[ She's looking puzzled and moderately unhappy right up until that part, a lot of melted skin, then she just looks horrified. ]
What the fuck! [ Her hands jerk away from his like she's suddenly afraid of hurting him, though that's... probably not much of an issue without her usual strength. She looks up again with brows knit in distress. She might die if she actually sees it, god she hopes those bandages stay on. ] What kid? That's fucking creepy.
[ ...She can't stay away too long though, grossed out and concerned about hurting him or not. She grabs for his good arm to lead him back to the rock she'd taken up residence on. Enough standing. ]
[ That was probably tmi, wasn't it. His good hand jolts up in an effort to placate what looks more like disgust than concern. ]
No— I mean— It's not like it's real. Okay it hurts like it's real, around the edges, where there's still skin to—
[ That's not any better. Biting his lip, he takes a step back, glancing back down at the bound up wrist. It's fine. (It's very much not fine, but the more he chats about it, the finer it gets, right? (Incorrect. (Feedback loop. (Her reaction isn't doing anything for it.)))) ]
It was A— [ Catching his distracted tongue and playing off the rest of the name as an inelegant and incoherent thinking sound, he tries again. ] Chat. Chat Noir. And he's not creepy, he's totally awesome! Misfires happen, you know that.
[ They weren't the only ones passing out and almost snapping people in half, dude. Anyway, whoa, he's being dragged along to her rock; it's a good opportunity to keep on looking down past his arm and— ]
[ Hurts like it's real, that's enough for her. She shakes her head as she makes one of those half-push half-suggestions that he sit (not really any easier to resist without her strength, although it takes her more visible effort to get the same force to it), and follows shortly after him to arrange herself in a sprawl, half on the rock and half on Sigma. ]
Yeah, don't fucking remind me. But at least they're not melted.
[ She's not going to get over that, ever. That's a horrifying mental image. She'll make sure to be careful with Chat Noir, whoever that is. ]
And if you see any shoes a little bigger than deer-sized, lemme know.
[ Alright, now he's being shoved around, ever so gently as is Ramir's wont (even if it isn't quite so easy now), but he doesn't fight it, thunking obediently down on the rock and immediately slouching forward. Made a little difficult by the half a woman slumping against him, but no less pleasant. ]
[ His good arm finds its way back around her waist and his bad one hooks carefully under her knees, tugging her into his slightly more comfortable lap, getting her feet further off the ground. Man, they don't look fun to deal with... ]
What, you're telling me these things aren't a size .25?
[ Oh, hey, yeah, she'll take that offered lap. Way more comfy. She drops her arm around his waist in turn, happy to lean her head against his chest. ]
I know, it's surprising, right, them being so dainty and all. [ She kicks up a foot to get a better look at (and sigh about) the bandages. The shitty leather wrap fake-shoes aren't doing much to keep the bandages clean, it's a sad sight. ] I'd seriously kill for a mall around here. But at least I wasn't wearing my boots, just the ALASTAIR ones. I'd be so pissed if my boots got melted.
[ She might be tired of complaining about the discomfort, but this is still way preferred over talking about any of the bigger problems floating around. ]
[ As she settles in, he really gets the chance to glower sympathetically down at her sorry excuse for foot coverings. Life is hard for the soft-footed in a tiny-hoofed society... And the only thing even remotely resembling a mall would probably seriously kill them right now. Or at least inconvenience. ]
Can you really blame the boots? You were the one who was sloshing around in lava... [ He grins, but his eyes remain faintly downcast. Going from splashing through molten rock like rain puddles to wincing at jagged pebbles underfoot has got to be some shitty whiplash. ] That'd seriously suck though. My shoes are all I've got left of home now.
[ If she doesn't have too much waxing poetic to do about her boots, he'll tack on, ] ... Where's home for you, anyway? I don't think I've ever asked.
[ She's planning a solid, rousing defense of her time spent sloshing around in lava, but the words die out with his question. Man. That's an easy one to answer with strangers, but it gets a little trickier with people that deserve more than a glossed-over, surface answer. And if Sigma hasn't found his way to that classification, no one here has. She puts a few seconds more thought into the question than most people would deem necessary, then finally groans and turns her head to bury her face into his shirt. ]
Spodea, I guess. Planet pretty far from Earth. If it still counts if you haven't seen it in a while.
