morethan084 | Ximilia Inbox

[It's easy to see the blush that creeps up on her face with the harsh lighting of the station, and she ducks her head momentarily in an attempt to hide it. She never expected anything at all from him, let alone this. Fingers tracing along the scales, Daisy is silent for a minute before looking up at him.]

Thank you.

[Speaking of pieces of his world...]

My turn.

[He had wrapped his gifts to her so nicely, meanwhile...

Pulling the duffel bag closer, she pulls out her presents for him one at a time. First was the entire Harry Potter book series, then the dvd collection.]

I'm determined to get you into your first fandom.

[They had talked about it, about watching the movies together. Next she pulls out two cans of chocolate frosting, mostly as a joke. And last was a bottle of Kvas.]

Hopefully it's legit Kvas? I wanted you to be the first to try it.

You're welcome.

[Broken amplifiers aside, he finds that he means it. That he requested the gift to make her smile, to give her something that was as much of him as it was of his world. Something to take with her when she leaves.

The Darkling's soft smile slips for a second, and he covers it by looking down on the duffle bag she drags closer. Books, the covers bright and bold, the titles could mean anything- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

His longer fingers caress the first book slowly.]

Thank you. What is a fandom?

[The cans of frosting gets her a grin, though. A beaming smile once he figures out what it is, the promise that the cans hold.] You remembered.

[The conversation from long ago, his fascination with the sweet stickiness of this confection, his face dipping down to kiss the side of her face before taking the last gift from her hands.]

It looks like kvas. You asked for this. For me.

[Setting everything down carefully, he turns and pulls her in to a tight hug.] Thank you.

[Daisy was worried about what his reaction would be to these presents, so when he smiles she's quick to mirror it.

Of course he doesn't know what a fandom is...]

It's when you and other fans come together to discuss whatever you're a fan of. Movies, TV shows, Books...

[Hopefully that's a good enough conversation. Laughing at the way his face lights up over the frosting, Daisy smiles as he kisses her cheek.]

How could I forget?

[As intimate as they've been, the hug is surprising. But she responds quickly, wrapping her arms around him.]

You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it, I was afraid it would be too much.

Nothing- [Whispered in to the silky softness of Daisy's hair, as he keeps hugging her close. Keeps her shielded inside the circle of his own arms, and somewhere in the back of his mind, a clock is ticking, counting down the minutes and hours and months until she's gone.] you do, could be too much.

[The unexpected gifts, books to read to keep his mind occupied and kvas to drink and he will invite Daisy to share it with him. Maybe in the sunlight room, when the moon is out and the snow vanishes, and frosting.

Sinfully sweet and decadent, and in a can just for him.]

Happy Christmas, Daisy.

[Remembering just how closed off he had been initially just makes this moment more special. That he feels comfortable enough to let his walls down around her. She stays in his embrace for however long he wants, hand rubbing up and down his back.]

Merry Christmas, Aleksander.

[Maybe it’s a good thing he can’t see her face right now, because there’s a few tears rolling down her face.]

[He has patience, soaking up the warmth of Daisy's embrace and the spirit of this strange and strangely familiar holiday. The gift of giving, and being surprised in turn.

If she doesn't pull away, he will stay here, in this one moment - suspended among the dying darkness surrounding the space station and the impossibility of this happening at all - for long minutes. Unwilling to let her go, his hands slip down her back to cradle her hips.]

[Daisy’s laugh is muffled against his neck when she feels his hands go to her hips, pulling her head back to look at him with a smile on her face.]

Whoever picked out the sweater for you really nailed it.

[Any opportunity to tease him, she’s taking it.]

Ah- this wasn't that kind of hug.

[Teasing tones whispered in to Daisy's hair, his hands smoothing down her back until he reaches her waist and after a beat, a breathless second as the Darkling weighs his options, he digs his fingers in. A gentle tickle.]

But I can always show you just how accurate it is, all you need to do is ask.

Oh, I know how accurate it is.

[Tensing when he tickles her sides, Daisy's elbows clamp down in an attempt to get him to stop tickling her as she starts laughing.]

You do, do you.

[Drinking up the sound of her laughter, the Darkling relents only long enough for Daisy to let her guard down, until her shoulders relax and her elbows unlock from her sides before going for it again, long fingers playing along her side.]

Yup.

