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[she knew it. she knew it. crazy things were happening all over the city these past few months, and now everything has seemed to finally reach its breaking point. her meeting with Legosi had helped to alleviate a lot of worries that had been plaguing her for months about their relationship and his silence. but even with the kiss and their time together that night, she couldn't help but feel alone the moment they parted ways; her going home and him back to his place, readying himself for whatever scary thing he was getting himself involved with for the next day.
and she...spending the New Years break with her family. like an ordinary girl. as though nothing bad was happening to someone she loves.
the television had only been on for background noise, something barely noticeable through the quiet din of a rabbit family going through their daily lives in a safe and sound home. she hadn't even noticed the television was turned to the Horns Conglomerate conference, not until her father suddenly turned the volume up and she heard Louis' voice, growing frantic, manic almost.
"Hey, didn't that guy go to Cherryton with you, Haru?"
"What a shame, a coworker of mine has stocks in that company--"
the general conversation between her family seemed to buzz around her like little more than white noise as Haru remained transfixed to the television screen. the telltale signs of a herbivore's flight or fight instinct were welling up inside her, only to be doubled down with feelings of anger and frustration and fear for another. when the newsfeed cuts, and a familiar jingle for the local shopping mall begins to play by way of distraction, Haru has already taken her coat and stomped on her boots to make her way to...
well, where a rabbit shouldn't be going with tensions between carnivores and herbivores this high in the city.
she takes the familiar routes towards the Hidden Condo, dangerously too-close to the growing crowd bustling towards the Back Alley Market. but Haru knows how to make herself "go big" in crowds, maneuver through the various large bodies of animals even when things get jammed with pedestrians.
So what if someone tries to scoop me up and eat me. He's out there getting in trouble to!
she knows Legosi isn't going to be at his place, but...there's really nowhere else to turn to, is there? the Back Alley (where he all too likely is) would be a death sentence, and angry as she might be, she still has some sense through her self-destructing tendencies. so she stomps up the stairs to his apartment, knowing nobody will be there to see her and let her in.
she doesn't even bother knocking on the door. she knows where he is. all too frustratingly well. so she sits down, back against the door to his apartment, hugging her legs close to her chest.
and waits.
If he's not back before dawn, he's dead. He's dead and I'm done.
but she knows she'll wait long after sunrise. she's just...tired of waiting. and by the time things are done, she's half-asleep, still hunched up in front of Legosi's door, forehead resting against her knees.]
and she...spending the New Years break with her family. like an ordinary girl. as though nothing bad was happening to someone she loves.
the television had only been on for background noise, something barely noticeable through the quiet din of a rabbit family going through their daily lives in a safe and sound home. she hadn't even noticed the television was turned to the Horns Conglomerate conference, not until her father suddenly turned the volume up and she heard Louis' voice, growing frantic, manic almost.
"Hey, didn't that guy go to Cherryton with you, Haru?"
"What a shame, a coworker of mine has stocks in that company--"
the general conversation between her family seemed to buzz around her like little more than white noise as Haru remained transfixed to the television screen. the telltale signs of a herbivore's flight or fight instinct were welling up inside her, only to be doubled down with feelings of anger and frustration and fear for another. when the newsfeed cuts, and a familiar jingle for the local shopping mall begins to play by way of distraction, Haru has already taken her coat and stomped on her boots to make her way to...
well, where a rabbit shouldn't be going with tensions between carnivores and herbivores this high in the city.
she takes the familiar routes towards the Hidden Condo, dangerously too-close to the growing crowd bustling towards the Back Alley Market. but Haru knows how to make herself "go big" in crowds, maneuver through the various large bodies of animals even when things get jammed with pedestrians.
So what if someone tries to scoop me up and eat me. He's out there getting in trouble to!
she knows Legosi isn't going to be at his place, but...there's really nowhere else to turn to, is there? the Back Alley (where he all too likely is) would be a death sentence, and angry as she might be, she still has some sense through her self-destructing tendencies. so she stomps up the stairs to his apartment, knowing nobody will be there to see her and let her in.
she doesn't even bother knocking on the door. she knows where he is. all too frustratingly well. so she sits down, back against the door to his apartment, hugging her legs close to her chest.
and waits.
If he's not back before dawn, he's dead. He's dead and I'm done.
but she knows she'll wait long after sunrise. she's just...tired of waiting. and by the time things are done, she's half-asleep, still hunched up in front of Legosi's door, forehead resting against her knees.]
[ He's always getting mixed up in something. Even when he doesn't want to be. Maybe especially when he doesn't want to be - but that's just his lot in life, isn't it? Part of the problem of being a PI. You get pulled into other peoples' problems. You get to see the ugly side - cheating husbands, stolen money. Sometimes he does bodyguard work, too, but he prefers the more normal, mundane stuff. Sure, someone finding out their spouse is cheating is heartbreaking, but it also usually ends with lawyers. Not murder.
He's seen too much of that.
