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Having worked out a time and place to meet up with Eugene, Annie is standing in the line at the café waiting somewhat nervously. Today she's dressed fairly nicely; dark blue blouse, black knee-length skirt, and low heels.
Eugene definitely has a color palette, which consists mostly of blacks and dark greys, and today's not really an exception. When they come through the door they're wearing black jeans, a pair of comfortable looking black wool shoes, and a plain black scoop neck tee that suggests more feminine in the cut of its sleeve than masculine, but is really pretty ambiguous. They make their way up to Anneliese in the line at the cafe, where fortunate nobody else is behind them so this doesn't involve cutting ahead, and say, "that's really a lovely color on you." It has to be self deprecating when they add, "the blue, since that's actually a proper color."
Annie startles slightly, not having heard Eugene approach, but then turns and smiles softly at her fellow Spring. "Thank you, Eugene. You are looking good, too." As she finishes greeting them the line advances to the point that she's at the counter, so the Nymph turns to put in her order for a large strawberry mocha, with a double shot of espresso. Once that's done, she waits for the Darkling to make their order as well.
"Thanks. I do actually own some things that aren't black, but I always feel self-conscious in bright colors." Eugene orders a mocha latte for themself, nothing extra added just exactly as it defaults on the cafe's menu, and then takes out the same clip they removed a business card from in the past and takes out a credit card. "Let me treat? I remember what it was like when I was in school, trying to make ends meet, and I don't presume to know your situation, but..."
"I am getting by, but I will not say no to being treated," Annie admits, smiling at Eugene once more. "Thank you, again." After the payment is processed, she glances around the café. "Do you have a preference for where to sit?"
"I have no doubt," Eugene agrees, but they offer their card to the cashier and pay for the drinks, then look around and point to a table toward the back of the cafe. "What about over there? The table by the window would be good for people watching, but it's a little bright for my taste today, and I'm confident my gaze is going to be mostly on you anyway."
"Sounds good," Annie agrees, pinking slightly as she leads the way to the indicated table, letting Eugene pick where they want to sit first before taking the opposite chair. "How have you been?"
Eugene's expressions aren't the easiest to read, but when they smile the shape if it does reveal itself in the swirls of the face's smoke, and the faint blush makes that smile peek out. When they reach the table Eugene takes the chair with its back to the room, which seems like a deliberate choice, but that might be because it puts their back to the window, too. When they sit they look relaxed and confident. "Mostly well," they say. "I've been feeling a little guilty about the conversation I had with Michael yesterday, though. What about you?"
"Good," Annie shrugs slightly. "Studying and working, mostly," she admits. "I am sure you can remember how much time school alone can take up." She pauses for a moment, chewing her lip in thought. "What made you choose to become a therapist, if you do not mind my asking?"
"Just many years of my life," Eugene answers with a quiet laugh that, as always, makes their smoky form shift and pulse. "I remember being exhausted all the time, so I can sure understand why you wanted an extra shot of espresso. I hope you find enough time to relax in between your job and school work."
They lean forward to rest their forearms on the edge of table and consider that question a moment before answering. "I've always been good at connecting to people. Understanding how they feel, and picking up on it when they're hurting. As long as I can remember, I've also wanted to help people feel better. There's little worse than feeling helpless."
"The balance can be hard, but I think I am managing it well enough," Annie agrees, chuckling quietly. Their response to her question gets a nod. "Helping people is always a good feeling. It is one of the biggest reasons I chose to study medicine, too."
"You said you want to go into general practice, right?" Eugene asks with a slight nod, since they understand how the desire to help would lead someone there. "Or at least that you were leaning that way? There's a lot of room to make a positive impact there."
"I do, yes. I have plenty of time before I have to choose my specialty for real, of course, but I cannot really imagine myself picking anything else." Annie shrugs lightly. "I know it is less glamourous than some of the others, but I want the variety of challenges it entails."
"Are you doing it for the glamour, or for the results?" Eugene asks with a shrug, rhetorically, since they personally don't care much about glamour. Well, not the sort with a lower-case g anyway. "When you're not busy with your work and your studies, what sorts of things do you enjoy doing?"
"The results, definitely," Annie says firmly. The question about what she enjoys doing in her free time has her chewing her lip in thought for a moment. "Making music, obviously. Swimming, when I have the chance. Spending time with my friends. You?"
Eugene's forward posture straightens just a little and then they sit back and lift a hand to put it on their chest. "You know." They pause a moment again. "I don't think I've gone swimming since before my long trip. I don't think I've even thought about it." This is a revelation, from the sound of it.