[ Yeah, that'll have to do. Because if she can't vaguely name an entire planet she hasn't seen in three or four years, it's going to be really tough to come up with a more specific answer. She cocks a glance up at him. ]
[ Ah. They're on pretty even footing when it comes to casual conversation, but whenever they start getting technical, it really starts to show, how much of a 2020s caveman he is compared to her. That doesn't discourage him. Even if he does have to tilt his head. ]
Well—being from Earth, I can't even pretend to know what or where that is... But yeah, it counts.
[ Recently kindled distaste for space travel aside, the thought of an alien world at least sort of within his frame of reference piques his inner eight year old astronaut wannabe's interest, but honestly how she'd answered is furrowing his brow more than the foreign name itself. And that takes priority over curiously grilling her about the weather. (She dodged a bullet.) ]
[ She would gladly have taken weather questions over where this topic goes. Well, sort of gladly. Weather is still pretty boring. But, god, why does it have to be Sigma asking this stuff? Anyone else she'd brush off with an easy lightness and no one would even suspect there was anything more to it.
It takes her a little too long to answer again, and she's got a reluctant frown when she finally gets to it: ] It was a it's complicated noise. I don't really like talking about it but I will if you wanna know.
[ Which is an honest offer, really. She wouldn't make it if she wasn't willing, she'd just pick an easy lie and be done with it. ]
[ There's still time to work in the weather, don't worry. ]
[ Anyway, she looks a little bit like she's about to get some teeth pulled and she knows it, but she isn't totally blowing him off... She'd definitely commit to that if she really had zero desire to chat. He adopts a mock affronted expression. ]
C'mon, I bared my complicated soul to you back in Chantes, don't you think it's only fair?
[ He'll make up for her missing lightness in his own tone: not demanding, just curious. Less plea, more nudge. (Maybe still a little bit of a plea.) ]
[ Okay, fair point. She even edges into a little smile for it. She does kinda owe him after all that. ]
Alright, fine. I'll do it if I get a kiss out of it.
[ She proposes it like it's a tough bargain, like she couldn't just go for one right now, to reciprocate a little of that lightness. She appreciates it, really. Heavy stuff gets so old so fast. ]
[ But consider him sold. Smiling at his little victory, he shifts her weight on his legs briefly before settling down again, the picture of rapt attention. The rock's not quite big enough to lie back a la Rooftop Confessions The First, but it's miles better than the soggy post-typhoon ground, so this'll have to do. ]
Okay, you're right, three kisses. It's worth that much.
[ She looks smug for a few seconds more, then settles back again. It's easier to watch open air left of them instead of Sigma himself if she leans her head back against his chest, so that's just what she does. She takes a light, quick breath, the better to keep up her casual who-cares tone for it. ]
Home used to be with my parents when I was a kid, this little town outside the main human settlement, Randa. Then I met my grandma and home was kinda with her in Randa, but I still had to go back and reassure my parents I wasn't, like, dead yet, or anything. Then someone followed me home and shot my parents to get a message to my grandma, and she tried to stick me in foster care, so I left, and there hasn't really been a home since then. [ A little brighter (although her hand at his waist has tightened its grip on his shirt): ] But I was just about to head back to Spodea when the rift caught me, so I guess that means it's gonna be home again.
[ His smile lasts right about up until to my grandma, only because it takes him about two seconds to fully register shot my parents in such a nonchalant tone. If she had so much as missed a fraction of a beat he would have told her to hold the phone, but the casualness catches him so off guard it's all he can do to keep his attention on the rest of the story. He does stiffen though, shoulders uncharacteristically rigid. ]
I... Holy shit, I guess it's a good thing I went with Wonder Woman instead of Batman, huh...
