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+---- Thread: [SE] The more I drift, the closer I get (/showthread.php?tid=10176)
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The more I drift, the closer I get - Flora - 09-26-2024
Things sure had happened recently, and Flora wasn't inclined to talk about any of them. Not her breakup with Koa, not the fight she'd had with Ronin, not the way Jack had looked when telling her what Remi had said to him and how it had tugged at her heartstrings hard enough for her to have woven a noose with them for Remi to hang himself with. Later that evening when she'd slunk back onto the Ark—the crew still thought they were fighting and it was a welcome relief to distract herself with by playing it up—Flora had let ("let") Jack sift through her thoughts before dragging him into bed with her. With soft pleas to be distracted from all that had happened that day the captain had complied, distracting the queen thoroughly enough for her to have almost immediately passed out afterward.
What had started out as nothing more than a throwaway suggestion had quickly taken root, with Jack and Flora finding themselves on vacation in Stormbreak. After putting their bags in the room Flora had rented for them, the queen dragged the captain out into the city, promising that he wouldn't be turned to stone. (insert the eyebrows eyebrows gif here).
Dressed in a pair of black short-overalls with only a lacy bralette beneath, kitten heels, and a large pair of sunglasses, Flora looked very much like a Torcher with her bronze skin on display in a manner far more revealing than the locals tended to dress. [say]"I had them spike it for you."[/say] Flora is saying as she hands Jack an iced coffee from a market stall, her own coffee having been made dirty with a healthy drizzle of caramel syrup.
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Jack - 09-26-2024
It would be wrong to say that Jack had rifled gleefully through Flora's thoughts following her return from meeting with the Bastion. It would also be wrong to say that he'd perhaps prompted small things in their conversations sailing up to Stormbreak just in case it had her replaying the memories in her mind for him. It would be wrong, yes, but it would also be entirely true.
The floating city is all new for the captain, but given that he's lived his live sailing through uncharted waters, his surprise, reservations and even nerves are well hidden by an expression of cool indifference that suggests to onlookers that he's been to Stormbreak dozens of times. The mask only cracks a little when it comes to leaving The Ark up at the Skyport, it being the first time he'd left her airborne and unattended for more than a very short period of time.
Ultimately, though, he goes along with Flora, and thus they find themselves in The Silk Houses. Jack has been gazing through the window of some boutique or another when the Doubletake returns from the coffee stall, and he accepts his drink with a somewhat distracted nod of gratitude. Stretching an arm around her shoulders, at least he no longer has any qualms in showing them off together. (Though arguably that could be because it's Stormbreak and he's not a household name here. Whatever).
[say]"So this whole part of town is just dedicated to shit like this?"[/say] he asks; food, drink, shopping, gambling and other nefarious sorts of activities, he means. Decadence and pleasure for pleasure's sake.
Glancing back at Flora at last, his blue eyes seem to hint more towards glass than sea now that they are up and away from the ocean. He's dressed as her counterpart, too, in a black tank top with sleeves low and loose enough to show the serpent inked along his ribs, his boots loose and an overshirt tied carelessly around his waist.
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Flora - 09-26-2024
[say]"Yep."[/say] Flora agrees brightly, fitting herself comfortably at Jack's side. Though things were no less warm up in the floating city during Longheat, the buildings provided a good deal of shade to walk through and there was a near-constant breeze flitting around them that for once the Doubletake didn't think had anything to do with Jack. She'd already made a comment earlier about how wasn't it nice that he could dress comfortably and manage to look stylish at the same time, and though Jack had just given her a look then, based on all of the looks he was now getting from both men and women alike as they sauntered along, Flora thought perhaps he'd come around to her way of thinking. See? The perks of being unknown up here weren't just for Flora.
[say]"It all gets better the further in you go, too. This here is all the obvious stuff."[/say] She explains before taking a long cool sip of her coffee. [say]"I was thinking maybe we could find something fun here."[/say] Glancing at him over her shoulder, though he'll no doubt see the raise of her eyebrow above the dark rim of her sunglasses, her thoughts would certainly paint the picture of just what sort of fun she was after. It was the kind that would see her bound up in lace that Jace could dismantle with his teeth, and toys certainly not made for children.
