sunseeker | an ill-advised venture (for sarcaskick)

[ He really isn't the type on most days. Why he is tonight is a grand mystery which he will not think on. ]

Let me down? [ There's a bark of a laugh, shaking his head incredulously. ] You knocked one off my bucket list. Two, actually.

[ Public sex + sex with a legendary hero is one hell of a combo! ]

But I'm happy to say you're indebted to me. I'm sure I can find plenty to do with that.

Did I not also mention I like to take care of people?

[ She gives a laugh of her own, though it's softer. A bit more tired. ]

Though I take that to mean you'll call on me again in the future.

[ Now, why does she look so delighted? ]

Guess it does.

[ There! She suggested it, so now it's not just his idea for them to see each other again. Checkmate. ]

If you'll have me. I'm not totally sure that you enjoyed yourself tonight.

[ Ah, there's that smugness again. ]

Oh, I think I got exactly what I wanted.

[ She beams. ]

A friend?

[ The worst part of it is that she actually sounds a bit serious--quite pleased with herself, even. ]

A partner for spontaneous, risqué sex is more like it.

[ because like HELL could he admit to friendship. ]

But call it whatever you want, I guess.

.... Close enough.

[ She may have questionable priorities, but there is more than one way to get to know someone, and for her, this absolutely counts.

Though for reasons she can't identify, she does feel... unusually shaken after the encounter, and she can't seem to identify why. She's trying her best to ignore it, so she attempts to change the subject. ]

Might you be willing to do me a favor? My gloves are still down there and I... Don't feel especially keen to go back down. For several months or longer. If ever.

[ She'll just have to sneak out the window when she leaves. It's... It's fine. ]

[ Ah... so the shame is there, it just took being out of the heat of the moment for it to really bloom. This isn't a big surprise, nor is it exactly new to him. It happens, sometimes, when he coaxes people into doing things they normally might not.

When they realize they sank to his level. ]

Yeah, sure.

[ He does take a moment to put himself back together, fixing his pants, zipping his jacket back up, before he starts heading for the door.

A pause, glancing back at her. ]

We could always burn the place down. No evidence, no witnesses. Easy fix.

[ he's kidding ]

... It is tempting. [ It is not. The last thing the Brume needs is to be on fire. Again. ] But why bother? Even were word to get out about our actions tonight, I don't think anyone would actually believe it.

[ Her smile is a bit weaker than it should be, for a joke, and she waves him off, rising to her feet as well.

The gloves weren't truly that big a concern; the truth is she needed a moment to sneak off the facilities to towel herself clean a bit. Fix her clothes, splash some water on her face. She'd prefer a hot bath, but this will have to do for the time being. She kicks off her boots and curls back into the bed, wrapping her arms around herself while she waits--feels a bit better that way. She lets out the sigh she'd been holding back, in hopes that Mercury can't hear. ]

[ He shrugs, as if to say "your loss", before turning to leave.

He doesn't hurry down, or hurry back up - her demeanor is off, a bit reserved, certainly not the upbeat and cheerful thing she had seemed to be when they first stared talking and he suspects it's because of him (which, again, tracks with how things often go). Well, he shouldn't care. It's not like this was some budding romance, right? It's not like he cares.

It's not like he cares.

He does grab the gloves from where they had been discarded along the wall - a few of the former onlookers try to get a word in, but they're all pretty well ignored in favor of the task at hand. He eventually returns to the room, gloves in hand as he walks over to where she's curled up on the bed. ]

Take 'em. I'll get out of your hair.

You're leaving?

[ She pulls herself back into a sitting position, looking somewhat confused. This is ... not what she's used to. She knew that from the first, and had an inkling he might leave, but she figured it would be when she was asleep, and not now. She does reach out, but what she grabs is his hand rather than the object in them. ]

... Stay? Just a little longer.

[ It's an impulse-she's not sure why she's doing it. Though what she does know is that she's never been terribly fond of being left alone for long. She never has. It's... boring. Draining. ]

[ Given where her hand had been not all too long ago, one would think that her taking his hand wouldn't really have any effect. But that's not a physicality he's used to. When he's touching someone it's almost always to sate one appetite or another, be it violent or otherwise. Something like this, purely seeking his company, it's...

~~nice?~~ unexpected.

He blinks, rewarding her with a brief look of genuine surprise that he's quick to hide. ]

Uh... I mean I can, I guess. For now.

[ A pause. ]

You're not going to ask me to cuddle, are you?

[ That pulls a laugh out of her, like some of her normal energy is starting to come back. What he suggests happens to be one of her favorite things, even, which might be obvious by the sudden brightness in her eyes. ]

I won't force you.

[ That would be a yes, though she's not going to protest if he declines. She's already pushing her luck, she's certain. ]

As if you could.

[ Yeah that's right he'll fight the Warrior of Light big whoop whatever--

But he does... set himself down on the edge of the bed. He doesn't climb on all the way, but at least he's next to her now. It's probably the most she's going to get out of him, this time. ]

There. Happy?

... Uh huh. We'll have to test that sometime. But I am happy, as it happens!

