Starcrossed

Tatiana was coming to love Belle’s arm. Her whole body was amazing, really, if what she’d felt during the match was anything to go by, but that arm was so strong. More than that, it gave off a sense of comfort and control. When Belle pulled her in tight, it was like she put up this barrier between them and the rest of the world. A strong, yet nurturing hold, one that let her feel the brunette’s heartbeat.

She wondered if Belle could feel hers, too. Could she tell how fast it was going? Far faster than it should’ve been for the simple act of sitting down.

Growing more bold, too, she dared to reach an hand out and rest it on Belle’s thigh. Just a light, gentle motion. A slow stroke. She looked up to see Belle looking straight at her, and she almost averted her gaze on the spot, but she managed to summon enough will to look her straight on. She really did have the most amazing azure eyes.

”Believe it or not? It’s kind of the same thing.” She took a moment to toss her hair back, clearing her face, then it was back to looking straight at Belle. ”Our circus is trying to reorganize, figure out ways to cut costs. People come less and less every year, changing world.” She shrugged at that. Hated to admit it, but that was the truth. ”So we want to expand into the Asian market. This is a pretty good way to do it and make decent money on the side. Free publicity.” She couldn’t hide the distaste for those last two words in her tone, but she couldn’t pretend that wasn’t the case.

Belle shifted slightly at the touch on her leg, it was only for a moment before she settled back into the taxi seat. She drew Tatiana in closer, lightly stroking her arm as she spoke. When was the last time she listened to someone else this attentively? Not because she had to but because she cared. She honestly couldn't recall. "I don't believe it." She quipped sarcastically before falling quite to allow the redhead to speak. She nodded along slowly. She couldn't recall ever being to a circus herself with her family. Sure, there had been an episode of Coming Together revolving around the sisters getting separated at a big top, and Belle's character wanting to run away to join the troupe. That was the extent of it though. She had gotten to know a few of the actual circus workers, they had been on set for a few weeks.

She thought to ask Tatiana is she had any videos of her performing, but stopped herself. A good deal of the waning popularity of the circus likely came down to how easy it was to see the spectacle of the show without ever leaving your home. Be with through movies, TV, or people recording live events. People in Belle's end of the culture killing things for the people Tatiana loved... Perhaps not that overly dramatic. But the change in culture with the social media boom was likely a huge source of the problem. She was willing to bet on that.

"Have they ever considered opening up a school, to carry on the tradecraft? Maybe not even for practicality sake, but to preserve the history of it?" She knew well enough from trends that dying art forms and media were always something that came back into style. You just needed to spin it the right way. "Crowdfunding... maybe?" That one was definitely a reach, but who knows, if Novae became popular enough or Belle promoted it on her channel... maybe something would come of it.

"Hey... chin up. If not for all of that, we wouldn't ever have met in the ring. Silver lining, right?"

This was not a normal thing, Tatiana realized, to be so close with a woman she’d only just met and wrestled a little while ago. What little ambiguity there had been about their relationship was quickly fading - whatever they were, it more than just casual acquaintances. You didn’t cuddle with those. You didn’t go to sleep in the lap of those. You didn’t go this in depth about your past and feelings with those. No, they hadn’t said anything to make it official yet, but maybe that was the beauty of it: they didn’t need to.

She ruminated on Belle’s idea for a moment, trying to picture it. ”That’s...not a bad idea.” She tapped her chin. ”Convincing my parents, that would be the tricky part. They’re old-fashioned that way, like to do things how they’ve always been done.” She gave Belle’s thigh a squeeze, looked up at her with a hopeful smile. ”But, now that you mention it, I wouldn’t mind teaching. Someday. Passing on what I know, keeping it alive.”

She shook her head, let her crimson hair bounce about. ”But that’s enough gloomy talk. I agree with you, there.” She finally broke her gaze and moved to the side, letting her head drop down to rest against Belle’s chest. ”You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in this city. I wish we’d wrestled sooner.”

Surprisingly enough, Belle wasn't just a muscle head, despite what many people seemed to think. She nodded along with Tatiana, not interjecting her opinion until the girl had aired her thoughts. "You'd make a good teacher." She half mumbled, finding it hard to not hang on her words. If she set up a class tomorrow, Belle would definitely attend.

Her heart was racing as Tatiana laid head to her chest. She found herself nodding, agreeing. "I wish I had met you sooner..." Did she say wrestle? She didn't know. She meant to say wrestle. Her hand slowly, sheepishly traced it's way up along Tatiana's shoulder. Why was this so hard? She had been with plenty of people before... Her fingers brushed the girls collarbone before slipping up into her hair.

She looked unsure, attempting to softly run her fingers through Tatiana's hair. What is this want real though? What if this was just the booze? She had no real way of knowing how much of a light weight Tatiana might be. Did she want this? Would she have wanted it in the morning?

She opened her mouth to speak when the taxi stopped, idling. They had reached "The Compound".

Tatiana had mostly entertained the idea of teaching just to humor Belle, but the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like a nice idea. She did love kids. They were the one thing about the Cosmic Circus that never failed to make her smile.  Seeing all their little smiling faces as she flew threw the air, hearing them clap and cheer, getting to meet them and give out autographs. Autographs that weren’t worth the poster she printed them on, but it didn’t matter, because they were kids and they didn’t really care about that sort of thing.

Yeah. Yeah, she could do that. Her family had been doing this for generations. It didn’t have to die with her.

It was easy to get lost in Belle. Tatiana found herself pressing closer, getting deep into the woman as time went on, as her hair was caressed and her thoughts drifted. She mumbled her agreement to the brunette’s words, and closer her eyes again. Not to sleep, this time. Just to take in her scent, her feel, her everything.

She could’ve done that all night, but the driver would’ve likely objected. Besides, they were at the destination.

”I’m up, I’m up.” She gave Belle one more nuzzle, before sitting up and getting a view of the place. ”Wow.” Her eyes shot wide open as she looked it over for a moment. She didn't’ stare long, though, and turned her attention back to the main reason she was here: Belle. ”I mean, I’d seen it before, but...wow. It’s a lot of space.”

Belle reluctantly slipped her arm back from over Tatiana, patting herself down until she found her phone. Thumbing through the screen quietly she brought up a small keypad and punched in a long series of numbers. Leaning to the side she peeked at the massive gate beyond the windows it opened. "Just follow this road up the hill to the house and we will be out of your hair."

She smiled down at Tatiana as she leaned back in her seat. She was glad to have the company here for a change. Her only regret was how chilly it was. She bet the redhead would love the garden. The ride up to the house wasn't very long, most of the large expanse of the grounds was empty aside from trees. One could only imagine what it took to maintain the grounds in the warmer seasons.  Once they arrived Belle fished out a card from her wallet and transferred it into a small slot. A bit of transaction later and they were all laid up.

After popping her seatbelt Belle leaned herself across Tatiana, grasping for her chicken... She might have lingered across her longer than she needed before sitting back and opened up the door. Slipping herself out, she offered Tatiana a hand from their chariot into the night air. "Welcome to my home away from home." While it was a two story building, it was massive. It could have passed as a commercial office building, just far more swank and modern looking.

Tatiana was confused for a moment, not sure what Belle was doing with the phone, but it soon became clear enough: she was being cool. The doors opened, the path was cleared, and away they went. Even the driver seemed impressed, giving a short whistle as he drove on. [color=#ff3366]”If you’re trying to dazzle me into submission, you’re doing a good job.

Granted, it wasn’t like such a thing would take much. The biggest space Tatiana had ever lived in would only take up a tenth of this place, if that, and she was only counting the house proper. Not to mention the sprawling space around it.

She managed to keep herself calm, though, as they - well, Belle - paid the driver and they disembarked. She was eager to take Belle’s hand, gently holding onto it, and she’d continue to do so for as long as the brunette let her. It really was hard to believe this soft, warm hand was the same one that had been knocking her senseless in that last match.

”It’s nice. And quiet.” Too quiet, she wanted to say. Eieriely so. Which reminded her of a detail that needed to be addressed. ”I don’t remember if you said or not - is Kaylee home? I’m fine if she is, don’t get me wrong, but I just want to know. So I can be on the lookout for things flying at my head.”

She was half joking. Only half.

She nudged the taxi door what behind her with her hip, finding Tatiana still attached to her hand. This was okay. She had to lead the girl around anyway, right? She let them quietly along the stone walkway, deliberately going slower than her usually pace so they could remain shoulder to shoulder. She wasn't sure what she was doing really. It had seemed like a good idea to invite Tatiana over at the bar. Show her around with a tour. She didn't much feel like playing guide anymore. She just wanted to spend some time with the redhead.

"She is. Probably asleep though, so let's get through the dragons den before screaming to the high heavens." She lead them around the side of the building to a rather nondescript door. There was a keypad here, Belle moved to it to fill in a few. Umbers. A small green light flickered from red to green along side an audible click from the door itself. She once again opened the door, this one a large utility one, and held it for Tatiana before following after.

Once they had slipped inside, she reluctantly took back her hand and motioned for Tatiana a to be quite. It was highly unlikely if Kaylee was home and asleep they would encounter her, but she didn't want to risk it. Whatever the purpose of the door, it had been right next to a set of stairs and an elevator. She opted for the stairs, moving them to her side of the home as quickly as possible.