[Just as she's wiping the last of the tears of laughter from her face, he goes for it again and she starts right back up again. This time she tries to roll away from his hands.]

You're such a little shit!

[Daisy at least attempts to get payback and reaches for his sides as well.]

[Fingers slipping against Daisy's skin, the Darkling tries and fails to hold on as she turns the table, and he laughs helplessly as her fingers dig in to the sensitive part of his stomach.]

I surrender.

[Hands held up, hovering near Daisy's shoulders and the laugh tappers off in to a giggle.]

Have mercy.

[Daisy laughs even more when he starts to, she's pretty sure she's never heard him laugh like that before. It's adorable.

Pulling her hands back when he does, Daisy looks pretty smug that she got her revenge on him.]

What? You don't like to be tickled?

[She asks, pretending to be innocent.]

I never said I didn't like it.

[Does he, though? It's hard to tell, with tickling being yet another foreign and new thing. So many new experiences and Daisy is at the center of them all, the reason for the shaky grounds underneath his metaphorical feet as he reaches for her again.]

Mostly, I just wanted to hear you laugh.

I mean, you could've just something stupid if you wanted to hear me laugh.

[Daisy teases, letting him pull her close again now that they've both stopped that ridiculous tickle fight.]

So you really like your presents?

I could, but that wouldn't be nearly as satisfying as putting my hands on you.

[Said on a laugh, a smug smile before he kisses her brow.]

Yes. I am not in the habit of lying to spare feelings. I really, really liked them.

[The gifts themselves and the thought that she put in to them. That she cared enough to even bother. A flicker of warmth spirals in his stomach, and instead of telling her more words, more reasons, he bends down to slot his mouth over hers in a gentle kiss.]

Oh?

[Daisy laughs too, the smile never leaving her face.]

Good, I'm glad.

[Her smile widens when she notices he's leaning in closer, hand trailing up his arm and coming to a rest on the back of his neck as his lips press against hers. Shifting on the bed so she's not twisting her body, Daisy's fingers lightly grip the hair at the nape of his neck as she deepens the kiss.]

[It's so easy, too easy, to get lost in the taste of Daisy's mouth, to tease her tongue with his. To deepen it until it's more than a simple thank you. Earth has the most bizarre traditions, but he finds it hard to hate them, when they result in this - Daisy, snuggled up close in bed, with her fingers against his skin and his own hands slipping up her back.]

And- did you like yours?

[Smiling when he pulls away, his hand sliding up her back sends a pleasant shiver up her spine.]

Yes.

[Even if the fish is...

Questionable.]

So...

When are you free to marathon all of the movies?

How long does it last?

[Not because he needs to know, but to hear the sound of her voice and make a calculated guess at how long he'll get her alone for. The Darkling kisses her shoulder.]

Can you make the room make another theater, with the seats that go back and the popped corn.

[Smile widening when he kisses her shoulder, Daisy has to calculate in her head about how long it will take to get through all of them.]

Almost a day, if we don't stop.

[It's adorable how into this he actually seems,]

I could, yeah. But if you fall asleep I'm disowning you.

[As if she isn't always the one to fall asleep first.]

And why would I fall asleep?

[Whatever these movies are, they are as close to magic as anything he's seen on the station. Another chance to spend time with Daisy in the dark, of letting the world and the responsibility of it fall away a little.

Something new.

To not constantly plot and plan for the future, since he has no idea what that future might hold. Except for the universal constant of it being painful.

He is used to pain.]

I have nothing else I would rather be doing. Just let me know and I will be- ready for these movies. [And you, leaving the last part unsaid, as he brushes a tendril of hair away from her face.]

...Good point.

[She's rarely even seen him sleeping, usually she wakes up and he's already awake. Heat rises to Daisy's cheeks when he says, more or less, that he enjoys spending time with her.]

Should probably do it soon, before we're sent on yet another mission. Tomorrow work for you?

Tomorrow would be perfect.

[The days vanish like melting snow with no windows to gauge the rising sun. With no calendar to consult. As if it's not separate days at all, but one long, endless day interrupted with naps and food.

The dimming lights help a little, as does the sunlight room.]

I am in the training room before breakfast, but any time after that - I'm yours.

Good.

[She knows their down time is limited, and Daisy is taking full advantage of it.]

You training with anyone?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject