[ It's exactly what she needs to hear. They've known each other for such a relatively short time and yet he knows her well enough to understand that fear she could never give proper voice to. With fewer than a dozen words, he heals the wound they'd both caused and leaves her better than before.
She settles back beside him, staring into those mesmerizing eyes for a long moment... And then she leans in, crossing those few inches between them to wrap her free arm around his shoulder and pull him in for a hug. It's not precisely what she's yearning for, what her heart is screaming for, but it's the next best thing. ]
[ The angle is a little awkward at first, managing a sideways hug while they're seated like this, but they eventually find the right position where his shoulder isn't jabbing her in the side and they settle into that hug.
He's still getting accustomed to this and finding himself cherishing each moment of contact like this, even if it's so earnest that it makes his heart twinge, this way that Julia hangs onto him like she's drowning. He wraps his arm around her, tips his head against hers carefully, in order to not displace the braided part of her hair. It's a startlingly heartfelt and private moment, but the bar is dark and torch-lit and magic-users are known for their privacy: people are probably selling their soul in some gloomy corner, so a hug between friends (is that all?) is by far the strangest thing to be witnessed in the Bar With No Doors. The worst thing he might undergo is some light teasing from a more distant colleague later: so who was the pretty brunette in your booth?
When they finally let go, he stays next to her too. They're sitting closer now, his leg against hers and the billowing layers of her skirt. ]
Thank you for coming out tonight, anyway. You're inadvertently rescuing me from karaoke or having to make stilted small-talk with apprentices. I much prefer your company.
[ Not all hugs are perfect cinematic moments. Sometimes bodies are awkward, limbs and angles getting in the way, but they're always worth it in the end. Julia drinks in the warmth of Stephen's body that she can feel through his touch, wishing he wasn't wearing the stylish suit jacket so she could soak in even more of it. There just isn't enough time, the seconds speeding by, and letting go leaves a physical ache in her chest. If only he was the sort of person who enjoyed being close with friends — she and Q have always been that way, but she knows the sorcerer just isn't much of a cuddler.
They stay closer than they were, though. That's something. (It's everything.) ]
One day, I'll get to see your karaoke skills.
[ It's part threat and part promise, said with a genuinely happy smile before she picks up her ridiculous tiki cup and holds it up to him in a toast. ]
To good company, [ Stephen repeats, toasting her, their glasses clinking against each other. And the moment passes, that temporary rough patch smoothed over, and it gives way instead to more of their usual conversation. It’s an amiable, easy chatter, as they discuss magic, Brakebills, the Sanctum, their recent adventures, the otherworldly people around them at the bar. There’s the occasional dip into a more serious topic, but nothing quite so heavy as before; they’re back to simply enjoying each others’ company now, sitting a little closer, savouring that contact.
And they finish their drinks, and order more.
And then another round.
Stephen, talkative to begin with, becomes moreso. He’s animated; gesticulates wildly with his hands when he’s telling a story, which is a far cry from how he’d been the very first day they met, enigmatic and hiding his hands within the folds of his cloak. As they cheerfully meander past ‘tipsy’ and firmly into the realm of ‘drunk’, he finds himself touching Julia’s arm when he laughs, or for emphasis or attention. When they go up for refills, they get derailed by meeting and socialising with other attendees of the midsummer party; Stephen introduces Julia to others, makes the rounds, chats with a few people he’d meant to catch up with, but he always comes back to her side and he’s glad of it.
And they pass the evening like that, the hours flying by, until the doctor’s drink is empty again and his crazy straw is making an ungainly suction noise as it reaches the bottom. He peers into the empty cup, and considers his own state like he’s checking his own pulse, measuring his level of intoxication, and concludes… ]
Hm. I’m not sure another round is wise. Too-drunk portalling— has led to accidents.
[ While Stephen becomes more chatty than usual, Julia becomes more of a listener as the alcohol flows, breathing in every word he says like they're made of pure oxygen. She participates in the conversations, of course, and becomes quicker to laugh as the night wears on, the giggles tumbling freely as he details his magical escapades, but she never dips into the ridiculous or brash behavior that people usually associate with drunkenness. Her tolerance is fairly high after so many years of parties and self-medication, so she's able to keep pace with her companion without making a fool of herself (which can't be said for everyone she meets that evening).
And she does enjoy meeting dozens of new people from within the magical community, the names and faces jumbling a bit together at times but each of them making a distinct impression all the same. Even when Stephen wanders off on his own, she still feels like she has a place among this group — but she feels right when he's back at her side.
Another giggle trickles quietly out of her at the idea of portal accidents (because he's obviously survived them) and she takes his empty cup to set beside her own on the nearby table. Her steps wobble just the slightest bit, her hard-earned skill at walking in heels saving her from a broken ankle more times that night than she cares to acknowledge. ]
I'm gonna need to hear about those accidents. Did you end up anywhere interesting?
Either interesting or the opposite thereof. Once it was the middle of a field in Nebraska, very dull, nothing but cows as far as the eye can see. Another time it was over the Marianas Trench and I fell into the ocean. Nothing like getting plunged into water to sober up very quickly; I came back to the Sanctum dripping wet. The Cloak was very upset.
[ His head cocked, he extends and probes his magical senses, like testing his own walking balance and ability to walk along a straight line. He's had a couple fun accidents, but he's also deeply aware of the dangers in it: you could literally lose a limb if a portal closes on you in an untimely manner. It's like drunk driving. Gotta be careful.
But he knows his limits better now, and he can tell he's still well within range. This is the kind of drinking where he's a little more loose and gregarious and brave; not the 'black-out drunk, wrap your car around a tree' kind of drinking. ]
I think it's alright tonight, though. I'll be able to get us back safely, whenever you've had enough of witches and heads in jars and imps. Leaving the timing up to you, since this is your first time visiting... [ An expansive gesture, waving at the bar. ] All this.