Still seems like his luck to keep getting involved in it, though. He can't say why. This time around, things are getting more complex. Murder. Jealousy. Someone asking him to look out for someone else - and that 'someone else' is the woman in the apartment with him. This is supposed to be a case where he keeps an eye on her, but he has a feeling that he's getting too close for it to really be that anymore. Something he should've looked out for and avoided, but the heart's a strange beast and John can't really deny it. Another one of his failings.
It's late now, the rush of the city outside still going on and on and on, the buzz of cars, the muted chatter of a city at night. Yellow streetlamps throwing shadows as he perches on the fire escape and peers out into the darkness, the glow of a cigarette lighting up his face as he thinks. Can't sleep. Can't think. There's something about this that he can't put his finger on. Why do they - whoever "they" is - care so much about Haru? Did she witness something? Does she know something? Or is it all just some sort of irrational urge, some sicko out to get his jollies off? Hard to say right now. Not enough information and he's not sure he can go to the police, even he has friends there.
He takes another drag on his cigarette and glances over his shoulder at the sound of movenet. Is she awake, too? It's the wee hours of the morning. No one should be awake.
But here he is. ]
He's seen too much of that.
Still seems like his luck to keep getting involved in it, though. He can't say why. This time around, things are getting more complex. Murder. Jealousy. Someone asking him to look out for someone else - and that 'someone else' is the woman in the apartment with him. This is supposed to be a case where he keeps an eye on her, but he has a feeling that he's getting too close for it to really be that anymore. Something he should've looked out for and avoided, but the heart's a strange beast and John can't really deny it. Another one of his failings.
It's late now, the rush of the city outside still going on and on and on, the buzz of cars, the muted chatter of a city at night. Yellow streetlamps throwing shadows as he perches on the fire escape and peers out into the darkness, the glow of a cigarette lighting up his face as he thinks. Can't sleep. Can't think. There's something about this that he can't put his finger on. Why do they - whoever "they" is - care so much about Haru? Did she witness something? Does she know something? Or is it all just some sort of irrational urge, some sicko out to get his jollies off? Hard to say right now. Not enough information and he's not sure he can go to the police, even he has friends there.
He takes another drag on his cigarette and glances over his shoulder at the sound of movenet. Is she awake, too? It's the wee hours of the morning. No one should be awake.
But here he is. ]
[She's never really seen herself as someone particularly important. Just one female rabbit out of thousands of others, no mark or family name that strikes anyone who doesn't know her as someone worthwhile in this world. To Haru, this is less about her actual importance, but that she fell in with someone who sees her at risk.
The name and reason may be kept secret from this PI; unsigned letters and cash in unlabeled envelopes slipped under the door, but Haru's not stupid, she knows there's only one person in her life who could even afford to set this up. For an ex-lover now off running with rougher crowds, he sure is controlling. To the rest of the world he's missing. To Haru he's...
Well, frustrating to deal with, even if his lack of communication is concerning for a herbivore.
She's a restless sleeper, regardless if she's in a room alone or occupied by another, and the cool breeze from an open window smelling gently of cigarette smoke is more than enough to stir her awake. She's been with this PI, Blacksad, was it?, long enough where she doesn't really care how she presents herself, and sitting up in bed she wraps herself up in a nightgown only to keep the chill at bay and not for modesty's sake.]
You don't have to play lookout. [She crosses the room from her bed towards the open window, running her hands up along one ear to fix up any potential bedhead.] If that's what you're doing.
The name and reason may be kept secret from this PI; unsigned letters and cash in unlabeled envelopes slipped under the door, but Haru's not stupid, she knows there's only one person in her life who could even afford to set this up. For an ex-lover now off running with rougher crowds, he sure is controlling. To the rest of the world he's missing. To Haru he's...
Well, frustrating to deal with, even if his lack of communication is concerning for a herbivore.
She's a restless sleeper, regardless if she's in a room alone or occupied by another, and the cool breeze from an open window smelling gently of cigarette smoke is more than enough to stir her awake. She's been with this PI, Blacksad, was it?, long enough where she doesn't really care how she presents herself, and sitting up in bed she wraps herself up in a nightgown only to keep the chill at bay and not for modesty's sake.]
You don't have to play lookout. [She crosses the room from her bed towards the open window, running her hands up along one ear to fix up any potential bedhead.] If that's what you're doing.
[ He flicks and ear and glances down at her as she approaches. He takes one more drag on the cigarette, burning it down almost to nothing and then stops it out on the railing. The scent lingers. ]
It's what I'm being paid to do. [ He shoots her a lopsided smile and then it fades into something a little more serious, face only partially lit by the light reflecting up from the flickering streetlamps. ]
Mostly just thinking. Didn't mean to bother you.
[ Not that there's much to look out for out here. If someone wanted to come for them, they'd come through the front door. Probably. Someone coming up the fire escape would make more noise. He eyes Haru in the dim light of the apartment, tries to think of what he could say to her. Tries to think of what the whole point of this is. Someone wants her safe from... something. He doesn't know what. Just that they pay and pay well. ]
Trying to figure all of this out in my own head. [ He's being rather frank about the whole thing. No reason not to be considering how close they've gotten and how quickly. ]
It's what I'm being paid to do. [ He shoots her a lopsided smile and then it fades into something a little more serious, face only partially lit by the light reflecting up from the flickering streetlamps. ]
Mostly just thinking. Didn't mean to bother you.
[ Not that there's much to look out for out here. If someone wanted to come for them, they'd come through the front door. Probably. Someone coming up the fire escape would make more noise. He eyes Haru in the dim light of the apartment, tries to think of what he could say to her. Tries to think of what the whole point of this is. Someone wants her safe from... something. He doesn't know what. Just that they pay and pay well. ]
Trying to figure all of this out in my own head. [ He's being rather frank about the whole thing. No reason not to be considering how close they've gotten and how quickly. ]
( legosi's mind had been lagging behind, left in the dust by the automatic nature of his instincts and his actions, but now it was starting to catch up. he feels like he'd been hit by a truck. his ear (or, rather, the torn place he'd one had an ear) and the many lacerations on his arms and chest sting against open air. the blood that had streamed down one side of his face had dried and crusted over; he couldn't even open that eye anymore. as his adrenaline had ebbed and exhaustion slowly filtered into its place, his posture had degraded; now, he drags his feet as he takes limping steps forward. how he'd even gotten away from everyone else was a question he would have to delve deep into his memories to try to discern, but there had been so much happening, he supposes he had just slipped away. he wants to be with them, of course. to smile at louis, happy that they had accomplished what they had set out to do. to try to reassure his grandfather that he was fine (or that he would at the very least be fine, very soon). to speak with yahya again, to try to figure out if he could ever get through to melon.
so why is it that he found himself shambling back home? there wasn't much for him here. in all honesty, when he had closed the behind them on that mess of drying blood, legosi had thought it would be the last he'd ever see of it. he had been very aware he was marching toward his potential death. so what does he march towards now? his — future? one where he can be with haru? that's what he had been promised, and yahya did not seem a man to not be true to his word...
it was all too common for legosi to become so focused on what was directly in front of him that he was startled when that was suddenly cleared away, leaving him with the aftermath. he feels excited — exhilarated, even — but also a little afraid. in the moment he had felt the need to take the problems of animal society into his own hands and wrangle them himself, but that fleeting bravado was leaving him, and he has to wonder who or what he is now. if not some delinquent wolf, if not a beastar... does he have to be someone who helped change the world? would anyone regard him as such if they'd known the whole story — the full scope of his reasons?
it's too much to think about now. he's so tired. each step in the condo feels like a hill that he's had to sprint up. when he arrives at his hall, he sees the familiar, huddled shape in front of his door and he stops dead. a thrill of fear worms its way through the veins and arteries of his body, spiking him with enough endorphins to force his body down the hall with more speed than was probably recommended for him at this point. he calms down as he gets closer, ascertaining that she's uninjured; she's just resting with her head resting against her knees.
he knows immediately upon seeing her here that he's fucked up. even knowing that, he's also aware he wouldn't have done it any other way — even if she would yell at him for it, he wouldn't have wanted her anywhere near the back alley market, where her safety would have been in question or leveraged against him. he huffs a breath, and then every bone in his body seems to creak as he lowers himself down to her level, resting back on his haunches. he's silent for a moment, a bit of that fear flaring up once more, afraid that once he wakes her up, it would prompt her to finally come to her senses and leave behind a no-good wolf like him. but, no. he had to.
he reaches out and strokes her head with one large, clawed hand; her fur is so soft, and after everything that had happened today, he feels like he's never felt anything softer. for a moment he is silent, his gaze averted; his one remaining ear flaps helplessly, uncertain of what to say, wondering if there was anything he could say that would make any of this better.
in the end, he doesn't think there necessarily is. but, characteristically, he tries anyway: )
...Haru-chan... I'm sorry.
( for all of this, for everything. and for how much of a mess he looks right now. )
so why is it that he found himself shambling back home? there wasn't much for him here. in all honesty, when he had closed the behind them on that mess of drying blood, legosi had thought it would be the last he'd ever see of it. he had been very aware he was marching toward his potential death. so what does he march towards now? his — future? one where he can be with haru? that's what he had been promised, and yahya did not seem a man to not be true to his word...
it was all too common for legosi to become so focused on what was directly in front of him that he was startled when that was suddenly cleared away, leaving him with the aftermath. he feels excited — exhilarated, even — but also a little afraid. in the moment he had felt the need to take the problems of animal society into his own hands and wrangle them himself, but that fleeting bravado was leaving him, and he has to wonder who or what he is now. if not some delinquent wolf, if not a beastar... does he have to be someone who helped change the world? would anyone regard him as such if they'd known the whole story — the full scope of his reasons?
it's too much to think about now. he's so tired. each step in the condo feels like a hill that he's had to sprint up. when he arrives at his hall, he sees the familiar, huddled shape in front of his door and he stops dead. a thrill of fear worms its way through the veins and arteries of his body, spiking him with enough endorphins to force his body down the hall with more speed than was probably recommended for him at this point. he calms down as he gets closer, ascertaining that she's uninjured; she's just resting with her head resting against her knees.
