[ This won’t be nearly as much of a problem once they are staying within a private residence. She would feel mighty ridiculous shuffling through the inn with improper shoes on.
Varka's absentminded kisses are pleasant. Nicole isn’t entirely worked up, but she does get the sense that this could go either way with the right push.
Varka is clearly exhausted, even if he had gained a brief burst of energy from her teasing. Nicole allows herself to relax and hopes the motion is obvious enough with their proximity to send a wordless message. She was fine with this, even if he did fall asleep. ]
[As he feels Nicole relax, Varka follows suit. He barely stifles a yawn, and only does so for the sake of not blowing out poor Nicole's eardrums. He shifts around just a little, a little more weight easing onto her body, and his arm shifts until he finds her hand. Only once their fingers are twined together does he settle.]
We've got all the time in the world, y'know. There's no rush. [He gives her fingers a squeeze, gentle as can be.] 'm glad you seem to enjoy being around me so much.
[It's a soft touch to a rather scandalous conversation, but what can you do.]
Especially since - [An actual yawn this time. Sorry Nicole, he could only last so long.] - since we'll be livin' together
[ She doesn't entirely mind the shift in the conversation. For her, it is all worthwhile, and the transition feels almost as seamless as going from polite colleagues to… this, has been. It certainly helps that Varka makes such an apt weighted blanket, draped over her as he is.
Nicole's contented exhale is partially muffled by the matress, but it isn't such a terrible thing. The warmth in her voice will translate easily across their connection. ]
You do have to remember that I am, for all intents and purposes, making up for thousands of years of lost time. If I am overeager, there is a stacking list of reasons for it.
[ That does sound as though it's discrediting his personal involvement in her enthusiasm, though, and she would dislike if that came across as cold. She squeezes his fingers back. ] Curiosity is an innate part of my nature, and I am very curious about you. It would be difficult not to be, I think. It isn't as though I had never noticed humans before, but…
[ She eases into silence rather than finishing the sentence. She only slightly twitches when he yawns into her ear. ] That's true. And, there is plenty of time to have these conversations when you are not yawning into my ear. You should sleep.
[Nicole makes a valid point, albeit one that makes Varka's chest ache faintly. It shouldn't surprise him that she's so eager to mark these things off her list. After a millennia of simply watching, there was undoubtedly a wide variety of things she was eager to get under way.
And really, it's an honor that he gets to be a part of it at all.]
Much as I tease you, I'm not actually complaining. 'm happy with you like this. [The assurance, though not necessary, is appreciated. He makes a faint humming noise in the back of his throat.] Anything you want to know, I'll tell you. Just.
[A faint, sleepy laugh.] Maybe later. After a good night's rest. [He rolls off of her, though his arm remains loosely draped over her waist.] Might want to take your shoes off, though.
[ A quiet huff resounds before she can quite bite it back. She is most disquieted by the removal of his weight from his person! And especially the fact that he points out that she is still wearing her shoes. She was aware, thank you very much.
With a faint breath through her nose, Nicole eases out from underneath Varka's arm and shifts to the edge of the bed. For a moment, she considers simply… doing as he is insisting she do. Removing her shoes and laying herself back down in his bed.
Instead, she reaches to twine a piece of his hair around her finger. ]
Is that your way of asking me to stay the night?
[ Better to ask, she thinks. Even if what he has said is basically confirmation, she wants to be assured in this. In most aspects of this budding relationship, if she is able. ]
[Varka... only stares at her. Maybe he's a little too drowsy, considering how long it takes him to actually put together a response. When he does, it's accompanied by a lazy, if affectionate, smile.]
'course I am. Thought it was obvious.
[He lifts a hand, beckoning her back to him, even as he settles back down on the bed. Did he miss the part where her shoes hadn't even come off yet? Probably?
[ This man. There was something about the expectation in that gesture that both rankles her and entices her. With another faint sigh, Nicole bends down to start undoing the complicated fastenings on her shoes. ]
It is always good to get confirmation, you know. I wouldn't want to assume if you would rather I not crowd the bed.
[ Once her shoes are removed, Nicole removes her hat and sets it aside as well. The dress… she examines herself for a moment longer than is likely necessary and, as such, likely betrays her thoughts. Removing the dress effectively meant curling back into him almost entirely nude, and something tells her that is not conducive to sleep.
[Some part of Varka's mind wonders why she doesn't properly disrobe. Her dress is going to get wrinkled like this. Another part of him is relieved — he would indeed find himself distracted if Nicole took off all of her clothes. And yet another part of him wonders if he should offer his shirt as something to wear.
All of those parts are drastically outweighed by an exhausted brain. That part of him sees fit to lay partially atop her once more. He pulls her close, not unlike a child with a small stuffed animal.]
Always welcome where I am, Nicole. Don't you worry about that. [He presses a kiss to her cheek to confirm this much.] Get some rest, alright?
[ Being reeled in and effectively tucked underneath Varka is proving to be a favored interaction. She tucks her arms between them and allows herself to bask both in the novel comfort of cuddling close without expectation and in the natural warmth of Varka's body. He radiates heat… which she finds oddly ironic, given their respective Elements.
She deigns to not respond to him verbally. Instead, she affirms his reassurance by tucking her face into his chest and sighing deeply enough to rid herself of any lingering tension. If she awoke with a wrinkled dress, so be it. She was going to take advantage of every new moment… and stumble through quite a few of them. ]
[Likewise, Nicole seems just as warm. More than that, she fits so perfectly against him, that Varka can't help but sigh. It's so easy to bury his face into her hair, especially now that her hat is gone. It's little wonder that his breathing begins to slow almost immediately. He had, after all, been dancing on the edge of sleep for some time now.
And if he dreams of doing something like this more often? In a home that Nicole has made for the two of them? So be it. It beats the more fretful dreams that he's been known to have.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 06:33 am (UTC)Varka's absentminded kisses are pleasant. Nicole isn’t entirely worked up, but she does get the sense that this could go either way with the right push.
Varka is clearly exhausted, even if he had gained a brief burst of energy from her teasing. Nicole allows herself to relax and hopes the motion is obvious enough with their proximity to send a wordless message. She was fine with this, even if he did fall asleep. ]
I would like to try it all with you.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-24 01:54 am (UTC)We've got all the time in the world, y'know. There's no rush. [He gives her fingers a squeeze, gentle as can be.] 'm glad you seem to enjoy being around me so much.
[It's a soft touch to a rather scandalous conversation, but what can you do.]
Especially since - [An actual yawn this time. Sorry Nicole, he could only last so long.] - since we'll be livin' together
no subject
Date: 2026-03-24 03:37 pm (UTC)Nicole's contented exhale is partially muffled by the matress, but it isn't such a terrible thing. The warmth in her voice will translate easily across their connection. ]
You do have to remember that I am, for all intents and purposes, making up for thousands of years of lost time. If I am overeager, there is a stacking list of reasons for it.
[ That does sound as though it's discrediting his personal involvement in her enthusiasm, though, and she would dislike if that came across as cold. She squeezes his fingers back. ] Curiosity is an innate part of my nature, and I am very curious about you. It would be difficult not to be, I think. It isn't as though I had never noticed humans before, but…
[ She eases into silence rather than finishing the sentence. She only slightly twitches when he yawns into her ear. ] That's true. And, there is plenty of time to have these conversations when you are not yawning into my ear. You should sleep.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-24 07:25 pm (UTC)And really, it's an honor that he gets to be a part of it at all.]
Much as I tease you, I'm not actually complaining. 'm happy with you like this. [The assurance, though not necessary, is appreciated. He makes a faint humming noise in the back of his throat.] Anything you want to know, I'll tell you. Just.
[A faint, sleepy laugh.] Maybe later. After a good night's rest. [He rolls off of her, though his arm remains loosely draped over her waist.] Might want to take your shoes off, though.
[He noticed.]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-27 05:48 pm (UTC)With a faint breath through her nose, Nicole eases out from underneath Varka's arm and shifts to the edge of the bed. For a moment, she considers simply… doing as he is insisting she do. Removing her shoes and laying herself back down in his bed.
Instead, she reaches to twine a piece of his hair around her finger. ]
Is that your way of asking me to stay the night?
[ Better to ask, she thinks. Even if what he has said is basically confirmation, she wants to be assured in this. In most aspects of this budding relationship, if she is able. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-27 09:58 pm (UTC)'course I am. Thought it was obvious.
[He lifts a hand, beckoning her back to him, even as he settles back down on the bed. Did he miss the part where her shoes hadn't even come off yet? Probably?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-27 10:28 pm (UTC)It is always good to get confirmation, you know. I wouldn't want to assume if you would rather I not crowd the bed.
[ Once her shoes are removed, Nicole removes her hat and sets it aside as well. The dress… she examines herself for a moment longer than is likely necessary and, as such, likely betrays her thoughts. Removing the dress effectively meant curling back into him almost entirely nude, and something tells her that is not conducive to sleep.
So she lays back down in the dress. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-27 10:37 pm (UTC)All of those parts are drastically outweighed by an exhausted brain. That part of him sees fit to lay partially atop her once more. He pulls her close, not unlike a child with a small stuffed animal.]
Always welcome where I am, Nicole. Don't you worry about that. [He presses a kiss to her cheek to confirm this much.] Get some rest, alright?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-27 10:45 pm (UTC)She deigns to not respond to him verbally. Instead, she affirms his reassurance by tucking her face into his chest and sighing deeply enough to rid herself of any lingering tension. If she awoke with a wrinkled dress, so be it. She was going to take advantage of every new moment… and stumble through quite a few of them. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-27 11:08 pm (UTC)And if he dreams of doing something like this more often? In a home that Nicole has made for the two of them? So be it. It beats the more fretful dreams that he's been known to have.]