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[ If James notices, it's only in the back of his head, as he's content with their pace. He knows that eventually he'll have to show Bela something as well, but eventually isn't now. ]
As it goes. I wasn't that great at hauling ice in the beginning, but it's probably a lot easier than stealing. Although, I could argue it's more dangerous. [ A beat, and Jim adds -- ] Wasn't so handy with a gun my first time, either, but you can't stay in the Navy if you don't get acquainted with such things.
As it goes. I wasn't that great at hauling ice in the beginning, but it's probably a lot easier than stealing. Although, I could argue it's more dangerous. [ A beat, and Jim adds -- ] Wasn't so handy with a gun my first time, either, but you can't stay in the Navy if you don't get acquainted with such things.
It does sound more dangerous. I don't have to go into space to steal. [ Which isn't a dig, by the way. She's still as fascinated by the whole thing, just a little apprehensive about how vast and dark space was. ]
I had to take a few shooting lessons before I got confident in handling a firearm. [ No military training for her. ] It was the only way I could protect myself from, well - unsavoury characters.
[ Disgruntled clients, interfering hunters, to name a few. ]
I had to take a few shooting lessons before I got confident in handling a firearm. [ No military training for her. ] It was the only way I could protect myself from, well - unsavoury characters.
[ Disgruntled clients, interfering hunters, to name a few. ]
[ Gabe shrugs at that. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. James hasn't fucked him over yet, that's true. And he had opportunity to.
Funny thing is, a lot of people in Hell haven't fucked him over. And it would've been real easy for them to. A conundrum.
He eats his food, in the meantime. ]
Fair enough. And now you know.
Funny thing is, a lot of people in Hell haven't fucked him over. And it would've been real easy for them to. A conundrum.
He eats his food, in the meantime. ]
Fair enough. And now you know.
[ There's a moment of vocal silence while they eat, the garden and said actions a soundtrack in the background. When his mouth is clear to speak, James assures him that -- ]
Amos isn't the kind of guy that will hound me for answers, if you want to keep this between us.
Amos isn't the kind of guy that will hound me for answers, if you want to keep this between us.
You could, though. There are factions that ask for "special taxes" to pass through ports and other places.
[ James makes an indication that he means to dip her, and though it brings their heads closer together, he doesn't bridge the gap by way of a kiss. But he does wait to see the sort of reaction it draws out of her. ]
Maybe we could do target practice some time. Just to stay on top.
[ James makes an indication that he means to dip her, and though it brings their heads closer together, he doesn't bridge the gap by way of a kiss. But he does wait to see the sort of reaction it draws out of her. ]
Maybe we could do target practice some time. Just to stay on top.
[ The dip means she has to hold onto him a little tighter, and Bela can't help a momentary glance at his lips when they're this close. She lets out an audible breath before looking at his face again.
Then he makes that suggestion so she does answer. ]
We could do that, yeah.
[ Maybe it was the closeness, the not quite kiss and the heat coming from his body, but she can't help herself when she speaks again, her tone playful. ]
In my experience, staying on top has its benefits.
Then he makes that suggestion so she does answer. ]
We could do that, yeah.
[ Maybe it was the closeness, the not quite kiss and the heat coming from his body, but she can't help herself when she speaks again, her tone playful. ]
In my experience, staying on top has its benefits.
[ That hangs between them for a moment. Gabe considers it, turns it over in his mind, accepts it. Seems to fit what he's observed of Amos so far. Blunt guy. Sharp. But not the type to dig into an open wound unless it gets him something worth keeping. Right now, Gabe hasn't made himself an enemy.
Good enough. He eats his food. ]
Appreciate it. Figured he put it together in the cave, though.
Good enough. He eats his food. ]
Appreciate it. Figured he put it together in the cave, though.
[he probably does, but looks like toxic masculinity ruins the day again! he shakes his head] Yeah, no, I think I'll stick to the Jim Beam or -- whatever, if it's all the same to you.
