xp_logs | Hope and Sue - We were living in Paris (backdated to April 9 2022)

Hope and Sue take a trip to Paris and make a monumental decision...including strawberries.

There was something about an airport, a hum of activity that seemed to fill the entire building. It was a kind of energy, the energy that flower out from travellers getting of a long plane ride, the smiles of the customer service representatives. It was the bright lights and the large windows, the touch of excitement in the air. Every plane trip was filled with potential, was a new opportunity to see the world, to go on adventures that you had never dreamed of. A world of opportunity beyond those doors.

"You know, I know people who do this every weekend. Just take off with the clothes on their back and nothing else. Just pick a destination and see what would happen." A bright smile lit up Sue's face as the blonde reached up to flick her hair over her shoulder before she grinned at Hope. "Don't worry, I don't plan to whisk you away to Timbuktu, at least, not yet. I've got something else planned for you, Miss Abbott."

"I bet those people are not in the process of starting up their own business." Hope grumbled as she stabbed at the screen of her phone. "But this should be the final email for now, so I am all yours... at least for the weekend." She tucked away her phone and grinned at Sue. "So if it is not Timbuktu, where to then? Europe perhaps or are we heading to more Southern area's?"

A single eyebrow lifted towards the blonde's forehead as she let the smallest ghost of a smile curl up the corners of her lips as she tilted her head to the side. "No, no most of them run hedge funds or multi-million dollar corporations. But, they all understand that sometimes it's important to turn work off and enjoy the moment. So...if I see you tapping away on your phone this weekend, I'm confiscating it and you can have it back if you're very very good." A mischievous playful light danced across Sue's eyes as she grinned at Hope, leaving that playful tease hanging in the air as she winked at the brunette. "You're cute, but not that cute. It/s a surprise." A laughed slipped from Sue's lips as she danced forward step, sticking her tongue out at Hope.

"You must have wanted to keep it an absolute surprise since you even packed my suitcase..." Hope raised her eyebrow and grinned. "I need to check my email once a day, but otherwise I am all yours. So... no blindfold or anything? You know I will figure it out pretty quickly otherwise."

"Suitcase...yeah I totally took care of all of that." Sue's eyes shifted away from Hope's for a moment to glance through the window at the planes moving across the runway. To be honest she only had the purse at her side and the clothes on her back. "I mean, if people see me leading a blindfolded woman through the airport, we might have problems with security...but keep that thought in mind, we can totally use a blindfold later."

Hope froze for a quick second: "Susan Storm, please promise me we will not have the customs officers winking at us if they do have to check our luggage?!?"

The look the blonde turned on Hope wouldn't have let butter melt in her mouth as she grinned happily, "Oh, I can guarantee they're not going to have any issues with our luggage." Travelling light did have its benefits after all.

"I see what you mean about packing light. Still..." She leaned up towards Sue's ears and whispered: "I guess those whispers about blindfolds and feathers were just that then? LIttle whispers?"

Sue's smile was so bright that it could have lit up the airport by itself as she tilted her head down, warm breath on the other woman's skin, "Well, you'll just have to wait and find out, won't you?"

+++

"Please tell me you did not rent the penthouse... or something even crazier, like the honeymoon suite." Hope looked in the lobby of the five star hotel they were in. "Only for a weekend in Paris..."

Blue eyes sparkled with amusement as Sue pouted at Hope, not caring who might hear them as she slid her arm through the brunette's. "Hmm, now that's an idea...I wonder if they'll let me upgrade at reception. If anyone asks, this is our honeymoon, maybe they'll throw in a free bottle of champagne then."

"You better find us some really nice rings first." Hope retorted playfully as they headed towards the reception desk. "And I believe I could get them to throw in the free bottle of champagne even without having to upgrade to the honeymoon suite." She added, challenging Sue with the rise of an eyebrow. "Do you want to bet?"

The blonde extended a hand towards the reception, a single eyebrow arching up as she offered hope a smile. "Well, if you think you can manage that then have at it, show me what kind of deal you can get us, and what kinda perks you can throw in too."

"Oh no... my dear... the offer was just for a few extra perks. Nice try..." Hope mischievously tapped Sue's nose before letting go and addressing the receptionist, easily switching to French. "Good Evening, we'd like to check in under Storm, please."

The receptionist offered Hope a broad smile, all white teeth and positive energy as she nodded her head. "One moment please." FIngers swirled across the keyboard as she pulled up the reservation as Sue settled in, watching Hope in bemusement. "I have it here, one suite in the name of Storm, that is room 402."

"Thank you." Hope leaned forward and lowered her voice a little bit. "Before we continue... I was wondering if you could help me a little bit. I was just surprised with a trip to Paris and I would like to spoil my friend a little bit in return. As kind of a surprise, you know..." She discreetly slipped her hand in her purse and pulled out two twenty euro notes before sliding it over the counter."

The money seemed to vanish, as if sucked up by a vacuum as the receptionist nodded helpfully, "Oh, we can certainly do that. And may I say what a lucky girl she is, so...what did you have in mind madam, our concierge service has links all over the city."

Hope tossed a quick glance over her shoulder, her eyebrow arching just a bit when she caught Sue checking the outline of the shape of her body under her skirt. "Honestly, for tonight she really just wants to stay in... I am pretty sure of that. Maybe a nice bottle of champagne and perhaps a little more of that?"