"Did you enjoy swimming, Before?" Annie asks gently, leaning in slightly. "I do not mean to distress you."
"Oh, it's not distress exactly. Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong." Eugene leans forward again and slides a hand part way across the table. "I promise, I'm not upset, just surprised. It's actually a somewhat complicated question. I loved swimming, but I was also always really self conscious about everything surrounding going swimming."
"Fair enough," Annie admits, taking their hand and squeezing it gently. "I know that can be a common problem, for our community." She shrugs lightly. "Thankfully it is not one I have to face, anymore."
Eugene offers a gentle squeeze in kind. There's more substance to their touch than it seems like, but their touch is soft and warmer than human body temperature seems like it would be, though not significantly. "It can be, and I'm glad if it's not one you have to worry about any more. There are more options for me now, and I care what other people think less, so I think the way it used to make me feel is more of a factor than how I feel now. Maybe I should find a gym with a pool. Where do you usually swim?"
"At Simpson Recreation Center, usually," Annie says, her free hand retrieving her phone from her pocket, tapping away briefly before hitting send and putting it back again. "Maybe we should go together sometime?"
"I'd like that." Eugene's hand squeezes softly, then the message comes through and their phone buzzes. They seem briefly surprised, like they didn't expect it to be them that Annie was sending a message to, but they shift to get their phone from their back pocket with their free hand, take it out, and glance at it before putting it down on the table. The smile they're wearing at the thought that brings them is wide enough to be clearly visible despite their shifting facial features. "That sounds marvelous, in fact," they say, probably referring to the message now, and not the community pool.
"Sounds like a date," Annie smiles mischievously, before glancing up and thanking the server delivering their respective coffees. She takes a sip before continuing. "What else do you like doing, outside of helping people with their issues?"
"I suppose it does," agrees Eugene. Coffee arriving means releasing hands to manage large coffee mugs, and Eugene picks theirs up and holds it between long, wispy fingers as they take a careful sip. "Mm, still kind of hot," they say as they set it back down. "Do you promise you won't make fun of me?"
"I promise not to make fun of you," Annie says, looking Eugene right in the eyes, giving them implicit permission to Seal her words.
It's the kind of thing that they might do just on reflex, but they weren't genuinely worried about being made fun of, so the Sealing doesn't come. "I love table games. Board games, card games, whatever. I like trying to design them, but since I don't have a single artistic bone in my body," or look like they have any bones at all, seemingly made of smoke, "it's mostly notes and rules. Some day I might try to find someone to help me actually make something playable."
"That sounds interesting. Do you have any especial favourite games?" Annie seems genuinely curious, and not just wanting to keep her promise
"Social games that are designed to make the people playing it laugh are my favorite," Eugene answers with another of their smiles. "There was a bar near my apartment in Chicago that had a shelf full of board games and some communal tables, and I enjoyed getting strangers to play games with me. Frequently they weren't strangers any more by the end of the night. I enjoy strategy games too, but they're harder to get people into."
"Strategy games like Chess, or?" Annie asks. "I am not especially familiar with the currently popular table games, sorry."
"Chess is okay. I also like go. There are some good modern strategy games too, though. There are always new things coming out, and most people who aren't into board gaming don't usually know about them, so don't feel bad." Eugene picks their coffee up and tests it again, then takes a full sip. "I wonder if people in our community would be interested in a game night."
"Possibly? I know Sturm paints miniatures, but I am not sure if she is into playing games with them." Annie shrugs slightly. "The worst that can happen is they say no, and I am sure there are options that work well for just two people."
"Two. Is that to imply you're interested?" Eugene asks, and this brings them another smile.
"Maybe~" Annie grins at them, before taking another sip of her coffee. "Mmmm, this is good. I usually stick to water, but I should get strawberry mochas more often."
"Maybe," Eugene echoes with a soft laugh. "I don't think I've ever had a strawberry mocha. I drink tea more often than coffee, but I love chocolate, so it was hard to pass up." They take another sip and put the mug back down. "Speaking of interest, one thing I should probably warn you about, if you're going to spend much time around me, is that I love talking with people about their feelings and mine. Feelings and boundaries, both."
"I would never have guessed, what with your occupation," Annie teases, before nodding. "Being clear about each other's boundaries sounds important, if we want to go further with this?"
Eugene's hands come up like they're surrendering. "Guilty." Then lower again. "You'd probably be surprised how often people don't actually expect me to just openly talk about things, despite my career, but yes. That raises the question, first: what is this, to you? Are we getting coffee as friends, or as potentially more? It seemed like the implication was potentially more, and that's what I'm hoping, but I'm still going to ask."
