18 Apr 2023, 00:10
Two Lifetimes
A Sweet Awakening @Simon Kincaid
"Mmmm...," she mumbled groggily into her pillow upon hearing his voice. "You spoil me, you know that?" and with her eyes still closed, she patted the place next to her, beckoning him closer. "How lucky am I that I was tucked in by the sweetest boy in the world and I am awakened by that same boy, who comes bearing chocolate no less," and AngelFyre turned her face away from the pillow and yawned mightily while stretching her arms over her head. Bringing her hands down from the stretch, she balled them up and brushed the back of them against her eyelids, rubbing gently.
Then a thought hit her as she felt him leaning closer and she pushed him forcefully away as her eyes flashed open, wide-eyed and determined. She quickly cupped a hand up to her mouth and breathed into it, trying to detect where her breath fell on the fire and brimstone offense to the olfactory senses scale. She knew her fellow and if he was in here, and dressed, which he was, it meant he had likely already showered but that he had definitely already brushed his teeth.
That was an unfair morning breath advantage he held over her now. The other nights they had spent together and awakened together no such worry had crossed her mind because... well... they had both been playing on the same, even field. If morning kisses were sought from either, there had been no problem. But his minty freshness and her dry funk were nowhere near the same playing field.
He looked confused as to why he had been invited closer and then ferociously shoved away. "I am sorry about that, love. I was still in my waking up mode when I invited you closer. I know you are all about dragons, but I am going to hazard a guess that such love does not extend to your girlfriend's dragon breath in the mornings. Those plump, minty morsels of yours shall just have to wait to meet my minty morsels... and mine will not be minty until after I have my hot chocolate," and she sat up and pursed her lips together, sending two or three fish kisses to him before breaking out into peals of laughter which she buffered with her pillow.
Seconds later, she was reaching for the cup of hot chocolate he was offering her. She took a sip and smiled, leaning back against the headboard. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence this early in the morning? I am not complaining in any way shape or form, mind you. It is a dream of mine that we get to do this every morning, actually. I am betting you just could not stand being away from me, is that it?" and she smiled teasingly at him as she sipped her hot chocolate.
"You know, for someone who does not drink this stuff, you make a mean cup of it, I must say,"and she took another sip before changing the subject. "What would you like to do today, my love? There is night skiing available to us this evening, but nothing says we cannot ski during the day, too. Or you have your choice of ice skating, cross country skiing, tobogganing, walking around the village which has the advantage of keeping my dhampir out of harm's way with very reflective snow. Oh! And snowmobiling. There are snowmobiles in the garage downstairs, and she could feel her excitement building at all the fun before them.
"Your wish is my command, love."
The magic is real.
29 Apr 2023, 13:19
Two Lifetimes
Making plans with @AngelFyre McCubbin
"I want my first experience skiing here to be night skiing, just like the picture depicted on the puzzle," he referenced one of the days of her Scadventure Calendar that she did for the month of December. AngelFyre McCubbin was probably the world's greatest gift giver and he would bow to her, knowing that this would be a competition that would be unmatched. Still, he hoped that she felt appreciated by him every day because it was completely so.
"So skiing shall definitely be on the plans, but after nightfall." It was, after all, why Austria was such a great destination. Her parents might not know that they had a half vampire among them but the snow on a sunny day could be worse than a Summer's sunny day nearly any day. Still, he didn't want it to deter him from enjoying the world around him.
His mind momentarily slipped to a tangent. Her parents didn't know they had a half vampire among them... They were so accepting of him these days it seemed, all of her family - her father, her mother, and Grandma Ruth. How would they feel if they knew the truth? Would they be hesitant around him? Make him no longer be with their AngelFyre? Think of him a monster?
Simon took the pillow next to her to occupy his hands and fluffed it up before placing it back onto the bed and rolling to rest his head on it, his eyes staring upward toward the ceiling and then he looked to her. There was too much to do to think of such things.
"I'm going to go with...ice skating, tobogganing, or snowmobiling. The walking around the village would be a great way to end the trip, as it'll give us a chance to recap everything."
Most of them would be a completely new experience for him. They got snow in London, but it was only on average of 16 days a year and infrequently heavy. It would be just enough for a perfect impromptu snowball fight or perhaps create a nice glistening ambience as one walked through the streets of London to do their Christmas shopping. It certainly wasn't enough for tobogganging or snowmobiling, nor was there a place to do it if there was. Simon was pretty sure none of his London-born friends had done any of those things.
Ice skating wasn't as rare. He was a boy who grew up playing what indoor sports that he could. His friend Gabe was an avid football (soccer) player and Simon probably would have been too if he could withstand the open and often sunny football/soccer field. Instead, he took to some competitive swimming some and for many, many years did ice hockey. They had rinks within and around London, and in the colder months would pop up in iconic settings throughout the city. Ice skating was something he was really good at and he could often outskate his friends with one exception - Mia Anderson. She had taken figure skating lessons since before starting primary school and still did currently. She was the only person when their group of friends got together that could outskate him - but he did still have the speed.
Not only in his muggle life, but ice skating had become a personal favorite activity of his in the winter to pass some free time at Hogwarts. The Great Lake eventually froze (or one could help speed along the process with a spell) and could be used to glide upon. It held one of his most special memories - an evening when he met a Hufflepuff friend there to skate with and left with the knowledge that the Hufflepuff friend wasn't only a friend in his mind, but someone that he held feelings for. It was the first moment that his mind began to acknowledge just how much AngelFyre McCubbin meant to his mind, to his heart, and to his soul.