[ Jim gets a reminder of Amos, and simply nods with a 'sure' and a waving arm that reads lead the way. ]
[ Though it's effortless holding her so, James convinces himself to pull Bela up at last, deliberately bringing their mouths a breathswidth away before settling back into their dance positions. ]
Stealth and disguise; what else do you stay on top of, Bela Talbot?
[ It's fun, having this two-conversations-at-once game, and the flash in Holden's gaze conveys as much, coupled with the perpetual upward curl of lips his mouth keeps conforming to. ]
Stealth and disguise; what else do you stay on top of, Bela Talbot?
[ It's fun, having this two-conversations-at-once game, and the flash in Holden's gaze conveys as much, coupled with the perpetual upward curl of lips his mouth keeps conforming to. ]
More or less, just not the when, why, or how. He knows you couldn't see and that's all that matters.
[ Holden drinks to clear away the food he's been chewing. ]
Last question for now if you'll humor me; how long did it take you to adjust to the AI?
[ Holden drinks to clear away the food he's been chewing. ]
Last question for now if you'll humor me; how long did it take you to adjust to the AI?
[ Oh, he's good.
Normally, she would be the one to tease and charm, but he's got her hooked. She'll do this dance (as well as the actual dancing) with him, keen to find out how it plays out. ]
Hm. Evading the long arm of the law so I don't get caught.
[ Bela would agree, and she's more than happy to keep it going for a while longer. It makes her smile, forgetting about any negative experiences she's been unfortunate to go through here. ]
I prefer to choose when to be placed in cuffs.
Normally, she would be the one to tease and charm, but he's got her hooked. She'll do this dance (as well as the actual dancing) with him, keen to find out how it plays out. ]
Hm. Evading the long arm of the law so I don't get caught.
[ Bela would agree, and she's more than happy to keep it going for a while longer. It makes her smile, forgetting about any negative experiences she's been unfortunate to go through here. ]
I prefer to choose when to be placed in cuffs.
[ That might be a problem later. Amos is smart, sharp. One of these days they might be on opposite sides. No much he can do about it right now, though. Gabe just shrugs. ]
Not long. I was up and fighting pretty fast. Maybe a month?
[ Needs must. And his team needed a sniper. ]
'course, I was out for six months before that, figuring out how to do this thing without eyes. Couldn't do shit. You ever walked into a door? I've walked into a lot of doors.
Not long. I was up and fighting pretty fast. Maybe a month?
[ Needs must. And his team needed a sniper. ]
'course, I was out for six months before that, figuring out how to do this thing without eyes. Couldn't do shit. You ever walked into a door? I've walked into a lot of doors.
[ And there you have it, Miss Talbot. The mental image is conjures brings a faint pink hue to his cheeks, and he's trying to conceal his laugh, but it's only making him smile harder and sound like a wheezing snake. ]
Noted. I'll try remembering that if this place has me believing I'm an officer or turns me into a cowboy.
Noted. I'll try remembering that if this place has me believing I'm an officer or turns me into a cowboy.
[ It's impressive, despite the length of time. James certainly looks impressed, smiling over at Gabriel and thinking of how to let him know that he's smiling. It's heard through his gratitude. ]
Thanks, Rodriguez, for trusting me with this.
[ James has his back now more than he had before. ]
Thanks, Rodriguez, for trusting me with this.
[ James has his back now more than he had before. ]
[ That pink hue in his cheeks signals a victory for her. She actually found something that made him blush, and apparently, almost choke on his laughter. Bela grins, looking absolutely pleased with herself. ]
You know, if you're into roleplay, you could've just said so. [ She might be trying to deepen that blush. ] But hm - maybe you'd suit the cowboy look. Plus, you know how to shoot.
You know, if you're into roleplay, you could've just said so. [ She might be trying to deepen that blush. ] But hm - maybe you'd suit the cowboy look. Plus, you know how to shoot.
