Post by Penelope Blaise on Feb 17, 2016 20:11:36 GMT -6
Calling her name was hardly a warning, and really, Penny herself didn't know how to define it. Perhaps it was simply because she could. Because she adored the way it sounded passing her lips. How it could carry her desperation in two small syllables. Her fingers twitched against sparrows, having no doubt Lucy's intentions.
At least, not until she spoke.
It was something that shouldn't have surprised the Brit, but the emotion flashed in her eyes briefly as her eyebrows quirked upward. "Of course." Penny replied, but like Lucy's hand, her own had yet to budge. "As much time as you need." She was hardly limited to a minute, despite how she put a halt to something that was - quite frankly - hard to stop.
Post by Lucy Serrano on Feb 17, 2016 20:32:42 GMT -6
Acceptance to the things Lucy evidently needed was comforting for a moment or so. She could take spare seconds to find composure and voice the things she had been considering this whole time. The entirety of the time she found herself alone between the phone call and this. But it was less about time she needed and more about the time she felt she had. There was obvious difficulty in denial - if even for a minute or so - when it came to the person she had kept away for a week.
She exhaled the air she held, short of breath and unstable as it was. Those familiar dark eyes made everything taxing, even the simplest of basic human needs.
"This's what I'm afraid of," She admitted, "This and you and something happening that makes it that much harder." It was hard not to remember that her own fears had been called into question. It was easy to recall how she had dodged the question by way of a muddled mind and something she felt was far greater. "Getting too into someone and having it fall to pieces."
Not that this was what that was. But she spent a week on her own. She existed in a world she recalled, but it was suddenly so much harder without the second presence that kept her company; "You gave me a way out. Don't give me a way out."
Post by Penelope Blaise on Feb 18, 2016 6:50:51 GMT -6
It didn't take psychometry to understand that thoughts plagued the Australian's mind. She could see it in those dark eyes as they stared back at her, but of everything Lucy could have offered, she wasn't expected the woman to admit she was afraid. She felt the overt need to look down at the lion that lived on Lucy's arm - a creature that represented bravery. The ability to overcome fear. Yet eye contact was imperative, and she kept her focus as Lucy's explanation continued.
They had been so close to falling to pieces - and for a week, Penny thought they had. It made her swallow hard as she gave a small nod. The most she could offer was proof that she was listening.
Fight or flight. It was natural instincts, and here Lucy was putting herself on the table. Penny supposed part of her should have been concerned to hear that this woman would run if the right challenge came between them, but more importantly, she was stating she didn't want to.
"I won't." Penny replied, feeling the breathless nature of her own voice. "I promise."
Post by Lucy Serrano on Feb 18, 2016 6:56:13 GMT -6
It was a hard thing to respond to, Lucy knew. Being so open and honest mightn't have been so easy had she not carried such a messy state of mind. But as it stood, such emotions were much easier to tap into. They were the very rhyme and reason for her own attentive destruction. She hadn't done a thing all week; she hadn't worked, she hadn't spoken to anyone. She had been completely isolated and for what? Hardly anything that she had fought for minutes ago. A week ago.
She might have been mad that she was lied to, of course. But it called to something more imperative. It would have been so easy to excuse herself completely. It would have been so justified.
Lucy tilted her head upwards a fraction; just slightly. Like imposing the idea of leaning inward to catch her lips at her own request. But she didn't breach the distance. She didn't push herself up or forward. It wasn't fair to leave a promise with nothing in return, empty as they usually were. as they had always - in the entirety of her existence - had proved to be.
"I believe you." She reasoned, in a perfect mirror to the way she believed that this person could love her. Even if she had presented a little doubt earlier that night.
Post by Penelope Blaise on Feb 18, 2016 7:24:03 GMT -6
She heard those words before, in a layover city that she found herself meeting up with Lucy in just to gain a day together between work schedules. They had been practically taken back, yet repeated back to her in new context, with different meaning, it felt as if they were brought to new light. She had every reason to doubt, and there was little Penny could do to change that other than let herself prove it so.
She let out a small exhale, useless in its existence. A waste of time, in the grander scheme of things. Because she was being beckoned in, and there was little Penny could do to stop the way she inevitably wanted to move forward. To catch those lips because she believed her, and for that she was thankful.
So Penny did. With a tilt of her own chin, she crossed that remaining distance, pressing a gentle kiss against the Australian's lips. She had offered all the time Lucy needed to her, but she couldn't help the way her fingers finally inched past those wings.
Post by Lucy Serrano on Feb 18, 2016 7:48:52 GMT -6
It had been less than a minute. Lucy was positive it had taken her less than a minute to force the proverbial confession despite how strained it seemed. She couldn't have given anymore if she wanted to; there was nothing left to say in that moment that she hadn't already said. And evidently as no words flowed from her counterpart, they landed on an agreement. But she moved in accordance too, because such a threat couldn't dwindle to nothing when the stakes and the emotional wreckage were so high.
But her free hand refused to drag into the sheets she had practically been sworn off. Instead she gravitated a hand to her shoulder, dragging potentially paining marks into her perfect skin before she managed a mess of her hair instead. She almost felt bad for the pressure, but letting go had already been an option refused. She didn't want to make the same mistake twice.
And then very suddenly, there was more to say. But every useless cut breath couldn't do a single word justice, and trying proved futile as pressure from her hand eased and settled at the back of her neck.
Post by Penelope Blaise on Feb 18, 2016 8:36:20 GMT -6
The grip on her shoulder was tight enough to leave marks, taking place of those that had faded having lived without her touch for a week. Then it was her hair, rather than sheets, and despite the way it well and truly did make her seethe, it was real. Beautiful, even. Penny was oblivious to the potentially guilty way Lucy felt for holding on so desperately, she hadn't the mental space to realize it.
Her own hold on the Australian felt similarly critical. Penny was never truly aware of the strength behind her own hands, nor the way nails managed to dig into her ribs. Or even the way usually unheard of sounds passed her lips and pressed into Lucy's skin.
But she was aware of just how delicate her counterpart's hold became. How the residual soreness in her muscles had yet to fade, yet that gentle nature made her forget its existence. Penny's forehead pressed to Lucy's, and though she wanted to kiss her, she hadn't a stable enough breath to do so yet.
Post by Lucy Serrano on Feb 18, 2016 8:44:54 GMT -6
Perfect pain was practically etched into the greener ink of her skin, painted lines crossing the steadied hand that wrapped the side of her body. Shaded by slow burning lines that riddled the design with a deeper edge. Lucy couldn't fault the way she held on or where she chose to do so. It could never be bad. It could never be negative.
Nor could she find fault in the fact that they hadn't kissed yet. She couldn't bring herself to reach up when she likely had every reason to remain at the distance she chose, minimal as it was. Then, it was now or never.
"I've got a question." She managed finally, exhaling the whole sentence on a single, short and heavy breath. At least she managed it, and she supposed that had to be worth something, even as her shoulders dragged upward with the air she tried to take in.
Post by Penelope Blaise on Feb 18, 2016 8:53:57 GMT -6
When breathing became just a little easier, Lucy's accent caught the air. And while Penny's nose twitched at the grammar used, she did her best to look past it. Or at least try. She took her own breath, but leaned forward before she could offer a response. With enough air to finally speak, she couldn't waste the opportunity on words. Even if it was allowing her to continue.
Though she only kissed her shortly, she made the impact count as best as she could before finally drawing away. Enough to give the space where she could look. eye contact was imperative with conversation, it seemed, but Penny couldn't help but to want to stare. Proven so by the way she looked down at Lucy's lips before catching her eyes.
"What is it?" She asked finally, but her genuine tone proved she was ready to listen.
Post by Lucy Serrano on Feb 18, 2016 8:57:59 GMT -6
In the briefest of moments, Lucy struggled to respond to the way she was kissed. Short in its delivery, she nearly missed it completely, but gave in a beat later nonetheless. She didn't want to miss out on even the smallest of indications, and so she looked upwards as she lost those eyes. Eye contact the was a thing, and she knew that, but it wasn't so easy when the floor was hers again.
So Lucy held her eyes closed. Though she adored those eyes that seemed to struggle to leave her own, she had to sever the connection before she could hope to talk without strain.
