juliette all night. No, sadly they would have to break away from this and save all the good lines for when they were actually in the middle of the flick.
For now, the kitchen called!
Slipping away from her he inquired if she wanted anything to drink while he finished up. When win was chosen, Booker was more than happy to oblige. He pulled out the nicely chilled bottle, as well as a pair of glasses and poured them both a respectable amount. He did it so carefully, but sure not to give Juliette too much. The last thing he wanted as her to think he was trying to make her drunk or something like that. Of course he partook in those activities every now and again, but Booker wasn’t exactly a booze hound or anything like that.
Besides, too much alcohol will take away from the experience. He never liked for his senses to be dulled so much and he certainly didn’t want to be in such a state around the pretty nurse. So he kept his glass as a decent amount, probably all that he would be having for the evening. With that taken care of, he offered her the drink and turned back to finish.
He smiled at her grateful response and readied to start milling around the room. However, before he could, Juliette offered her assistance. Not one to tell someone they couldn’t do something (no matter how many warnings she uttered that she was a terrible cook), Booker would accept the help. Who was he to turn down a request from a lovely individual as her?
Still, he did take into her account the fact that she didn’t believe she had the cooking talent so he gave her something simple – bread. A basket offered and a direction towards the cooling pan of biscuits, he gave her direction and a small little tease just for the heck of it.
>> "You'd be surprised…but I'll do my best."
He snorted. ”I have all the faith in the world…” he said. ”…and the number of the nearest deli that delivers bread.”
He smirked a bit, turning back to his task at hand as he busied himself finishing up the vegetables. They were cooked fairly well, glistening with the butter sauce that he had prepared for them. As he finished mixing them, he pulled up a wooden spoon, dabbed his pinkie in it, and sampled the flavor. The spices seemed to work extremely well with the butter so he sighed in satisfaction. Slowly he scooped up a tiny bit more of the sauce so Juliette could sample as she completed her task.
>> "Well, I didn't set them on fire,..Your faith was not misplaced."
”Wooo! You saved me ten dollars,” he chuckled. ”As your reward, you get to sample this…” He held up the spoon with the sauce on it. He waited for her to sample it, standing back, awaiting her appraisal. God, why was he stressing out about this? It was just sauce. Ah well, he hoped that she enjoyed it and, if so, he would direct her place the biscuits on the table outside as everything was ready. And, if she didn’t like it, well…he still had the number of the deli?
He winced a little at the look on Juliette’s face when he tossed out that joke about he and Nessa’s relationship. To be fair, he thought it was rather funny and so far the nurse went out of her way to laugh at damn near every joke he made. But seeing the look in her eyes at what he had said, he immediately felt just a little bad about it. He didn’t want to be that person who others felt bad for or had fearful thoughts that they were not normal. Well, the normal thing Booker didn’t all-together care about, he always marched to the beat of his own drum, but what he didn’t want was for people to view him as abnormal.
He had a close relationship with his sister. That was just a staple of his life and it wasn’t something that he was going to change any time soon. They shared a same living space, yes, but it wasn’t something weird. They each had their separate lives, did their own thing, etc., but he guessed he could understand how someone could think that maybe it was a bit strange. But how to shake that?
>> "Oh... yeah, I knew that,"
He had told Juliette that he had just been joking, a confirmation that she blushed and smiled a bit awkwardly at it. Ugh! Another pang in his heart. He really didn’t want things to seem weird. Part of him wanted to explain a bit more, but Nessa’s side of the story wasn’t one that he should tell; it wasn’t his place. Maybe he could tell her a little bit but it wouldn’t have the same impact as the whole truth. The only thing that really stopped him was how new this coupling was; he didn’t want to risk things with that level of drama just yet. Drama killed most relationships and he wasn’t willing to do that to them.
He would tell her…eventually. But, if only for tonight, he just wanted to be a guy on a date with a beautiful woman; there was nothing wrong with that. There was always time to real life drama later, for now he was happy to just experience the two of them.
As the two of them began to discuss the movie that would be gracing his Binge screen today, he had to admit that he was elated with the news that Juliette was such a fan of the movie, enough to even quote it! Ugh! It was just too amazing that he would meet someone like her. She really was an amazing catch and the fact that he was dating her was dating her just made the whole thing all the more awesome.
