2022-03-24 - No Such Thing as a Citrus Room

Downtown is always quaint and sweet. The sun is finally starting to creep out, letting people start to go out without all of the layers, which is honestly perfect for a day out on the town just relaxing and shopping with old friends. It's clear that Ava really needed sleep, and that she must really trust Deacon, because other than the short time that she was gone to take care of healing Una, the doctor slept soundly and for a very long time. She looked better already by the time that morning came around. The pair have been up for a few hours already, having already had breakfast and done some furniture shopping.

"I can't believe that you actually liked that orange piece. Where would you have even put it? It was awful!" Ava protests with a laugh and a shudder. "I'm glad you brought me so you didn't waste your money. It was a smart call," she assures. She's walking beside him, sans jacket, comfortable in her dark, oversized sweatshirt, a pair of black leggings and tall boots. Comfortable clothes, but still a more classic look. She has a hard time dressing 'down'.

He is dressed comfortably as well. Jeans, a t-shirt, and a flannel shirt worn open over it provide the ensemble. He does as always have his sidearm with him, badge in his wallet, and he lets his hand slide over to take Ava's as they walk. He has a hot cocoa in his free hand, having stopped for one because the weather is cool, even drizzling just a little but downtown is smart enough for the businesses to have awnings and things out that it just adds a bit of chill and damp without soaking one through their clothes. "If the rain gets too much worse we can always stop to grab an umbrella." If you're a townie, the mist in the air is pretty much the norm so it's not going to bother him too much at least. Breakfast was good, and so was grabbing him a few shirts that were put into the car. Furniture shopping however was a bit contested.

"I don't know. I think it would have worked. I could have had the citrus room. The large orange lamps. A yellow bean bag chair or couch. Maybe some pineapple art on the walls. You simply weren't seeing my vision." That...or his vision was terrible and she was good to save him from himself.

"There is no such thing as a citrus room outside of the 1970s where they needed to stay." There's a shake of Ava's head as she chuckles to herself. "You are a forty year old man, the only bean bag chairs you should have in your house should be for your kids. Grown ass adult man wanting a bean bag chair. In yellow even." There's a shudder. Half of it is teasing, but the other half is fairly serious. That is a large transgression. Yellow and orange? Citrus theme? It's just terrible. Of course, she's easily distracted by the hand that slides into her, drawing her eyes down in that direction. A brow arches for a moment as she glances up to Deacon's profile, but doesn't comment, just leaning into him arm instead.

"Trust me, I have saved you from a big mistake. You'll thank me later. When your grown up tastes kick in."

"You, missy, should just be glad my grown up tastes didn't kick in while you were sleeping or you would be a lot less rested today." Yeah, he went there. Smugly he grins over, squeezing the Doc's hand as he smiles with obvious amusement at his little joke. Still though, he looks over into those stunning eyes of hers for a moment and keeps her gaze, holding his cup up to her. "Want a sip?" He'll share if she wants some of the warm hot cocoa, though he's guessing she won't want much since she either already drank her drink or simply didn't want one when they stopped. "It's alright. You helped me get a comfortable recliner. There will be something fun about coming home, turning on whatever sportsI recorded, and then grabbing whatever take out I have and diving in voraciously with my feet up." His house is small, but it has a beautiful view of forest with tall windows and a loft bedroom. It's not meant for a family, but it is a lovely one or two person home. A child COULD make it in there too, but definitely not more than one with any semblance of comfort.

"What now? Where are we stopping first for you? Shoes? Dresses? Unmentionables?" He waggles his brow, voice dropping into something scandalously seedy as he says that last one.

"Hah! I do not give it up that easily, good sir. You're going to have to put in a lot more effort than that you know." Smug grin or not, Ava's smirking up at him knowingly. Their shared look is interrupted with the cup, and she takes a second to blink, staring at it. "Hm?" Focus. "Oh, no thank you, I just had my coffee. I should be fine for a bit. Though, I might want some if it get a little colder. I thought it was going to be warmer today, but I didn't account for the rain."