Snowmobiling made him think of the dirt bikes back at her home in Stenton. Oh, that girl would probably use those skills to his advantage to bury him in the snow - literally and figuratively!
What he didn't have any sort of connection with was tobogganing. "Is tobogganing here like ..... old fashioned wooden sleds that one would break a limb with or those round inner tube sort of things?" The inner tubes seemed bouncy and a little more forgiving. He was slightly hesitant with a wooden toboggan but then again, what did he know? He had never done any sort of sledding before.
Simon sighed and lifted his hand and wrapped it around her leg, pulling himself up closer to her so he could cuddle more easily. "I'm not being much help with my indecisive self, am I?" he smiled. "Let's do snowmobiling or tobogganing."
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
8 May 2023, 01:57
Two Lifetimes
Teasing and Tobogganing with @Simon Kincaid
"Righty-o then! Snowmobiling or tobogganing it shall be," and she breathed in deeply before taking another sip of her cocoa as Simon drew closer to her for a welcome cuddle. She allowed her fingers to idly run through his hair, something she did now quite often, delighting not only in its softness, but also in the way that certain of the longer strands would sometimes catch the light and shine. She was absolutely content in that moment, even though what she really wanted to do was hole up in that room... or any room... with him and block the world out completely, for just one day. Sighing just a little, knowing that was not an option, she instead added, "I think the earlier we go the better. No sense in letting the sun make too much of a nuisance of itself with those non-dhampir-friendly snow reflections."
Then the fingers that had been weaving through his hair moved down to caress his cheek, and a teasing smile sprang to her lips, and to her eyes, as she goaded him with "You are about to be 14. You need to start thinking of such things, you know. I mean, if you truly plan for us to have at least 12 little dhampies in nappies," and she chuckled, "you need to start thinking about how to support them. Backup plans are important. If your hopes for Dragon Tamer or possibly becoming a Healer fall through, I think the family coffers may be reliant upon that movie star face of yours, my love. Sure, sure. I know you can sing and write music, but we need to be pragmatic here. Many people can sing and play instruments and write music who never make it in the "biz", but you would be a definite cut about all of them with that handsome face of yours. Girls would go crazy, cry, and faint over it which translates into more money in the bank for us," and she chuckled again, but this time at the memory of the girls who lost their minds over him when he performed at the Justin Bieber concert over the summer.
"You have tasted that phenomenon first hand so you know I am right." Still smiling even more widely and teasing him further, she gently took his cheek between her fingers and pinched it like a grandmother would. "Such a handsome face. Maybe we should consider having it insured for a few million pounds by Lloyd's of London. I think I heard once that Marilyn Monroe had her legs insured by them, and nothing against Marilyn or her legs, but they cannot hold a candle to my boy's face!" at which point she put her empty cup down on the bedside table and tossed her covers over said handsome face as she quickly leaped out of the bed and sprinted for her bathroom.
By the time she reached it, he had found his way clear of the bedding and was watching her as she stood in the doorway, smiling that cock sure of himself smile of his as he reflexively reached up to straighten his hair. "I really, realllllllly want to kiss you, so I am going to brush my teeth and take my shower so I can do that before anything else, and then we can hit the slopes ASAP. Meanwhile, you, love-o-my-life, should go take that handsome money maker of yours into your bathroom and slather it with sunscreen and coconut oil and any other protective product that is the craze in the dhampir community these days, and I will see you in a bit."
********
Forty-five minutes later, AngelFyre had made her way downstairs and happily greeted her parents, her beloved Grandma Ruth, and eagerly moved into Simon's arms. She was about to plant her lips firmly to his when she stopped short and quickly turned to look over to her father, warning him to avert his eyes in case what was about to transpire might leave him traumatized. Everyone, even her father, laughed, but when AngelFyre turned back to Simon, most evidence of any and all teasing was long gone as she looked into his deep, golden brown eyes. "Good morning, love. Time now for a proper good morning I would say," and she tippy-toed up just the slightest as he bent down, their lips meeting somewhere in the middle and locking together for a brief, but very sweet kiss. Pulling back but then moving in for a hug, she whispered into his ear while nibbling on his earlobe, "More of that to be continued later, I hope," and she smiled at him, excited for the day's adventures ahead of them.
Grabbing a bagel and some cream cheese before sitting, AngelFyre looked to her parents. "Since the snow reflections will be brutal in a few hours, Simon and I thought to make the most of the morning. We thought we would either go tobogganing or snowmobiling. He wants his first go at skiing to take place on the slopes tonight. What do you all have planned?"
"First on my list is to negate the idea that the two of you will be snowmobiling. I know you checked out on the motorcycles at home, but these are: 1) not our snowmobiles; 2) not motorcycles - neither of you have been checked out on safety protocols for them and until that is done, they are off limits; and 3) they are loud and it is still too early, most likely, for the neighbors to have to put up with right now. We can go over how to ride them later this afternoon if you wish, when you both are here and not outside. Fair enough?" her father asked.
Simon and AngelFyre listened to her father and both looked at each other before looking back to him, nodding their heads in tandem agreement. "Sounds good to me," AngelFyre chirped. "One less decision to have to make. Looks like we will be tobogganing, Mr. Kincaid," and she winked at him. As she was eating her bagel, she let her left foot snake over to Simon's right one and she linked it around his. She did this all the time when they sat together at the Hufflepuff table and their hands were otherwise occupied. Actually, she did it anytime they were sitting together and their hands were occupied with something other than the other's hand. Being close to the boy and not touching him was just impossible.
