Lulu will show you how it's done. (ultimafury) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-10-27 00:14:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, bellatrix black, lulu |
Who: Lulu and Bellatrix
What: In need of a new corset
Where: Lulu’s shop
When: Backdated to before Lulu and Nikola's supper
Status: Complete!
Rating: PG-13 for unfys.
Bellatrix was depressed. It was the sort of depressed that could lead to very bad things (tm) for herself, or others, but at least she recognized it. She decided to treat herself to something a little nice, and so paid a visit to a seamstress. She was thinking a new corset, something to show off her assets and make Caprica regret ending it.
She walked inside and peered around.
Lulu heard the jingle of the bell on the door and heard one of her salesgirls greeting someone. The salesperson commented that she’d never seen the customer before. Since she was between sketches anyway, Lu stood up and smoothed out her own very short skirt and padded out to the showroom floor. “I believe I can assist this customer, Jennifer, thank you for helping.” Lulu offered her hand to the new arrival. “Hello, I’m Lulu Webster, and I appreciate you browsing in my shop. Were you looking for something in particular?”
Bellatrix's eyes noticeably roamed, between the short skirt of the seamstress and ..well...every thing else about her. They shared a similar body type and facial structure, too, which she appreciated. Both on an attraction level and on a 'well she'll know how to make things fit on me' level.
She took Lulu's hand, "Bellatrix. I'm in the market for some new corsets. I think I might be in the right place."
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bellatrix.” Lulu smiled, noticing the woman’s similar body type, quickly taking measurements with her mind. “If you’d like, I can design you custom corsets.” She didn’t look like a woman who wore things made for other people. “Would you like to accompany me to the fabric room so that we can get started?” Lulu noticed the other woman’s eyes, mostly; they were lovely and dark and somehow sad.
"Price isn't an object," Bellatrix assured her. At least her eyes had lost the crazed gleam that had characterized them quite often lately. Sad...sad was a good word for it, "I would, lovey. No problem at all."
“I assure you, I’m more concerned with you enjoying the product than the price of it.” She smiled and led her toward the room that stored and displayed the fabrics she had in stock. “Would you like a cup of tea?” She tried to make the situation comfortable and intimate; some women were nervous.
"Tea? Yes." Bellatrix tore her eyes from Lulu's rear end in order to look at the fabrics instead. There was a wide variety of cloth and colors, but there was only one or two colors that would do. She fingered the black silk (though dark, dark dark blue was sometimes acceptable, and once in a blue moon she'd wear red.)
She shrugged a shoulder, "What kind of fabric would you recommend, lovey? In black."
Putting the electric kettle on, Lulu selected a rooibos tea for her client, thinking she’d like something strong but not too bitter. Smiling to herself, she opened a few cabinets. “I favor black myself.” She showed Bellatrix a black damask that curled and would look beautiful against the other woman’s skin. “I would line this in silk, of course, to protect your skin.”
"Oh..that's beautiful." Bellatrix said, her eyes lighting up for the first time that day, "You've good taste. I..appreciate that." She smiled, the expression warm but with a hint of feral behind it. Like there was something behind the mask and facade that was scratching to get out. Or maybe just something hungry.
Lulu smiled in return, setting the fabric aside. “Do you prefer shimmer or lace? I’ve a few finer silks as well.” She heard the kettle whistle merrily and moved to pour them both their drinks. “How do you take your tea?”
"More sugar than is healthy," Bellatrix instructed, her eyes following Lulu as the other woman moved around. She was suddenly very thirsty, "And lace. I've always loved the feel of lace against my skin, and it adds a certain allure to the corset."
Lulu added three lumps of sugar, smiling as she handed the cup to Bellatrix. “Lace it is.” She moved to another cupboard, smiling and holding up a bolt of fabric that was black lace, but when the light hit it just so, seemed to shimmer with a bit of silver. “I don’t disagree with you about the sensation. I always make my garters out of lace for that same reason.”
Oh god.
She took the tea and sipped it, finding the taste steadying, "I could use a new skirt, too. Slit up the side, with garters." She had dates coming up. None of which she particularly wanted to be on but appearances must be maintained. Why did the only man she was attracted to have to be a serial killer in jail?
“I could make you garters from this as well. Hmm, skirt. Leather?” Lulu normally didn’t fancy women, but she was quite pretty, and the way she looked at Lulu - that was a gaze she could recognize. If flirting in return helped, why not? “Do you need me to measure you? It always helps to ensure the best fit.”