[ The great Stephen Strange standing in a field of cows is honestly something she would pay good money to see. Mental images only do much to illustrate such a truly hilarious situation, and even that has her struggling to keep in more giggles. Her grin shifts into a sympathetic grimace at the mention of the Cloak getting dunked in the ocean — the poor thing puts up with so much in its adventures with the sorcerer, but she knows it could just as easily go back to a boring life in a glass case, so it clearly enjoys a bit of chaos in its day.
Julia pauses to consider, taking a glance at the crowd still going strong in the bar, and then steps up beside him to hook her hand around his arm like how they'd arrived so many hours ago. ]
[ He’s never going to get tired of hearing her refer to the Sanctum Sanctorum as home, he thinks.
While Julia was the one to get them here, this time Doctor Strange safely carves out the portal to take them back. Their empty drinks are set aside, discarded, and with her hand around his arm, they take a quick step through that glowing circle and find themselves back in that familiar building, the gateway closing behind them before anyone else can follow. Newcomers can only enter through the front doors — it’s a safety feature — but since the Sanctum knows them, he’s able to materialise the portal indoors, at the top of the stairwell on the second floor, at the mouth of the hallway leading to their respective bedrooms. He misses his step a little as they step through, and catches his weight against her; chuckles at himself. ]
Alright, for the record— not exactly drunk, I just misjudged the height of the portal vs the floor. It’s all about mathematical precision, as you know well.
[ Julia is certain that the Sanctum will never be anything but home now. The emotional ties she has to the building are simply too strong; bonds like that can never fully be severed and she wouldn't have it any other way. Stepping through the portal back onto that familiar landing leading to their rooms just feels so incredibly right, it nearly takes her breath away.
But then Stephen practically stumbles into her and she's back to laughing, adjusting her grip on his arm and reaching over with her other hand to make sure he's steady. Who is she kidding, though, they're both equally not exactly drunk but still a bit wobbly. ]
Oh, yes, absolutely. Just a slight miscalculation. [ Oops, there's another laugh. ] Come on, I'll make sure you get to your in one piece. We don't want you falling into a portrait or void or something.
Ah, and see? You’re getting the hang of this place. My chaperone.
[ The Sanctum could swallow him whole, but it seems to be contented tonight, stable in its fabric of reality rather than roiling with dimensional fractures. Its ghosts are quiet. So they walk down the hallway together like they’re going for a garden stroll, like she’s walking him home through a familiar neighbourhood. As they reach the doorway to his sprawling quarters, though, then Stephen hesitates.
There’s an order to these things. A lingo, an expected call and response. It’s not guaranteed and it’s a risk, a leap, a particular insinuation. But he’s buoyed by the liquid courage of the rest of the evening, and so he stops by that doorway and turns and looks at Julia, gorgeous in her dress. There’s a beat. A question which could be innocent enough on the surface, but— ]
[ She doesn't really think the Sanctum would devour him, it seems to enjoy having him as its protector or at least approves of the appointment, but you can never be too careful. He might still get lost for a few weeks, and she would miss him.
They reach his door too quickly. It's too soon, she isn't ready for the night to end. She isn't prepared to lose his warmth, to feel empty and alone without the sound of his voice in her ear. But then—
Julia watches him for a moment, knowing this dance intimately, and it takes no time at all for her to choose the path to follow. Letting go of his arm, she lifts both hands to rest them lightly against his chest, her expression completely serious and her eyes on the tie she'd tied so many hours ago. ]
Stephen, you've already bought this girl a drink tonight. More than one, in fact. [ She raises her eyes to meet his. ] So why don't you just kiss me already?
[ Stephen’s cautious, tentative expression flourishes into a smile instead: the relief and validation of him having raised the stakes and Julia firmly, instantaneously, unhesitatingly, calling said stakes. Laying his cards out on the table.
This whole evening has been a date-which-isn’t-a-date: getting to know each other more over drinks, cut loose from any obligation of magical training or curse-breaking, simply enjoying each others’ company and the gentle ebb-and-flow of flirtation. He’d been prepared to beat around the bush a little longer if necessary, but it’s nice getting to cut right through it. She’s always calling him on his bullshit. It’s refreshing.
So he doesn’t waste any more time. Julia’s already resting her hands against the material of his suit jacket, and there’s hardly any distance between them any longer, and so it’s the easiest thing for him to lean down and catch her cheek with his hand, and capture her mouth with his. The kiss is soft at first; the opening of that metaphorical door, stepping over the line, testing the weight to see if the floor will hold. ]
[ She'd been wrong — this is what coming home feels like. That soft brush of his lips against hers, warm fingers against her cheek, the sensations are like a whirlwind sweeping away any other thoughts in her mind. There is only him and she needs more.
One of Julia's hands stays on his chest to steady her as she lifts up the last little bit onto her toes, while her other hand goes to the back of his neck. She wants to make herself perfectly clear as she presses their lips more firmly together and opens her mouth to properly taste him: she is no fragile flower and she knows what she wants. ]
[ Even with those towering heels of hers, there’s still a height difference, but she rises up on tiptoe and closes that remaining distance. He shouldn’t have expected any less: Julia is the type of woman who simply reaches out and seizes what she wants, and Stephen’s always been the impatient kind himself, and so he instantly responds.
He had started to wonder, for the long last while, what kissing Julia Wicker might be like; and it turns out now that the door’s been unlocked, they’re both slamming it open. She opens her mouth against his and it’s like they’re crashing into each other, his tongue slipping against hers, diving hungrily into the kiss.
He feels ten years younger — he hasn’t done this in a while — but then again, after all this time living together, it’s about damned time. So all that pent-up passion and every lingering question is poured into it: mouth and teeth and her hands at the back of his neck, his own fingers curling into the waves of her hair, only coming up for air with a little gasping breath before renewing the kiss.
And in that jostling push-and-pull to get closer still, one of them bumps into one of those hallway endtables, sending it teetering, and with a jolt of surprise, Stephen catches it with magic before some stupid priceless decorative vase can shatter on the floor. He glances down in brief consternation, then back at her, amused. ]
[ That rush of passion is something she hasn't felt in a long time, fire filling her veins as his touch fans the flames. James feels like a century ago, and Richard a decade, but it had been different with both of them. James was comfortable, they'd always just fit, and Richard had saved her when she needed it most. With Stephen... He gave her the tools to save herself. They challenged, supported, and inspired each other. She wanted to know everything about him, from his favorite dessert to his dream vacation to what he sounded like when he came undone. That she might get to actually learn the latter takes her breath away as much as his kiss.
That pesky table barrels into her hip, not the other way around, and she grimaces with a smile as he catches it and gives the offensive thing a look. He makes a very valid point, though, and she turns her flirting up to 11 as she wraps her hand around his tie and slides it down the length of fabric. ]
Well, you did tell me once that your bedroom is the least dangerous place in the Sanctum. Maybe we should continue this there.
[ And then there's the briefest moment where she's afraid she's gone too far, too fast. He'd given her signs but there's still a flicker of doubt, some part of her worried about... too many things. ]
Least likely to contain a portal to hell. And it’s very spacious. Very comfortable.
[ He’s grinning, the amusement sparking even brighter in his eyes, now that they’re both so clearly on the same page. They’re no longer nosing around the corners of the possibility, no longer waiting and wondering.
So Stephen shoots a quick, surreptitious glance up and down the hallway; checking to make sure they’re not being noticed by Wong or another master or a novice awake in the middle of the night to brush their teeth. They’re stealing away like they’re two truant students avoiding the hall monitor, trying not to be spotted sneaking around in the night. ]
Lead the way.
[ So then Julia’s walking backwards into his living quarters, teasingly tugging him along by his tie: whenever she takes a step back, then he takes a step forward following her in, and the door whisks itself shut behind them. They’re crossing the room together, going past the chaise longue where she’d once patched him up, past the study area, past the dressing area. Just before they reach the second door, then he reaches to his chest for the scarlet pocket square and tosses it aside; in the blink of an eye, it transforms back into the Cloak of Levitation, which disappears back to its hook in the corner for some privacy.
And just as they cross the bedroom threshold, then Stephen closes the distance once more and kisses her again, even as the Mission-style bedside lamp sparks to life (dating a sorcerer, it’s very handy). Now that they’re in here, she finally gets a view of his bedroom, this innermost private chamber: more hardwood floors and another fireplace, floor-to-ceiling paned windows with drawn curtains, a hefty bed with carved wooden bedposts. All of the aesthetic radiates an old-world grandeur which he hadn’t actually picked, but which fits the man nonetheless. And to no one’s surprise, the walls are lined with even more bookshelves, the bed piled with more. The room itself would be tidy (he’s always meticulously tidy) if it weren’t for the books on the bedspread and some papers on the endtable. He breaks the kiss just long enough to say, breathlessly, ]
I hadn’t planned for company, but I have to admit that I have been wanting to do this for— god, a while.
[ Leading Stephen by his tie is the most natural thing for Julia and that he allows her to do it and follows along willingly just further confirms how right this is. They're a good fit, whether this turns into a long-term thing or not — he understands her the same way she understands him. They're safe with each other and that means more than anything else ever could.
She only gets a glance at his bedroom before his lips are on hers again and she is thoroughly distracted, though what she gathers is that it's well-matched to the rest of his suite and to him personally. Had the Sanctum designed it for him like this or had he chosen the design? The question makes a fleeting pass through her thoughts as her hands roam over his strong shoulders, feeling the lean muscle hidden beneath his suit, which brings to mind that he is extremely overdressed for their present circumstances.
A quiet laugh escapes her at his confession, the sound reverberating through their next kiss, and then she pulls back enough to make her own. ]
And I have to admit it may have crossed my mind while I was gone. Once or twice.
[ Her hands slide down his chest, thumbs tracing the curve of the lapels before finding their prize. With a quick flick, she undoes however many buttons stand between her and removing that pesky layer of clothing. ]
Only once or twice? I’m going to have to work harder to stay on your mind.
[ She’d had far more important things going on at the time, he knows it; but they also both know that it’s simply part of the playful patter, the flirtation turned white-hot.
It’s still a little difficult for him to work the buttons without using magic, so it’s a relief to have Julia swiftly unpicking the buttons on his jacket for him. Stephen tips a shoulder to help shrug out of it, and her hands slide under the fabric, along the lines of his shoulders and back, dragging it loose where he just lets the jacket tumble to the floor. He pulls at his tie, messily undoes all her work from the beginning of the evening until it hangs loose again around his throat. That one layer shucked, Julia can reach for his white dress-shirt (it’s well-tailored but simple, unornamented, he’d stopped using cufflinks since his accident), as his hands settle on the arch of her corseted bodice, and then gathers up a handful of voluminous skirt, just to keep touching her and have something to hang onto. His attention drifts a little to the side: his lips mouthing at Julia’s jaw along with the faint scratch of his beard, then the delicate arch of her throat, then his voice murmuring into her ear in a low purr. ]
It’s a very nice dress. How do we get you out of it?
[ He assumes there’s a zipper somewhere but if so, it’s cleverly-hidden, designed well enough that it doesn’t stand out in the black-and-gold. ]
[ Okay, yes, it had been more than once or twice, but she was fairly distracted by other pressing matters at the time. Those thoughts of him had helped her get through some rough patches, though, so they'd meant a hell of a lot more than a passing daydream.
