18712/Breakfast is Heavy Stuff

Breakfast is Heavy Stuff
Date of Scene:	31 July 2024
Location:	The Crowe's Nest
Synopsis:	Josh makes Aria breakfast the morning after she spends the night with him. Deep and heavy topics are discussed.
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Aria Seraphine

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Joshua Foley has posed:
Morning in the Crowe's nest. Having awaken before Aria, Joshua slipped out of bed, quietly, stealthly, so that he did not disturb the beautiful angel that claimed his heart and half of his bed the night before. As soon as he slips out, he pulls out a pair of sweat pants to slip on, no underwear. A shirt for Aria is set on the side of the bed. It's one of his looser t-shirts, so it should cover her curves easily.

Once he's awake, there's small noises as he prepares breakfast.

Soon, the smell of bacon fills the air of the small apartment, the sizzle of it in the pan as it starts to curl, the wisps of air driving outwards while it turns from pink to brown. The smell is intermingled with the scent of bread toasting, creating an enticing armoa. An aroma that is so much better than the sound from the kitchen.

Because Joshua has broken into song, and just like someone would say that they have a face for radio, he has a voice for silent movies. And he doesn't even realize he's singing. Please, Aria, make it stop.

"I hear her voice
In my mind
I know her face is in my heart
Heaven and earth are moving in my soul
And she is where to start
Tell me tell me the words to decide
The way I feel about someone so FiiiiNE.."

And what's worse, he doesn't know the words. But hey, he has spirit!

Aria Seraphine has posed:
You'd have to ask an angel what it's like to wake up in Heaven, but even then, they're not likely to give you an answer that makes sense. What does "it smells like rainbows" even mean, anyway?

Waking up in Joshua's bed the Crowe's Nest isn't far off the mark, though. The night before was incredible, and even as Josh is slipping out of bed, there are little noises of protest, a hand greedily reaching out for him as he escapes. Before long, though, she's asleep again. She doesn't snore, but she does breathe quietly and deeply, hair splayed in a tangle across the pillow, partially covering her face.

It isn't until the smells of breakfast begin filling the air that she stirs again, groaning softly. A new weight shifts on the bed, pumping against Aria's outstretched hand, a smile curls her lips as she pets the robot cat. "Good morning, your majesty," she murmurs groggily, then sits up and pulls her fingers through her tangles of hair to get it back out of her face.

Josh's singing makes her smile grow even more, and it's only a few more seconds before she has the t-shirt he laid out for her on. Then she's climbing the steps up to the main living area, picking up his song where he left off.

Her voice is still thick with sleep, but even still, she could give most of the popular artists of the time a run for their money. She just has one of those classically beautiful voices that doesn't need studio time to perfect...

o/~ "How do you talk to an angel?
How do you hold her close to where you are?
How do you talk to an angel?
It's like trying to catch a falling star.." o/~

And all the while, she's padding up behind him so she can slip her arms around him.

Joshua Foley has posed:
The kitchen is a bit noisy. Besides the sounds of breakfast as Joshua sets aside the bacon to drain off the rest of the fat, he's mixing eggs to put in the still hot pan to get them to scrambling. The toast is set on two plates, an Joshua just seems at home doing this - he used to make breakfast at home and did the cooking for Nettie when she was in the shop.

As he finishes the eggs, that is when he hears her voice... and realizes he was caught singing. His golden cheeks darken. "Morning, Sera.~" he singsongs as he sets the eggs on the plates just as her hands come up to caress him and he turns off the fire to lean back into her caress, pressed aginst her supple curves.

From this position, she can see the small blotch of black, an ink stain on his golden skin on the back of his neck.

"I was going to bring you breakfast in bed, but since you're here, we can eat at the table. You mind taking the plates while I get the coffee ready?"

Aria Seraphine has posed:
"Joshua," she whispers in a gentle, incredulous laugh, still lightly clinging to him as he leans back against her, "you're going to spoil me. And _then_ what are we going to do? You've already made me breakfast. Twice, now. And I haven't done _anything_ to repay you for that."

Aria kisses the back of his shoulder, then, and releases her grip just so that she can take the plates like he asked her to.

"And taking the plates doesn't count." She smiles faintly as she sets his plate next to hers and settles into a chair, sweeping the backs of her thighs to smooth his shirt she's wearing so she can sit on it and cross her legs. "I don't exactly know how to pay you back, at this point... cooking isn't really my strong suit."

She purses her lips.

"I've got a show at the club tonight... I could save you a seat."

Joshua Foley has posed:
The easy answer would be sex. Lots of sex. But honestly, while easy, it's the wrong answer. It's the answer that makes her feel like two holes and nothing else. And to Josh, she is far and far more. So, he is actually giving what the right answer is thought. The kiss to his shoulder gives him time to think. And if Aria is paying attention... did that blot just move?

Making the coffee for the pair of them, hers with plenty of cream and sugar, he plain, he brings the cups over to the table, setting hers down first. "Take me on a date. Something of your chosing, that you've always wanted to do with a partner. That would be a good exchange?" he asks of her, before she makes a counter-offer.

"...I. I would like that." There's a fidget. "I mean, I have a couple of outfits. I just..." his voice goes small.

"I can pretend just to be your friend." he says as he sits across from her. "So you're not embarassed."

Aria Seraphine has posed:
At least Joshua knows her well enough, by this point, to recognize that before he blurts it out.

Actually, it's kind of surreal how many landmines Josh completely avoids with her either because he has no interest in wandering through a particular minefield or because he makes the conscious decision to treat her like she's important to him. It's not something she's at all used to, yet, but it is something she very much appreciates. It shows in how relaxed she is, from the way she moves to the way she sits. She used to be so tense and ready to apologize or run at the drop of a hat. But now... now it's like she's blossomed into another woman, all open and warm and entirely unafraid.

"Okay.. let's come back to the date thing," she says, frowning at him.

Then she gets up from her chair, picks it up, carries it around the table, and sets it down right next to his.

She leans OVER the table to pull her plate so that it crowds up next to his, and then reclaims her seat, draping her legs over his lap instead of crossing them.

"Joshua Foley," she says seriously, lifting her cup of coffee from the table with both hands. "Thank you, very much, for making breakfast. But if you ever suggest I might be embarrassed by you again, I'm going to flick coffee on you and then put eggs down your pants. And if I don't have coffee and eggs, I will go find coffee and eggs. And then you'll have to _hope_ I remember which I was going to do what with. Otherwise it could be _very_ bad."

Said with the utmost seriousness, of course.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Not gonna lie here. Joshua stepped on a lot of landmines in the past. He was taught what was and was not polite to say to a girl and well, he's a fast learner. While some compare this to a Pretty Woman situation, Joshua fell in love with Sera well before taking advantage of the other part of it.

That said, he did just STEP ON A LANDMINE. And he realizes that as Aria comes around to his side of the table, settles herself and sets her legs across his lap, just as you please, she has claimed his as hers.

And then she's on about eggs and coffee, and he asks the obvious question. "What if it's dinner time?" he asks her with a lift of his brow and a small smile.

"The point remains. I know for the Hellfire Club... you have to have a certain availableness. The illusion that you're available. I don't want you to have to to shatter than illusion." he explains. "Otherwise, I'd show up with roses and cheer you on loudest of them all."

Not that Aria will not find herself with roses backstage _anyway_.

Aria Seraphine has posed:
Aria laughs softly, then takes a long drink from her mug -- _her_ mug!! -- of coffee before setting it back down on the table. That light blue mug has gotten to be a very familiar, very reassuring presence in her short time here, all on its own. The fact that she has something that feels like _hers_ here, even if it wasn't explicitly given to her... it still helps her feel a little more...

more...