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Jack - 09-26-2024
[say]"You're sayin' that these endless rows of seamstresses and boutiques ain't your idea of a good time?"[/say] Jack asks with dry disbelief, his smile audible even as he lifts his iced coffee to his lips as they start to meander through the Silk Houses once again, buffeted by a gentle breeze and in the comfortable shade of said shops. Of course he knows what she in fact means, and the squeeze of his fingers around her shoulder ought to say as much, the captian falling quiet so he might seek out literal like-minded folks who are native to the city to show them the way.
[say]There's a place called Mother Molly's that gets a lot of attention,"[/say] he drawls, casually enough not to show off that he'd stolen the information from the people around them. In the meantime, glancing sidelong into the window of a tattooist's, Jack lingers for a moment before strolling onward. [say]"Though,"[/say] he says in a lower voice, [say]"you'd be surprised at the number of sex dungeons in the basements of these buildings."[/say]
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Flora - 09-26-2024
[say]"Oh, no it absolutely is."[/say] Flora corrects, her hip nudging into his as they stroll along the streets. [say]"But I feel like if I told you that we were going to spend the entire day shopping, you'd do your best to lose me in this crowd in the first five minutes."[/say] And, given his telepathy as much as his other skills, Flora was pretty confident he could do it.
[say]"Yeah, I've heard of it. My brother...works there? or...goes there?"[/say] Honestly she'd never really been clear whether or not Mateo was just a customer who might as well be staff, or if he did get paid in more than just blowjobs and eyeshadow. Glancing around at the various displays in the storefronts, some incredibly bougie and others quite curated and a bit intimidating, Flora peers over Jack's shoulder into the window. [say]"Nah, even I'd say it's too early for matching tattoos."[/say] She chuckles, nudging his shoulder playfully with her cheek.
[say]"Really?"[/say] Glancing around as if suddenly she might notice SEX DUNGEON HERE signs but finding none, the queen bites at the inside of her cheek. [say]"I'm not sure I see the allure of wanting to be in a dungeon."[/say] She murmurs under her breath, not wanting to necessarily cause offence.
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Jack - 09-26-2024
[say]"Let it never be said that you don't know me well,"[/say] Jack says airily, through as they pass by a few of the displays, even the good captain's vanity can be piqued by what's on offer. [say]"I'd at least expect you to provide a segue into it, anyway,"[/say] he continues. You know, sleeping in, drinks over brunch and so on - the kind of vacation shit he's pulled out of other people's heads dozens of times.
Raising an eyebrow to hear about her brother and his potential 'job' at Molly's, given that Flora doesn't at all sound put out about the place even with a relative there, his footsteps continue in that general direction, though there's a lot to look at along the way. [say]"Who says I expected you to get one?"[/say] He smirks, tilting his head down (and down) as if to admire the perfect bronze of her skin, not yet marked by any ink.
[say]"Mm?"[/say] Saved by the sex dungeon, as it happens. [say]"It's a pretty common kink. All about control and submission,"[/say] he explains with another sip of his drink. [say]"'Course you don't need an actual dungeon for that sort of thing."[/say]
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Flora - 09-26-2024
[say]"Oh?"[/say] The queen's long nails tickle up the captain's bare side as she rolls her eyes affectionately at him from behind her sunglasses. [say]"So you want me to manipulate you into doing the things I want, even though—"[/say] you can read my mind and would know exactly what I was doing?
Feigning a pout before breaking out into cheerful laughter, Flora turns toward Jack ever so slightly as she slurps obnoxiously at her coffee, pretending not to see him looking down the front of her overalls. [say]"You know they hurt when they're not done by a goddess, right?"[/say] Although, now that Stormbreak allowed abandoned in, there was probably no reason to believe they didn't just have a healer on hand to make the process infinitely more bearable. Holding up her fingers, Jack would see the letters N O T A P I R A T E flash through her mind. [say]"Could get that on your knuckles?"[/say] Fully expecting him to swat her for that, Flora nevertheless tugs him closer, laughing brightly.
[say]"That's what I mean, though."[/say] Frowning, Flora continues to glance around for the entrance to such a place amongst the brightly coloured storefronts. [say]"Whips, chains, submissions, domination, I get all of that. I just don't know why it has to be somewhere dark and damp."[/say]
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Jack - 09-26-2024
[say]"First of all,"[/say] Jack drawls, inching away from the ticklish feel of her nails instinctively, even if it only carries him further against her side, [say]"it'd be considered bribery, technically. And second, consider it good practice for anyone who isn't me."[/say] Because in the end, Jack is going to end up well-rested and socially lubricated before being dragged through endless boutiques, and Flora still gets what she wants. Win-win.
Dragging his gaze back from her cleavage to raise his eyebrows at her, Jack pretends to consider her remark. [say]"In your personal experience, would you say a tattoo hurts more than havin' a goddess's thoughts pillage your sanity?"[/say] he asks dryly - and yes, then proceeds to try and swat her for the image that flashes through her mind.
She won't find any obvious WALK IN HERE TO BE DEMEANED AND HUMILIATED signs, alas, and Jack can't help his chuckle as she continues. [say]"Not all of 'em are dark and damp,"[/say] he says. [say]"I reckon it's just called that, mostly, 'cause you get chained up down there."[/say] That's not to say that some people didn't like the traditional dungeon layout, though.
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Flora - 09-26-2024
[say]"You think I'd bribe other people the same way I'd bribe you?"[/say] Flora wonders, raising her eyebrows as if silently giving Jack the opportunity to rethink his choice of words. By all means, if he wanted her to ego-stroke, flirt, and flaunt her various assets when bribing others the way she did with him, Flora could accomplish quite a bit. Doubtless, even if Jack didn't prove to be the jealous type (and the queen wasn't so sure that was going to happen), she couldn't imagine him taking kindly to hearing that "his girl was giving out blowjobs in order to hasten work on a new fountain".
Pretending to consider, the queen shrugs. [say]"All depends on where you get the tattoo."[/say] She sasses in response before laughter spills from her lips as she's swatted. As punishment she reaches for his coffee, helping herself to a large sip, her thoughts the emotional equivalent
[say]"Can you show me one?"[/say] It's perhaps a naive thing to ask, but since he'd mentioned it, now Flora did sort of want to see one for herself. [say]"Or..is it not really a walk-in's accepted type of thing?"[/say]
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Jack - 09-26-2024
[say]"I'd expect you to do whatever it took to get the job done, depending on how much you wanted or needed it,"[/say] Jack drawls, and if the smirk on his face is a little wicked, so be it. Welcome to your morally-grey boyfriend, Flora. [say]"Granted, I draw the line at you doin' things you don't want to do."[/say] That might well give rise to the image Flora had thought about previously, of Jack deciding to make someone's day very bad indeed for touching his girl.
[say]"Oh, obviously I want it tattooed on the length of my cock,"[/say] he says - N O T A P I R A T E, he means, of course. By that point, though, his coffee is disappearing from his fingers and he resists the urge to slap it out of Flora's hands to make a point, instead merely snatching it back once she's had her taste.
Can you show me one? is what she asks, though, and despite the somewhat crooked smile on his lips, Jack inclines his head in a nod. [say]"I imagine we can find a room like it at Molly's. Or you can wait until the next time we find ourselves at the House of Midnight."[/say]
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Flora - 09-26-2024
It's precisely that sort of morally-grey thinking that scratches so good at the healing scabs of her familial damage, and while Flora hasn't ever bothered to try and introspect and see where the root of her attraction to Jack comes from, gods but he does find a multitude of ways to make sure she'll never be able to fully dig him out. Not to mention that it was all quite practical in a way she could appreciate given her line of work. [say]"Noted."[/say] Pressing the flat of her palm against Jack's side rather than her nails, Flora glances at one of the boutiques—the sort where even the mannequins had topknots—and nudged him. [say]"On the way back, then."[/say] She hums. You know, after Jack had been sufficiently bribed.
