[Yeah, he's definitely in need of getting his feet wet. But he's already put his swim trunks on, metaphorically speaking, so it's not like he's forcing himself into this against his will.
Krieg is nervous and excited--and really, really glad that Nariko is here, because she seems like she's totally at home. Eventually, he gets the courage to wander off on his own for a few minutes, muttering under his breath.]
It's weird to see all this stuff in person...
[They seemed so fictional since he's only seen them in pictures and videos! Now he can go and...touch this kind of stuff.
Which he does. A lot. While she's looking through those leather dresses, he comes back to Nariko's side and plops a military officer's hat on her head. One that would go with what she's looking at!]
[She's proud of him for going off on his own! It takes a good amount of work to refrain from letting him know that he can call her if he needs anything. Krieg's perfectly grown, but her fretting doesn't know age. With a deep breathe she turns back to the dresses and finds the largest possible size, one that's far more likely to hold her curves. By the time Krieg has returned she's got it draped over one arm, and is picking up an incredibly sizable dildo. It's one that's designed to stuck to a shower wall so ... Maybe not a mental image he wanted, sorry partner.]
Oh, hey!
[She rights it on her head and tilts to look in a nearby mirror. It's cute!] Been over here yet?
[The question's there but she heads towards the restraints and such either way.] So, I didn't think to ask this before, but do you know about the differences between ropes and all that? I mean, I feel like you're going more for a jute angle, but if you're not used to at least forty-five minutes then I think hemp is a lot better.
[No mental picture given. In fact, he’s wondering how the hell she’s going to use it, given that the shower’s barely wide enough to bend over in. Then again, he has a biased point of view, because with how tall he is, he has to get out of the shower in order to pick anything up he’s dropped. It’s kind of a pain.
The second thought he has is how huge it is. Seriously. He’s big but that thing makes him look tiny in comparison.]
Actually, I was coming over here to ask you for your opinion. I’m only used to, um…nylon.
[God, saying it out loud makes him sound like such a rookie. He underestimates the wisdom of his choice, given that the slickness is best for self-bondage as he could use household appliances to loosen it. Standing next to someone more experienced, it feels like showing off your training wheels instead of taking pride in the fact you learned how to ride the bike at all.]
Whichever leaves better red marks at the end of the day.
[He's underestimating what tiny, bendy women can do, basically. She'll have to be creative about it, sure, but it's more than possible.
More importantly? He makes it far too easy to spot his own lack of confidence, unwarranted as it is.] A very good start, then! It probably just doesn't have the roughness you're looking for, that's all. [And she'd kind of argue that had it's own benefits, since not every situation was made for showing off your bondage markings.]
Okay, so ...
[She reaches up on her tip toes to get a good length of nylon, in black.] For you. [And then two more times.] For you and me. [One grab for some beautiful, pearly white bamboo silk rope.] And this one's just for me! So we've got the basics and the 'probably going to leave abrasions for at least a day or more' stuff, now there's just - shit.
[She points up a little higher on the apparent bondage wall.] Can you get those?
[He forgets that people aren't twelve story brick shithouses like him, even though he's used to looking at the tops of their heads. He goes ahead and snatches up those medical shears for her, because reaching for high up things is his job as a twelve story brick shithouse.]
A variety sounds like a good idea. I hope we don't have to use these, though.
[And they can always buy more of it. Nariko can't buy another Krieg! Or even an android version of him!] But I'm sure it'll be fine. It's just that you only need one ER visit to impress upon you the importance of having them nearby, just in case.
[That'd been a wild Thursday night.] Alright, let me get some condoms and then I'll be ready!
[And since they don't have sugar free flavored ones she has to go with the boring fifty count box, and then she's done. Anything else you want, Krieg?]
[She hasn't spotted his combat knives yet, has she? Hmm. But these are probably safer to use, so he lets the thought trail off when she picks up a box of condoms. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it. Of course those are for other people, but if she's serious about riding him...]
Um.
[Is there a way to say this without being a braggart.]
We're gonna need...bigger ones.
[She knows, doesn't she? She's seen it! She hasn't seen it erect, though...]
