Somehow I'm not surprised. I could also just send you a few of my spotify playlists specifically for emotional shower sessions.
[ There's no response for a looooooong minute before she finally shoots a text back. ]
I'm not mad that you haven't listened to Sara Bareilles. I'm just disappointed that I couldn't be a better influence on your shower music sooner. I need you to drop whatever you're doing and take a shot.
wait, hold on, i'm sorry, you said you have a whole playlist just for emotional shower sessions?? next you're gonna tell me you have a waterproof mic or something for belting out the ballads.
and uh, wait. drop what i'm doing and take a shot? are we talking rum or singing along to pat benetar into your hairbrush like when we were like 12?
[ The kiss chases away any other comments she might have made, letting them settle into a soft hum against his lips. She feels like she practically melts around him. Like the stresses of the day aren't insane and overwhelming.
Her arms move up to lightly rest on his shoulders, content to stay in the moment and revel in everything that is Steve until the need for air wins out. ]
This is far more enjoyable than what I had planned for today.
[ He doesn't know what she had planned for today, but he's definitely in agreement. Certainly, it's better than the run he was going to go on and the laundry he was going to do. ]
I've missed you.
[ Even though, in universe, they probably saw each other quite recently. ]
Guess I should leave you little text notes to find, too.
[ Nothing today was going to be fun. That much was for sure. Research and constantly heavy topics - a neverending loop these days. Something she is grateful she doesn’t have to try to explain. That she can just exist with him and let her guard down. ]
I’ve missed you too. [ Sure, it hasn’t been that long, but missing someone or something can’t always be defined by time when it can be felt as soon as they leave the room. ] All the more reason to play hooky with me today.
[ And more opportunities for notes. Her hands slide down back to his chest, toying with the fabric of his shirt as she talks. ]
We could ignore the world and stay in bed all day. Order food. Or… You could come with me to Fillory. I have to grab a few books from the library there and check on Fen. Make sure she and Josh haven’t set anything on fire.
[ While Fillory could be dangerous, this was at least a relatively calm time to bring someone along. And Steve could handle his own - especially since they wouldn’t be going outside the castle or not going far. ]
[ Steve could definitely hold his own in Fillory, but the problem is, he doesn't ever want to get stuck there, and it seems like there's always a danger of that.
He needs to be this side on Earth to protect it. ]
Let's stay here. And we'll get to do all the things normal people do, like order takeout, and never get to actually picking something to watch on Netfix.
[ She can't fault him for that. They'd likely need to time out going to Fillory when she's got a backup plan in case shit hits the inevitable fan or she figures out something a little easier than a rabbit for communicating between worlds.
She won't say no to what he's offering, though. Just two very normal people having a normal day. ]
That sounds like a great way to spend a day. If we wanted to lean into the normal, I could help with any chores you had planned.
[ And that slight glint of mischief in her eyes absolutely should warn that she will be more of a distraction than a help... But it could be fun. ]
I am not gonna make you pass up going to Fillory so you can help me with my chores.
[ But he smiles because, this is so Julia to offer. She's always thinking of ways to make Steve's life better, and he's always so grateful to have her. ]
Besides. You're playing hooky.
That means no work.
[ Dancing maybe, and then eating popcorn out of the bag and sharing a blanket, definitely. ]
The magic that came with going to Fillory ran out a long time ago.
[ Somewhere between finding out Plover was a pedo and the horrible mistreatment of the fairies... Honestly tip of the iceberg. And it felt like there was another storm brewing - something else to pop the last of the bubbles.
So, Fillory could wait a day. She gives him a thoughtful look before quickly letting that fall away. ] Alright, no work. I promise.
[ She shrugs out of the thin sweater she'd thrown on over her tank top before heading over, letting it slip off her shoulders - breaking contact with him for a moment to let it fully fall off onto to the floor. She could grab it later. ] I'm all yours.
[ He almost doesn't even wait for it to fall on the floor, and just scoops her up in his arms, pulling her in for a kiss. It's not heavy, it's not meant to go anywhere, it's just meant to start their day together. ]
I love you.
[ He's not sure he's said that lately, so he thinks he really should. He wants her to know. ]
[ She won't object to being picked up, settling into his familiar hold and enjoying the kiss. Her arms settle around his shoulders, fingers toying with the hair at the nape of his neck. ]
I love you too.
[ She's also not the best at saying it, the weight and fear of loss sometimes standing in the way of vulnerability. Of acknowledging feelings and emotions. She's not sure when it got easier to lean in and share, but it just feels natural with him. ]
Pancakes sound perfect, but only if you let me help. [ Even if it's just holding the whisk or keeping him company. ]
[ She's too stubborn to let him do all the work, honestly. She'd have sneakily worked her way into the kitchen to help. Even if it was just grabbing plates and random things.
