dejah_thoris: (profile - human)
Dejah Thoris ([personal profile] dejah_thoris) wrote2015-06-09 05:49 pm

Prodigal

After a long day in the forge, and a long night of pacing the corridors of the bar looking for Curtis, Dejah had come back to her rooms and tried to work on the prostheses.  She'd made significant progress, building the initial layer of isolates and imprinting the neurological signature she'd recorded the very first day onto the layer itself.  It took an incredible amount of focus and when she was done, she lay her tools on her work bench.  Bleary-eyed and exhausted, she made her way to the bed.


She didn't wake for many hours.  Not even the recurring image of Curtis's shy smile melting into the leering grin of Matai Chang could manage to stir her from sleep.  It was late in the day when she rolled over and peered at the window.  The sun was going down.  Or was it coming up? She couldn't tell.
2goodarms: (small grin)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-23 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Curtis shrugs, awkward again.

And then lets out a tiny snort of laughter. "So now that we've both had our friends threaten to kill us if we fuck this up..."
2goodarms: Close-up of Curtis, framed so only the lower half of his face is visible (default)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
He nods. Dipping his head, Curtis kisses the underside of her jaw, then her neck.

"I don't want to fuck this up either," he whispers, breath warm against her skin. "I'm not good at talking. I'll try."
2goodarms: Curtis with his arms folded atop his knees, looking at something out of frame (two good arms)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
That's all she's ever asked of him. It's still a marvel, that someone like her wants so little of Curtis: just his company, his effort.

He presses another kiss to her shoulder, and pauses there. "Want me to stay up here tonight?"

God knows he wouldn't mind.
2goodarms: Curtis, head bowed, rubbing a hand along his hair (headrub)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
...oh, that is not fair, after a kiss like that. Disappointment flashes across Curtis' face before he reins it in; he smooths his hand over her hair, nods after a moment.

"I can try that too." A beat, and the disappointment returns for a completely different reason. "Shit, I'll probably have to go check on Edgar at some point."

They just got through a jail sentence, and the kid didn't even want to be in separate cells for twenty-four hours.
2goodarms: Curtis throwing a curious glance off screen (yeah?)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah," he breathes. (It is hugely mutual.) "Just...wanna go slow. I know."

It sucks, but it isn't like they don't have the time. Milliways gives you nothing but time.

Curtis tips his head back to kiss her forehead. "Another night."
2goodarms: Close-up of Curtis, framed so only the lower half of his face is visible (default)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
He hears her sniffle; his brow wrinkles, but he doesn't say anything. There's something private here, something he doesn't feel comfortable intruding upon.

Instead, Curtis hugs her back, tightly, hoping the gesture can transmit a sentiment he rarely feels comfortable saying aloud: It's going to be okay.
2goodarms: Curtis throwing a curious glance off screen (yeah?)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah." Gently, he squeezes her hand. "I'll tell you what he says soon as I hear it."
2goodarms: (small grin)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
He chuckles, leans in to bump his nose against hers.

"Well," he says, "you know where to find me." Beat. "Kinda literally with that necklace now."
2goodarms: (small grin)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wouldn't want that," he laughs.

Curtis grabs one more kiss before pulling away from Dejah. "Okay. I'll see you later. Have a good rest of the night."

Hauling himself off the couch, he grabs his coat; by now, it takes hardly any effort to shrug it on one-handed.
2goodarms: Curtis looking up at something, with as close as he ever gets to a smile (lighter)

[personal profile] 2goodarms 2015-06-24 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
He shakes his head, still grinning. That's a bad thing? he wants to say -- but she's made it clear she doesn't want anything to happen tonight. He'll save the temptation for later.

"I'm impressed," he says, as serenely as possible. "Anyway, um."

Curtis isn't too great at good-byes, either; he waves, a bit awkward.

"Bye."

And he's out the door before he can talk himself into staying just a little longer.