[say]"Mmm, so someone who specializes in microtattoos?"[/say] The joke is hardly worth making given how far a departure it is from the truth, but Flora can hardly help it nor help the way her mind is alight with ribbons of golden amusement. Releasing the cup so that it wouldn't spill, Flora bites at the inside of her lip as they continue on, nodding. [say]"Yeah, maybe."[/say] She'd never heard her brother talk about the sex dungeon portion of Molly's, but if it was a bit more metaphorical as Jack had implied, perhaps they did. Or maybe Mateo had told her and she just hadn't been listening.
Not wanting to step too close to opening up a conversation she didn't want to have about the difference in their ages by referencing the captain's experience, Flora nevertheless sifts through her thoughts, filling her mind with the sorts of images drawn straight from books or idle gossip, rather than reality. [say]"I would like to experiment more."[/say] She says casually despite the flush in her cheeks. [say]"I bet Molly's could help with that, too."[/say]
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Jack - 09-26-2024
[say]"Oh, look at that - she's got a sense of humour as well,"[/say] Jack says with all the dry sarcasm of a man who has almost expected her to make that sort of joke. Perhaps later he ought to ask her if her opinion remains the same - you know, later, when he's making use of his cock to please her in all the best ways. In the meantime, alas, they're only talking about pleasure rather than acting it out, but Jack won't deny that he's enjoying the conversation either way.
He does fight not to roll his eyes and point out that sexual experience is about practice rather than age, his hand dancing along her shoulder until he can tease one of her curls around his index finger, tugging at it gently. [say]"I bet it could too,"[/say] he agrees. [say]"It also sounds like quite a good way to spend an afternoon. Do you feel more comfortable having things done to you, or doing them, since we're talkin' about experimentation?"[/say]
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Flora - 09-26-2024
[say]"I'm very funny."[/say] Flora agrees smugly, her lips twisting into into a smirk as her mind sparkles with fractals of amusement. Despite the heat, the queen shivers as her hair is pulled and no doubt the captain will both feel and sense the way her fingers long to slide through the wide openings of his shirt and scratch their way across his skin.
[say]"Between the two of us, I bet we could find our way there..."[/say] Flora with her vague knowledge of Stormbreak, and Jack with his vague knowledge of whatever the people around him knew. Though the captain's question shouldn't have taken her by surprise, the queen was so used to him now just plucking her preferences out of her mind that actually having to think about it was a slightly difficult task. Flashing him a bemused smirk as she puzzled through it—Flora did like to be in charge, but she also didn't like to embarrass herself which was a real possibility given the sorts of things they'd possibly be doing. Then again if it was with Jack there was no reason for her to feel that way. Not unless he really did think that her age and InexPeRiEnCe was an issue for them, and—softly sighing, Flora tugs him to a stop.
Reaching to pull him close, if only so that the throngs of those passing by wouldn't try and cut between them, Flora smiles a touch bashfully as she gazes up at him, the nervous fluttering of her long lashes hidden by her sunglasses. [say]"Do you think I'm too young for you?"[/say]
RE: The more I drift, the closer I get - Jack - 09-27-2024
[say]"Mmmmmhm,"[/say] Jack drawls, already pointedly looking in another window as if to make sure Flora knows how funny she is(n't), though the amused quirk of his lips gives the game away somewhat. It's a smile that fades by degrees as he senses her thoughts shift through the bright sparks of surprised, through to consideration and then all the way towards insecurity, and by the time she's drawing them to a stop the captain's attention is back on her, expectant and waiting.
As she pulls him close - a gesture he's still not entirely comfortable with but one he's getting more used to by the day (funny how that works, isn't it Jack?) - he reaches up to gently brush her hair back and behind her ears, as if being able to say it to her face without anything - even aesthetics - in the way is important. [say]"No,"[/say] he says plainly, [say]"I don't."[/say] Smirking and expecting her not to believe him even though she's got a ring to prove otherwise, he at least has the good grace to clarify.
[say]"Remember right at the beginnin' of all of this, when you found out exactly what I liked and why?"[/say] What he likes being whatever pleasurable thoughts his partner wants to lavish upon them both at the time. [say]"You might be young, and you might be inexperienced in some ways, though far from all, but what's in your head is nowhere near too young for me. Helps that you're hot as fuck as well, mind you."[/say] He shrugs, his thumb ghosting along her jaw to tip her chin up so he can look her in the eye. [say]"Why, do you?"[/say]