sweethymns | Pictures in the Dark

[Iona's silent for a moment before she leans against Michael's shoulder. Sometimes, she would do this would Oren. But that isn't the same.

In a way, she feels a little pathetic, being this starved for attention when Oren could give her all of that and more in the world and yet...]

Yeah. I feel like that a lot of the time. More than most people think.

[He not only lets her lean on his shoulder, but he puts an arm around her, doing what he can to make her feel reassured. To just feel... better, honestly.]

He's been with you through thick and thin, hasn't he? I think... it's only natural to feel like you rely on someone you're that close to. It's comforting, in a way.

[It's a comfort he deprived himself of for a long time, of his own accord. But this isn't about him, and he doesn't comment on it.]

But I think you're strong and independent, Iona, the opposite of relying too much on someone. Oren's there to share his wisdom [or his lectures]; that doesn't mean you're always going to have to rely on him for everything you do.

[She's quiet as she takes in his words. Maybe there was a nugget of truth to what Michael said. Iona tries to think of the things she has been able to accomplish, regardless of whether Oren helped her or not. She mastered her crystal arm. She caught up with other witches her age. She runs a cafe where she was able to meet Michael Camden and now she's can turn to him when she feels alone.

Being able to lean on someone wasn't a weakness. It was a relief to be able to confide in him about her heavy thoughts.

(~~She'll always feel guilty for what Oren had to do for her to survive, always, and there's no way she can do anything in return and...~~)

Iona brings up a hand to stroke Michael's arm around her softly.]

... It's going to keep raining for a while, isn't it?

[The rain outside can be heard as a steady and constant rhythm. It was comforting along with his arm around her and with her heavy heart lightened after being able to release those troubled words.]

[He can only hope that what he said had comforted her in some way. And now, maybe, the soft rhythm of a New York drizzle could do the same.]

Yeah. One of those lazy days. The sun can't even be bothered to shine through the clouds.

[He takes his own bit of comfort in her warmth and scent.]

You can stay as long as you want. It's nice to have company on a rainy day.

[She sinks a bit more into him, letting out a pleased hum.]

So it'll be a lazy day for the both of us then huh...? And here I was thinking we'd try to be productive.

[It's hard though, when they're relaxing like this.]

Yeah, me too. But I think we can afford one day to lounge around and do a whole lot of nothing, right? We've earned it.

[What a bad influence, basically saying her homework can wait for now. But he has a point; surely they've earned a day to just relax and enjoy each other's company?]

Careful.

[Her voice is teasing, but her eyes begin to close and she murmurs. She has the faint scent of coffee beans mixed with black tea, that mingles with her vaguely peppermint smelling hair.]

Don't keep me here forever.

Edited 2016-07-04 06:49 (UTC)

[Damn it, when she says stuff like that, he can still feel his heart skipping a beat -- he's not gotten used to it, not yet. He wonders if he ever will, or if he honestly ever wants to.

(It would be nice, though, to not blush every single time it happens.)

He clears his throat, and offers her a shy smile that she can probably hear in his tone.]

Would that be such a bad thing?

.... Well, you did ask.

[... There is no way she can't tease him right now. The opportunity is ripe for the taking and if there's one thing Iona is good at it's snatching opportunities. She raises her eyebrows at Michael's question...

And then shifts her position so that she's sitting on his lap and basically straddling him and both of her hands on his shoulders. And what makes it worse is she's smiling all the while as if she's not doing anything strange in particular.]

And here's my answer.

[Wh-what is happening

When Iona turns around to face him, practically straddling him, his brain breaks a little, not expecting such a sudden, bold move from her. (Though honestly, Michael, you should know better by now.)]

U-um...

[Unsurprisingly, words don't come to him very quickly this time. This is a compromising position; but then again, is it a compromising position for people who are dating?? Should he not be reacting this way? Is she teasing him? How should a guy react when a girl acts this way in general? WHAT DO.]

I, uh- [He swallows, his face turning a bright shade of red, casting his gaze to the side, too embarrassed right now to meet her eyes.] Not sure... exactly... what that answer means.

[Ah, she might have done it now; Iona's pretty aware of how Michael can be at a loss when it came to these sort of things (maybe she should have transitioned more slowly? Nahhh, this is fine). His red face is only encouraging her more.]

It means, that it's been a while since we last kissed.

[At least Iona's kind enough to be upfront about that.]

We'll just do it differently this time though.

[O-oh okay. (Let's be honest, though, that doesn't exactly still his heart beating in his chest.)

He clears his throat, forcing himself to look up at her. He wonders how long before he'll not react in this way, when he'll be able to act normally when she's looking at him like that...]

It has been awhile. [He brings his hands up to rest at the sides of her waist, softly, hesitantly.] You caught me off guard this time, though...

I'm always doing that aren't I?