"Leather." Bella's lips turned up again, as she thought about it. It was appealing, and would certainly get people to talk. She didn't care if they talked. As for measurements, she feigned indifference and waved a hand, "If you must, you must."
Finding the softest leather she had available, Lulu held the bolt out for Bellatrix’s approval. She couldn’t help smirking when her new customer said she would allow herself to be measured. “Perhaps in a moment, if you have the time?”
She touched the leather, running her fingers along it and murmuring in appreciation. It had a delightful feel to it, and she thought she'd enjoy the weight of it on her hips, "Oh. This. You've got a great eye, lovey."
She let her voice drop an octave, "And yes, I have time for you."
Lulu chuckled, leaning forward so she was a bit closer to Bellatrix. “Contrary to what tabloids have led everyone to believe, I do not normally enjoy the company of women in such a way. But I do have eyes, and you are stunning. I’m quite glad that you’re here. Finally, a challenge.” Sometimes dressing people was boring, but finding something to suit this woman would please her.
"I'm not interested in that," Bellatrix said lightly, to both wave off the embarrassment and to wave off the idea that she, Bellatrix Black, might ever be interested in a woman. And the disappointment, of course.
Truth was, she generally had stopped caring, and so only really kept up the facade for her family.
"But. If a challenge you want, I'm happy to give it."
Lulu grinned. “I assumed you were simply teasing me because of the press.” She sipped her own tea. “But I don’t mind answering to your challenge.” She sat down next to Bellatrix, pulling out a sketchbook. She started to draw a bit, sketching out different shapes and ideas for the woman’s approval.
"If I was teasing, you'd know it," Bella said, forcing back a sneer. Instead she sipped at her tea, tried to keep her leg from bobbing up and down, and discreetly checked Lulu out. Well, her drawing. Mostly.
Lulu leaned closer, showing her the drawings. “Do any of these tickle your fancy?” She smiled lopsidedly, letting their arms touch, but only barely. “If you’re trying to impress someone, I can sketch for that too.”
For a straight woman, Lulu was distressingly good at flirting with her. Bella dampened her lips with her tongue, inspecting the drawing, "No..I like that. It's perfect." It would impress Caprica - and just about anyone else she'd fancy.
More importantly she thought she'd feel more herself in that.
Some of Bellatrix’s hair had fallen over her shoulder, and Lulu idly moved it with a finger, letting it linger on the other woman’s skin. “I’m glad you do. I think this should only take me a day or two to finish.”
Imperio Bellatrix thought. It would be really useful right about now. Not as satisfying as without mind control, but useful. It took her longer than strictly necessary to reply, as she took a long sip of the tea, "That's...rather fast. Are you really that talented?"
“I’ll work on it myself, and yes, yes I am.” Lulu grinned and motioned to her own outfit. “Made everything but the shoes, and that’s just because I’m far too lazy to make shoes for myself. I’ve been sewing since I was young.” She blinked if only because the other woman really did smell good. It made her blink, made her stomach twist as she thought about the last time she’d kissed the man she cared about. But still, Bellatrix was a client and she should be professional.
Unable to help herself, Bella trailed her hand lightly along Lulu's leg, ostensibly to inspect the fabric, "The craftsmanship is obvious. Very detailed. Your fingers are quite talented. I edit videos."
Bella shrugged. She hated it, but it kept the peace and that was apparently important. She swallowed the bitterness.
“What would you really like to do?” Lulu could tell the other woman didn’t like her job - she didn’t go into details. People that loved their work overflowed with details. They continued to sip tea, still sitting close to each other, enough that Lulu could feel how warm Bellatrix was.
The question caught her off guard, "No one has ever asked me that before. I don't really know, lovey." Her hand came to a rest at Lulu's knee as she gave some serious thought to this. Her dream world was absolutely no help - when she became that woman she was a terror and killer and a sadist. It was a constant war within her own head and soul.
In this world...
She sighed, resigned, "I don't know. I've never had the chance to do anything else, or be anyone else."
The contact was nice, and Lulu let her hand rest on Bellatrix’s, offering the other woman comfort as she seemed visibly upset. “I confess, I know a bit about your life because of Miss Skeeter’s unfortunate tendency to chat about us both. I think … when a large group of people think you’re something, human nature tends to lend itself to trying to be that thing.” Lulu had sort of had an odd advantage - she’d never been expected to amount to much. It had been rather liberating.
