The Blind Date.

[Cyrus]

Julian gazed at the poster, staring at Maureen straddling Burt's knee waiting for the next smack to come down. Julian felt his heart beat a little quicker. Taking her to task, huh? Teaching her to be a lady?

" By, uh, giving her a spanking?" Julian asked. "I guess times really have changed, huh?"

A shame, isn't it? said a voice somewhere inside him.

[scorpionsting]

"Its a common trope in a loy of old movies."

Lana pointed at a few other posters. " But in each one its because the man is trying to change a destructive behavior. He only ever uses a spankong tp show he cares. Thats what I like about it..."

Did you really just say that? Lana maybe a small gulp.

[Cyrus]

"I like that too..." Julian said without thinking, looking at the various posters many of which also featured... spanking.

Oh God, she'll think I'm a sexist pig from the 50's! "Wait - did you say you liked it as a movie trope - or do you like, like the idea?"

[scorpionsting]

Oh gosh, thought Lana, hes going to think im a little pervert.

Wait. Did he say he liked it to? Lana felt the little knot in her stomach tighten. She could say she liked the trope or she could tell the truth.

"Well," she started. "Obviously times have changed. I like that woman can vite and have jobs, but..." Lana's cheeks turned a little pink.

"To have someone care about you enough to...guide you to make food choices." Lana tried to look at his eyes but couldnt quite do it. "I think it is konda romantic."

[Cyrus]

Julian tried to stare straight ahead, but all he saw was Maureen getting - taken to task. He looked away and glanced at Lana who was blushing. God, what sort of subject was this? Certainly not one to be chatting about with someone you care about - wait.

Romantic? She thinks a man hitting a woman like that, on that part, in that was is... Romantic?

"Yeah," said Julian quietly. "It is. Would you like... someone... to do that? To you?"

What was he saying?!? Just an innocent question, just curiosity - bit would Lana understand, or would she also him in the face and walk out of his life? He felt a bead of sweat develope on his brow.

[scorpionsting]

Really Lana, she thought to herself. You've had one and a half dates and this is what you decide to talk about.

Lana looked back at the display. She had never been spanked, even as a child, so what if she was romanticizing the idea? She couldnt shake the feeling she got when she first say the scenario played out.

"I dont know," Lana gave a little shrug. "Maybe, with the right person, so.eone i felt safe with, or if they wanted to try it, or I needed it." She cod feel herself rambling.

Please say something she thought.

[Cyrus]

Julian desperately fought the temptation to imagine it - taking Lana to task, as they might have said once. The idea was attractive. It seemed somehow right... No, don't think about it.

Someone she felt safe with? When she needed it? When would s grown woman need a spanking, if all things? Hmm... maybe sometimes she would, he thought. Maybe...

"Do you think that you'd need it?" he asked as casually as he could. "If it was with someone who made you feel safe?"

[scorpionsting]

Lana gave a small smile and played with her bracelet. "I like to think im pretty well behaved. But maybe, in this one..." Lana pointed past a colection of cowboy and 1950s sci fi posters to a poster for Mrs. Boss. "Domestic Discipline is a normal part of Ken and Mindys relationship. Shes a CEO of a travel company, but at home she plays a dutiful wife, that somerimes need a reminder of whos in charge."

She turned to face Julian. "I guess trust and respect is the most important part. That theu have your best interest at heart when they take you over the knee."

Was she breathing heavier? What feeling was this? They had only just met and she felt like she was sharing a huge secret.

[Cyrus]

"Domestic discipline, huh?" Julian said, feeling a jolt of energy just speaking the phrase. Trust and respect, he thought. Sometimes you need a reminder... Well, if Lana ever needed a reminder, he decided, he'd want to be the one with her best interests at heart.

He thought that Lana breathing had become heavier, and he noticed that his own had too. "So..." he began, looking at her to meet her eyes, "would this... domestic discipline just be a part of marriage...? Or would it start... sooner?"

[scorpionsting]

Oh God! That feeling. It was excitement. She had never felt an intensity like it before. And in a museum of all places!

"I think...sooner...if they wanted to."

Lana couldnt tell if she wanted to run away or have Julian kiss her. For a second the image of him holding her flashed through her mind.