>>"I'm glad you're considering me as an alternative to suicide,"
Booker just grinned impishly as he responded in his best giant voice. ”Don’t worry, I won’t let it go to head.” He loved every character in that movie but Fezzik the Giant was indeed one of his favorites.
However, as much as the man just wanted to quote Princess Bride with her for the rest of the day, Booker still had a meal to finish prepping. As he backed away, he informed Juliette that she could make herself comfortable before the thought that she may want something to drink popped into his head. He called out, asking if she wanted anything before he continued to finish everything. But it seemed that Juliette didn’t want to continue to explore the apartment as she instead peeked into the kitchen.
>> "I'll... have some wine, thanks, I can help with things, if that makes anything easier on you."
”Wine it is.” He said cheerily.
He pulled out a full bottle of a pink-colored rose wine. Hefting it up, he gave her an encouraging smile as he set it on a nearby counter and closed the fridge down. Just as he started to open the bottle, he turned back to her as she asked if she could help. He did remember what she had said, that she didn’t consider herself the best cook. The fact that she wanted to help made him grin.
”I mean…sure, if you want to. Of course.” He popped open the new bottle of wine, grabbed a couple of glasses from the cupboard and poured them both a little less than half a glass. Setting the cork back into the bottle, he turned, popping his lips as he kneeled and pulled out a wicker serving basket from a cupboard, as well as a check-patterned napkin. Lining the inside of the basket with it, he waved Juliette over to a pan that had about a dozen, golden brown biscuits, all lined up. ”You can pop these into the basket while I finish stirring the veggies.” He said happily. ”I mean, I doubt you’d be able to set those on fire, right?” He teased.
Booker was a little hesitant to bring up his sister the first time the two of them had gone out together. This time, she already knew, but he was still nonetheless worried about it. Some people might find it strange or odd. As a matter of fact, he had been told by several others he had dated in the past that there seemed to be an almost unhealthy relationship between the two. Then again, those comments came from people who didn’t have siblings or who only saw them during the holidays; they didn’t have the relationship that Booker and Nessa had, they didn’t go through the traumas that they had suffered.
It may have seemed strange on the outside but for Booker he equated it something along the lines or war buddies, soldiers who had gone through hell and made it out alive because of one another. Nessa would always comment about how much she owed Booker for his understanding and compassion early on in her life, and Booker would state the same in return. Sh*tty parents, a traumatic college experience, all of that would have crushed normal people but so long as the Bookman siblings had one another to lean upon, they would weather the storm.
Still, Booker really liked Juliette. He didn’t want this to be weird so he was upfront about the fact that he lived with his sister and, yes, they were close. Not disturbingly close like washing each other’s hair, but they were close nonetheless. Hopefully Juliette wouldn’t think it too strange.
>> "You must be really close with your sister…It's cool to see. I've never really spent a whole lot of time around siblings, or had one myself."
He smirked. ”Having a sibling is kind of important for the whole sibling experience.” he couldn’t help a little playful jab at the younger nurse. But he nodded his head, offering her one of the veggie straws. ”But, yes. We both went through a lot and,” he shrugged. ”We’re just close. Nothing weird, though. As you can see, two separate rooms.” He beamed proudly. ”I mean, it’s only been two weeks but we’re adjusting.” He watched her face for a second before he snorted. ”I’m kidding.”
Shaking his head, Booker chuckled a bit as he set the bag back down on the table. He didn’t want to ruin his meal either. He had stated that it was very possible that his meal was going to be horrendous and they would both have to survive on veggie straws and chicken popcorn alone. However, she didn’t seem to believe his comment and but gave him a thankful grin. It was a grin that Booker mirrored as he continued to chew on the veggie straw. The awkwardness was washing away between them and he was glad for it. He shouldn’t feel awkward around her; not anymore.
Once she asked about what they would be viewing this evening, the man couldn’t help but act out exactly what they would be watching. It was kind of a gamble since the Princess Bride was one of his favorite movies but Booker was willing to take the chance with Juliette. He quoted the film, hoping that his sweeping performance would be enough to pique her interests, just in case she hadn’t seen it before (which would have been tragic). However it seemed that the woman just had a continuous way of surprising him.
>> "Inconceivable! I love that movie."
A wide smile, his hand over his heart, Booker plopped down onto a nearby chair and just shook his head in awe of the woman he was with. ”Be still my heart,” he beamed. ”That has to honestly be the hottest think I’ve ever heard.”