Julia offers a happy hummed response before he pulls away, casually following on his heels as he moves. ]
Well... Quentin is doing alright, laying low and taking care of himself. Spending some quality time with Eliot. [ He deserved it, they both did. Taking a step back from Fillory and letting the others really take over. ] Alice is Alice, Kady is... Kady. [ So complicated. Julia leans against a counter, somewhat out of the way as she talks. ]
Did I tell you Josh and now Margo are both Werewolves? [ She honestly can't remember what she's filled him in on and what's been missed because it's all equal levels of strange so nothing really stands out anymore. ]
[ He is glad that Quentin and Elliot are spending some time together, though he's not really sure what she means by Alice is Alice and Kady is Kady. He doesn't think if he asks, though, that he'll get an answer. But he doesn't know them all that well, so. ]
--No?
They are? Werewolves exist?
[ Of course they exist. He shakes his head as if to say, don't answer that. ]
None of that sounds too bad. Maybe the werewolves thing, I'm not really sure what to make of that.
[ Oh god, well... In the grand scheme of everything that has happened, that wasn't as high of a priority as there wasn't much they could do about it.
She also couldn't blame his surprise on that fact. It's hard to know what's still fiction and what actually exists. And then if it exists in this universe or timeline and what didn't. And if it previously existed and is now extinct or literally still a figment of someone's imagination. She pulls a few items out of the fridge as she talks, whatever catches her eye that might be good on pancakes. ]
On the upside for us and everyone else, it's not transferable through anything other than sex - so takes a bit of effort to become a werewolf. [ She'll let Steve guess who gave lycanthropy to who between Margo and Josh as she starts washing blueberries. ]
And we'll see if things stay this way or if someone comes along and tries to pop the bubble. [ Something she's grateful Steve understands. Even if she wished neither of them had to fully understand the unreasonably high stakes that often come with a large crisis. ]
[ The washing of the blueberries is temporarily abandoned, having just finished filling up the small bowl with water. She lounges against the counter, giving him a coy look as she smirks -- her tone turning more than a little flirty. ]
Oh, very satisfied?
[ Listen, she's happy to answer any questions he has before digging into how things have been going for him... She just needs to have a little moment of joy. It's not a surprise, the feeling more than mutual and something she tries to express as often as possible -- but it's still always fun to hear. And something fun to lean into for a minute. ]
[ If she wants a truthful answer. He loves her, and he loves the time they spend together. He's happy here and wants for nothing else.
For a long time, he thought it impossible. Especially after Peggy - he's one of those people who believes in soulmates. He still does. To find two, he thinks, that's incredible. ]
[ It's earnest and sincere, her heart melting a bit further than she honestly thought it could. She'd also never expected to find anyone that would love her -- the real her, battle wounds and all. The good, the bad, and the traumatized pieces that rolled into an amalgamation of this timeline's version of her. The final version of her.
It was hard to trust, at least it was hard with everyone else. He made it so easy. He made everything feel a bit easier. There's true beauty in support and she's not quite sure she can ever fully express how much he means to her, not certain what her life would look like right now without him. ]
Well... That makes two of us. [ She returns to the blueberries, grabbing a few supplies to dry them off. ]
Also no cure for the lycanthropy. Just ways to manage it. How's everyone in your circle? [ Since it's also been a minute for her with his friends and team. ]
[ He figures he should elaborate, but there's nothing exactly like anyone turning into a werewolf. Or so he thinks. ]
Buck's getting therapy, Clint and Scott have mostly retired to be with their families.
[ And now Steve gets to retire too, though with Julia that's never really a guarantee, and it's more like a soft retirement. There's always something happening, but they don't always have to save the world. So that's nice. ]
[ Truthfully, when it came to everything else going on around them, she often viewed no news as good news. But, what could be considered absolutely drastic for a 'normal' person might not even register on a scale for them. And she missed that. She missed when the little things mattered. When her grades mattered and picking the right grad school was the hardest decision in front of her. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Her eyebrows lift a bit at the mention of therapy. ]
Hopefully whoever Bucky's working with is good. That he's seeing a benefit in it and it's helping. [ It could be damn near impossible to put the pieces of yourself back together alone, but anything could be done with the right help. Therapy and seeking help for mental health didn't have to be the same weapon that was used against herself and Q. Either way, there was a soft place for Bucky to land if needed. Something she'd be fully supportive of without needing to be asked. ] Good for Clint and Scott. I'm sure their families are thrilled with the retirement news. It's not like all of you haven't earned it and then some.
