I hope you dance

Nova

There's no mistaking that her siblings are certainly 'worldly' but Nova's never thought sex or kissing could possibly hold a flame to the literal light of the world. Whereas they'd found people and bodies (and minds) to explore, she'd chosen Caido as her conquest, searching its surface for colors and beautiful sights. It left little room in her brain for much else, but as Koa insists her 'experience' isn't adequate, Nova begins to wonder what she might be missing. 

When he points out a couple at the edge of the room, she leans against him to peek around, curiosity overpowering any consideration for personal space. 

She's seen kissing before, but rarely with such... enthusiasm. They do seem very enamored with each other, although she wonders why it looks like they're trying to inhale one another. Its almost uncomfortable to look at, but she's eager to know what all the fuss is about, and she tilts her head to unashamedly study them a little closer, watching every movement of their mouths through the faint rippling of snapdragon that distorts her vision. 

After a few moments of swaying to the music and downloading the information in glittery foam pictures in her brain, she lets out a soft hum like someone considering a math problem or which outfit to wear. "Hmm. So like this?" And Nova very promptly lifts on her toes to plant her lips against Koa's. She's gotten enough of an idea to tilt her head and close her eyes, but her inexperience is evident in the soft puckering of her lips and the stillness of her hands before she's already pulling away.

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.

I'm bringin' sexy back
Them other fuckers don't know how to act

Nova's attention is taken entirely by the kissing couple, and Koa lets himself stare, too, rather impressed by their dedication to absolutely sucking face. Distracted and still moving rhythmically to the slow beat, he doesn't anticipate what's about to happen, not until it does. Which, like, really shoulda seen this one coming, Koa my dude. If there's one thing Nova's proven again and again, it's that she'll rise to any perceived challenge with nary a second thought.

But blame it on the snapdragon goose, it's got him feeling loose, and somehow he's taken by complete surprise when Nova surges up, her lips landing wetly on the edge of his mouth in the damp facsimile of a kiss. Copper eyes widen; he blinks down as she pulls away, her eyes closed and her mouth still puckered like a middle schooler at her junior prom. It's hilarious, and endearing, and fucking adorable, and Koa can't help but laugh, though there's no shade of malice in his voice, only fondness and warmth.

"Sort of?" Bemused, Koa lifts his hand to cup Nova's face. "Actually, y'know what? No. That didn't count." He'd meant to wipe off her smeared lipstick with the pad of his thumb, but as he gazes down at her he finds himself realizing that he can't leave it at that. This is Nova's first kiss, after all, and it would be gods-damned criminal for it to be anything less than spectacular... or at least, y'know, not that.

"Here, let me show you properly." Body stilling, Koa tilts Nova back up toward him, smile teasing at his lips. Slowly and purposefully he leans himself down, lips pressing softly on the coral of her mouth, palm brushing over the curve of her jaw. The kiss isn't passionate, no tongue or force or titillating romance novella depth; he doesn't dip her down, or part his lips, or really any of that. In fact it's positively chaste by Koa's metric, yet all the sweeter for that. Gentle, attentive, Koa lets Nova guide him, following the cues of her reaction, and when he pulls away he's a little breathless, though not with exertion or lust.

Smiling crookedly down at Nova, Koa tilts his head, a shy flush creeping over his cheeks as he meets her starry eyes. "How was that?" There isn't expectation in his voice; it's not an invitation for more. Koa isn't looking for a hookup, or to blow Nova's mind. He just wants her to be happy, to sparkle and gleam. To continue to be a point of starlight in this grimy, shadowed world.

Koa Carpenter

If that's your girl, better watch your back
'Cause she'll burn it up for me, and that's a fact

Nova

His laughter actually makes her blush - which is extremely hard to do when she has so few inhibitions, but to have her performance found so lacking despite such a genuine effort is a little embarrassing. It doesn't help that the snapdragon is making her flushed, her skin still tingling with runaway magic. Luckily, she doesn't have to think on her inadequacies long, because Koa's hand is on her face, his golden gaze shimmering with intention that intrigues her to the point of holding her breath. 

She's not really sure what's happening or if she'd call it 'fun' when a small gasp escapes, her spine curving over his hand, a grin on his face that's making her magic a little spastic with anticipation. Her hands have moved to his chest, resting there to brace for whatever he has planned.

Then their lips are meeting. It's different than what she'd done - something quick and thought out, a plan aimed and executed. This is slow and thoughtless, a soft confidence infused in his movements that echo of instincts she hasn't explored. It's surprisingly... sweet. From the taste of alcohol and drugs on his lips to the way he holds her like a beam of starlight, she smiles into the kiss, not finding it nearly as unbearable as she would have expected. 

Nova eases into it a little deeper, letting her body mold into Koa's through a purely natural reaction, and when he pulls away, her lips trail after his like the tail of a comet. Eyelashes flutter in a moment of consideration, not quite sure what to make of the way she's weightless and somehow at a loss for words. She thinks she likes the sensations coursing through her - the slightly quicker beat of her heart, the colors dancing pleasantly in her head, the warmth that she can't quite pinpoint - but it's all so new and the drugs make it harder to do anything beyond feel the sparkling enjoyment. Her giggle floats with the lack of breath, her teeth moving to draw against the tingling on her bottom lip as she tilts her head. "It's very different than dancing." She's not sure she can compare the two, and she's done a lot more dancing than kissing, so it's hard to say which is better.

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.