[She isn't expecting him to take her hand but she doesn't pull it away when he does. Quietly she watches his thumb move against her palm. It's rough but her hands aren't exactly smooth and dainty either. They've seen their fare share of work.]
Admittedly...not much. I was far too concerned with leaving that wretched place as fast as I could.
...Well. The biggest thing that this place does that people have difficulty adjusting to is -- they expect a level of intimacy, Sypha. Sex -- three times a month.
[At minimum, but he's not going to say it like that. It's awkward enough to talk about as it is.]
[So...she does vaguely remember this being mentioned to her, but she was so pissed off that she hasn't paid much attention to what had been told to her. Now that her hand is in Trevor's and her mind is quiet she can process what's being told to her.
[He wants to grunt, frustrated, but he'd been expecting this exact reaction. It's still infuriating, of course, and it makes him angry, honestly, but -- ]
If you don't make your quota, there are consequences. Most of them are meant to encourage you to -- become in the mood to be intimate in some way you might not normally want.
Would you stop making it sound like I am personally trying to get you to fuck a bunch of strangers!
[He's flustered -- he frowns, glances off toward the kitchen with a shake of his head.]
I don't know the details of it, other than people end up in a zoo where you can be rented hourly like a slave, or in some treatment facility! But nobody's with child, it just -- it doesn't happen!
It doesn't happen? Or is it that women get rid of the child before it can be born before anyone knows?
[She may be a virgin and ignorant in some aspects, but she is well aware that there are herbs one can take that can bring upon a miscarriage or there are other means a desperate woman can go to if they can't bear to be a mother.]
So you are saying that they will drag me away and turn me into a whore, is that is?
[And yes, of course Sypha thinks that she still knows better than him, because why would he have any idea what's been going on in a place that he's been for months, of course -- god, she's so frustrating -- he runs a hand roughly through his hair.]
And I'm saying that's an -- it's a risk I don't want you to have to take, I don't want you to --
[To be hurt, to be forced into anything, to experience that sort of loss of control -- it's different than anything else, he knows it, not so fully as some people here, even, but he doesn't want to know more.]
[She gets that he's trying to help. Really, she does. He's been nothing but helpful to her so far and she appreciate that.
But she's also currently beginning to lose her mind over the implication of everything Trevor's telling her. Her hand is taken back from his, but it's only because she's pushing herself up off the couch, to pace back and forth before him.]
I know you are but this is...it is a lot, okay? I haven't even kissed someone before! This is just, it's just...
[She hates it. She really, really hates it. She stops pacing all of a sudden, a hand reaching across her chest for fingers to curl around her bicep. She looks beyond lost.]
[He sighs, lets his shoulders deflate. Of course she's worried, and she has every right to be -- he knows that she's probably afraid, too, even if she won't admit as much, because he'd felt much the same when he got here. He pushes himself to his feet and places a hand on her shoulder carefully.]
I know that it's ... a lot. I just didn't want you to have to be bombarded by a bunch of strangers when we all have to attend orientation soon.
[He furrows his brows and looks at her sidelong.]
You'll adjust, because you are the most capable magician I know. And if worse comes to worse ... we could try dropping a castle on LIES.
[That...actually gets a small smile out of her but it fades as quickly as it came, her fingers squeezing her arm tighter. She's not sure being a magician is going to really come in handy in the bedroom but she does like the thought of dropping a castle atop of whoever's in charge of this whole charade. Trevor's hand on her shoulder is a welcome weight but she still feels unsettled.
It's just all so much and because she's just as blunt and impulsive as the man standing before her, the words come out of her mouth without being vetted by her brain first.]
...You know, this is the part where you could have offered to kiss me.
[Trevor is about to genuinely consider whether he's seen any castles since his arrival here when his brain manages to process the other thing that she just said about him offering to kiss her.
Yes, that would've been something that a smoother, hotter dhampir person might certainly have done -- but Trevor is, as is his apparent habit with women that he genuinely respects, hesitant to make such a blatant offer.]
...you just said everything was too much. I didn't fancy a black eye because I tried to kiss you, Sypha.
