Violet takes a slow breath. "It's easy to mistake me for an Ecstatic, yeah. I'm Sensate, though, with a Storyteller lean. Sex... it can be sacred with the right people, but that's not why I was all fired up just now. I just can't see someone throw their own story in the trash as something not worth participating in, see someone treat themselves as not worth experiencing, and let that go unchallenged."

"Yes, I'm very taken. No, I'm probably not looking to expand the polycule tonight. But none of that has a single thing to do with how obvious it is to me that you're a lovely person who deserves good conversation, good coffee, good dates, and good sex, in the company of someone who is sincerely delighted by you."

"Tonight, that honor falls to me."

"... You're getting a little ahead of yourself there, aren't you."

But her hand snakes down and takes Violet's. 

"Alright. I can't promise that I'll be... everything you dreamed of... but I can't refuse that honesty of yours. And knowing you're not looking for something serious, well - it makes it easier and harder, and I think right now both of those things are good for me."

She looks up. "... oops, we're at the il'ka?" She laughs. "I totally spaced out. Let's have that coffee, okay? And we'll see where it goes from there. Ms. Sensate."

Violet blushes, but smiles warmly as she laces her hand with Snow's. "Sounds like a plan, Ms. Storyteller."

She grabs the door with her free hand and pulls it open, holding it for her date.

The front froom of the il'ka that Black Cross works at is warm and inviting, with a half-dozen small lounging areas and a bar that fills most of the remaining space. Patrons are scattered around, drinking coffee and chatting; a couple have laptops open on the low tables and are browsing the internet. There's a set of double doors to the right of the bar, which presumably lead to the back and thereby to the rooms.

Black Cross is at the bar, talking to a pair of men who are wearing matching necklaces; she waves casually and smiles.

Violet waves back, guiding Snow to a cozy lounging nook, and asks "What would you like?"

"A mocha, please." She reluctantly lets go of Violet's hand and snuggles into the cushions.

Vi nods, stepping away with a smile and swiftly returning with a pair of mochas, one of which she hands to Snow.

And they settle in and talk. They start with books, then move on to Heartscape and the work Violet did to implement it; the conversation slides to erotica after a while, as their cups of coffee run low. 

Finally, Snow digs in her purse, raises her hand and looks over towards the bar.

Black Cross comes over in a few moments, smiling slightly.

Snow flips open her wallet to show her ID. "I'd like an hour for me and Vi, here."

Black Cross checks the ID, nods, and passes Snow a small silver key. "Room 6, last on the right. I talked to my manager; your first hour is on the house tonight. Have fun, you two."

She walks over and holds up a bracelet on her wrist to the door by the back of the bar; it clicks once. She waits.

Snow looks over at Vi. "Shall we?" 

She offers her hand.

Vi takes Snows hand with a smile, and opens the door, leading her into the back.

There's a similar setup in the back, except the couches are covered with plastic, the people are wearing less clothing and are often snuggled up close to each other, and the ones on the internet are browsing porn. It still has the same quietly cozy cafe-like feel, though.

There's a small hallway in the back with three doors on either side. Snow unlocks the back right door and steps in, and the quiet noises of the rest of the il'ka fade a little. The room beyond is small, not much more than a closet and a bed.

She turns and beckons to Vi, a teasing smile on her face. 

Vi grins, follows her in, and shuts the door behind them.

And what happens after that, we'll leave to your imagination. 

This is a book review thread, after all. 

Some days later, Vi brings home her copy of the Krissan Shirasanmi. There's a small note in it:

Thanks for the confidence booster. 

- Snow

Foxy brings back the three-book set to the polycule's condo as the sun is setting and lets herself in. She's wearing dress as blue as the summer sky, with matching sandals. 

"I'm baaaaaack!", she calls.

X emerges from her bedroom wearing a slashed-up t-shirt and jeans. She rubs her eyes. "Please don't be so loud, I just got up..."

Foxy grins and bounces in place. "I got the books though! It's great! There's a note for you by the way Vi. Do you want me to read it to you? It's super cute."*

*Ordinarily reading a note intended for someone else is extremely rude on Heart, but since Foxy is Vi's kept, the assumption is that they have no secrets from each other.

Violet smiles and pads out of the office, kisses Foxy where she's bouncing in place, then kisses X atop her head and steps over to the espresso machine, starting on her nocturnal Sky's aftersleep coffee.

"Go for it, cutie. Anyone else want a coffee while I'm making X's?"

"I'll take one. I kinda expect a late night today, what with the new books." Liv stretches and smiles.