almightythirst | Deerington Inbox

She’s starting to remember. Or maybe Chloe had never really forgot, her real memories just having taken a backseat to the false ones. This should be good news. Yet Jesse takes absolutely no pleasure in it, knowing that no matter how he answers this, it’s still in some way a lie. Because no, he’s not dead… but her true father is. And long as she’s like this, Chloe can’t even mourn him. It’s several kinds of unfair.

“Last I remember, I was goin’ to bed like usual and fit as a fiddle. Not a thing wrong with me.”

He smiles, putting on the good-natured charm that always serves him so well. This is the most he can do for her—keep the lie going like he and Ashe agreed, even if it means he can’t comfort her for the thing that’s actually wrong.

“Hey.” He taps his glass against hers to get her attention back up on him. “I mean it. I’m alright.”

"Guess it's working." Her teasing had had the exact desired effect and even then, she still finds herself breathless as he yanks at each button until she's sitting there entirely exposed from the waist up. It's her turn to feel the fire of his gaze and it sends a shiver down her spine that isn't from having have her skin uncovered. She's enjoying this though, the rush to get closer together, but the subtle pull backs of teasing, before taking those steps closer again.

She licks her lips as he studies her and though she well versed in the ways of sex and foreplay, she feels a little bit like a teenager again where everything was new, and this was even better because they wouldn't completely fumble it up. On the contrary her movements are experienced as she rocks her hips slowly against his. What's really new to her is the intimacy of it all, and the want to not only satisfy a physical need, but an emotional one as well. Even though, sharing this with someone she truly desires and cares about is novel and she enjoys the way he's looking at her, she is feeling that push to move forward again.

"Pretty sure God's got nothin' to do with me anymore." She winked and flashed him a quick smile, but it's partly to cover the slight embarrassment she feels at being so visually appreciated. "You're lookin' at me like I'm a work of art, but darlin' this one exhibit that's hands on."

She lets her own hands wander up and down his chest, before letting her thumbs play with the waste band of his pants. He may not have known to do with his hands, but she sure knew what to do with hers and she wanted to touch him everywhere.

[ There hadn't been a point to staying at work with the lights out all over town, so she'd made her way home early. At least at home there was a roaring fire. B.O.B. had set up lots of candles around the downstairs, so there was enough of a glow. Arizona did not see winter's like this and she isn't sure she's impressed. Despite that, even she would have to admit that it was a really gorgeous night, kind of romantic even...if she was into that kind of thing. The snow was falling outside and her huge windows let in the light and with Jesse there, she could have almost been convinced this place wasn't a horror show much of the time.

She grabbed two mugs for tea and went over to where B.O.B. had put a kettle on the corner wood stove. It was still chilly in the room even with the fireplace and the wood stove, but they certainly helped. Pouring the hot water, she offers one mug to Jesse, before coming to sit down next to him. ]

I hate the cold, but damn it is pretty out there.

Don’t mind it so much myself, long as I’ve got somewhere warm to be. But you couldn’t pay me enough right now to be out in that.

[ His hands curl around the mug, intent on getting as much warmth out of it as possible. He’s not even as cold as he could be though. Since the whole transformation debacle, he’s learned a thing or two about this new condition of his. One of them being that, apparently, he runs warmer than the average person. It hasn’t lessened his disdain for the cold, but it has made it harder for him to catch a chill. ]

[ She smiled warmly and glanced out the window. Being snowed in was at least nice, so they could spend some alone time together. With everything, she'd been needing that.

Him turning into a wolf was something she had been struggling to adjust to, though she knew it wasn't the worst thing. Still, it had been terrifying and she was thankful to B.O.B. After all you couldn't turn an omnic into a werewolf.

At least though, he was warm and she moved in a little closer, resting her hand on his knee. ]

Honestly Sugar? You're all the warmth I need. So I'd say we ain't doin' so bad in this storm.

[ Jesse laughs quietly and looks down at her with a warm, fond smile. Oh, how far they’ve come to get here. His hand comes to rest over hers, squeezing gently. He’s had to be careful about this new strength of his too. So many damn changes. ]

That was cheesy as hell darlin’. But I’m not complainin’.

[ He leans sideways into her, the hand still holding his mug resting on the arm of the couch. His eyes wander beyond the window, taking in the room. Lights and baubles decorate the space, all of it chosen and placed to Ashe’s specifications. Jesse had worried at first how she’d react to having the place all done up for Christmas, but having had control over it seems to have made all the difference. ]

With that and the house, this feels like one of those real sugary-sweet holiday movies. Y’know the ones, where a rich heiress falls for a good ol’ country boy…

[ He glances down at her with a hint of a smirk on his face. ]

Y’know. Hypothetically.

[ It had been cheesy as hell and she chuckles and shakes her head, a blush rising to her cheeks. ]

Yeah I know, it was bad. Kind of meant to be though... Look, I ain't so good at the romantic stuff.

