The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

[Evening of day 148, Monday, October 26]
[Kate's apartment]
[Continued from here.]

Glass and Hermia have gone over to Kate's to make pear preserves with her and Tess. Light conversation follows--the demon in Lucien, possible warding charms, the presence of Lilith, Hermia's magical studies, and Glass's heritage. You know. Kaffeeklatsch conversation, Excolo-style. Glass has gone downstairs to get ginger and ask Tess what the hell her brother thinks he's up to while Kate and Hermia are discussing Hermia's studies upstairs.

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Considering Tess and I weigh it out a moment afore asking, but think there's no harm in wanting to know. "'ve you the same oddity as John, then?"

[Open to Tess, Kate, and Hermia]

Comments

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She frowns more when I mention Johnny, and while that's just what I dint want, but I understand it. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear he's mixing with bad folk." She reaches over 'n touches my hands where I'm grippin' the teacup. "It's alright, Tess," she says with care in her voice. "I trust you. And if I can help with Johnny, just say the word. I - "

Her voice catches 'n I look up at her. "There's a lot I would do for you, you know. Tess..." She stops then and bites her lip, like she ain't sure how she feels 'r how t'say it. I lean forward and brush her lips with mine, quick but deliberate. "Thanks, Kate. I - you're good at makin' me feel better."

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Tess presses her lips to mine, and like the first time she did it it's over before I almost have time to realise it, but it still makes my heart jerk hard in my chest and my stomach flutter so I feel I might be sick or laugh all at once, and I don't know how it's possible to feel all these things in one moment.

I think about all the things we've talked about tonight. I know what I am going to do with Laurence and Lugh is dangerous. I don't know what will happen, and while I won't let fear make me say anything I wouldn't otherwise, I also don't want - well. I don't want to regret anything if I... If things turn out badly for me.

"I'm glad I can make you feel better. You make me feel - " I pause. "I hardly know what, sometimes. But I... know I think about you all the time," I say, blushing, and I put my hand up to her cheek.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

Kate's eyes are wide 'n she's breathin' heavily, lookin' at me. I'm almost worried fer a sec, but she says "I'm glad I can make you feel better. You make me feel - I hardly know what, sometimes. But I... know I think about you all the time." She blushes again, and reaches out, touchin' my cheek lightly.

Oh, hell. She'll tell me if it's too much, too soon. I touch her cheek, mirrorin' her gesture, but I cup her jaw and draw her forward as I lean in again, kissin' her fer real this time, workin' gently at her lips with mine, not pushin' at her but not pullin' away neither.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

She kisses me again, but it feels... more real this time, her hand against my jaw, and my heart is thumping so loudly surely she must hear it. And it's not like kissing a man at all, but oh, it is sweet, and so I lean into the kiss, putting a hesitant hand on her shoulder, feeling my lips part slightly under her mouth.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She leans in then, kissin' me back 'n I smile 'gainst her mouth, droppin' my hand from her jaw t'her him and movin' closer, so we're near breast to breast. As she parts her lips I draw her lower lip in a bit, then go back t'kissin' thoroughly but careful. She told me 'nough 'bout what happened t'her that I'm holdin' back any roughness - it was fun with Syl, but it'd put Kate off. Even now it's probably best t'go slow.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

We're almost touching at the chest, and I can feel my heart beating, faster at that, and at the feeling of my lip between hers. And then everything blurs as her mouth is firmer on mine, my mouth parting because I think I'm sighing or falling or flying, I'm not sure which, strange dizzy exhilarated feeling like the ground isn't where it's supposed to be, and the tip of my tongue touches hers and it feels like an electric shock, static running through to my fingertips. And I think then I'm kissing her more deeply, but it's hard to think on what I'm doing exactly when blood is racing to my head, and eventually I have to draw back because I feel short of breath.