Of course he was over exaggerating, but there was nothing wrong with that. Really he couldn’t understand just how lucky that he had gotten. A random nurse that he was been smitten by, who turned out to be extremely interested in him, and also turned out to be an X-Man, AND/i] loved ‘The Princess Bride’? What were the odds!? He sighed, feeling a sense of relief wash over him, at which he hopped up onto his feet. Now he just had to make sure that he didn’t burn any of the food.
”Well, we still have dinner to get through. So…give me like ten minutes? Everything is pretty much done but I would like to make it presentable.” he said. He started to back away into the kitchen. ”But feel free to sit back and relax! You want something to drink?” he disappeared into the kitchen, not knowing if she followed him into the kitchen or stayed in the living area, so he called out. ”We have…soda…lemonade…water…wine…beer…whichever you like!”
Booker was asked what it was that he had preparing for dinner and he didn’t leave out a single thing. The man was very earnest when he described the meal that he was preparing. To him it really wasn’t that big of a deal. He had done far more complicated dishes with about a seventy-five percent success rate. But this mean? Psh! He could do this one with his eyes closed. And, as a matter of fact, he had attempted it once! Really the fire was minimal at best but, still, he counted it as a success!
The look on Juliette’s face when he told her what was being prepared, however, gave him a moment of pause. The wideness of her eyes almost started him, made him think that maybe there was something wrong with the menu. Dammit, he probably should have asked if she had dietary restrictions before he had decided to make dinner. What if she hated chicken and, boom, he was forcing her to eat it? That sounded like a guff up in his book, but as her smile grew more wide, Booker breathed a small sigh of relief. Her look wasn’t out of disgust, but of surprise and glee.
He could work with that.
>> "Oh my God. Why did we even go to a restaurant last time? That sounds incredible!"
Her reaction to the menu was actually quite adorable. As Booker stood there, watching her excitedly talk about what he was making, the man couldn’t help but blush a little. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head, chuckling as she continued to fawn over his apparent cooking ability. He had to shrug a bit innocently at her question.
”Haha, and deny you the pleasure of a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant? Never.”
>> "Was it a lot of work?"
He stuck out his bottom lip as he shook his head. ”Not as much as you’d think. The glaze was simple and the chicken easy to procure.” He said. ”It was just a matter of throwing all the ingredients together. The only thing that was any kind of challenge was the biscuits.” He sighed, looking somewhat defeated. ”Savory breads don’t always tend to be my forte.”
This batch smelled good, though! It should all be fine!
After he took Juliette’s bag and gave her free reign of the apartment, Booker returned to the dining table where he set the bag down. He raised his gaze up, watching as she moved around the apartment, eyeing things here and there. Crossing his arms over his chest, he just stood back and observed her peeking around. He probably should have stepped back into the kitchen, but Booker always fancied himself a bit of a people watcher. He liked to imagine what people were thinking, the thoughts that were passing through their head. What was she thinking? It was a question that popped around in his head but Booker couldn’t help but also take the moment to admire the view.
She really was beautiful. Everytime he said or thought it, it wasn’t just him blowing smoke or trying to appear overly flirtatious. Juliette really was a beautiful woman. Her so skin, the coloration like caramel, the straight, dark hair and the wide, dark brown eyes. But of all of her assets, (absolutely amazing assets at that) he had to admit that it was her smile that he enjoyed the most. The bright, luminescent grin that only seemed possible for someone with abilities like hers. Even though she was in his aura, cut off from her powers, it was clear to see that she was walking with a pocket full of sunshine.
Not wanting to be rude, Booker turned his attention back to the bag that he had brought in. He let Juliette continue to move through the apartment, his gaze glancing to the bag as he peered at it curiously. He probably was fine just pulling the items out but he didn’t want to be rude and instead just lifted his head to ask.
>> "Uhm, I brought some Veggie Straws and some Butter Chicken flavoured popcorn. I saw it at the store and figured that it would be worth trying. I don't know, though - it could be completely disgusting…but we won't have to worry about that since we have your cooking."
