[He doesn't stop his impulse this time, free hand coming up to catch her chin and brush his thumb over it.]
I'm in no place to be anythin' to anyone other than a night of fun, darlin'. I'll take the fun, but-
[His face twitches in a passing furrow.] That's all I got to offer right now. I got.. shit I'm workin' through, and I'm not lookin' to fuck someone else up like that.
[He hoped she would understand what he meant by all that. He would be more than happy to have her in his bed now and then, but that was all it could be. Friends with benefits - if she wanted that.]
[ oh, but if she thought about it a little more, she'd be willing to try if it meant being touched like that all the time. but she's not so naive to believe that she's ever worthy of that kind of attention.
laura smiles at him easily, maybe even a touch relieved before deciding on her own impromptu move: a gentle, lingering kiss on his lips, before looking at him again. ]
That's good because I'm a hot mess, too, and you don't deserve that.
[ but really, she was scared to death to even think of falling in love with someone like him. he already made her feel on top of the world and that's a long way to fall if it didn't work out.
[The kiss was something of a surprise but softly met, hand on her shoulder sliding down to her waist to gently pull her a little closer for it. He didn't deserve anything. Clearly that was the lesson life was trying to teach him, so he was trying to take notes. To accept the reality of his luck. Of his lot.
His hand shifts to cup her cheek for a moment before he smiles warmly and nods.]
I'd like that too. And I've got a pretty impressive tub that screams for someone to lounge in it properly. You seem like a long bath kinda lady.
[ she doesn't resist letting him pull her closer and she can't help but love the gesture of him wanting her even closer than she was. laura lets out a pleased little hum. ]
Especially later in the evenings. [ she grins between them. ] Are you sure? I might abuse a privilege like that.
[ in which case "fun" could happen a little more often than not. ]
[Raylan doesn't sleep with just anyone. Neal, Maggie, Laura - they were all people he was emotionally invested in, and the opportunity to cuddle that feeling out into the world wasn't something he took just for the sexual companionship. He liked showing this kind of affection.]
I'm sure. I don't use it nearly often enough and someone oughta enjoy it. Especially if you're out here gettin' cut up like this in your spare time. I even got candles that are gatherin' dust.
[He also like the idea of people he cared about puttering around his space.]
[ affection like that is something she hasn't had in a long time and craves more than she's willing to admit. to anyone. it brings a tiny wistful smile to her lips before it falls away when memories come back of shadow. ]
Alright, don't say I didn't warn ya because I do really love a long hot bath. [ she gives him a big smile that's followed by a soft laugh. this might actually be the happiest he's seen her besides the night he showed her his beach. ] I promise I'll call ahead first.
[It spoke to how strong she was, that she could look that way while being hurt the way she was. He wanted to kiss her head but he didn't know how tender everything was so he'd refrain for now. That didn't stop the softness over his features though.]
I'd appreciate that. I got no idea what my new normal is really gonna look like and I need to figure that out too.
I don't need to leave room in for you strikin' back out at Kikimora, right?
[ there's also no assuming that she'd be the only one in that little black metaphorical book of his; to which she was sure he knew he wasn't the only name in hers. the barge was full of flavours. it merely depends on what your craving.
the question has her gaze shifting past him and she shrugs a shoulder up. ]
No. I'm not that kind of angry anymore. [ the angry laura that would have caught the little bitch and tore her to pieces like she did all those faceless people who hung shadow in the tree.] I'm done. Reality check received. Karma handed out.
I'm glad to hear that. Anger is a hellva beast... And it'll annoy the hell outta her.
[Raylan had those dips, where he was sure that he had it all under control and dealt with but then something happens and the fury flames back to life, easy as breathing.]
What do you plan on doin' with the rest of your evenin'.
Nah, just wanted to make sure I wasn't keepin' you from somethin'. Nothin' on my evenin' schedules outside of some light readin' to go with my whiskey and my cat.
Every once and a while I consider countin' all these damned stars but then I get around to worryin' that they're not real in the first place. I can't tell you how much I miss sunlight.
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I'm in no place to be anythin' to anyone other than a night of fun, darlin'. I'll take the fun, but-
[His face twitches in a passing furrow.] That's all I got to offer right now. I got.. shit I'm workin' through, and I'm not lookin' to fuck someone else up like that.
[He hoped she would understand what he meant by all that. He would be more than happy to have her in his bed now and then, but that was all it could be. Friends with benefits - if she wanted that.]
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laura smiles at him easily, maybe even a touch relieved before deciding on her own impromptu move: a gentle, lingering kiss on his lips, before looking at him again. ]
That's good because I'm a hot mess, too, and you don't deserve that.
[ but really, she was scared to death to even think of falling in love with someone like him. he already made her feel on top of the world and that's a long way to fall if it didn't work out.
she nods. ]
But fun we can keep on doing. I'd like that.
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His hand shifts to cup her cheek for a moment before he smiles warmly and nods.]
I'd like that too. And I've got a pretty impressive tub that screams for someone to lounge in it properly. You seem like a long bath kinda lady.
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Especially later in the evenings. [ she grins between them. ] Are you sure? I might abuse a privilege like that.
[ in which case "fun" could happen a little more often than not. ]
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I'm sure. I don't use it nearly often enough and someone oughta enjoy it. Especially if you're out here gettin' cut up like this in your spare time. I even got candles that are gatherin' dust.
[He also like the idea of people he cared about puttering around his space.]
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Alright, don't say I didn't warn ya because I do really love a long hot bath. [ she gives him a big smile that's followed by a soft laugh. this might actually be the happiest he's seen her besides the night he showed her his beach. ] I promise I'll call ahead first.
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I'd appreciate that. I got no idea what my new normal is really gonna look like and I need to figure that out too.
I don't need to leave room in for you strikin' back out at Kikimora, right?
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the question has her gaze shifting past him and she shrugs a shoulder up. ]
No. I'm not that kind of angry anymore. [ the angry laura that would have caught the little bitch and tore her to pieces like she did all those faceless people who hung shadow in the tree.] I'm done. Reality check received. Karma handed out.
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I'm glad to hear that. Anger is a hellva beast... And it'll annoy the hell outta her.
[Raylan had those dips, where he was sure that he had it all under control and dealt with but then something happens and the fury flames back to life, easy as breathing.]
What do you plan on doin' with the rest of your evenin'.
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Nothing really planned. I'm good if you need to get going though.
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[ those kinds of words don't come very often, but she means them. truly. ]
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[He looks up out into the inky black.]
Every once and a while I consider countin' all these damned stars but then I get around to worryin' that they're not real in the first place. I can't tell you how much I miss sunlight.