he knows immediately upon seeing her here that he's fucked up. even knowing that, he's also aware he wouldn't have done it any other way — even if she would yell at him for it, he wouldn't have wanted her anywhere near the back alley market, where her safety would have been in question or leveraged against him. he huffs a breath, and then every bone in his body seems to creak as he lowers himself down to her level, resting back on his haunches. he's silent for a moment, a bit of that fear flaring up once more, afraid that once he wakes her up, it would prompt her to finally come to her senses and leave behind a no-good wolf like him. but, no. he had to.
he reaches out and strokes her head with one large, clawed hand; her fur is so soft, and after everything that had happened today, he feels like he's never felt anything softer. for a moment he is silent, his gaze averted; his one remaining ear flaps helplessly, uncertain of what to say, wondering if there was anything he could say that would make any of this better.
in the end, he doesn't think there necessarily is. but, characteristically, he tries anyway: )
...Haru-chan... I'm sorry.
( for all of this, for everything. and for how much of a mess he looks right now. )
[Haru flicks her ear the moment she finishes assessing it with her hands. Right, he's being paid to do all this...while her nameless (to him) benefactor is doing this out of what he assumes is out of the goodness of his cold heart, this man is just a paid bodyguard of sorts.]
I'm not the one paying you. [She knows he already knows this, knows that it won't change anything to point out how little say she has in the manner of this guy's hiring. If she had her choice she'd have continued to live freely, even if that put her at risk.
There's something in the way he looks that is simultaneously a comfort and unnerving. It's from their close proximity for the last...however many months they've been together, and each time it's a pull against her fur, felt most keen at the back of her neck, that grows stronger and stronger. She rubs at it, allowing herself a slight shiver that can easily be attributed to the open window and thin nightgown she has one.]
Well, you think loudly. Especially when this isn't something you need to figure out... [She's looking away as she says this, still rubbing the back of her neck, then after another moment or two she looks back at him, avoiding his gaze in a way that's typical of a prey animal, focused instead on the expanse of the city behind him.] The least you could do is offer a lady a smoke.
[She's making herself difficult, which is typical.]
Unless you're too busy figuring this out to do so.
I'm not the one paying you. [She knows he already knows this, knows that it won't change anything to point out how little say she has in the manner of this guy's hiring. If she had her choice she'd have continued to live freely, even if that put her at risk.
There's something in the way he looks that is simultaneously a comfort and unnerving. It's from their close proximity for the last...however many months they've been together, and each time it's a pull against her fur, felt most keen at the back of her neck, that grows stronger and stronger. She rubs at it, allowing herself a slight shiver that can easily be attributed to the open window and thin nightgown she has one.]
Well, you think loudly. Especially when this isn't something you need to figure out... [She's looking away as she says this, still rubbing the back of her neck, then after another moment or two she looks back at him, avoiding his gaze in a way that's typical of a prey animal, focused instead on the expanse of the city behind him.] The least you could do is offer a lady a smoke.
[She's making herself difficult, which is typical.]
Unless you're too busy figuring this out to do so.
[a half-asleep herbivore is one that can wake fully at any given moment, at any sudden noise or a shift in atmosphere of an animal's quiet approach. there's always been something to Legosi with the way her world seems to bend towards him, like a small space rock caught in a much larger planet's pull. she's awake before he approaches her, head still resting at her knees but black eyes wide open and staring down at the ground. there's that familiar flash of instinct, of fear and unease of a large animal approaching, a rise in her heartrate, but she pushes down against it, refusing to stir until he within reach.
Let him come. try as she might to stay still, her ear twitches at the thought, feeling a warm bitterness welling up inside her. I'm not chasing after him.
a rabbit's sense of smell is much weaker than that of a wolf's, but she can still smell him, just as large and as encompassing as his form. it's not just him though, it's other scents. blood being the strongest; blood which sets hers to ice. and when the atmosphere shifts again as he reaches towards her, body tensed even more, both ears twitching as his hand comes in contact with her head, gentle and warm and heavy, she remains in her curled up position.
she feels angry, she feels sad. she's feeling a lot of things, but most agitating of all she feels relief in being touched by him.
Haru lets the silence following his apology hang in the air, hoping his hand stays against her but also wanting nothing to do with him.]
I'm mad at you. [her voice is small even though she wants to make herself big and angry. tears are welling up in her eyes beyond her control.] I'm so angry I-- [she looks up and whatever she was going to say gets caught in her throat.]
You-- [she falls forward onto her knees, hands coming up to hold his face, the white fur on her hands no doubt getting stained red from his blood.] You look awful! [her hands tense against his face, squeezing him out of anger which probably doesn't feel like much coming from a small and weak rabbit like her.]
Your apology doesn't mean anything with you looking like this!
Let him come. try as she might to stay still, her ear twitches at the thought, feeling a warm bitterness welling up inside her. I'm not chasing after him.
a rabbit's sense of smell is much weaker than that of a wolf's, but she can still smell him, just as large and as encompassing as his form. it's not just him though, it's other scents. blood being the strongest; blood which sets hers to ice. and when the atmosphere shifts again as he reaches towards her, body tensed even more, both ears twitching as his hand comes in contact with her head, gentle and warm and heavy, she remains in her curled up position.
she feels angry, she feels sad. she's feeling a lot of things, but most agitating of all she feels relief in being touched by him.
