Clean's a relative term when you don't got a lot of water, you know? We did our best. But now you know why I take long showers and maybe overclean mine. What I wore in the Sarano's probably the "fanciest" I've had.
That's a fair point. Then I guess I shouldn't try and paint you any mental pictures of some of my more gussied looks both from home and Sarano. You looked good in those clothes, by the way.
You're not holding me back, how can you --- no I'm not having this conversation on here.
[ Only minutes later he's knocking on her door. Cobb had been out and about when the texting started and he thought it was fun, and that didn't turn out so well. He's essentially a boomer, okay, text arguments are not a thing he's doing. Cobb's in red, his signature color, a long-sleeved shirt with his scarf from home around his neck since it's something he likes to wear. Plus he's still cold half the time, Sarano ruined his progress on that.
He wouldn't say he's mad, since Cobb rarely gets mad outside of people who deserve it, but frustrated is probably the better word. He adores this woman but yeah, frustration's right. Since he wants to be able to touch her, he's always wearing gloves these days. He prefers the latex ones since he actually feels her skin when he does, but it probably looks real weird to everyone else. He just doesn't care. He thumps on her door. ]
[Honestly she just wanted to give him an out. Sarano had reminded her what it's like to be more normal than she'll ever get on her own, or at least what it's like to be able to not worry about her touch around the clock. If he's found something more like that, he should know that she... Understands?
Tone just doesn't carry well through text. Though it's sure carrying something through his, and before she can collect herself enough to make herself scarce, Cobb's banging on the door.
She's not nearly as dressed as him, being in the comfort of her room she's not worrying about touching others on accident. Her gloves are tossed off on her bed and so are her leggings, boots discarded at the foot just below the other articles of clothing. She still has on socks and a hoodie as well as undergarments, a tank and panties, but otherwise she's lounged back with her legs extended out in front of her, a notebook and pen to her left and her phone in her hand still.]
It ain't locked. [She finally grumbles, her stance one of hesitant bullheadedness, as one who's been caught red-handed doing something she knows better about and another who's dug in her heels on the matter, uncertain if she needs to be ready to fight or apologize. She's preparing for both, even though he looks far too handsome for his own good in that getup.]
[Cobb steps inside and puts his hands on his hips, not closing off like folded arms would be, but instead open in body language. Unsurprising, giving his general everything. His eyes travel over her body but not getting distracted by appreciating it, going straight to her face and keeping it there.]
We got to clear a few things up. Let me start with the obvious.
[ He knows what parts to shelf for now, but he won't forget them. Probably their lack of boundaries didn't help this situation, but Cobb's so easy-going he tends to just roll with things. He steps over to her, raising his eyebrows. ]
You had a ton of sex with a guy you married on Sarano, right? Are you tellin' me that our sex wasn't good or meaningful 'cause it wasn't penetrative like that? Here I thought the multiple orgasms weren't limitin' at all.
[Even though he doesn't close off, that direct opening few statements immediately puts her further on edge, bolstering her defenses while preparing herself to go on the offense. Especially when he starts off by noting all the sex having.
Except it doesn't go where she figures he's going with that, and her mouth parts in surprise, hanging there and catching flies for a moment as her brow furrows.]
What? That ain't what ah said at all. [Least not the part about their sex being somehow less. She shakes her head fervently.] Ah mean yes, ah had sex without all the hoops, but that don't make what we did together any less.
[If anything, she has a deep appreciation for the efforts he took to be with her like they could. The orgasms were pretty great, too. She just still carries a guilt that he can't be with her like that, and it's that thought that causes a frown and her gaze to drop.]
Sometimes ah'm reminded of that... Alternate universe. [Because that's how Sarano feels to her now.] An' ah feel like ah'm bein' selfish now.
[He's a good man, and he deserves more than what she can offer him.]
Alright, then don't tell me that we've got limitations or that you're holdin' me back. If what we've got is as good as any other kind of sex to you, then you'd have to accept it's the same for me, don't you?
