Typical, always once I've walked away. She sighed, scowled at the ceiling then headed back to her desk and answered the phone. "Spectrum Designs."

"Hey, busy week?" She smiled and flopped into her chair, taking up the phone chord and dancing her fingers over the coils.

"Oh you know, people always want better - I keep telling them it doesn't automatically mean bigger…"

"And… they don't care!" Her tone turned whiny. "I never see you out anymore! Are you retiring?"

"Yep, these old bones are just too rickety to go on." She sighed over dramatically.

"Beca, I shouldn't be the one to ask you this but, have you tried a cane?"

"Hmmm, I can see how that would help - know where I can get one?" She reclined further in her chair, she's never the one to call, but it always feels like too much time passes between their catch-ups when she answers.

"That I do my lovely, that I do… It'll really help work off those kinks."

Beca's voice flattened but the playful lilt could still be heard. "So I'm told… How are things in your neck of the woods?"

"Oh you know, time flies like an arrow… Fruit flies like a banana. I think you know what I mean."

"I really don't." She didn't hesitate. "How's the club?"

"Getting hectic; I miss the days when we knew everyone and their plus one's inside out… It makes it harder - I've taken on more staff, but I worry."

"Want to join me in my cave?"

"No Beca," she chuckled, "I want you to do a walk-through with me."

"Okay okay…."

"I keep hinting."

"I know, I just…"

"You're avoiding the crowds and that's fine, but we all miss you. Hey, I got a new horse…" Obviously leading.

"That's sweet, and I'm not getting on it - no matter how unsubtle you are." She smiled a little easier though. "When do you want your walk-through?"

"As soon as you're up for it; I have an RSVP in four days - I know it must have been difficult to disavow Lucrezia but really, they understand."

"Yeah." It hadn't been difficult as such; Lucrezia had known it was coming and she'd taken it better than expected - that had almost made it harder, how resigned she was to her fate. What had actually made it difficult for Beca was having to be the one to do it. Too many times it seemed everyone turned to her, especially for the harder tasks or tough decisions. If she wasn't being asked to ban people, she was being called upon for guidance or approval somehow. Even Aubrey, even now. "I can be there later tonight, but it might not be till 10?"

"Perfect! Dinner next week?"

"Finally! I thought you'd never ask Bree! All this chit-chat could've been for nothing." Her tone was well practised and sharp as glass, but her smile was growing.

Slow, and as carefully as Aubrey knew how to, she threw her spanner into the conversation: "Not quite for 'nothing'…"

"Never a free meal with you is it?" Aubrey waited for her to exhale loudly… "What else do you need?"

"I'm sending two vanillas over-"

"Nope, not doing it - you are officially out of favours: I'm cutting you off." She shook her head vehemently. She never understood why everyone treated her like she was the voice of reason or moral judgement. She felt like some fountain of holy grail juice and not in a good way. She'd not earned - nor ever wanted to be seen as this leader everyone kept forcing her to be, and frankly, when it really mattered, when she called 'crap' on someone's actions no one seemed to want to hear it then, so why should she bother to step up when people asked her to - when it only ever suited them?

"Just hear me out already Beca!" Half exasperated and half a laugh. "Something's weird about them... It feels like manipulation or something… Take a look, if I'm wrong I'll owe you more than dinner."

Favours from Bree weren't dished out every day, but she also wasn't known for her people skills so it could be anyone's guess. Ultimately though none of it mattered, she'd help where she could - like she always does because she wants to be a good person, wants to be able to live with herself - that's all that really mattered, it just helped that her moral compass was particularly shiny and white. "Just remember you said that… A week Tuesday?"

"Perfect, and see you tonight. Oh! Beca?!" She did it every time; Beca had stopped trying to hang up long ago, but she enjoyed hearing the panicked tones just a little too much to ever tell her - because, really - she could just phone back.

"Yes Bree?" It was teasing and she knew it.

"You're welcome!"

"What for?"

"You'll see." Aubrey hung up before Beca could say anything else. Brat. She added the dinner to her calendar before she finally moved for a coffee - the whole reason she'd gotten up in the first place.

Vanillas, goddamnit Bree. She took her coffee downstairs and sat at her design desk, her chair tipped back staring at her ceiling. She traced her eyes over the lines and curves she found up there - had placed up there - taking a moment to temper her feelings of anticipation… There was something about vanillas that made Beca want to lead them astray, and every time she found it harder than she thought she should to control herself. She sighed, sipped at her coffee, then busied her hands: filling her mind with shapes and materials, designs and colours… anything she could scribble down or draw out.

All too soon the main door LED light was blinking at her from the corner of her desk, telling her someone had arrived. She shoved her hand through her hair and pinned it in a bun with her pencil, walking over to her laptop station as she tried to weigh up her visitors from afar.

Watching her CCTV as they walked the landing to her door, she'd never been broken into but it has it's uses - even if that's only to comfort her. One blonde, holding herself uncomfortably… the other a redhead, running her eyes heavily over the patterns and designs on the feature wall. She took pride in the hand drawn vitruvian men and women overlapping each other, it had taken too long but even she had to admit it was worth it. Both visitors wore the smallest smile as they moved around the landing and stairwell. They sidled up to the door, nodding at each other once, then made to enter - the door didn't budge and Beca smiled again as the LED flashed blue from a discrete corner at her. She flicked the mic on, "Morning, Spectrum's?"

"Shit, urm…." the women looked around pointlessly "You talk Chloe!" Voices whispered through the speaker at her. "Why me, it's your vagina?!"

"Chloeee!" Beca waited patiently, amused by their interactions. She watched Chloe run her eyes over the hardwood door once, twice, "Jess, where's my button to talk?"

"In your arse." Jessica didn't miss a beat and Chloe backhanded her lightly on the arm before freezing as the shop voice spoke again.

"There's no button ladies, come on through, I won't be a moment…"

"Oh my god Chloe - she heard us?!"

"And probably still can, so suck it up Smith." Chloe heard a magnet disengage and saw a small green light around the edge of the door rose, she hesitated just long enough to throw Jessica a glare before stepping into the shop, the blonde following closely behind.

Beca chuckled to herself turning off the intercom and watching till the door closed gently but securely, a white solid light confirming it was once again 'locked'. The women rounded a corner into the middle of the store, turning slowly as the looked all around at the two entry rooms; giving a quick assessment Beca saw the whites of wide eyes: Yup - Vanillas. It's definitely Thursday, what is it about Thursdays?

Beca watched them on the monitor for a moment as they stepped around, a mix of intrigue, befuddlement and horror flashing across their features at different items. She liked to give strangers some time alone at first, allowing them to peak into corners or tilt their heads without having to deal with being accompanied. They took quite a bit in from cuffs and candles to vibrators, but she guessed they decided to start small when they circled back to look again at the candles. She sighed, mentally preparing herself then moved into the room.

"Hey girls, I'm Beca… So, one of you must be Jessica?" A hand raised itself slightly, the owner tall, slim and shy looking. "And that makes you Chloe?" She turned her eyes to the redhead who nodded back with a smile.

"Sorry about the whole door thing, we're just nervous." Chloe waved a hand toward some of the shelves without really indicating at anything in particular.

She shrugged off the apology with a scrunch of her nose. "The nerves wear off. It'll be easier if I just pounce on you: so, virgin nervous or…?"

"Oh no… Just you know, new to all this." A small blush crept up Chloe's neck and she handled it well regardless, but then second guessed herself at the last moment. "Sorry, I hope that's not rude, I just mean… We've not experimented much, or like at all really." Eventually Jessica nudged her into silence.

Beca chuckled at the two of them with a warm, genuine smile. "It's cool, listen: everyone is new once… some stay, some don't… both are perfectly fine responses, so don't feel like you have to try all of it - or any of it for that matter." She waited patiently as the two women shared a small smile, Jessica breathing out and nodding - which was obviously a cue for something because Chloe stroked her hand down her friend's arm in comfort once, then started talking again.

"Jess here was hoping to pick up a few things to try out with her boyfriend and we've been well, sort of sent here for you to help start us off, I think?"

"Well, sounds like you've made it this far without high-tailing it, so let's see what I can do." It's good practise for vanillas to be sent from one place to another: helps to make sure they know what they want, and how they feel about the extra effort of it all. "Did you just want to grab a variety and google it later, or if you have some time I could walk you through some of it?"

Jessica's eyes saucered out uncontrollably. "Not like that!" Beca held her palms up quickly stepping back once. "I just mean we can pull up a chair, take a proper look at how things are used safely - give you the chance to hold anything and ask questions. I didn't mean 'actually' try it." She still had her hands up, but she could see the women wanted a bit of guidance so she gave them a little encouragement. "I'm here all day and my time is yours if you want it… I can be available for as much or as little as you need? Start small ladies, take an hour: we're at the candles, see how they burn and melt - if you like a few different scents?" She lowered her hands then, "I can disappear if you'd rather pull a few things out on your own and wanted to chill out here without me?"

Jessica frowned in confusion then. "You'd trust us to fiddle with your things, just like that? We might break something?!"

"Oh honey, a lot of this has been designed to take quite a bit, and trust me - these aren't my things…" she winked, pointing: "First aid kit's in the kitchen there though if you manage to break yourself! But yes, of course I would. You've been given my details to help you and where I can, I will. If that means giving you free reign then you can have it… You're just stepping into all this, and you don't know me - a lot of people don't like feeling as though a stranger is watching them food shop - let alone the more private stuff! It's like there's a voice in your head saying what if I touch something and I'm suddenly disgusting to the room, you know?"

Jessica cocked her head to the side seeming to consider it as Beca took a breath. "How about this… I was about to get a coffee as you showed up, so I'm gonna go do that - There'll be two other coffees on my desk through that doorway" she pointed "…if you want to stay for a drink there's a sofa down the end or chairs with me. If you want to poke around at anything, the demo items are in the drawers underneath each shelf." She pulled the nearest handle, leaving it open as a gesture. "You know where the exit is, just push the release button to open the door if you want to dash while I'm not looking. If you stay for a coffee but then both decide to go for a wee you'll find a toilet to the left where you came in, if you slip out I won't be offended. I could keep going with the exit strategies if you like, but you get the idea I think." She gave her best friendly smile and in-joke wink for good measure. "The drinks are free, as is my time, but I won't force myself upon you. Just wanting to buy something and dash? Again it's fine, but if you could let me know the value I'd appreciate it… If not, call me tomorrow and we'll do it all over the phone."

She nodded and made to leave, stopping short at the doorway suddenly. "Sorry, also: if you're staying and decide to take a look at anything please give me a heads up for flames or lubricants. That's pretty much all I actually asked after all that wasn't it?!" She left the room then, chuckling to herself as she went.

Jessica stood there for a moment, not quite sure what to make of it all. Chloe on the other hand practically dived into the open drawer, she hesitated once, glancing at Jess, then pulled out an unidentified metal rod - inspecting it briefly before turning to her friend. "What should we do Jess? It's your call." She absentmindedly tapped the rod off her knuckles, letting her eyes move more slowly over the shelves and cabinets once more.

"Jess?"

"He'll be disappointed if I didn't at least get something." she sighed.

"Hey, does it make you uncomfortable here?" Jess shook her head. "Does Beca make you feel uncomfortable?" Again, she shook her head. "Are you still okay with the whole idea of this?" She nodded this time, but it was noticeably slower coming. "Would you be more comfortable staying and sorting it out while I wait in the car?"

"No Chloe! You're my friend, it's not you… it's just, I'm shy… I'm not as good at this people stuff as you are!"

"Okay, first off, 'People stuff'? And second, this is new to me too… I have no idea what I'm holding right now, if it's even anything with a purpose?" She held it out and Jessica shrugged with her. "Want to grab some things, jot down the names and google the arse off it?"

"I kinda want to say yes, but I also feel like it's a massive chance to learn if we stayed… how do you feel about it?"

"Honestly, I'm intrigued. But it's your decision and I'll support it."

Jess looked around the room again, it really was nice here, bright, spacious, clean… "I want to stay then."