Annie pauses before answering, chewing on her lip as she arranges her thoughts. "Potentially more. I do have to confess to not being especially experienced at the whole "dating" thing, though, and you are the first person I have been interested in doing that sort of thing with who was not also a woman."
Eugene's hand slides out across the table again, palm up, inviting Annie to reach out for them. "There aren't trick questions here, and none of your answers are final, so I hope that you're not stressing about them," they say in a soft, soothing voice. "Honesty is the only thing either of us can really get wrong in these discussions, and it's okay if the answer is 'I don't know'. I take it you're usually only attracted to women?"
Annie takes Eugene's hand, nodding at their question. "So far, at least. I do not think men appeal on anything more than a purely aesthetic level, for what that is worth." Her free hand is used to lift her coffee cup to her lips for a sip before she continues. "How important is exclusivity to you?"
"That makes sense to me. I've never been interested in men romantically, but when it comes to sexual attraction everyone is fair game," Eugene answers unashamedly, though they're speaking quietly enough not to annoy other patrons who aren't trying to listen in. Eugene always speaks softly, though. "I'm flexible on the topic of exclusivity. I've been content in exclusive relationships, and I've seen multiple people at the same time. Both work for me. On that topic, I'm not currently involved with anyone else."
"Neither am I, but I still thought I should ask, since clarity on that sort of thing benefits everyone, and we both know people who are seeing multiple other people."
"We do, and I'm absolutely delighted for them all," Eugene says in a burst of compersion. "What are you looking for, in terms of exclusivity?"
Annie takes a moment to answer, clearly considering the question carefully. "I am not opposed to being exclusive, but I do prefer a degree of openness. We should discuss the matter before adding anyone for more than a one-night stand, of course."
"That works well for me." Eugene gives Annie's hand a gentle squeeze. "To make super sure we're on the same page, we both feel like one night stands are fair game, but we should talk before we start seeing other people? Do you prefer if I avoid even mention of other people I sleep with, or do you like talking about that kind of thing? I'm happy to hear anything you wanted to share, but that's not everyone's preference."
Annie returns the gentle squeeze, nodding. "That is accurate, yes. I am more than fine with you talking about other people you sleep with, but I reserve the right to stop you if it drifts into territory I am not comfortable with."
Eugene's soft laugh comes with another gentle squeeze. "I think that's one of those things that should go without saying, but it also well worth saying anyway, so thank you." Their free hand picks up their mug so they can take another sip of it, and as they're putting it down their next thought comes. "A lighter question now, before I get to another serious one." There's a warmth in the teasing tone that comes with, "is it Annie now, or Anneliese still?"
"Annie," says the eponymous Nymph, also taking a sip of her coffee before she continues. "Do you have a short version of your name you are comfortable with my using?"
It might seem like a little thing, but the answer still makes a smile wide enough for show for a few seconds come to Eugene's face. "Annie it is, then. My name in Korean is actually Yu Jin," they answer, the pronunciation just slightly different. "Diminutive versions of our names aren't as common, but sometimes just the second syllable gets used, but this isn't Korea, and who says we have to follow any sort of rules anyway? If you want to call me Yu, or Jin, or any other version of my name you decide you like, I'm probably fine with it."
"Yu Jin? Do I have that right?" Annie asks, doing her best to reproduce the - to her - unfamiliar sounds. "I do not wish to accidentally butcher your name."
"Mmhmm," Eugene answers with a nod. "It ended up being convenient for me that my parents gave me a name that's gender neutral in Korean, and also just sounds like an actual name that people use in English. Next question: are there any forms of touch you're comfortable giving general consent for? I have a constant internal battle between being a very tactile person, but also wanting to respect people's space and keep my hands to myself without consent. I don't want to make assumptions and make you uncomfortable. Or feel like I'm rushing you in any way."
"I am also rather tactile, so general small touches are more than fine," Annie answers, smiling at them. "Small displays of intimacy, like holding hands, too."
"That's good to know. Of course, if anything at all makes you uncomfortable, tell me," Eugene says with a slow nod of their head. "For my part, anything on my arms, my shoulders, my back, you're welcome to consider fair game. I'll almost never turn down a hug, and I love cuddling. Hand holding is nice. That isn't to say you should feel like you need to do all those things, just that you're welcome to. What else?" Like they're thinking about other things they should mention.
"Do you have any topics that you are absolutely not willing to discuss?" Annie asks, taking a sip of her coffee before she continues. "There are other boundaries that we should probably discuss at some point, but maybe not in a public café."
