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[Nathan mutters something that sounds like a word of thanks or maybe an apology, and then heads for the spot he indicated as good to climb. it does look that way, too, handholds easy to spot even for someone who's not as used to this sort of thing as Nate is, and he starts up wordlessly, that in mind]
[when he makes the roof, he rolls onto his stomach, stretching out to offer James a hand up the rest of the way]
[when he makes the roof, he rolls onto his stomach, stretching out to offer James a hand up the rest of the way]
[ Not nearly as nimble as Nathan, Holden at least has similar experience via climbing about ships with and without gravity, inside and outside of them, so he's not too far behind the explorer. With a grunt, he graciously accepts the assistance and hauls himself over the ledge. ]
You know, that's a lot easier without gravity.
[ Obvious statement is obvious, but still. ]
You know, that's a lot easier without gravity.
[ Obvious statement is obvious, but still. ]
[ James kisses her nose. ]
Maybe.
[ But he doesn't. Instead, the Earther readjusts his hold and manages to gain entry to the suite, winking somewhat cockily at Bela whilst carrying her inside. He heads to his room in the back, but squeezes her thigh on their way past the kitchen area and asks because niceties -- ]
Want anything?
Maybe.
[ But he doesn't. Instead, the Earther readjusts his hold and manages to gain entry to the suite, winking somewhat cockily at Bela whilst carrying her inside. He heads to his room in the back, but squeezes her thigh on their way past the kitchen area and asks because niceties -- ]
Want anything?
[ As she is led into the room she takes a good look around and finds it to be quite pleasant, the decor appealing to the eye. Bela wonders who out of James and Wei decided what the main living space would look like, unless this was what the room had always been.
She smiles when he asks the question, running her fingertips along the nape of his neck. ]
I'm good for now, thanks.
She smiles when he asks the question, running her fingertips along the nape of his neck. ]
I'm good for now, thanks.
Yeah, I'll bet.
[he shifts, that said, starting to sit up, to shimmy away from the edge of the roof, to stand. he wants to take a little bit of a look around, before they pick somewhere to settle, just to make sure the roof isn't going to collapse under them while they drink]
You do that a lot? [a beat] Climb on stuff with no gravity?
[he shifts, that said, starting to sit up, to shimmy away from the edge of the roof, to stand. he wants to take a little bit of a look around, before they pick somewhere to settle, just to make sure the roof isn't going to collapse under them while they drink]
You do that a lot? [a beat] Climb on stuff with no gravity?
[ Wei Wuxian, all the way. If it comes up, James will explain that he took the dining area and Wuxian did the living space; and then each their own rooms, of course.
Gooseflesh appears along his arms, everything on display with his barely there outfit, and the Earther makes haste for his bedroom. He crosses the threshold and uses Bela to close the door, once again pressing her against a flat surface. James practically crashes his lips against hers, his kisses fervent, desperate for positive attention after the damage done by the Mares. Shifting only enough to allow himself the freedom to run his fingers along the underside of a thigh. ]
Gooseflesh appears along his arms, everything on display with his barely there outfit, and the Earther makes haste for his bedroom. He crosses the threshold and uses Bela to close the door, once again pressing her against a flat surface. James practically crashes his lips against hers, his kisses fervent, desperate for positive attention after the damage done by the Mares. Shifting only enough to allow himself the freedom to run his fingers along the underside of a thigh. ]
[ Jim mimics the movements and dusts himself off once upright. ]
I spend most of my life on a ship.
[ It's a non-answer, but the implication is that it's commonplace. Gravity is preferred, but it's nothing exciting when it has to be cut or is cut due to damage, threat, etc. ]
But we adjust the gravity to accommodate the crew, since Alex is a Martian and Naomi is a Belter.
I spend most of my life on a ship.
[ It's a non-answer, but the implication is that it's commonplace. Gravity is preferred, but it's nothing exciting when it has to be cut or is cut due to damage, threat, etc. ]
But we adjust the gravity to accommodate the crew, since Alex is a Martian and Naomi is a Belter.
[When he presses her against the closed door, her hands move down from his neck to tug at his shirt, eager to pull it off. The kisses distract Bela as she pushes back into them with heat, no shyness or holding her back now; she wants to forget about the hospital and everything that happened in it. Make it seem like it was a bad memory, at least temporarily.
