2019-11-19 - Bikinis, Bathtubs & Bubbly

Lab days are long, terrible, treacherous things that could crush a chemistry major's soul. If only she let 'em. Sparrow, let it be known, does not. She has coping methods. Tonight's preferred method? A bottle of something bubbly, pillows in the bathtub and her bestest blonde bestie. Despite the chill outside as winter creeps closer, she's dressed for warmer weather, the only concession she makes to the cold the long-sleeved white dress shirt worn over her favorite thinning grey tank top with six black swords on the front and a pair of short, short jean shorts. "Built a bathtub fort for us to hide out in," she half-lies (it's not like it has a blanket roof or anything) to Nicole as she leads her upstairs, a plastic tub of might-be-cookies rattling on the way up. "Cuz I am definitely in a need to hide out and actually maybe kinda sorta chill place tonight."

One might be given to wonder just where the bathtub is upon entering Sparrow's... room. Room really doesn't seem adequate to describe all this space. Is that kitchenette? If a minifridge and microwave count? Yes. Who let her have all of this space? How does she afford all of this space? Who meticulously cleans all of this space? Okay, that last one is Sparrow, closet neat freak, who moves through the space like it's nothing. "Where do you wanna start? Music or bikinis?"

Having to actually travel through the chilly autumn weather to get to Sparrow's place, Nicole is a bit more warmly dressed. Perhaps she was warned to be comfortable though, as she has forgone her usual fall attire of jeans, opting for a long, flowing broom skirt of soft cotton; cream background with a small floral print. It is worn with a cozy, oversized sweater of a deep purple and beneath that, a matching tank in case she gets too warm. Leaving her shoes and jacket downstairs, she follows Sparrow up, bare feet softly padding along. "A bathtub fort?" Nicole asks, not even trying to hide her skepticism. "Um... okay..." She shrugs and continues on. "Chill is good. I am almost always chill." It's true. She's about as laid back as they come a good percentage of the time. Though she is given to bouts of excited, rambling energy on occasion.

When they walk into Sparrow's room, Nicole's wide eyes look around. "Well shit. I think my whole trailer would fit in here. You a secret heiress or something?" Gesturing about with her hand she grins. "Living in the lap of luxury. Damn."

Chill is not Sparrow's area of expertise. Oh, she tries. Sometimes, she even manages. But it is definitely not her default state. There's a bounce in her step as she turns on heel and waggles her eyebrows at Nicole. "I'm a clever gambler," she croons as her arms sweep wide at... well, it's mostly empty space. She could possibly use some more furniture, but who cares. Lookit this place! "I gave both Corey and Alfie the option. Kinda sorta knew my brother wasn't gonna make any concessions on the kitchen and backyard and... Alfie's as laidback as they come, so." Somebody got to look generous while still getting what she wants. So tricksy. Who knows how that actually played out.

Past the two walk-in closets, past the discrete stall for the toilet and the separate glass-doored shower, there's the bathtub, easily big enough for two to sit comfortably even with pillows piled into it, complete with its own ledge and a bunch of buttons which must do something when there's water and not fluff filling the space. Next to it, there's a laptop, some bluetooth speakers, a bottle of bubbly pink moscato and, once she sets 'em down, a container of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. "Sacred space," she says of the bathroom. Or maybe the bathtub. She just steps right in and plops right down, comfortably managing to sit cross-legged.

"Remind me not to play Poker with you," Nicole teases to Sparrow. "I have a feeling though, most people have a hard time saying no to you. It's like your superhero power. You want it, you get it." She smiles and follows Sparrow into the bathroom area and takes in the bathtub fort, as it has been dubbed. "Holy shit." She looks up to Sparrow then. "I should move the salon here and call it a spa! " Letting Sparrow get comfortable first, Nicole moves to join her, but for a start, only sits on the ledge, feet in the tub. Eyeing the container of cookies, she asks, "did you or Corey make those?" her eyes look around again and she shakes her head. "Man. My tub is like... a bucket, practically. Sometimes.... sometimes I wish I had a bigger trailer or house. But I do love my place." Grinning impishly, she adds, "I'll just have to borrow yours sometimes." Wink.

Sparrow gives her brows another waggle at the mention of poker, like she is totally down to swindle everyone out of their candy. Goodness knows she couldn't play for cash, what with how much the rent on this place must cost even when split four ways. "It's true," she chirps of her superpower, utterly unashamed. When the cookies are opened, one might guess just from looking at them that they're Corey-made, as even and inviting as they are. "I do know how to bake, ya know," is Sparrow's initial answer instead, like maybe she might take credit here. But she doesn't, hurriedly adding, "They're his," with a little huff.

Pulling her laptop over, she opens up Spotify to get class underway, even as she answers, "First, private spa, invitation only. Second? You have a standing invitation. Just text ahead. And third? There's always the option of a hot tub on the lot." Music starts up, and she adds, "Let's go start with a classic--" Nevermind that it's only three years old. "--and you let me know whatcha think. We'll meander wherever." Beat. "I was thinking about stopping by yesterday..." Ya know, while she was, like, right there. But she doesn't finish the thought, busy pulling up some bikini options.

"I wasn't saying I wouldn't eat them if you made them," Nicole smirks at Sparrow's reaction to the question. "Just, you know, Corey has this reputation of amazing and I have barely had anything he's made!" She does quickly reach over to snag one of those cookies though, to remedy that, taking a nibble. "Ooh, these are good. I never thought of putting chocolate chips in peanut butter cookies. Why have I never seen this combo before?" She takes another bite, lifting her other hand to catch a crumb that has fallen and clings to her chin.

