Mixed Muses: The Morning After

[thefirststark]

He wakes up.  In a strange bed.

It takes a moment to remember where he is.  And who he's with.

As he gets his bearings, he smiles to himself and looks over at Alisa.

Comments

[invisi_cipher]

"Do you do that often?" she asks, amused at the idea. It seems like so many of the people she knows can be distracted by their interests--and she's not excluded from that group by any means, but it's easier to notice habits in other people.

"Get distracted."

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"It depends on who I'm with," he says flirtatiously.

"And it depends on what I'm working on at the moment."

[invisi_cipher]

Alisa looks over at him from where she's seated on the branch with an equally flirtatious laugh. "Am I distracting you from something?"

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"Not at the moment.

"But I would not mind if you were." He's not steady enough for a hug, but he does take her hand.

[invisi_cipher]

She can't help but think it amusing that he looks so unsteady, and takes his hand as she tells him as much.

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"Like I said, I don't climb many trees." Maybe he's been missing something.

[invisi_cipher]

"Maybe you should," she says. "It's fun. And hey, height advantage."

Being of fairly normal stature herself, most men are taller than she is--Howard included. Sometimes she likes not having to look up at people. "If you want to, we can get down. I just thought the view was pretty." Being several feet higher than standing on the ground gives them a pretty view of the lake, only a little choppy in the breeze.

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"I think so." You would think that a man who flies planes would do better in trees.

[invisi_cipher]

"Sorry," she murmurs, sincere but still a little playful. "I didn't think you'd be uncomfortable up here."

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"Neither did I." He leaps back down, and lands awkwardly. "I never climbed many trees, I guess."

[invisi_cipher]

Alisa pushes herself off the branch and lands more or less on her feet, brushing herself off. "I think staying on the ground might be best for the rest of the morning."

She wants to kiss him again--it was quite a nice experience, really--but she isn't honestly sure how to go about it again. "I really like the way that jacket looks on you."

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." Maybe he wore it because he expected that reaction? "You did say you wanted to see me in something more casual."

[invisi_cipher]

"I did," she replies with a smile. And because she's feeling buoyed--the morning hasn't gone badly by any stretch--Alisa leans over quick;y and kisses his cheek.

It's not as intimate as it could have been, but she's working on it.

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

He pulls her closer for a hug. And then a kiss.

No words needed.

[invisi_cipher]

It gets a little laugh out of her, but Alisa winds her arms around Howard's waist.

"I really like it when you do that."

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"Thanks.

"It is quite fun. We should consider doing it more." Without any strings attached, of course.

[invisi_cipher]

"Should we?" she asks.

"We could. I wouldn't mind."

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"Here no one is going to care much. I've seen the future, and it's a lot more open." He hesitates to say "color blind." He doubts anyone truly is.

[invisi_cipher]

"Whose future?" she asks, curious.

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"The ones that don't end in total annihilation, if that matters. Yours, certainly. At least from the way you talk about it." He hugs her a bit long.

[invisi_cipher]

"I think...mine could be very bright," she says, eventually, after turning against Howard and letting him hug her. His arms are warm and she likes it, letting her hands rest on his shoulders.

"It seems like we're all okay now that we're at Xavier's. Like maybe we'll be able to be kind of normal there."

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

"I guess that's good. But what happens when you're not there." A new form of segregation to replace the old?

[invisi_cipher]

"I'm usually not seen if I'm not at the school," she says. "Sometimes not even there. I suppose...that's why I don't have a problem with not being seen if I go with you."

She leans in and rests her head against his shoulder. "Do you think that's okay?"

[thefirststark.livejournal.com]

He doesn't. And has to think about how to say that.

"I think a face like yours should be seen."

[invisi_cipher]

"Is that just because you like to look at it?" she asks, almost playful.

She doesn't mind accepting different treatment, for a short while, because of what she looks like, and to spare her companion the funny looks he'd undoubtedly get. Howard is very smart, and very handsome, and those two things in conjunction can take a man very far in business, she's well aware. She'd like to see that have happened when she gets back to her own time.