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Having relocated to somewhere more private than the middle of a mall walkway, Anneliese slips into a corner booth, gently putting her newly-acquired instrument case on the seat next to her before looking up at Billie, a somewhat worried smile on her face. "So, uh. Where do we start?"
"I guess I'm not sure..." Billie runs a hand through her hair, stopping to scratch the back of her head before letting it fall back around her shoulders. "I suppose maybe we should start by figuring out what each of us wants to get out of a relationship - assuming that's the direction we're heading?"
"That makes sense," Anneliese nods slowly, chewing her lip before continuing. "As for whether we are heading that direction, it certainly seems as if your friend Jane thought we were already in one, which I suppose should be considered a fairly strong hint."
"Yeah, I mean..." Billie pauses, looking pensive as she continues - trying very carefully not to put her foot further into her mouth than she may have already by not realizing that more had developed beyond the initial fling. "Well, I don't- err." She takes a deep breath. "What I want from a relationship isn't very traditional - which is why I generally tend to operate under the 'not in one yet' mindset until I've... had an in-depth conversation about it."
"That is fair." Anneliese admits. "...Wait. When you say 'not very traditional', do you mean by the standards of society, or by the standards of, well, us?" Even setting aside them both being trans, having a partner outside the faith is also something of a breach of tradition on Anneliese's part. Not that Billie knows the full extent of it.
"Well, I mean. There are a lot of polyamorous people in the queer community - specifically tons of trans queers in poly relationships - so I'm less worried about that conversation with you than I might be with someone else." Billie frowns, trying to figure out exactly how to phrase where she's going next. "I guess I'm not explicitly interested in any of the 'normal' stages of relationship development. I like my personal space, so I'm not looking to cohabitate and I'm not looking to get married because I don't really believe in it, and... well, those are pretty big steps that a lot of people are looking for."
"Cohabitation is also a pretty big step that I would not have thought we would be even ready to start discussing at this point, the cliche of lesbians showing up to the second date with a U-Haul aside." Anneliese jokes. "As for marriage, well. I will not lie and say that I have not dreamed of getting to say 'my wife' one day, but the dreams one has in childhood should hardly be counted against the adult."
"Well, I don't think those topics are something that are relevant to the relationship now, but they're things that..." Billie looks sad as she continues. "Well. I won't say they aren't ever going to be relevant for me - but they are so far removed from what I want at the moment - and I think it's important to stress that so that everyone knows the deal going in."
She reaches for Anneliese's hand - not taking it, but waiting for the other woman to close the distance if she wants to.
"... but, havin' said that, I'm really fond of you, Annie - and I would like for our relationship to continue. If you're okay knowin' that I'm... uhh, a bit of a weirdo?"
"This may have somehow managed to escape your notice so far, sweetheart, but I am hardly the most normal of individuals myself." Anneliese says as she reaches out, placing her hand in Billie's. "I do not see why anything you have mentioned thus far should be a barrier to our dating?"
"I mean, sure there are a couple of weird things about you, like you'd never heard of Star Trek and you just immediately accepted that I was jinxed, but I hardly think that bars you from being normal." Billie teases lightly, squeezing Anneliese's hand. "... or whatever normal even means these days."
"That's good, though. That it wouldn't be a barrier, I mean."
"Oh, and you not wanting to ever be married is so much stranger?" Anneliese teases back, smiling softly at the other woman. "So, um. On the topic of 'do we actually want to be officially dating'." She hesitates for a moment. "As I said when we had the conversation about you being jinxed, you are one of the best things to happen to me in years."
"I know it's not strange - it's just... I know that it's a popular step for a lot of people I don't want to ever mislead anyone about it." She starts correcting in earnest before realizing that this is just part of the teasing. "... but yeah. I guess we should call this dating. Y'know. Since I basically sprinted to your apartment to warn you about being jinxed because you were the first person that popped into my head when Devan mentioned warning any partners I might have."
Anneliese blinks, not having expected that revelation. "I... um. Good to know. Um. ...On that note, we should discuss whether we wish to be exclusive or not, because I know we were both flirting with Sigrún at the bar the other day." She levels Billie with her best smouldering look. "Also, is it okay if I kiss you now?"
"Do you really think I'd say no to something as chaste as a kiss after all the other things we've done with one another." Billie breaks into a grin, leaning in close to Anneliese and giving a gentle kiss to her partner. When they part, Billie is grinnin' like a fool. "... and I already know that I need an open relationship, but I think us both hitting on the same person at the same time means we should not be exclusive."
"Hey, consent is import-" Anneliese gets cut off, but doesn't seem to be objecting in the slightest. After they break for air, she waits for Billie to finish before replying. "Well, yes, but I thought it best to make sure, since there are varying degrees of exclusivity. And, well, I may prefer to be at least somewhat open, but I do not wish to try it without discussing it with all relevant parties beforehand." Cheating and being in a poly relationship are far from the same thing, after all.
"Of course. We should revisit this discussion if we want to add anyone to the polycule." Billie nods. "Anyway, how about we get out of here and head on home? Maybe watch some Netflix?"
"Sounds good." Anneliese says while rising, grabbing her instrument case as she does so. "Though maybe something other than Star Trek this time? I have been getting into this odd Canadian Western recently..."
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