[ There she is again. Much more herself. There's still a strange pit in her stomach she can't seem to define, but that isn't fun and therefore not worth her time to scrutinize. It will get pushed back down where it belongs, so she can focus on better things. ]

You know... They opened a bath house, but recently. Thermal water, open air, and there's a few more private options. It's not as exciting as our tavern affair, I'm sure, but I'm not certain I could handle that again so soon. Besides, I wouldn't want the novelty to wear off.

[ Which is... Certainly one way of putting it. ]

[ He hums briefly at the suggestion, casting his gaze towards the ceiling in thought. It sounds good, and if she's implying what he thinks she's implying then it sounds even better. But there is one thing about going to a place like that which complicates things a little.

... But why spoil the surprise? ]

Are you saying that I need a bath? Rude.

[ He returns his gaze back down to her, head tilting a bit in her direction. ]

But I could be convinced to give it a look, I guess.

Your words, not mine. Though I think it would do me a world of good. I feel.... [ She frowns for a moment. It's difficult to describe, but she doubts she would want to do so anyway, so she ends up meeting his gaze with a grin. ] You did quite a number on me.

Though I was thinking a bit of rest, first. [ She falls back into the bed, and swings a leg out. ] See? Boots are already off.

Edited (Forgot a word rip) 2021-03-08 16:17 (UTC)

Yeah, I have that effect sometimes.

[ A pause - he still doesn't really want to cuddle or anything of the sort, but he also doesn't want to leave? Which is a bit new, but he's not about to overthink it. So after a moment he leans down over the edge of the bed to unfasten his boots as well, setting them on the floor before swinging his own legs up and onto the mattress.

At which point she might notice that his legs are not exactly... standard. ]

Don't stare. I know I have killer legs.

[ She tilts her head. ] Magitek? [ That's ... new. And interesting. She can't deny she's quite curious, but she's also aware that not everyone is keen on sharing such things. ] ... Well, I won't ask unless you feel like elaborating.

[ She'll leave things there, for now. Self-awareness may not be a strong point for her, but that doesn't mean she doesn't do her best to be courteous. Instead, she adjusts now that the old mattress has two occupants, making sure there's enough space for the both of them and rolling to face him again. ]

Thank you for indulging me, by the way.

[ For not leaving. It's not as though he needed to listen to her request. ]

Long story and a real buzzkill. You don't want to hear it.

[ ... Maybe she does, actually, but he's definitely not keen on getting into it right this moment.

He settles into place a bit, stretching his arms up before clasping his hands behind his head; his eyes remain aimed towards the ceiling, though he notices her turning to face him out of the corner of his eye. He's not sure exactly how to respond - because he can't just admit to doing anything for someone else's benefit. ]

Maybe I'm a bit tired, too. Don't overthink it.

[ Someday, she thinks she would, but she's not going to push. It's not her place. Though he is a bit of a handful, isn't he? ..... Not that she's one to talk. ]

Sure. It was a long night indeed. [ She laughs, but it's soft, and more to herself. He can attempt to dismiss her, but she's already drawn the more positive conclusion and doesn't seem inclined to go back on it, like as not. ] A fun one, though.

[ She fluffs her pillow a bit. It smells a bit of... Stale vomit and piss that's survived a couple of washes, and the motion seems to draw it out. Unfortunate. She regrets her sense of smell, at times, but she settles back into it anyway. ]

Well... Goodnight.

Yeah... fun.

[ It was, right? The sex was definitely fun for him, of course, but it's not like everything before it was bad either. The banter, the joking... she's not bad to be around at all.

He's not used to that feeling. He's used to being with people for a very, very brief period of time, and then moving on with his life and cutting off contact. Getting attached wasn't wise or worthwhile, and by and large he honestly didn't think he had the capacity for it - like he was missing some part of himself that knew how. He hadn't spent terribly long with M'ahina, but somehow...

He's still gone the next morning, by the time she wakes up. Old habits die hard. But the mattress where he used to be still has some lingering warmth, as if he had spent the night but gotten out just before she began to stir.

He still has work to do, after all.

Plus, she has his number. ]

[ She's disappointed to find that spot empty, if she's being honest. Unsurprised, but... Disappointed. She does consider asking why he didn't wake her when he left, but what can she do? It's not as though they had some kind understanding. She'd even attempted to ask early in the night and never received a proper answer, which in hindsight was a bit of an answer in itself. Maybe she doesn't have the right to be upset.

Nor does she enjoy moping, so there's naught to it but to simply start her day. She eyes the window for a long moment, but ultimately she does go back down into the tavern simply to apologize repeatedly and profusely--she has friends in this place. Friends who did not need to see a certain side of her. ... Unfortunately, some of the men who had watched are also still present.

Which does lead to a message later on. ]

I ran into your man from the other night. He seemed to think I was for sale, so I was inclined to clear up our misunderstanding. Needless to say, he's off the market now. Sorry.

[ At the very least, he doesn't leave her waiting for terribly long before he responds. ]

that's fine. i found other work. always someone who needs a little muscle thrown the right way.

[ legitimate or otherwise ]</ small>

True! And it seems you were right, that was more satisfying than I anticipated. I usually prefer more of a challenge.

My invitation from before still stands, by the way. I could use the soak.

challenges are fun, for sure, but sometimes you just want an easy win. no shame in it.

i've got one more job lined up today, but as long as it doesn't kill me i should be free after. if it does kill me, i guess i'll be late.

an ill-advised venture (for sarcaskick)

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