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Seeing as she's not rostered to work tonight, Annie's come straight home from class to chill out instead. Right now she's sitting sideways on the couch, back against one of the armrests as she scrolls through something on her phone. Wearing just a tanktop and boxer shorts, because even if the heat has broken she doesn't want to be dealing with layers right now.
Not a lot changes about Eugene's sense of style between the winter and the summer, just the amount of clothing it involves. The advantage of warm weather is that they get to wear sleeveless tops that show off the tattoos on their arms, which is the case today as they come through the front door. They start toeing off their shoes to be left there, and start removing things from the pockets of their black jeans. "Anything interesting happening on the internet?" they ask at the sight of Annie scrolling on her phone.
"People being Wrong in new and exciting ways?" Annie offers dryly, setting the phone aside as she swings her legs off the couch, rising to go and offer Eugene a kiss hello.
"That's one of the two main things the internet is for, right? Porn and being wrong?" Eugene slides their arms around Annie's waist as they meet half way between couch and door, and they return the kiss with tender affection. "How was class?"
"True enough, I suppose," Annie admits, her arms wrapping around Eugene's upper back. "Class was good. We have been going over the respiratory system and what can go wrong with it. Which would be enough to put me off smoking tobacco even if I had ever picked up the habit, honestly."
"Oh yes, smoke is terrible for you," Eugene responds with something like laughter in their voice. They definitely don't seem to be insulted, just amused, given that they're just sweet smelling smoke in the shape of a person. They give Annie another light smooch and a soft squeeze to punctuate how much that's definitely a joke. "I wonder how much our Contracts could do to clear up the damage from smoking, but I am glad neither of us has picked up the habit. Tobacco smoke in particular is not a smell I enjoy, either."
"Good to know," Annie chuckles quietly. "It might be interesting to find out, if I get access to the equipment. Do a scan of the lungs before and after using the Gift of Warm Breath on someone who has picked up the habit, whether it is actively or in the past." Beat. "How was work? Any no-shows?" She's careful to keep her questions to things that won't violate confidentiality, as always.
"Now I'm curious too," Eugene admits. They make a soft hum, a smile flickers across their smoky face, and they shrug. "It was a pretty good day. Everyone showed up, there was some good progress with a couple of my patients, and there weren't any new crises. Shall we go sit down?"
"We probably could," Annie nods, releasing Eugene to go do exactly that. "And any day where there are no new crises is a good one, in my book." As usual, she tucks her legs up underneath herself once seated.
Eugene joins Annie in the short trek to the couch and sits next to her, where they lean back against her and pull her arms around their waist. "Of course, there's no shortage of crises on the Fae side of our lives right now," they point out. "At least it's not both."
"True enough," she agrees, nestling against them happily. "A couple of other Joyeux returned to town recently, so our day job on that side of things should be less busy, too." Beat. "Speaking of which, I have been meaning to ask. Do we still want this relationship to be a semi-open one? We have been talking about making a life together, after all."
"Did they? I should pay more attention," Eugene says. They laugh and rest their hands over Annie's. "I have a feeling, given the way you segued that, the question is related to one of those other Joyeux?" They don't sound worried, nor do they sound upset. Only curious. "Has one of them caught your eye? You have my curiosity piqued, which should tell you plenty about how the prospect makes me feel. I'm still receptive to the relationship being open, yes, but a conversation about what that looks like might be a good idea."
Annie chuckles, then. "I should have known you would catch that. It is, yes. Polly, to be specific, though I realise that will not mean much if you have not met her yet." She rests her chin on their shoulder comfortably. "Conversation about what a relationship looks like is never a bad idea, I would say." Beat. "Do you have any particular aspects you would like to talk about first?"
"Obviously, our living together has certain effects on the dynamic of a polyamorous relationship," Eugene starts with. "That isn't to say that I think I'm required to be the most important part of your polycule just because we live together. Just that it has an impact on things."