Swallowing, Bellatrix's fingers twitched at the contact, but she didn't move her hand, instead leaning into Lulu a little bit. For comfort, for warmth, because if she didn't she was liable to push her down and mount her.
"I'm a daughter of House Black, nothing else matters," Bellatrix said, despondently. A mad gleam flashed in her eyes for just a moment, and she wondered if everyone's expectations of who she was would turn her into that monster. Right now, she thought she felt remarkably lucid.
“That’s … not true,” Lulu murmured. She lifted Bellatrix’s chin up with a thumb and forefinger. “What matters, more than anything else, is that you’re alive. You exist, and with being alive comes the possibility of change. Evolution.”
"You're going to make some lucky bloke fall head over heels for you," Bellatrix murmured, her skin feeling charged warm, charged. Her lips seemed to hum with suppressed urges, "I'm not allowed to change, Lulu. I'm a ship in a bottle and there's no way out."
Lulu smiled, stroking Bellatrix’s cheek. “Oh, he’s not liable to fall in love,” she smiled. “But if you’re a ship in a bottle, break the bottle. Sometimes, the only way out is through. And sometimes that hurts like hell.” She felt an odd fondness for the other woman - she was in a bad way, and she needed a friend.
"I tried that, but too many people would be hurt if I did. Too many secrets, too many..." She'd already lost Caprica. All Bellatrix had was Cissy, now, and Cissy wanted her to behave.
Impulsively, she leaned in to kiss Lulu, if only to know how she tasted. And because she didn't want to behave.
Lulu blinked, eyes wide for a moment before kissing her back. It was less a heated, passionate thing, and more a creature comfort situation. But Bellatrix tasted like tea and sugar, and kissing her was certainly a comfortable thing. She processed briefly that kissing women was certainly softer than kissing the men she’d been with.
Heated, passionate things were what Bellatrix was used to the most. She rarely had tender moments with Caprica. She rarely understood that she craved those moments. When the kiss ended, she didn't pull her head away, mostly because it was swimming. She didn't offer an apology either, not yet.
"That hurts people too."
“Kissing … oh. Does your family not approve?” Lulu’s fingers lightly stroked Bela’s hair, and she was briefly reminded of one of her foster sisters. Not so much with the kissing, but more with the nearness, the talking, the comfort. “Is there … there’s likely not a way to disentangle. To simply leave, is there? I don’t really know. I don’t have a family.” There’d been some other foster children she’d wanted to stay in contact with, but once they all turned eighteen, they all sort of lost track.
Shaking her head, Bella leaned into the stroking a little bit, "It's very complicated. They're very religious, but there are more skeletons in their closets than in a catacombs."
It was something she wouldn't go into. She wanted to, but she wouldn't. She didn't know if it would disturb her or not, but more importantly was the family name.
"I'm the eldest sister in the family proper. I've always been the one to protect them. Now Cissy is protecting me and I don't see a way out."
Bellatrix didn’t understand why she wanted to confide so much in her like this.
“I know what I’d do if I were you,” Lulu murmured, pulling Bellatrix close to lean on her, “but I’m not you. And I don’t know what having a family is like. If I were you, I’d just quietly leave. Cut ties with everyone you don’t care about and stay in contact with those who do.” She wrapped her arms around Bellatrix and lightly kissed the other woman’s temple. “No wonder you look sad.”
Bellatrix snorted, leaning forward until her face was resting on Lulu's shoulder. She went through the logistics..never speaking with her parents again she could live with. She could tell Cissy but Cissy would talk her out of it. She always did, but if she didn't, she didn't think she'd be able to talk to that part of the family again. And Caprica....Caprica would be completely out of reach.
Not that she already wasn't.
It was enough to drive a woman mad!
"I don't do many things quietly, lovey. I tried loudly, and that didn't really work."
They were comfortable and warm and Lulu was glad that her employees were rather used to running the shop without her. The business aspect Lulu didn’t do much with; she was the brains and the creativity and the business concepts.
“Well, if it helps at all, you’ve got me to talk to.” Lulu smiled at her, squeezing her hand.
This would probably be unprofessional and wrong if they were caught, but honeybadgerBellatrix, she don't give a shit.
"I don't even bloody know why you're so easy to talk to." She squeezed Lulu's hand back, closing her eyes and taking several steadying breaths. This was completely wrong. Bellatrix does not suffer a near breakdown in a stranger's presence!