[However, Trevor isn't moving his hand away from her shoulder -- in fact, he's still more or less settled in front of her, eyes fixed on her face and head canted just slightly to the side. Apparently he needs to pay attention.]
[She's antsy all of a sudden, looking up at his face and then back to her toes, then to the side and then back again she meets his eyes. For as volatile and strong as she could be, there's still a part of her heart that's a delicate, if not idealistic maiden.]
I don't want my first kiss to be with someone I don't know.
[That is definitely not what this is. His hand is warm, thumb rough but she doesn't mind and despite whatever composure she might've had...it's starting to slip. Her heart is racing and for all the stupid shit Trevor is capable of and how dense he can be sometimes...he's being awfully charming right now.
So what if she kind of had to prompt him into it? Still counts.]
[And he manages to bite back anything smarter than that by settling his hand against the back of her neck so he can coax her forward gently as he closes the gap between them, pressing his lips against hers lightly -- at first, at least.
Once he's kissing her, though, it's Sypha, and how long has he wanted to do this? He nudges his mouth forward a fraction, almost goes to part his lips and make a soft noise, but -- no, no. He draws back reluctantly, pupils large, and manages what amounts to an incredibly stupid smile.]
[She's not sure what to expect. Some people said it'd be like sudden sparks, like lightening. Other's said it'd be like a sudden butterflies hatching in one's stomach. To her though it's more like the heat of a fire, a warmth that rushes past her lips and runs through her completely, all the way to the tips of her fingers and toes. The contact is chaste enough at first but as his lips linger she finds her eyes have closed and she's nudging closer-
Only for him to pull away and leave her standing stupidly with her eyes closed, almost ready to follow him to keep kissing...but her eyes snap open soon enough. The goofy grin she's greeted with has her pink, fingers reaching up to touch at her lips as if to inspect them.
[He really, really had not wanted to pull back from that kiss, but he also knows that he can get carried away easily and the last thing he wants is to overstep some sort of invisible boundary -- he lets his fingertips linger against the back of her neck for a moment or two longer and then trails them across her shoulder, down her upper arm.]
Not so terrible.
[And he clears his throat, trying to catch her gaze again.]
Sypha. Adrian and I are both -- we're here to support you in whatever way you need. Anything. All right?
[It isn't terrible at all. Far from it really...and Sypha's surprised she enjoyed it as much as she did. Trevor catches her gaze and she's inclined to keep her focus on him, reaching over with her hand to lay her fingers over his.]
...Mm, I know you are.
[And she's grateful for it. She just...doesn't know what to ask for or how to ask for it, not to mention her pride gets in the way.]
But...just because you are willing does that mean you actually want to? You know, with me.
[Just because they all had a moment of admitting their feelings doesn't mean they want her like that. They clearly have each other for that sort of thing. Why is this so unnecessarily complicated and more importantly, why is Sypha such an idiot?]
[Trevor Belmont is no good at hiding his emotions without becoming irrationally angry -- and becoming angry now seemed like a recipe for ruining whatever chance of a relationship he might've had with Sypha, so the look written clearly across his face says only confused as fuck.]
-- Sypha. That's --
[And this time he brings his hand back up to her face, to cup her cheek lightly and try to suppress the blush creeping up his neck.]
-- A pretty fucking big part of wanting to be there for you -- wanting you.
[Well Mr. Confused As Fuck meet Miss Smug as she takes moment to process what he's telling her, the sly quirk of her lips taking hold once it hits her. She should be embarrassed and honestly she is. She's not looking forward to meeting the expectations this place has set out for her but...hearing Trevor admit that he wants her?
Feels pretty nice.]
So...you think I am attractive?
[It's that same look she gave him when gloating about moving the castle. Maybe you should reconsider calling her the smart one.]
[He can't help it. He knows this is an incredibly inappropriate time for it, but he can't help it -- when she gets that smug look on her face and asks him if he finds her attractive, he lets out a burst of laughter.
He has to drop his head to her shoulder, frame shaking silently for several moments before he catches his breath.]