Bare feet, toes painted a robin's egg blue, turn in a bit as they rest on the bottom of the tub, the floral vine tattoo riding the curve of ankle to toe turned out towards Sparrow. She rests her elbows on her knees and leans in to glance at the laptop as Sparrows opens up her Spotify. "Deal," she says about the bathtub spa. "Yeah... I don't know. I would like some privacy options for that and my lot doesn't really offer that. I'd have to like, petition for a fence or something...." The music starts to play and Nicole smiles. "Oh, I know htis song! The video is cute. Have you seen it? " She takes another bite of cookie. chewing for a moment as she listens to the song. "It's kind of Motown meets classic rap meets soul." Tilting her head she hmms. "Yesterday? What was I doing yesterday.... what time? Was I home?" It;s hard to tell if she's home sometimes. Even when her aging Honda Accord is there, it is often dark inside.

"Cuz the obvious awesome is often elusive," Sparrow says, all mysterious-like, as if it were some sage wisdom and not just some entirely nonsensical nonsense. Waggling her own half-bitten cookie at Nicole, she poses, "Could always, like, rig a shower curtain around it," as if that weren't wholly ridiculous. "Or just flash everyone your magnificent ass now and then. Cute booty brightens everybody's day." Her own gets a little, purposeless wiggle against the pillows. When Nicole proves to already know this song, her eyes brighten, pleased. This might be more of a challenge than expected! "I have. And... you were? Your car was there. I dunno. Maybe noon. Ish?" Nevermind the touch of color coming to Sparrow's cheeks. It's nothing. She points out a fairly simple pine green bikini and asks, "Whatcha think? Figure green bikini, red hair, glitter and gold nails..."

Nicole points a finger towards Sparrow. "Good point." Perhaps nonsensical, but... yet... it made sense. At least in this instance. She wrinkles her nose at the idea of a shower curtain around a hot tub, then raises a brow at the idea of just flaunting her nakedness to her neighbors. "Um...." Blink. "Have you seen some of the people that live there?" not to mention that awkward ex living like, right next door. "I'll think of something.... Maybe." "Ah, yeah... I was home still... Worked evenings so Lacey could go to some show in Hoquiam. You should have. I wasn't really doing much. I think I dozed on the couch." She leads such an exciting life. Looking over at the bikini, she smiles. "I like it. Maybe I could find some santa suit, or candy cane, to contrast and go with yours."

Sparrow croons, "Some of them," for Nicole's neighbors like what she's seen has been nothing but yummy. Her experience is very, very limited. "I, uhm. The conversation woulda been very..." Hyperfocused on one very particular subject? She goes with, "One note," as if it would be wholly boring, even if the little grin she wears suggests anything but. In the background, untended, one song gives way to the next in the background of their conversation. "We gotta start playing some shows soon," she says of her band. "I like my basement and all..." But she's ready to go bang drums in public. An enthusiastic, "Yes!" precedes the shoving of the last of her cookie past her mouth to free her hands up for wine-pouring. "Wonder what jello does to jingle bells..."

Nicole arches a brow skeptically towards Sparrow and adds a soft, 'hmmm' to accentuate her disbelief or perhaps suspicion. "Revolving around a certain much older gentleman who sticks out in the trailer park like a diamond amongst turds?" I mean... have you seen the car he lets sit there? "I'm gonna start calling you Lolly. Little Lolita." She teases with a grin. The song playing makes her glance towards the laptop, even though the green bikini is up. "What is this? I do not know this...." Nicole had carried up with her a shoulder bag made completely of fabric and looking rather well used. From where it sits beside the tub, she pulls out her Chromebook and fires it up to look for her own bikini. "You guys should totally start playing... so I could like, see you." Pause. "yes? So.. good idea? Then like, red and green jello cubes? Should we use mushy jello or like, jello jigglers." To accentuate the talk of jello, she gives a bit of a full-body wiggle then frowns. "Um. Probably mute them and make them gross?"

Yeah. That'd be the one. Sparrow doesn't say anything, not aloud, but oh does that starry-eyed smile speak volumes. When the Lolly comment comes, her eyes go wide as she gasps, mouth gaping in (mostly) mock horror. "Then I'mma have to start wearing my hair in pigtails out of spite." Blink. "Ooh, and maybe some cute little plaid skater skirts. Get my grunge on. Mm." One hand goes to the open edge of the dress shirt she wears, almost certainly his, like she might be considering this get up. She should not be considering this get up. Thankfully, the question about the song pulls her back to the monent. "Nasty Cherry. Win. Totally aesthetic." Whatever that means. "And you can always come to our practice. That, uh, diamond of mine is gonna sometime." She offers over one of the glasses of wine--yes, she got out some good, proper wine glasses for this, nevermind that the wine's cheap and the cookies are in plastic--holding up her own as she straightens, pushes her chest out a little, and gives a shameless titty shimmy. "These are the only jello jigglers I need." Beat. "What are jello jigglers? And, uh. Joey wanted orange? But I'm with you on the festive theme."

