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[He looks over her notes as best he can, though to layman eyes like his it takes a while to get through it all, understand it like it's meant to be.]

This is awesome, Nariko.

[But it's only now that he realizes that he's essentially asked her to do work for him! Even if she's really enjoying it...it's still skilled labor that came of hours of studying and practice. Skilled labor she should probably be paid for, because this little thing will make his life easier!]

Hey, uh...how should I repay you for all of this...?

Don't worry about that.

[Why would he have to repay her? It's something she's choosing to do and take on, it's not as if he really even asked her to make it for him! And even if he had, it's not as if she had established rates or whatever the hell. That was part of the joy of being paid by the government, they just kind of went with it and she didn't have to think about it.]

I'm doing it because it's fun, and it's not like you're going to need it right away. [He probably has a way to take care of his tank and such right now, after all.]

[To get her back into her passion was kind of the reason why he angled for this...so he's easy enough to convince in that regard.]

So...oral, then.

[He gives her a wide grin.]

Huh?! [Her thoughts had been so far off from any kind of physicality that to hear anything about it is briefly shocking.] Oh, geez! [And then she laughs, before sipping her tea.]

I might actually need a little more practice with you, so I'll just end up owing you again.

[There's a chance she misunderstood something here.]

No, no. [A chuckle.] I mean that's how I'll have to repay you. Oral.

[Something that he can work on that they'll both enjoy! Just like how they'll both enjoy the fruits of her labor--her making it, and him using it.]

Oh. [Give her just a second, and then:] Ohhh!

[See, now she gets it!] ... It's really sad that I can't remember the last time that happened.

[That really should have been her first sign that her previous relationship was bullshit. She'd have never stayed with someone who didn't eat out when she was still in college!! Damn.]

Seriously?

[He sighs irritably.]

Is it too late to arrest your ex on charges of crimes against human rights?

[What man with half a brain would pass up the opportunity to have his head buried between this woman's fine-ass legs? Holy hell.]

I don't think we'd really be able to bring those charges to court.

[This shouldn't be mistaken for a defense in any sense of the word. It was one of those things she just hadn't thought about ... Somehow ... It's not as if their sex life had been disappointing or anything, it just lacked that one particular activity!]

Besides, you apparently don't have the same problem, so I think the universe is righting the injustice.

[Face it, Nariko. It was disappointing. Well, compared to this stride...]

Righting injustice? Hell, I've gotta catch up on how many years of cunnilingus you've missed out on?

[Well, yeah, compared to human-human sex it was disappointing. Compared to pretty much all of Boxer it was more like watching paint dry for hours on end.]

I mean, a few! One, two ... Plus one more ...

[Three.]

Years. Y'know. [She hides her face behind the cup.] ... It's really not that bad?

[REALLY!]

[He rolls his eyes, then stares at her intensely with a matching tone:]

I'm gonna make you scream until you're hoarse.

Ah.

[That wasn't a response, it was just a wanton moan that came out before she had the sense to restrain herself. How the hell else was she supposed to respond to something that hot and fucking perfect.]

... W-well, now that I'm wet. [Deep breathes, think about - about quacking ducks.] There's not too much else but I should at least give you the proper tour, right?

[He's--taken aback a bit. She's got some really easy buttons to push, doesn't she? He didn't mean to make her wet! Boxer laughs.]

Sorry, I didn't mean right now.

[Unless she wants to get some kraken tongue action. He's not going to complain.]

I know. [It's incredibly goddamn tempting but ... They're having a really nice time without messing around, and she wants to keep enjoying that for a while longer. While her fear of being stood up was impractical the concern that they might only be sexually compatible held a little more weight. To have it disproven was an awesome relief.]

Besides, I was serious about that tour. [She looks around her room and smiles.] Not that I expected to be showing off this place, I don't remember the last time someone encouraged me to give this stuff a try again.

[And she appreciates Boxer's support. From simply mentioning it to giving her a little project to focus on.]

So be it! [It's a valid concern, and something he was worried about too. He really doesn't want to end this date with sex, but he doesn't...really want it to end at all. Which is a good sign, but that doesn't mean that parting will be any less sad.

Boxer backs up his chair so she has plenty of room to get out of her office.]

Well, it's not your career--which means it's perfect for a hobby, right?

[He wishes he had such a productive hobby--but he keeps that thought to himself.]

I guess so, but the reason it isn't my career is because I didn't feel very confident in my own skills.

[So in a sense she has to face her own inadequacies with her hobby-once-dream.] Everyone was so much better than me, and even with Lena pushing me I couldn't seem to catch up. [She leads him back out into the hallway, there's a bathroom just off to one side and a storage closet, so the best point of interest is her room.]

I got into my own head, and I couldn't handle it.

[So she found something else to do! It wasn't as emotionally fulfilling, but it was still fun and engaging. It just didn't work her brain as much as engineering did.

It's difficult to step into Nariko's room without noticing her bed - it's huge, much more suited to two people than just one, well covered in deep red and an off white color. It's a theme that carries through most of the room, with the exception of her full on, old school vanity, a tiny reading corner, and a walk-in closet. A good deal of her impressive wardrobe is visible since she left the door open before leaving. But the real star of Nariko's bedroom is the little balcony. It's not too much of one since they're on the lower end of her building's height, but the glass doors are big enough that even Boxer can roll right on through to the outside, where she's got a nice set of patio furniture.

The view itself is kind of interesting, at the top the city had seemed small, but from here it's the definition of a concrete jungle, all looming buildings and patchwork noises. Since it's not too cold, sitting outside might not be so bad.]