They pause outside of a cute, boutique shop as she spots a cute dress in the window. "This could work, Ava says about the shop. "It's not designer, but it is one of a kind, and that's even better if you ask me. That means that nobody else in the world has it. Spectacular." There's a little tug alon into the store as her eyes fall back to him. "Oh yeah, that recliner was basically screaming your name.

"It's alright," he says with a grin. "You don't have to have some." As he looks over and relaxes, squeezing her hand again at being called out, he just laughs a little and starts on again, looking at the different shops as well. "Yeah, the rain is a little surprise but it's fine. We'll get through it. I don't actually mind the rain," he says as he looks up before looking over again. "But I suppose I have a little bit more...I don't know...I'm bigger so maybe it doesn't bother me as much." He is relaxed, happy, enjoying the walk and then she finds the boutique.

"I don't know. I'm not sure that off the shoulder one right there is something they'd have in my size. We should probably keep going." Still though, she is tugging towards the store. And she is excited about it. He would be a very poopy face. And so he opens the door, as she's tugging him in, reachign pats her to push the door open so that she can lead the pair into the boutique.

"I don't mind the rain when I'm inside listening to it. I don't mind the rain when it's warm outside and I'm out in it. I do have some minor complaints when it's this chilly, however. The rain just gets right down into my bones." Amusement touches Ava's face when he calls her out on him being bigger. "Oh, is that what you think it is? Perhaps. More insulation to work with?" There's a little poke into his side at that.

Then there's the dragging. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll rock the off the shoulder look. You just need the right bra to go with it. I'll help you find something that suits you." Ava is sure to clean off her boots at the door before entering the store, waving in a vaguely familiar way to the shop owner that you do in all those small towns where you recognize everyone's face even if you don't know their name. "Afternoon," she calls out.

"Uh huh," he says, looking over to Ava as she pokes him in the side and he can feel it, a bit of a smirk. He looks over then, as she calls him bigger and he just takes his hand a moment and holds it up for her to see, as compared to her own. "Bigger," he says, with a hapless little shrug as he looks back. "I think it is better that way though. I don't really see you being interested in someone who isn't at least your size. I think you like that they're bigger...well, the guys you date I mean." As he enters he waves to the shop owner as well and starts to look around for something for Ava.

And so he decides to help. But they are heading into spring so it makes sense to look for things that fit. As he hands over the item he finds, he holds it up before letting Ava take it. "What about this?" The romper is a bit nice, a bit loose in the back in how it would fit - definitely something for later spring an dsummer, or early spring with a sweater. https://www.shoplizardthicket.com/anya-romper-01.html Of course, he's going to keep looking but this is his first idea for her.

Ava lifts her brows as her hand is lifted and held up against his. Her throat clears as he give his reasoning as to why big is good. "I wasn't aware that that was something you concerned yourself about." There's a hint of a flush on her cheeks as Ava busies herself with the racks of clothes in front of her. Luckily there's lots of beautiful clothing in front of her to keep herself distracted. "My dating life, that is," she adds. "When did that become a thing?" A dress is pulled from the racks so that she can study it quietly.

Her eyes lift and turn to study the white romper that he picked out. "See? Where was this sense of style when we were looking at furniture? That is gorgeous! Maybe with a cute hat while I'm gardening in the back yard. I've been wanting to get a greenhouse built in the back." She reaches out to run her fingers over it, nodding. "I like it! I'll have to try it on."

Deacon doesn't answer right away. It's more fun with her asking those questions to let her stew a bit as he goes about the racks, picking out differnt things before he finds a white top with a floral pattern on it, the top having two straps for the shoulders and a whitely scooped neckline to show off a bit of the girls before sliding down to a loose, almost flowy bottom that would go well with jeans and play well in the wind or breeze. "This one too,' he offers, handing her the top and his eyes widen just a bit. "I beg your pardon."