[Cobb smiles, easy as can be, arching an eyebrow at her. He comes over and sits down near her, reaching over to run his fingers up and down her calf. Comfortingly. He knows he threw her off and it was intentional; he's a very shrewd person underneath the warmth. It's not that he doesn't want to have sex with her. They both know that's something that they'd have if they could, but it's not the point. The point is he means it when he says it's enough, and he wants her to believe it to.]
Suppose now we'd best talk about the other part, now that's cleared.
[Cobb can be very direct and he's doing it now, looking right at her.]
We didn't make any ground rules about any of this, so be direct now sugah.
[He's teasing, reminding her it's the two of them. They aren't any different from before.]
Do you not want me sleepin' with other people? Are you alright as long as we don't talk about it? I'm not against a jealous streak, I just don't want us back here with you feeling bad.
Edited (I AM BAD AT HTML) Date: 2021-03-18 01:35 am (UTC)
[He walked right in and trapped her on the subject, even putting himself between her and the door. Not just a pretty face indeed.]
Except there are limitations. We literally ain't able to do specific things that you can with others. [That's the truth of it. Rogue's of the mind that they need to call a spade a spade.] An' just because us workin' within those limits feels amazin' doesn't mean that you an' ah can't want more with each other. [Or if he wants that more with others.
She watches him as he moves closer and joins her on the bed, warily considering what else he might trap her with now that he has her as a captive audience. Even through her frustration and apprehension, Rogue can't help but sigh at the warmth of his touch over her leg. Despite everything, it is comforting. His touch always brought a warmth to her.
There's a suspicious noise from her at the mention of the other part because she has a feeling he's about to again put her on the spot. Which, he absolutely does. There's no immediate response from her, and after a moment of searching his gaze for any hint at what he himself might want, she moves to set her phone down as an excuse to pull from his piercing eyes.
Honestly, Rogue wants to just say that no, she's not a big fan of sharing, but she's not ready to commit to anything that even remotely feels serious. Nor does she want to give up the other connection she's made on the ship. Saying she wants to have her cake, eat it too, then not let him have any cake but her own is unfair, and she knows that.]
An' what if ah don't usually know what ah want with this sort of thing until it hits me in the face? [It's not a lie.] Ah ain't real good at datin' an' ah got a jealous streak a mile wide even when it ain't my right to have one. Don't usually do casual because it's hard to trust someone enough to be physically intimate an' not get close.
[Basically she's a mess and he deserves someone who has their shit together. The mutant dares a peer up at him through waterfalls of curls, all while trying to keep the emotion from bleeding onto her features or worse, through the damn empathy bond.]
Fine, we might want to do everythin' together, you're right. But every relationship's got its downfalls. I'm not willin' to say 'cause I can't kiss you, you ain't makin' me happy.
[If she wants to force him to admit that much, he will, although he doesn't love it. Cobb's not fond of the idea of feeding into any of her insecurities, but he gets that there's a line between withholding and lying and it's thin when he's avoiding that part. He just can't stop thinking of her staring at that necklace, looking broken-hearted. To tell her that any part of what's between them isn't enough doesn't work for him.
Cobb's too old, basically, to waste energy on dancing around subjects. He's always been direct with her, outside of their light flirting. If they're going to keep hooking up, they've got to be adults about it, from his point of view. He should've probably thought of that sooner, but he was a little busy being sucked into the happy honeymoon part of being with someone new. He listens to her closely, like he always does, nodding as he takes it in.
There's a beat as he thinks about it before responding.]
Issa, my ex, is a Twi'lek. They're well known for being taken by slavers because they're beautiful and unique looking and used as dancers or whatever else their owners want. We met as slaves, when we were young.
[Issa's exact story is hers to tell, but that gives her a basis of a background for the woman he loved. And why maybe talking about boundaries and understanding her hesitation in trusting people is something he knows well. It might not be obvious why he's saying that, but he's coming around to it.]