"I have memorized the shuttle schedule. If we leave here in 10 minutes, we can easily catch it, if that is alright with you, Daddy? We both have our resort passes, keys to the house, and we will be at the base lodge, renting our equipment. The tobogganing area is just a gondola ride from there, and I promise we will go nowhere other than there. I am not certain when it will be too bright, but I rather anticipate being back here around 10:30 at the latest. If any of that changes, one of us will give you a call."
"Fair enough, lass. You both be careful but have a lot of fun, too. Now go collect your things before you miss that shuttle."
*******
As they stepped off the shuttle and began the walk up to the rentals area, AngelFyre was beyond excited. She had inner tubed before, but never tobogganed. The morning was chilly and overcast, but not snowing. Overcast was always a better situation than not for her dapper dhampir. They were the first at the counter, and needed to make a decision almost immediately - did they want one 2-seater toboggan or two singles? Her first thought was to go with the the 2-seater as holding onto each other seemed a heck of a lot more fun, but then her competitive side kicked in... as did Simon's... and they both answered at the same time, making each other laugh. "Great minds, handsome."
The young man at the counter asked if either had ever tobogganed before and they answered honestly that they had not. He pointed them to an audio visual carousel with all kinds of graphics and safety tips which they each read and committed to memory. Simon then asked where they were to go to catch the gondola up to the top of the run, and then they were off, each hauling their light, fiberglass toboggans in one hand while holding hands with the other.
Stepping onto the gondola reminded AngelFyre just a bit of the London Eye, but unlike that day, if it got too sunny in there for Simon, he was at least dressed for cover. There would be no frowny face today from her sun sensitive paramour. She set her toboggan down and then reached over to set his down as well. There was just one other couple in the gondola with them and they were looking in the opposite direction. Simon had been looking out the window and AngelFyre stepped between him and the glass, pressing her back into his chest while wrapping his arms around her. "Breathtaking is it not?" and she squeezed his arms as tightly as she could, which was made a bit more difficult than usual due to the thick linings of their jackets.
Twenty minutes later they were both sitting on their toboggans at the top of the run and she looked over at him before bringing her sunshade goggles down over her eyes. "I do not know about you, Mav, but I am suddenly feeling the need," and she paused for dramatic effect before continuing, "the need for speed. Last one down has to sing 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' to the other one in some crowded area at some point before our trip ends. What do you say, handsome? Deal?" and she laughed as she offered her gloved hand out to him to shake.
She chuckled inside because she knew his competitive side would, of course, want to beat her, but if she lost, it meant he would have to be the object of her attention, once again, as she "serenaded" him, in front of another group of people. Decisions, decisions. When the light tuned green signalling them to Go!, they were both off in a flash.
Coming into the first curve, her toboggan was vibrating like crazy and she knew she should probably pull the brake back towards her to slow it down a little, but Simon was neck and neck with her and that could mean precious time would be ceded to him in their race. Nope. Vibrations or not, she was in it to win it. Besides, it would be much nicer to hear him sing than for anyone, including her indulgent fellow, to hear her sing.
Losing was not an option.
The magic is real.
22 May 2023, 14:32
Two Lifetimes
The race is on with @AngelFyre McCubbin
"I never imagined I'd see mountains like these other than in pictures," he said as he looked out at the scenery. As her arms wrapped around him, he turned his gaze over to her and smiled before nuzzling his face close to hers as much as their equipment would allow and looked back to the mountains. He was quite fortunate and most thankful that she had brought him along.
"Looking out there.....it's like you gain something you didn't even know you lacked." There was a long pause as he attempted to figure out exactly what he meant so that he could explain it to her. "They draw you in. I look out there and feel a calmness and serenity of my surroundings, yet seem to draw in a strength of the majestic mountains all the same. There's only this time and this space, only this scene of beauty and stillness. The mountains envelope you and cradle you in their splendor. They truly are one of God's greatest works."
A set of rolling clouds made their debut that morning as well, not obstructing the view of the mountains, but merely adding some contrast - delicate looking wisps next to the sparkling snow-covered peaks. Even they couldn't reach the summit.
"My Scouting group once hiked Great Gable in Lake District, England. It has a great number of boulders and the top is layered with a rock outcrop. It was 899 meters to the top. Once you get there, you can see the entire Lake Disrict: Scafell, Black Combe, Illgill Head, Wast Water Lake, Seatallan, Kirk Fell, High Stile, Ennerdale Valley, Grasmoor, Borrowdale, Great Dodd, Seathwaite Fell, Windermere, Esk Pike, and seemed forevermore." He thought back to that trip, remembered turning slowly, savoring the view and taking it all in.
It seemed as if perhaps that was one of the most memorable times in his life, and maybe it had been, but what he was about to say would discount that a little. "But it pales beyond remote comparison to this. This is something entirely exceptional."
He held her close as the two were able to take in the views as they ascended higher and higher, with much more ease than a hike would endure.
Signs led them onward to the right and he offered to take her toboggan for her and when she refused, pulling hers further from him playfully, he just shook his head as they walked on, but was sure to bump his hip against hers.
At the start of the Tobaggan Run, she proposed a competition - the last one down would need to sing for the other. She liked her little competitions and he delighted in them as well and shook on it firmly before steadying and readying himself at the line.