Removing Stephen's jacket has to be one of the most sensual things Julia has ever experienced. Knowing how he is about doing everything himself and recalling that night so many months ago when he'd allowed her to help him, it makes this moment all the more impactful. He's letting her take charge of this moment and take care of something that's a struggle for him, allowing them the haste they both crave and avoiding any embarrassment or self-consciousness on his part. She's grateful for all of it.
His lips on her jaw and throat make it hard to concentrate on those damn shirt buttons, her fingers working on pure muscle memory as her head tilts slightly to the side to give him better access. And then— His voice in her ear sends liquid fire through her, her breathing becoming more ragged and giving away just how much he's affected her. Fuck. If this is how they're starting, what state will they be in when they finish?
Her hands fall away from the half-unbuttoned shirt with the unspoken promise to resume her efforts. Reaching behind her, she locates the zipper that's hidden under a fold of the golden brocade to the right side of her back and pulls it down just enough to reveal its location. Then she turns around, gathering her hair with one hand to pull over her shoulder and give him unhindered access, and looks back at him with an expectant expression. It's his turn to reveal what's underneath: a strapless bra that matches her black underwear, both high-quality but not quite to the same extent as his suit. Julia might enjoy the finer things but she's also on the more practical side and saves her splurging for other things. Though now that she has someone to see them, she might reconsider that particular stance... ]
[ That expectant look is going to be the absolute ruin of him, this wordless invitation which he's more than happy to answer. His mind is already alight with the possibilities, thinking of all the different ways he'd like to have her, all the options and new variations and possible timelines fanning out at his fingertips: this could have been a rushed thing, still half-dressed, rucking up her skirt, simply eager to get to it. Both of them undressing just enough to get the job done, Julia’s skirt up around her waist, burying his hands or mouth beneath the fabric.
Those are all considerations for another day.
Because for now, this is their first time together and he decides he wants to explore. He wants to savour each inch of exposed skin, new details of Julia’s body revealed like delicately unwrapping a beautiful present. She tilts her head to the side and offers up her back, and so Stephen takes up position behind her; presses a kiss to the woman’s naked shoulder, then pinches the zipper between his fingers and slowly peels it down the curve of her spine.
And where it goes, his lips follow, trailing a path of kisses down her bare skin as the dress loosens and they extricate her arms from the sleeves. There's fewer steps compared to his own clothing — as soon as the dress is loosened, then it's already falling free — but Stephen still draws out the process as long as possible. As the material hits her hips, he tucks his fingers between the dress and her skin to drag it down over her curves; he presses a kiss to her bare hip just above that black underwear, until the dress is finally a puddle of fabric at her feet.
That done and Julia revealed in that matching set, goddamn, this is going to kill him— Stephen straightens up again to his full height. He presses closer with his chest against her back, hands settling on her hips as he kisses her neck again, hot and open-mouthed. ]
[ It's a damn good thing that his quarters are so roomy because she's having ideas herself and her own room is far too small to execute all of them. And while the Sanctum itself offers plenty of space, it also offers far too many wandering novices and masters who would probably spread the gossip like wildfire. Plus, the idea of Wong walking in on them in a compromising position is... nope. Just big nope.
She's always wanted to have sex in front of a fireplace on a snowy day.
The thought hits her as the fabric of the dress whispers down her skin, followed by his hands and lips. She shivers not from cold but from delicious anticipation as he moves against her back. It isn't cold out yet and winter isn't just around the corner; her mind is already assuming this is real, something potentially permanent rather than scratching an itch and satisfying a question they've both had. But hell if she's going to ask for that clarification — now is not the time and that's way too heavy for a first night Together. If they are together.
She lifts a hand to run her fingers over his perfectly styled hair that she wants to turn into a wild mess, her other hand moving to rest on his at her hip. Her eyes close for a moment, just drinking in those sensations, and then her impatience wins and she lets out a playful but grumbling complaint. ]
Doctor Strange, you are very overdressed right now and I do not appreciate it.
[ Oh, how he loves hearing his full title rolling off Julia’s mouth, like this, in the bedroom and this context. He hadn’t expected the thrill that shivers down his spine at the sound of it, and then he laughs against her neck. ]
Well, we can’t have that. I’m all about equal opportunity.
[ Stephen toes out of his shoes and socks, nudging both pairs aside and pre-empting the inevitable, because there is truly nothing more ridiculous than the sight of a man eventually standing naked wearing nothing but his socks.
He reaches up, manages to clumsily unhook one of his shirt buttons, and then heeds that thread of impatience in her voice by simply going ahead and magically unpicking the rest of them. He moves around to step in front of her again, tossing the shirt to join the growing pile of clothes and reveal lean muscle, the benefits of clean living and a vegetarian diet and meditation and exercise and occasionally needing to go into physical-magical combat to save the world. (It happens; he always has to be in shape for the possibility.)
Now that he’s standing in front of her, Stephen’s gaze slides downward to the dip of Julia’s cleavage and belly button, her bare legs and high heels. He’s not shy about the appreciative look, slowly lingering across all of her as he takes in the sight, checking her out. He grins. ]
Christ. Is it too much to say I’m the luckiest man in the world right now? I’m feeling very lucky.
[ It says a lot about a man when he can have fun during foreplay. She's grateful that his general manner seems to extend to the bedroom; she couldn't be with someone who wasn't a little playful during this part of things.
Glancing down to note what's going on with his shoes and socks, she can't help but grin at the thought of one day getting to take them off herself. She's already planning how she'll remove each piece of his clothing, exploring every inch of him as slowly and thoroughly as they can both stand. But that's for next time, or perhaps the time after that. Either way, they'll get there, and she's so looking forward to it.