Nicole chuckles at Sparrow's reaction, and seeing the way Sparrow touches the shirt she wears, has her suddenly wondering, "so um.... have you..." (pause for wording) "been wearing that since yesterday then?" Ah, back to music. "Nasty Cherry... I prefer my Cherry yummy... but anyway.... Maybe I will come to practice some day." She takes one of the glasses of wine, grinning at the combination of wine and peanut butter cookies. Somehow, this seems very Sparrow. She laughs at the titty shimmy. "Jigglers, you know, it's jello but made with like, less water? So it is... sturdier? Makes it finger food. You never had that? I made it all the time when I was a kid." not like most people who would say 'Mom made'. Her nose wrinkles at the thought of Orange. "I like orange jello but... for wrestling? It will make our skin look jaundiced or something. Besides, red and green will show up better...." Because that matters? "I'll convince him," she says with a sly smile. "Hmm..." she says, turning her Chromebook towards Sparrow. "Is this cheating?" On the screen is a website featuring a picture of a woman in a high-waisted red and white Christmas themed bikini-like garment.

"Wednesday," is all Sparrow answers of the shirt. Which might be concerning given that it is now Tuesday night. Hopefully, she's washed it at some point. She doesn't let it distract her from crooning, "I'll be your yummy cherry," with a flutter of dark lashes and a little shake of her head to make that brighter-than-cherry red hair of her shift a bit. "Oh, yeah, totally." She is definitely on the same page about the jigglers now! "I was just." Ahem. Mind totally in the gutter? She beams shamelessly over at Nicole and takes a big swig of her wine, all pink and bubbly and sweet. "Red and green it is," expresses her certainty that the convincing will, indeed, be successful. Without a doubt. When the proposed bikini is shown off, her eyes go wide and she declares, "No!" of possible cheating. "But it does mean I gotta step up my game, holy shit. Don't you think I'mma get distracted by how hot you are and just let you win. I can play dirty too."

Sparrow changing the topic does not stop Nicole from making a very horrified, disgusted expression, eyes traveling down to the shirt as if checking it for... bugs or something. Who knows. A week? She bites her lip after a soft, "um..." but lets it go there. if she hasn't washed it, she must not smell awful enough to make Nicole aware of that fact before. A chuckle follows at the not-so-innocent beaming smile Sparrow gives her. She nods and gives an, 'mmhmm'. Then, hearty approval of the bikini is given and Nicole smiles, looking at the tablet again. "Really? Good, cuz that was my favorite. If you had said it was cheating, I was going to have to go with this." Turning the Chromebook towards Sparrow again, a new picture is shown; a bikini reminiscent of Santa's sassy black leather belt and candy cane stripes. "And that... woulda been dangerous." Smiling though, she asks innocently, "what, that's not an option? Maybe I should go for the easy off version so you get hypnotized by my luscious lady lumps." Yes, she quoted some ancient Black Eyed Peas song, sort of. And yes, she sets the tablet on her lap and wine on the ledge to press hands to either side of her bosom, pushing those lovely breasts together, granted, under the sweater and tank so not much can be seen...

"You wanna smell?" comes with a coy lift of Sparrow's shoulder, the loose collar of the well-loved shirt drawing upward, all the easier for the redhead to breathe in whatever lingers there. Should Nicole take her up on the offer, she'll find a refined, masculine scent of white musk, lime, citron and lilac that's incidentally blended with her own perfume, one with that same white musk base, brightened by apples and apple blossoms, dragon's blood and hyacinth. Really, she smells lovely. That note of semi-tart sweetness from the nearby wine helps. The next flashed bikini gets a scheming question of, "They got that in green?" Cuz she could totally rock something a little more punk rock like that. She snorts a laugh for the tit-squishing, pointing at Nicole with her wine-holding hand as she says, "First, that would almost definitely be cheating. Second, I'm alright with you playing dirty. Not like either of us are gonna stay clean in there." With a flick of a look down at the blonde's sweater-clad chest, she laments, "And third? They're slightly--" Free hand held up to express just how very slightly, thumb and forefinger nearly touching. "--less appealing when you call 'em your luscious lady lumps."

If this was really meant as musical education, she's doing a kinda crap job of it as she pays zero mind to the music that changes up in the background, shifting now to something a little funkier, driven by bass saxophone and spooky organ.

Still thinking that maybe Sparrow has worn this shirt non-stop for a week, Nicole gently shakes her head, but tries to be polite about it. "No, thank you... I can't smell much of anything right now anyway..." She sniffles, as if to put her stuffy nose on display. Back to the bikini. "Mm.. no. Cuz it was santa themed, red and white. Maybe you could find something in sequins or velvet and just decorate it like a Christmas tree? Most everything green seems either way too... non-existent..." In more ways than one. "Or one-piece dress lingerie things. That is not a bikini." After letting her breasts go, she grins crookedly. "Hey... I'm gonna be clean. Play by the rules and not end up covered in jello...." Yeah, she knows that is not the case. When Sparrow says that calling them luscious lady lumps makes her tits less appealing, Nicole gasps! "No way! I will have you know they are amazing, no matter what I call them." She sticks her tongue out at Sparrow, then slips down into the tub fort to sit more comfortably with pillows and Sparrow. The music changes then, and once more, Nicole is giving a look towards Sparrow's laptop. "That is.... " Her brow furrows as if she doesn't quite know what to say.

"Velvet plus jello sounds like a bad idea," Sparrow considers, imagining that wet mess. Again, her index finger extends from her wine glass to point Nicole's way as she agrees, "Right!?" on the barely-thereness of festive green bikinis. But she's quick to disagree on the following point, assuring, "You're gonna end up covered in jello," dryly. "We are both gonna end up covered in jello. What we need are pretty ringside attendants who will clean us off. Sponges, tongues, whatever." Hard to be sure if, when she lifts her glass, she's drinking to those imaginary helpers or the blonde's magnificent tits. "Moloko! You should see the video for this one. Sequins and feathers everywhere." With a nudge of bare toes against Nicole's shin, she says, "Tell me what you like, and I'll find something adjacent."

