ic contact.

[verification]

"Hi, this is Verity. I can't come to the phone right now, so please leave a message. Thanks!"

Comments

[jirk]

[That is the most ridiculous thi-- you know what, no, some things need to be said outloud.]

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

[Not a lie? Check.]

And hey, I'm captain-y.

[verification]

Well, someone today told me he saved his entire world, so it's all up in the air if you ask me.

[ Nyeah. Verity hums, shrugging so he can feel it under her hands. ]

Mmm, I suppose you are ...

[ Let her debate it since she has no proof, ho hum. ]

[jirk]

[He groans in an exaggeratedly disgruntled fashion and digs the heels of his hands down on either side of her spine.]

Are you trying to get me to stop with the amazing, excellent, sensuous and completely from-the-bottom-of-my-heart generous backrub, or...?

[verification]

No! Nooo, don't stop. [ Verity wriggles in protest, turning her head to rest a cheek on the pillow and somewhat have Jim on her peripheral view. ] Okay, so tell me what it's like being the horribly hot captain traumatizing all your crew with your fantastic hair every morning.

[jirk]

[In a show of utter maturity, he sticks his tongue out at her. And stops long enough to get a second helping of lotion.]

Mornings? Well-- mornings are tricky. I mean, first, I get up and jog around the ship, and then I-- [yeah he is definitely making her regret that comment by talking about all the little specificities of his job description, ha ha. Joke's on you, babe.]

-- Oh, and there are no beverages allowed on the bridge. Just, you know. Common sense. You don't want to have to parley with hostile alien life when you're holding a-- what is it, Starbucks? cup.

[verification]

[ God, she didn't ask for this. Flopping where she is, she snorts as he goes into detail (which she secretly sort of loves, whoops) and waits for him to the point. Any point, gosh. ]

So I couldn't sit at my station and have a latte with a sticky bun, is what you're saying. Wow, that sucks. My captain needs to lighten up. He was my favorite before, but now ...

[jirk]

Anybody ever tell you you're hard to please? You're lucky you're gorgeous. [a pause. and then, blithely] And smart. And funny. And you always smell great. Seriously, what is that. Shampoo, perfume? No idea.

[verification]

Stop that, you can't rack up points with a fantastic massage and your mouth. In some universes we call that overkill.

[ She reaches around to find his arm, tugging him down so she has a Jim!blanket. Shut up with a kiss, captain. ]

[jirk]

I've not yet begun to use my mouth.

[Isn't that how that quote goes??? But he flops down willingly enough, kisses at her shoulder (blech, lotion) and yep, she is getting cuddled.]

[verification]

[ The lotion is his own fault so he gets no sympathy there, even if she rolls around to run her hands up his chest, fingers splayed in their exploration and teeth nipping under Jim's jaw. A little grateful payback. ]

You're a hazard and I just realized that my bed isn't big enough for both of us.

[jirk]

What on Earth do you think pillow forts are for?

[Hi friend. He tilts his head to one side to allow for better access, and settles an arm against her back (the other is pinned somewhere beneath both of them, alas) to ghost his fingertips against her skin.]

[verification]

I don't own more than two pillows, tops. Good luck with that.

[ Burrowing against him away from the edge of the bed, she turns into a tuft of pink hair and long limbs entwined around him with a shiver, inhaling his scent. Mimicking the hand that roams her back, two fingertips trace around his hip which isn't digging into the mattress. ]

You can always come over to stay, Jim. [ Picnic basket or not. ] I like having you around.

[jirk]

That's terrible. You are singularly deprived of all the joy in life.

[And he's buying you some pillows, so dwi. -- Although that next statement is. Cause for a few warning bells? A few. Not enough to really protest, but--]

What, like... on a regular basis?

[verification]

[ His tone makes her laugh, raising her head to look him in the eye. ]

You live a few houses away, Jim. If you want to come over to hang out, it's fine. Just don't throw rocks at my window.

[jirk]

[Okay, that does get him to relax a little. This is officially rebranded Not a Relationship Conversation.

(But he was worried.)]

Well, you know. My bed's bigger.

[just saying.]

[verification]

I didn't think you'd appreciate me turning up at your house and inviting myself to stay.

[ Because of all the reasons he just tensed up for, fff. Thie thing between them is so casual it's like falling over in the street and turning it into a graceful barrel roll. ]

[jirk]

[He works his jaw off to one side.]

I'm not really seeing the difference.

[verification]

Really. [ The flattest look because she's going to make a point. ] So if I turned up at your front door uninvited, babbling something about wanting to spend the night because I'd missed you, you'd be ecstatic with that?

[ NOT JUST NICE or polite. ]

[jirk]

[THIS IS SOME KIND OF TRAP HE CAN SENSE IT.]

Well-- [shit. doubleshit.] I wouldn't be mad about it.

[TRUE. ding ding ding we have a winner.]

I mean that's basically what I did. So, you know. Bring something to eat and we'll call it a party. [he hesitates.] Would you? Miss me, I mean.

[verification]

[ Nice save, captain, even if it wasn't necessary. ]

You came over with home-made food in the dead of night to spend time with me. I should be freaking out right now, technically.

[ But she's not because. Well, he seemed lonely. And she does enjoy his company a lot. (Also, chocolate fruit.) ]

I'd ... miss you if you were ported out, yeah. I like you, I said so.

[ At which point she drapes an arm around his waist. ]

[jirk]

[He walks his fingers across her arm in retaliation. Faintly,]

Huh.

[No, wait, he's not done. He's learned this lesson before, the hard way. The hardest way, if he's being honest with himself, and being around Verity sort of... makes that the only way to be.

'I like you too'? This must be what middle school is like. He has no idea, given-- well.]

Look-- I'm always up at this time of day. My ship doesn't really run on, you know-- normal people hours and I haven't really bothered switching over yet. And I didn't exactly make food with the thought of bringing it over here, that kind of came after.

[Flummoxed, he rubs his hand up and down from her shoulder to her elbow.]

I'm here because-- I miss my crew. And you're the only person on this damn planet who I can-- [tripleshit] be myself... around. You know, the whole captain thing. So I like you too-- a lot, you're an incredible person, but it's-- nothing to freak out over.

['Nothing serious'. Because it isn't, right?]

[verification]

[ Her smile softens as she hears confirmation of what she already suspected, not at all surprised he's been trying to distract himself in every way possible and a food hamper accidentally spilled out of those efforts. She nods on the pillow in understanding, a thumb brushing over his cheek and the warmth of her hand resting lightly on his neck. Lips twitch, wanting to lighten the gravity of knowing he's been feeling so alone that it seemed she was the only person he could talk to.

Jim shouldn't be on his own to such a degree as all that, she thinks. It's bad for him, that's plain to see. ]

Thanks for saving me a trip out the nearest window.

[jirk]

[He rolls his eyes.]

You weren't really going to jump out a window.

[verification]

[ Look at that pout, bawww. Grinning as she pushes him back into the bed, Verity's weight settles over his waist and she smooches him through a chuckle. ]

I can see through lies, Jim. Doesn't mean I can't tell any.

[jirk]

[Well, okay, this is something he could get used to. Sort of.]

Yeah, well, I've spent my whole life seeing through other people's bullshit. So try me.

[A smug little smile, as he just props his hands behind his head and kisses back with due enthusiasm.]