The way he looks at her when he comes back around leaves her wanting to climb his towering form like a goddamn jungle gym. And he looks like he could handle it — he has enough muscle to be more than attractive but not so much that he'll be like embracing a statue. Julia herself doesn't have overly toned muscle; it's good genetics and an active lifestyle that keep her slim and fit. ]
Well, you're about to get lucky, so it's only fitting.
[ She cracks a joke, of course, but the praise is still thrilling to hear. Her entire life, she's known she was attractive, but that doesn't mean she hasn't also fought the occasional battle with her self-image. The way he looks at her now is enough to banish any wriggling thread of doubt planted at the back of her mind by popular media.
Crossing the few inches between them, her hands gravitate to that expanse of bare skin, her fingers splaying over his exquisitely toned abdomen and then moving up to trace the curve of his ribs. She bites her lower lip before looking up at him through her perfectly mascaraed lashes. ]
Besides, have you seen yourself? You're not the only lucky one in this room.
Once you’ve met an Asgardian god, the scales tip unfairly. But thank you. The monks advocate for lots of yoga.
[ Still grinning. She’s not the only one who appreciates this playfulness. With the way his sense of humour works, he can’t turn off the wisecracking even here; he genuinely enjoys being able to laugh and have fun with each other in the bedroom.
And as highstrung and high-maintenance as Stephen Strange can be with so many things, it turns out that he’s fairly easygoing and straightforward about sex. It’s an enjoyable stress relief, and it was one of his most common casual vices in his old life, whenever he was overworked and in need of some release. It’s an easy way to get out of his head, to anchor himself back in his physical self and simple pleasurable sensation rather than overthinking things. To remind himself that he is a functioning body, and not just a brain on legs. Since becoming a sorcerer, it’s been even easier to get lost in the abstract, the astral, the ephemeral.
He needs this. She needs this.
Julia’s hands fan across his ribs, and so his movements unconsciously mirror hers; leaning in for another kiss as he palms a handful of that strapless bra, then after only a moment’s hesitation, his thumb glides beneath the cup and grazes her nipple, and —
— there’s a light flicker of magic which she can sense in the air, like a telekinetic fish-hook tugging behind her, and then the bra unclasps and falls away.
Those goddamn hooks had been difficult with women even before he lost motor function in his hands. It’s a neat trick, and he looks a little delighted that it actually worked. ]
[ Her breath hitches at that brush against her nipple, a quick intake of breath before she presses that much closer into both his touch and his kiss— And then the sudden unexpected tug of magic and following rush of air against her breasts catches her off-guard. She looks down in surprise and then back up at him with amused incredulity written across her expression. Did he seriously just? ]
You are such a cheater. [ The laughter that bursts out of her shakes her entire body and feels so damn good. She needed this too. ] Struggling to get the bra off is a time-honored tradition!
[ But she's really not the least bit bothered by it. If anything, she finds it a bit more ridiculously endearing than she usually would, thanks to the alcohol in her system. She is in that delightful space between drunk and tipsy, though as another chorus of giggles cascades out of her, she starts to tip a bit on her stiletto heels and quickly grabs hold of him to keep from losing her balance entirely. ]
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ourladytrees) wrote2022-06-18 12:21 am
no subject
She settles back beside him, staring into those mesmerizing eyes for a long moment... And then she leans in, crossing those few inches between them to wrap her free arm around his shoulder and pull him in for a hug. It's not precisely what she's yearning for, what her heart is screaming for, but it's the next best thing. ]
Thank you.
no subject
He's still getting accustomed to this and finding himself cherishing each moment of contact like this, even if it's so earnest that it makes his heart twinge, this way that Julia hangs onto him like she's drowning. He wraps his arm around her, tips his head against hers carefully, in order to not displace the braided part of her hair. It's a startlingly heartfelt and private moment, but the bar is dark and torch-lit and magic-users are known for their privacy: people are probably selling their soul in some gloomy corner, so a hug between friends (is that all?) is by far the strangest thing to be witnessed in the Bar With No Doors. The worst thing he might undergo is some light teasing from a more distant colleague later: so who was the pretty brunette in your booth?
When they finally let go, he stays next to her too. They're sitting closer now, his leg against hers and the billowing layers of her skirt. ]
Thank you for coming out tonight, anyway. You're inadvertently rescuing me from karaoke or having to make stilted small-talk with apprentices. I much prefer your company.
no subject
They stay closer than they were, though. That's something. (It's everything.) ]
One day, I'll get to see your karaoke skills.
[ It's part threat and part promise, said with a genuinely happy smile before she picks up her ridiculous tiki cup and holds it up to him in a toast. ]
To good company.
no subject
And they finish their drinks, and order more.
And then another round.
Stephen, talkative to begin with, becomes moreso. He’s animated; gesticulates wildly with his hands when he’s telling a story, which is a far cry from how he’d been the very first day they met, enigmatic and hiding his hands within the folds of his cloak. As they cheerfully meander past ‘tipsy’ and firmly into the realm of ‘drunk’, he finds himself touching Julia’s arm when he laughs, or for emphasis or attention. When they go up for refills, they get derailed by meeting and socialising with other attendees of the midsummer party; Stephen introduces Julia to others, makes the rounds, chats with a few people he’d meant to catch up with, but he always comes back to her side and he’s glad of it.
And they pass the evening like that, the hours flying by, until the doctor’s drink is empty again and his crazy straw is making an ungainly suction noise as it reaches the bottom. He peers into the empty cup, and considers his own state like he’s checking his own pulse, measuring his level of intoxication, and concludes… ]
Hm. I’m not sure another round is wise. Too-drunk portalling— has led to accidents.
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And she does enjoy meeting dozens of new people from within the magical community, the names and faces jumbling a bit together at times but each of them making a distinct impression all the same. Even when Stephen wanders off on his own, she still feels like she has a place among this group — but she feels right when he's back at her side.