-- shit. Okay, all right, I'm all right.
[He leans in for another peck to her lips, much more light and casual.]
Fortunately for you, I both think you're attractive and have learned the patience of a saint.
[She's not exactly expecting him to burst out laughing but she's not mad about it either. Instead she finds it a comforting sound, expression softening as he tips his head against her shoulder to get all his guffaws out. The peck to her lips catches her off guard, causing her cheeks to flare hot once more.
Trevor may be a Demon Hunter but there's something devilish about the smile he gives her.]
Oh how truly blessed I am. Shall I call you Saint Trevor then? I don't think the church has canonized one yet.
I think the only canonizing the Church would ever want to do to me would be loading my still-living body into a canon.
[Thank goodness that they're able to break up the tension a little with this interlude, because -- yeah, he knew that the conversation they'd just had was necessary, but he'd wanted it to happen about as much as he'd wanted his entire family to be murdered.
He drops down onto the couch, cautiously sliding his arm around her waist to coax her to sit against him as he does so.]
[It's Sypha's turn to snicker as she lets Trevor draw her toward him, guiding her back onto the couch, cuddled up against his side. He's being cautious and honestly she doesn't blame him - she would be too if the tables were turned. Her pulse is just a little quicker than normal as she allows herself to relax against his side.]
Unfortunately you wouldn't be doing much feasting on your feast day.
[Since, y'know, you have to be dead to be a Saint.]
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Admittedly...not much. I was far too concerned with leaving that wretched place as fast as I could.
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...Well. The biggest thing that this place does that people have difficulty adjusting to is -- they expect a level of intimacy, Sypha. Sex -- three times a month.
[At minimum, but he's not going to say it like that. It's awkward enough to talk about as it is.]
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She just doesn't like it.]
No.
[That's it. Just no. Absolutely not. No.]
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If you don't make your quota, there are consequences. Most of them are meant to encourage you to -- become in the mood to be intimate in some way you might not normally want.
[UGH why does he have to talk ... about this ...]
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[She's not grilling him...only she kind of is. This is an affront to her decency and her complete and utter lack at, well, getting down and dirty.]
I am not having sex at random. Do you know how irresponsible that is? What if I ended up with a child?!
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[He's flustered -- he frowns, glances off toward the kitchen with a shake of his head.]
I don't know the details of it, other than people end up in a zoo where you can be rented hourly like a slave, or in some treatment facility! But nobody's with child, it just -- it doesn't happen!
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[She may be a virgin and ignorant in some aspects, but she is well aware that there are herbs one can take that can bring upon a miscarriage or there are other means a desperate woman can go to if they can't bear to be a mother.]
So you are saying that they will drag me away and turn me into a whore, is that is?
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[And yes, of course Sypha thinks that she still knows better than him, because why would he have any idea what's been going on in a place that he's been for months, of course -- god, she's so frustrating -- he runs a hand roughly through his hair.]
And I'm saying that's an -- it's a risk I don't want you to have to take, I don't want you to --
[To be hurt, to be forced into anything, to experience that sort of loss of control -- it's different than anything else, he knows it, not so fully as some people here, even, but he doesn't want to know more.]
I'm just trying to help.
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But she's also currently beginning to lose her mind over the implication of everything Trevor's telling her. Her hand is taken back from his, but it's only because she's pushing herself up off the couch, to pace back and forth before him.]
I know you are but this is...it is a lot, okay? I haven't even kissed someone before! This is just, it's just...
[She hates it. She really, really hates it. She stops pacing all of a sudden, a hand reaching across her chest for fingers to curl around her bicep. She looks beyond lost.]
What am I supposed to do?
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I know that it's ... a lot. I just didn't want you to have to be bombarded by a bunch of strangers when we all have to attend orientation soon.
[He furrows his brows and looks at her sidelong.]
You'll adjust, because you are the most capable magician I know. And if worse comes to worse ... we could try dropping a castle on LIES.
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[That...actually gets a small smile out of her but it fades as quickly as it came, her fingers squeezing her arm tighter. She's not sure being a magician is going to really come in handy in the bedroom but she does like the thought of dropping a castle atop of whoever's in charge of this whole charade. Trevor's hand on her shoulder is a welcome weight but she still feels unsettled.