Eugene laughs at the latter statement, and nods their agreement with it as well, before answering the first one. "For now, what happened on that long trip I took. At least not now, but if I start talking about it at some point, you'll know it's on the table then. Aside from that there's nothing I can think of off hand, but if something comes up I'll try to remember this conversation, and just gently steer the conversation away from the subject. What about you?"
"Nothing that I can think of right now," Annie admits, smiling softly at them, before pausing. "Actually, wait, no. I know it should go without saying, given your profession and my studies, but I do not wish to hear about your clients in any but the most general terms."
"I appreciate that." Eugene nods, puts their free hand's fingers around the handle of their coffee cup, and continues before lifting it. "I don't talk about my patients. It wouldn't be ethical anyway, and their confidentiality is important to the relationship functioning the way it's supposed to. You have nothing to worry about there." They pick their cup up and ask, "do you prefer if one-night stands are outside of our community only, or does it not matter?" A sip.
"I am not bothered either way, but for any within our community I would prefer to know their names, so I am not taken by surprise dealing with them." Annie answers after a moment. "Same question for you, now."
"I think my answer is the same," Eugene answers after considering it. "Jealousy can happen, and it's easier to avoid or manage when things are in the open, at least for me. Surprises can be uncomfortable, and most of the time when I know instead of getting surprised I'm just happy, instead of jealous. Not that I think of myself as jealous most of the time, generally speaking."
"That makes sense," Annie nods, finishing her coffee. "Is there anything else you want to discuss here? I do not have places to be today, but I do not wish to take up more of your time than you are comfortable with."
"I think most of the important bases are covered, at least for this stage in our relationship," Eugene answers, and they brush the back of Annie's hand softly with their thumb. "I like these kinds of conversations, but it's easy to overdo it as well. Is there anything still on your mind for right now?"
Annie considers that for a moment. "How comfortable are you with being kissed in public, and to what extent?"
"Quite comfortable with it," Eugene answers without needing to think about it. "The extent is kind of contextual, but I'm capable of gently toning it down if I think it's too much."
"Of course," Annie nods. "I do not want to push you past your comfort levels, at least without explicit negotiation beforehand." She leans in, kissing Eugene gently on the cheek.
"I appreciate that, but I'm pretty hard to make really uncomfortable," Eugene says, before they lean slightly into the kiss to their cheek. It's hard to see when someone made of smoke blushes a little, even if their Mask probably shows it fine, but they shift a little in their chair and make a soft, barely audible noise that suggests they're pretty happy with that kiss. "What are your comfort levels with public kissing?" they ask, since they hadn't yet.
"About the same as yours, I think," Annie says, sitting back and smiling at her fellow Spring. "If you push too far I will let you know, of course."
"Good. Please do." Eugene leans a little toward Anneliese. "I really hate to say it, but I'm actually a little bit glad that Memento meddled. This has been nice."
"I am glad to hear it," Annie's smile is more than a little mischievous, as she matches Eugene's lean. "That does not mean I expect you to let her off the hook for ignoring your stated desire that she not meddle, of course."
"You know if I try to get her back, she'll just see that as a second victory from the same maneuver, right?" Eugene's expression reveals a flicker of a smile. "Let's talk about something else, though. Any suggestions?"
Annie makes a considering noise at that. "What is Korean cuisine like? I am not the strictest about it, but I do attempt to keep kosher, so trying new foods can be somewhat of a gamble."
"How do you feel about rice, or spicy food?" is the answer Eugene has to offer. "Not all of it is spicy, but enough of it is. We have the best fried chicken in the world, too." They hesitate a second before asking, "what does keeping kosher entail? I don't know the details."
"Rice is good," Annie says softly. "I have not had much in the way of spicy food, so I am still working out how I feel about it. Chicken is unlikely to be an option, I am afraid. My long trip left me vegetarian whenever possible." She shrugs slightly. "As for keeping kosher, well..." she fills them on the details.
Meanwhile, Eugene finishes their coffee and listens with intent interest, accepting of whatever dietary restrictions she expresses as important to her. When she's done they suggest, "should we go for a walk, maybe? It's a pretty nice day, and we've been occupying a table here for quite a while."
"Sounds good," Annie leans in to kiss them once more - on the lips, this time - before rising. "Any destination you have in mind, or just strolling?"
Eugene returns that kiss, brief and warm, before sliding off their own chair. Like the touch of their hands and their cheek, their lips are more substantial than they seem, and also not the easiest to find on someone who doesn't really have much in the way of facial features, but it's not hard to make it work.
"Just strolling, I think. It will help me get to know the city. At least, if I actually pay attention to where we're going, and not just to you." They offer their hand out to Annie. "Shall we?"
"We shall," Annie takes their hand, leading the way out of the café.
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