Removing his shirt may have to wait because now his fingers are brushing against her thigh and it makes Bela shiver and hum into the kiss, aching to feel more of that. She seeks to touch him in return, skimming her hands down his sides and dipping beneath the the shirt to run her hands up his back, wanting to explore every inch of him and maybe find some sensitive spots. ]
Removing his shirt may have to wait because now his fingers are brushing against her thigh and it makes Bela shiver and hum into the kiss, aching to feel more of that. She seeks to touch him in return, skimming her hands down his sides and dipping beneath the the shirt to run her hands up his back, wanting to explore every inch of him and maybe find some sensitive spots. ]
[ ... ]
Okay, Martian I get -- [even if that raises his eyebrows a little] -- but Belter?
Okay, Martian I get -- [even if that raises his eyebrows a little] -- but Belter?
[ James inches his fingers beneath the material of her shorts but barely grazes the heat coming from between her legs, all in a display of agonizing teasing. He's beginning to shift in order to accommodate the loss of the clothing only to become distracted by Bela's hands on his back. Instead of using words to convey his back is one such sensitive area, James crooks both sets of fingers, digging into her ass with the hand supporting weight and dragging the free digits along Bela's thigh with the hopes she'll use hers against his flesh. ]
Right, sorry - Asteroid Belt. Those who live beyond it; Inners and Outers, because of course.
[ Of course the labels are divisive. ]
[ Of course the labels are divisive. ]
[ The teasing drives her a little crazy, though she's not quite at the point of begging him for any more than what he's giving her. If anything, the whole night so far was like one long tease between them, and that had been quite enjoyable.
She breaks the kiss for a moment to gasp against his mouth in response to the firm touch, taking a moment to catch her breath, only to kiss him again with heat and want.
Bela gets the message fairly quickly, raking her nails lightly down his back before pressing her fingers in hard, trailing them up along his spine then across his shoulders and all the way down into the small of his back. ]
She breaks the kiss for a moment to gasp against his mouth in response to the firm touch, taking a moment to catch her breath, only to kiss him again with heat and want.
Bela gets the message fairly quickly, raking her nails lightly down his back before pressing her fingers in hard, trailing them up along his spine then across his shoulders and all the way down into the small of his back. ]
Huh. [he pauses, taking a moment to consider that as he settles down on what seems to be a solid part of the roof] I guess I never thought about people living on or around or whatever an asteroid belt.
[planets, sure, but]
[planets, sure, but]
[ He moans into Bela's mouth, muscles rolling under her touch and ever more gooseflesh rising. James brings up the hand at her thigh and slips it beneath her top, fits his fingers along her ribcage like puzzle pieces, thumb brushing underboob. He breaks for air and to finally start peeling off what little layers they have, setting Bela down somewhat unceremoniously, trying to ease off the crop top with the hand already under it and boring a lustful gaze into her. ]
[ James joins him, sitting with knees up. ]
I wonder what we'll name those beyond the Rings? [ Ringers, if they keep with their super original labeling, maybe. ]
So, are you going to give any kind of explanation for this outing? Or should I make something up?
[ Because they're clearly not drinking on the roof to star gaze (there aren't any anyway, which kills James). ]
I wonder what we'll name those beyond the Rings? [ Ringers, if they keep with their super original labeling, maybe. ]
So, are you going to give any kind of explanation for this outing? Or should I make something up?
[ Because they're clearly not drinking on the roof to star gaze (there aren't any anyway, which kills James). ]
[ The moan makes her smile, taking pleasure in it. At least she has an idea of what he likes, but she could guess there was more where that came from. Bela hums quietly when his fingers start to explore, body arching slightly into the touch, liking how it felt.
She decides to help him out with the removal of the top, lifting her arms above her head and meets his gaze with a smile and a quick once-over. Difficult for her to not look, counting herself very lucky indeed. ]
She decides to help him out with the removal of the top, lifting her arms above her head and meets his gaze with a smile and a quick once-over. Difficult for her to not look, counting herself very lucky indeed. ]
[ It's too easy to mimic the smile as he tosses the shirt aside. The smile is erased with a lick of his lips, brought on by ogling Bela's bare breasts. ]
Damn.
[ The exclamation is a soft one, albeit slightly strained, and James hastily adds his shirt to the floor before moving to take both breasts into his hands, massaging one while thumbing the nipple of its opposite. He switches between watching himself touch her and watching her reaction. ]
Damn.
[ The exclamation is a soft one, albeit slightly strained, and James hastily adds his shirt to the floor before moving to take both breasts into his hands, massaging one while thumbing the nipple of its opposite. He switches between watching himself touch her and watching her reaction. ]
[ The temptation to be cocky crosses her mind, so Bela just raises a brow playfully in response to his exclamation, as if to say 'I know.' Sometimes, she didn't have to use her words.