[His hands at the sides of her waist is a pleasant sensation and she glances down at those before looking back him.]

Then it's okay right?

[Damn, Iona's caught a bit of his shyness. She's a little more used to being swept away or sweeping others away, but when it comes to intimate moments like this, she knows it's better to slow down. And with Michael, she really wants to make sure these moments are good for not just her, but for him too.

One hand of hers moves to cup his cheek. Her own heart is beating against her chest.]

[She can probably feel the heat in his face as she cups his cheek; slowing down may be her goal, but it doesn't take much for Michael to feel like he's being swept away by as little as her touch. It nearly makes him shudder, but in a good way.]

Yeah... it's okay. [He reaffirms verbally what his body language is already screaming; without thinking, his hands on her waist are already drawing her just a little nearer. She's so close, and he doesn't have to speak very loudly for her to hear him. It's just his low tone, and the rain hitting the windows.] If it's you, it's always okay.

[Michael isn't the only one with butterflies in the stomach. Although for Iona, it might as well be butterflies all over when he draws her closer and when she takes in his low voice.

Whether they've earned this or not, it doesn't really matter at this point. Iona angles her head...

Slowly, slowly...

... Closes her eyes and presses her lips against his, soft and encompassing. Her hands move back to his shoulder to steady herself and settle down in the moment.]

Edited 2016-07-05 16:47 (UTC)

[He feels nearly breathless when she presses her lips against his; they're soft, and they taste like her, just like the last time. It's motivation enough for him to return the favor, kissing her back with a gentleness that's trademark to Michael, but losing its shy trepidation more quickly than the last time. Again, he doesn't want embarrassment to dictate the moment; he just wants to kiss her and be near her, and so he pushes away his self-consciousness in favor of being more courageous.

...But only just a little, because he doesn't want to rush things, he doesn't want to ruin the moment by going too fast. So his arms just fully wrap around her, enabling him to deepen the kiss just slightly.]

[Iona can tell that the kiss is not as shy like their first time and she makes a pleased noise in response to his initiative. One hand moves to the back of Michael's head as he deepens their kiss and she increases the pressure in return. His warmth, her warmth, the sound of the rain, his hands around her, everything moves together.

She pulls back from the kiss slightly locking eyes with Michael, but only for a few seconds to tease him with the twinkle in her eye before she resumes kissing him again.]

[He almost makes a noise of protest when she pulls away, but instead he just offers her a faint grin, both affectionate and knowing of her teasing. And when Iona kisses him again, she can probably feel the curve of his smile in his kiss.

If they could stay like this forever, he's not sure he could complain. Time seems to move both more slowly and much too fast at once, and he's not sure how. And when he pulls away from that eager kiss, he breathes out a comment, still close enough that she could probably feel his breath brush against her skin.]

We should do this more often. [He's offering his own tease; though there's a genuine truth buried in that statement.]

We should, shouldn't we?

[She giggles a bit and rests her head against his chest.]

Am I spoiling you too much?

[Not a serious question, but a question nonetheless.]

[He laughs a little, moving one hand up to rest at her shoulder.]

If you did, do you think I'd honestly answer that question? [He teases in return.] I'd rather just let you spoil me.

In that case...

[DRAMATIC PAUSE. And she says in a not-so-serious manner, aka her all the time:]

You know there are other places to kiss besides the lips right?

[Well once again, that throws him off his guard. He pushes aside the implications that threaten to surface in his head.]

E-er, what are you suggesting, then?

Something like... This!

[And with a devilish grin, Iona goes for it; it, being a light kiss on the lips at first to ease him in and then she steadily nibbles his lower lip, and then her lips press against his chin, short and sweet, before finally reaching the base of his neck, right above his collarbone.

This is what they call a relentless attack, hope you're okay Michael.]

[If there is such a thing as mental crash that requires a mental reboot, this is what's happening to Michael right now. Way to go.

Not that it's unpleasant by any stretch of the imagination; it's quite the opposite. What's making his heart nearly explode in his chest is the fact that this was unexpected, and the sensation of her lips on his skin (especially when she creeps down to just above his collarbone) is uncharted territory for him. If you thought he was blushing before, it's happening tenfold right now.

He has to force himself to bite back what would have been an embarrassing sort of noise from the back of his throat. It's not like he's not enjoying it, he just doesn't know how to react, other than swallowing hard.]

U-um...

[Her lips caress the base of his throat for a long three seconds before she draws herself up again, looking pleased with his reactions, but also just happy in general. There we're so many ways Iona wants to share her affection with him and only him...

She could stand to be a little easier on him, she thinks as she takes in his redness and his beating heart. Speaking of which, Iona puts one hand on his chest where said heart is.]

Well, well. This is either telling, job well done or that you nearly shut down.

[Oh yeah, still going to tease him either way... ]

Edited 2016-07-06 14:15 (UTC)

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