She Keeps Me Warm

9

Carmilla was used to waking up in the morning having a cup of coffee in her kitchen listening to the sweet silence of no people. Shew as not used to waking up in the morning having a cup of coffee in her kitchen listening to the sweet silence of no people with Laura Hollis rambling on about literally everything. The second Carmilla rolled over and offered a crappy grin as a good morning, Laura started blabbering on about how this would probably go down in their history as the most awkward good morning of their lives. She went on and on for a good two minutes until Carmilla commented that the morning after they bump uglies for the first time may be more awkward than this, and then mentally swore to herself never to say bump uglies ever again. At least it shut Laura up. For a while anyway.

She was rambling as Carmilla brushed her teeth. As Carmilla checked her emails. As Carmilla checked the mailbox. Even as she changed clothes. It finally dawned on her that Laura's rambling grew even more persistent the more nervous she became; so, the entirety of her time in Carmilla's house. (Their house?) It was adorable she had to admit; but after nearly an hour of constant chatter, she grew slightly tired of questioning just how long Laura could keep this up. Watching her over her cup of coffee was starting to make working from home sound less painful than a hammer to the ankle.

Eventually it just became too much. She sat her mug on the table and gave Laura a crooked half-smile. "Cupcake, if you keep this up, you're going to run out of words; and, right now, that doesn't sound half bad."

"Oh, I could never run out of words. When I was a kid, I read the dictionary for fun. It was my favorite after-homework activity. I squeezed it in when Buffy was on commercial too; so, I could never run out. I probably- "

"If this is what I signed up for, I'm leaving you in this house alone!" Carmilla balled up a napkin and chucked it at Laura's head, nailing her right in that adorable nose of hers. The shocked look on Laura's face made her laugh. "I'm sorry, Cutie, but seriously, if you don't stop talking you will spend the entirety of your day in solitude."

Finally, there was silence. Laura took a sip of her, by now, room temperature cocoa and all was peaceful. Carmilla was curious about just how hard it was for Laura to stay quiet this long. Was it painful? Did she feel like she'd internally combust? Was the tinge in her cheeks blush or boiling blood? It was starting to drive her nuts. It couldn't be normal for a Hollis to be this silent!

"Tell you what," Carmilla slapped her hands against the table far louder than she intended. It almost made Laur spill her cocoa. She silently apologized before continuing. "How about- after our work is done- we have a meal and get to know each other a little better? Then you'll actually have something to talk about."

Laura blushed at that. "Do you not have to go into the office today?"

"I never really needed to go into the office before. Remember? I could do everything from right here. It's just easier for staff to get ahold of me if I'm there. I plan to go in once a week at most. Twice if I'm feeling generous. Otherwise I will be right here."

"Wow. You're not like most CEO's, are you?" Laura asked, adjusting in her seat.

"By that you mean I'm not an asshole who takes the money made by my company and uses it for 95% personal gain? No, I'm not. I do business fairly. Equal pay. Equal punishment. Equal consequences. Equal ability to climb the ladder, to advance. Casual Friday. Maternity and paternity leave. Holidays off. Insurance, full coverage. And dental..."

...Wow. All Vordenburg offered anyone starting off was a gel pen and a reusable coffee cup.

"And no discrimination of any kind. Except to racists, unruly homophobes, and dishonest dickheads."