It's just all so much and because she's just as blunt and impulsive as the man standing before her, the words come out of her mouth without being vetted by her brain first.]
...You know, this is the part where you could have offered to kiss me.
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Yes, that would've been something that a smoother, hotter
dhampirperson might certainly have done -- but Trevor is, as is his apparent habit with women that he genuinely respects, hesitant to make such a blatant offer.]...you just said everything was too much. I didn't fancy a black eye because I tried to kiss you, Sypha.
[However, Trevor isn't moving his hand away from her shoulder -- in fact, he's still more or less settled in front of her, eyes fixed on her face and head canted just slightly to the side. Apparently he needs to pay attention.]
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[She's antsy all of a sudden, looking up at his face and then back to her toes, then to the side and then back again she meets his eyes. For as volatile and strong as she could be, there's still a part of her heart that's a delicate, if not idealistic maiden.]
I don't want my first kiss to be with someone I don't know.
[Or first anything really.]
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That's ... not what this is.
He brings a hand up to brush his thumb over her cheek, to settle an invisible piece of hair behind her ear.]
Well. Then Sypha ... would you allow me to kiss you?
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So what if she kind of had to prompt him into it? Still counts.]
...I'll allow it.
[Holy Mary Mother of God.]
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[And he manages to bite back anything smarter than that by settling his hand against the back of her neck so he can coax her forward gently as he closes the gap between them, pressing his lips against hers lightly -- at first, at least.
Once he's kissing her, though, it's Sypha, and how long has he wanted to do this? He nudges his mouth forward a fraction, almost goes to part his lips and make a soft noise, but -- no, no. He draws back reluctantly, pupils large, and manages what amounts to an incredibly stupid smile.]
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Only for him to pull away and leave her standing stupidly with her eyes closed, almost ready to follow him to keep kissing...but her eyes snap open soon enough. The goofy grin she's greeted with has her pink, fingers reaching up to touch at her lips as if to inspect them.
Well. That was a thing. That certainly happened.]
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Not so terrible.
[And he clears his throat, trying to catch her gaze again.]
Sypha. Adrian and I are both -- we're here to support you in whatever way you need. Anything. All right?
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...Mm, I know you are.
[And she's grateful for it. She just...doesn't know what to ask for or how to ask for it, not to mention her pride gets in the way.]
But...just because you are willing does that mean you actually want to? You know, with me.
[Just because they all had a moment of admitting their feelings doesn't mean they want her like that. They clearly have each other for that sort of thing. Why is this so unnecessarily complicated and more importantly, why is Sypha such an idiot?]
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-- Sypha. That's --
[And this time he brings his hand back up to her face, to cup her cheek lightly and try to suppress the blush creeping up his neck.]
-- A pretty fucking big part of wanting to be there for you -- wanting you.
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Feels pretty nice.]
So...you think I am attractive?
[It's that same look she gave him when gloating about moving the castle. Maybe you should reconsider calling her the smart one.]
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He has to drop his head to her shoulder, frame shaking silently for several moments before he catches his breath.]
-- shit. Okay, all right, I'm all right.
[He leans in for another peck to her lips, much more light and casual.]
Fortunately for you, I both think you're attractive and have learned the patience of a saint.
[The shit-eating grin says otherwise.]
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Trevor may be a Demon Hunter but there's something devilish about the smile he gives her.]
Oh how truly blessed I am. Shall I call you Saint Trevor then? I don't think the church has canonized one yet.
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[Thank goodness that they're able to break up the tension a little with this interlude, because -- yeah, he knew that the conversation they'd just had was necessary, but he'd wanted it to happen about as much as he'd wanted his entire family to be murdered.
He drops down onto the couch, cautiously sliding his arm around her waist to coax her to sit against him as he does so.]
But I might be amenable to having a feast day.
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Unfortunately you wouldn't be doing much feasting on your feast day.
[Since, y'know, you have to be dead to be a Saint.]
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