Booker snorted. ”Psh, you never know. My cooking could be absolutely terrible and your snacks will be the only way that we can stave off starvation.” He gave her a grin and bowed his head. ’Thank you for saving us.” He started to pull up the bags, looking them over. ”I haven’t tried chicken popcorn, but the veggie straws are some of my favorites. My sister buys them all the time and I steal them, haha.” He then shrugged. ”Just easier than buying my own.”
Oh his sister. How he loved to torment her. Opening the bag of veggie straws, Booker pulled out one or two before he offered the opened bag to Juliette. Munching on the straw, he watched her approach as she eyed him. The inevitable question was coming…
>> "So what are we going to watch?"
This was always the big test for him. Booker had a rather wide range of movie genres and types that he greatly enjoyed, but there were certain movies that the man just absolutely loved to pieces. Movies that he could quote on the fly, with no reason behind why. Movies that were so deeply engrained in him that anyone speaking badly of them immediately soured his mood. So, MAYBE it wasn’t the wisest choice to break out said movies on only a second date, but he got a vibe from Juliette that they could appreciate some of the same things. He didn’t know if she would actually like it, or had even seen it, but he was more than willing take the risk.
So, copying one of his favorite lines of the movie, Booker describe the film chosen with a rather exuberant flourish. ”Oh a movie that has everything!” he began, dawn a fake mask and speaking in an accent that one could guess was probably, maybe supposed to be that of a fencing Spaniard. ”Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...” He straightened up, beaming. ”Of course, I speak of the ‘Princess Bride’…”
There it was. The smolder. One of the most irresistible moves in the Booker B. Bookman arsenal. It was a look that made others quiver and blush. Of course Booker wasn’t necessarily doing this strictly for the purpose of seducing the pretty nurse, but more just for the fun of it. Booker was known as a bit of an imp and a playful individual. Their last date had been wrought with some awkward moments and now that they were actively dating, it was the perfect time to start expressing his more playful side. Of course he would start slow, he didn’t want to scare Juliette off. An over-exaggerated smolder was exactly what the doctor ordered for this little encounter.
Of course, it would have been far more effective if he had realized that the apron he was wearing was probably detracting a little from the smolder.
>> "Thank you kindly, Amazing Amazon,"
She was so beautiful, even casually dressed, that Booker didn’t really register the grin and the poke at his attire at first. It took a moment for his brain to work through the haze before realizing that her words had a lightness to them that suggested a jest. He then started to dissect what she had said, peering at the words closely before he made the connection: why did she call him “Amazing Amazon”? He tilted his head, glanced down, and jumped.
”OH! Sorry.” he chuckled, placing his arm over both his chest and Amazing Amazon’s very well-drawn chest at the same time. ”I was in the middle of cooking.” A proud smile adorned his face.
Booker wasn’t one brag about his skills. He was good at the ukulele, good at organization, amazing with literature, but they were all traits that Booker just…did. He was certain that there were people out in the world who were better than him and it was a fact that the man simply accepted. However, if there were one thing that Booker allowed himself to brag a little bit about, it was his cooking. He loved to cook, he loved to bake, and he actually did consider himself good at it. Not the best, of course, but just enough for him to take some pride in.
He was actually happy when the plans were made for tonight. He wanted to cook for Juliette, especially since she seemed to be a fan of good food. It was more a test to see if he could continue to impress the young woman, hope to cement the fact that they were good together. At this point, really, it probably wasn’t necessary. The both of them seemed to be on the same page that they liked one another and wanted to see where things went.
But, still, there was no harm in greasy the wheels a little. Not that his food was greasy. Bleh!
The nerves started to melt away a little at the sight of her. She was just in jeans and a tee but still she was one of the most gorgeous women that he had ever come across. Before he had opened the door, he could feel himself wanting to get nervous, worried that maybe he was going to mess this up with bad cooking or poor movie choice. But one look at her was a reminder of their first date and just how good all of that felt. He knew he wanted to continue and so he embraced it. Everything would be fine.
Eyeing the bag of snacks that she had brought, Booker jumped into chivalrous mode and stepped up to offer to take them from her. ”Oh please,” he said, stepping closer to her, smiling as he looked down into her eyes. ”Let me take that…”
>> "I feel a little lame with these after smelling what's inside here. You really didn't have to cook...It smells amazing, though. What'd you make?"