OH yeah, now she's gone an ddone it. "I'll have you know that my sense of style is JUST fine. I am positive that it is you, and only you, who didn't think that the citrus room was a brilliant idea. Think of all the alcoholic drinks that include citrus that we could have had. COuld have absolutely revelled in there. But no...you just had to poopoo my dream room. Monster..." he adds, clearly teasing though he doesn't let her see his face and the smirk that is on it, impossible to wipe off at this point. He instead also busies himself now looking at clothes so she can't so easily see that he is joking.

"Deac?" Ava glance at him, but now he's playing coy. Or rather, just playing around. Her lips press and a breath of frustration blows through her nose. Men! "Yes, that one is also nice," she states with a nod, adding it over her wrist with the other.

There's a roll of eyes, clearly exaggerated for his benefit. "I mean, it's your house. If you really want a citrus room, build a citrus room. But you're never going to get laid in there. Don't say I didn't warn you! You'll end up having nightmares about that room eventually. Even if you move out, that room would haunt you. For all eternity. You live in another house entirely, turn and then somehow, some way, end up back in the citrus room. Like a never ending fruit night terror."

"Ew...no. Never again," as Ava uses the shortened form of his name. "That nickname is horrible. Just...and only...Deacon..." Yeah, that nickname, she can see it on his face. That did not settle well. He even gives a little fake shiver as if he is getting rid of the heebie jeebies. "That's going to give me nightmares," he says, accusingly, as he looks across one of the racks to her. Still though, she takes the top and this he is okay with. "See, I am good at picking out what will look good on you. Easy,"

"So..." he says, looking to the items he has found as well as those that Ava has collected and has folded over her arm. "I have a crazy idea." He points to the changing rooms. "Rather than collecting the whole store, why not take a few of those in there and get yourself changed and try them on, hmmm?"

Now whose turn is it to get an evil glimmer in their eyes? Can he see it? That sparkle shining in Ava's expression in how vehemently he didn't like that. "Noted," is all she offers in a tone that's a little bit too sweet for her to have taken that perfectly seriously. Uh oh. "Well. There's a difference between picking out what looks good on me and picking out what you want to see on me. We'll have to see if the two actually meet in the middle."

She stands still where she is with the bundle of clothes over her arm, staring up into Deacon's eyes with a blithe smile. "That sounds great. As soon as you answer the question I asked you earlier."

He had managed to avoid the question from last night, about the bikini, so at first he assumes she meant that. Which is when he looks over, "Oh, you mean the time in Mexico? How there I was, going through the lost and found of nothing but women's swimsuits?" He just grins, and there it is, his own evil spark. As he looks to her, there's a slow smile that spreads, from the center of his mouth out to the corners, and then his eyes seem to catch a bit of it as well. But if a smile can be dark...this is one. "Yeah...I made that whole thing up. I've never worn a bikini. I just needed to give you something to look forward to so that you'd go to sleep."

Yup...he's a biiiiiiiiig fat liar on that one. He just whistles quietly as he waits to see her response, moving a few more articles of clothing along the racks finds a rather nice outfit as well, and grabs a coat from another rack. https://files-cdn.sharenator.com/2020/05/54523815_2315019648750359_9172797298000789504_o.jpg He hands that over next, "Oh earlier today earlier? Which question is that exactly? You ask so many I'm finding it hard to keep track."

Ava opens her mouth, then closes it, looking sorely disappointed in him for a moment. "That was not the one that I meant. But that does make me a little sad, I won't lie. I was quite interested in that story. Here I thought you had a little character." She turns with a bit of a huff, adding a little insult, of "For once," over her shoulder as she continues her search through the racks, pulling out a pale gold dress with deep gold laces along the back. It's looped over her arm as well.

"I probably would have been just as interested in a real story about your life, you know." Now she doesn't know what side is up with him. Thrown off, she can only assume everything has just been a playful game until this point and should be treated as such. "I'm going to go try some stuff on." It's stated a little shortly as she takes that last outfit from him and quick walks away from him towards the dressing room. The woman running the store looks at her, then at him and raises her brow a little, shaking her head for a moment. The woman doesn't need the Shine to read that body language.