[ Disasters will always be on the horizon. Something or someone will always need saving or fixing, but it doesn't have to be them. Nothing wrong with ushering in the next generation of heroes to take up the mantle and responsibility. Somehow easier to praise and celebrate for him than visualize for herself. A concept that's going to take more time to wrap her head around, even if it feels easy to picture with him. ]
Would you stay here once officially retired or move somewhere far off the beaten path? I think, either way, I'd like to have a little garden. [ The idea slips out before she can stop it, those protective walls she wraps around herself having fallen with Steve a long time ago. Already picturing herself with him and thrusting the concept she can't quite vocalize in its entirety to the forefront. She picks up one of the blueberries that's still got a bit of stem attached, letting it twist and lift in her hands as it grows bit by bit -- additional blueberries slowly forming and shifting through the different stages of its life cycle until perfectly ripe. While she may have had to restart the path to goddesshood, a decision on direction not one she's made yet, her tie to nature isn't something that she imagines will ever go away. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
TFLN Overflow » floppyhair
[ There's no response for a looooooong minute before she finally shoots a text back. ]
I'm not mad that you haven't listened to Sara Bareilles. I'm just disappointed that I couldn't be a better influence on your shower music sooner. I need you to drop whatever you're doing and take a shot.
sorry this is late! ty for moving it <3
next you're gonna tell me you have a waterproof mic or something for belting out the ballads.
and uh, wait. drop what i'm doing and take a shot? are we talking rum or singing along to pat benetar into your hairbrush like when we were like 12?
my turn to apologize
I have a waterproof speaker, no microphone. That would be ridiculous. I'm an adult.
[ Because that's where she draws the line. Yup. ]
Rum is acceptable, although if you want to send me a video of you doing the latter, I wouldn't complain.
continued from tfln w/ pursuitofcappiness
[ The kiss chases away any other comments she might have made, letting them settle into a soft hum against his lips. She feels like she practically melts around him. Like the stresses of the day aren't insane and overwhelming.
Her arms move up to lightly rest on his shoulders, content to stay in the moment and revel in everything that is Steve until the need for air wins out. ]
This is far more enjoyable than what I had planned for today.
no subject
I've missed you.
[ Even though, in universe, they probably saw each other quite recently. ]
Guess I should leave you little text notes to find, too.
no subject
I’ve missed you too. [ Sure, it hasn’t been that long, but missing someone or something can’t always be defined by time when it can be felt as soon as they leave the room. ] All the more reason to play hooky with me today.
[ And more opportunities for notes. Her hands slide down back to his chest, toying with the fabric of his shirt as she talks. ]
We could ignore the world and stay in bed all day. Order food. Or… You could come with me to Fillory. I have to grab a few books from the library there and check on Fen. Make sure she and Josh haven’t set anything on fire.
[ While Fillory could be dangerous, this was at least a relatively calm time to bring someone along. And Steve could handle his own - especially since they wouldn’t be going outside the castle or not going far. ]
no subject
He needs to be this side on Earth to protect it. ]
Let's stay here. And we'll get to do all the things normal people do, like order takeout, and never get to actually picking something to watch on Netfix.
How's that sound?
no subject
She won't say no to what he's offering, though. Just two very normal people having a normal day. ]
That sounds like a great way to spend a day. If we wanted to lean into the normal, I could help with any chores you had planned.
[ And that slight glint of mischief in her eyes absolutely should warn that she will be more of a distraction than a help... But it could be fun. ]
no subject
[ But he smiles because, this is so Julia to offer. She's always thinking of ways to make Steve's life better, and he's always so grateful to have her. ]
Besides. You're playing hooky.
That means no work.
[ Dancing maybe, and then eating popcorn out of the bag and sharing a blanket, definitely. ]
no subject
[ Somewhere between finding out Plover was a pedo and the horrible mistreatment of the fairies... Honestly tip of the iceberg. And it felt like there was another storm brewing - something else to pop the last of the bubbles.
So, Fillory could wait a day. She gives him a thoughtful look before quickly letting that fall away. ] Alright, no work. I promise.
[ She shrugs out of the thin sweater she'd thrown on over her tank top before heading over, letting it slip off her shoulders - breaking contact with him for a moment to let it fully fall off onto to the floor. She could grab it later. ] I'm all yours.
no subject
I love you.
[ He's not sure he's said that lately, so he thinks he really should. He wants her to know. ]
And how do you feel about pancakes for lunch?
no subject
I love you too.
[ She's also not the best at saying it, the weight and fear of loss sometimes standing in the way of vulnerability. Of acknowledging feelings and emotions. She's not sure when it got easier to lean in and share, but it just feels natural with him. ]
Pancakes sound perfect, but only if you let me help. [ Even if it's just holding the whisk or keeping him company. ]
no subject
Deal.