Another giggle trickles quietly out of her at the idea of portal accidents (because he's obviously survived them) and she takes his empty cup to set beside her own on the nearby table. Her steps wobble just the slightest bit, her hard-earned skill at walking in heels saving her from a broken ankle more times that night than she cares to acknowledge. ]
I'm gonna need to hear about those accidents. Did you end up anywhere interesting?
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[ His head cocked, he extends and probes his magical senses, like testing his own walking balance and ability to walk along a straight line. He's had a couple fun accidents, but he's also deeply aware of the dangers in it: you could literally lose a limb if a portal closes on you in an untimely manner. It's like drunk driving. Gotta be careful.
But he knows his limits better now, and he can tell he's still well within range. This is the kind of drinking where he's a little more loose and gregarious and brave; not the 'black-out drunk, wrap your car around a tree' kind of drinking. ]
I think it's alright tonight, though. I'll be able to get us back safely, whenever you've had enough of witches and heads in jars and imps. Leaving the timing up to you, since this is your first time visiting... [ An expansive gesture, waving at the bar. ] All this.
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Julia pauses to consider, taking a glance at the crowd still going strong in the bar, and then steps up beside him to hook her hand around his arm like how they'd arrived so many hours ago. ]
Let's go home.
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While Julia was the one to get them here, this time Doctor Strange safely carves out the portal to take them back. Their empty drinks are set aside, discarded, and with her hand around his arm, they take a quick step through that glowing circle and find themselves back in that familiar building, the gateway closing behind them before anyone else can follow. Newcomers can only enter through the front doors — it’s a safety feature — but since the Sanctum knows them, he’s able to materialise the portal indoors, at the top of the stairwell on the second floor, at the mouth of the hallway leading to their respective bedrooms. He misses his step a little as they step through, and catches his weight against her; chuckles at himself. ]
Alright, for the record— not exactly drunk, I just misjudged the height of the portal vs the floor. It’s all about mathematical precision, as you know well.
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But then Stephen practically stumbles into her and she's back to laughing, adjusting her grip on his arm and reaching over with her other hand to make sure he's steady. Who is she kidding, though, they're both equally not exactly drunk but still a bit wobbly. ]
Oh, yes, absolutely. Just a slight miscalculation. [ Oops, there's another laugh. ] Come on, I'll make sure you get to your in one piece. We don't want you falling into a portrait or void or something.
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[ The Sanctum could swallow him whole, but it seems to be contented tonight, stable in its fabric of reality rather than roiling with dimensional fractures. Its ghosts are quiet. So they walk down the hallway together like they’re going for a garden stroll, like she’s walking him home through a familiar neighbourhood. As they reach the doorway to his sprawling quarters, though, then Stephen hesitates.
There’s an order to these things. A lingo, an expected call and response. It’s not guaranteed and it’s a risk, a leap, a particular insinuation. But he’s buoyed by the liquid courage of the rest of the evening, and so he stops by that doorway and turns and looks at Julia, gorgeous in her dress. There’s a beat. A question which could be innocent enough on the surface, but— ]
Do you want to come in for a nightcap?
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They reach his door too quickly. It's too soon, she isn't ready for the night to end. She isn't prepared to lose his warmth, to feel empty and alone without the sound of his voice in her ear. But then—
Julia watches him for a moment, knowing this dance intimately, and it takes no time at all for her to choose the path to follow. Letting go of his arm, she lifts both hands to rest them lightly against his chest, her expression completely serious and her eyes on the tie she'd tied so many hours ago. ]
Stephen, you've already bought this girl a drink tonight. More than one, in fact. [ She raises her eyes to meet his. ] So why don't you just kiss me already?
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[ Stephen’s cautious, tentative expression flourishes into a smile instead: the relief and validation of him having raised the stakes and Julia firmly, instantaneously, unhesitatingly, calling said stakes. Laying his cards out on the table.
This whole evening has been a date-which-isn’t-a-date: getting to know each other more over drinks, cut loose from any obligation of magical training or curse-breaking, simply enjoying each others’ company and the gentle ebb-and-flow of flirtation. He’d been prepared to beat around the bush a little longer if necessary, but it’s nice getting to cut right through it. She’s always calling him on his bullshit. It’s refreshing.
So he doesn’t waste any more time. Julia’s already resting her hands against the material of his suit jacket, and there’s hardly any distance between them any longer, and so it’s the easiest thing for him to lean down and catch her cheek with his hand, and capture her mouth with his. The kiss is soft at first; the opening of that metaphorical door, stepping over the line, testing the weight to see if the floor will hold. ]
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One of Julia's hands stays on his chest to steady her as she lifts up the last little bit onto her toes, while her other hand goes to the back of his neck. She wants to make herself perfectly clear as she presses their lips more firmly together and opens her mouth to properly taste him: she is no fragile flower and she knows what she wants. ]
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He had started to wonder, for the long last while, what kissing Julia Wicker might be like; and it turns out now that the door’s been unlocked, they’re both slamming it open. She opens her mouth against his and it’s like they’re crashing into each other, his tongue slipping against hers, diving hungrily into the kiss.
He feels ten years younger — he hasn’t done this in a while — but then again, after all this time living together, it’s about damned time. So all that pent-up passion and every lingering question is poured into it: mouth and teeth and her hands at the back of his neck, his own fingers curling into the waves of her hair, only coming up for air with a little gasping breath before renewing the kiss.
And in that jostling push-and-pull to get closer still, one of them bumps into one of those hallway endtables, sending it teetering, and with a jolt of surprise, Stephen catches it with magic before some stupid priceless decorative vase can shatter on the floor. He glances down in brief consternation, then back at her, amused. ]
I think we should get out of the corridor.
