( closed. ) I don't wanna always play nice

[dashing]

WHO: Herian Amsel & Cosima Niehaus
WHAT: Theeere you see her, sitting there across the way—
WHEN: a vague span of time in which Herian is deeply frustrating.
WHERE: A TAVERN. maybe other places.
NOTES: Herian is still Herian, unfortunately.

( Herian is not late. It would be a rare occurrence, although she remembers Cosima's own inclination to fashionably delayed arrivals. As a result she is unconcerned as she waits at a table in the corner, pressing a metal spoon to her slightly swollen and bruised lip. Her eyes are closed, head tipped back against the wall, and then her hand closes around the wrist of a stranger. )

Do not, ( she warns, and sure enough the man retreats, leaving the jug of wine undisturbed. It's breathing, or something.

Herian, for her part, could probably be feeling better for something that she's been looking forward to, but that means she probably shouldn't have sparred with Coupe, and that is not a compromise she would have made happily. The injury isn't bad, but she has been broody. Best to try and set it aside.

She is, however, very much considering setting aside her usual inclination away from wine to indulge. It seems the day for it. )

Comments

[youwonscience]

If we were in my world, I'd get you these little devices that strap to your arms filled with air. It's what you use to teach young children, but there's gotta be an adult version.

[For Herian's dignity, probably best there's no direct equivalent here.

She leans into Herian's touch, just a little.]

I wouldn't let anything happen to you.

[dashing]

( Its very charming, that little promise. Herian draws closer, fingers resting against Cosima's skin and she's almost close enough to kiss her, when-- )

Devices for children? You'd compare my abilities to a child?

( It seems to only just register. Not indignant or offended, so much as bemused. Now, in this moment, she was just compared to an infant.

Really. )

[youwonscience]

Strictly in your capacity as a novice swimmer, [she says, immediately.]

I promise, I've definitely noticed you're not a child.

[If it sounds like an invitation, it's meant to.]

[dashing]

( Herian is very aware that sounds like an invitation, and yet she is equally aware that she'd rather kiss Cosima when she isn't in danger of laughing, or being distracted by further contemplations of really.

So she leans back in her chair, arms crossed and quirks her brow. That, apparently, was defeat snatched from the jaws of victory, though maybe the very amused shift of Herian's demeanor would have softened the blow somewhat. Maybe. A little.

The hours stretch out, and eventually, Herian is holding open the door for them to exit back through the door they entered by, heavy and wooden and leading them to the summer air. ) Do you have need to return to your quarters direct?

[youwonscience]

Uh, no, not really. I mean, I should probably turn up at the lab sometime while it's still daylight tomorrow, but other than that my schedule's wide open.

[She doesn't quite know what to make of it -- the way Herian keeps pulling back when they get close. But regardless, she's still glad of Herian's company, and in no particular hurry to be rid of it.]

What did you have in mind?

[dashing]

A walk by the docks. No swimming, I think, without sufficient devices ( she adds, gently teasing, as she catches Cosima's hand with her own. The docks aren't too far, and the moon is shining bright. ) You'll be back to your lab in ample time.

[youwonscience]

Sounds good to me. [She laces their fingers together, giving Herian's palm a squeeze for good measure.] Fair warning, I'm still no help if we get mugged.

[Kirkwall jokes!]

[dashing]

Fear not. You can protect me from the water, and I will protect you from those with less than noble intentions.

( Well. A little tilt of her head to the side, and she lightly continues, ) Unless a kiss from myself would be counted as "less than noble," and then there is every likelihood I will fail in my cause.

[youwonscience]

I think if the kiss comes from you, it automatically counts as 'noble intentions.'

[Because come on.]

Even if not, I won't tell.

[dashing]

( She laughs at that - can't help it, really, and glances sidelong at Cosima. )

I suspect you may grant me more credit than I deserve.

( Herian stops walking, for a moment, and gently tugs Cosima's hand to urge her towards a staircase, leading up to a higher vantage point. )

[youwonscience]

[She follows without hesitation.]

Believe me, I'm not actually known for cutting people who don't deserve it a break.

[dashing]

Good.

( She stops walking once they're at the top of staircase, but not quite stepped out into the moonlight that bathes the walkway. There's almost an abruptness to it, and yet, its more like coming back to this same pull that they've been skirting around, and maybe that makes it less abrupt and more like determination not to be swayed from the point, as she considers Cosima. )

I must confess I-- thought often of you when I was away. Enough to render doing what I want to close to intimidating, lest I commit some miss-step.

[youwonscience]

Oh my god, Herian.

[She smiles, crooked and warm.]

Look, it only has to be perfect if you only plan to do it once. No pressure.

[Unless Herian plans to only kiss her the once, Cosima supposes.]

[dashing]

My concern and investment is charming.