[ He pecks her cheek and then pulls away to go get things ready for that. ]
So, how is everyone else? Feel like I haven't talked to anyone in ages.
no subject
Julia offers a happy hummed response before he pulls away, casually following on his heels as he moves. ]
Well... Quentin is doing alright, laying low and taking care of himself. Spending some quality time with Eliot. [ He deserved it, they both did. Taking a step back from Fillory and letting the others really take over. ] Alice is Alice, Kady is... Kady. [ So complicated. Julia leans against a counter, somewhat out of the way as she talks. ]
Did I tell you Josh and now Margo are both Werewolves? [ She honestly can't remember what she's filled him in on and what's been missed because it's all equal levels of strange so nothing really stands out anymore. ]
no subject
--No?
They are? Werewolves exist?
[ Of course they exist. He shakes his head as if to say, don't answer that. ]
None of that sounds too bad. Maybe the werewolves thing, I'm not really sure what to make of that.
no subject
She also couldn't blame his surprise on that fact. It's hard to know what's still fiction and what actually exists. And then if it exists in this universe or timeline and what didn't. And if it previously existed and is now extinct or literally still a figment of someone's imagination. She pulls a few items out of the fridge as she talks, whatever catches her eye that might be good on pancakes. ]
On the upside for us and everyone else, it's not transferable through anything other than sex - so takes a bit of effort to become a werewolf. [ She'll let Steve guess who gave lycanthropy to who between Margo and Josh as she starts washing blueberries. ]
And we'll see if things stay this way or if someone comes along and tries to pop the bubble. [ Something she's grateful Steve understands. Even if she wished neither of them had to fully understand the unreasonably high stakes that often come with a large crisis. ]
no subject
Okay, well, it's a good thing I'm very satisfied in my monogamous relationship with not a werewolf.
[ Which, he's pretty confident is still true. ]
So. Is there a cure, or are they just stuck like that?
no subject
Oh, very satisfied?
[ Listen, she's happy to answer any questions he has before digging into how things have been going for him... She just needs to have a little moment of joy. It's not a surprise, the feeling more than mutual and something she tries to express as often as possible -- but it's still always fun to hear. And something fun to lean into for a minute. ]
no subject
[ If she wants a truthful answer. He loves her, and he loves the time they spend together. He's happy here and wants for nothing else.
For a long time, he thought it impossible. Especially after Peggy - he's one of those people who believes in soulmates. He still does. To find two, he thinks, that's incredible. ]
no subject
It was hard to trust, at least it was hard with everyone else. He made it so easy. He made everything feel a bit easier. There's true beauty in support and she's not quite sure she can ever fully express how much he means to her, not certain what her life would look like right now without him. ]
Well... That makes two of us. [ She returns to the blueberries, grabbing a few supplies to dry them off. ]
Also no cure for the lycanthropy. Just ways to manage it. How's everyone in your circle? [ Since it's also been a minute for her with his friends and team. ]
no subject
[ He figures he should elaborate, but there's nothing exactly like anyone turning into a werewolf. Or so he thinks. ]
Buck's getting therapy, Clint and Scott have mostly retired to be with their families.
[ And now Steve gets to retire too, though with Julia that's never really a guarantee, and it's more like a soft retirement. There's always something happening, but they don't always have to save the world. So that's nice. ]
no subject
Her eyebrows lift a bit at the mention of therapy. ]
Hopefully whoever Bucky's working with is good. That he's seeing a benefit in it and it's helping. [ It could be damn near impossible to put the pieces of yourself back together alone, but anything could be done with the right help. Therapy and seeking help for mental health didn't have to be the same weapon that was used against herself and Q. Either way, there was a soft place for Bucky to land if needed. Something she'd be fully supportive of without needing to be asked. ] Good for Clint and Scott. I'm sure their families are thrilled with the retirement news. It's not like all of you haven't earned it and then some.
[ Disasters will always be on the horizon. Something or someone will always need saving or fixing, but it doesn't have to be them. Nothing wrong with ushering in the next generation of heroes to take up the mantle and responsibility. Somehow easier to praise and celebrate for him than visualize for herself. A concept that's going to take more time to wrap her head around, even if it feels easy to picture with him. ]
Would you stay here once officially retired or move somewhere far off the beaten path? I think, either way, I'd like to have a little garden. [ The idea slips out before she can stop it, those protective walls she wraps around herself having fallen with Steve a long time ago. Already picturing herself with him and thrusting the concept she can't quite vocalize in its entirety to the forefront. She picks up one of the blueberries that's still got a bit of stem attached, letting it twist and lift in her hands as it grows bit by bit -- additional blueberries slowly forming and shifting through the different stages of its life cycle until perfectly ripe. While she may have had to restart the path to goddesshood, a decision on direction not one she's made yet, her tie to nature isn't something that she imagines will ever go away. ]