[No, she hasn't, if she had there'd have been a conversation about why he has combat knives at all. Anyway, she doesn't notice that he's trying to bring something up and is instead heading for the front counter, arms full. When he does speak up she stops, though! And looks a little confused until he gets the words out.]
Krieg, these are pretty big for starting out.
[Considering that she points at one of the sets of rope, she doesn't realize he's talking about the condoms! To be completely fair she didn't get a real look at his package at all, she'd glanced and then felt horrible for even trying. How would she feel if a guy just stared at her ... That's an awful example, since she'd probably enjoy it to some extent, depending on who it was.]
[Does she take the pill too or something? On top of that, he...
He gestures to the arm usually sleeved under his jacket.]
I've never been tested.
[No one ever told him during his blood tests so he might not actually have anything; then again, they might've just assumed he already knew, or didn't care.]
You've been clean for years, right? Upwards-ish of ten?
[That's assuming he quit early at, like, sixteen, but that's probably not it at all. It's not like she ever asked the man for a timeline but mostly she's just proving a point.] It only takes those things a few months to develop into something serious, Krieg. And it's true that people with HIV can present without any symptoms, but as far as I understand you'd still have a higher chance of being sick in other ways that might indicate it.
[Fever, the rash, the headaches ... Something. But it wasn't impossible to go the whole time without presenting some kind of symptom, so:]
God, no. It's been one-thousand and fifty-six days. [Beat.] One month 'til my three-year sobersary.
[At her stern friend voice, he shrugs.]
I never worried about anything the doctors didn't tell me about. They took blood from me so often that I just...figured they'd say something if anything was amiss.
And it doesn't drive you completely insane to not know, one hundred percent?
[Doctors were legally mandated to tell patients, right? That had to be part of their oath or something. But people could be assholes, and judgmental ones at that.]
Well. You're gonna know better than me, so you should pick the ones that'll fit. Just remember to take girth into account, and there has to be a little room at the tip, too.
[One thing she's never done is help a guy go condom shopping, and it's not like she'll be any real help since she's never so much as seen it, let alone felt it. Going bareback is so much more fun, but she can't currently think of a polite way to say 'get tested so we can have sex without condoms' and not sound a demanding, sex-addicted bitch.]
[Check it out, his complete disregard for his well-being is showing its head again. Well...not complete disregard. He's a little better than he used to be.]
I'll be right back.
[And so he goes off to collect a meager box. They're plain, but black. Does that count for anything? He sets them on the counter as Nariko checks out, standing over her from behind. He leans down to whisper into her ear.]
I'll make an appointment when we get home after lunch.
[Her answer is a huff because of course his health is fucking important! He could be really sick goddamn sick! You don't play around with shit that serious and while there was no sense in blaming him for the addiction itself and the things that came along with it, she could be peevish at his lack of care for his own health now! But Nariko tries to take a calming breath and remind herself that Krieg is his own adult. He doesn't need her mothering him.
Except he kind of goddamn needs her to mother over him.
By the time he's setting the condoms down she's already handed everything over, but has apparently decided against the shower dildo, since it's set off to the side. Which means that when he says that she's free to whirl around and face him.]
Really?!
[It also means that she can make up for her lack of height by hopping up, and getting her arms around his neck to outright kiss him. It's longer and much firmer this time around! See what happens when you care about yourself, Krieg? You get some kind of positive affection!]
Good. I'm glad.
[And not just because she wants condom-less sex, but because he needs to be aware of his health! But they also have to pay, so she lets go of him after she can safely land on the floor.]
[It all could be chalked up to his perspective. He used to toe the line of life and death just to chase down that high, and he's been spending his time learning how to actually take care of himself ever since he cleaned up. It started with good, home-cooked food, sleep, and a healthy amount of exercise, but with Nariko's help he'll figure out how to work out the subtleties.
She won't need that shower dildo with him around...
The kiss, like the one from earlier, catches him off guard, but at least this one isn't a total shock to the system. In fact, he'll even have enough wherewithal to actually kiss her back, though it's tempered with a lack of experience and an uncertainty on what makes a decent kiss. He'll even support a bit of her weight, too, feeling the responsibility when she jumps up that entire distance just to land it, and letting her down gently when they part.]
I didn't realize you'd be so excited about bareback.