[ Which may not have been altogether true because she had allowed herself to get close and seemed to be doing moderately well at it.

Ashe definitely liked the control over her environment, it had made living in a big country manor easier. B.O.B. had insisted they decorate and at least she'd been able to tell him how to do it instead of her parents.

She wrinkled her nose teasingly, but her eyes were caught up in his. ]

An heiress fallin' for a country boy? Sounds a little far fetched.

You’re doin’ perfect at the romantic stuff. Do I look like I’m not the happiest man in town right now?

[ He chuckles, caught up himself in how the lights reflect in Ashe’s eyes. The candles really were a nice touch, giving the room a hazy glow that makes her hair almost gleam. He tilts his head toward hers with a conspiratorial smile. ]

Yeah, don’t it? But it’s just one of those age-old stories. Usually they don’t like each other at first. Or they were childhood friends maybe that lost touch. But it always ends up with ‘em together, bein’ all cheesy on Christmas or Valentine’s or… hell, I dunno, President’s Day.

[ How does he know so much about romance novel tropes? That’s a mystery for another day. ]

[ He did look happy, and she knows she looks happy. It's still a hesitant happiness but it's spilling over the edges. Whatever reservations she has are being ignored as is the protective voice in the back of her head that tells her not to get close. She'd been a fool to think she could him and this at bay when they were living the daily life side by side again.

Yeah, you do. I kinda like it.

[ She leans her head in until her forehead presses against his, and closes her eyes to breathe him and the moment in. He smells intoxicating, and she sighs happily before opening her eyes again. She fully intends to ask him about that another day though. ]

I don't think I have ever even celebrated Valentine's Day. I guess if I'm that heiress and you're the that country boy, I'd better start openin' up to the idea.

Not sure I have either. First time for everythin’, right?

[ He hasn’t gone into too much detail with her about the finer points of his transformation, including the heightened sense of smell that tells him how long ago she must have finished her last cigarette. Or how he can hear her now from across the house, or even outside it. And now how, with her so close, all the sensory input is almost overwhelming in the absolute best way.

Instead of saying any of that, he waits for her to open her eyes again before pressing a light, quick kiss to her lips. ]

Speakin’ of holidays, how’re you enjoyin’ the Christmas season? Everything good?

[ He remembers how she’d felt about the holidays when they were younger, and he knows better now than to assume she’s as unaffected as she might appear. ]

I'll figure out how to make it nice. [ She will try, even if she has no idea, and isn't sure who or how to even ask for advice. ] Least we got time.

[ There was so much about Jesse that she was enjoying getting to know. Things she hadn't even realized when she was young she even wanted to know. It's been finding her best friend again but also so much more. She hasn't spoken any words of love, but when her eyes open and she feels his lips on hers, all that love is written clear as day in her eyes. Reaching out she smooths her thumb against his lips and she's smiling. ]

Christmas? It's goin' alright. Been nice enough, and busy. [ A thought occurs to her and she glances over under the tree. ] And it even came with presents. You been thinkin' at all about openin' those? I have been hesitant.

Edited (look at that wonderful html job i did there...) 2019-12-16 04:00 (UTC)

hey daddy i gotta question

why the fuck is there another man living in our house??? jw :)

The tension that was in her shoulders disappears quick as it can, leaving her via a long sigh of relief. He was alright. She keeps staring at her drink for a moment after, before going to set it to the side so she can move over to him, going in for another hug. Arcadia Bay had taken away how much Chloe desired physical affection and the lack of those memories meant hugs were just a thing she took for granted now.

"I don't — I don't want anything to happen to you. Not again. After May, the way Mama was, I— "

She cuts herself off, shaking her head, and squeezing him a little harder. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

[ He can’t bring himself to point out that they might not have time. He doesn’t want to bring shadows of the past into their relationship—there are so many of those lingering already. But ever since Rei—and then Angela, and all of the other friends who have vanished—he can’t help but be aware of how precious this time is.

In lieu of pointing any of that out, he focuses instead on her smile. The feel of her skin on his. All of the things that are happening in the here and now. ]

You mean those ones that got dropped off few weeks back? Yeah, I uh… might’ve opened mine already.

[ He manages to look convincingly sheepish for at least a few seconds before his true grin breaks through. ]

Put ‘em in my wallet, so I have them all on me right now as a matter of fact.

[ Though she's loving the attention and the affection, drinking it all in, she gets sidetracked by curiosity that he's already opened his.

And without her. She gives him a frown but it's not a serious one, more teasing. ] Jesse McCree, always in a rush...

[ She's not so off put about it to not be extremely curious, moving in closer and sliding her hand up his thigh towards his pocket. ] Show me yours? [ She grinned innocently. ]

I don’t see how you waited this long. [ Had it been a gift from anyone he actually knows, he could have waited. But given where they are, he hadn’t been fond of letting an unopened box sit in his house for long.