As he waited for that green light, he thought about the predicament he was in. If she should win, that meant he would have to sing to her. That was fine and he adored to sing, but in a crowded area? Simon wasn't shy to perform but he didn't need to be the center of attention. Still...wouldn't be too terrible and surely wouldn't be the first time that all eyes were on him. He played hockey back in London, did the children's choir at church, performed in some school plays in primary school, was a member of the Hufflepuff Broom Racing Team, won the Hogwarts talent show one year, and performed in front of thousands the prior Summer with his girl.
Okay, so that meant if he were to win, that AngelFyre would have to sing to him - in front of a crowded area there at the resort. Now she did say it would be done 'at some point before their trip ended' and yet, how soon before their trip ended? If it was on their way out, they might be alright but if it was that evening at supper then the resort visitors and staff might come to a consensus and unfortunate decision that the McCubbin/Godshall/Kincaid must depart at once and cut their trip short due to - well - due to what? Disorderly conduct? A violation against humanity a noise ordinance?
I mean, no, that wouldn't happen. His girl's voice wasn't THAT disastrous, was it?
....Could he take that chance?
The light flashed green and off they went.
All those previous thoughts were thrown out the nonexistent window of his toboggan. Right now, his duty wasn't to the resort and the mountains. No, it was to winning this race. That girl better know all the words to the song.
He had broom racing on his side - hours upon hours of practice taking to the skies at high speeds only - this wasn't in the sky, nor was on a broom.
She had the skills of dirt biking to aid her, handing the mechanics of it all while traveling fast but they weren't on some sort of machine this time.
They both had a shot.
That first turn brought them together, and then some other curves and downward dips began to distinguish one from the other, as they leaned forward to gain more momentum or turned the turn, all at a high rate of speed. There was one last turn, and gravity seemed to move their toboggans close to one another and would keep them side by side momentarily. "My sincerest apologies, my love - " he said, unsure if she could hear him. He made one last effort for some sort of fancy move to gain some extra speed and pulled up on the top of his toboggan as he would his broom.
Only... this wasn't his broom. He had forgotten that momentarily.
Lack of contact from the front of the toboggan and the track didn't bring about more speed and instead; slowed him down. Just enough that she sailed across before him. He knew it was his defeat, because he saw the back of her helmet and would only be able to do so if he were behind her.
They didn't stop until well after the finish line as the track began to slope upward to slow them down and bring them to a stop. Simon got up from his sled first and approached her. "A fatal flaw to confuse one racing with another. I concede to you, oh great one. I may have lost…. but not this lovin’ feeling,” and he lifted up his snow goggles before flashing her a smile and gave a bow before extending out his hand to help her up.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
27 May 2023, 16:08
Two Lifetimes
Your Loss is Humanity's Gain, @Simon Kincaid
It was a close race all the way down. Sometimes she was ahead and sometimes it was Simon. One thing was definitely true about the two: they were well matched when it came to their competitive natures. She loved how Simon's drive always pushed her to try harder and be better, but she never minded losing to him... especially to him. When she did lose, she always learned something in the process making her wins that much sweeter.
They had just come out of the last turn and AngelFyre was lagging just the tiniest bit behind him when she thought she heard Simon yell out to her, but she could not quite make out what he had said. She did not turn to him because he did not sound as if he was in any distress, so she kept her focus and let go of her brake on the straightaway, picking up speed all the way to that coveted finish line.
She huffed as Simon edged suddenly in front of her, his lead increasing, when all of a sudden he slowed down drastically and she flew right by him. That she absolutely had not expected. Whatever had happened, he never recovered his lead and AngelFyre would claim victory. This had been no marshmallow war where she had been battling against a paper tiger. She knew that this time Simon had put in his best effort to win, and she had clearly been behind, so something else had to have happened, but what?
She was just lifting her sun goggles when he was already making his way to her. He immediately, without her having to ask, answered her burning question of just what the heck happened and then he made her laugh when he reassured her that although he had lost their race, he really had not lost his "lovin' feeling".
"Gosh, I am so glad to hear it," she said in a mock tone of concern as she watched him bow and then flash his heart-melting smile. AngelFyre gratefully reached for his outstretched hand and as he helped her up, she told him honestly, "I thought for sure you had me there at the end, but your loss, one could argue, might have saved this whole alpine village," and she smiled her teasing smile at him. "I mean, think about it, love. People will smile and be entertained by hearing your dulcet tones whereas if I had been the one to sing, it is entirely possible one, or many, out of tune notes from me could have started an avalanche... or three..." and she winked at him without missing a beat, "burying the entire village and causing goodness knows how many casualties."
Then she turned and motioned her gloved hand in a sweeping gesture in the direction of the other skiers and tobogganers on the slopes. "These people owe you a great debt, Mav, and they do not even know it. I am not much of one for comic books, but I think this has to cement your standing amongst super heroes, right? Saving a village anonymously? If we just nail down a costume and a super hero name, you are set," and she giggled delightedly as he just shook his head at her nonsense and shushed her by planting his lips firmly against hers.
A minute later and with her head still swimming from his kiss, they picked up their toboggans and made their way back to the gondola to catch another ride back to the top. They were able to get 6 more runs in (Simon won 4 of them!) before the sun's reflections on the snow began to be a concern for her dhampir. They were 95% covered, but the lower half of his face was not, and it was not worth the risk of having him in any pain. Besides, there were other things to do back at the house.