Haru lets the silence following his apology hang in the air, hoping his hand stays against her but also wanting nothing to do with him.]
I'm mad at you. [her voice is small even though she wants to make herself big and angry. tears are welling up in her eyes beyond her control.] I'm so angry I-- [she looks up and whatever she was going to say gets caught in her throat.]
You-- [she falls forward onto her knees, hands coming up to hold his face, the white fur on her hands no doubt getting stained red from his blood.] You look awful! [her hands tense against his face, squeezing him out of anger which probably doesn't feel like much coming from a small and weak rabbit like her.]
Your apology doesn't mean anything with you looking like this!
True. I'm not getting paid to figure this out. But I've always been bad at following instructions.
[ His smile is wry, a touch sardonic. It's what he does - gets in over his head, even though he knows he ought not to. Even when he knows there's something going on underneath the surface that he'd be better off closing his eyes to. It's the tragedy of it all. His own damn curiosity.
Her statement on cigarettes makes him pauses and then he taps one out of a crumpled pack for her (and another for himself for good measure) and he bends down to offer her a light, the little flare of the lighter illuminating their faces. ]
Where are my manners? [ He murmurs around the cigarette dangling from his lips. ]
See, this is why I'm glad I'm sticking around you. You remind me of what I'm supposed to be doing.
[ His smile is wry, a touch sardonic. It's what he does - gets in over his head, even though he knows he ought not to. Even when he knows there's something going on underneath the surface that he'd be better off closing his eyes to. It's the tragedy of it all. His own damn curiosity.
Her statement on cigarettes makes him pauses and then he taps one out of a crumpled pack for her (and another for himself for good measure) and he bends down to offer her a light, the little flare of the lighter illuminating their faces. ]
Where are my manners? [ He murmurs around the cigarette dangling from his lips. ]
See, this is why I'm glad I'm sticking around you. You remind me of what I'm supposed to be doing.
[She ignores the strange, staggered way her heart beats in her chest, taking the proffered cigarette between delicate fingers. She holds it to her lips, leaning in towards the light and taking a drag from the flame, looking up at him.
The orange light casts a strange glow, making him appear much larger and intimidating in the dark, lights dim and dangerous for a small herbivore with no night vision. In the day time, it's different. He's just like any other mammal to her.
But here, in this room paid for by her ex's money, he's...not anything like any male she's been with.
She exhales, leaning back against the window frame.]
What you're supposed to be doing is sticking around me. [It's said chidingly, and she flicks some ash from the end of her cigarette onto the fire escape from the open window.] Making sure I don't get spirited away into the night by some big bad force.
The orange light casts a strange glow, making him appear much larger and intimidating in the dark, lights dim and dangerous for a small herbivore with no night vision. In the day time, it's different. He's just like any other mammal to her.
But here, in this room paid for by her ex's money, he's...not anything like any male she's been with.
She exhales, leaning back against the window frame.]
What you're supposed to be doing is sticking around me. [It's said chidingly, and she flicks some ash from the end of her cigarette onto the fire escape from the open window.] Making sure I don't get spirited away into the night by some big bad force.
[ John watches her for a moment as well. She's... small. Smaller than quite a few women he's known. Despite that, she has fire and he doesn't think he'd make the mistake of underestimating her. She goes after what she wants. She doesn't give up.
Maybe that's why he's so fond of her. He always did love an underdog.
He takes another drag, joining her next to the window. ]
I didn't go anywhere, did I?
[ He seems amused at her chiding tone. ]
Or do you just want me to come back to bed?
Maybe that's why he's so fond of her. He always did love an underdog.
He takes another drag, joining her next to the window. ]
I didn't go anywhere, did I?
[ He seems amused at her chiding tone. ]
Or do you just want me to come back to bed?
No, it seems like you haven't gone anywhere in quite some time, honestly.
[It's getting hard to imagine her life alone, even if she still feels like she's alone. It's the sort of self-isolationism that's imprinted on her very being, from keeping to herself when she was younger, to the ostracization she went through in school because of the way she chose to live her life more freely than other female herbivores in her class.
And now as an adult, that inner loneliness remains hard to shake. But she's not alone.
At his amused response, she bites back an urge to smirk, hiding it behind the soft glow of the cigarette, exhaling, and she's quiet to let his question linger for a moment or two longer than necessary.]
I can use that sort of company tonight. [Does her ex know what she gets up to with the bodyguard he's hired for her? Does it even matter...?
Haru doesn't make any movement however, waiting for John to take the first step. Her cigarette lingers between her fore and middle finger.]
[It's getting hard to imagine her life alone, even if she still feels like she's alone. It's the sort of self-isolationism that's imprinted on her very being, from keeping to herself when she was younger, to the ostracization she went through in school because of the way she chose to live her life more freely than other female herbivores in her class.
