The Perfect Birthday: Bath & Breakfast (Episode 7, Friends-with-benefits series - Lonely Leader)

Transcript

As you listen to this audio roleplay, I invite you to use headphones and imagine yourself as the main character of this story. Where did my wildcat go? Are they up already? Oh, I think I hear them coming up the path outside.

Good morning, mi amor. Hola. How come you're up already? Alright, you really needed to pee, but didn't feel comfortable doing it in the RV toilet up here? Yeah, yeah, with me sleeping right next to you.

No, no, no, I get it. All good. In fact, I think I'm going to come down and literally follow in your footsteps and make my own little trip to the outhouse too.

How are you this morning? Did you sleep well? Good, good.

Yeah, you looked really peaceful and relaxed this morning. Yeah, yeah, me too. Well, I was going to prepare us breakfast in bed, but how do you feel about breakfast in bath instead?

Yeah, yeah, not your typical B&B. Yeah, forget this bed and breakfast business. Bath and breakfast is where it's at.

Yeah, yeah, actually, there's a wooden tray we can hook over the tub. And we can just sit at opposite ends of the tub and have naked Brekkie in the bath. Well, I seem to remember you mentioning that having a bath together would be a key ingredient in the perfect birthday recipe.

Well, excellent. We really are on a roll here. Wouldn't you agree? Okay, well, why don't you go start a fire in the wood stove in the bathroom to heat up the water and then run a bath for us while I get breakfast ready?

I'll also open up all the blinds and windows so we can feel the warm breeze and smell the earthy scents. Do you prefer a cold breakfast like fruit, pastries and cheese or a hot breakfast like eggs and bacon? Awesome, continental breakfast it is.

And what would you like to drink? Coffee, tea, juice? I even have spicy vanilla chai.

Okay, perfect. Coming right up. All right, mi amor, breakfast in the bath.

This morning we have ourselves a selection of fine delectables from your favourite pastry shop in Montreal. Yeah, the one that has the Portuguese baking? Yes, indeed.

We have here your choice of custard tarts, sweet bean tarts, coconut buns and croissant brioche. Yes, and we also have a selection of fruits, cheeses and preserves from the local farms in the Ottawa Valley here. And of course, a heaping mug of your favourite morning beverage.

So, shall we disrobe and enjoy this meal together? Yes, again, this is not your typical B&B. This is not your typical B&B.

So, which end of the tub do you want to sit at? Yeah, I mean either side is fine. The faucet is in the middle here.

Okay, great. And should we alternate our legs outstretched in front of us? Yeah, like your leg, my leg, your leg, my leg.

There we go. Yeah, yeah, this arrangement is great for playing footsies. Yeah, yeah, that's a different version of Pet the Jaguar.

Yeah, maybe we can call that one Foot Fuck the Beaver. Foot Fuck the Beaver. Right, right, it's not as easy to foot fuck oneself as it is to pet oneself.

True. Well, then maybe we'd have to change the rules a bit. Just take turns seeing who can make the other one come first.

But what sound do we get the timer to make? Yeah, if it was a growly meow for Pet the Jaguar. What the hell kind of noise does a beaver make? Right, right, we can experiment to find out later.

Yeah, yeah, no problem. Oh sure, sure, we can have breakfast first. Well, we do have to refuel for this jam-packed perfect birthday we have planned today.

So we're going to need a nap to recover from all the relaxing. Well baby, here's to your birthday and celebrating it in a way we have never, ever done before. Feliz aniversario, mi amor.

Cheers. So, how do you feel about your birthday this year? Sure.

This birthday is pretty fucking awesome so far? Nice, nice. Oh yeah, yeah, but usually your birthdays aren't that great.

Ah, right. And they remind you that you're not as happy as you would like to be in life. And certainly not as happy as you seem to be to the outside world.

Really? Yeah, yeah, for sure. Talk away.

No, you're not bringing me down. You're being real. I love that.

It's a huge privilege. It makes me feel even closer to you. So yes, share away.

Right, right, you had said that looks can be deceiving. Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. I can see that.

You have to project hope and positivity in your role. And that can easily be misinterpreted as happiness. But the last few years you've mostly felt lonely and tired.

Because you give so much to others, but have so few people who give back to you. Oh, mi amor. So me, your family, your friends, these are the people who give back to you? And actually make you happy? Wow, I'm honored, truly.

That's a beautiful circle of people to be a part of. Your family and community have been incredibly influential in my life. The way they embraced me and welcomed me, I've never experienced family and togetherness like that before.

I feel so thankful to be a part of that circle of supports around you. Yeah, yeah, I definitely saw the change in you when you were at home in Brazil, versus when I visit you in Ottawa. It's still you in both places.

But in Ottawa, you are firmly behind a protective glass wall. You have to be for the job. Are you starting to question that? Like, are you thinking about maybe moving away from that career? In order to do something that allows you to be more yourself? And to be less of a role? Mm-hmm.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, I see. Right, you gain a lot and actually do get energized by your work.

But you need more balance, right? More time for self-care, to be with your family, to be with me and other friends and lovers, and to enjoy life a little. Right, yeah.