They returned everything and stopped only long enough for AngelFyre to get a large, doughy pretzel. Simon was not the least bit tantalized by her treat, but she managed to hold off eating it until they returned home. The vendor had only mustard and she liked her pretzels with honey.
As they walked up to the front door, she caught sight of his snow angel out of the corner of her eye. Her heart sank for a moment as she had forgotten to point out her little addition to it earlier that morning in their rush to catch the shuttle, and she was certain it had probably melted by now. Still holding his hand, she rushed over to take a look and was thrilled to see it was just as she left it the night before. Luckily, the roofline had blocked the sun's rays, preserving it for a while longer. She could not wipe the grin off of her face while looking at it. "In case you were wondering what happened to your snow heart last night, I could not bring myself to let it melt inside, so I placed it in the safest place possible. I am so happy you got a chance to see it. Just my snowy little twist on my catchphrase. I think it is actually kind of perfect," and she turned to him, placing her hand over where his heart would be under his thick layers of clothing before tippy toeing up to kiss him.
"I want to go grab my camera before it melts. Then we can do whatever you want to do. Sauna, hot tub, snow mobile safety class 101, reading, or hanging out. I will be happy with anything so long as I am with you... and I get to eat my pretzel."
Last edited by AngelFyre McCubbin on 31 May 2023, 07:34, edited 1 time in total.
The magic is real.
31 May 2023, 02:16
Two Lifetimes
Some moments alone with @AngelFyre McCubbin
Simon walked with her back into their vacation home and they bypassed all else until they got ot her room. She went right for her camera and picked it up, but he held out his hand to take it from her, which he did so. "You've got a pretzel to eat." They retraced their steps back through the house and to the snow angel and heart and he took a moment to compose his photograph and snapped the shutter before looking up to AngelFyre with a smile. She was there chewing on a bite of her pretzel.
He thought of the options she had given - sauna, hot tub, snow mobile safety class 101 that would grant them - maybe - access to snow mobiles, reading, or hanging out. She said she'd be happy with anything as long as she was with him and got to eat her pretzel.
Well, he had never been in a sauna before or a hot tub. He had never gone on a snow mobile before. Reading or just hanging out was off the table, as that was something they could do for hours upon end back when together at Hogwarts. "Hmm, if you truly mean anything, then I'd say we go for a nice snogging session right now without your parents around but....." he exaggerated a long sigh, ".....your lips are busy with that pretzel so mine shall have to wait."
"I've never been in a sauna or hot tub before," and maybe she wanted an excuse to warm up. Simon wondered if he'd actually feel warm from it or if his often lowered body temperature would cause it to feel cooler as well. "I do think we need to save snowmobiling for tomorrow, especially if we're to partake in some night skiing tonight."
"I say, you choose - either the hot tub or sauna for now. We'll both change and meet back here and that'll give you a chance to finish that pretzel of yours and I'll get us some drinks" - a delicious sort of juice blend for her and some water for him.
"I'll miss you," he whispered and he leaned down, bringing his lips gently against hers, knowing full well that she couldn't truly kiss him back with a bite of pretzel in her mouth.
He departed from her to put on his swim trunks that she had so intently made him bring and slipped a tshirt on before going out to get the drinks together. He also had grabbed a notebook and a pen that he had brought along. An idea had popped into his head and maybe she was just hokey enough to go along with it.
"So I thought we could collaborate to write a rhyming love poem. One of us writes one line and then passes it to our beloved and we go back and forth until our masterpiece is completed."
Or maybe that was better for another time if she was tired - he wasn't sure. The tobogganing hadn't tired him out, as he was sheltered from the sun mostly and they didn't even have to hike to a high elevation - the gondola did all the work for them.
He walked along with her to the other side of the vacation home where those two areas were but lingered there by the door that led to the hot tub. Okay, so ultimately it was still her choice because he said it was and he wasn't going back on his world but Simon realized that he'd much rather hold her close in warmth and weightlessness than just sit next to her in warmth on a bench.
There was already an area with some chairs and shelving of towels and he opened the door, placing their two drinks on a stand near the edge that was made for such things and then placed his notebook and pen beside it. It was elevated enough that nothing would get wet when they were trying to get in or out. "My apologies if I'm overstepping your decision that I granted. I have found that I'd rather have you in my arms than just next to me." He brought his shirt up over his head and rested it onto one of the chairs.
Granted, her father might not be too fond of this decision, but they might even be out before the rest of the family returned.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
4 Jun 2023, 00:59
Two Lifetimes
Oh, A Snogging We Shall Definitely Go, @Simon Kincaid
[1] Poetray - purposefully misspelled as a matter of "artistic" licenseLife was always just more fun with Simon. Even the most mundane things became little adventures. Could she have gone inside to get her camera to take the photo of their snow angel alone? Yes, but because they did it together, there were the normal hip checks and shoulder bumps that often took place when one or both of them were feeling particularly playful. It was generally a precursor to more amorous adventures between them, and she was all in at the get go, only to find herself somewhat doused with cold water, metaphorically speaking, when Simon teased her about having to wait for his lips to press against hers because of a pretzel. Foiled again! First by morning breath and now by a pretzel.
Life could be so cruel.
AngelFyre arched her brow at him and decided two could play at this game of dangling delights before their partner as she slow walked around him, but by slow walk, she meant she stepped close to him, so close in fact they could have been slow dancing in each other's arms, but she did not stop in front of him. She just lithely slinked against him as she slowly circumnavigated her way around him. She had stopped chewing the pretzel at the mention of snogging, mainly because it brought to mind the image of a cow slowly chewing its cud. Not her most appealing 'come hither' look, to be sure, but the boy was going to find that would change shortly.