They shift so that they can look Annie in the eyes. "Possibly the most important things to talk about are how much information we'd both be comfortable with being shared. In all directions. I'm personally fine with hearing details, but I don't require it. Hearing about the things that make you happy makes me happy, but if you and Polly get involved and either of you wouldn't be comfortable telling me about things, I can understand that."
"That is fair," Annie nods. "I am fine with sharing information, so long as it does not breach your boundaries or hers." Which is probably an unnecessary caveat, but good to have anyway. "She is already aware of our relationship and that we are living together, so that is one hurdle out of the way." There's a pause to consider then. "How important is it to you to be aware of any other partners she might have, whether for one-offs or as an ongoing thing?"
Eugene lifts one hand to gently cup and caress Annie's cheek. "It's not particularly important to me one way or the other. I'm curious, but I don't have any need to know. I'm only curious in the way I'd be curious even if you weren't involved with her." They lean forward for a soft kiss, barely a touch of their lips. "Since we share not just a court but also a role within it, I assume that you don't have an issue with Polly and I meeting and knowing each other? I have no expectations beyond that, and that only because it's almost certain to happen at some point. Would it bother you if she and I became friends? Or if we became involved? I'm not saying we will, but I figure I'll ask what boundaries might be there before they come up. You can always change your mind."
"I am definitely fine with you meeting and knowing each other," Annie says, leaning into the cheek caress. "With you becoming friends, too. Or being involved, though if that happens I would like to know." She slips an arm around them to rub their back gently, then. "Not least because it would likely be wise for the three of us to discuss whether we want to be a triad, in such an event."
"I'll keep that in mind. Like I said, I have no preconceptions or expectations in that area." Eugene's slim shoulders shrug, enough of a shrug that it's obvious even with their indistinct form. "I'm not much for keeping secrets, so I don't have any particular boundaries I want to set about what sorts of things you tell her about us." Their head takes on an inquisitive tilt. "How far have things gone between you so far?"
Annie shrugs one shoulder. "Some cuddling. A few kisses. Nothing beyond that. Neither of us wanted to accidentally fuck ourselves into a corner, so to speak."
With their quiet, low laugh Eugene briefly smooches Annie again. "I can understand that. I wouldn't have actually minded if you had, but I appreciate your reasoning for not doing so."
"Good to know," Annie grins, returning the brief smooch. "Do you have any practical requirements, while I think about it? Whether I should take a shower before coming home if I have been with her, that sort of thing."
"Good question." Eugene thinks that one over before saying, "it might be nice if you brush your teeth before you kiss me, if you've been going down on her? I'm not saying don't kiss me at all if you haven't, but..." they shrug.
"That is entirely reasonable," Annie admits. "Does that extend to if I have been kissing her, or just performing oral sex?"
After considering, Eugene replies. "That wouldn't hurt. I have particularly keen senses these days, and while it doesn't necessarily bother me to taste her on you, or smell her on you, it just feels right, doesn't it?"
"It makes sense to me, yes," Annie nods. "I am to shower and brush my teeth before returning home, then? Anything else?"
"I want to be clear that's not a must, just something that would be nice," Eugene clarifies with an easy smile as they caress Annie's cheek again. "If circumstances don't really allow for it, don't feel like you have to stay away. I'm not going to be upset or kick you out or make you sleep on the couch."
"So noted," Annie smiles, leaning in to kiss Eugene. She's not especially fussed about where that ends up being, either, since their face is just a ball of smoke to her. "I do want to treat you well, though. You deserve that."
Eugene lets out a happy sound and rests their forehead against Annie's. "You deserve all the things that make you happy, and if I didn't believe you wanted to treat me well we wouldn't be together. Not that I mind hearing you say it out loud. I love you, Anneliese."
"I love you too," Annie says softly, embracing them.
Eugene leans into that embrace and returns it, pulling their bodies tightly together. "What do you say we do something about lunch?" they suggest. "If there's nothing else you wanted to cover on this topic?"
"Lunch would be good," Annie nods, not making any move to release them.
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