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That pesky table barrels into her hip, not the other way around, and she grimaces with a smile as he catches it and gives the offensive thing a look. He makes a very valid point, though, and she turns her flirting up to 11 as she wraps her hand around his tie and slides it down the length of fabric. ]
Well, you did tell me once that your bedroom is the least dangerous place in the Sanctum. Maybe we should continue this there.
[ And then there's the briefest moment where she's afraid she's gone too far, too fast. He'd given her signs but there's still a flicker of doubt, some part of her worried about... too many things. ]
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[ He’s grinning, the amusement sparking even brighter in his eyes, now that they’re both so clearly on the same page. They’re no longer nosing around the corners of the possibility, no longer waiting and wondering.
So Stephen shoots a quick, surreptitious glance up and down the hallway; checking to make sure they’re not being noticed by Wong or another master or a novice awake in the middle of the night to brush their teeth. They’re stealing away like they’re two truant students avoiding the hall monitor, trying not to be spotted sneaking around in the night. ]
Lead the way.
[ So then Julia’s walking backwards into his living quarters, teasingly tugging him along by his tie: whenever she takes a step back, then he takes a step forward following her in, and the door whisks itself shut behind them. They’re crossing the room together, going past the chaise longue where she’d once patched him up, past the study area, past the dressing area. Just before they reach the second door, then he reaches to his chest for the scarlet pocket square and tosses it aside; in the blink of an eye, it transforms back into the Cloak of Levitation, which disappears back to its hook in the corner for some privacy.
And just as they cross the bedroom threshold, then Stephen closes the distance once more and kisses her again, even as the Mission-style bedside lamp sparks to life (dating a sorcerer, it’s very handy). Now that they’re in here, she finally gets a view of his bedroom, this innermost private chamber: more hardwood floors and another fireplace, floor-to-ceiling paned windows with drawn curtains, a hefty bed with carved wooden bedposts. All of the aesthetic radiates an old-world grandeur which he hadn’t actually picked, but which fits the man nonetheless. And to no one’s surprise, the walls are lined with even more bookshelves, the bed piled with more. The room itself would be tidy (he’s always meticulously tidy) if it weren’t for the books on the bedspread and some papers on the endtable. He breaks the kiss just long enough to say, breathlessly, ]
I hadn’t planned for company, but I have to admit that I have been wanting to do this for— god, a while.
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She only gets a glance at his bedroom before his lips are on hers again and she is thoroughly distracted, though what she gathers is that it's well-matched to the rest of his suite and to him personally. Had the Sanctum designed it for him like this or had he chosen the design? The question makes a fleeting pass through her thoughts as her hands roam over his strong shoulders, feeling the lean muscle hidden beneath his suit, which brings to mind that he is extremely overdressed for their present circumstances.
A quiet laugh escapes her at his confession, the sound reverberating through their next kiss, and then she pulls back enough to make her own. ]
And I have to admit it may have crossed my mind while I was gone. Once or twice.
[ Her hands slide down his chest, thumbs tracing the curve of the lapels before finding their prize. With a quick flick, she undoes however many buttons stand between her and removing that pesky layer of clothing. ]
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[ She’d had far more important things going on at the time, he knows it; but they also both know that it’s simply part of the playful patter, the flirtation turned white-hot.
It’s still a little difficult for him to work the buttons without using magic, so it’s a relief to have Julia swiftly unpicking the buttons on his jacket for him. Stephen tips a shoulder to help shrug out of it, and her hands slide under the fabric, along the lines of his shoulders and back, dragging it loose where he just lets the jacket tumble to the floor. He pulls at his tie, messily undoes all her work from the beginning of the evening until it hangs loose again around his throat. That one layer shucked, Julia can reach for his white dress-shirt (it’s well-tailored but simple, unornamented, he’d stopped using cufflinks since his accident), as his hands settle on the arch of her corseted bodice, and then gathers up a handful of voluminous skirt, just to keep touching her and have something to hang onto. His attention drifts a little to the side: his lips mouthing at Julia’s jaw along with the faint scratch of his beard, then the delicate arch of her throat, then his voice murmuring into her ear in a low purr. ]
It’s a very nice dress. How do we get you out of it?
[ He assumes there’s a zipper somewhere but if so, it’s cleverly-hidden, designed well enough that it doesn’t stand out in the black-and-gold. ]
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Removing Stephen's jacket has to be one of the most sensual things Julia has ever experienced. Knowing how he is about doing everything himself and recalling that night so many months ago when he'd allowed her to help him, it makes this moment all the more impactful. He's letting her take charge of this moment and take care of something that's a struggle for him, allowing them the haste they both crave and avoiding any embarrassment or self-consciousness on his part. She's grateful for all of it.
His lips on her jaw and throat make it hard to concentrate on those damn shirt buttons, her fingers working on pure muscle memory as her head tilts slightly to the side to give him better access. And then— His voice in her ear sends liquid fire through her, her breathing becoming more ragged and giving away just how much he's affected her. Fuck. If this is how they're starting, what state will they be in when they finish?
Her hands fall away from the half-unbuttoned shirt with the unspoken promise to resume her efforts. Reaching behind her, she locates the zipper that's hidden under a fold of the golden brocade to the right side of her back and pulls it down just enough to reveal its location. Then she turns around, gathering her hair with one hand to pull over her shoulder and give him unhindered access, and looks back at him with an expectant expression. It's his turn to reveal what's underneath: a strapless bra that matches her black underwear, both high-quality but not quite to the same extent as his suit. Julia might enjoy the finer things but she's also on the more practical side and saves her splurging for other things. Though now that she has someone to see them, she might reconsider that particular stance... ]
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Those are all considerations for another day.
Because for now, this is their first time together and he decides he wants to explore. He wants to savour each inch of exposed skin, new details of Julia’s body revealed like delicately unwrapping a beautiful present. She tilts her head to the side and offers up her back, and so Stephen takes up position behind her; presses a kiss to the woman’s naked shoulder, then pinches the zipper between his fingers and slowly peels it down the curve of her spine.