... more like she belongs. 'Home' isn't something she's really felt since her wings were clipped. She was homeLESS for so long. Then she had a little dump of a place in Hell's Kitchen for a short time where she mostly just stashed her drugs. Then there's the place Jackie pays for which has nothing in the way of personal effects except for her clothes. Then there's Jackie's penthouse, which she's allowed -- even expected -- to use.

"Are you suggesting that I can't find coffee and eggs at dinner time? This is New York, sir. You are not safe from pants eggs."

Dramatic pause. Narrowing of her eyebrows.

"Ever."

It's only a second that ticks by, though, before she's setting her coffee back down and leaning up to kiss his cheek.

"You are welcome to clap and do whatever else you'd like. I _am_ expected to put on a show and work the crowd, but it's only the _appearance_ of availability. It's... a lot better than when I was dancing. But I think you should come and mingle. You never know who you'll meet. Sometimes, even Mister Shaw or Miss Fox come to watch me. I'll introduce you, if they do."

She pauses, picking up a piece of toast and staring at him.

"As my boyfriend," she points out. Then she gives a little shrug. "They know Jackie, too. He's the one that vouched for me to get the job. Well... get my job _back_. I was a dancer. Then Mister Shaw gave me five grand in heroin and... turns out, I had self control issues." She smiles a little. "Still do. I don't like being around the stuff. It's... too much of a temptation."

Joshua Foley has posed:
As far as Joshua is concerned, Aria is home. His door will open to her any time, she will always will be welcome. That coffee cup was just the start of that, really. He takes a bite of his eggs and considers her words about the show. And the kiss to his cheek helps with that.

"I planned on coming. And I was hoping to see you backstage. But I'm sure you have other things to tend to - so I will wait for you here and be ready to sing your praises when you arrive." he says with a wink. Just before she goes on...

...and describes something he knows...

"I tried that for a bit. After everything happened. But no money plus a healing faction... well, you'd know. It probably took all of what he gave you just to feel something. Just to get you to that bump." he comments, almost clinical in his thoughts. "I've broght someone down from a high before. I can treat the physical effects. I can't do anything for the psychological."

His eyes search hers for a moment. "I can see you're clean now, I'd picked up on your biosigns if you weren't. I mean... once I understand them better. You are an angel after all and I need to remember that."

Aria Seraphine has posed:
"You can come backstage if you want," Aria blurts out, blinking, but the words are out of her mouth before she even seems to realize she didn't control all of that. _Was_ Josh allowed to come back stage? She obviously didn't see why not...

She purses her lips, suddenly sheepish and unsure.

"I'll find out. If not this time, I'll see if I can get you permission for next time, for sure."

Next time.

The thought of that brought a smile to her lips.

She takes a bite of her toast, drawing in a deep breath and letting it out slowly as she listens and nods.

"It took a _lot_ of money," she admits covering her mouth while she's still chewing. She's not a _perfect_ lady. Then she swallows at the point that he's remarking on her being clean, and she nods.

"Jackie," she says softly. "Two weeks locked in a hotel room with his nurse. And, of course, the threat of what will happen if I screw up. I'm... not even allowed to drink." She rolls her eyes. "He gave me an ID that says I'm eighteen just to make it that much more difficult, and the HFC is regularly drug testing me, now... and giving the results to him. I honestly don't know how much angel there is left. Sincerely. I _feel_ things now that I never felt, before..."

One hand comes up to stroke his cheek.

"Things I never expected to feel... ever. I don't think it was possible, before. _Something_ about me changed. I don't have any idea how much, or if going back is even possible."

She pauses, then, gazing into his eyes.

"Or if... I really want to."

That admission is so quiet. So dangerous.

She leans in to place a soft kiss against his lips, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. That's all.. super heavy stuff, for breakfast. Thank you, again, for cooking for me. It's _wonderful_."

And with that, she returns her attention to her food, still draped across his lap, and seeming very content to eat without having to discuss the weight of all of creation that still rests on her shoulders. At least.. not right now.