"We should be good now." She moved a bit slower now, even dared to slip her arm around Tatiana to hold her close as they walked through the halls. There were so many rooms both opened archways and closed doors.  Belle led them to her most frequented area if the house, the person gym. She slipped free from Tatiana, encouraging her to explore. "Feel free to look around."

It looked about the size of a public use facility for a more upscale apartment complex. Various machines lined up neatly for use in a central pit surrounded by a small indoor jogging path. Several tv displays hung around the room, inactive. The room took up the corner of the building, two walls were completely made of tall standing glass windows which overlooked the "garden" below which looked expansive and intricate enough to pass as a fancy park. She had come here for a reason though. Tucked in the corner was a small set of counters, a sink, and her intended destination, a refrigerator. The wings found their new temporary home, mission complete.

"So... If you want to deal with the cold and more walking, we could head outside." She pointed to the windows, moving to rejoin Tatiana wherever she ended up. "Or she can chill inside, in the media room. Toss on something or play a game... Whatever."  She kept her preference to herself as her hands found her jacket pockets. She couldn't hold back a smirk at the redhead's wide eyes wonder of the facility. She was sure there was a time when a place like this would have elicited a similar reaction. These days? The wonder had died with how familiar it all was and how jaded she had become.

Had Tatiana ever held hands like this with anyone? Not since she was about five year old, if she had to guess. She relished it here, though, following along as Belle led her into the house and out of the cold, feeling safe in her strong, sure grasp.

She kicked off her shoes near the door, a habit she’d picked up from her brief time in Japan and taken a liking to. Here, it served the double purpose of allowing her to sneak through the house with ease, her soft footfalls making zero noise as they creeped. A good thing to, because this place seemed to have a way of making every noise seem twice as loud. It was a beautiful house, even better than it looked in the videos, but Youtube couldn’t capture how empty it felt. How lonely. Like something had come along and blown the life out of the place.

She followed along, taking care to be church-mouse quiet until they were in the clear, and found herself looking about in wonder as they entered the ‘play room’. That seemed like sort of an inadequate term for it, though, when the ‘room’ was bigger than the apartment she and Valerie lived in. So much to do and see here, so much to toy around with. This was the sort of place she could’ve spent a day in and not gotten bored with. A week, even.

She was peeking out the window when Belle came back her way and laid out some options. ”Well, I don’t want to go back outside, not tonight.” She turned back to her and stepped Belle’s way. She was hesitant at first, still a little taken aback by it all, but she was quick to focus back on the woman in front of her

”Honestly? I’m for whatever you’re for, Belle.” She took another step in and placed a hand on her chest, speaking soft and low. ”Just so long as we can talk while we’re doing it. So long as we’re close. With that, I’m happy.”

When she had made her way back over she take taken up a spot near the window. Leaning in to peer outside at the lot garden, she could feel the slight chill in the glass from proximity alone. It seemed Tatiana was of a similiar mindset to her. She was done with the cold as well for now. Another day, hopefully actually during the day she could have her over again to go out there... Though that likely wasn't the case.

Anytime but the dead of night and Kaylee would know. Any time they were back here it would be like this. As potentially exciting as it might be with the "thrill" of being caught, she wasn't fond of that.

She glanced towards Tatiana taken about by her quiet sincerity. Even dressed like she was ready to go  play tag or climb a jungle gym, she couldn't get over how beautiful she looked in this moment. Belle drew in a deep breath through her nose and nodded. She felt the same way. Though her mind was filled with very little talking. She turned away as she felt color rising in her cheeks again, holding her hand back behind her in a small offer to Tatiana to follow her as close as she pleased.

She would lead them from the gym down a long hall. Only passing one room on the right that she quietly let Tatiana know it was a bathroom, just in case. She lead them through a pair of double doors made to resemble an old time movie theatre into what she had undersold as the "media room".

It was dark when they entered. "Alexa... Lights at fifty percent." A small light blinked on the wall beside them as the room slowly lit itself up. A small panel on the wall then asked Bell in a generated female voice if that was all. "That's it." The device went dormant again

It was a small private theatre, two long rows of giant red couches filled the middle of the room, an incline in the floor separated the two leaving the lack couches raised high enough to be even with the raised back of the first row. They were positioned facing a blank wall, but a large metal box secured to the ceiling marked a drop down screen. In the back of the room was a control panel of sorts, hard to miss in the dimly lit room.

Along the walls were various speakers, and the ceiling had a large projector unit near the back of the room. Aside from the modern trappings, everything else about the rooms style from the tiny aisle lights on the outside to the torch lighting along the walls was meant to evoke a real movie going experience.

It was finally here Belle slipped off her shoes. Not wanting to trail anything on the carpeted floors. She lead Tatiana over to the lower of the two couches, motioning for her to take a seat. "Any requests?" She remained standing, humoring the idea that they would pay attention to whatever was put on.