”Ah thank you!” another beaming smile. After taking the bag, he stepped aside and out of the way to allow her entry into his (and his sister’s) home. ”Please! Entrer, Entrer!” He said, tossing probably the one of the twenty French words he actually knew by heart. ”Nothing fancy,” he said, answering her question. ”It’s just some Honey-Circus chicken, mixed vegetables in a butter sauce, and biscuits.” He paused, then shrugged. ”I kept it simple.”
Hefting up her bag of snacks, he meandered into the apartment, setting them down on a nearby table. The apartment look like a nerd’s wet dream. All the furniture was rather nice and homey, nothing drastically modern or old timey. The TV was quite large, but that was mainly because Nessa needed it for gaming for work (Booker just reaped the benefits). Bookshelves around the perimeter were filled with books of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Gaming and comic memorabilia were placed here and there, art / posters from film and photography, and amongst them all were family photos of Booker and Nessa, friends, and so forth. Upon closer inspection of said photos would show none of any person who would be considered to be parents. Of course, only the most observant would probably notice something like that.
Once the bag was set down, Booker turned back to Juliette and beamed. ”And just so you know, you shouldn’t feel ‘lame’ for bringing snacks.” he said with a firm nod. ”There’s no such thing as lame snacks during movie time.” He then gestured to the apartment. ”And feel free to make yourself at home. Just, you know, don’t go in that door,” he said pointing to one that was closed. ”Sister’s room. She’s not here but we have a rule about no going in the other’s room.” He shook his head. He still could see Nessa and Spencer in his bed, even though it had been a fairly long time ago. He shuddered. ”But you have free reign everywhere else,” he said. He then turned and peered at the bag. ”What did you bring, anyways?”
First date under their belts and, to Booker’s knowledge, it had gone extremely well. It was a bit rocky at first, of course, but as the date went on, things just seemed to fit more and more together. The two of them had a natural chemistry that went beyond just locking lips. That was an encouraging development and one in which Booker was excited to take part of. By the end of the night, after dinner, a walk, a dance, the most romantic of kisses, the pair of them had finally parted with exchanged numbers and another kiss to cap the night. It truly had to be one of the most amazing dates he had ever gone on.
In the days that followed, Booker’s personality became all the more sunny. He was grinning wide, he was smiling, he was dancing a little dance. It was to the point that his sister, Nessa, was almost sick of his random song outbreaks and suddenly pulling her into dances. Booker wouldn’t apologize for being who he was, but he was just in a really, really good mood; especially when he got a new text message.
God he had felt like a teenager all over again. The prospect of a new relationship on the horizon and Booker was having fun, lying upon his stomach in back, grinning as he was engaged in rather deep conversations via messaging apps. Of course they did chat on the phone too, but messenger just seemed to be easier throughout the day, given both of their work schedules.
However, they couldn’t spend the rest of their days just messaging. They wanted to see once another! So when that occasion finally rose, when Juliette had a scheduled night off coming up and Booker had no projects that needed to be completed, a date was made.
Their second date would be a bit more normal, something that was more familiar than the circumstances that surrounded their last date. Food and a movie on Binge; that was exactly what the doctor ordered. Juliette had mentioned that she would bring snacks but seeing as they would be watching a movie, he could also assume that meant that he would handle the dinner. It was a state that Booker was absolutely fine with, especially since it gave him a chance to flex his cooking skills for the woman.
After subtly ensuring that Nessa would be out of the apartment (he didn’t need a repeat of the Svetlana incident) Booker set to work with the dinner for the evening. It didn’t take him as long as he thought it would to decide (so many good options, after all) but the safest bet, to him, seemed to be chicken; but not just any chicken, Booker’s patented Honey-Citrus chicken.
The apartment smelled fantastic, if he did say so himself. The honey-citrus marinade was broiling perfectly into the chicken breasts that he had in the oven. Vegetables cooking nicely (Nessa wouldn’t mind that he borrowed some from her side of the fridge). And the biscuits that he had made earlier were all laid out on a pan, ready to be tossed into the oven for a quick warm up. All in all, it seemed like maybe he had achieved everything he wanted to before Juliette got here.
Well, except for the first first batch of biscuits. Those had suffered an unfortunate mistake and he had to toss those, but he got the burned smell out of the apartment! He was sure he did!