"I mean... yeah, if you are planning on wearing it again... Jello plus... anything is a mess." Nicole chuckles. "Mmmmm.... I am sure we will have volunteers for that. Me, at least one maybe. You... well, leave room around the ring for my one." Nicole teases Sparrow with a wink. "Uh... I like her voice, just the music rings a little odd for me at the moment. I like... I dunno, depends on my mood. Often, mellow, senual, jazzy, soul, funk, trap soul I heard one person I like called.... Sometimes, I like harder stuff. But mostly that."

Sparrow winks across the bathtub fort to assure that there'll be space for at least one. But maybe only that. Utterly shameless. Mostly. There's a little creep of something softer edging into her expression that doesn't really get a chance to manifest before she's setting down her wine and fussing with her laptop, murmuring, "Alright. Let's see," and filtering through all her nonsense on Spotify. "Mellow... Funk... I gotcha, gorgeous." And true to her word, something a bit funky and floaty. At least to begin. Her head bobs along to the music as she plucks up her glass and sinks back in against the pillows. "Gotta a minion helping coordinate things for the event. He met up with Joey, talked raffle and auctioning off people's time. Like a day helping around the house or using your skills or a lunch date or whatever. I dunno. And I'm thinking... maybe instead of a raffle, we do a silent auction? Like lump it all together, let people place their bids on slips. All proceeds go to the charity." She should probably stop there, but... "I'm, uh. Going to another charity event maybe. Just before finals," comes with a snort. And then a vaguely horrified look, "Just need something black tie appropriate to wear." Sip.

Nicole reaches for another cookie, starting to nibble as Sparrow plays with her laptop. When the song begins to play, Nicole starts to bob her head gently. Finishing the cookie while she listens and reaching for her glass of wine, to finish that off, she settles the empty glass on the ledge then and leans back. "Mm.. yes. I do like this. Sounds vaguely familiar, but I can't place it." Her lips spread into an easy grin. "Yay for minions! Ooh! I think I talked Dylan into doing up a sketch of us jello wrestling to be auctioned. I could offer a free salon day too... or, with limits. I like that better than a raffle. Silent auction." Her eyes open then and she looks across to Sparrow. "You? Black tie?" Pause. "Before finals?"

"GRiZ," Sparrow explains of the music, nice and easy. And incomplete. That's all she offers as she pours herself some more wine and offers to top Nicole off. "That--" The sketch from Rink, she means. "--would be fucking fantastic." With a quirk of a grin, she asks, "Are we gonna have to pose in our bikinis for him?" As she sets the bottle back down, sinking lower into the pillows once more, she wonders, "We should probably do some prep ourselves. Practice, like... grappling and safe falling and how to hit each other and put on a good show without giving each other black eyes." An idea dawns, and she poses, "And we could always binge some GLOW," with a giggle. "Figure I'mma offer up a day with me, list what I'm good at. Construction, fixing stuff around the house, painting, video games, tutoring in math and physical sciences, uh..." Surely, there's more, but she just lets it trail off as, finally, she says, "Me. Black tie. Before finals," with a sorta smug smile. "My Diamond--" Who has a name, ladies. "--doesn't know when to say no yet, so I'mma keep pushing until he figures it out. We'll take a night in Seattle being fancy. Just to see him in a tux."

Pushing her glass towards Sparrow for a refill, Nicole grins. "I've posed for him in less....." The look on her face is downright mischievous. "I was thinking um... like, I dunno, if I don't fuck things up before then, I might give it to Joey for Christmas. Shhh. Maybe. I kind of love it, but, is it weird to have a mostly nude portrait of yourself? I am sure, though, that he would not argue against us posing in bikinis for him." Her lips twist to the side as she considers practicing. "I mean.. we could. But like, if I got a black eye wrestling you in jello? I would wear it like a badge of honor." She laughs and says, "I've never actually seen that show. Wait, you are good with house repairs and construction too? Me too!" She grins and nods at the talk of black tie. "I am sure, like most men, all you would have to say is, 'please wear a tux' and they would. Like, to anywhere. Including him. You have him wrapped around your finger...." She lifts her glass for another sip. "Or vice versa."

"Not. At. All," Sparrow assures with certainty of the nude portrait. "Perfectly acceptable for you to keep it for yourself and appreciate how damned hot you are and totally sweet as a gift for the guy you want thinking about how damned hot you are all the time." She lifts her empty hand into a loose and lazy fist, grinning like she's sizing the blonde up, angling to make that shiner happen. "You should," she says of GLOW. "Not that jello wrestling's really the same thing, but." Whatever. It's close enough, right? After another swig of wine, she proposes, "We could totally start our own hot chick home repair service," ignoring that they both have other jobs and responsibilities. Why not dream a little? For the last, for that talk of formal wear, she notes more quietly, "I wanna see how far he'll go, how well he'll keep up with me." With a wobble of her glass, she admits, "But... yeah. Probably a bit of both. I'm, uh." Her gaze skirts off the side as her smile dims without disappearing. "He's something special, Nicole. I'm trying not to talk about nothing but him, but he is damned near all that's in my head."