[He's teasing her, of course--he knows that it's more than just that. Still...he hopes he really is clean, so she'll be able to enjoy it in the end. Krieg thinks he remembers actually trying to get clean needles, but his memory of that time makes Swiss cheese look solid.]
[Progress!!! He's worked up to kissing back! She's very proud of him, but now isn't the best time to point that out since they're still at the checkout counter and all that. It's a good thing he didn't even blink at her launching his way! And also terrible, because now she'll be likely to do it far more often.]
Hush your face.
[But she grins because of course he's teasing and she's honestly more relieved than she had expected. When they're total is announced that has to be settled. It's a little pricey, and that's why it comes out of her personal account, not whichever one they both use for shared things like the cell phone bill, or whatever.
When they walk outside her arm is wrapped around his.]
Wanna go to more clothing stores? [Or have they got everything they need?]
[The slightest crack of a smile appears on his face when she tells him to hush. You're welcome to jump at him whenever, Nariko; she weighs less than what he'd bench-press. And he's a little too distracted with the feel-goods to notice the price!]
Depends. How are we doing on time?
[He opens the door to the truck and then freezes.]
Ah. Iko, we forgot something...
[He could go with or without it, but he feels like she'd be a lot more comfortable if he was wearing one...]
[Hey, hey, he's not paying, so he doesn't have to worry! But while Krieg reacts Nariko just arbitrarily arranges bags.]
Well, about that. [See, if he hadn't remembered then they wouldn't be having this conversation! The next time it came up it'd be in the moment, when neither of them would want to run down to the nearest adult store or think up makeshift gags. She had a speech prepared for that, not for this!]
Mm, well, if nothing else I'll just sit on your face and you'll learn how to use your tongue for the good of the world. Or mine, at least, same thing.
[... Okay but, yes, in reality they can use tape or another length of rope or something, although that probably wouldn't be very comfortable. Still! They back into the truck and she pulls out her phone:] It's been an hour or so, we might need to waste more time.
[She finds the list of stores again and looks a few of them up.] I want to drop by here, okay?
[Getting punished for his awful mouth through facesitting? Eating her out isn't something he'd fancied about before, but...that sounds like a pretty fantastic idea.]
Huh...
[Color him interested!]
This one? Yeah, sure.
[Beep boop on the GPS, and off they go. What's their next destination?]
[It is .... An interesting place! Most easily described as a retro, rockabilly shop tucked away into a little strip mall that's a good twenty minutes away from where they were. With no explanation she hops out of the truck and sort of fast walks in, immediately looking around. There's lots of dresses, bright colors, The Atomic Boutique is a cheery place and Nariko takes to it pretty immediately.]
Oh, this is perfect!
[There's also zero resemblance to the bohemian chic that she displayed as her band's lead, nor the overly casual outfits she's taken to since the beginning of their road trip. She goes right for a blue dress, searching through the rack for her size.]
[He gives the place a good ole college try, but he ultimately decides that the leather jackets are a little too much greaser to be his kind of aesthetic. He does pick up a black button up with stark white contrast, something he could keep open without an undershirt.
On his way back to Nariko, he stops by a cute ladybug-polkadot number reminiscent of a poodle dress; he grabs what he thinks is her size and by the time he joins up with her, he holds it up to her and immediately decides:]
This isn't your size.
[Sorry, Nariko. Women's sizes don't make a lick of sense.]
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Krieg is nervous and excited--and really, really glad that Nariko is here, because she seems like she's totally at home. Eventually, he gets the courage to wander off on his own for a few minutes, muttering under his breath.]
It's weird to see all this stuff in person...
[They seemed so fictional since he's only seen them in pictures and videos! Now he can go and...touch this kind of stuff.
Which he does. A lot. While she's looking through those leather dresses, he comes back to Nariko's side and plops a military officer's hat on her head. One that would go with what she's looking at!]
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Oh, hey!
[She rights it on her head and tilts to look in a nearby mirror. It's cute!] Been over here yet?
[The question's there but she heads towards the restraints and such either way.] So, I didn't think to ask this before, but do you know about the differences between ropes and all that? I mean, I feel like you're going more for a jute angle, but if you're not used to at least forty-five minutes then I think hemp is a lot better.