Now, however, everything seemed to be right on track! Except for the fact that he was wearing Nessa’s Amazing Amazon apron. His was still in the laundry, laundry which his beloved sister STILL hadn’t done yet. Besides, he didn’t want to risk getting food on his date night clothes. Of course his current attire wasn’t anything too fancy, merely jeans, and a graphic t-shirt that hugged his physique just a little closely. He fought the urge to dress up for this date as it was supposed to be more grounded, and his non-work attire did consist of jeans and shirts. He only hoped that Juliette didn’t have a different idea as to what “casual” was.
After checking the chicken and ensuring all was well, Booker patted his hands on his apron as he started to move onto the next project. He still had time before Juliette got here to have everything sitting and waiting for her…right?
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!
He blinked. He checked the clock. She was early but not by much! Ugh! How did he lose track of time like this?! Feeling a bit silly now, booker marched over to the door, not wanting to keep her waiting, and stopped in front of it. Suddenly an odd nervousness began to roll over him. Why was he nervous? It wasn’t as if this were a surprise or that they should be nervous about anything! He grumbled to himself to keep it together before he breathed a few short breathes, smoothed back his hair, checked his breathe (minty!), then leaned over and opened the door.
Whenever he looked at her, it was like looking at her for the first time all over again. He smiled, broadly, glee twinkling in his eyes as he gave her a smile. ”Juliette…” he said, throwing on a suave grin that was only slightly over doing it. ”…welcome to my abode.”
Honestly the look, the voice, and the physique would have been the ultimate aphrodisiac, but there was one aspect of his person that was enough to shake the illusion; he had neglected to take off his Amazing Amazon apron. Awesome move, Booker. Awesome…
Really there were no other ways that Booker could have described that kiss. It was perfection personified and to not voice how he truly and honestly felt about it would have been a mistake. Besides, this was simple how Booker thought and spoke and if Juliette really did want to get involved with him, it was best she knew now; yes, he was a frequent user of the word awesome. This couldn’t have been more true for how he felt when he kissed Juliette, it was quite literally awe-inspiring.
The world slowly began to click back into place. He became aware of the people around, of the musicians gearing up for another set, of the fact that the sun had firmly set above their heads; they existed in the world again. For a brief second that thought was disappointing, he would have rather spent longer in that safe little bubble of music and closeness that the two of them had just shared, but reality is a harsh mistress that must always pull one back from the brink.
However, even though the two of them had to return to the world, he found that they were still in one another’s arms. Juliette still remained dangerously close to him, her fingers grazing over his arms, while his own hands had retreated from her back, they found a home placed upon her waist.
She just felt so good under his touch. A warmth exuded from her body, through his hands and reigniting fires that already coursed through him. He would have kissed her again, he wanted to, but he feared if he did they the two of them certainly wouldn’t be stopping any time soon. Again, on top of that, he didn’t want to rush things. A lot happened, they were both going through a lot, and for him that meant that they needed to take time to ensure that all this was exactly what the two wanted.
Again, so far, it was certainly looking that way.
"Yeah, awesome,"
He was relieved that she wasn’t put off by his word choice. He had dated others in the past, others who had expected some long, Petrarchan-style love sonnet about how kissing her lips was akin to brush his upon the smoothest drapes of velvet and how her eyes were alit like tiny, sparkling suns. It was romantic (somewhat) sure, but Booker didn’t always talk like that. He could, yes, he was well-read enough to accomplish it quite easily, but that wasn’t who he was twenty-four / seven.
A grin and Booker couldn’t help but follow up his initial comment. In truth it had been a very, very long time since he had been kissed like that. The last was Svetlana but that was most lust driven than anything else. This, with Juliette, it was in a league of its own and it surpassed expectations – it was like magic.
"Me neither,"
There was something both elating and a little sad about that comment. While it was nice to know that he had such an effect on the young woman, there was the unmistakable fact that she had gotten out of a relationship not that long ago. If that truly were the case, and she hadn’t been kissed like that, he was slowly beginning to make connections as to why she had been looking for a way out. But, truthfully, he didn’t have the whole picture. He didn’t know what she was getting out of, what that relationship was like, and he was certainly not one to make assumptions.
So he smiled a bit, watching her, looking away a bit shyly as the burning eyes of everyone around them began to settle. Most were beginning to lose interest but others were indeed continuing to stare in their direction. The hell were they looking for? An exhibition? He thought better of asking, this was New York and, to be quite honest, he had seen worse.
"What now?"