"Heeey," he says, as she mentions that about the night before and that she would have been interested in a real story. "I...you've been around for most of anything significant that's happened. I haven't made that many FUN stories yet..." He sighs though as she walks off to go change and he leans against the wall before he looks over to the woman running the store and she has that look on her face. "I know..." he says. "You don't have to add salt to the wound."

He finds a chair to sit down in and puts his chin in his hands, elbows on his knees as he sighs and waits. There's no other come backs, and when she comes out and opens the door, she can see that the fun he's had most of the day that -was- real is gone a bit now that he's obviously upset her.

"That wasn't the question she was asking about, ya dummy," the older woman offers in true Yenta style, before waving off his comment and moving towards the changing rooms to see if Ava needs any help. She doesn't come out for each piece of clothing, that'd be silly. Only when she isn't sure about something, or needs help from the clerk with finding a matching piece. One of the times she steps out it's for a shirt that she'd picked out with paneling of lace, both sheer and modesty, fit snug to the form with a slightly lower than empire waist and long sleeves. "I just need a skirt that would work. Lower on the hips. Either pure black, or very pale brown I think," she remarks in quite tones.

She gives a nod and a brief smile to the other woman before glancing towards Deacon with a slightly tighter smile. "I won't be much longer," she promises softly. "Sorry it's taking so long. It was a lot of clothes."

"It's fine, take your time," he says. "Though you trying them on and not coming out sort of defeated the purpose of my coming along," he adds with a little light chuckle. "I was looking forward to seeing you try them all on." Silly...maybe. But also a fun way to let him see her in many different looks...or more appropriately for him to get to see HER in the different looks as she checks how things fit and such. Still though, he adds, "Also, speaking of...the answer is of course I pay attention to who you're seeing. First of all I've known you a long time. And second of all, you help the department. I need to make sure that someone isn't trying to see you who shouldn't be."

Of course that begs a whole other can of worms as to who you 'should or shouldn't be' dating and in which case does he get to have a say in the matter. The shop owner for now is ignored because she is clearly going to be of no use to him.

Ava arches a brow, gazing at him in amusement. "Oh ho, I see. So you want a fashion show, hm? I suppose I can arrange for you to see a couple of them." Some of that sparkle is gone from her eyes, but the smile is still there. Something he said before really must have gotten to her. But it's hard to tell what. "Well, what do you think of this one? Not for work, I imagine if I can ever get a date around here, it'd be good for that." She gives a little twirl, posing, offering a sultry look or two. Hair up, hair down.

The hair comes down slowly, the sultry look melting into a lifted brow sort of thing, hands moving towards her hips. "Who exactly should I or should I not be dating, then?" Ava suddenly wonders. The hurt is gone from her eyes and is replaced with a hint of fire. "Since when did that matter to you? Do you do this for everyone who works with the police?"

"Well helloooo...." he says, in that 'well duh' sort of tone. "In the history of shopping, the only reason a guy ever goes shopping with the girl is because he is waiting to go to the store /he/ wants to go to after, or it's because he wants to see said girl in whatever outfit of choice that is coming up. That's it, those are the two - no wait, I forgot one. Make-up Shopping. It's not as fun for him of course as make up sex, but it's the alternative to possibly breaking up when sex is definitely out of the equation."

He grins though as she comes out and she twirls, nodding. "Well I am probably not the most qualified on who you should or shouldn't be dating cause I'm biased," he says simply. "But as a matter of fact, no. I don't pay attention to who every woman who works for the police department is dating. Only the important one." Not important ones. One.

"Are you trying to say that guy and girl friends can't possibly go clothes shopping together? That's ridiculous! A guy has to be into a girl to want to go with the girl clothes shopping? Shopping is a thing friends can do." Ava pauses, her lips turning down. "Oh that dick," she growls. "Is that why he won't go shopping for the stupid, tacky, thrift pajamas with me? Because you can't do it as friends or unless you're attracted to them? Ew." But that means.