She does watch him remove his shirt with interest, despite seeing most of his chest already. Waiting to see what he does next. Her reaction is immediate, a soft moan falling from her lips as she presses in against his touch, wanting to feel more of it. Soon, her nipples begin to harden and she moans again, looking at him with a heated gaze. ]
She does watch him remove his shirt with interest, despite seeing most of his chest already. Waiting to see what he does next. Her reaction is immediate, a soft moan falling from her lips as she presses in against his touch, wanting to feel more of it. Soon, her nipples begin to harden and she moans again, looking at him with a heated gaze. ]
[it kills Nate, too, even if he's not from space or whatever. there's just something about standing in the middle of the Syrian desert, staring up at the sky. then again, though, if there were visible stars here, maybe he'd feel even more alone, more homesick than he already does]
[ ... yeah, it's time to break the booze out of the backpack, now, thanks]
I was -- seeing someone, here. [a beat] She's gone, now.
[ ... yeah, it's time to break the booze out of the backpack, now, thanks]
I was -- seeing someone, here. [a beat] She's gone, now.
Edited (html fail. sorry.) 2021-10-10 14:51 (UTC)
In which, afterwards Bela learns that James likes to snuggle, and he offers breakfast and tea the next morning.
[ James winces, because that sucks and he can relate to that sense of loss via Amos. ] Shit. Sorry to hear that. Can I ask who she was?
Her name was Caroline. [a beat] Little blonde girl? Kinda -- she kinda looked like she was half my age, but she just -- [look, she was a vampire and actually just as old as him, but he promised he wouldn't out her. does it even matter now, though, that she's not here?] -- she was only a year younger than me, she just aged really well.
[there's another pause, then:]
Her daughters are still here, I think. Josie and Lizzie.
[is he rambling? he feels like he's rambling]
[there's another pause, then:]
Her daughters are still here, I think. Josie and Lizzie.
[is he rambling? he feels like he's rambling]
Edited 2021-10-14 14:43 (UTC)
I probably saw her around, but I've met Josie. When some of us took to the bunker the day we met? That's where I met her as well. She seems like a good kid.
[ Having only the daughter to go off of, James assumes the mother was also magically inclined, and that's the reason for looking younger. It's not important. ]
How long were you together?
[ James needs to know something else with regards to this situation, something that may help him and his, but he's building up towards asking, because it's a sensitive subject for sure. ]
[ Having only the daughter to go off of, James assumes the mother was also magically inclined, and that's the reason for looking younger. It's not important. ]
How long were you together?
[ James needs to know something else with regards to this situation, something that may help him and his, but he's building up towards asking, because it's a sensitive subject for sure. ]
[Nathan nods to his assessment of Caroline's kids -- and then shifts a little, uncomfortable, fighting the urge to reach for his journal, to see when he started drawing Caroline in it. probably best to try and remember, off-handedly, rather than look fucking desperate]
[he's also going to crack open the bourbon and take a sip, thanks]
We both got here at the same time and kind of hit it off, right away. [he was flirting with Caroline on day one, whether or not he actually meant anything by it] We kind of -- we made it official, during the crap with the carnival, though.
[they ended up in the Tunnel of Love together and -- yeah]
[he's also going to crack open the bourbon and take a sip, thanks]
We both got here at the same time and kind of hit it off, right away. [he was flirting with Caroline on day one, whether or not he actually meant anything by it] We kind of -- we made it official, during the crap with the carnival, though.
[they ended up in the Tunnel of Love together and -- yeah]
[ James doesn't ask for any alcohol yet, content on Nathan hoarding it for a moment so that he can segue this naturally and ask something that's more for his own benefit but has the potential to help Drake as well. ]
To kind of highjack the conversation for a minute, I'm asking because I've been wondering how to...so, forgive me for bringing this up, you are more than welcome to shut me down, but you were married before coming here. How did you get to the point of being okay with everything?
[ James went months before giving into his lizard brain, his desires, Naomi consistently at the forefront of his thoughts. But things happened with Gabriel and the Mares, and then with Bela, and he's sort of floundering. ]
To kind of highjack the conversation for a minute, I'm asking because I've been wondering how to...so, forgive me for bringing this up, you are more than welcome to shut me down, but you were married before coming here. How did you get to the point of being okay with everything?
[ James went months before giving into his lizard brain, his desires, Naomi consistently at the forefront of his thoughts. But things happened with Gabriel and the Mares, and then with Bela, and he's sort of floundering. ]
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