And where it goes, his lips follow, trailing a path of kisses down her bare skin as the dress loosens and they extricate her arms from the sleeves. There's fewer steps compared to his own clothing — as soon as the dress is loosened, then it's already falling free — but Stephen still draws out the process as long as possible. As the material hits her hips, he tucks his fingers between the dress and her skin to drag it down over her curves; he presses a kiss to her bare hip just above that black underwear, until the dress is finally a puddle of fabric at her feet.
That done and Julia revealed in that matching set, goddamn, this is going to kill him— Stephen straightens up again to his full height. He presses closer with his chest against her back, hands settling on her hips as he kisses her neck again, hot and open-mouthed. ]
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She's always wanted to have sex in front of a fireplace on a snowy day.
The thought hits her as the fabric of the dress whispers down her skin, followed by his hands and lips. She shivers not from cold but from delicious anticipation as he moves against her back. It isn't cold out yet and winter isn't just around the corner; her mind is already assuming this is real, something potentially permanent rather than scratching an itch and satisfying a question they've both had. But hell if she's going to ask for that clarification — now is not the time and that's way too heavy for a first night Together. If they are together.
She lifts a hand to run her fingers over his perfectly styled hair that she wants to turn into a wild mess, her other hand moving to rest on his at her hip. Her eyes close for a moment, just drinking in those sensations, and then her impatience wins and she lets out a playful but grumbling complaint. ]
Doctor Strange, you are very overdressed right now and I do not appreciate it.
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Well, we can’t have that. I’m all about equal opportunity.
[ Stephen toes out of his shoes and socks, nudging both pairs aside and pre-empting the inevitable, because there is truly nothing more ridiculous than the sight of a man eventually standing naked wearing nothing but his socks.
He reaches up, manages to clumsily unhook one of his shirt buttons, and then heeds that thread of impatience in her voice by simply going ahead and magically unpicking the rest of them. He moves around to step in front of her again, tossing the shirt to join the growing pile of clothes and reveal lean muscle, the benefits of clean living and a vegetarian diet and meditation and exercise and occasionally needing to go into physical-magical combat to save the world. (It happens; he always has to be in shape for the possibility.)
Now that he’s standing in front of her, Stephen’s gaze slides downward to the dip of Julia’s cleavage and belly button, her bare legs and high heels. He’s not shy about the appreciative look, slowly lingering across all of her as he takes in the sight, checking her out. He grins. ]
Christ. Is it too much to say I’m the luckiest man in the world right now? I’m feeling very lucky.
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Glancing down to note what's going on with his shoes and socks, she can't help but grin at the thought of one day getting to take them off herself. She's already planning how she'll remove each piece of his clothing, exploring every inch of him as slowly and thoroughly as they can both stand. But that's for next time, or perhaps the time after that. Either way, they'll get there, and she's so looking forward to it.
The way he looks at her when he comes back around leaves her wanting to climb his towering form like a goddamn jungle gym. And he looks like he could handle it — he has enough muscle to be more than attractive but not so much that he'll be like embracing a statue. Julia herself doesn't have overly toned muscle; it's good genetics and an active lifestyle that keep her slim and fit. ]
Well, you're about to get lucky, so it's only fitting.
[ She cracks a joke, of course, but the praise is still thrilling to hear. Her entire life, she's known she was attractive, but that doesn't mean she hasn't also fought the occasional battle with her self-image. The way he looks at her now is enough to banish any wriggling thread of doubt planted at the back of her mind by popular media.
Crossing the few inches between them, her hands gravitate to that expanse of bare skin, her fingers splaying over his exquisitely toned abdomen and then moving up to trace the curve of his ribs. She bites her lower lip before looking up at him through her perfectly mascaraed lashes. ]
Besides, have you seen yourself? You're not the only lucky one in this room.
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[ Still grinning. She’s not the only one who appreciates this playfulness. With the way his sense of humour works, he can’t turn off the wisecracking even here; he genuinely enjoys being able to laugh and have fun with each other in the bedroom.
And as highstrung and high-maintenance as Stephen Strange can be with so many things, it turns out that he’s fairly easygoing and straightforward about sex. It’s an enjoyable stress relief, and it was one of his most common casual vices in his old life, whenever he was overworked and in need of some release. It’s an easy way to get out of his head, to anchor himself back in his physical self and simple pleasurable sensation rather than overthinking things. To remind himself that he is a functioning body, and not just a brain on legs. Since becoming a sorcerer, it’s been even easier to get lost in the abstract, the astral, the ephemeral.
He needs this. She needs this.
Julia’s hands fan across his ribs, and so his movements unconsciously mirror hers; leaning in for another kiss as he palms a handful of that strapless bra, then after only a moment’s hesitation, his thumb glides beneath the cup and grazes her nipple, and —
— there’s a light flicker of magic which she can sense in the air, like a telekinetic fish-hook tugging behind her, and then the bra unclasps and falls away.
Those goddamn hooks had been difficult with women even before he lost motor function in his hands. It’s a neat trick, and he looks a little delighted that it actually worked. ]
Hm. I can safely say I’ve never done that before.
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You are such a cheater. [ The laughter that bursts out of her shakes her entire body and feels so damn good. She needed this too. ] Struggling to get the bra off is a time-honored tradition!
[ But she's really not the least bit bothered by it. If anything, she finds it a bit more ridiculously endearing than she usually would, thanks to the alcohol in her system. She is in that delightful space between drunk and tipsy, though as another chorus of giggles cascades out of her, she starts to tip a bit on her stiletto heels and quickly grabs hold of him to keep from losing her balance entirely. ]
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and we've reached the part i don't write well... so slight vagueness
shush u write it beautifully!!
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wrap ♥