[ Gabe almost says that he didn't have much choice. The secret was out before he could clamp it down. No choice in that. But that feels cruel, too-sharp, and James has been decent about it. Guided him, didn't make a fuss, checked in on him afterwards.
It's nice. Strange, but nice. He hums to himself. He'll have to think about that later. Reassess. ]
You haven't fucked me over yet.
[ So, they're all right. He shrugs. ]
So. That's something.
It's nice. Strange, but nice. He hums to himself. He'll have to think about that later. Reassess. ]
You haven't fucked me over yet.
[ So, they're all right. He shrugs. ]
So. That's something.
There hasn't been a natural moment to approach such topics.
[ But knowing that there's mutual interest now. Well.
When a more upbeat song replaces the last, James know it's only a temporary save from Bela's directness. His hand leaves the small of her back and gives her hip a squeeze on the way past. ]
You mentioned wanting to see a twenty-fourth century dance style?
[ But knowing that there's mutual interest now. Well.
When a more upbeat song replaces the last, James know it's only a temporary save from Bela's directness. His hand leaves the small of her back and gives her hip a squeeze on the way past. ]
You mentioned wanting to see a twenty-fourth century dance style?
[ Given the opportunity, she'd be more than happy to discuss such topics with him. Wherever and whenever he pleased.
The song isn't familiar to Bela, though it's not unpleasant to her ears. She could probably move along to it in some way, but she may need a little guidance from her dance partner.
She does her best not to react to the squeeze of her hip, but it felt nice. ]
I did mention it, yes. Show me what you've got, James.
The song isn't familiar to Bela, though it's not unpleasant to her ears. She could probably move along to it in some way, but she may need a little guidance from her dance partner.
She does her best not to react to the squeeze of her hip, but it felt nice. ]
I did mention it, yes. Show me what you've got, James.
[ He clearly needs to add a glowstick to the routine, and Jim's only warning to Bela of what he's about to do is to point at said accessories before leaning down and taking one with this teeth. If his tongue overextended and caught a slip of a flesh, well surely that was just a miscalculation of depth perception?
James attempts to replicate the Belter moves Naomi demonstrated for the crew once, thinking it a fun example though they're peppered with Earther eccentricities - not that Bela would know the difference. He encourages her by repeating them more slowly, so that she can commit them to memory and dance as well. ]
James attempts to replicate the Belter moves Naomi demonstrated for the crew once, thinking it a fun example though they're peppered with Earther eccentricities - not that Bela would know the difference. He encourages her by repeating them more slowly, so that she can commit them to memory and dance as well. ]
[ She was expecting him to take a glowstick with a hand, which Bela was fine with and really, it was what she prepared for until he uses his teeth. A small sound of surprise leaves her when he does that, and she keeps still, just letting it happen. And yes, she feels a slight brush of a tongue, accidental or not.
Bela just removes the remaining glowstick with a hand, holding it in the air. Now that he's started to dance, she spends some time watching James as he moves, not quite sure what to make of it first. But she's game, following along with the moves after he slows down to show her again.
Hopefully, she's making it look good, glowstick and all. ]
Bela just removes the remaining glowstick with a hand, holding it in the air. Now that he's started to dance, she spends some time watching James as he moves, not quite sure what to make of it first. But she's game, following along with the moves after he slows down to show her again.
Hopefully, she's making it look good, glowstick and all. ]
[ Like the place probably wanted him to, Jim heard that, and it has him smiling wickedly. It's after a few moves that he cheekily asks without explanation -- ]
Does that mean the score is one to one, now?
Does that mean the score is one to one, now?
[ He does a thorough once over on Bela, even prowls around her in a circle. Conclusion drawn, James continues to bounce in place while using the glowstick to add emphasis to his challenge. ]
I don't see any pockets that might be hiding handcuffs.
I don't see any pockets that might be hiding handcuffs.
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