( Said with utmost confidence, as she lets her fingers brush over Cosima's braids. )

Should I take that to mean you're not adverse to the thought of it occurring on multiple occasions? We could devise a schedule.

( Now she's just being obnoxious. )

[youwonscience]

Oh, yeah, [with a low, gentle laugh] nothing says romance like 'let's make a schedule...'

[Instead, she leans in to ruin Herian's original plan by making a move of her own. There have been so many 'almost kisses,' and Cosima feels she's been very patient. Until now.]

[dashing]

Mmhm. And appointments.

( But the words are soft, and immensely forgettable. Her hands settle, very loosely, at Cosima's waist, and she almost turns away from Cosima's lean.

Almost, but not quite, because thoughts of being teasing and joking have rapidly fallen away, and Herian is entirely distracted by their closeness, eyes slipping shut as meets the kiss. )

[youwonscience]

[The only other time they'd kissed had been a goodbye, wrapped up in all the emotions involved with more than likely never seeing one another again.

This time, it's not so urgent, and certainly no so final. Cosima kisses her lightly, at first, almost playful, but also lets one kiss become a few, in no particular rush.]

[dashing]

( Not so urgent, no and while Herian is staying closer, slowly bringing one hand up to cradle Cosima's jaw, the collapse into more kisses, the playfulness of it, does encourage one thing. )

I'm not certain, ( wait, hang on another kiss, and the next words are murmured almost against the kiss, ) that we scheduled adequate time.

( But she's being obnoxious, and she's not going anywhere, because... yeah, no. )

[youwonscience]

[She grins, which at this proximity Herian can probably feel more than see.]

I mean, we could always continue it later if we have to.

[As an option. Though Cosima hasn't given up on kissing her now just yet.]

[dashing]

( It gets a quiet laugh out of her, and for a moment she just rests her forehead against Cosima's. )

Worth considering, at the very least.

( She has abandoned even comical gravity, for now, bringing her hands up to gently rest at Cosima's jaw and throat, thumb running along the line of her jaw. Her lip stings and protests from the beating she endured in training, but she's doing her utmost to ignore it, as she shifts from teasing kisses to something more lasting and significant. It's not the same as when she left, not that desperation, but it's an articulation of something. )

[youwonscience]

[It's certainly a solid I missed you, if nothing else. Cosima leans into Herian's steadiness, kissing her gently but warmly, enjoying their nearness after so long of 'almost' and 'not quite.' She hadn't thought she'd misread the situation; it was nice to be proven right in such a pleasant manner.]

If you keep kissing me that way, [she murmurs] you could definitely talk me into that schedule idea.

[dashing]

( Herian draws back a little, though not without first drawing her teeth over Cosima's lip, and then nudging her nose against Cosima's, some mix of wanting and teasing and gentleness. Her thumb keeps up its slow pattern, and her "drawing back" is really only enough to allow her to look at Cosima, a smile quirking the corner of her mouth. )

And here I was on the verge of suggesting we do away with schedules, lest we limit ourselves overmuch. I'm—

( A moment, as she tries to figure out what words fit what she is attempting to articulate. ) relieved? That your feelings are... so positively inclined?

( spoiler alert, Herian is not the best at this )

[youwonscience]

Oh my god, [she says with a quiet laugh.] I would have said something sooner if I thought it wasn't clear. I thought maybe you changed your mind, you kept seeming to think better of it.

[Her hand rests lightly on Herian's arm, comfortably, as if there were no reason they should be farther apart.]

I don't know what the rules are, here, but I'm definitely positively inclined.

[dashing]

No, ( with a breath of amusement, pressing a kiss to Cosima's cheekbone. ) My regard for you is as it was. I am simply...

( She seems to be wrestling with her thoughts a bit, and it's because honestly? She is. Words are hard. Feelings are difficult. )

Mage of the Circles are forbidden romantic attachments. It is thought, ( something in her tone on thought might give away that this is one of the points of her own disagreement with the Chantry, ) that to allow mages such attachments would leave us more vulnerable to demons. As such, any affairs were to be conducted in secret. The freedom to operate openly is... unfamiliar.

( Not entirely a new revelation, no, but definitely unfamiliar. )

[youwonscience]

Oh, [a bit softer. She reaches down to take Herian's hand, again lacing their fingers.]

I know it's not the same, but there are parts of my country where you can get attacked for being openly affectionate with a lover of the same gender. I was kind of ... pleasantly surprised that no one in Thedas really seems to care about that. Though, uh, no promises no one will care about your romantic attachment to a rifter, I guess.

[She shrugs, then says quietly,] I'm here, and I don't mind being patient. But my general sense is "fuck the haters." Uh. Or something that's a little less vulgar with the same sentiment, because I'm involved with a very chivalrous lady now.