fandomhighdorms | The Deck [Thursday, Evening]

Current Mood: cheerful

Entry tags:

The Deck [Thursday, Evening]

So, apparently America had one major downfall (aside from the fluorescent cereal and shit tea), and that was showing itself tonight. Fifth of November, and she suspected that unless she did something about it, no bonfire night anything.

Not that she'd be putting in a huge amount of effort herself. A packet of sparklers, some toffee apples and a bonfire was all she needed to do her bit of celebration.

Oh, and an effigy to burn. Close enough to a guy for her, and so she was out on the deck by one of the fire pits, watching the flames as she turned it over in her hands.

[[I'm out for a chunk later on, because, zomg BONFIRE NIGHT. But the deck is ooopen, and I'll be back around after I've seen my share of fireworks!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Alex did have a fair bit more space there, where aside from spreading her fingertips over the back of his head, she didn't have all that much skin free to touch. Somewhere in her head, she might be blaming that. Just because she could. It worked for her.

But, she called his relaxation a bit of a win too. No doubt about it. Where he knew her sensitive spots, she was figuring out where all that tension got stored in his neck and shoulders.

Alex had probably arrived with a lot of the tension still present but it had gradually ebbed away as the night progressed, leaving some residual tightness but it was nothing compared to how tight and tense he usually was. Definite win for her.

He pressed his palm flat against her stomach, fingers splayed and then wrote her name with one finger against her skin before just stroking his knuckles back and forth.

Alex turned his face against her arm, resting his forehead there for a minute before rubbing his cheek there lightly.

Edited 2009-11-09 12:42 (UTC)

Didn't honestly know what he was writing. Even if she should've guessed. She had watched him tracing names across her skin on a few occasions, after all. Not knowing didn't stop that smile from spreading a little.

Really was a bit of a softie, wasn't he? Not that she'd be stupid enough to bring that up out loud (she wasn't an idiot), but she could think it.

A bit. And infrequently. So, it wasn't one of those things he was planning on sharing with everyone on a frequent basis. Lucky her. Or unlucky. Or something. Whatever.

Besides, it wasn't like she wasn't letting a little soft side leak out here. Preoccupied as he might be, he could definitely notice that.

Alex finally did still his hand (but he kept it pressed against her stomach because it was warm there) and let the silence lengthen for a little longer. Finally deciding that he should just talk and be the loser (it was inevitable), he said, "This holiday looks good on you."

It wasn't like he could miss the smiling and he even let go of her hand to trace one corner of that smile in case she tried to argue.

Edited 2009-11-09 18:07 (UTC)

At least if it went both ways, there was a vastly reduced chance he'd tease her with it later. Or at least, he'd have less of a leg to stand on with that.

For once, she wasn't even going to try and deny it, just shrug briefly. "Favourite for a reason," she said simply. "Bringing you round on crazy British ways?"

"Maybe on this holiday but you're never going to get me drinking tea or playing polo," he said, tossing those stereotypes out easily. He tapped the corner of her mouth lightly before letting his hand drop.

"I can make exceptions for certain British things." Or people, it seemed. "So, I've got a question for you."

One it didn't seem like he was going to spit out unless she prompted him a little, maybe raised some curious eyebrows at the very least.

"Which is?" she pressed after a moment, cocking her head as she looked at him.

Well, he was annoying like that. She should know that by now. But, that was neither here nor there because he was about to go back to a previous conversation for this question. He hadn't asked then but he was curious.

"You asked me last time we talked so now it's my turn," he started easily. "Am I on the same level as everyone else?"

Alex figured this could go a few ways: she wouldn't answer, she'd answer or she'd be vague So, he was prepared either way.

Somehow hadn't expected that one, and Effy went quiet again for a long moment. Didn't stop her from moving her fingers against the back of his neck, though.

"You're not." Usually, she'd go vague, but she could surprise on occasion. She got her answer when she asked, and could give one back.

There were a few different ways Alex figured he could respond but, in the end, he ended up ducking his head to hide a small smile and said, "Okay."

Alex brushed his fingers across her stomach a few more times before pulling it out from under her shirt and getting it back around her waist.

"Then, I guess we're both...different," he said, picking that word carefully. "Right?"

Ducking didn't really do all that much to cover that smile, and she brought her hand around to brush his cheek

"Right." Both watching their words a little now. That was just vague enough to work for her. It could be taken to mean so many things. Already admitted she liked different... but no, she wasn't putting the two together for him.

And Alex wasn't really ready to examine the different meanings just yet. Admitting as much as he had to her already was pretty big for someone who held himself back as often as possible.

"Right." See, they could agree on things easily sometimes! Nary an argument in sight. Amazing. "Your turn for shadow puppets and a story now?"

No, he didn't expect that to happen but the parallel to when he'd asked the previous question was too funny not to suggest.

There were many things Effy would do, but storytelling was not one of her fortes.

"Wouldn't want to steal your schtick." Which was Not Subtle at All for 'not a chance'.

Really did know her, didn't he?

Yeah, he thought he knew her pretty well at this point.

"How sad," he said, not sounding very sad at all. "So, what are you going to do then? In the place of shadow puppets and a story."

Again, he wasn't really expecting something but it was fun to ask.

"Gonna be stuck with sparklers and a bonfire." Which she thought were a perfectly decent substitutes.

"I wouldn't call that being stuck," he said and he thought that was a subtle compliment, at least. Even if he wasn't using sparklers, watching her use them was fun. "Company's not too bad either. You're just a little pale."

Like he cared about that. Please, considering how often he touched her, it really didn't matter.

Hey, pale just meant she wouldn't be so likely to end up with skin cancer. Pro point!

Effy just rolled her eyes, pretty good-naturedly. "Must be into that."

"Pale British girls, oh yeah," he said, slouching a little more comfortably in the chair and stroking his fingers against her lower back. He grinned and nodded. "That's what I'm into. How'd you figure me out?"

Sarcastic as that might have sounded, it was almost pretty true.

Effy just arched her brows that little bit, and threw him a significant look. He really needed to ask that?

No, of course he didn't but he asked purely for reactions like that. So, he could laugh (because he did) and shake his head.

"Full of yourself," he remarked idly. "If that's your logic, then you must be into tanned Americans from the country."

He was not a farmboy.

Oh, he was in the vicinity of farmboy. Definitely.

"They're not half bad." Or, you know, she liked the one she knew.

He didn't live on a farm thus he was not a farmboy. She was deluded in that vein of thinking.

"High praise," he said and snickered. "They're not all like me, though. Contain your shock. I've probably ruined everyone else for you."

He vaguely recalled her implying the same thing awhile back just with the positions reversed.. See, look how well he listened to her.

Apparently he not only listened, but actually absorbed what she said.

"I'll bear that in mind." Like she'd really assumed Iowa was just a state full of Alex's. Scary thought. "Limit my disappointment, you know?"

Alex could be surprising in ways that people didn't expect him to be. If it was worth it, he'd listen and remember.

"And we wouldn't want to see you disappointed." Thinking about it, he wasn't sure if he'd ever seen her disappointed. Pissed off, yeah. Upset? Yeah (even if she hadn't wanted that to be seen). Disappointed he wasn't sure of. He kind of didn't want to see it either.

"But hey, you ever wanna witness the disappointment you're missing, I'll just let you call the names on my phone," he said, snickering. "None of them need sex advice but I'm sure you could entertain them."

Edited 2009-11-10 12:46 (UTC)

Mmm, yeah because Effy was such a talker. "Hold with what I've got at the moment." Since she was already sitting on his lap and all.

Being disappointed didn't sound all that appealing, to be honest.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject