Bathed in Red Light @paradisecitysfinest - Tumblr Blog

Roxanne arrived on Lirim’s doorstep wearing the Christmas sweater he’d gotten her last year, a Santa hat, and a brilliant smile.

“Merry Christmas, cher!” Before he could say a single word, she would set the presents down to give him a hard hug and a kiss to the cheek that would leave a perfect lipstick print.

“Gotcha a lil’ something for you and a lil’ something for your studio and a lil’ something to put in that second something.”

There were a few people on this earth he’d platonically kiss. Roxanne was on that list of people, and for a half-second he had expected her to, but a kiss print on his cheek was just fine.

“First off, we’re gonna open the second lil somethin’ right now. Second… second, I got a little somethin’ for you, but it ain’t in a box.” Lirim pulled out his phone, showing her the screen, and two reservations at the nicest restaurant in all of New Orleans.

“Also got us tickets to a symphony orchestra. You’re welcome to get drunk beforehand if it ain’t your thing.”

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Roxanne looked down at his phone and gasped. “Holy shit. You did not. Lirim Vivaldi!” Oh, he was definitely getting that platonic kiss now. “‘Little something’, my foot, that’s a big something! Oh my god, we’re gonna have such a good time!”

She’d never been to see an orchestra but that hardly mattered. Classical music was nice enough and besides, it wasn’t about the event, it was about the company.

#Christmas 2022 #Lirimvivaldi

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A few days before Christmas, Q would receive card and a long cardboard tube in the mail. Inside the tube was a large print of Roxanne, painted head to toe in black and gold and glitter, posing with a bottle of champagne.

The card read:

Merry Christmas, cherie!

It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Don’t think we’ve seen or talked to each other since you brought that sexy giant of yours to see me way back when.

How’ve you been? How’s your sexy giant tree been?

I meant to send this along last year but between one thing and another I spaced and forgot. I have an artist friend I model for sometimes and this is just a lil’ bit of his work that I thought you might like.

Be so happy and so good, you deserve it.

Roxanne xoxo

Jesus, it had been so long. Too damn long. He and Tane needed to take a trip down to New Orleans in the spring. Hell, maybe in a few weeks, if they could spare the time. Just seeing her handwriting was enough to make him nostalgic. They needed an hour-long phone call to catch up.

The print was spread over his bed, and immediately he considered where to place it. Maybe trade the boring little abstracts over his couch, but he second-guessed himself. For the sake of his clients, it was best to keep her private. Reluctantly, the print was rolled and returned to the tube. He needed a bigger place; that was all there was to it.

Just a few days late, but Roxanne would receive a package in the mail from her old friend. A soft green negligee the length of her body, and as soft as humanly possible. The attached note simply said, “Let’s see him paint you like a French girl. Call me when you’re free! Merry Christmas!”

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They were definitely going to have that phone call and Roxanne was most definitely going to have a little photo shoot in her bedroom modeling her new negligee for Q.

#Christmas 2022 #qtraxler