And this is why I deal with having an abnormally small door.

[Because her weird apartment has a cool balcony, and she spends an awful lot of time out here on her days off.]

Maybe you'll have to spend some time in mine, then.

[There's no double entendre here. Just some general "I want to spend more time with you" flirting.]

Woah...

[He loves it!]

It's like you've got your own tank!

[Instead of bubbles and sea plants, she's got concrete and glass, and the perfect people-watching spot! And it's not too high up, either--Boxer can feel like he's high up without the anxiety kicking in, which is really awesome.]

You really do have a nice place here, doors aside.

[And a bed he could fit on too!]

I could spend a whole day in here.

[View and vanity and study--gosh, this place is cool]

I'm glad you think so! I'm not sure I could another apartment with a view that's just right, so I haven't been able to let go of this one. [It's kind of old, she's outgrown it in a lot of ways, but it's still too difficult to leave. Who knows, maybe something in the future will push the decision.]

It's relaxing to be so close to it all. [Even when she's alone it doesn't feel like it, and while that could be stifling to some types of people it's a comfort to Nariko. With her cup in hand she plops into her favorite seat, there's more than enough room for Boxer to join if he'd like.]

So, I kind of wanted to ask you before, but I didn't want to seem nosy.

[Or like a jerk.] Did you ever consider doing something else?

[He could have been anything, despite the lack of clear parentage.]

It's very intimate.

[Not sex-intimate, personal-intimate with the city. He's very jealous, but he has the same relationship with New Cloudbank's coast so it's not too bad. And he'll join her on that seat, actually, crawling out of his wheelchair and cuddling up to her and her warm tea.]

Was pretty fond of fighting until I got too big to fit in the ring.

[Figuratively speaking.]

But I've always loved the water, so that's what I stuck with. I know a lot of monsters put in a lot of effort to pursue interests that aren't always convenient for their abilities...so sometimes I feel like I picked the easy way out. Never had to go to school...never had to study...

[He really does have some self-confidence issues here. He doesn't realize that the effort it takes to spend so much time on land when his body wasn't made for it isn't the kind of effort any other sea-dwelling monsterkind are willing to put in, which is why he has the contracts he does in the first place.]

But I still love it and I make a killing off of it.

[She lets him talk, even though, y'know. He's wrong. Completely wrong. But she can't come out and say it like that! she sips her tea and lets herself lean on him a bit, a companionable gesture more than anything else.]

You didn't have to do those things, no, instead you are literally forcing your body to adapt itself to a foreign environment, right? [He's out here with her right now, he's mentioned going into the administrator building, too.] It seems to me that there's a part of your job that plays to your strengths, but there's a really good chunk of it that doesn't, and you've done it for a good while without ever complaining or giving up. And it seems like it played out that way because you do love your job and the city.

[She tilts her gaze to look up at him evenly.] I know you might not believe me, but that's just as valid as the fact that I went to school for five years, Boxer.

[There's a snort, there.] Actually you might be cooler, I got to leave college and I won't go back unless someone forces me.

[He shrugs.]

Feel like I'd be missing out if I didn't come up for air every so often. [That's all! But he gets the heart of what she's trying to say, and even though he wouldn't have the self-confidence to make the argument for himself, it feels good that she's so supportive of what he's ended up doing for himself.]

Speaking of which...

[Boxer gently runs the back of a finger over her cheek.]

Would you like to plan for another date?

[Not a lot of first dates end up in one of the involved party's bedroom so he's gonna go out on a limb here and assume they're in the green for #2. Or #3. Whatever.]

If I think about that I have to admit that this one is going to end!

[It's kind of like being excited for the next day, but you still don't want to go to sleep, even knowing it would get you to what you want.

Also, it's #3, right? They certainly rolled around a lot the first time but they actually got to know each other! So it counts!]

Can I go ahead and ask for a total of three more, at least? I mean, even if the other two are technically date loans or something ...

[Look, she likes spending time with him and she's just not going to be very subtle about it, that's kind of the default setting when this sort of comfort and overall attraction is involved.]

Edited 2016-03-29 04:51 (UTC)

[He scoffs.] Only three? Look, if you're going to buy in bulk, make sure it's bulk.

[Boxer prods her side playfully.]

I was gonna propose--this one doesn't have to end tonight. You can spend the night with me again if you really like my sheets that much.

[He'd ask if he could stay here, but (a) he's not going to invite himself and (b) he kind of needs water to sleep.]

[If she could somehow accommodate issue (b) then she would, but the fact of the matter is that her tub is barely big enough for her, let alone Boxer. All she's got is her mattress and she doesn't want him to wake up dry or possibly hurt in some kraken-care oriented way.

It's just, y'know, if she does go home with him (again) then does that mean something will happen, are they going to lose the emotional intimacy? Because it's been nice, and it's not something she really wants to jeopardize. But she doesn't want to leave him, either.

Life is fucking difficult, and it sucks.]

Well, I do like your sheets. [In the end she just goes with it, what else can she hope to do, anyway? It wouldn't have come out of her mouth if some other, important aspect of her natural being didn't want this outcome.] And I could maybe cash in on that breakfast.

[Especially since she hasn't been granted the joy of a homemade one in weeks, now.]

[Relax, he's not planning to be up to any tricks tonight.]

Yesss.

[He pumps his fist as if in victory, then rubs his hands together as if scheming something devious!]

Oh--you don't have any food allergies, do you?

[Please don't break his heart and say yes.]

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