"I'll figure something out. Maybe I'll take a picture of it and get a print to frame and give him the original... or something." Nicole shrugs then says, "oh, that reminds me." Reaching over the edge of the tub, she rummages around in her bag for her phone, pulling it out finally and tapping at it a few times before setting it back down again. "Been meaning to tease him with little bits of the painting. Just sent the first bit." She grins a bit broadly and wickedly. "No context, and nothing at all that even hints at what it might be. Anyway, where were we? Oh, right. He should be thinking about how damned hot I am all the time. Cuz I am." She smiles and for emphasis, tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Maybe we can watch at least some of it together, if its on like, Netflix or something. Wrestling like that is not what we are doing, I hope... I mean. Ow. I imagine mostly we'll be sliding and grappling and laughing and looking sexy, til I win for Joey's sexiness." Cheeky! Her smile matches the sentiment. "Oh! We could! Like those maids who wear french maid costumes and charge a ton of money so horny men and women can watch them bend over as they dust... except, we can wear booty shorts and bikini halters or crop tops that accentuate or assets and... um... lay tile? Polish some wood?" She's had some wine. Not enough to be drunk, but definitely enough to make herself giggle at those sentiments.

When she gains control of her giggling, her lips twist to the side. "Just... be careful Sparrow. You seem like..." Her eyes flick to the shirt believed to be worn for a week straight then back up to Sparrow's eyes. "Infatuated. And... I know what it can be like to be... well, obsessed, really, if he is all that is in your head. And, as much as I profess to not be at all about feelings and... shit. Like, I get it." She is not caught in feelings. She is not..... Nope. She will deny it completely. "Not that being that into someone is necessarily bad, but it can end up being... for lots of reasons. Like... he's old enough to be your Dad, and is, I mean, from what I can tell, completely not the sort to dye their hair brighter than a fire engine and. I mean, he seems like some trailer park version of James Bond. And honestly, I do not understand why he lives there if he can afford that car and this lavish... lifestyle where he invites you to black tie events? I dunno. Not my business I guess just.... be careful you don't end up some non-Sparrow stepford wife trophy. 'Oh, look at me, I can land a hottie barely able to drink!'" She waves her hand and shakes her head. "On the other hand... if he isn't some weirdo with a Lolita fetish trying to mold you into his perfect plaything.... and he is genuine Diamond and not some trash zirconia or cut crsytal... and you TRULY like him as much as you think you do, seem to.... then, be careful for other reasons."

What other reasons, Nicole?

"You could end up pushing him too far, like, away, in this test of yours to see how far he will go. If you really like him, you should be walking together, not trying to keep up... you know? Push someone too far and..." Nicole makes a gesture with her hand, flicking air towards the door.

"You? Are devious." Sparrow sounds entirely impressed with Nicole's teasing tactics, sharing that picture one tidbit at a time. "Which isn't gonna be enough to save you in the ring, gorgeous. You go ahead and giggle and look sexy. I'm playing to win." It might be more threatening if she didn't add a cheesy brow-waggle to the end, if she didn't spill into giggles. Which only grow louder, fuller for the magnificent way that Nicole spins that business proposal. "So much screwing and nailing! Getting busy with our power tools." All light-hearted fun. Until her eyes alight with an idea. "We're gonna do a calendar. Let's catch up with Rink." She puts a pin in that thought, something to follow-up on later. Cuz, right now?

There's serious talk.

Should Sparrow be smiling through it? Possibly not, but she can't help it. It's sweet! She does try to hide it behind her lifted wine glass, but the affection--and amusement--in her eyes is pretty easy to read as she keeps her focus steady on the sagacious blonde on the other side of the tub. "You're wonderful," is her first answer to that heartfelt lecture. "I'm really, really glad to know you're looking out for me." She raises her glass and drinks to that, a rather hefty swig that might be meant to fuel the rest of her answer. "First? He's there to be close to his family. He spent a lot of time away, and now? He wants to be part of their lives as directly as he can. Second? I invited him to the gala. Didn't expect him to say yes, but sure as fuck not gonna back down. Not when it means I get him for a whole night without him being on call cuz he'll be in Seattle and work can fuck right off." With the moscato sloshing through her brain, she needs a second to remember the other points she means to make. "Third?" Is that where we are? "I'm the aggressor here. He was sure we were gonna have nothing in common, had very little interest in getting involved with someone so young. I am not his fetish, and neither is he mine. But..." She shrugs slow and high. "We click. Like whoa. And that keeping up thing is what makes it so exhilarating. And..."

She looks down, expression softening. "There have been quiet moments. Time when we just slow down and share space and there's no game to it at all. It's not all a race." A touch of color in her cheeks, she looks up again, admitting, "This feels weightier than infatuation. Trying to remember that it's only been a couple weeks--" If that. "--but man..." She sighs audibly, an ache in that sound.

Nicole's phone buzzes on the edge and she picks it back up, smiling and biting her lower lip as she sends off a text or two, only for it to buzz again, then replying. Buzz. Reply. "Ahem... sorry..." She slides the phone back to the edge. "I already told you... I am winning. I have to, to ensure Joey's title. I am sure you'll manage to win in other ways though... if you make other goals than that." She grins, then bursts into laughter as Sparrow builds on the Handy Women ideas. Pause. "We can call ourselves the Handsy women!" She laughs then takes her wine again. "Calendar?" There is a head tilt before Sparrow dives into the more serious matters.

