Title is loosely taken from What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. (The movie Birdman is based on it.) Sam is a DJ in Dear White People and Tiff in Bonding (both Netflix shows) is a dominatrix who essentially bosses people around in power play dynamics which her clients want. Mind you I can't write accurately as a dominatrix so this story is mostly about two people who fall in love. I've been thinking of this plot for weeks because it's fun and I binged the shows because the characters are wonderfully complex (and gorgeous) and then I got my wish for Logan Browning to play gay in The Perfection and writing was put on hold (also life). Typos happen. This may start out light but let's be honest-it won't stay that way. It's not my style. Here is it...

"Hi."

"Hi. You're Tiff?"

"Not what you were expecting?" She offered a small smile to ease what she assumed would be a mix of apprehension and tension.

"Not exactly...my friend set me up on a blind date and-"

"Failed to mentioned I'm not a dude," she interrupted gently.

"Very much left that out." She replied with a smile and more of an ease in her tone as her shoulders dropped slightly.

Tiff looked her over. she didn't seem stressed or anxious she was talking with her as they were supposed to be on this so-called blind date. If anything she seemed interested, but nonetheless she still wanted to give her an out.

"If you're not comfortable we certainly don't have to sit here and go through the motions...but do you mind if I take care of something first?" She replied openly, then lowered her voice to an intimate whisper after her pause.

The shorter woman raised an eyebrow but shook her head and turned towards the bar, assuming Tiff was about to step out momentarily.

With a smooth swivel in her chair Tiff raised her voice with a "Hey" to the bartender who begrudgingly acknowledged her. "Want to stop sexually harassing your coworker?"

Instead of pausing to give him a moment to reply she quickly continued in a factual tone, "she's clearly trying to create distance and she's literally cringing whenever you touch her."

"What's it to you." He replied flippantly but with a defensive undertone and turned his back to her.

"Mmm well this video I've been legally taking for the last five minutes is enough evidence for her to bring charges."

Immediately he refocused as it caught his attention. "You can't do that, you have no right," he said with anger.

"Au contraire-a party can be filmed without their knowledge." She replied with certainty then relaxed her tone with purposeful manipulation. "Where ya from?"

"Ohio," he said with a frown, clearly thrown off by the question and not keeping up.

"New York state law. I'm giving this video to your coworker and she can decide what to do with it," she said shifting her gaze to the younger female behind the bar who was standing a little taller and gave a subtle, small smile. Tiff shifted and grabbed her purse. Quickly and with controlled confidence she pulled out her business card and held it between two fingers for the woman to take. The bartender said thank you with confidence and slipped it into her front pocket. "Ok mister Ohio-as Taylor Swift would say-Welcome to New York."

Without giving the male bartender a second more of her time she refocused on Sam, completely moving her body to face her and said "sorry about that."

Sam only looked up at Tiff, fully aware her mouth was slightly hanging open and was slowly processing this was the most unexpected first date she'd ever been on. And she wasn't ready to have it end.

"So..." Sam set down her glass another bartender her served her during the interaction she had observed "you're a lawyer?" She asked with curiosity.

Tiff let out a gentle and brief laugh. "Oh god no. Psych major."

"Awww hell. Don't psychoanalyze me," Sam replied quickly but with humor.

The taller woman let out an even softer laugh and smirked. "We all psychoanalyze each other. Small, surface, vapid judgments." She noted and took a sip of the drink the female bartender who had taken her card placed in front of her a minute ago.

Now it was Sam's turn to lift an eyebrow at the frank, yet flippant honesty. Interested and taking in how most people wouldn't be so brutal and open.

"I'm Sam by the way," she tried to say without awkwardness and was surprised to see Tiff hold out her hand in an old fashioned gesture.

"Very nice to meet you...so far," she said with a smirk as Sam shook her hand. She wondered when was the last time she shook someone's hand and how foreign it felt. There weren't sparks and she didn't consider if their hands fit together or if there was a spark. Instead she looked in Tiff's eyes and thought they were a nice blue with grey that from far away she had thought were bright blue. They were darker close up.

"Oh a cynic," she said with amusement.

"Self-diagnosed," Tiff replied with a self deprecating smile and took the chance to really maintain eye contact.

"I'm sure I could give you a run for your money," Sam challenged.

"Hm," Tiff said with a tilt of her head to the ceiling for a dramatic show of contemplation. "Let's put it to the test then."

"Okay," Sam said with peeked interest and took another sip.

"Right before someone kisses you what do you think?"

The smaller woman almost choked on her drink. "Hell. Warn a girl." She turned her head and coughed.

"Shit. I'm sorry," Tiff quickly stated and stood to place her hand on Sam's arm in a barely there embrace as she coughed again.

After clearing her throat she looked at genuinely concerned eyes and didn't bother to pull away from the taller woman who retreated her hand seconds later. "I'm okay. Ah...I probably think don't suck at this and we'll see how long this lasts." She watched as Tiff nodded and sat back on the stool.

"How 'bout you-what do you think?"

The hesitation was there in an elongated pause and furrowed brows as though Tiff was warring what to say.