Her eyes go back to Deacon in a slow blink. Give her a second. Biased. Only important one. Ava's hands are still on her hips. "I know you're just saying all this so that I'm all relaxed and willing to go to sleep again tonight. You can drop the act, it's fine. I've had a very nice time, regardless," she assures, trying to gently let him off the hook.

"Shopping is a thing girlfriends can do together. Or a thing guys do when they can hang out and talk to each other while their girlfriends walk the mall. It's not something we ever want to do. Unless it's Beach Bunny Swimwear. Or VIctoria's Secret. Or in my case, becuase I wanted to do something really nice that you might enjoy. But also cause I wanted to see you in different outfits. So there was still an ulterior motive.

Still, she mentions letting him off easily and he just looks at her for a moment. "Alright," is all he says for a second, and she can probably think that she had it nailed. That it was all an act. But he steps forwards anyway which is probably so he can hand her purse back or something. Only a hand slips around her waist which is good. Friends should hug goodbye right? But of course then her back is pressed to the changing room door, and that might cause a moment's confusion as she looks up which is when his lips press to hers in a rather demanding fashion, making it clear that this is not just a casual peck or kiss goodbye. Nope....this is definitely a HEY-O type of kiss.

"That's ridiculous," Ava adds again. "Some sort of weird macho stuff that I will never understand. Shopping can be fun for anyone, regardless." Still, it would explain a few things, which clearly irritates the good doctor. Which means she's already a little off balance. The 'alright' seems to be expected, but it still stings. Then, of course, he's walking forward, instead of away.

"Right, my purse, tha--" The arm loops around her and the surprise touches her face before she starts to awkwardly reach up to wrap arms around his shoulders to return what she expected to be a hug. Only to find herself pressed back into the door. Lips press and it's safe to say that Ava is beside herself in surprise. There's a noise of surprise, in fact, her body still, lips as well, before she's finally returning it. Give her a break, it's been a while. Her cheeks are red and flushed by the time they here the throat clearing from the woman who runs the store. Ava's hands press into his chest as she takes a deep breath. "Sorry," she murmurs to the woman before looking up wide eyed towards Deacon. "What was that?"

"You stuck your nose in it," he says to the shop keeper. "Now you get to mind your business while I fix it," he says, simply and he turns back to Ava. Even though she asked the question, he doesn't answer with words. Instead, he steps closer, so that she can feel the length of his tall frame pressed to hers against the door and he cups her cheek, tilting her head up to him to kiss her once more. He doesn't seem to mind the wide eyes. She has pretty eyes. They can be wide while he kisses her again.

Only after kiss, the sequel, does he step back and look to Ava. "Answering your question," he says. "About who should you be dating. Let me know if you have any further questions. I'll wait outside while you change and pick out your last purchases." And with that he smiles, hands her purse over, gives a tip of an imaginary hat to the shop owner, and he walks outside to wait for Ava.

"Deacon," Ava says in a slightly sharp tone as he says that to the shop keeper, who scoffs at the pair of them. Ava offers her an apologetic look in the meantime and looks like she's about to reprimand him a little more when she's pulled in for a second kiss. It's hard to argue when you're actively sinking into one of those, though. There's a soft, pleased noise escaping her before she can stop it, a confused look on her face as he pulls back.

"Oh," she states, as numb fingers take the purse. Ava is left standing there for a few moments, just holding onto the purse and staring at the door he walked out of until the shop owner approaches her with a sour look and the skirt she suggests Ava try with the shirt she's wearing. Ava blinks, offering another look of apology towards the woman. "I really am sorry about him." But is she? It's hard to tell with the flushed cheeks and the faint smile. "I'll be out in a second. If it helps at all. I plan on spending an awful lot of money." The older shop keeper chuckles and pats Ava on the hand. "That helps more than the apology," she says and toddles back off towards the floor.

Ava laughs too, a brighter kind of laugh, like someone still floating as she drifts back into the changing room to finish her shopping.