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.
[Though her hand on his chest doesn't move much, her index finger traces out little random shapes along its limited reach. She finds she likes the feel of his laugh beneath her, and the even rhythm of his breath melds with that grounded energy of his to add to the comforting warmth he's brought to her. She's still a mess, but he managed to logic stomp her instinctive attempts to self-sabotage this good thing. Apparently, healthy is utterly terrifying to the mutant.
She makes a soft noise at the gentle touch on her arm, and she nuzzles against him even as she grins against the fabric at his mentioning of ancient.]
That just means you gotta stretch before you do anythin' vigorous. Don't need you throwin' out your hip. Especially if you ain't so good at feisty anymore. [The younger woman teases, inclining her head up towards him so her chin rests against his chest now and she's peering towards him for a reaction, or maybe she just likes how it lights up with his smile. It's contagious, and she could use some of that energy right now.
Her expression softens, falling more serious as he talks about his grand visions of Doing Good on his planet. It's admirable, but even she knows worldly optimism has a tendency to fade as life provides less than ideal experiences. Doesn't mean that folks should stop fighting for what's right and good, but having a more realistic view of the outcomes helps curb the disappointment from crushing one's spirit too much.]
You helped while you could the best you could, it sounds like. That's all any of us can do.
[At the mention of the armor, she pats his chest. Here's where she can help. At least while they're on this ship's course.]
Until then you got me. Provided mah powers ain't dampened by weird circumstances. [And that last part's spoken from experience, with a bit of a perplexed note. Her touch and powers work, she's had a few quick whoopsie moments with Grogu brushing his skin against hers. Nothing worrisome for his health, but it did give her a few insights to Cobb and Din's universe.]
[ Cobb knows she's telling the truth about this not being the last time any of this comes up, but that's alright. He's confident they'll figure it out then too. They're intelligent people who care about each other. It's new to him, someone being jealous or possessive of him. It's surprisingly flattering. Someone like her wanting all his attention? How can that not be charming in a way. Neither of them are ready yet to make promises to each other though, but that's alright. They'll work it out. They're doing just fine now, snuggling and talking in bed.
He laughs again at her sassy tease, looking down at her when she tilts her head up. He scrunches up his nose at her as if deeply, deeply offended, but that never lasts long before he's smiling.]
You're a mean-spirited woman. 'Sides, you know I don't got problems with vigorous activities.
[ He playfully boops her on the nose at that. Technically they haven't been able to be as vigorous as they probably could be without limitations, but it's still been extremely enthusiastic and active. Cobb hasn't had this active a sex life in years, so it's amusing to have a resurgence later in life, in this strange place surrounded by beautiful people. He's not sorry though. He's also felt more alive and energetic than usual.]
What a gorgeous protector I've got claimin' me. I'll be sure to tell anyone makin' trouble that I've got a superpowered woman on my side.
[Cobb can take care of himself, but not to the extent she can. His survival to this point proves that, but he knows there's no comparison. And he does not have such an amount of pride that he wouldn't let her fight his battles if he's outmatched. He's a survivor after all; and she's not the first badass woman he's let into his heart. He has a type, actually.]
[It's charming, until he sees the ugly green monster in action. She's an absolute force to be reckoned with when she's angry, that's for damn certain. Though there are few things he could do to inspire that sort of rage in the mutant, and she hopes he's intelligent enough not to cross those obvious lines in his right mind.
That scrunched nose look shouldn't be so endearing, but she knows she's pulling her chain a bit, the smile just adding to her own pleased expression.]
Do ah? [She feigns innocence, eyes wide and some attempt at doe-like. Attempt being the operative word there since the boop of his finger interrupts her sly attempts at sass as she pauses to watch the incoming finger with a slight furrow of confusion before blinking several times to refocus back on him once the finger's gone. Excuse him. One does not boop the untouchable mutant that can yeet him into the nearby planet's atmosphere with great ease.
As a counter to his rudeness, the leg hooked over him pulls him closer, shifting her body just enough to slot his hip conveniently between her thighs just as snug as a bug, her thigh draped conveniently over his crotch. Teasing and bantering comes easy to them, and it's relaxing her.]
An' ruin the element of surprise? Tsh. Don't be a fun thief. [Let them think her some innocuous woman and eat their mistakes nice and slow when they realize she's actually a Big Gun, as Remy would probably put it. Both men seem to share the ability to put their pride aside and let her take the violent wheel as necessary.] Ah will accept the compliment, however.
[At his question, she quiets and lets her finger trace along his chest absently.] Yes an' no. Ah was born ah mutant, an' mah mutation, mah powers, activated when ah was a teenager, kissin' for the first time. [She hesitates, dropping her gaze to watch her finger that had stilled, the sadness and guilt visible even without the bond.] Ah put him in a coma. He died later.
[She thinks she told him this already, but it just rolls out again as she relives a bit of that trauma.]
When ah pull life force ah also pull people's memories, their powers, an' if ah hold on long enough, their psyche ah guess is the best way to put it. Learned that the worst way possible... Twice. The first time was a real mess. Ah was a real mess.
[It's a long story with the Brotherhood, the Avengers, and Carol even before the X-Men. Rogue's not certain he wants to hear it.]
[Cobb's skeptical at this moment in time he'd do something that would make her truly angry. He's not the type to stir up waters and he really doesn't like fighting with people. Not that it'd be obvious, considering what he's done in his life, but every time he's had to fight, in his opinion it's cause he had to. He fought to live, fought for the people he cared about. Even wih Mando, he was looking for reasons for them not to fight. He knew Mando'd likely win but that wasn't even it. He picked conflict resolution when he had the chance. Good luck getting a real fight outta him.
She is going to be booped and she will have to live with said booping. She follows that up by snuggling to him even tighter. Cobb's scrawny and he's got jaunty hips so it's not that hard for her to get him snug with her nice thighs. He notices how close her thigh is to his 'dragon,' but he's going to ignore that until she makes him stop ignoring it. This is talking time. He's good at both.]
Yer right, it would be funny to watch people underestimate you.
[Cobb didn't from the start, but again, he knows dangerous women. Besides, he has active low key paranoia when he first meets someone. He gets their measure, it's a survival tactic, and it's served him well. He got a sense from day one that her confidence was earned in one way or another. Knowing she's far more powerful than most other people's interesting to him. Attractive too. He'd like to see her fight. He don't mind being her damsel, he'd probably like it.
He listens to her explain. It's wild to think of a first kiss leading to a coma and death, and what kind of trauma that would leave on a person. Cobb keeps running his fingers through her hair as she talks. It's clear this is tough for her, but he's always sought to make her feel safe in his arms, to do anything.]
I'd like to hear it, if you'd like to talk 'bout it.
[Sometimes it frustrates her that he's mature and wise enough not to be baited by teasing touches, but mostly it's strangely calming. It shows a deep mastery of self control that's required to be involved with her, or in Wade's case, a healing factor strong enough to keep up with her touch. Given that's not the case here, these little teases and subconscious tests (or attempts to sabotage) only serve to grow her trust in him.]
It's one of mah favorite past times. [She murmurs wistfully. Men that underestimated and valued women innately lesser than themselves should absolutely learn a terribly rude lesson about assuming and generally being a sexist turd.] Among other things.
[It's sweet that he wants to protect her, even if she can more than handle herself for most threats. Remy was like that too, and with the subject at hand, her heart aches a bit deeper with old wounds. She's quiet for several long moments as she watches her finger trail over his chest.]
Ah ran away after Cody, terrified an' wieldin' a shotgun like a feral cat. Mystique found me, an' took me in with her partner Destiny. They were mothers to me, an' mutants too. Ah thought ah found a home. [She sighs, frowning. Her relationship with Mystique was beyond complicated, and she still has love for her, but there's resentment and pain dug in deep. Too much bad history muddying the good in the waters.] Ah adored them, an' Mystique trained me. She was a shapeshifter, an' Destiny could see the future. They formed a group to fight for mutants, an' blinded by mah love and by bein' too damn naive, ah joined up.
[He probably pieced together the likelihood of the finding and adopting her might have had ulterior motives, especially with the grooming.]
They were terrorists. An' ah was the key to takin' down Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers. [By that point she's shifted so she can see his reaction to that. She knows there are some Avengers on board the ship, but none from her universe.] Ah went through them like a hot knife through butter. [And she doesn't sound proud about that. It's more matter of fact. It's exactly what happened, and with each hero's power, it became even easier to take down the next one. Her gaze drops again, and he can easily feel her shame. She doesn't want to delve into the exact how and why she stole Carol's life force and left her for dead, so she simple avoids that clarification.]
Later, ah held on too long with Carol. Absorbed her psyche an' her personality. Ah nearly killed her. Her powers were mine permanently an' ah could hear her in mah head. Ah... Was a mess. [She was such an idiot child, blinded and manipulated by women she cared for as blood.] Turned to the only folks ah could think that might help me, the X-Men. They're a group of mutants that fight for everyone, mutants an' humans alike. To Mystique, they were enemies of a sort. Superior to humans but weak for wantin' peaceful existence.
[There's so much more to the history of mutants, to Mystique's hatred of humans, and Rogue understands that anger. She's been collared and treated sub-human for being born different. It's no excuse though. Her voice breaks a little when she speaks again.]
Despite bein' the enemy an' what ah'd done to Carol, they took me in an' gave me a second chance. [A beat.] Ah still wonder how much of me becomin' better, an X-Man an' an Avenger, was because of her bein' in mah head all those years.
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timeasmymeasure
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
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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Date: 2021-03-20 04:04 am (UTC)She makes a soft noise at the gentle touch on her arm, and she nuzzles against him even as she grins against the fabric at his mentioning of ancient.]
That just means you gotta stretch before you do anythin' vigorous. Don't need you throwin' out your hip. Especially if you ain't so good at feisty anymore. [The younger woman teases, inclining her head up towards him so her chin rests against his chest now and she's peering towards him for a reaction, or maybe she just likes how it lights up with his smile. It's contagious, and she could use some of that energy right now.
Her expression softens, falling more serious as he talks about his grand visions of Doing Good on his planet. It's admirable, but even she knows worldly optimism has a tendency to fade as life provides less than ideal experiences. Doesn't mean that folks should stop fighting for what's right and good, but having a more realistic view of the outcomes helps curb the disappointment from crushing one's spirit too much.]
You helped while you could the best you could, it sounds like. That's all any of us can do.
[At the mention of the armor, she pats his chest. Here's where she can help. At least while they're on this ship's course.]
Until then you got me. Provided mah powers ain't dampened by weird circumstances. [And that last part's spoken from experience, with a bit of a perplexed note. Her touch and powers work, she's had a few quick whoopsie moments with Grogu brushing his skin against hers. Nothing worrisome for his health, but it did give her a few insights to Cobb and Din's universe.]
Ah'd rather you not die on mah watch, thanks.
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Date: 2021-03-24 10:41 pm (UTC)He laughs again at her sassy tease, looking down at her when she tilts her head up. He scrunches up his nose at her as if deeply, deeply offended, but that never lasts long before he's smiling.]
You're a mean-spirited woman. 'Sides, you know I don't got problems with vigorous activities.
[ He playfully boops her on the nose at that. Technically they haven't been able to be as vigorous as they probably could be without limitations, but it's still been extremely enthusiastic and active. Cobb hasn't had this active a sex life in years, so it's amusing to have a resurgence later in life, in this strange place surrounded by beautiful people. He's not sorry though. He's also felt more alive and energetic than usual.]
What a gorgeous protector I've got claimin' me. I'll be sure to tell anyone makin' trouble that I've got a superpowered woman on my side.
[Cobb can take care of himself, but not to the extent she can. His survival to this point proves that, but he knows there's no comparison. And he does not have such an amount of pride that he wouldn't let her fight his battles if he's outmatched. He's a survivor after all; and she's not the first badass woman he's let into his heart. He has a type, actually.]
So you were just born with these powers?
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Date: 2021-03-25 03:33 am (UTC)That scrunched nose look shouldn't be so endearing, but she knows she's pulling her chain a bit, the smile just adding to her own pleased expression.]
Do ah? [She feigns innocence, eyes wide and some attempt at doe-like. Attempt being the operative word there since the boop of his finger interrupts her sly attempts at sass as she pauses to watch the incoming finger with a slight furrow of confusion before blinking several times to refocus back on him once the finger's gone. Excuse him. One does not boop the untouchable mutant that can yeet him into the nearby planet's atmosphere with great ease.
As a counter to his rudeness, the leg hooked over him pulls him closer, shifting her body just enough to slot his hip conveniently between her thighs just as snug as a bug, her thigh draped conveniently over his crotch. Teasing and bantering comes easy to them, and it's relaxing her.]
An' ruin the element of surprise? Tsh. Don't be a fun thief. [Let them think her some innocuous woman and eat their mistakes nice and slow when they realize she's actually a Big Gun, as Remy would probably put it. Both men seem to share the ability to put their pride aside and let her take the violent wheel as necessary.] Ah will accept the compliment, however.
[At his question, she quiets and lets her finger trace along his chest absently.] Yes an' no. Ah was born ah mutant, an' mah mutation, mah powers, activated when ah was a teenager, kissin' for the first time. [She hesitates, dropping her gaze to watch her finger that had stilled, the sadness and guilt visible even without the bond.] Ah put him in a coma. He died later.
[She thinks she told him this already, but it just rolls out again as she relives a bit of that trauma.]
When ah pull life force ah also pull people's memories, their powers, an' if ah hold on long enough, their psyche ah guess is the best way to put it. Learned that the worst way possible... Twice. The first time was a real mess. Ah was a real mess.
[It's a long story with the Brotherhood, the Avengers, and Carol even before the X-Men. Rogue's not certain he wants to hear it.]
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Date: 2021-04-11 03:04 am (UTC)She is going to be booped and she will have to live with said booping. She follows that up by snuggling to him even tighter. Cobb's scrawny and he's got jaunty hips so it's not that hard for her to get him snug with her nice thighs. He notices how close her thigh is to his 'dragon,' but he's going to ignore that until she makes him stop ignoring it. This is talking time. He's good at both.]
Yer right, it would be funny to watch people underestimate you.
[Cobb didn't from the start, but again, he knows dangerous women. Besides, he has active low key paranoia when he first meets someone. He gets their measure, it's a survival tactic, and it's served him well. He got a sense from day one that her confidence was earned in one way or another. Knowing she's far more powerful than most other people's interesting to him. Attractive too. He'd like to see her fight. He don't mind being her damsel, he'd probably like it.
He listens to her explain. It's wild to think of a first kiss leading to a coma and death, and what kind of trauma that would leave on a person. Cobb keeps running his fingers through her hair as she talks. It's clear this is tough for her, but he's always sought to make her feel safe in his arms, to do anything.]
I'd like to hear it, if you'd like to talk 'bout it.
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Date: 2021-04-11 10:28 pm (UTC)It's one of mah favorite past times. [She murmurs wistfully. Men that underestimated and valued women innately lesser than themselves should absolutely learn a terribly rude lesson about assuming and generally being a sexist turd.] Among other things.
[It's sweet that he wants to protect her, even if she can more than handle herself for most threats. Remy was like that too, and with the subject at hand, her heart aches a bit deeper with old wounds. She's quiet for several long moments as she watches her finger trail over his chest.]
Ah ran away after Cody, terrified an' wieldin' a shotgun like a feral cat. Mystique found me, an' took me in with her partner Destiny. They were mothers to me, an' mutants too. Ah thought ah found a home. [She sighs, frowning. Her relationship with Mystique was beyond complicated, and she still has love for her, but there's resentment and pain dug in deep. Too much bad history muddying the good in the waters.] Ah adored them, an' Mystique trained me. She was a shapeshifter, an' Destiny could see the future. They formed a group to fight for mutants, an' blinded by mah love and by bein' too damn naive, ah joined up.
[He probably pieced together the likelihood of the finding and adopting her might have had ulterior motives, especially with the grooming.]
They were terrorists. An' ah was the key to takin' down Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers. [By that point she's shifted so she can see his reaction to that. She knows there are some Avengers on board the ship, but none from her universe.] Ah went through them like a hot knife through butter. [And she doesn't sound proud about that. It's more matter of fact. It's exactly what happened, and with each hero's power, it became even easier to take down the next one. Her gaze drops again, and he can easily feel her shame. She doesn't want to delve into the exact how and why she stole Carol's life force and left her for dead, so she simple avoids that clarification.]
Later, ah held on too long with Carol. Absorbed her psyche an' her personality. Ah nearly killed her. Her powers were mine permanently an' ah could hear her in mah head. Ah... Was a mess. [She was such an idiot child, blinded and manipulated by women she cared for as blood.] Turned to the only folks ah could think that might help me, the X-Men. They're a group of mutants that fight for everyone, mutants an' humans alike. To Mystique, they were enemies of a sort. Superior to humans but weak for wantin' peaceful existence.
[There's so much more to the history of mutants, to Mystique's hatred of humans, and Rogue understands that anger. She's been collared and treated sub-human for being born different. It's no excuse though. Her voice breaks a little when she speaks again.]
Despite bein' the enemy an' what ah'd done to Carol, they took me in an' gave me a second chance. [A beat.] Ah still wonder how much of me becomin' better, an X-Man an' an Avenger, was because of her bein' in mah head all those years.