[Feelings about rope.]
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The second thought he has is how huge it is. Seriously. He’s big but that thing makes him look tiny in comparison.]
Actually, I was coming over here to ask you for your opinion. I’m only used to, um…nylon.
[God, saying it out loud makes him sound like such a rookie. He underestimates the wisdom of his choice, given that the slickness is best for self-bondage as he could use household appliances to loosen it. Standing next to someone more experienced, it feels like showing off your training wheels instead of taking pride in the fact you learned how to ride the bike at all.]
Whichever leaves better red marks at the end of the day.
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More importantly? He makes it far too easy to spot his own lack of confidence, unwarranted as it is.] A very good start, then! It probably just doesn't have the roughness you're looking for, that's all. [And she'd kind of argue that had it's own benefits, since not every situation was made for showing off your bondage markings.]
Okay, so ...
[She reaches up on her tip toes to get a good length of nylon, in black.] For you. [And then two more times.] For you and me. [One grab for some beautiful, pearly white bamboo silk rope.] And this one's just for me! So we've got the basics and the 'probably going to leave abrasions for at least a day or more' stuff, now there's just - shit.
[She points up a little higher on the apparent bondage wall.] Can you get those?
[Medical shears, for just in case.]
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A variety sounds like a good idea. I hope we don't have to use these, though.
[The shears. They're nice rope...]
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[The tiny nympho is grateful, friend.]
'People are more important than ropes'.
[And they can always buy more of it. Nariko can't buy another Krieg! Or even an android version of him!] But I'm sure it'll be fine. It's just that you only need one ER visit to impress upon you the importance of having them nearby, just in case.
[That'd been a wild Thursday night.] Alright, let me get some condoms and then I'll be ready!
[And since they don't have sugar free flavored ones she has to go with the boring fifty count box, and then she's done. Anything else you want, Krieg?]
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[She hasn't spotted his combat knives yet, has she? Hmm. But these are probably safer to use, so he lets the thought trail off when she picks up a box of condoms. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it. Of course those are for other people, but if she's serious about riding him...]
Um.
[Is there a way to say this without being a braggart.]
We're gonna need...bigger ones.
[She knows, doesn't she? She's seen it! She hasn't seen it erect, though...]
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Krieg, these are pretty big for starting out.
[Considering that she points at one of the sets of rope, she doesn't realize he's talking about the condoms! To be completely fair she didn't get a real look at his package at all, she'd glanced and then felt horrible for even trying. How would she feel if a guy just stared at her ... That's an awful example, since she'd probably enjoy it to some extent, depending on who it was.]
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I'm not talking about the rope, Iko.
[He points to the box of condoms.]
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Oh! These aren't for you, though! These are for, like, random people.
[One night stands, gas station dude from back then, surprises. That kind of thing.]
Do you want me to wear a condom with you?
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You're asking me that as if it's an option?
[Does she take the pill too or something? On top of that, he...
He gestures to the arm usually sleeved under his jacket.]
I've never been tested.
[No one ever told him during his blood tests so he might not actually have anything; then again, they might've just assumed he already knew, or didn't care.]
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You've been clean for years, right? Upwards-ish of ten?
[That's assuming he quit early at, like, sixteen, but that's probably not it at all. It's not like she ever asked the man for a timeline but mostly she's just proving a point.] It only takes those things a few months to develop into something serious, Krieg. And it's true that people with HIV can present without any symptoms, but as far as I understand you'd still have a higher chance of being sick in other ways that might indicate it.
[Fever, the rash, the headaches ... Something. But it wasn't impossible to go the whole time without presenting some kind of symptom, so:]
Also, why the hell haven't you gotten tested.
[Stern Friend Voice.]
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God, no. It's been one-thousand and fifty-six days. [Beat.] One month 'til my three-year sobersary.
[At her stern friend voice, he shrugs.]
I never worried about anything the doctors didn't tell me about. They took blood from me so often that I just...figured they'd say something if anything was amiss.
[Logical! ...right?]
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But, still.]
And it doesn't drive you completely insane to not know, one hundred percent?
