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Billie sends out a pair of text messages to Devan and Annie, inviting them out for coffee at a little cafe in the mall - mentioning that she wants both of them to meet someone important to her.
So there she is, waiting at the little coffee place in a corner booth. She's wearing stone-washed skinny jeans, brown boots, and a ratty [Politician 20xx] t-shirt, sipping an iced coffee with waaaaay too much sugar in it, and keeping an eye on her phone while she waits for Devan and Annie to arrive.
Anneliese shows up a few minutes later, waving to Billie as she approaches the counter, placing an order for some food before she joins her girlfriend in the corner booth. "What is up?"
"Hey, Annie." Billie looks up from her phone with a smile, standing up to give the other woman a kiss on the cheek before tossing the phone into her purse. "Oh, nothin' much. Just wanted to introduce you to Devan - and him to you. Y'know since I've been talkin' t'both of y'all so much lately."
She looks pretty giddy about it. Honestly, it's a little cute how excited she is.
Devan arrives and orders an Americano, adding cream and sugar. He’s wearing Ray Bans, a black jacket and jeans with a t-shirt that says “Night-time is my time.” When he gets close, he slows slightly, and nods to the two women. “Billie. Anneliese. How are you two today?”
"... speak of the devil and he shall appear." Billie flashes a toothy smile at Devan's ridiculous shirt. "Okay, which of you wants to sit by me this time - because I think we're going to look ridiculous if we all cram into one side of this tiny booth."
"I look forward to his arrival, then." She smiles softly at the other woman, returning the cheek kiss. Devan's arrival gets a return nod. "Good, thank you. Yourself?" Anneliese grins at Billie. "I shall claim that honour, I think."
“I am well enough, for being up early.” He slides into the other side of the booth, and takes a sip of his drink. “I’m guessing...that you wanted Anneliese and I to talk with you and each other about...this situation?”
"Hey, got it in one." Billie scoots over to make room for Anneliese on her side of the table, and then passing her purse to Devan on the other side - because being squished up against your pin-covered purse is less than ideal. "... but also y'all are getting more and more relevant and important in my life, so it'd mean a lot of I could introduce y'all and what-not."
"That makes sense." Anneliese leans her head against Billie's shoulder. "So, I know Billie has mentioned that I work at a bar, but what is it you do, Devan?"
“I’m, ah, independently wealthy, you might say. I do some charity work, and have hobbies to fill my time...I also like to see that the people close to me have...a positive structure in their lives.”
"... so he's not just a ridiculous pretty boy, he's also pretty decent - for a rich jerkoff." Billie winks, giving Devan's foot a playful nudge under the table with the toe of her boot. "... but yeah, he helped me out with the thing I mentioned to you. Y'know, the glove thing."
"I shall take him off the list to be against the wall come the revolution, then." Anneliese jokes, taking a sip from her water bottle before continuing. "Good to know." It is - anything that helps Billie is a good thing, in Anneliese's book. "Do you do that sort of thing regularly?"
Billie looks to Devan for a response before answering - not quite sure how much of the Group he wants to keep a secret.
“Help people with...strange parts of themselves? Yes, I do. It’s one of my hobbies, you might say.” He flashes one of his exceptionally white smiles. “I don’t usually form as close of a connection as I did with Billie, though...”
"Oh, you don't? Good to know that it's just me and Jane, then." She sticks out her tongue at him, giving another playful nudge. "Anneliese is who I sprinted off to warn about potentially being jinxed when we met at the library."
She takes a sip of her coffee in between interjections, trying very hard not to let things be awkward.
"Well, Billie is pretty special." She tilts up to kiss the other girl on the cheek. "Is this the Jane we ran into at the mall a few days back?"
"Yeah, that's the one." Billie blushes as Anneliese kisses her cheek.
“Yes. She and I are...close friends,” he says with a soft smile, foot reaching to touch Billie’s leg. “And you are very special, Billie, Anneliese and I are lucky to be part of your life.”
"Aww shucks," she breaks into a huge grin. "I should have you two take me out more often, a gal could really get used to dual-wielding a pair of compliment machines like y'all two."
"I mean, you deserve them." Anneliese offers gently, glancing up to thank the waitress as her food arrives. "So, um, how do you know Jane, Devan?"
“She started working at Shelf Indulgence, and I spend a lot of time there. A home away from home, of sorts.” He takes a long pull of his coffee and rubs his forehead. “We discovered we had some mutual interests, and have been friends since.”
"Ah, I see. What are those interests, may I ask?" She glances up at Billie. "Feel free to grab some of my fries, by the way."
“Psychic phenomenon,” he says with a mischievous smile. “We both have had interesting experiences with them.”
Billie does not even wait a moment to start taking fries. She's a fiend, to be sure. Cronch.
"Same, obviously." She says around a mouthful of fries, wiggling her fingers for emphasis.
"...Interesting in a good or a bad way?" She asks, before poking Billie in the side. "Swallow then talk, babe."
“Mostly good, for me,” he replies, grin growing wider. “Not every has the same experience, of course.”
"Whoa, really? I would never have guessed." Anneliese may be being somewhat unusually sarcastic. "So, uh. Are you and Jane together, or...?"
Billie looks to Devan for his answer. She's still chewing her mouthful of french fries, and seems to be more than a little bit invested in his answer.
“We’re exploring being more than just friends. Taking things slow, just...letting things develop between us. Jane has no like for...certain things associated with relationships,” he says with a particular emphasis, “but we’re...letting ourselves grow closer in other ways.”
"Oh, she is asexual?" Anneliese seems to be familiar with the concept, even if it's not one that could ever apply to her. "I shall make sure not to hit on her, then."
“Um, as I understand it, yes, she is. Which is a tad...vexing, even though I fully support her feelings.” He waves his hand in a little dismissive gesture. “I simply haven’t had such inclinations myself until things changed between us, and now I don’t know what to do with...all the things that I’m feeling. And I don’t want her to feel pressured or responsible somehow.” He lets out a little sigh, and takes another drink.
"Well, that speaks well of you, at least?" Anneliese offers. "Unfortunately, I cannot offer useful advice on how to resolve your quandary, as even were it a situation I had experienced, such situations inevitably vary according to the personalities of those involved."
He nods. “Sorry to just...spill that on you, I did not mean...” He shakes his head. “Anyway. Yes, our relationship is non-sexual, but we are seeing where it goes beyond ordinary friendship.” He takes a long drink of coffee. “How did you two meet?” he asks, trying to gently change the subject.
"Oh, I am used to people using me as an emotional sounding board. It comes with the territory, working as a bartender." She smiles slightly. "We ran into each other jogging. It is not very exciting, I know, but we did manage to hit it off."
"... and I'm sure you two will figure things out, Devan - and I know you don't need to be lectured, but keep in mind that this period of self-discovery is probably cause for some frustration and confusion for her, too." Billie sticks out her tongue. "I mean, Annie and I also hit on one another relentlessly at a gay bar and that is far more interesting."
"Well, yes, but he asked how we met. Not how we hooked up." She leans up to whisper in Billie's ear. "You will notice I did not tell him about your failure to notice being flirted with."
"In my defense, I was drenched in sweat and pantin' like a dog from all the sprintin'?" Billie snorts, taking another french fry from Annie's plate. "How was I supposed to assume someone'd hit on me when I was that big of a mess."
Devan snorts and shakes his head. “Something tells me you looked great anyway, Billie.”
"Because anyone who did not find you attractive in that condition would not deserve you all dolled up?" She gestures at Devan. "Also, yeah, what he said."
"Y'all..." Billie waves the compliment aside. "Again, y'all're gonna make this all go to my head if you're not careful."
"Is that not my job? We are dating, after all." She smiles softly at Billie, snagging a french fry before the other girl.
He nods. “You should be encouraging me, Billie, I need the work on my social skills, frankly.”
"I suppose so." Billie snickers. "... speaking of dating - and encouraging your social skills - I know we haven't really put any labels on it but do you have any thoughts about... things and stuff at this point? Is this a polycule lunch?"
She sticks out her tongue. Little shit that she is.
Anneliese reaches up and tugs gently on Billie's tongue. "Careful with that, sweetheart." She takes a sip of water, waiting for Devan to voice his thoughts on the matter before she says anything about the polycule topic.
He pauses, expression largely unreadable behind his glasses. “I’d like to be dating you, Billie, if that’s what you mean, yes. I’m...not familiar with the term polycule, though.”
"You are familiar with the concept of molecular arrangements, yes?" She waits for Devan to show signs of agreement before continuing, explaining the analogy that gave rise to the term.
“Yes, I am familiar with molecules,” he says, raising an eyebrow.
"... and also I didn't mean to ambush you or anything," Billie turns serious, interjecting into whatever space there is in-between parts of Annie's explanation. "It just sprung to mind - and to clarify, I'd like to be dating you too."
"So, um. Polycule discussion time it is, I guess?" Anneliese snags a fry, using the time needed to consume it to gather her thoughts. "Is the fact that Billie and I would also be dating, but separately, likely to be an issue for you?"
“Not at all, no.” He grins. “Billie did tell me she’s an impetuous flirt before anything developed, and I was at least aware there was something between the two of you when I saw you flirting at the bar the other day.” He finishes his drink. “I don’t have any issues with you two dating. If Billie is happy, then I support it.”
"Well, I'm quite happy - with the both of y'all." Bille nudges Devan under the table again, and gives Annie a kiss on the cheek. "... but we need to go someplace with bigger booths next time."
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