“Only because I’m not associated with you or your family. I won’t breathe a word of this to anyone. Who would I tell?” She stroked Bellatrix’s cheek. “I understand internalizing everything. I always tell myself emotion is weakness, but sometimes - only sometimes, mind you - I’m wrong.” She was teasing, and she threaded their fingers together. “Being too strong is tiring.”
Bellatrix let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She understood about emotion being weakness, "It's very tiring. I'm so tired. I'm so tired of being tired."
“Of course you are.” Lulu ran her fingers up and down Bellatrix’s arms, hoping that she would at least take comfort that way. “You’ve probably felt this way your entire life.”
The witch snorted, "I could tell you stories." It was so tempting. The tingling in her arms, the warmth of Lulu, the promise of unburdening herself to someone who wasn't neck deep in the whole situation.
“You don’t have to.” She smiled and looked at Bellatrix. “If you’d like, I can distract you. We could take your measurements and I could order in a bite to eat if you’d like.”
She nodded her head. Maybe she'd tell her, some day. Maybe when the whispers in her head were loudest and she needed something to keep herself sane. Bellatrix gave Lulu a smile, "What do you need me to do?"
Lulu smiled, feeling the tiniest bit wicked. “Normally I’d ask a woman to do this while wearing as little as possible. Whatever you feel comfortable with.” That wasn’t true, really, but they’d said they were going to challenge each other.
"I'm not afraid of being nude," Bellatrix replied, her own smile a lot more wicked than Lulu's. "Unless you're afraid. Maybe you won't be able to control yourself, lovey!"
That made Lulu laugh. “I told you I’ve not been with a woman. I think you’d be a formidable one to start with.” She lightly snapped her teeth at Bellatrix’s lower lip, teasing the other woman. “Up.” She went to get her measuring tape, smiling when she turned her back on the other woman. An invitation.
This woman. So confusing. But she deserved better than the imperius curse and Bellatrix chided herself over her earlier thought. Might she actually be willing to try caring about someone outside of her immediate family? Maybe.
She got to her feet, approaching Lulu from behind and trailing a finger up her spine, "I can keep the offer open. If that's what you want."
Then she unbuttoned her shirt.
Lulu felt her mouth go dry. “In the interest of keeping our blossoming friendship open, I - care very much for someone else. I won’t have you hurt.” Physical want would never trump the truth, not in Lulu Webster’s world.
"That's not a no," She purred, letting her skirt fall to the floor, and stepping out of it. Bellatrix added, "I love someone else, even if she's out of reach."
Still, she appreciated the truth. She didn't see enough of that in her day to day life. She certainly didn't see enough of that in her family's ministry.
“I place a premium on honesty.” Lulu smiled, moving out of the room, smiling at her employees. There were no customers, so she let them know that her client would be taking up the rest of her day - why not take the afternoon off with pay?
When the building was empty, Lulu returned to the room where Bellatrix waited, smiling as she locked the door behind her. “I also place a premium on discretion.” Moving closer, Lulu unbuttoned her own shirt.
"I can do discretion..I'm quite good at that." Bella's eyes followed Lulu's fingers. She didn't want anything to get into the papers. Not that it would with Cissy paying Rita off, but she didn't want to cost her sister any more money. She wanted openness, of course. Some day, perhaps.
Lu couldn’t keep from smiling to herself, imagining what she’d tell the man she cared for. Remember how we joked about me and lesbian encounters? But this was comfort for both of them, to distract them from the people they cared for, just for a moment.
Which was how Lulu ended up in nothing but her bra, knickers, garter, and stockings in front of one Bellatrix Black. “I worry about your discretion more than mine.” She smiled, holding the measuring tape taut.
"You won't have to," Ms. Black replied, closing her eyes as she had an interesting thought for alternate uses of measuring tape. She opened them again after a moment and held her arms straight out.
"Worry. Believe me deary I wouldn't want to breathe a word of this." She was selfish. Keep it to herself.
Grinning, Lulu wrapped the tape around Bellatrix’s wrists, tugging her closer for another snog. “Nor I, but possibly to one man, and I certainly wouldn’t mention your name.” She let her teeth graze along Bella’s neck, smirking slightly. “Measurements are actually something I’m very good at taking in my head.”
"No names," Bella promised, tilting her head and letting out a low, throaty moan. Her fingers itched to touch Lulu's skin. This was sheer, delightful torture. She stole another kiss at first opportunity. She'd never let any one bind her like this before, but in a very short time she'd formed an unusual bond of trust.