She was highly amused at this whole push and pull taking place between them in the moment, and she listened quite intently as he explained his reasoning for choosing sauna or hot tub. She was given the choice of which one to choose and knew immediately it was going to be the hot tub, but as she rounded back in front of him, she could see some impact had been made upon him. His tone was still teasing, but his voice had deepened while his breathing had quickened.
Gotcha!
But it was a Gotcha borne of a boomerang as it landed right back with her when Simon teasingly bent down to kiss her... and she could not exactly reciprocate. Dang it! He was laughing happily, knowing he had won that round as she left to change and he went off to ready himself.
She raced upstairs to her room and changed, grabbing her robe off the hook on the bathroom door before heading back downstairs. A funny little reflection caught her attention on the shower glass door, and she suddenly got an idea. She looked in her enchanted satchel and took out a few sharpies. Wrapped tightly in her robe and wearing no slippers, she cracked open her door to see if she could hear Simon.
She heard nothing at first, and she was a little disappointed, but then she heard him pouring something in the kitchen. Wonderful! Since she knew where he was not, she snuck downstairs and then hightailed it to his bedroom. His door was cracked just a bit so she slipped in and quickly went to his bathroom. Giggling to herself the whole time, she finished what she had come to do and hurriedly went back to his bedroom door, leaving him a giggle of his own.
She was going to look to see that her path was clear when she saw one of his notebooks on the bureau. She grabbed it and tore out a page from the very back, not looking at anything he had written, preserving his privacy, to the extent that was even possible considering she had entered his private space with no permission. Two minutes later she left another little something for him on his pillow and scooted out to meet him in the kitchen.
"Sounds like you made my mind up for me," she remarked in her best pouty, but resigned tone. She was going to cast an overly dramatic glance in the direction of the sauna, but Simon just smiled only a little apologetically as he then explained his reasoning for going the hot tub route. She was certainly not going to argue against being in his arms, and maybe even his lap, in warm weightlessness. But when he mentioned his idea of collaborating on a love poem line by line, and then took off his shirt and put it on the back of a chair, her own game plan fell instantaneously off of her radar.
SwOOoOn!
Her attempt to tease him was once again somewhat thwarted as her eyes could not peel themselves away from him and her brain had practically shut down. What a tease! Was she drooling?!? Please, God, let there be no drool." He knew full well what seeing him shirtless did to her, which was really rather the point at that moment in time, given his sauciness earlier. I love where your mind is headed there, handsome, but not all of her cards had been played either.
She became aware he was staring at her staring at him, and he smiled, but said nothing. Surprisingly, she said nothing either, but quickly discovered she was not in the least embarrassed at having been caught. She enjoyed looking at him. He knew it, but this was not a display of his vanity. Simon did not think that way. It was, if anything, a little Easter egg for her in the midst of winter. When he finally turned to dip his toe in the steamy water, AngelFyre finally took notice of his notebook and pen on the table.
"Hmm. How about this for an opening line...ok.... a couple of lines?" She cleared her throat before reciting her spur of the moment masterpiece, "Poetray1 is not my forte, but my heart thrums your name each day." Simon had fully immersed one and then the other foot into the hot tub by this point and chuckled a bit before stepping in waist deep and turning back around towards her.
Now she smiled on the inside as she continued to focus on the notebook, pretending to come up with other lines for their poem. Her mind was most definitely not focused on the poem, but on Simon, as usual. Slipping the knot free and letting the robe fall, she now stood in the bracing chilled air in her bikini. It is true that she had not yet come close to growing into the woman she would become, but there was a certain curviness giving a hint to what lay ahead.
The halcyon days of her tomboyish, stick figure were fast retreating into her past as puberty had suddenly bounded into her present. Grandma Ruth, unsurprisingly, had been the first to point such changes out to AngelFyre, and she had done so with a teary-eyed sparkle in her eyes.
Looking Simon straight on, AngelFyre just smiled.
Ball is in your court now, handsome.
------- ----------- -------
The magic is real.
17 Jun 2023, 04:59
Two Lifetimes
[quote]Sometimes at a loss for words with @AngelFyre McCubbin, but in the best ways/quote]
Simon was watching her quite curiously as she seemed, only temporarily, frozen by the moment despite the warmth and steaminess around them. When she regained motion, she took the pen and notebook and began writing out their opening verse to their extraordinary poem. Would it be extraordinary good or bad, that was the question.
"Thrum.... there's a word you don't hear very often," he said and smiled widely. She just ignored his words, being 'oh so deep in thought' and kept stealing glances down at the notebook, moving the pen in a horizontal motion yet lifted off the page so she was writing nothing at all. If she was aiming for being amusing, it was working.
He let his guard down. She now had his attention and just when he didn't think there was any trick up her sleeve - or robe - she untied it and so that she was now before him in only her bikini of a swimsuit. She placed the notebook and pen down as if to assert her self assurance and composure.
Simon loved her for everything that she was - she was brilliant and kind, compassionate and empathetic, devoted and loving, intelligent, talented, and quick witted. He also loved her for all that she was not - a good singer, extroverted, indecisive. And while he did often get lost in her ocean blue eyes and distracted by her golden hair, his infatuation of her was far from based solely on looks alone. Still, upon seeing her in something that accentuated every single curve of her body, he couldn't help but find his thoughts becoming quite hazy.