And now as an adult, that inner loneliness remains hard to shake. But she's not alone.
At his amused response, she bites back an urge to smirk, hiding it behind the soft glow of the cigarette, exhaling, and she's quiet to let his question linger for a moment or two longer than necessary.]
I can use that sort of company tonight. [Does her ex know what she gets up to with the bodyguard he's hired for her? Does it even matter...?
Haru doesn't make any movement however, waiting for John to take the first step. Her cigarette lingers between her fore and middle finger.]
[ To be fair, he tries to keep out of her way. He tries not to intrude on the life she lives. That's an impossibility, though, when you're living with someone and trying to protect them. Maybe that's why they've fallen in the way they have. It's easier to pretend that there's something a little more to this than to try and maintain that cold distance. Funny how that tends to happen to him a lot. No matter who he's working with. ]
Then I can respect a lady's request.
[ He sounds amused. And then he leans down toward her to press a soft kiss against her lips; it's lingering. They both taste of cigarette smoke. A hand settles against her shoulder, gently gripping as he starts to lose himself in her. ]
Then I can respect a lady's request.
[ He sounds amused. And then he leans down toward her to press a soft kiss against her lips; it's lingering. They both taste of cigarette smoke. A hand settles against her shoulder, gently gripping as he starts to lose himself in her. ]
[Whatever this is between them, it's perhaps the only actual mutual thing regarding this arrangement. She hates knowing his presence here is at the behest of an ex-lover wrapped up in a mess she has nothing to do with, besides unfortunate timing and circumstance.
But this? It was of her own choosing, at least. Making the most of the circumstances given by outside forces you simply can't control.
The taste of his mouth against hers is the familiar heady flavour of the cigarettes he keeps on him, the very one she had been smoking moments before. His hand is heavy at her shoulder, the gentle touch of a carnivore still eliciting a sharp pinch of feel deep in the feral side of her soul. The sort that gets her heartrate elevated with more ease than even the suggestion of sex, but the longer she's with him the more familiarized she is with this feeling.
Her hand holding her cigarette lowers, snuffing it out at its ledge and leaving it there, and both hands come up to brace against his chest.
She moves to kiss the side of his mouth, tugging slightly on the front of his shirt to lead him back inside.]
Come on.
[It's said in a low voice.]
But this? It was of her own choosing, at least. Making the most of the circumstances given by outside forces you simply can't control.
The taste of his mouth against hers is the familiar heady flavour of the cigarettes he keeps on him, the very one she had been smoking moments before. His hand is heavy at her shoulder, the gentle touch of a carnivore still eliciting a sharp pinch of feel deep in the feral side of her soul. The sort that gets her heartrate elevated with more ease than even the suggestion of sex, but the longer she's with him the more familiarized she is with this feeling.
Her hand holding her cigarette lowers, snuffing it out at its ledge and leaving it there, and both hands come up to brace against his chest.
She moves to kiss the side of his mouth, tugging slightly on the front of his shirt to lead him back inside.]
Come on.
[It's said in a low voice.]
[ Hah. He feels her hands brush against his chest through the fabric of his undershirt and his heart leaps a little; his pulse quickens. There's a moment where he's lost in her, bent down to try and deepen the kiss, and then she's tugging him back inside and a laugh bubbles out of him as he follows. ]
Right behind you.
[ They're back in the apartment, the dull drone of a fan going somewhere in the background, and he moves with her back toward the bed. An arm slides around her, a hand finds the curve of her rump and he lifts her and essentially carries her the rest of the way, laying her down on the mattress and crawling up after her, lips pressing little kisses against the curve of her chin and the corner of her mouth. ]
Right behind you.
[ They're back in the apartment, the dull drone of a fan going somewhere in the background, and he moves with her back toward the bed. An arm slides around her, a hand finds the curve of her rump and he lifts her and essentially carries her the rest of the way, laying her down on the mattress and crawling up after her, lips pressing little kisses against the curve of her chin and the corner of her mouth. ]
[How easy it is for large mammals to move her is never lost on her, even in the midst of kissing and enjoying ones company, there will always be that slight hiccup of instinct that jumps inside her whenever she's lifted at the behest of another. It's not altogether unpleasant, and the warmth of him against her grounds her.
There is a common ground when it comes to sex, and she makes a small noise as he lifts her. And as he lays her down on the bed she brings her legs up, making due with their difference in size to tug down at the waistband of his slacks with her toes, even if it takes a few tries to find purchase.
She returns his kiss at the corner of her mouth by turning her head, hand coming up to cup his cheek to guide his mouth back onto hers. It's a deep kiss, one that gives tell to her need for this kind of connection with another.]
There is a common ground when it comes to sex, and she makes a small noise as he lifts her. And as he lays her down on the bed she brings her legs up, making due with their difference in size to tug down at the waistband of his slacks with her toes, even if it takes a few tries to find purchase.
She returns his kiss at the corner of her mouth by turning her head, hand coming up to cup his cheek to guide his mouth back onto hers. It's a deep kiss, one that gives tell to her need for this kind of connection with another.]