We weren't always together together. We were loyal in the ways that mattered, but I was very serious about her always knowin' she had her freedom. So that's the way we lived our lives and it's why I don't have a jealous streak. I trust if someone wants to be with me, they'll be with me. And they don't got to give me more than that, unless they want to.
[So really, it's about confidence for him. It's not arrogance, it's a sort of self-acceptance. He knows who he is. She desires him, and so they've hooked up. He's not sitting here questioning it because it's wasted effort when he could be with her instead. Cobb reaches out to take her hand and brings it to his heart, holding it there, since he's being earnest.]
I'm not goin' anywhere. I could sleep with a dozen people, you could sleep with a dozen people, and it won't change that. You mean somethin' to me, Rogue.
[The victory of being right is so short lived that she barely blinks and he’s calmly disarming her, which is something she’s decided he’s far too effective at for his own good. Or rather, for her own sanity. His words shut her right the hell up, her lips parting briefly only to close shortly thereafter. Again, his directness with his feelings throws her completely off balance, but it’s also comforting. He’s also comforting. There’s no doubt or lie in his words or in anything from the bond. And if she’s being honest with herself, she’s happy when she’s with him too. He has a grounding energy to him, and he’s been nothing but good to her, which is probably why she keeps expecting the other shoe to drop. Or, in this case, she’s over here whacking at a tree trying to force that proverbial shoe to show itself.
Mixed metaphors aside, Rogue’s so used to constant interpersonal and professional drama that this sort of direct communication and steadiness seems almost suspicious. Unlike Cobb, the younger woman had fully expected to just continue existing without any specific labels and just cross bridges as they came to obstacles. She hadn’t wanted to ruin the pleasant arrangement they quickly developed once they’d returned to the ship.
Usually her mutation’s more than enough to keep interested parties at emotional arm’s length, but that seems to have failed her miserably here. Even her admitting that she’s a damn mess in this department doesn’t seem to budge him.
When he speaks again, she’s not sure what she expects exactly, but it’s not a story about his ex. She knows him well enough at this stage to understand there’s a reason for this particular story, something he wanted to emphasize and for her to know. So, Rogue provides him the same attention and respect he did her and quietly listens.
The thought of navigating a romantic relationship in such a complicated situation hits far too close to home. She shouldn’t, but the mutant can’t help but think of Remy and how she leaned into her mutation as a reason they couldn’t be together. Except when push came to shove and she (briefly) had control of her powers, she still backed away from that commitment. It’s something to consider in more depth later, but it puts this situation in better perspective.
Rogue can’t even imagine the trust issues that Issa might have had growing up an exotic, female slave, and yet she trusted Cobb. The mention of having that freedom releases tension she’s not aware she’d been holding, though she’s still not certain how she feels about him with others, especially when the smallest slip can shove her into a first person seat of those memories. She’d never be able to escape them then.
Thankfully, the warmth and sureness of his hand around hers plucks her from that spiral of thoughts before it can grow damaging and take root, and she watches him press it to his chest, feeling the warmth of him. A warmth washes over her as her chest tightens. She doesn’t know if he intends this to be a romantic gesture, but it resonates deeply as one, even when he starts speaking about sleeping with others.
Through the reality of their situation, his words and the sentiment behind them strikes home. Her fingers grip the fabric of his shirt, tugging him closer, wanting nothing more than to react emotionally and pull him into a deep kiss. She doesn’t do that, nor does she reach to touch his face with her free bare hand even though she craves the contact.]
Even when ah’m a mess, drivin’ you up a wall? [Her voice betrays her emotion regardless of her efforts, and while she attempts to make that question have a bit of light tease, it’s far weightier with truth, that she’s a mess compared to him.] Because that’s liable to happen again.
[Cobb has already proven himself to be someone no one minds the empathy bond with because he's steady. It's not that he's never angry or lacks emotions, he's not calm the way the Jedi are or try to be, he's just centered. He's got his shit figured out and he's at home in his skin in a way not a lot of people are. He likes to think that so far they've made a good team. They're very different people from different planets, but he feels like he's known her longer. From the moment they met he knew he was in trouble, and he's been proven right in the best ways.
He can tell he's getting through to her by the way her body language changes and while he can't read minds, he's pretty good at reading people. She reminds him of Issa, and not in the way that he's trying to replace her, because they've got history no one can replace. But rather he has a type. Strong, smart, sassy women who have this inner vulnerability that just sort of calls to him. He has a deep instinct to take care of her, this secretly sweet woman of his.
The hand to his heart was a romantic gesture and he willingly moves closer to her. She can't touch him but he can touch her, releasing her hand to run his fingers through her hair, his other hand cupping her cheek and caressing it gently. He'd love to pull her into a kiss to make all this easier, he's had fantasies of only kissing her for hours, might be the whole forbidden aspect of it that stays in his mind.]
Especially then, sweetheart. 'Cause we're not just lovers, we're friends. And I'm more loyal to them than anythin' else.
[ Cobb kicks off his boots since he plans on getting on her bed and he's polite, almost all of him covered thanks to the long sleeves, scarf, and pants. His actual style suits her lack of skin touch pretty well, all things considered. He moves up onto the bed, his limbs so long even if he's still ridiculously skinny. ]
C'mere.
[ Cobb pats his chest and opens his arms to her, encouraging her to come snuggle up to him or rest on him if she wants. His head's the only real open skin she needs to worry about. He thinks she could use some good affection at the moment.]
You trust me with that necklace, so try to trust me on the rest, yeah? I know what I want.
[If he or anyone else had asked her outright, she would have absolutely declared that she could take care of her damn self. She's a strong, prideful woman that's ready to fight tooth and nail more often than not, but there's no denying the old fashioned streak that runs through her. Sometimes it just feels lovely to be taken care of like this, to touch with a gentle purpose and pools of affection and in her case, appreciation for his grounding patience with her.
A breath exhales at his response, both in relief and at the warmth that runs up her spine and collects in her chest with the weight of those words. To her, friendship remains one of her most cherished possessions, which isn't the right word per say, but she holds her friends closest to her heart and will fight for them until there's no fight left in her. They're her found family, chosen and honored, and he's found a place in that here.]
Good. [She tilts her head into his touch with the softest of follow-up noises, turning to press a lingering kiss to his gloved palm, lest she be tempted to pull him into a proper one. It's also a silent gesture of thanks. And before she can even make the request, he's kicking off shoes and joining her.
He doesn't have to ask twice, and the hand still lingering on his chest drags along it as it falls between them, tucking comfortably along side them both as she rolls onto her side and into the nook that seemed to be made just for snuggling. And because she can, her bare limbs drape over him. Her leg over his hips and her arm loosely over his chest, fingers curling again into the fabric of his shirt. Her hair provides a good buffer for his exposed skin, or he can pull up the hood of her hoodie if he wants to be overly cautious.
His question earns a soft grumble, but it's far less spirited than her earlier counters.]
[Cobb considers his town his family, the only family he's really had. It's the place he chose to be his home and that means something to him. He's got friends too, here and there, but not as many as he's starting to gather on this ship. Between him being friendly and easy-tempered, he's had some good conversations and building connections. None of them as intense as her though. There's a fire between them that's unique.
He knows he's said the right thing when she relaxes, and he knows he's done the right thing when she immediately curls up on him. Cobb likes how quick she is to snuggle up, her limbs already hooking him in and holding him there, and he smiles, running his fingers through her hair. Her wild mane is more than enough to keep his skin from her. He puts his free hand on top of her hand on his shirt, running his gloved fingers up and down her arm.