Lulu grinned into the kiss, letting Bela go after a moment. That moan had shot straight down her spine, raising goosebumps. “I still consider myself straight, but you should know that you are … absolutely one of my exceptions.” She kissed Bella’s shoulder, tongue escaping for a moment to taste her skin.
"Now you're playing to my ego, Lulu." Bellatrix gasped softly, and trailed her fingers along the seamstress' ribs. She found herself wanting to not scare her off, and the touches she was receiving were so tender it was as heart wrenching as it was seductive. She wanted to give in turn.
“Not on purpose.” Lulu smiled and turned to unhook her bra, letting her hair out of its loose bun at the same time. “I don’t do things I don’t want to. I get the feeling you and I are similar in that regard.”
Opening her eyes, Bellatrix watched Lulu move. She liked long hair, liked the way it fell down over the woman's shoulders, "If I don't like something I have to do, I tend to whine about it constantly."
There was no whining here, just a bit of need. As proud as Bellatrix was, she had a tendency to need to be used, to be willing to lose herself to please the people that mattered to her. She loathed that part of herself.
Turning, Lu smiled at the other woman. “Well, it’s good thing you’re not whining,” Lulu smiled. She reached out to stroke her cheek, shaking her head. “You should be happy. You only have this life, you know.”
Bellatrix leaned into the touch, snorting a bit at the one life thing. It might be better to say she had a second chance. And had blown it, big time. Silently, she reached behind herself to undo her own bra, while turning her face to kiss Lu's hand.
"I'm..trying."
“That’s all anyone can ask.” The other woman was stunning, and Lulu bit her lower lip. She couldn’t help but run her fingers over the newly exposed skin, running her nails lightly over her. Normally sex wasn’t a way to calm people or distract herself - normally Lulu did it simply because she wanted to - but she could tell that Bellatrix needed this.
She needed it, and she wanted it, and Lu's touch reassured Bella that at least part of that feeling was mutual. Lu had definitely moved into Bella's small 'I don't hate you' column, and potentially into the even smaller non-existant 'I actually like you' column.
Pulling the other woman closer, she caressed her nails up Lu's back and whispered, "It would be easy for you to judge me."
“I don’t enjoy judging people. I try not to.” She closed her eyes at the fingernails on her back, arching into her touch. “You could do the same.” She kissed along Bellatrix’s clavicle, her tongue leaving damp trails.
A shiver ran through Bella's body, raising bumps along her skin. She felt less like the one with experience and more like the trembling virgin. It was disconcerting and she didn't know how to deal with that. She should be showing Lu what to do!
"I'd think you were lying about never doing this with a woman before," Bella said softly, between light gasps. "But somehow I trust you. That doesn't...come easily for me."
But she liked the attention, digging her nails in deeper and dragging them back down Lulu's back, before caressing her fingers in circles. From lower back, to shoulder blades, and back down again. They itched to caress elsewhere (what woman who remotely likes breasts wouldn't with Lulu), but Bella seemed to be waiting for a cue.
“I know what I like, so I’m simply trying that.” She smiled, but then she couldn’t help but arch her back into Bellatrix’s touch. Part of her couldn’t believe she was doing this. The rest of her simply told her to shut up and enjoy herself. Which was easy enough with someone like Bellatrix touching her.
"That works," She said raspily, stroking her fingers around and across Lu's ribcage. Bella leaned back in, nuzzling her cheek against Lu's chin and pressing her lips against the hollow of her throat. She broke up warm kisses with sharp nips across Lu's skin. Her hands? Then found paradise their way up.
Bellatrix didn't want to speak any more. She wasn't sure her throat would let her, though the tremors of her body were giving her away.
Lulu shuddered, her eyes closed as Bellatrix cupped her, smiling and running her nails lightly over the exact same place on her partner. Then she dipped her head, her lips and teeth running trails over the swell of Bellatrix’s breasts, looking up at her to see if she was doing things correctly.
By the look on Bella's face, Lu was doing everything exactly right. Her eyelids were heavy, and her mouth was hanging open slightly. She breathed in deeply, tangling fingers in Lu's hair and pressing against the back of her head lightly, encouragingly.
This was oddly emotional, but she planned to think about that later.
She didn’t know what else the other woman would be comfortable with, so eventually Lulu leaned back and met Bella’s eyes. “Show me?” What she liked, what she wanted.
Bellatrix smiled, and took Lu's hands. She had every intention of demonstrating on Lu what she wanted Lu to do to her.