dreampost: even more after dark edition

[wotanon]

[ shit's going to be sexy in here.

please list what you're open or not open to somewhere in your toplevel pls and thank ]

Comments

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah, I noticed. I mean - how good it is. The color.

Kinda - yours in the middle there, y'know?

[unbr8kable]

That's why it's so good. Glad to see you're finally appreciating my good taste.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Hey, you got great taste. Who better to trust for something like this, yeah?

[He hesitates - reaches, absently, to toy with the hem of his shirt, like he sometimes does, but there is no shirt; he toys with a fold of the dress, instead, rubbing the fabric between thumb and forefinger.]

And, like - with the other stuff, too. Not just picking it, but - y'know.

That... woulda been pretty rough, with anyone else.

[unbr8kable]

Eh, I bet you could've done fine. I bet plenty of people'd be happy to take care of you.

[Her expression sours the slightest bit, though she isn't sure why herself]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Think you're overestimating the draw of sticking me in a dress, dude.

And anyway - anyway, I didn't want no one else.

[unbr8kable]

The dress don't got anything to do with it.

And what, you saved that one just for me?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He's going red again - won't meet her eyes.]

I mean. I kinda figured, some of the harder ones would be okay to do, if it was with you?

But you didn't have to. And I didn't know for sure - I mean, if you hadn't wanted to, you coulda taken a pass. You coulda taken a pass on all of em, if none of em were - like. Okay to do?

I - you know that, right? You didn't, like - you didn't have to?

[He glances up at her, uncertain in a different way.]

[unbr8kable]

Yeah, ‘course. Like, I wouldn’t’ve, if you weren’t into it, but... I figured I could help. And, uh, I don’t mind. Especially if you were saving it, special.

[She looks away, a little, which doesn’t hide the heat over her ears]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He ducks his head, blushing furiously - but he doesn't actually deny that he'd been saving it. All he says is:]

Okay. Okay... cool.

Long's you didn't, like - mind.

[He hesitates - fidgets with the fabric of the dress a bit more.]

Did you, uh. Did you have any squares you wanted help with? Or...?

[unbr8kable]

They’re...

[She falters, shifts in a way that is largely unlike her]

...I mean, I can just skip those ones, you don’t gotta do that kinda stuff with me... You don’t gotta worry about it...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Dude, c'mon. You helped me out, right? Least I can do's return the favor.

[He shifts a little, himself.]

'Sides. I ain't seen nothing on any of these cards I'd mind doing, if it was with you.

[Falters to a stop, perhaps as he realizes how those words can be taken - a touch more eager than he intended to let on - or perhaps as he remembers what else was on his card, and goes a deeper red.]

I just mean, like. Y'know. If you got stuff that's gonna be hard, better to get it done with someone you know. Right? And, like - I'm good for it, is all, so. So if you wanna check something off...

[unbr8kable]

[If she notices anything extra awkward about him she makes no sign...probably because she’s busy being extra awkward herself—fidgeting, hands stuffed into the pockets of her trench. Eventually:]

...”Serve a master.” That’s the big one.

And it’s gotta be, uh, certain kinds of requests. Can’t just cheat with orders like “hop on one foot” or “stand on your head”...actually, that last one would probably work...

[She looks down at her still bare legs, cheeks dark]

A-anyways, like I said, you don’t gotta, I know it’s...

[Trails off with a hopeless shrug]

[crossmyheartandhope]

That's -

[Please hold while his brain processes this - while his gaze follows her eyes to her still-bare legs and helpfully provides a mental picture. When he gets it together again, his voice is more than a little strained.]

Th-that's - uh. Pretty - pretty open-ended, isn't it? I. I mean. How're we supposed to know what counts as, like - certain kinds of requests?

Or - or how many of em before the square's good, even?

[unbr8kable]

Pretty sure it'd depend on you. Small print says fifteen minutes...or 'til the master is satisfied.

[Clears her throat]

...I mean, I don't wanna force you into anything, especially not, uh. Like this? But like you said, better with someone you know, and you like? But--I mean. If it's not your jam, that's fine? Just figured it wouldn't be so bad, if it was you.

[Kind of stumbles to a stop after that, not quite brave enough to look him in the eye]

[crossmyheartandhope]

No, that's, uh - I'm good, this is - good. If you need help anyway, I can - I don't mind.

But, like -

[He hesitates.]

I don't wanna, like. Boss you around into doing something you for real don't wanna do. Okay?

If you don't think you're gonna be into it, like - even a little? Just say "pass," and we'll do something else instead. That's your first order. Okay?

[unbr8kable]

Okay.

[And she looks fairly relieved with that, though no less self-conscious]

That's, uh, one of the reasons I wanted to ask you... I figured you'd be--minimally dickish about it.

[crossmyheartandhope]

I mean... I'm gonna do my best.

[He hesitates - reaches out to take her hand and give it a squeeze.]

I know it's gonna be, like - weird. But I don't want it to be uncomfortable weird. Y'know? So for real, lemme know if it's too much.

[He falls quiet for a couple seconds, thinking it through.]

[Then, haltingly:]

Okay. I figure, there's two ways we can do this. Way one I can just like... come up with the easiest stuff I can think of that falls in that kinda category. I'll try not to be, like - pushy, or go too hard or nothing.

Way two, you can go and grab a blank card from out there, and I can just, like - go down the list. Kinda randomize it, y'know? Leave it up to chance.

What do you think? Second order is, uh - lemme know your opinion.

[unbr8kable]

[Squeezes back, hand a little clammy. However, when she eventually speaks, her voice is strong]

...We done some pretty weird stuff before already, right? So...you can pick what you want. If you wanna go easy, that's fine...or if you wanna go hard, that's also fine.

I trust you to have my back, so I can trust you with the rest, too. ...Master.

[The title is kind of hesitant on her tongue, as if she's uncertain what she thinks of it...as if she's uncertain what he thinks of it.]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[If his expression's any indication, he's not sure what he thinks of it. Some combination of flustered and uncertain and - somewhere in there, though he's doing his best to quash it down - a spark of bright interest.]

[He swallows, hard, and glances away.]

O-okay, uh. I guess. I guess I better start giving orders for real.

Uh.

[It takes him a couple of seconds, to think of something; the line between what he wants and what he feels is actually appropriate to ask of her seems like a wall lined with barbed wire, only he's not quite sure where it is, and he doesn't especially want to end this with either of them bleeding.]

...how bout. How bout you take off your coat...?

[unbr8kable]

...Okay. Uh, sir.

[She looks away, unbuttoning the trenchcoat from the top down. A beat, then she shrugs out of the sleeves.

Beneath she's wearing a girls' school uniform--perhaps she'd swapped with Wednesday or Yugi--or perhaps this particular uniform was never meant for students to wear, given the length or lack thereof. The white and red sailor top ends high on her midriff, while the navy pleated skirt barely covers her rear, much less the faint scarring running down her left hip.

She shifts, hesitating before leaving the coat balled in one hand rather than hiding behind it]

...'Kay, now what?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[It takes him - a good couple of seconds to force himself to stop staring. His cheeks are dark, and his eyes skitter down and sideways, looking for somewhere safe to land. He hadn't expected it to be quite that revealing.]

Uh. Okay. I guess. I guess, come over here? And like, go down on one knee...?

[unbr8kable]

Don’t tell me this’s what I had to do to get knighted.

[She’s pleased with how steady her voice stays, and she tosses the jacket to the side rather than keep it to jitter in her hand. No one had asked her not to make a mess, after all. So she walks over, head high, and goes to one knee. Which is fairly breezy with the short skirt, but other than swallowing, tries not to show it, hands resting on the floor beside her as if perched at a starting line.]

[crossmyheartandhope]

I mean... it's kinda like getting knighted, I guess...? Gotta do the oath thing, anyway.

[He still can't quite bring himself to look - but he holds out a hand toward her, going for regal and not quite pulling it off.]

You ready to, uh. To swear... fealty, or whatever? To your master?

[unbr8kable]

[Takes the hand, impulsive, and kisses his knuckles. Even from that distance he can probably feel how warm her face is]

My life is yours. ...Master.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[His cheeks go darker at the press of her lips to his knuckles. He's very, very away of that small brush of warmth against his skin.]

[He hesitates - hesitates longer.]

[Reaches out, with the other hand, to touch the side of her face, gentle, and tip her chin up so that he can gauge her expression, checking to make sure if they're still okay.]