"I can't help it," Nicole says with a small shoulder shrug. "It's in my nature to look out for those I care about. Sometimes, to worry for them. I mean, Like, there's a reason I can't let myself.. you know." She shakes her head, inhaling a slow breath to rid herself of emotion building. "Everything turns to shit. So... Like you said, enjoy the fun while it is fun. If it becomes unfun, I'll be here." She listens then to Sparrows First, Second, and Third points without interruption. "Well, okay then. Kudos to him for wanting to reconnect with his family. Can I still call him Trailer Park James Bond? Second.... how did you even ... like... I mean, no offense... please don't take it that way. But how did you get invited to a black tie gala to invite him to? Is it a Departmental thing or something?" Black tie galas are just not something Nicole hears about around these parts often. Unless it's the Addingtons showing off. "Wait, its in Seattle?" Even more confusing. But, she shrugs. "Then... I am glad you click, and I will let you be with your clicking, and try not to fret that he is changing the channel on the remote. And... " Weightier.... "Just... " She takes a breath and lets out it. "Enjoy it then." And be careful... be careful. It is not said, but it is there in the worry in her eyes. She smiles though, showing support and care for her friend. Shrugging one shoulder she says, "maybe I just need to go over there, knock on his door, and get to know the man."

There are reasons Sparrow and Nicole get on so well, and several of those reasons are laid out so very plainly in the way Nicole teases in texts, taunts so expertly and then makes the very best dirty pun to build on that off-hand idea from the redhead. Pay no mind to how happily Sparrow stares at her partner in mischief over there. She's having a This Is My Person moment, okay?

That moon-eyed appreciation for her friend does not diminish as she listens to those counterpoints and considerations, though she nods firm and certain to promise that, yes, when it gets unfun, she knows where to find her support. "You can still call him Trailer Park James Bond," as if that were her permission to give. With a snort of laughter, she admits, "Google," about the gala. Which isn't helpful on his own. "It's a charity thing they throw every year to help with the city's homeless. Pay to get in. Which he will." Not her. "They've got tarot readings. And given how we met?" Which she hasn't mentioned. "It's relevant. Felt like fate. I had to ask." She draws her wine glass toward her chest, as if to bring her hand to her heart, and gives Nicole a very serious look. "But I'm not changing. Promise. I'mma find a way to punk the fuck out of formal wear--" Nevermind that her version of the punk aesthetic is decidedly poppy. "--and bring all the color I can into his more muted world. And if I ever lose my way? I've always got you to fix me up with a new color and Bax to--" She just smiles crookedly and murmurs, "Be Bax." Whatever that means. She met him at the Halloween party, right? Colorful, magical, magnificent. Hard to fall too hard into banality with a Bax in her life. "And yes, you should go talk with him." Beat. "And lemme know whatcha think."

Nicole's phone buzzes again and she bites her lip, trying to resist, but alas... she cannot. She picks it up and glances at it. What she sees makes her bite her lip harder and cheek to blush. She moves the screen a bit so only the last text shows on the screen, having to turn her phone sideways to manage it, and shows Sparrow.

(TXT to Nicole) Joey : Hi Sparrow (winky face). You advocating for my honor today?

Pulling it back, she purses her lips together in that way that brings out her dimples and types something back to him.

"So um... how did you meet?" she asks, finally looking up again. She doesn't set the phone aside, but holds it at her chest, unfolding her legs and stretching them out to the side of Sparrow so she can slouch down a bit. "Do I get to do your hair for this thing? Oh wait, Seattle... well shit. Send pictures." Smiling she nods and says, "Bax is pretty awesome. You mean Grant, right? I do his hair too." She nods again. "I will. Should I storm over and knock forcefully on his door and when he answers be all 'so, you're old man Yule, huh? What are your intentions with my Sparrow?'" She wouldn't. Right? She wouldn't do that. Hard to tell from that very wicked grin.

"You can tell him that, yes, I'm advocating for his honor, but he knows as well as I do that Jaime's the sexier one." Does he, Sparrow? She certainly wears a grin just arrogant enough to suggest some confidence that Joey might side with her on this one. And she certainly doesn't seem to mind watching that remote flirtation one little bit. Untended, the music goes from one floaty funky song into another, even if this one might be more familiar to Nicole. Really, the pretense of musical education has fallen far, far to the wayside here, all but forgotten. Sparrow plucks up another cookie while she watches her friend with her phone.

"If it'll hold for the drive," she says of getting her hair did. It's only a couple hours in that very nice car of his, after all. "And yeah," confirms Bax's identity. "Shoulda known. That purple he's rocking right now? Perfect. So him." Pointing with her cookie-holding hand, she says, "You should," of that awful idea of demanding answers from Old Man Yule, delighted mischief glinting in her eyes. Oh, she can't wait to hear about that! But... there was a question. "We met at the Pourhouse. One of my rare nights to myself, right? Figured I'd have a drink, not think too hard about anything. And he told me my horoscope. Without knowing a damned thing about me. Called me out." Which makes her smile all warm and dopey. "So, I returned the favor, read his fortune from our drink orders. Cuz I can bullshit with the best of 'em. Our first date the next day both began and ended with me reading his cards."

"Hmph." Nicole says about honor versus sexier. But, her phone buzzes again and she lifts it from her chest. She sends off a reply or two, then looks VERY confused, brow creased, lip curled. "What the hell am I looking at?" Texty fingers, and then... Bzzt. She looks again then busts out in a loud laugh that has her sinking further down into the bathtub fort. Still laughing, another text is sent. Her smile surely making her cheeks hurt by now, she starts typing then looks horrified. "Oh shit!" Backspacsbackspacebackspace. Find emoji. Send. "So uh... where were we? Sorry.... " She sighs, her cheeks on fire.

"Oh right... Yeah, depending, it should hold. Unless you do something naughty on the way up, then I can't guarantee anything." She winks across to Sparrow then listens to the how-we-met story. "Like... just looked at you and said... Cancer. Today your favorite color is red. You will enjoy libations with a stranger. Don't fear grey hair." She shrugs then shakes her head. "I don't even know your sign, or your birthday.... or that you read tarot cards? You read tarot cards?"