Chloe pushed out the air in her lungs she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "Thank God Jess… come on, I have no idea what this is and I want a coffee! Think I need to wash my hands now?"

"No you idiot… but give that to Beca in case she needs to wash you off it!" They bumped shoulders then Chloe went on the search for Beca, the promising smell of hot coffee leading the way. Jessica remained, walking around on her own while she could - trying to see if anything jumped out and hit her in the face yelling it's perfectness for her bedroom… nothing did.

"Beca?" Chloe popped her head round the door, "Beca?"

She found her hunched over a desk, a drawing rolled out, ruler and scale weighing it down as she added a seemingly insignificant line over some others… "Beca?" She drew closer, the swirl of shapes reminding her slightly of those in the entrance way and again on the ceiling. "Beca?" Closer still. Then she noticed the earbud and a faint hum of a baseline tickled her ear. She took the small moment to really look at Beca; her hair falling freely behind her ears, the way she held a pencil in her mouth. A small hand gripping a pen over the drawing loosely in her left, the other elbow propping her up above the desk in a way that curved her back and jutted her very nice arse out. She forced her eyes away, dragging them slowly over the slither of skin exposing dimples that begged her to dance a fingertip over the smooth plane, before resting on her face once more; meeting her gaze.

She sucked in a breath and clutched a hand over her racing heart. "Jesus Bec, you scared the crap out of me!" She watched her pull a headphone out and touched the back of her hand to her own cheek quickly before tapping the pause button.

"Sorry, I called out, but the music…"

She scrunched her nose up and shook her head dismissively, a small smile coming through, pinning her hair back up in a bun with the pencil. "So, is this a hello, or goodbye?"

She laughed, "it's a hello, please help - oh," she thrust her tiny rod out to Beca's face then, "I've touched this… obviously, it's still in my hand… Anyway, did you want to know in case you wanted to clean things?"

Beca quirked a high eyebrow at how adorable Chloe was right now, waiving a sounding dilator at her as if she were conducting a great symphony. She really was a wonder. Damn you Bree.

"Okay Forest - let's maybe save the urethral inserts till day two yeah?" Chloe's body froze, dear-in-the-headlights, hand and sounder suspended in the air, unable to even let go. Beca gently eased the dilator from her grasp and carried on, hoping Chloe would catch up and reanimate herself if she just didn't give her startled response any time to exist. "But yes please, anything - and especially these - will need sterilizing." She winked, "coffee?" picked up her mug and another, then headed back in search of Jess.

"Here you go Jessica, coffee…"

"Please, call me Jess - and thank you. I mean for all of it… but also the coffee." She took the mug from her then as Beca sat down beside her.

"Hey, you're welcome… And I'm glad you both stayed, did the coffee win you over or did Chloe keep shoving things in your face till you gave in?"

"I just realised I didn't want to let my man down, but she did do that too!" It was a harmless sentence at worst, a natural desire at best. But even Beca had to admit that Aubrey might have been on to something, the tone just wasn't quite right - it didn't ring comfortably in Beca's ears.

"Mmmm, Speaking of… Are we looking for things for you to use on him, him to use on you, a bit of both? You to use solo, put on a show?" She purposely sipped at her coffee, using the time to study Jess's demeanour more actively.

She appeared comfy, but her eyes shifted around frequently. "On me, he likes to take the lead a lot in the bedroom." She was decidedly still nervous, but Beca reasoned that anyone would be, and perhaps Jessica was simply less out-going than her redheaded friend. She took in her posture, small, but maybe relaxed she prefers to curl into herself a little. Her grip on the cup was good, but her legs seemed tense.

Beca made a mental note of the possibility that Jess was masking a pain of some sort before smiling to her again, "any ideas what you might like him to use on you? Or where you might wanna start?"

"Urm... We were looking at the candles when we first came in?"

Chloe reappeared then. "Sorry, I was just washing my hands…" She still looked a little frazzled, but Beca could tell she's the sort to bounce back well. "What did I miss?"

"Candles?" Jess called out, asking if Chloe wanted to look at some with her.

"Sure!"