The receptionist looked past hope for a moment, following her eye before nodding. "I do believe we have some excellent Champagne in the wine cellar and perhaps some treats, chocolate covered strawberries for example? I shall have the kitchen prepare a little tray and send it up to you after you've had a chance to relax a little madame?"

"That sounds perfect. Merci." Hope discreetly slid another note over the counter.

_______

The sounds of bare feet on tile could be heard as Sue closed the wooden door of the bathroom behind her, one hand resting on the door handle as she held an unopened bottle of champagne aloft triumphantly. "We did have a spare bottle after all...that carpet is totally ruined though. The countess of lalala will be horrified when she comes after is to find water stains on the floor." The blonde gave Hope a wide grin as she padded across the bathroom to lower herself into the jacuzzi, water droplets dripping from her body to leave a trail across the floor as she sank into the water with a sigh of relief, "I have returned from my quest with loot...thought no booty for you till I get a reward."

Hope folded her hands on the edge of the tub and let her chin rest on them. "Not quite yet. You are still missing quite a crucial component..."

The blonde arched an eyebrow before lifting first one, then the other of her feet, "10 toes," raising her hands, "10 fingers," wrinkling her nose, "a cute nose, a bottle of champagne and two glasses...I think I've got everything I need right here...unless you're saying you'd like me to raid the minifridge while I'm at it too?"

"But there were still a few of the strawberries left..." Hope pouted a little. "Or did you eat all of them secretly? I know you love them..."

"There might be a few left...one left...look it's their fault for being so delicious...how about I give you something else sweet instead if you let me in the tub?"

Twirling a lock of hair around her finger, Hope slowly scanned her lover, her gaze just lingering a little here and there. "Your skin is starting to get covered in goosebumps... if I just hold out a little longer, I bet you will give me whatever I want."

Sue didn't even try to hide the smirk that curled up her lips or the chuckle that shook her frame. "Or you know, I could retreat to fort bed with the think blankets, and my champagne and let you get all wrinkly and pruney there..."

Hope rolled over, spreading out in the tub. "I have to admit, this is quite comfortable. You can have the bed, I will stay here if need be." She arched a little, displaying her assets to the best. "You would be missing all of this."

Sue couldn't help but laugh, cocking one hip to the side as she rested her hand on it. "Well...you make a compelling case but...I get to enjoy the view while you get to hear just how soft and comfortable the bed is...are you sure you don't want to get out and join me...I do have the last two strawberries." The red fruit hung tantalisingly in the air as Sue took a step back and grinned wickedly.

"Pshaw. Two is not worth my time." Hope simply closed her eyes, relaxed and sunk in the bubbly water again. A tiny, satisfied smile played around her lips.

Sat up in bed, letting the sheets slide down to pool around her knees as she reached back to loft a throw pillow at Hope. "Are you sure about that?" THe blonde's eyes sparkled mischeviously as she slowly lifted a strawberry, taking a small bite to hold it between her lips.

With twinkling eyes Hope switched tactics to save her strawberries: "You do know what they have been saying about us back home, don't you?"

The blonde leaned back on the bed, rolling over to stare at Hope curiously, "That's they're super jealous of the wonderful time we're having out here?"

"Most do not even know that we are." Hope shook her head, her eyes still twinkling.. "No, I caught a few whispers of speculation... specifically to the exact nature of our relationship."

"Those nosey parkers at the office must really be hard up for gossip if they're forced to fall back to gossiping about us." The blonde rolled over, laying on her stomach as she lifted her head, strands of blonde hair drifting down over her shoulders as she let the bedclothes settle around her form. "Well...we're here but...we've avoided asking those deeper questions till now. What do you want us to be?"

Water ran down her body when Hope rose from the bath, pulling the drain as she did so and wrapped a towel around her. "This is not a conversation to have like this." After a quick drying she exchanged the towel for a silk robe and sank down next to Sue. Quickly she stole one of the strawberries before commenting frankly: "I have been calling us paramours in my head. More than friends with benefits, but not quite a true couple. Is that something you want?"

The blonde tilted her head to the side before raising a hand to Hope, feeling the soft touch of the sheets sliding back as she grasped her hand to pull the brunette towards the bed, "I think...maybe I want more than just friends now...although you know no-one uses words like paramours anymore right?"

Hope let herself be drawn closer, finally laying down next to Sue. "Frankly, I don't care. I like it and it works for me." She reached out, gently stroking some hair out of Sue's face. "But the more I think about it now, we are already a couple... more or less. We just do not say it that way."

Sue reached out a hand, wrapping it around Hope's waist pulling her closer so she could rest her head on her shoulder, strands of blond hair sticking to Hope's wet skin. "I mean...if you want to talk about it like that, we spend more nights together than apart, talk all the time on the telephone and you always make sure to let me hide when a scary movie comes on, now if that's not a couple then..."

"Shhh..." Hope gently covered Sue's lips with finger. "Sounds to me like we are a couple then?"

The blonde grinned, reaching up to let her finger trace down the back of Hope's finger and down her arm before she reached for the belt binding Hope's robe shut. "I think maybe you'll have to show me just how much of a couple we are."