[ There's no instinct there for him; no jump of fear. Just an intense need and desire. But they are on opposite sides of the divide, aren't they? He's a predatory, a carnivore, and she's an herbivore. A dividing line that maybe ought to keep the mapart, but certainly doesn't. Not now. There's a noise from him - a laugh - as her toes catch against his waistband and he drops a hand to help with it, shuffling it off of his hips as they lock lips again.
He deepens the kiss and as he does, he steps out of his slacks and slides onto the bed with her, covering her with his body and his larger bulk. How small she seems to be compared to him is always a point of amazement and early on he was afraid of hurting her.
Not so now.
His hand, now free, slides up her side, cups the slenderness of her waist. There's no need to rush this, is there? ]
He deepens the kiss and as he does, he steps out of his slacks and slides onto the bed with her, covering her with his body and his larger bulk. How small she seems to be compared to him is always a point of amazement and early on he was afraid of hurting her.
Not so now.
His hand, now free, slides up her side, cups the slenderness of her waist. There's no need to rush this, is there? ]
[The first few times, it likely took some convincing that, at least in bed like this, she's more nimble and difficult to break when it comes to sex. She's been with mammals large and small, after all, and while a larger carnivore like John is new to her, when it came to sleeping with him there was some common ground.
And, honestly, it wouldn't matter if he did hurt her. But he doesn't, and he won't.
Him assisting her attempts to get his pants off so she can feel his full weight covering her as they kiss elicits a sigh from her against his mouth. The drag of his hand along her waist raises her heartrate even more. There is no need to rush, in fact she prefers to take things slow when it's with a guy she actually likes, but a rabbit's body always seems to rush through things.
Her hand comes down to rest atop his, guiding it up.] Can you--? [Bringing the large breadth and weight of his hand up against the small rise of her breast. Beneath her robe is a silk nightgown, and it's sheer enough where she can feel the heat of his touch through the fabric.
Everything she says is between each kiss, separating only for a breath or two.]
Play with me a little.
And, honestly, it wouldn't matter if he did hurt her. But he doesn't, and he won't.
Him assisting her attempts to get his pants off so she can feel his full weight covering her as they kiss elicits a sigh from her against his mouth. The drag of his hand along her waist raises her heartrate even more. There is no need to rush, in fact she prefers to take things slow when it's with a guy she actually likes, but a rabbit's body always seems to rush through things.
Her hand comes down to rest atop his, guiding it up.] Can you--? [Bringing the large breadth and weight of his hand up against the small rise of her breast. Beneath her robe is a silk nightgown, and it's sheer enough where she can feel the heat of his touch through the fabric.
Everything she says is between each kiss, separating only for a breath or two.]
Play with me a little.
[ The touch of her fingers against his hand gives him a moment of pause and then her request makes it make a little more sense. He laughs, something low and throaty, and he dips his head to press a lingering kiss against the curve of her throat. There's the threat of teeth, but it never quite emerges. Instead, there are murmured words as his hand brushes against the swell of her breast of her breast. Really, he more engulfs it, considering how slight she is. Not that he particularly minds that. ]
Of course.
[ His palm gently grinds against her through the thin, silken fabric, brushing it against the peak of her nipple as he trails another little line of kisses toward her collarbone. Slow and measure and easy, wanting to treat her right. He wasn't really planning on rushing, anyway. ]
Of course.
[ His palm gently grinds against her through the thin, silken fabric, brushing it against the peak of her nipple as he trails another little line of kisses toward her collarbone. Slow and measure and easy, wanting to treat her right. He wasn't really planning on rushing, anyway. ]
[She won't admit to it out loud, but the threat of teeth against the thin skin of her throat, knowing how easy it would be for him to just tear into her should he so choose, makes her feel utterly breathless. Things seem to slow down to near stopping, in a way which elevates her sensitivity towards touch and movement, and she can't help but make a small whimper of a noise as his palm presses against her breast at her behest.
She's small, but everything she feels is just so big and overwhelming, squirming a bit as his hand grazes her nipple, already peaked and obvious through her nightgown. And as he kisses downward, she brings her hands up to feel up along his upper back, fingers featherlight against the broad breadth of his shoulders, coming to rest at the back of his head, running her hands through warm fur.
Each movement, each touch draws a noise from her. She was never much of a quiet bedmate.]
She's small, but everything she feels is just so big and overwhelming, squirming a bit as his hand grazes her nipple, already peaked and obvious through her nightgown. And as he kisses downward, she brings her hands up to feel up along his upper back, fingers featherlight against the broad breadth of his shoulders, coming to rest at the back of his head, running her hands through warm fur.
Each movement, each touch draws a noise from her. She was never much of a quiet bedmate.]
[ That's fine. He enjoys it when she's vocal; it tells him that he's doing the right thing. That she enjoys the touch he drags over skin and fur and that he's making sure she feels good. What else can one ask for? He drags at her nightgown - its in the way now, preventing him from getting as close as he'd like - and tugs the strap off of one shoulder and then the other so he can pile it at her waist and let his mouth find the peak of her nipple, tongue lathing against it.