She was absolutely stunning in mind, soul, heart, and body - that AngelFyre McCubbin of his.
Moments passed before he realized he was shamefully ogling and new it wasn't the most respectful thing for a young suitor such as himself. Still, a thirteen year old boy was a thirteen year old boy and he smiled softly to her once he realized that she probably didn't mind one bit or she wouldn't have gone with the style that she chose.
Gathering himself, he reached out his hand to help her into the warmth that surrounded him already.
Maybe she would win this round.
"Poetray is not my forte, but my heart thrums your name each day," he repeated her first lines. He then thought of what his next would be while she came beside him. He leaned over to the edge, taking her glass into his hand that contained a mixture of various fruit juices and took a drink, before placing it back down on the ledge. Simon then leaned closer to her, allowing his lips to slowly and sweetly meet hers so that she could taste the sweetness upon them. This was one way he could get used to more sugared substances. His lips moved with hers and maybe, just maybe, their hearts thrummed for each other.
That brought him back to thoughts of the poem and he slowly ended their kiss, keeping his forehead tapped to hers for a moment, just relishing in this closeness that they shared there in the relaxing waters.
"Alas! Desperately and devotedly, without the slightest of doubt
The wish to be closer to you, day in and day out."
Simon had whispered his little mini stanza to her as his forehead gently rested against hers, but as the last word was said, he slowly pulled back, his eyes dead focused on her blues before bringing the pen into his hand and scripting out what he had just said upon the paper, adding it just underneath of hers.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
24 Jun 2023, 19:43
Two Lifetimes
Mission Accomplished, @Simon Kincaid
There it was. Mission accomplished! This time around she was staring at him staring at her, and she was once again surprised to find that such a situation created no shyness or embarrassment on her part whatsoever. Quite the opposite in fact. She felt an appreciative smile grace her lips as Simon had never really ever looked at her quite like he was now doing.
More please.
Thinking to take advantage of the situation before he caught himself, and she knew he would eventually catch himself, she put to use one of her "model" poses from the numerous photo shoots her mother had used her for in the past. She turned just slightly allowing him a 3/4 frontal view while resting one hand on her hip and resting one foot with the heel up but the ball of her foot flat on the ground. It gave a nice, but subtle, bend at the knee while lifting her hind end just a little.
Perfect. The boy was not even blinking, so something was working.
Normally, she used to fight her mother about the photo shoots. They seriously bored her to tears. She hated the makeup, the hairstylists constantly fussing with her tresses, the girly-girl clothes, and most of all, the lonnnnnnng waits between different sets. She would rather have been climbing trees or running around with Ainsley and Kendric and Hillary at the river's edge at home. In this moment, however, she was beginning to appreciate her mother more and more and the things she valued. AngelFyre had always been more like her father, but right now, "Thank you, Mom," was looping through her brain.
Her father had not been a big fan of the photo shoots either, telling his wife that he did not want AngelFyre in a position to be "objectified". She remembered being about 7 years old at the time and running to their home Library to look up that word. It was a nebulous concept to her brain at that time, but she understood its meaning well enough now. AngelFyre knew there was a lot to unpack in that hungry look of Simon's, but her father's fear would not be found in her boyfriend's suitcase. He could have this now, and for as long as she was blessed to have it to give, because it would always be just for him, and that was the difference in her mind. He would cherish and appreciate; never demean or sully such moments between them.
When he finally got hold of himself, he looked just momentarily embarrassed, but then he looked into her eyes. The smile that then softly bathed his lips and washed across his eyes told her some thought process of his own let him know it was all more than okay with his girl.
She smiled back at him as he moved towards her and offered his hand to help her into the warm water. "Thank you, Simon," she said softly as she drew near to him, but the look and tone, if he was perceptive, would signal her thanks were less for helping her into the hot tub and more for the last 25 seconds or so that had just passed between them. She then chuckled to herself as he quoted her abominable "Poetray" line outloud by way of a playful response.
He seemed as if he was taking that rubbish to be her honest attempt at their collaborative effort, and she was just about to protest when he reached across her for her glass. She slow blinked as she watched him take a drink from it, and she was about to reach for it, thinking he had mistakenly grabbed the wrong one when the look in his eyes over the rim of the glass told her otherwise. Curious to know what he was up to, she did not have to wait long as he then moved to press and slide his juice-sweetened lips against hers.
Dannnnnng!
He completely took her by surprise, which was altogether lovely. Her fellow was smooth... definitely smooth. Juice was just never going to taste as sweet coming from anywhere else but those luscious lips of his. It was a good thing they were in water because the boy was lighting her up like a torch. Just when she thought she would not be able to take anymore, he pulled away and rested his forehead to hers. She adored when he did that, but while she was all discombobulated, he was seemingly cool as a cucumber. Or so she thought just by looking at him.
Forehead to forehead, he recited his opening lines to their poem. Simon may have looked cool on the outside, but his voice was huskier than normal as he recited it to her. Good. He was not above being affected by their snogging sessions either.
"Alas! Desperately and devotedly, without the slightest of doubt
The wish to be closer to you, day in and day out."
He pulled back and looked intently into her eyes and she knew he meant his words. Then he reached for the pen and paper and wrote it down.
"Ohhhhh, that is a wonderful start to our poem, love," she cooed at him. "When you are through writing that down, will you scratch my previous lines out please? Those were just the bait I used to get your guard down before the, you know, 'big reveal'," and she grinned at him before suddenly, and unexpectedly, blushing.