He laughs quietly, the sound whiskey-warm and amused as she turns the flirtation up a notch. ]

Only if I get to see yours too. Fair is fair.

[ Since she’s already most of the way there, he doesn’t reach down to help her out with the retrieval of said wallet, watching her instead with a playful grin. ]

[ Ashe was flirtatious in general, even when she had no intention of pursuing anything. She'd always noticed that Jesse had that same kind of suave way with words. It had always made her a little it jealous, but it's satisfying in all the right ways when it's focused on her. Now that they taken the flirtations to the bedroom, she felt free to be as merciless as possible. ]

I'll show you anythin' you want.

[ When he doesn't stop her, she takes her time dragging it out of his pocket. She's quite close to his face when she finally gets ahold of it and she quirks her brows at him temptingly as she pulls it out. Then it's her turn to place a kiss on his lips, lingering for a moment before pulling back and shrugging at his question. ]

Guess it's a force of habit. Too much time openin' presents alone, so I was waitin' to share it with you. [ Because why not add a small teasing layer of guilt to that. But she passes it off quickly, whatever she's feeling and flips open his wallet. ] Soooo what have we got here?

[ Jesse has no complaints. None. Zero.

… Alright, so maybe he would have liked to kiss her longer. But then they’d definitely get distracted for far too long. He is about to say as much when she mentions waiting to open her gifts, and it’s like being doused with cold water, the warm playfulness lost to a sudden rush of guilt. It takes him a moment to reorient himself around it, his reply delayed a second or two past the point of casual.

Tucked into the billfold are all three photos, but the one on top has his smile slowly returning. Should he push it if she doesn’t feel like talking about it? Or does she want him to ask? This is one thing that has changed since they were kids: he doesn’t know anymore how much she should push. ]

You’ll recognize that first one. Thanksgiving wasn’t that far back.

[ It’s the three of them curled up on the couch, Chloe curled up on one side of him and Ashe on the other. His arms are around them both, and the whole group of them have been caught mid-laugh by whoever the hell put these shots together. ]

[ She hadn't meant to ruin the warm mood with negative quips and blame. He hadn't done anything wrong, she was just raw around the edges and she was well practiced in taking offense. There hadn't been enough time to fix years of defense mechanisms. What she did do when she felt the atmosphere between them change, was to offer a small smile as she took a good look at the first one. ]

Well now. Other than it bein' a little concernin' that someone snapped a photo of this moment, that's a damn fine picture. [ Her tone was warm again and she took in the details. They all looked so happy, but her eyes fell onto her own image. Was that how she looked in the middle of this? She looked content and relaxed and safe. Anyone who knew her back home would have thought she was a different person. ]

We look like a family. Like what one's supposed to look like.

You mean Shades? That's your momma being generous. He just got back into town so I bet he's all kinds of turned around

i don't like him

[ chloe you doN'T KNOW HIM. ]

i think he's the dude who pulled a gun on me during the weird clown shit
i mean like
he didn't shoot but
STILL

Pretty sure these photos don’t come out of any camera. Beats me how else they’d get ‘em though.

[ He watches her look at the picture, indecisive still. She looks happy now at least, but that doesn’t clear the worried wrinkle from his brow. ]

That’s what I thought. I was feelin’ out of sorts that night, but then you both came and sat down, and it just… felt right. Haven't been many moments like that since I got here.

[ She'd been feeling out of sorts too with the holiday and the carefully crafted world they were living in for Chloe's sake. She really hadn't known what to expect. Then they'd just been a family. They'd watched a movie and eaten dinner together. There had been laughter and stories, mostly true with a few made up ones or adjustments for Chloe.

Her head finds its way to his shoulder and she breathes him in, letting out a slow happy sigh. ]

I know we have a couple of wild holidays with Deadlock, but I never thought this place with all its horrors would give me the happiest one.

[ She smiles. ] I didn't even feel like shootin' the natives after dinner.

[ There's an extremely pristine wrapped gift waiting for him, which has a ridiculous bottle of tequila and a loaf of barmbrack inside.

There's a note with a scribbled name on it that really can only be Moira's with how bad the handwriting is. ]

[ Jesse laughs and leans his head back against hers, feeling a hard knot of anxiousness start to loosen in his chest. It will take time to get back to that easy way they once had with each other, if they ever get there again at all. A place where they understand each other so instinctively that words hardly need to even be said. Maybe then he'll know what to do to keep from hurting her again.

... Then again, they had apparently been crushing on each other for God knows how long back then, so it clearly had not been a perfect system. ]

Deerington has a way of doin’ that. You want to hate it, but then it goes and somehow makes somethin’ like this happen. And then gives you a weird picture of it after.

[ He nudges her gently, clearly not too invested in making her move. ]

Hey, your turn. Go pick out one of those boxes.

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Dec. Power outage and presents

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text; un: price is right

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delivered close to christmas

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