Sparrow has absolutely no clue what has Nicole laughing besides that it's Joey on the other end of that conversation, and that's enough to have her laughing along, genuinely giddy to share in that joy. And then she laughs louder for that look of momentary terror and the expletive that comes with it. "Man, you two are cute," she croons. Clearly, no apology is needed.

The last of her most recent cookie is washed down by the last of this glass of wine, another refill on its way as she tells Nicole, "He's not like that," of Yule. Wait. Is that right? "Not that--I mean." Her cheeks color as she tries to find words through the moscato fog in her head. "Definitely hot and heavy," she clarifies as she sinks back. "But definitely sure he can keep it in his pants until after the gala. Like. I legit literally slept with him way before I slept with him. This is not a purely physical thing. Not by a long shot." Not that she seems the sort to fall into that sort of thing, but... well... Nicole saw the way she wound up that detective at the diner. Some things are like that. "Gemini, May twenty-second and yep." She lifts her glass to that, but doesn't drink. "I figured out his sign by asking him how highly he thought of himself," comes with a snort. "Arrogant motherfucking aries." Like it's a good thing. "What about you, beautiful?"

"He um... sent me a 'duck pic' to make me feel awkward in front of you." Nicole starts giggling a little again. "But um, I almost said something so um... anyway.. um.. I like this song." She taps her fingers lightly against her phone in time to the beat of the song that is playing. But, Sparrow's own awkwardness and colored cheeks replaces Nicole's. She smiles and tilts her head. Her smile spreads, ever so slowly. "Uh huh..." she teases. "Not that... what is it, Sparrow? He's not like what? Hmm?" She does get teased, but she teases right back, doesn't she? Sparrow continues on, making Nicole just grin and grin. "Mmhmm," she murmurs, then says, "me? What about me? Oh, Joey and I totally have noooo iddues there."

"Yeah?" Sparrow quirks an eyebrow playfully. "Was it a big duck?" She can't keep a straight face, descending into giggles riotous enough that one might worry about her wine, blessedly held secure enough that, for all it wobbles, it doesn't spill onto the pillows. Her smile is nearly ear to ear as she nudges her toes against Nicole's shin and tells her, "I meant your sign, you perv!" on another sputter of laughter. "He, uh." Why are her cheeks so red! "You know, like. How sometimes it's all just gotta have it all the time? Can't keep your hands off each other? And, sure, I guess talking's alright?" The word she's looking for is lust. Or maybe fuckbuddies? Whatever. "This isn't that. Conversations at least as good as the sex and the sex is gooooood." Like eyes saucer-wide, voice dropping low, serious-face good. "I'm sure we can manage a two hour car ride and a whole damned gala before he fucks with my hair."

Picking up her phone again, which has fallen silent for now, Nicole opens up the duck pic and shows it to Sparrow. "Pretty big. nice girth. I'd say impressive." She smiles and then presses her fingers to her chest, mouthing the word 'moi' when she is called a perv. "You're the one over here talking all about how good the sex is Chica. I'm just showing duck pics. However, I am glad it is that good, and that you enjoy the conversation as well. And if he does fuck up your hair? Wear that shit like a badge of honor. Be all like..." She fluffs up her own blonde hair. "Oh this? I call this the Banging in the Backseat look." She pauses, thinking a moment. "Or maybe Road Head Hair? Who am I to judge?" She grins, tilting her glass of wine towards Sparrow. There are few people in the world who get to see Nicole in this state. Sparrow, it seems, is one of those ever so lucky special ones.

Sparrow's eyes go wide like that is not a water fowl she is looking at, as if she has been scandalized. At least until the word 'girth' comes out of Nicole's mouth, and then it's all giggling again. Really, she just has to set her wine down at this point. It's safer that way. "Wonder how he feels about you showing his duck around," she teases, feigning judgment with a little shake of her head... and a continued smile that undermines even the weakest attempt at selling that sentiment. As the stylist makes her suggestions for how to handled hair mussed in transit, the redhead straightens a bit, smile growing broad enough that her lips part, tongue just barely peeking out past teeth. "Have you seen his car?" she asks, saucer-eyed. It might actually possess something resembling a backseat, but it's hard to imagine any banging back there. "Might manage roadhead with my ass out the window. Maybe." Does she look like she's thinking about the logistics now? Yep. Damnit. "You--" Affectionately accusatory. "--are a bad, bad, wonderful influence."

Nicole drinks the last of her wine and sets the glass aside. "I thought you were the trouble supposed to be influencing me. When did this all get turned around?" She grins, crookedly. "As for his duck? Pretty sure he's super proud of it and would feel appreciated if I told him I showed it off." Raising her knee so her leg is bent, lifting the other to cross over it at the thigh, possibly flashing Sparrow what is under that skirt in the process, Nicole shifts against the pillows. Foot now taps in the air to the song that plays. Looks like Music lessons will have to happen some other time. "I've seen his car. That fancy thing I always worry is going to be stripped one day while Yule sleeps. What kind is it? looks like some... fancy.. expensive.. bougie thing. Is that a brand? Should be." She puts on a very very fake aristocratic stereotype accent. "Yeesssssss darling. Be a dear and pull around the Bougie. I wish to take a drive through the countryside estate today. No no, not the blue one, dear boy, the greeeen one." She lifts her glass for another sip and scowls at the glass, offended, when she finds it empty.

