hardwearing | [ MEADOWLARK ] IC Inbox

I'd rather go for a run.

[ but she has no desire to pull away from wash just yet, clearly, because instead of pulling away, she just leans into him, letting her forehead rest against his shoulder. the massage is a nice gesture, but the embrace relieves more tension than carolina's really comfortable admitting.

with her face effectively hidden from his gaze, what she decides to say next comes out a little easier. ]

But... I'm okay to call this dating if you are.

I'd go with you.

[ But since she isn't pulling away he's going to keep this up, letting her rest her head and relax her weight against him.

When she speaks again, his hands go still for a moment... then slowly one settles over the back of her neck protectively, the bond engaged. He's nervous, again, a little uncertain because this is sort of new territory for him, but mostly there's a quiet warm happiness spreading between them. ]

Shit. I guess we have to go on a real date.

[ It's another attempt at diffusing the tension, Wash doesn't actually care about acting normal. About being normal, they won't be, probably not even in this. But they do most things together anyway. And yes, he's okay with it. He turns his head slightly and presses a kiss to her too-short hair. ]

[ carolina steels herself to feel overwhelmed by the touch, but... she's not. her nerves seem a little more vivid than wash's do, her anxiety wound a little tighter, but that happiness of his is easy to echo. she's happy about this very new, uncertain thing, too. ]

That sounds... [ she contemplates nice and then dismisses it, opts to match wash's light tone instead, her arms looping around his waist. ] - like a lot of work. Why don't we just call something we were already going to do a date?

[ Even though Carolina doesn't say a date would be nice out loud, Wash can feel her response. Which is still bizarre to him, that he could handle this sort of bond with anyone and actually enjoy it instead of just being terrified and uncomfortable someone's in his head. But Carolina's emotions never threaten to take over, never get confused with his own... maybe it'll happen eventually, it just hasn't yet. So he holds on, smiling softly into her hair. ]

You're right, that's easier. We need groceries anyway.

[ He's kidding -- he'll take her out somewhere modest, they can afford that, but keeping up the joke feels... fun. ]

[ she can feel the warmth in his emotions just as clearly as she can hear it in his voice and that's... something. wash's own relationship with the bond, with anyone being privy to his thoughts or feelings might be complicated, but for someone who doesn't like struggling with words in cases like this, carolina finds it helpful. a word for whatever they're doing might come in handy, but this feeling sums them up much better, as far as she's concerned.

and the bond makes wash even better at calming her down than he was before. she's pretty sure they can both be grateful for that. ]

We do. Grocery shopping's romantic, right?

[ It only feels safe with her, which Wash thinks should have been some kind of a sign. He's had to engage it with others but never let his guard down, never stopped wanting to break it because what if. But Carolina is okay. He trusts her. And her romance comment gets an actual chuckle out of him, a rare sound these days. ]

Totally romantic. I'd go so far as to say it's extremely romantic, because it sets up lots of other dates. Dinner can just always be a date.

[ that chuckle is nice to hear, results in a quiet surge of affection for wash as he talks again. extremely romantic gets her shaking her head a little, but carolina doesn't really pull away as she repositions, keeping one arm around his waist while she raises the other one, skimming up his chest before her fingers brush the side of his neck. it's just telegraphing her intended motion, warning him before her hand mirrors his and curves around the back of his neck.

it's a complicated spot for both of them, which makes this gesture a protective one, probably more important than carolina thinks she could ever put into words. ]

I don't know that I'd agree with extremely romantic, but maybe I'm just rusty.

[ The telegraph is appreciated, and Wash hums a soft approval as her hand settles on the back of his neck, warm and protective. He can feel that's what it is for her, same as him.

His voice is still amused, but there's a flicker of insecurity in his emotions when he speaks again. ]

Rusty, huh? Better than being the rookie again at thirty.

[ There have been people but not... "dating" people. Not in a civilian sense. ]

I don't know, I think you'll always be the rookie.

[ even when he's her equal, the best backup she could ask for, apparently now the person she's dating. she's probably never going to stop teasing him, at this rate, even if it's filled with affection. ]

Maybe always at something. Means I'm always learning, right?

[ carolina lets out a little huff of amusement, relaxing a little more against him. ]

I guess that's one way of looking at it.

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