He laughs quietly at that.]
People don't live all that old on Tatooine, it wears you down. So I'm ancient.
[He's joking there. Mostly.]
When I was your age I was more feisty. I used to have these grand ideas of getting rid of slavery and kickin' the gangs outta the planet. We did a decent job of the latter, but it won't last.
[That's a losing battle without more than a handful of people willing to do anything about it. Against power and money, it's just not possible. And he knows that; he's always been very pragmatic. That's just the wildness of his planet. He keeps petting her hair, thinking about his town and all the people who will be ready to come for him soon enough.]
Soon as word gets out I don't have the armor no more, it won't be long 'fore they come for me. But my town's in a better place now to take care of themselves, at least.
[Or maybe they'll all die or they'll have to give in to the gangs and he'll be dead by then so he won't be able to help them. But that's the wild west way things are sometimes. Cobb's just going to go about his life here and about his life there until it runs out.]
So you could say I'm always ready for the end, so it makes life pretty simple.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2021-03-16 02:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-16 06:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-17 12:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-17 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-17 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-17 06:36 pm (UTC)You know anything about corsets and garters?
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Date: 2021-03-17 07:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-17 07:14 pm (UTC)How'd you learn about them on Sarano?
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Date: 2021-03-17 07:23 pm (UTC)Classified.
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Date: 2021-03-17 07:35 pm (UTC)Well then those sorts of outfits I gleaned from Sarano will have to stay classified then. A true shame.
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Date: 2021-03-17 08:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-17 08:13 pm (UTC)Well you deserve someone(s?) you can touch proper.
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Date: 2021-03-17 08:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-17 08:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-17 09:24 pm (UTC)[ Only minutes later he's knocking on her door. Cobb had been out and about when the texting started and he thought it was fun, and that didn't turn out so well. He's essentially a boomer, okay, text arguments are not a thing he's doing. Cobb's in red, his signature color, a long-sleeved shirt with his scarf from home around his neck since it's something he likes to wear. Plus he's still cold half the time, Sarano ruined his progress on that.
He wouldn't say he's mad, since Cobb rarely gets mad outside of people who deserve it, but frustrated is probably the better word. He adores this woman but yeah, frustration's right. Since he wants to be able to touch her, he's always wearing gloves these days. He prefers the latex ones since he actually feels her skin when he does, but it probably looks real weird to everyone else. He just doesn't care. He thumps on her door. ]
I know yer in there, open the door.
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Date: 2021-03-17 10:01 pm (UTC)Tone just doesn't carry well through text. Though it's sure carrying something through his, and before she can collect herself enough to make herself scarce, Cobb's banging on the door.
She's not nearly as dressed as him, being in the comfort of her room she's not worrying about touching others on accident. Her gloves are tossed off on her bed and so are her leggings, boots discarded at the foot just below the other articles of clothing. She still has on socks and a hoodie as well as undergarments, a tank and panties, but otherwise she's lounged back with her legs extended out in front of her, a notebook and pen to her left and her phone in her hand still.]
It ain't locked. [She finally grumbles, her stance one of hesitant bullheadedness, as one who's been caught red-handed doing something she knows better about and another who's dug in her heels on the matter, uncertain if she needs to be ready to fight or apologize. She's preparing for both, even though he looks far too handsome for his own good in that getup.]
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Date: 2021-03-17 10:42 pm (UTC)We got to clear a few things up. Let me start with the obvious.
[ He knows what parts to shelf for now, but he won't forget them. Probably their lack of boundaries didn't help this situation, but Cobb's so easy-going he tends to just roll with things. He steps over to her, raising his eyebrows. ]
You had a ton of sex with a guy you married on Sarano, right? Are you tellin' me that our sex wasn't good or meaningful 'cause it wasn't penetrative like that? Here I thought the multiple orgasms weren't limitin' at all.
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Date: 2021-03-17 11:02 pm (UTC)Except it doesn't go where she figures he's going with that, and her mouth parts in surprise, hanging there and catching flies for a moment as her brow furrows.]
What? That ain't what ah said at all. [Least not the part about their sex being somehow less. She shakes her head fervently.] Ah mean yes, ah had sex without all the hoops, but that don't make what we did together any less.
[If anything, she has a deep appreciation for the efforts he took to be with her like they could. The orgasms were pretty great, too. She just still carries a guilt that he can't be with her like that, and it's that thought that causes a frown and her gaze to drop.]
Sometimes ah'm reminded of that... Alternate universe. [Because that's how Sarano feels to her now.] An' ah feel like ah'm bein' selfish now.
[He's a good man, and he deserves more than what she can offer him.]
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Date: 2021-03-18 01:27 am (UTC)[Cobb smiles, easy as can be, arching an eyebrow at her. He comes over and sits down near her, reaching over to run his fingers up and down her calf. Comfortingly. He knows he threw her off and it was intentional; he's a very shrewd person underneath the warmth. It's not that he doesn't want to have sex with her. They both know that's something that they'd have if they could, but it's not the point. The point is he means it when he says it's enough, and he wants her to believe it to.]
Suppose now we'd best talk about the other part, now that's cleared.
[Cobb can be very direct and he's doing it now, looking right at her.]
We didn't make any ground rules about any of this, so be direct now sugah.
[He's teasing, reminding her it's the two of them. They aren't any different from before.]
Do you not want me sleepin' with other people? Are you alright as long as we don't talk about it? I'm not against a jealous streak, I just don't want us back here with you feeling bad.
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Date: 2021-03-18 02:52 am (UTC)Except there are limitations. We literally ain't able to do specific things that you can with others. [That's the truth of it. Rogue's of the mind that they need to call a spade a spade.] An' just because us workin' within those limits feels amazin' doesn't mean that you an' ah can't want more with each other. [Or if he wants that more with others.
She watches him as he moves closer and joins her on the bed, warily considering what else he might trap her with now that he has her as a captive audience. Even through her frustration and apprehension, Rogue can't help but sigh at the warmth of his touch over her leg. Despite everything, it is comforting. His touch always brought a warmth to her.
There's a suspicious noise from her at the mention of the other part because she has a feeling he's about to again put her on the spot. Which, he absolutely does. There's no immediate response from her, and after a moment of searching his gaze for any hint at what he himself might want, she moves to set her phone down as an excuse to pull from his piercing eyes.
Honestly, Rogue wants to just say that no, she's not a big fan of sharing, but she's not ready to commit to anything that even remotely feels serious. Nor does she want to give up the other connection she's made on the ship. Saying she wants to have her cake, eat it too, then not let him have any cake but her own is unfair, and she knows that.]
An' what if ah don't usually know what ah want with this sort of thing until it hits me in the face? [It's not a lie.] Ah ain't real good at datin' an' ah got a jealous streak a mile wide even when it ain't my right to have one. Don't usually do casual because it's hard to trust someone enough to be physically intimate an' not get close.
[Basically she's a mess and he deserves someone who has their shit together. The mutant dares a peer up at him through waterfalls of curls, all while trying to keep the emotion from bleeding onto her features or worse, through the damn empathy bond.]
What 'bout you?
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Date: 2021-03-18 03:31 am (UTC)[If she wants to force him to admit that much, he will, although he doesn't love it. Cobb's not fond of the idea of feeding into any of her insecurities, but he gets that there's a line between withholding and lying and it's thin when he's avoiding that part. He just can't stop thinking of her staring at that necklace, looking broken-hearted. To tell her that any part of what's between them isn't enough doesn't work for him.
Cobb's too old, basically, to waste energy on dancing around subjects. He's always been direct with her, outside of their light flirting. If they're going to keep hooking up, they've got to be adults about it, from his point of view. He should've probably thought of that sooner, but he was a little busy being sucked into the happy honeymoon part of being with someone new. He listens to her closely, like he always does, nodding as he takes it in.
There's a beat as he thinks about it before responding.]
Issa, my ex, is a Twi'lek. They're well known for being taken by slavers because they're beautiful and unique looking and used as dancers or whatever else their owners want. We met as slaves, when we were young.
[Issa's exact story is hers to tell, but that gives her a basis of a background for the woman he loved. And why maybe talking about boundaries and understanding her hesitation in trusting people is something he knows well. It might not be obvious why he's saying that, but he's coming around to it.]
We weren't always together together. We were loyal in the ways that mattered, but I was very serious about her always knowin' she had her freedom. So that's the way we lived our lives and it's why I don't have a jealous streak. I trust if someone wants to be with me, they'll be with me. And they don't got to give me more than that, unless they want to.
[So really, it's about confidence for him. It's not arrogance, it's a sort of self-acceptance. He knows who he is. She desires him, and so they've hooked up. He's not sitting here questioning it because it's wasted effort when he could be with her instead. Cobb reaches out to take her hand and brings it to his heart, holding it there, since he's being earnest.]
I'm not goin' anywhere. I could sleep with a dozen people, you could sleep with a dozen people, and it won't change that. You mean somethin' to me, Rogue.
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Date: 2021-03-18 06:50 am (UTC)Mixed metaphors aside, Rogue’s so used to constant interpersonal and professional drama that this sort of direct communication and steadiness seems almost suspicious. Unlike Cobb, the younger woman had fully expected to just continue existing without any specific labels and just cross bridges as they came to obstacles. She hadn’t wanted to ruin the pleasant arrangement they quickly developed once they’d returned to the ship.
Usually her mutation’s more than enough to keep interested parties at emotional arm’s length, but that seems to have failed her miserably here. Even her admitting that she’s a damn mess in this department doesn’t seem to budge him.
When he speaks again, she’s not sure what she expects exactly, but it’s not a story about his ex. She knows him well enough at this stage to understand there’s a reason for this particular story, something he wanted to emphasize and for her to know. So, Rogue provides him the same attention and respect he did her and quietly listens.
The thought of navigating a romantic relationship in such a complicated situation hits far too close to home. She shouldn’t, but the mutant can’t help but think of Remy and how she leaned into her mutation as a reason they couldn’t be together. Except when push came to shove and she (briefly) had control of her powers, she still backed away from that commitment. It’s something to consider in more depth later, but it puts this situation in better perspective.
Rogue can’t even imagine the trust issues that Issa might have had growing up an exotic, female slave, and yet she trusted Cobb. The mention of having that freedom releases tension she’s not aware she’d been holding, though she’s still not certain how she feels about him with others, especially when the smallest slip can shove her into a first person seat of those memories. She’d never be able to escape them then.
Thankfully, the warmth and sureness of his hand around hers plucks her from that spiral of thoughts before it can grow damaging and take root, and she watches him press it to his chest, feeling the warmth of him. A warmth washes over her as her chest tightens. She doesn’t know if he intends this to be a romantic gesture, but it resonates deeply as one, even when he starts speaking about sleeping with others.
Through the reality of their situation, his words and the sentiment behind them strikes home. Her fingers grip the fabric of his shirt, tugging him closer, wanting nothing more than to react emotionally and pull him into a deep kiss. She doesn’t do that, nor does she reach to touch his face with her free bare hand even though she craves the contact.]
Even when ah’m a mess, drivin’ you up a wall? [Her voice betrays her emotion regardless of her efforts, and while she attempts to make that question have a bit of light tease, it’s far weightier with truth, that she’s a mess compared to him.] Because that’s liable to happen again.
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Date: 2021-03-19 03:58 am (UTC)He can tell he's getting through to her by the way her body language changes and while he can't read minds, he's pretty good at reading people. She reminds him of Issa, and not in the way that he's trying to replace her, because they've got history no one can replace. But rather he has a type. Strong, smart, sassy women who have this inner vulnerability that just sort of calls to him. He has a deep instinct to take care of her, this secretly sweet woman of his.
The hand to his heart was a romantic gesture and he willingly moves closer to her. She can't touch him but he can touch her, releasing her hand to run his fingers through her hair, his other hand cupping her cheek and caressing it gently. He'd love to pull her into a kiss to make all this easier, he's had fantasies of only kissing her for hours, might be the whole forbidden aspect of it that stays in his mind.]
Especially then, sweetheart. 'Cause we're not just lovers, we're friends. And I'm more loyal to them than anythin' else.
[ Cobb kicks off his boots since he plans on getting on her bed and he's polite, almost all of him covered thanks to the long sleeves, scarf, and pants. His actual style suits her lack of skin touch pretty well, all things considered. He moves up onto the bed, his limbs so long even if he's still ridiculously skinny. ]
C'mere.
[ Cobb pats his chest and opens his arms to her, encouraging her to come snuggle up to him or rest on him if she wants. His head's the only real open skin she needs to worry about. He thinks she could use some good affection at the moment.]
You trust me with that necklace, so try to trust me on the rest, yeah? I know what I want.
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Date: 2021-03-19 06:08 am (UTC)A breath exhales at his response, both in relief and at the warmth that runs up her spine and collects in her chest with the weight of those words. To her, friendship remains one of her most cherished possessions, which isn't the right word per say, but she holds her friends closest to her heart and will fight for them until there's no fight left in her. They're her found family, chosen and honored, and he's found a place in that here.]
Good. [She tilts her head into his touch with the softest of follow-up noises, turning to press a lingering kiss to his gloved palm, lest she be tempted to pull him into a proper one. It's also a silent gesture of thanks. And before she can even make the request, he's kicking off shoes and joining her.
He doesn't have to ask twice, and the hand still lingering on his chest drags along it as it falls between them, tucking comfortably along side them both as she rolls onto her side and into the nook that seemed to be made just for snuggling. And because she can, her bare limbs drape over him. Her leg over his hips and her arm loosely over his chest, fingers curling again into the fabric of his shirt. Her hair provides a good buffer for his exposed skin, or he can pull up the hood of her hoodie if he wants to be overly cautious.
His question earns a soft grumble, but it's far less spirited than her earlier counters.]
You got too much of life figured out, don't ya?
[It's almost accusatory. How dare he?]
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Date: 2021-03-20 02:44 am (UTC)He knows he's said the right thing when she relaxes, and he knows he's done the right thing when she immediately curls up on him. Cobb likes how quick she is to snuggle up, her limbs already hooking him in and holding him there, and he smiles, running his fingers through her hair. Her wild mane is more than enough to keep his skin from her. He puts his free hand on top of her hand on his shirt, running his gloved fingers up and down her arm.
He laughs quietly at that.]
People don't live all that old on Tatooine, it wears you down. So I'm ancient.
[He's joking there. Mostly.]
When I was your age I was more feisty. I used to have these grand ideas of getting rid of slavery and kickin' the gangs outta the planet. We did a decent job of the latter, but it won't last.
[That's a losing battle without more than a handful of people willing to do anything about it. Against power and money, it's just not possible. And he knows that; he's always been very pragmatic. That's just the wildness of his planet. He keeps petting her hair, thinking about his town and all the people who will be ready to come for him soon enough.]
Soon as word gets out I don't have the armor no more, it won't be long 'fore they come for me. But my town's in a better place now to take care of themselves, at least.
[Or maybe they'll all die or they'll have to give in to the gangs and he'll be dead by then so he won't be able to help them. But that's the
wild westway things are sometimes. Cobb's just going to go about his life here and about his life there until it runs out.]So you could say I'm always ready for the end, so it makes life pretty simple.
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