"Bathtub magic," Sparrow declares, clearly the cause of the role reversal. Simple as that. She looks, a couple times, like she might have points to make or answer to offer for the commentary about Yule's car, but before she can actually get to saying anything, there's that over-the-top impression, and she just collapses into laughter, tears at the corners of her eyes as she struggles to catch her breath. "No no," she tries to imitate, a snort interrupting her attempt. "Not eeeeemerald green, child. British raaaaacing green." Yes, she's done some googling to get the particulars on her paramour's pride and joy. It takes her several seconds to stop gasping with giggles and actually manage to speak in her own voice again, the occasional sputter still escaping. "It's a Bond car," she point out as she nudges the bottle over to Nicole. This is almost certainly gonna be the last glass. Man, where's room service? They need another bottle! "And I'm pretty sure he has a particular set of skills that'd let him make the body of whoever dared to touch his car just disappear like it never existed in the first place." Is that hot? Yeah, by the sounds of it? By the way she's grinning just a little? That's kinda hot.

Nicole is all smiles as she takes that bottle after listening to Sparrow's fake aristocracy in turn. She begins to pour the remaining contents into her glass but has to set the bottle down when Sparrow says 'it's a Bond car'. Pressing her hand to the tub edge as she closes her eyes and tries not to giggle too hard, she fails, collapsing into an absolute girlish fit. It takes her a bit to calm enough to take a few breaths, slow and deep, that help her combat the giggles more. A knowing smile upon her lips then, she finishes pouring her glass and says, "a handy skill to have, that. Right?"

Sparrow just watches Nicole for a moment in the wake of that 'right?' Her wide grin edges left a little as she murmurs, "Guess we've got some similar interests." Is Joey the type capable of that? Seems the redhead's willing to consider that possibility. She melts a little deeper into the pillows, drawing one up so that she can rest her head against it as she sinks sideways. If there's more wine to fetch, it's not a right-this-second thing, clearly. "He's got it bad for you, ya know," seems to come out of nowhere, but the thread was there, connected. "Way he smiled when I talked about you..." She shakes her head, her own smile going broader still. "Pretty sure he wanted to know each and every thing you have ever said about him to me. Not that he asked. Not like that. But I know curiosity when I see it."

Nicole tilts her head and asks innocently, "what? Like, you are the chemistry major, surely can concoct a something that devours up all evidence. Handy! And I! I can... um..." As Nicole is searching her brain for some manner in which she could make a person disappear, it finds that darker place within her memories and wipes the smile from her face. "Well, I am sure I could think of something...." she covers, with a shrug. Taking a deep breath, she exhales, then looks up to meet Sparrows eyes. Well, if anything will find Nicole's smile again, words like that will do it. It starts out small, slightly bashful looking. "Nah.. I mean, he just... we like.. you know." Shrug. Wine, yes, please. She reaches for her glass again for another sip. Sparrow continues on, talking about Joey's smile, which Nicole can see so easily in her thoughts, her own probably very similar. Sparrow surely has seen the fact that Nicole hasn't really shown much interest in anyone other than Joey, aside from mild, innocent flirtations. She looks skeptically at Sparrow though. "Did he? I mean, seem that curious?" Her own curiosity now piqued. "I... mmmm... " WINE! SIP! She looks aside, to whatever is to her right. She nibbles on her lip, gears in her mind moving. "I try to think of something to say and like, five sentences want to rush out of my mouth all at the same time and not make sense. It's like I said at the waffle shoppe that one day. It's all just... easy and natural until I think about it. I stop and think about it and like..." She shakes her head. "Anyway, we're talking about James Bond. Not me and Joey." She unfolds her leg that is crossed over the other and uses her toes to nudge at Sparrow's leg before settling it back down again.

Sparrow may well misread that dimming smile as she reminds, "You're a chemist, too," of the woman who spends a portion of her day literally mixing chemicals to bleach, dye and treat hair. It totally counts by the redhead's measure! When Nicole's smile returns, her own brightens, each of those adorable little stammerings and curiosities answered with warmth. "He really, really did." She even tries to cross her heart, but it's a little awkward while she's sunk half-sideways like that. "That's the key," she's quick to interject before that attempt at redirection, another giggle bubbling up at the nudge to her leg. "Just... no thinking. Like floating, ya know? Just lay back in the water and go where ya go." Her smile sharpens into a grin as she adds, "Except, like, the water isn't at all why you're wet and there's nothing even the littlest bit serene about it." Beat. "Except when there is." Her gaze unfocuses as she murmurs, "He's really kinda perfect," accepting the redirection if not precisely running with it.

Content to curl up however she fits in the bathtub fort, keeping her head up enough to sip from her wine, even if awkwardly, Nicole hums a little, her thoughts largely off of that darker spot in her memories and thoroughly on Joey. She listens to Sparrow, lifting her hand and sort of weaving it through the air at the talk of floating. And when Sparrow says 'he's really kinda perfect'? Nicole nods and murmurs. "He really is... and he simply has no idea." Clearly, her mind has not shifted back to Sparrow and Yule as much as she had let on before.

Nicole's phone buzzes again and she reaches for it. When she first reads it, she rolls her eyes. That is followed by a shake of her head and a laugh. "Damn fool too." Texty texty back.

"Nothing wrong with that," Sparrow croons for the fool on the other side of that text conversation. She watches for just a few seconds longer before sitting up, leaning right on into Nicole's space to press a little peck of a kiss to her cheek, and then standing up in the middle of pillowville. "I'mma go get us another bottle. You two keep it clean while I'm gone, alright?" Her stern look might be more effective if she weren't grinning like an idiot. And then off she goes in search of something bubbly to bring back to share as the night descends into more giggling and gossip. And maybe ducks. There might be ducks.