[ Okay inappropriate at best, but it's not weepy-eyed sympathy she'd ever be after, he's known her long enough. Besides, do they even have Marvel and DC in the Space Future? That's right, all his pop culture references are probably long expired if they're even from the same universe... The horror... I digress. ]
[ Craning his neck to peer down at her, ]
Just what the hell kinda woman is your grandma if she deserves that for a message?
[ She knows the references, vaguely and slightly. Sort of. The relevance of them escapes her right now, but she appreciates the effort. It's better than anything too heavy handed, she wouldn't be interested in any of that.
His question, though, gets a pause. She leans back to meet that look with a hard one of her own, because even now family pride takes precedence over anything else. It's the glimmering edge of a sharp, cold anger she hasn't used around Sigma before now, ready to blossom into more than a hint if need be. ]
Hey, watch your fucking mouth. She didn't deserve it, she was an amazing woman. [ She's using past tense for her, which isn't really how she'd planned to add the detail of her grandmother being dead now too, but oh well. ] You wanna rephrase that?
[ Ah. Whoops. On top of unintentionally insulting her grandma, he's unintentionally insulting her dead grandma. Don't worry, she doesn't even have to up the ferocity, her glare jabs just about hard enough to make him physically wince. ]
Shit, I didn't mean it like that, you know I didn't. I meant like, someone thinking she deserved it, what kinda person would, you know, because— that's no passive-aggressive post-it note...
[ That's some serious shit you gotta be into and—god it's really hard to backpedal from someone who's literally on top of you, but at least he doesn't look away. His voice is oozing genuine sincerity, please don't hit him even if you are depowered... ]
And I mean, if you grew up with her, she's gotta be pretty rad.
[ His apology is, apparently, accepted. She does know he didn't mean it like that, but the reaction was instinctive and not one she's even looking to change. So she nods, and the sharp edges in her look and posture soothe over again as soon as they'd sprung up. That second part even scores a small smile. ]
Yeah, she is. [ Er, wait. Past tense. The smile fades out again. ] Was. Apparently someone just got to her. I dunno who yet.
[ Ugh. The first part was ancient history, but this wound is still new and fresh. She shifts to lean against Sigma with both arms draped around his neck. Physical proximity doesn't actually do much to help, but to someone as needy as she is, it's a great placebo. ]
She was in charge of a lotta stuff, you know, made a lot of enemies. I guess there's a lotta people it could've been.
[ Thank god, he'd feel like a real asshole if that flew too much longer. Her loosening up and leaning in prompts his arms to wrap around her in earnest, enveloping her in a tight, shoulder-rubbing hug. ]
Sorry, [ he finally can't help, quiet and sobered. A small part of him is curious, whether her interrupted homecoming had been to kick ass and take names in vengeance for her grandmother, but an infinitely larger part just doesn't really want to press her any more than he already has. A lot more than three people died over his Life Before ALASTAIR chat, but no one he had known nearly as closely... It's not a competition, but that doesn't stop it feeling a little unfair. ]
[ So he's content to sit for a good long while (or a short while, he's not picky), at least until something at least tangentially distracting drifts along. ]
[ It's good to have this, a literal someone to cling to in the metaphorical storm that her heart turns into whenever she lets the doors on this part of it creak open. Sigma is large, warm, and solid, reassuring when she leans her forehead against his shoulder and wills away the tears. There's no shame in crying for her, never has been, but this is different. If she starts on this, she's not sure she'll be able to stop until she's found her way to whoever it is she's going to punish for it.
She takes advantage of the offered hug for a good minute or two, until she's sure she's got it all back under control again. Then she props her chin up onto his shoulder with a light sigh. ]
It's alright. I'm gonna be in charge with her gone, so I'll figure out who did it and, I dunno, skin 'em. Something like that, I haven't worked out the details yet.
[ Frankly, it's not often that he's this quiet, but it's a silence well-earned all things considered. Consider him quite rock-like until she finally decides she's ready to shift, and he'll gather up his voice too. ]
Well, you'll probably have plenty of time to get real creative with it ...
[ You know, between all the giant crabs and lava giants and hurricanes and whatever world number three throws at them and however long it takes her to take over and actually find the culprit/s. Eventually, he leans out to give her a look. It's a little grinning look. ]
Though you sure you wanna go the skinning route if my arm freaks you out that bad?
