RP: Ideas Who: Lucy & Jaimeson What: Lucy has a rather pragmatic suggestion... When: 13 March 2028 Where: Jaimeson's house Warnings: Language Completion Status: Complete
After walking the property with Molly earlier in the week, Lucy had launched herself into full-on research and planning mode, spending countless hours over the last few days holed away in her office as she dug into researching the industry as a foundation for the business proposal she would give her sister. In doing the market research, she'd come to a realization. Her being pregnant, young, and unwed would work against them, even with the progress society had made this century.
The solution seemed simple: a little white lie to put potential clients at ease. She would simply purchase a wedding ring set to wear at work and politely not correct anyone who referred to Jaimeson as her husband. They were together and serious, though she wasn't quite ready for marriage, and she hoped he would appreciate the pragmatism of the gesture.
Even though nothing was decided for sure yet, she found herself thinking about it while Jaimeson was making them dinner. With a little more difficulty than she was used to, Lucy pushed herself up to sit on the island counter, keeping him company while he cooked. "So, I've been thinking it could be prudent for me to present myself as married if Molly and I do go forward with this idea," she told him casually. She'd told him all about the business idea already, so that shouldn't come as a shock. "I'd like to pick out a ring set to wear at work when meeting with clients. They'll assume I'm married, and I won't bother correcting them." While he was enjoying working for his Uncle's, today had been particularly long. Cooking had become almost meditative over the years for Jaimeson, and so when Lucy had started talking to him about the business with Molly, he wasn't paying attention as well as he should have. The metal spatula he had in his hand hit the pan hard, clanging to the floor at his feet, as his brain registered just a few words. Married and ring set.
Brown eyes bulging in surprise, he bent to pick up the spatula. "Wait, what's going on?" he asked with concern and confusion, his gaze finally meeting hers. Were they getting married now? He felt a panic that built inside him so suddenly. He didn't want to repeat what had been wrong about his relationship with his ex. It had been messy and he really thought it hurt Bells more than anything. He didn't want to have a repeat of the same situation. He knew Lucy was nothing like his ex, but he still found himself wary. Irritation coursed through her when it was clear he hadn't been paying attention at all, and irritation was a much easier emotion on which to focus than the hurt that also lingered deep down. One eyebrow curved up as she frowned at him. "I said that being pregnant, young, and unwed will look bad for the business if Molly decides we should go forward with it, and so I'm considering buying a wedding ring set to wear for work. I'll let clients assume I'm married and not correct them," she reiterated, hoping he might actually be paying attention this time. Those chocolate eyes grew wider at her words, because hearing her saying that being pregnant, young, and unwed would look bad, had him feeling some type of way. It was irritation, but there was that knowledge that he had no right to be upset with her. Lucy was right, there were people that would absolutely look down on her for being unwed and pregnant. His irritation was with them, and so he let the feelings go. She didn't need his misplaced anger.
He instead bobbed his head in a nod, holding her gaze. "They won't be..." How did he word this? He thought about it a second, before finally finding his words. "They wouldn't be your actual wedding band, right? If, and when, we reach that point, I'd still be able to pick out an engagement ring?" he asked, eyes now nervously shifting to look at her cheek, he couldn't focus on her face. He was anxious about voicing those words, because he knew he wasn't ready for marriage again soon. He wanted to know though that when he was ready, he could just go to the store to find the perfect ring. She deserved only the best, he already had ideas for how he wanted it to look as well. One eyebrow arched up as he seemed to struggle with his words, wondering just what he was concerned about. And then he finally asked his question, and she couldn't quite contain the sharp bark of laughter. Her lips pressed in a thin line, her eyes dancing with amusement. "But what if I wanted to propose to you when the time comes?" she questioned, wondering if she could scramble his brain a bit with the thought. Was he so traditional that he felt he had to be the one to propose? She didn't feel strongly about it either way, but she could admit that a part of her liked the thought of turning tradition on its head.
"It won't be the real deal though. I'll probably look at thrift stores and such for a set I like well enough," she explained. It was just a symbolic decoy to put potential future clients at ease, after all. The question should have thrown him off, and while it did, it wasn't such a radical idea to him. His usual brilliant smile lit up his face, laughing as he shook his head. "Then I still want to be part of the picking out your ring process," he admitted, that tradition one of his favorites. He found it romantic to think of them picking out rings together, the rings they'd have forever. Though, would she propose? Wouldn't that be something. He was sure his family would find it fantastic, it might even inspire Bells.
His head bobbed in a nod, attention back on the food that was on the stove. "Okay, good, I mean, I don't like that you'll have to do that, but at the same time... You're right, unfortunately," he admitted with a sad noise, one hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck. "If I can help in any way, let me know. I wouldn't mind going with you to look. Maybe we'll find something fun for the house while we're out. We also might want to tell Bells about the rings," he said as an afterthought. That he didn't hate the idea bolstered her. It amazed her how much he'd shown her how well they could fit in such a short time. Her smile was just this side of wicked at his laughter. "Good to know," she said, always happy to keep him on his toes. God knew he did the same for her!
"I don't mind if you come with me to look," she said, leaning over a bit to steal a couple of the raw veggies from the bowl that were waiting to go into the frying pan. She absolutely loved that he didn't seem to be bothered with doing lots of veggies in their meals, as she didn't think she would ever be a major meat eater. "Do you want me to tell Bells?" She'd made sure to message the preteen here and there since the holidays, wanting to build a connection with her.
Being there with him in that moment felt comfortable and domestic in a way she'd been resistant to for too long, and Lucy was overcome with her feelings for him in that moment. "I love you," she told him out of nowhere. It wasn't the first time she'd said those words, but it was the first time she'd said them at a normal volume without any hint of anxiety about it. Her confidence in him, in what they had, was growing, and she wanted him to know, without a doubt, where her feelings stood. Jaimeson hadn't realized he was holding his breath, but when she said he could come, he felt the air rushing into his lungs. Good, they'd go together. He bobbed his head in a nod, he'd really love for her to tell Bells. "Unless you think we should do it together? I don't want her thinking that we're just saying this, but in reality we were married behind her back," he said, just a touch worried. He didn't want her ever feeling like they were keeping things from her, she was a very important part of their family. Something he loved about Lucy was that she felt the same.
Her words jogged him from this spacing, his smile lit up his face as he stopped what he was doing, and came over to steal a kiss from her. "I love you too," he murmured, his lips brushing against hers. They weren't one of those couples that said it every time they got off the phone or anything, so when they did say it, it meant something. His hands came up to rub her thighs, nudging his nose against hers. "Dinner is almost done, maybe after we can have dessert?" Lucy shook her head at that. "I think it'll be okay. I'll tell her. Frame it in a 'fuck the patriarchy' sort of way." Because it absolutely was bullshit patriarchy that she would need to do this in the first place, and she had a feeling the reasoning would hold weight with Bells. Either way, it was better for her to hear it from one of them first rather than the gossip rags.
She returned the kiss, smiling against his lips, enjoying the moment for what it was and even more for the way he didn't make a big deal about it. Her lips curved up in a slow smirk at his question. "That depends... Am I dessert?" she asked, innuendo thick in her tone as her hands reached for his hips, her bare feet stretching to hook around him and pull him closer. There was no doubt that the second trimester had also brought about the return of her libido. There was relief at hearing her say that, it felt so good to know that she took the time to understand his daughter. She got to know her on a deeper level, something he had never thought anyone he was with would be interested in.
Her question was met with a playful eyebrow waggle, and a smirk of his own. "You know it," he murmured happily, hands continuing their adventure up her thighs. Their lips met in a heated kiss, his nose bumping gently against her own.