I know I must be red in the face, and it's hard to meet her eyes, but I do somehow, and I touch her cheek with my fingertips and touch her bottom lip with my thumb.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

Our tongues touch briefly and she's kissin' me harder. She draws back after a moment though, her breast heavin' and her face flushed. She draws her eyes up t'mine 'n touches my cheek, her thumb grazin' my lip. "Well," I say shakily, 'cause that's more than I expected.

It's different than with Syl. With her I'd figure that fer a quick prelude, but with Kate... It's close t'sex, bein' that close t'her and findin' she's willin' t'kiss me back. I try t'think 'a somethin' other t'do than gazin' at her, but nothin' comes t'mind 'n so I just watch her, meetin' her eyes and waitin' t'see how she reacts.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Tess just looks at me, and that makes my face burn up more than the kissing... Oh goodness, we really did just kiss, didn't we?

"Well indeed," I say, and clear my throat. I push her hair behind her ear, and I feel another prickle of electricity as my thumb slides across her cheekbone. "Um, I should clear up," I say, going to the sink and filling it with water. I drop the things we used to make the preserves in, and I just stand by the sink for a moment until the colour in my face goes down a little. I breathe out through my nose and turn back to look at her.

"I don't - I don't regret doing that," I say. "It was - I like you," I say softly. "I do, a lot."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

Kate's flushed right t'her roots. "Well indeed," she says, clearin' her throat, and she moves a lock 'a my hair back. "Um, I should clear up," she says suddenly, and she goes t'the kitchen and dumps the dishes in the sink. She takes a minute 'afore she turns back t'me. "I don't - I don't regret doing that," she says quick. "It was - I like you. I do, a lot."

Oh, Aradia. I know that blush 'n move, and that quick reassurance. Too bleedin' well. "But," I say softly, not movin' from the couch.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

"But," says Tess, and she looks - vulnerable. I'm not used to seeing Tess like that. I come back across and sit on the arm of the sofa.

"But nothing," I say softly, looking at her. "I like you, and I - I forget how to think sometimes when you look at me, and I don't know whether to be scared or excited."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

Kate comes back, sittin' on the arm opposite. "But nothing," she says quiet. "I like you, and I - I forget how to think sometimes when you look at me, and I don't know whether to be scared or excited."

My heart lifts 'n I smile in relief. "I'm sorry, Kate. I just know this is all new fer you, and I worry sometimes, that I'll scare you off." I stand up and move over t'her, kissin' her light on the forehead. "I guess I worry too much and forget how sweet you are." I touch her on the shoulder and take a cloth t'wash the table up.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Tess kisses my forehead and my heart lifts again.

"I don't know if I'm so sweet," I say, but I smile as she picks up a cloth to wipe the table. I wash the dishes, and for a few minutes there's just the quiet clatter of dishes and other household things.

I dry my hands on a tea towel and turn back to her.

"So," I say, feeling my breath a little tight in my chest. "Does this - um. Does this mean we're... courting?" I ask, feeling my cheeks get red again. "I don't even know if that's the right word. For, you know. Girls."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"I don't know if I'm so sweet," she says with a smile, and she follows me into the kitchen, doing up the dishes while I wash up the rest of the leavin's from the preserves.

"So," Kate says finishin', "does this - um. Does this mean we're... courting?" I stop and blink, 'cause I dint even think 'v it that way. "I don't even know if that's the right word. For, you know. Girls."

Huh. "I - I suppose. I dunt really know what t'call it, when it's like this." I blush a bit and walk over t'the sink, wringin' out the cloth. "Um. The few girls I bin with, it ain't really bin formal." I should 'a guessed it'd be different with Kate. "I always thought courtin' was gettin' ready fer marryin', and it ain't like girls can marry each other." Can they? I never had t'think 'v any 'a this, before. "It's got t'be a bit different, 'cause there's nothin' improper 'bout livin' with a girl, where if one 'v us was a man, it'd be talked 'bout all over town."

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

[cont below]