So that when you're at work, putting up that wall doesn't feel so lonely anymore. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's not sustainable to self-sacrifice and hide ourselves all the time.

I know firsthand, as an introvert, we think it's safest when we're alone. But the truth is, we also need places where our walls can be opened up, so that we can be honest and vulnerable, and let others see us as we really are. Love us unconditionally and take care of us.

We all need a place to let our guards down and be real and be nurtured. It doesn't have to be that way with everyone, but we need at least one safe person in one safe place. Yes, literally, like in this room, now that we've unlatched the walls, swung them wide open and let in all the fresh wilderness air, yes, exactly like this.

We all need a place like this. I'm so, so happy to be able to offer you this, mi amor. Let this be one of the places and let me be one of the people where your walls can open up fully and you can truly be yourself.

Oh my God, exactly. What exactly? Yeah, yeah, fart buddies forever.

Although we used to do that in the lake. This is a new step for us, farting in the bathtub together. I think that officially makes us fartners now.

Yeah. Oh God, I love it too. Well, we didn't write that down as an ingredient in the perfect birthday scenario, but I think we should add it to the recipe.

Yeah, yeah, I think farting underwater should absolutely be considered a key element of a perfect birthday. Yeah, yeah, you agree? Okay, great, let's add it to our list then.

Yeah, and then let's check it off. Making bubbles in the tub, done. What's that? Yeah, you're done with breakfast? Sure, sure, we can lie down together in the tub.

You want to just have some quiet, mindful time together to take this all in? Of course. Here, let me take the wooden tray and put it on the floor.

And then do you want to lie back against me? Yeah, I'll lay back in the tub and lean here on this end. And you can just lie your back against me, just like that.

Yeah, and lean your head on my chest. Perfect. Yeah, and I can put my arms around you and intertwine our fingers again.

Sure, you can add some more warm water. Yeah, that's nice. Yeah, that's nice.

Yeah, I hear the crow. Oh my god. Yeah, it does sound like your dad when he grumbles.

That's hilarious. What about you? What about that chipmunk chatter? Yeah, yeah, we both know who that is in your family.

Yes, your Tia Maria. Yeah, she's a non-stop telenovela. How about that sound? How about that sound? I think that's Blue Jay.

Right, right, your cousin Carlos. Although he's a big softy on the inside, behind his male bravado. Oh yeah.

Oh yeah, I hear it. Is that a loon in the distance? Yes.

So, who would that be? Me? I'm a loony? Oh my god.

The Canadian bird calling out to you with her song? Sure, I'll take it. Okay.

You know, I'm remembering lying out on those lawn chairs with you in your ava's garden in Brazil. And I remember noticing how different all the bird and nature noises sounded there, compared to the sounds we had listened to together all those times at your parents' cottage outside of Montreal. Even the bird and animal sounds here in Ontario are different than those in Quebec, aren't they? And yet, all of these experiences with you have felt almost exactly the same, each time I've laid down next to you to be mindfully present and appreciate the sounds of the world around us together.

I've been enveloped in a feeling of pure warmth, comfort and peace. My entire being goes tranquil and serene. My heart is so blissful when I'm with you.

My heart is so blissful when I'm with you. Oh, oh look, look, in the bush over there. No sudden movements.

Look where I'm pointing. Yeah, yeah, it's a deer. It's a deer.

Oh, it's a white-tailed doe and her baby. Oh wow, she's looking right at us. She's protecting her fawn.

I know, right? So sweet. Oh my goodness, can you see their eyelashes? Oh wow.

Look at the mama twitcher ears. She's checking us out. She doesn't seem to mind though.

Look, she's bending down to eat and she's looking away. She feels safe with us, I think. Oh, that cute little one is bounding their way through the tall grass.

They disappear into the field before they bounce back up again. Oh wow, look, they're both venturing a little closer to us so they can get some of that good greenery to munch on for breakfast. Isn't this amazing? Oh wow, look at that precious little one.

Can you hear its chewing noises? Oh, incredible. What a birthday blessing.

Oh, mama got spooked. Off they go. Oh my god.

That was beautiful. Hey, hey, mi amor. Are you okay? Just experiencing all the feels.

My niece used to say she was leaking to differentiate the kind of crying she did when she felt overwhelmingly happy relieved, surprised, or thankful versus the kind of crying she did when she was sad. Yeah, just leaking. I don't mind one bit.

I'm so glad you can let go here. This is your safe place, always. Of course.

I've got you. It's okay. It's okay.

Yes, of course crying is allowed on your perfect birthday. In fact, I believe there is a song that quite literally spells out that you have the authority to do so. It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to.

Exactly. It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to. Exactly.

But really, it sounds like you have permission to cry about three times a year. So let out whatever you need to, baby. This tub and my heart can hold all your tears.

Right here. Right here. I got you.

Yeah, I love you too. Yeah, you ready to go for a walk? Sure, of course.

You want to bring a picnic to the lake and spend the afternoon there? There are lovely hikes and walks all around there. Or we can just bring a hammock and lie in it.

Awesome. Well, I'm glad that ticks more of your perfect birthday boxes. Hmm.