"How much is this going to hurt..."

"Jesus..." Sam let out under her breath.

"What's the point of lying?" Tiff said with a shrug.

"Most people sugar coat it on the first date. There's a quote from a tv show..." Sam changed her voice to the one she regularly uses on the radio, "everyone has their first date and the object is to hide your flaws. And then you're in a relationship, and it's all about hiding your disappointment. And then, once you're married, it's about hiding your sins." Sam braced for a 'that's dark' comment to come back at her but was surprised by the laughter that followed.

"So you watch Dollhouse," Tiff replied without missing a beat, "can quote it verbatim," she said impressively "and you're gorgeous and smart," she said as though she were listing facts, "so why are you single?"

"I'm..." Sam contemplated and shrugged, knowing there was no reason to be defensive about it or try to downplay it "difficult" she finished with honesty.

"I'm sure in the best way." Tiff replied with a smile that reached into her eyes making them seem a little brighter. Blue eyes that took in the slight blush that reached Sam's cheeks.

"Alriiiight," Sam cleared her throat and changed the topic. "How'd you feel after Trump "won"?" she said using her hands to air quote.

"I support that," Tiff said after she raised in glass then turned serious. "I was...viscerally depressed. Glossed right over anger and thought this is the end of progression, decency, and it showed all wrong messages-that you can be a bully and make it into the highest office in this country. Then I was angry because that's what it taught kids." She sighed and yet was glad Sam wasn't doing the faux pas of avoiding political talk when meeting someone for the first time. "How about you?" She asked with complete focus on Sam who noticed she wasn't asking just to mirror the question but was clearly very interested in her experience.

"Unsafe. Immediately." She checked to see if Tiff would attempt to lessen her point of view but only saw the other woman clench her hand in a fist then crack two knuckles as though she was trying to relieve tension. She was glad she didn't say something patronizing like 'and you have every right to feel that way' as other white women had said to her if they bothered to have this conversation, as though she needed their validation for her feelings. Again she was surprised when Tiff offered a practical reply without any joking tone.

"If you want to borrow my taser let me know."

"You wouldn't need it?" Sam asked with unguarded curiosity.

"Let's be honest- I'm sure you would need it more than me. You're small," she started.

"Hey!" Sam cut her off.

"Therefore approachable," she continued. "I have no doubt people have asked you painfully asinine questions like-"

"What are you. Where did you come from? No, but where are you from," Sam emphasized. "Like all of a sudden everyone wants to know my etymology like I'm gonna pull up my ancestry dot com and show them." She finished with annoyance.

"And I hope the answers you give them are..." she left off, content to have Sam cut her off again and pick up her cue.

"My mother's body or that's none of ya damn business. The latter is what I would love to say. Usually I give a generic response-why are you asking." She paused to finish her drink. "But you didn't ask which is refreshing."

It was Tiff's turn to shrug. "Why would it be asked. Not trying to minimize your existence but no one has control of their genetic makeup. Our bodies certainly shape how we're treated and I have a position of entitlement just by being pasty white," she said with self deprecation coming around again but watched Sam laugh, "but I've never been told to go back to my own country and I'm betting you have," she finished with a slight tilt of her head.

"Just last week." She stated factually but was impressed Tiff was willing to discuss this with her.

"Fuck that. Alright-a toast." The taller woman moved an inch closer as though she wanted to be respectful of Sam's space.

"I finished my drink."

"Touche. What'll ya have?" Tiff relaxed her speech and reminded herself she didn't always have to be on and tense.

"A dry red," she replied as Tiff turned around for her purse to pull out her credit card. "Oh you don't have to get it." Sam said with a shake of her head.

"Even if this doesn't lead to a second date this was sadly the most real conversation I've had in a while." She tilted her head as though she was really absorbing how pathetic it was. "Consider it a thank you?" She asked, not wanting to overstep or assume Sam could be bought in any way.

"Don't get out much?" Sam teased after a nod to say 'go ahead'. It took a minute for Tiff to instruct the bartender on a specific type of wine and the smaller woman glanced at the bottle reading it was organic and the label was very artistic.

"Mmm. I work, I study. Rinse and repeat." Tiff said flippantly like she was dulled by her routine. "What do you do?" She asked with more interest.

"Classes and DJ a political commentary show at my college." Sam said and placed her hand under her chin after leaning against the bar. She wanted to wait for the wine to breathe and she didn't mind the conversation.

"You have the voice for it." Tiff stated in a way that wasn't a pick up or a cheap come on but a factual observation. "Ever wish you could orchestrate certain people to have radio shows or narrate books?" Tiff said with a far off look in her eyes like she had already considered this and was revisiting some daydreams.

"Ooo plenty. Everyone says James Earl Jones but he's too much. You gotta have a smooth voice." She said nodding her head, in her element, talking about something she loved.

"Like Alicia Keys. God I would give up my abysmal savings for have her do some audio books." Tiff relaxed more, her own voice taking on a lighter note.

"You're a nerd!" Sam said with delight and clapped her hands together, only to smirk back at Tiff who glared at her.

"Aww that glare. It's cute." Sam said and finally took a sip of the wine. Damn its good she thought. She redirected and looked at Tiff whose eyes had narrowed even more.

"I am not cute." She challenged.

"Sure it is. Sexy cute actually." The flirting was there, unexpected but felt natural.

Tiff sighed.

"Trying to be tough. It's cute the way you try." Sam stated honestly after another sip. She could blame it on the really good wine if she chose to.

"Whatever. You're a wine snob," Tiff replied with a smirk. "Speaking of-that toast," she lifted her glass and waited for Sam who did so gracefully. "Here's to those who wish us well...and those who don't can go to hell."

Sam laughed wholeheartedly and replied, "Great, but also deflecting." A lopsided smile made an appearance.

"I'm the psych major. Get your own thing!" She joked back.

"How about a second date?" Sam stated bluntly, feeling gutsy and more at ease than she had from a first time meeting anyone in a long while.

"Time and place-your call," Tiff said back somehow nonchalantly and without missing a beat,yet still had a challenging tone like it was Sam's choice to really commit to it. "But first-we have to finish this. Dream narrators-go!"

Sam didn't bother to stop herself from laughing loudly.

"Okay okay. Ahhhh Vanessa Redgrave..."

"God I wanted to see her perform Year of Magical Thinking!" She cut her off with a yearning tone.

"Oh hell yes. Also Carey Mulligan." Sam stated and nodded as she thought.

"Only the Brits? Come on." Tiff sat up straighter. "Janelle Monae. Really weird," she said knowingly, "but Hilarie Burton."

"Ha! A One Tree Hill viewer!" Sam pointed at her in mockery.

"Says the girl who clearly knows her work. And! Looping back," she said while making a loop with her index finger which Sam smirked at and thought yeah, total nerd, "Carey Mulligan in Never Let Me Go or Suffragette?"

"Never Let Me Go. Obvioooously. It was so fucking painful and rips you apart," she said enthusiastically.

"And she likes obscure art films." Tiff stated and without meaning to let it slip there was a bit of adoring going on. "Alright." She turned serious again with a faux professional voice. "Jeremy Irons."

"Voice of Scar?" She frowned. "Dude already narrated 1984." She stated knowingly.

"How...how are you still single?" The question was said with trepidation as though she didn't trust Sam was real or was harboring deep issues.

"Eh." She gave a grimace and paused, debating to be really honest or skip the details. Tiff waited patiently without any physical expression of saying 'ok, give up the background'. She clearly wasn't going to pressure, leaving it up to her and Sam thought-right, psych major. "Ah on again, off again thing."

"Could go back on?"

"Possibly. Who knows. He's a nice guy. Shit just...it can get complicated." Sam let out a puff of air after fumbling through trying to explain.

"Yeah, I hear ya." Tiff said without judgment.

"That's it?" Sam replied, taken aback by the simple reply.

"What's it?" Tiff questioned lightly.

"No questions about so you're bi? This is an experiment to you?" She said lifting her voice and changing it to sound like a stereotypical white girl.

"Oh god. First," Tiff started in her dominatrix tone, easily sliding partially into the role, "your sexuality is not my business. Second-does he respect you and is he nice to you?"

"Yes, and most of the time," she said without hesitancy but with a pause.

"Then why would I care?" She shrugged one shoulder. "I'd like to think I'm going to be nice to you and that's all anyone can really hope to get out of any interaction-brief or extended."

Sam felt herself nodding through her shock at the very logical way Tiff explained human interactions. "That's...wow. Most people would be jealous anyone would be dividing their time romantically between multiple people. He would be jealous." She emphasized then finished her drink but cringed upon realizing she was talking about someone else on a first date which was lame in her book.

Again the taller woman shrugged. "So he wears his heart on his sleeve? I don't think I'm really capable of that." She tilted her head in thought. "And it's not a competition. Especially when monogamy is a patriarchal construction and women were considered property. But," she paused, stressing the word, "you deserve someone who is going to be more than nice to you."

Sam swallowed. It was stated in a way that had layers. What she deserved, what Tiff possibly was willing to give her, if she could accept it and if she wanted it.

"Next Tuesday...there's a classic film screening at The Park at 8."

"Is that a statement or you're asking me?" She smirked.

"I'm asking." Sam said with certainty.

"Okay."

"I'll text you," Sam said easily and didn't want to appear too eager but she was definitely in uncharted territory and it made her feel a little anxious.

"I look forward to it." Tiff replied honestly and took her card back after indicating to the bar tender to close her tab as they were about to leave. Seconds later she stood in front of Sam who was already standing and realized she was only a few inches taller than her. If this continued she realized she'd have to get used to it but quickly discovered she didn't mind dating someone who wasn't taller than herself. She wasn't necessarily waiting for Sam to kiss her on the cheek or shake her hand again, she didn't really know the protocol when it came to dating a woman, but she found herself really wanting to stick to what she said earlier about being nice and smiled down at her.

"Have a good night."

"You too."