After he set the pad and pen back down and came to rest comfortably by her side again, he slipped his hand around her waist and the other under the back of her knees, drawing her effortlessly onto his lap. Lips met lips for a good number of minutes before she remembered it was her turn to add a line to their poem.
Before she did anything, she leaned over and delivered a playful hundred dozen or so teasing little flicks of her tongue to the side of his neck. His neck was warming up but had not yet quite begun to perspire. Still, after every few flicks she would stop and gently blow along the path her tongue had traveled. She knew when she would a hit a nerve, in the best way possible, because his hands would instinctively draw her closer while his head would simultaneously lean in towards her lips. "My turn to think on our poem, so you will pardon me if I need a few moments of quiet contemplation while thinking on it. I somehow do not think you will mind," and she smiled as his own lips curved into his own subtle smile while his eyes remained closed.
Hmmmmm. He seemed to like the word thrum earlier, so maybe she could find a way to use it in a less cheesy way. A few more licks and nibbles on Simon's neck and she thought she may have found it. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead just above his ear and repeated his words and then followed on with her own.
"Alas! Desperately and devotedly, without the slightest of doubt
The wish to be closer to you, day in and day out."
"Oh, the ache to know you, the very depths of your soul to plumb,
My heartbeats race in anticipation, their cadence a strong, yet gentle thrum."
She was both pleased with herself and feeling a little giddy... I love you. I love you. I love you. kept ringing in her mind as she was extricating herself from his arms so that she could write her contribution down on his pad. When she stood, the repeating refrain of I love you began to make her giggle as she remembered the note she had left on his pillow, but something more was happening. She saw her hand reaching out for the pad, but everything began to telescope in and out before slowly turning to black. "Simon, are you ho-..." but she did not get to finish her sentence before stumbling back into his lap, laughing only a little maniacally at her own private joke. "Of course you are hot. No one is hotter!"
She squinted at him as best she could. He was only now starting to show signs of warming up, but looking down at her own skin, she was rather red. "Love, I think you need to get me out. The world is spinning around me right now."
The magic is real.
4 Jul 2023, 16:48
Two Lifetimes
Trying to perfect his first aid for @AngelFyre McCubbin
She pulled away from him as she started to laugh but he wasn't quite certain what caused the laughter. Maybe she was thinking of some witty line or pun-filled addition to add to her lines - that wouldn't be unlike her. Simon reached out, his hand gently glided down her warm arm as she pulled away from him. How he wished for her to just remain in his embrace for always.
Her laughter grew. What was happening? He had made her drink and knew there not to be any substance in it that would affect her in such manner. She then said she needed to get out of there and it was then he took notice that this wasn't AngelFyre being her carefree self but AngelFyre who was needing some help.
Her speech was slurring and she seemed dizzy. He stood up in the water, his hands coming to her waist as he did so and he pulled her body in close to him. This provided him with enough stability that he could lift her onto the edge and then came beside her before assisting her out of the water entirely.
"Careful now," he said as he kept his arm around her waist the entire time. She still seemed rather limp, whether from weakness or dizziness so he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom where she was staying at the resort, just down the hall. "I've got you, my love. Lay down, close your eyes, I'll be but a moment," he whispered, helping her get into bed. He kissed her lips quickly before leaving her side - but only momentarily. When he returned he had his wand with him.
"Aer Calidus," he said, using the correct wand movement to cast the Hot-Air Charm, perfect for drying off himself, AngelFyre, their clothing, and her bedding that was wet just a few moment's ago from the water of the hot tub. She was now safely out of the situation of the heat and humidity of the hot tub room and she was dry so he could assess her further. He placed his hand on her head and it felt cold and clammy and she looked pale. He placed his hand on her heart and it was racing.
Did he call her parents or Grandma Ruth? Did he call the emergency hotline? Simon knew some of what to do in these situations since his British Boy Scouts heavily focused on first aid but the alternatives meant that he would spend some precious time trying to contact someone else to come to her aid when he was already right at her side.
Okay, care for heat exposure. He had already moved her from the heat and to a comfortable place. A cool place, and she needed fluids. "Try and relax," he whispered to her, his hand brushing aside some of her hair from her face in an attempt to help cool her down. He then got up, turning on the ceiling fan above as he rushed to the kitchen to get some water but luckily they had some sports drinks stalked in the fridge. Those would contain water, salt, and sugar and be best.
Upon returning he saw that she was probably getting heat cramps as they were the most common reaction to heat exposure. "Drink this," he whispered, pulling the drink to her lips. He assessed her again after, her head still as clammy. She was running a fever and with the dizziness, he figured it was a rather high one.
"I know I just got you dried off and moved you so I apologize in advance, but I do think this is the best course of action," he said as he came to the side of the bed and lifted her back up. "You and I are going to take a shower together, my love."
It wasn't the time or the place but he couldn't resist and Simon flashed her a smile before giving a wink. He took her into the bathroom that adjoined her room and turned on the shower, allowing the water to find a nice cool - not too cold, but not hot at all - so that it could lower her body temperature.
There was only a shower in this space, so he would keep her in his arms, the front of her body against the front of his,, her legs around him. The two had never been so close with such little on; the two had never been so close in general. This wasn't about physical closeness though, this was about him helping her get as immersed into that cool water as he could to cool her body temperature down. "You realize that you're the one that is much too hot, don't you?" he said in a low whisper into her ear as the cool water trickled down onto both of them.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)