There's pleasure in this; in being allowed to give rather than take. ]
There's pleasure in this; in being allowed to give rather than take. ]
[The nightgown slips off her with ease, fabric smooth against her soft fur. She does shift a bit to help him do away with it, and she's laid half-bare beneath him. The fur at her chest is the same as it is throughout the rest of her body, but the fur at her nipples is finer, and her arousal brings them to prominence, sensitive to his touch.]
Mmm [Her fingers tense through his fur, gripping him as he puts his mouth over her, his tongue brushing against the sensitive peak in a way that tightens her to her very core, body burning up. She's been with him a good handful of times now, but each and every time his mouth is up against her, she can't stop thinking about his teeth...]
Mmm [Her fingers tense through his fur, gripping him as he puts his mouth over her, his tongue brushing against the sensitive peak in a way that tightens her to her very core, body burning up. She's been with him a good handful of times now, but each and every time his mouth is up against her, she can't stop thinking about his teeth...]
[ Those teeth of his close gently against her flesh, trapping the nipple between them so that he can lavish it with more attention from his tongue. There's always a thrill here; the sense of danger, perhaps, or the threat of breaking the skin. Carnivore and herbivore balanced together. He wouldn't hurt her. Doesn't want to.
But there's always the possibility.
He switches teeth and tongue and lips to her other breast and by now one of his hands are running down her side to the cloth bunched at her waist, trying to find his way underneath. The other seeks out one of her hands, interlaces their fingers and squeezes - it's a gesture of affection and intimacy, one that makes him shiver head to toe with that sense of anticipation. ]
But there's always the possibility.
He switches teeth and tongue and lips to her other breast and by now one of his hands are running down her side to the cloth bunched at her waist, trying to find his way underneath. The other seeks out one of her hands, interlaces their fingers and squeezes - it's a gesture of affection and intimacy, one that makes him shiver head to toe with that sense of anticipation. ]
Ah, John... [His name escapes her, beyond her control almost, when she feels his teeth teasing sensitive flesh. Knowing how easily she could be torn apart, the danger rattling through her in a way that builds with the threat of release.
Sex is instinct, but fear is too for her, and muddled within that is the sense of control and power sleeping with someone does offer her and it's one of the few times she actually still feels alive.
She's looking, eyes half-lidded, up at the ceiling, finding shapes in the cracks to keep herself grounded, shifting her hips up so he can pull the cloth of her gown further down, along with her undergarments if he so chooses-- lacy and useless with how wet she is now.
Her hand meets his, and she shifts back a bit more to prop her back up against a pillow to look down at him. Her own way of intimacy, along with her lacing his fingers between his.
He seems to take up the whole bed compared to her.]
Sex is instinct, but fear is too for her, and muddled within that is the sense of control and power sleeping with someone does offer her and it's one of the few times she actually still feels alive.
She's looking, eyes half-lidded, up at the ceiling, finding shapes in the cracks to keep herself grounded, shifting her hips up so he can pull the cloth of her gown further down, along with her undergarments if he so chooses-- lacy and useless with how wet she is now.
Her hand meets his, and she shifts back a bit more to prop her back up against a pillow to look down at him. Her own way of intimacy, along with her lacing his fingers between his.
He seems to take up the whole bed compared to her.]
[ The way she says his name makes him shiver on top of her and his fingers squeeze a little tighter around hers. There is instinct in this; appreciation and affection and more. Her nightgown is disposed off, tossed aside along with her undergarments, and she is gloriously naked underneath him.
Although now he feels overdressed.
He'll deal with it in a moment.
For now he continues to essentially worship her - or perhaps consume her - with every brush of his tongue and nip of his teeth against her breasts. He sprawls out before (over) her, gazing up at her with lidded eyes as his mouth finally moves lower, planting kisses in the soft fur against her belly, threatening to go lower and lower. ]
Although now he feels overdressed.
He'll deal with it in a moment.
For now he continues to essentially worship her - or perhaps consume her - with every brush of his tongue and nip of his teeth against her breasts. He sprawls out before (over) her, gazing up at her with lidded eyes as his mouth finally moves lower, planting kisses in the soft fur against her belly, threatening to go lower and lower. ]
[Being stripped bare is a relief for her at this point, what remained on her feeling clingy and stifling in the wake of this expanding, overwhelming heat. She squeezes his hand back in return, sitting up even more so as he begins to trace her with his mouth down further.
He is overdressed, even having removed his pants, but for now that observation doesn't even linger for long when he looks up at her, his mouth at her stomach, her own fur already in disarray from the brush of his tongue.
She's needful, body pleading with her to push him downward even faster, but the nights are long and for now she has time. Even still, she shifts once again beneath him, legs splayed for him.
She wants to be consumed...in any way he'd have her.]
He is overdressed, even having removed his pants, but for now that observation doesn't even linger for long when he looks up at her, his mouth at her stomach, her own fur already in disarray from the brush of his tongue.
She's needful, body pleading with her to push him downward even faster, but the nights are long and for now she has time. Even still, she shifts once again beneath him, legs splayed for him.
She wants to be consumed...in any way he'd have her.]
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