“If I bought three hundred and sixty-five sets of new sheets, would you live through all of them with me?” Lucy asked her, sounding almost guilty. Not for the question, but for the simple fact that it didn't sound so hypothetical as she offered it out loud. "Like, here here."
Post by Penelope Blaise on Feb 18, 2016 9:06:00 GMT -6
Distraction came easy when alcohol ran through her system, or at least if it did like it felt like it had for the psychometrist. Yet her attention still managed to fall on Lucy, despite how she lost her eyes. With the loss of contact, Penny could only suppose it was something imperative. Something that was too overwhelming to offer eye contact for.
And she was absolutely right.
Surprise caught Penny's features in a new way, and she had to be thankful her expression wasn't caught. Her throat felt as if it seized up while she desperately tried to take back the breath she just lost. The English teacher found herself speechless for a series of moments.
When she could finally speak, the words came out strained, though hardly in a bad way. "You know I will." She replied, taking the context out of the hypothetical.
Post by Lucy Serrano on Feb 18, 2016 9:19:47 GMT -6
Lucy couldn't let go of the fact that this woman had tried to move in before without being prompted by a statement or a discussion. She hadn't been asked, and Lucy knew she would never consider the thought again unless she herself pushed for it. A drunken impulse purchase might be deemed an accident in some way, but it rang true to a series of thoughts.
Because it wasn't just that she wanted her to live here, it was that she wanted to provide assistance. She wanted to know how to make it easier.
Light pressure collided with her shoulder finally, intent to ease her against the bed for a change as she opted to take point. To make a point. "Your desk won't go anywhere near this room." Lucy explained, offering the one and only stipulation she could think of, "Because I can't be starkers on a bed and get ignored for a stack of papers."
Still, she managed to wear something of s grin for the thought. The memory. As far as egomania went, that would always be the greatest shot against it.
Post by Penelope Blaise on Feb 18, 2016 9:28:26 GMT -6
It was a step that Penny never would have taken herself again. Something that she wouldn't have prompted herself after taking a leap into the proverbial deep, and now it was being offered to her. There was more - there was accommodation for an ability that was borderline impossible to accommodate.
Even the smallest hit of pressure managed to move Penny with such ease. Her back collided with memory packed sheets, but a busy mind hadn't time to be caught up in anything else. Her arms moved to loop around her shoulders, fingers tangling through dark locks as she tried her best to manage them.
Something that resembled amusement snagged Penny's lips, tugging gently at the corners before she was smiling. It hadn't managed to be the grin she wore so well, but it existed nonetheless. "I'm not very good at ignoring you." Penny said with a quirk of her eyebrows. "I wouldn't have been able to do any work if it were in here, anyway."
Post by Lucy Serrano on Feb 18, 2016 16:15:41 GMT -6
Compliance made a thought pattern so much easier to follow. With a shift in her position, Lucy had to be grateful there was no discomfort for the new sheets she had cleverly dressed the bed with before she had gotten here. She pressed a kiss against her lips first, because they were never to be ignored when in such close proximity. Just as it was impossible to deny the way those familiar hands beckoned her inward. This was a huge step as an entirety considering she had only just been willing to accept a couple's status two weeks ago, but she was determined to go with it.
"There's a whole other room you can have instead." Lucy offered, tilting her head a fraction and pressing her lips to the line of her jaw instead "One I promise not to intrude on." Because the last thing she really wanted was a repeat of being ignored. It might have only been for a little while - a minute or so at most - but it had still been the longest minute of her life. And it was never something so easily forgotten.
Post by Penelope Blaise on Feb 22, 2016 20:54:02 GMT -6
Pressure hadn't even been needed to pull Lucy in closer, but Penny kept it up nonetheless. Her fingers remained lost in those locks, dragging through them, though by now she knew there was no way they could be tamed. The dark mane so suited her personality. A lion to match the one that resided on her skin.
Penny tilted her chin back, barely catching the offer Lucy gave her. Not only a permanent place in her bed, but a separate room to work in. The English teacher had never known the comforts of a personal office, having always combined it with her bedroom, but her mind could hardly stay at the topic at hand as her breath grew thinner.
"I'm not sure if I'll be able to focus at all knowing you're in the next room over." She admitted idly, her grip growing unconsciously tighter in her hair.