[ Wow, rude. Ramir is totally tough, she can take any gross sight. She huffs and deliberately avoids that little grinning look, preferring to stare out over nothing. ]
Your arm's not that bad. I've seen worse. [ No she hasn't. She also doesn't go looking for worse, though, so maybe that's fair. She will concede, though: ] ...But maybe I'll pay someone else to do it.
[ Totally, huh... He leans out a little further, stubbornly into her field of vision. ]
No it's pretty bad. You haven't even seen the worst of it. [ Brandishing the wrapped up wrist in question, here. He's not dumb enough to unwrap it or anything (he doesn't want to see it any more than she does), but she's got an imagination. ] All vengeful satisfaction aside, you should definitely outsource.
[ Also because you know, killing people isn't... great... It's easier to joke about from an outside perspective, but... ]
[ She snorts and pushes his hand away — carefully, using her wrist to shove at his forearm, where there aren't bandages. It still gets it out of her immediate sight, though, which is all she's looking for. ]
Yeah, maybe. I'll see when I get there. [ But she's pretty sure she's going to do something violent and fatal to whoever it is. She sets that thought aside though, sitting back a little and pulling on a smug look. ] Now, I'm pretty sure you owe me something. Two somethings! Gonna pay up?
[ He lets his hand drop easily enough, propping it instead on one of her thighs, but the smile stays put. Especially when she shifts the subject, even if he does attempt to wrangle his expression into something facetiously stern for a second. ]
I believe the figure we agreed on was three, and I wouldn't dream of shorting you.
[ It fails spectacularly in the next moment though, so he'll put that insatiable grin to work against hers. Dipping forward to close the distance, he starts her off with a peck on the lips before shifting and hooking his arm back around her waist to tug her into it proper. He'll count that as one if she does. ]
Oh shit, it was three... [ She'd almost shorted herself, distracted by her own story. At least one of them knows what they're talking about.
The peck is a little lame, but a good start. She shifts along with his tug, wrapping one leg around his waist and stretching the other out behind him. One arm loops around his neck, the other sitting lazily against his side. ]
If they're all gonna be that kind of kiss, I'm gonna complain to management and get my story back.
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What the fuck! [ Her hands jerk away from his like she's suddenly afraid of hurting him, though that's... probably not much of an issue without her usual strength. She looks up again with brows knit in distress. She might die if she actually sees it, god she hopes those bandages stay on. ] What kid? That's fucking creepy.
[ ...She can't stay away too long though, grossed out and concerned about hurting him or not. She grabs for his good arm to lead him back to the rock she'd taken up residence on. Enough standing. ]
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No— I mean— It's not like it's real. Okay it hurts like it's real, around the edges, where there's still skin to—
[ That's not any better. Biting his lip, he takes a step back, glancing back down at the bound up wrist. It's fine. (It's very much not fine, but the more he chats about it, the finer it gets, right? (Incorrect. (Feedback loop. (Her reaction isn't doing anything for it.)))) ]
It was A— [ Catching his distracted tongue and playing off the rest of the name as an inelegant and incoherent thinking sound, he tries again. ] Chat. Chat Noir. And he's not creepy, he's totally awesome! Misfires happen, you know that.
[ They weren't the only ones passing out and almost snapping people in half, dude. Anyway, whoa, he's being dragged along to her rock; it's a good opportunity to keep on looking down past his arm and— ]
Shit, wait, your feet aren't looking any better.
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Yeah, don't fucking remind me. But at least they're not melted.
[ She's not going to get over that, ever. That's a horrifying mental image. She'll make sure to be careful with Chat Noir, whoever that is. ]
And if you see any shoes a little bigger than deer-sized, lemme know.
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[ His good arm finds its way back around her waist and his bad one hooks carefully under her knees, tugging her into his slightly more comfortable lap, getting her feet further off the ground. Man, they don't look fun to deal with... ]
What, you're telling me these things aren't a size .25?
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I know, it's surprising, right, them being so dainty and all. [ She kicks up a foot to get a better look at (and sigh about) the bandages. The shitty leather wrap fake-shoes aren't doing much to keep the bandages clean, it's a sad sight. ] I'd seriously kill for a mall around here. But at least I wasn't wearing my boots, just the ALASTAIR ones. I'd be so pissed if my boots got melted.
[ She might be tired of complaining about the discomfort, but this is still way preferred over talking about any of the bigger problems floating around. ]
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Can you really blame the boots? You were the one who was sloshing around in lava... [ He grins, but his eyes remain faintly downcast. Going from splashing through molten rock like rain puddles to wincing at jagged pebbles underfoot has got to be some shitty whiplash. ] That'd seriously suck though. My shoes are all I've got left of home now.
[ If she doesn't have too much waxing poetic to do about her boots, he'll tack on, ] ... Where's home for you, anyway? I don't think I've ever asked.
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Spodea, I guess. Planet pretty far from Earth. If it still counts if you haven't seen it in a while.
[ Yeah, that'll have to do. Because if she can't vaguely name an entire planet she hasn't seen in three or four years, it's going to be really tough to come up with a more specific answer. She cocks a glance up at him. ]
What about you?
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Well—being from Earth, I can't even pretend to know what or where that is... But yeah, it counts.
[ Recently kindled distaste for space travel aside, the thought of an alien world at least sort of within his frame of reference piques his inner eight year old astronaut wannabe's interest, but honestly how she'd answered is furrowing his brow more than the foreign name itself. And that takes priority over curiously grilling her about the weather. (She dodged a bullet.) ]
So was that a miss it noise or a hate it noise..?
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It takes her a little too long to answer again, and she's got a reluctant frown when she finally gets to it: ] It was a it's complicated noise. I don't really like talking about it but I will if you wanna know.
[ Which is an honest offer, really. She wouldn't make it if she wasn't willing, she'd just pick an easy lie and be done with it. ]
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[ Anyway, she looks a little bit like she's about to get some teeth pulled and she knows it, but she isn't totally blowing him off... She'd definitely commit to that if she really had zero desire to chat. He adopts a mock affronted expression. ]
C'mon, I bared my complicated soul to you back in Chantes, don't you think it's only fair?
[ He'll make up for her missing lightness in his own tone: not demanding, just curious. Less plea, more nudge. (Maybe still a little bit of a plea.) ]
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Alright, fine. I'll do it if I get a kiss out of it.
[ She proposes it like it's a tough bargain, like she couldn't just go for one right now, to reciprocate a little of that lightness. She appreciates it, really. Heavy stuff gets so old so fast. ]
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Only one? Don't sell yourself short.
[ But consider him sold. Smiling at his little victory, he shifts her weight on his legs briefly before settling down again, the picture of rapt attention. The rock's not quite big enough to lie back a la Rooftop Confessions The First, but it's miles better than the soggy post-typhoon ground, so this'll have to do. ]
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[ She looks smug for a few seconds more, then settles back again. It's easier to watch open air left of them instead of Sigma himself if she leans her head back against his chest, so that's just what she does. She takes a light, quick breath, the better to keep up her casual who-cares tone for it. ]
Home used to be with my parents when I was a kid, this little town outside the main human settlement, Randa. Then I met my grandma and home was kinda with her in Randa, but I still had to go back and reassure my parents I wasn't, like, dead yet, or anything. Then someone followed me home and shot my parents to get a message to my grandma, and she tried to stick me in foster care, so I left, and there hasn't really been a home since then. [ A little brighter (although her hand at his waist has tightened its grip on his shirt): ] But I was just about to head back to Spodea when the rift caught me, so I guess that means it's gonna be home again.
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I... Holy shit, I guess it's a good thing I went with Wonder Woman instead of Batman, huh...
[ Okay inappropriate at best, but it's not weepy-eyed sympathy she'd ever be after, he's known her long enough. Besides, do they even have Marvel and DC in the Space Future? That's right, all his pop culture references are probably long expired if they're even from the same universe... The horror... I digress. ]
[ Craning his neck to peer down at her, ]
Just what the hell kinda woman is your grandma if she deserves that for a message?
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His question, though, gets a pause. She leans back to meet that look with a hard one of her own, because even now family pride takes precedence over anything else. It's the glimmering edge of a sharp, cold anger she hasn't used around Sigma before now, ready to blossom into more than a hint if need be. ]
Hey, watch your fucking mouth. She didn't deserve it, she was an amazing woman. [ She's using past tense for her, which isn't really how she'd planned to add the detail of her grandmother being dead now too, but oh well. ] You wanna rephrase that?
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Shit, I didn't mean it like that, you know I didn't. I meant like, someone thinking she deserved it, what kinda person would, you know, because— that's no passive-aggressive post-it note...
[ That's some serious shit you gotta be into and—god it's really hard to backpedal from someone who's literally on top of you, but at least he doesn't look away. His voice is oozing genuine sincerity, please don't hit him even if you are depowered... ]
And I mean, if you grew up with her, she's gotta be pretty rad.
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Yeah, she is. [ Er, wait. Past tense. The smile fades out again. ] Was. Apparently someone just got to her. I dunno who yet.
[ Ugh. The first part was ancient history, but this wound is still new and fresh. She shifts to lean against Sigma with both arms draped around his neck. Physical proximity doesn't actually do much to help, but to someone as needy as she is, it's a great placebo. ]
She was in charge of a lotta stuff, you know, made a lot of enemies. I guess there's a lotta people it could've been.
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Sorry, [ he finally can't help, quiet and sobered. A small part of him is curious, whether her interrupted homecoming had been to kick ass and take names in vengeance for her grandmother, but an infinitely larger part just doesn't really want to press her any more than he already has. A lot more than three people died over his Life Before ALASTAIR chat, but no one he had known nearly as closely... It's not a competition, but that doesn't stop it feeling a little unfair. ]
[ So he's content to sit for a good long while (or a short while, he's not picky), at least until something at least tangentially distracting drifts along. ]
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She takes advantage of the offered hug for a good minute or two, until she's sure she's got it all back under control again. Then she props her chin up onto his shoulder with a light sigh. ]
It's alright. I'm gonna be in charge with her gone, so I'll figure out who did it and, I dunno, skin 'em. Something like that, I haven't worked out the details yet.
how did this get so old what year is it
Well, you'll probably have plenty of time to get real creative with it ...
[ You know, between all the giant crabs and lava giants and hurricanes and whatever world number three throws at them and however long it takes her to take over and actually find the culprit/s. Eventually, he leans out to give her a look. It's a little grinning look. ]
Though you sure you wanna go the skinning route if my arm freaks you out that bad?
well it's been 84 years, so
Your arm's not that bad. I've seen worse. [ No she hasn't. She also doesn't go looking for worse, though, so maybe that's fair. She will concede, though: ] ...But maybe I'll pay someone else to do it.
ah that nap got out of hand
No it's pretty bad. You haven't even seen the worst of it. [ Brandishing the wrapped up wrist in question, here. He's not dumb enough to unwrap it or anything (he doesn't want to see it any more than she does), but she's got an imagination. ] All vengeful satisfaction aside, you should definitely outsource.
[ Also because you know, killing people isn't... great... It's easier to joke about from an outside perspective, but... ]
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Yeah, maybe. I'll see when I get there. [ But she's pretty sure she's going to do something violent and fatal to whoever it is. She sets that thought aside though, sitting back a little and pulling on a smug look. ] Now, I'm pretty sure you owe me something. Two somethings! Gonna pay up?
no subject
I believe the figure we agreed on was three, and I wouldn't dream of shorting you.
[ It fails spectacularly in the next moment though, so he'll put that insatiable grin to work against hers. Dipping forward to close the distance, he starts her off with a peck on the lips before shifting and hooking his arm back around her waist to tug her into it proper. He'll count that as one if she does. ]
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The peck is a little lame, but a good start. She shifts along with his tug, wrapping one leg around his waist and stretching the other out behind him. One arm loops around his neck, the other sitting lazily against his side. ]
If they're all gonna be that kind of kiss, I'm gonna complain to management and get my story back.
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