[Doctors were legally mandated to tell patients, right? That had to be part of their oath or something. But people could be assholes, and judgmental ones at that.]
Well. You're gonna know better than me, so you should pick the ones that'll fit. Just remember to take girth into account, and there has to be a little room at the tip, too.
[One thing she's never done is help a guy go condom shopping, and it's not like she'll be any real help since she's never so much as seen it, let alone felt it. Going bareback is so much more fun, but she can't currently think of a polite way to say 'get tested so we can have sex without condoms' and not sound a demanding, sex-addicted bitch.]
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[Check it out, his complete disregard for his well-being is showing its head again. Well...not complete disregard. He's a little better than he used to be.]
I'll be right back.
[And so he goes off to collect a meager box. They're plain, but black. Does that count for anything? He sets them on the counter as Nariko checks out, standing over her from behind. He leans down to whisper into her ear.]
I'll make an appointment when we get home after lunch.
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Except he kind of goddamn needs her to mother over him.
By the time he's setting the condoms down she's already handed everything over, but has apparently decided against the shower dildo, since it's set off to the side. Which means that when he says that she's free to whirl around and face him.]
Really?!
[It also means that she can make up for her lack of height by hopping up, and getting her arms around his neck to outright kiss him. It's longer and much firmer this time around! See what happens when you care about yourself, Krieg? You get some kind of positive affection!]
Good. I'm glad.
[And not just because she wants condom-less sex, but because he needs to be aware of his health! But they also have to pay, so she lets go of him after she can safely land on the floor.]
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She won't need that shower dildo with him around...
The kiss, like the one from earlier, catches him off guard, but at least this one isn't a total shock to the system. In fact, he'll even have enough wherewithal to actually kiss her back, though it's tempered with a lack of experience and an uncertainty on what makes a decent kiss. He'll even support a bit of her weight, too, feeling the responsibility when she jumps up that entire distance just to land it, and letting her down gently when they part.]
I didn't realize you'd be so excited about bareback.
[He's teasing her, of course--he knows that it's more than just that. Still...he hopes he really is clean, so she'll be able to enjoy it in the end. Krieg thinks he remembers actually trying to get clean needles, but his memory of that time makes Swiss cheese look solid.]
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Hush your face.
[But she grins because of course he's teasing and she's honestly more relieved than she had expected. When they're total is announced that has to be settled. It's a little pricey, and that's why it comes out of her personal account, not whichever one they both use for shared things like the cell phone bill, or whatever.
When they walk outside her arm is wrapped around his.]
Wanna go to more clothing stores? [Or have they got everything they need?]
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Depends. How are we doing on time?
[He opens the door to the truck and then freezes.]
Ah. Iko, we forgot something...
[He could go with or without it, but he feels like she'd be a lot more comfortable if he was wearing one...]
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Well, about that. [See, if he hadn't remembered then they wouldn't be having this conversation! The next time it came up it'd be in the moment, when neither of them would want to run down to the nearest adult store or think up makeshift gags. She had a speech prepared for that, not for this!]
I want to try it without a gag. If that's okay.
[Soooo. Yeah!]
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[With her admission, he hops into the driver's seat. He figures that, in a pinch, they could use tape or cloth wedge.]
I don't want to upset you in the heat of the moment.
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[... Okay but, yes, in reality they can use tape or another length of rope or something, although that probably wouldn't be very comfortable. Still! They back into the truck and she pulls out her phone:] It's been an hour or so, we might need to waste more time.
[She finds the list of stores again and looks a few of them up.] I want to drop by here, okay?
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Huh...
[Color him interested!]
This one? Yeah, sure.
[Beep boop on the GPS, and off they go. What's their next destination?]
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Oh, this is perfect!
[There's also zero resemblance to the bohemian chic that she displayed as her band's lead, nor the overly casual outfits she's taken to since the beginning of their road trip. She goes right for a blue dress, searching through the rack for her size.]
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On his way back to Nariko, he stops by a cute ladybug-polkadot number reminiscent of a poodle dress; he grabs what he thinks is her size and by the time he joins up with her, he holds it up to her and immediately decides:]
This isn't your size.
[Sorry, Nariko. Women's sizes don't make a lick of sense.]
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no dis gud. real gud
yey
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