Partner talk

Nia and I laid in bed, two bowls of popcorn and a glass of fruity **** lazily drifted between us as we watched a new movie. We were a little more drunk than intended, and it was generous to still call the night young, but we wanted to keep our warm buzz going as long as possible. Our words slurred lightly as we hurled wisecracks towards each other.

Nia: Didn’t ya say you hated my sweet popcorn? Why’dya keep stealing handfuls?

Emery: Noo, I didn’t say I “hated” it. It’s just…more…dessert-y, ya feel me? Decadent, that’s the word I wanted... Well anyways, now is dessert time so it’s fine.

She pouted at my excuse, but neglected further taunting in favor of a coy looking side-eye — finger tracing the rim of our glass all the while.

Nia: Hey…so I don’t mean to bring it up again, but…

Emery: Hmm? Go ahead.

Nia: Were you really thinking about the partner thing all day? I just thought it sounded sexy, but since we never talked about it during the cooldown… Just got me thinkin, ya know?

I chuckled and shook my head.

Emery: I was very focused today actually. I basically didn’t think about it at all.

Nia: No shit? My little professor is so diligent.

Emery: You tease, but it’s keeping me out of debt.

Nia: Touche, mon cher. Well, we can think about it whenever. No rush.

She shrugged and we dropped the topic for the time being. Like she said, we were in no rush.

We sat in bed and let time pass, casually consuming the movie and adding a little bit of commentary. As one of the characters remarked on a local sports team, I suddenly remembered my brief encounter with Rina today.

Emery: Oh hey yeah, I forgot to mention. Rina and I share some classes this semester. She told me to tell you hi.

Nia: Really? Rina from basketball? That’s a surprise. I thought she was in general studies.

Emery: I did too! I wonder if she switched to a specialty?

Nia: Better late than never if it makes her happy.

After a short silence, Nia’s face came alight with some kind of realization, and a following series of giggles soon erupted from her. She gave me a whimsical, questioning look.

Nia: You know… No offense sweetie, but that wasn't the most subtle hint you could've dropped.

Emery: What do you mean?

Nia: Hehehe c'mon dude, going from talking about partners to Rina right after? You don't have to dance around it, even if I'm surprised at your pick.

I returned her look with one of more genuine confusion.

Emery: Well I guess we could, but why?

Nia: What do ya mean why? She's really pretty, she's sexually open, we’re all bi, and to top it off we both know her. Seems like a safe bet, right?

Emery: Hmmm, I guess she does seem like a good option when you put it like that. Plus it’s less likely she’d get weird about it like some guys might.

I rolled the idea around in my head.

Emery: You're not super into strap-ons and dildos though. I have heard she gets around, so maybe she knows how to use them in ways we don't? I want us both to get as much out of this as possible.

Nia: Well sure, but why would we need a strap-on?

Again, I was confused.

Emery: Why wouldn’t we?

Her whimsy returned with a vengeance at this.

Nia: Hun...you know Rina is packing, right? She has both down under.

Suddenly I sobered up, and all the thoughts I had earlier today came crashing back to me. That's what had me fixed on her! The thing I couldn’t remember! That's what Jun held back on bringing up!

Emery: Really!? I always thought those were just shitty rumors people spread after she got popular!

Nia: Hahah no Em, it's true. I don't know who she's been with so I don't know any juicy details, I've just heard things from some of the girls on the basketball team. Apparently she's kinda private about it, but they've seen her naked in the locker rooms.

Mind reeling, I leaned back and took some time to think about it. Although this was definitely a surprise, I would call it a welcome one. That said, it made me a little conflicted to know that people were spreading rumors about her because of it. I knew firsthand how that felt. Would she think we’re being rude or messing with her if we asked?

Nia: Is it a deal-breaker for you?

I started a bit from her interjection. My tiredness was steadily causing me to drift as I was thinking.

Emery: Not at all. I’m just mulling something over… Do you think she’d be insulted if we asked? I’m sure she’s had some people act weird about it with her in the past.

Nia stroked her chin and produced a series of goofy pondering noises. She was definitely still tipsy, causing her to find the circumstances very humorous.

Nia: Maybe a little? She’s usually cool to talk about it if you ask her normal questions and aren’t being creepy. Since she’s had sex with several people and is single as far as I know, I assume she wouldn’t mind.

I shrank a little at the mention of being “creepy”. Hopefully that was a one time thing where my habit of zoning out made me act inappropriate…

Emery: Well, only one way to find out I guess.

The topic tapered off from there, and the two of us watched the rest of the movie before getting ready for bed.

As I brushed my teeth, thoughts swirled around the idea of our new potential partner. Things felt far more real now that we had a person in mind. She could always say “no” of course, and we’d be back to square one, but a thought niggled at the back of my mind all the same. Do I really want to go through with this? Was it a good idea to go beyond roleplaying?