Her broad smile was far too adorable for the librarian to ignore. God he just didn’t want this night to end. However, it was becoming painfully obvious that maybe they should continue their date elsewhere…without an audience.
Regrettably Booker had to unwind his arms from Juliette, but one stayed, curling comfortable account her waist. With that, he leaned down and plucked up his bag, returning it to his shoulder. Now standing next to the nurse, he gave her a sweet smile and nodded his head down the path.
”How about we continue our walk…and see where the rest of the night takes us?” A charming smile and adjusted the strap of his bag so it was firmly set around his shoulder. He was ready go…and he was ready to see what was ahead.
Booker had never thought that the perfect moment could actually exist. Sure he had read about them, countless times, but they were the stuff of fiction. Moments such as when Mr. Darcy and Ms. Bennet proclaim their affections towards one another, to Arwen claiming a mortal life simply so that she and Aragorn could have one lifetime together, affections like these was some fanciful thing to Booker B. Bookman. They were something that he wanted to experience, with all his heart, but try as he might the perfect moment didn’t exist. Perfection was something saved for the pages of literature, not reality.
Or so he thought. There was something about this moment that he shared with Juliette, something about being around the woman made the fanciful seem possible, that allowed him to believe in perfection again. He didn’t know how she achieved such magic, but it was something that the librarian was more than willing to believe in every time he was around her.
Now proved to be no exception.
The music was a bit faster paced than the one before but Booker still found a small niche within it in order to lead Juliette into a dance. However, this dance wasn’t like the other, it wasn’t just romance, it the kindling of a flame. A fire that the book jockey could feel sparking, just underneath his skin, and bursting to climb out through his pores with every touch of the young woman. Initially there was a momentary sense of fear, residue from the fact that he had already kissed this woman when she was in a relationship. But she was free now, she was available, and she had already admitted that she had liked him; and couldn’t deny the fact that he had thought of her most nights since that day.
And now, here they were, together, on an actual date, having shared a great meal with lovely conversation. He didn’t think it was possible for the night to get any more perfect but this was now becoming something out of his cheesy romantic stories. Two would-be lovers, standing under a blanket of stars, surrounded by the sounds of nature with the heart-tugging strings of instruments weaving a net that pulled them closer and closer together.
What happened next was inevitable, to say the least. Without fear of stepping over moral boundaries, drawn in by good music and excellent company, Booker was just too enraptured by everything about the woman. His hands on her waist, the closeness of her body, it all just felt far too good. The fire within urged him downward, and seeing her lean up, on the tips of her toes, was all it took to seal the deal – he was going to kiss her.
Unlike before, there was not guilt, at all, associated with this kiss. The moment that Booker had pressed his lips against hers, he already felt his breath being taken away. Her hands left his shoulders, slowly gliding across to his neck before wrapping around him. Her hands pulled him down, urging him for a closer kiss, one that he was all too happy to oblige. His own hands had slipped around from her waist, one stopping upon her lower back and the other drifting upwards towards her shoulder. Just as she pulled him down for kiss, he brought her up, just a tiny bit, enough so that they could meet on the even footings of passion.
If Booker had no other moments beyond this one, he could die a happy man. This was beautiful, it was romantic, it was the epitome of perfection for him.
When their lips, unfortunately, parted, Booker found himself still standing very still, wavering a little upon his two feet. It was only then that he started to remember what it was like to breathe. A small intake of air and Booker blinked away the haze that had settled over his mind. If there was any doubt that he felt something for this woman, it was utterly gone now. He could barely conceive of a coherent enough thought to actually spur him on to do anything else but blink, straighten up, and remember that he was standing out in a public place. They had to stop kissing because, really, a moment longer and they would both probably be approached by a police officer and badgered for public indecency.
Clearing his throat, Booker smiled a bit shyly at first, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly until he turned his eyes upon Juliette again. She was looking up at him, smiling with as sweet and a pure a smile as he had ever seen; he couldn’t help but respond in kind. The shyness melted away and Booker was soon grinning wide enough to match that of the nurse in front of him. It was clear, they both has seemingly enjoyed that.
>> "That was..."
”…awesome.” He beamed proudly. But, just in case she wanted something a bit more flowery in prose (which he was adept at), Booker continued. ”I…can’t remember the last time kiss took my breath away like that.” He said, looking down into her eyes. ”It was…like magic.”
