sanlorenzo | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ It probably isn't safe to let herself get this close to someone again.

Scratch that: she knows it isn't safe to let herself get this close to someone again. That has become the constant in Asgard for her - everyone else leaves, but she stays. Most of the time, Jade doesn't care. Knowing them for a little while is better than having never known them at all, and just because those friendships are lost doesn't mean that they're meaningless.

Other times, though, the loss of it still stings. Especially now, as she and Ellie sneak through the carnival in Hel's district. It's night, past curfew, but no one in the city patrol bothers to actually check this place, and Jade knows everyone in the guard personally, anyway. It's a perk that comes with being one of the most tenured travelers in the city. ]

Have you ever been to the top of one of these things?

[ She's pausing next to the ferris wheel, touching her hand on the rusted metal as she glances up. Jade is oddly pensive, but there's a stubborn set to her shoulders, as if she refuses to admit it even about herself. ]

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Never? Shit, we're gonna have to fix that. A lot.

[Ellie, for her part, is trying not to notice how soft Jade's hair is against her arm, and how nice she smells. Hopefully she can't feel her heart thumping.]

What, you're trying to charm me?

[ She can, but it's reassuring: so is her own. ]

Everything on the island was mine... it's really hard to break into your own stuff, you know.

[ But she's biting the inside of her lip to hide a little smile. ]

Hehe, maybe. I can try if I want, right?

That's just boring. Tell me you at least caught a snooping thief or two, geeze.

[... and there she goes again. Ellie shifts a little.]

I'm not -- gonna stop you. [Save it, save it. She clears her throat. Dramatic voice.]

Do try.

Nobody else ever came out there! Bec would've scared them off, anyway. But - umm, charming you. How should I charm you?

[ Jade twists when Ellie clears her throat, leaning up - and now they're nose to nose, Jade's green eyes bright with curiosity and intent as she lands them on Ellie's. ]

Um.

[... so. Ellie knows she's kind of particularly dense when it comes to this stuff, but there's no way Jade is this oblivious to how cute she is right now. Her cheeks are going pink, making her freckles stand out.]

... just go with it.

I can't just go with it, Ellie.

[ Jade huffs a little, shifting forward just slightly. They're already close - now, she just seems to be trying to bump their foreheads together, too. ]

This is important! I have to take it very seriously.

Seriously?

You dork.

[Even as she grins crookedly, her voice has gone quiet, and more than once, her eyes flicker downward toward her lips. Though Ellie doesn't go for it, she tightens her arm around her, keeping her close as she moves in.]

[ Jade smiles before she can help it, biting the inside of her cheek in an attempt to tamp it down. ]

I'm perfectly capable of taking things seriously, you know.

[ But that's when she bridges the short distance between them, bumping her mouth against Ellie's once, before she ducks back out of her grip and laughs a little. She's embarrassed, but she's clearly in a wonderful mood. ]

We really should have a picnic up here, you know.

[Even expecting the kiss, it shocks her a little, leaves her wide-eyed and pink-cheeked and forgetting she can talk.

After a second she seems to realize that Jade's talked to her, has backed up and away. Oh shit, what had she said?]

... what?

[ Ellie isn't the only one a little pink in the face. ]

I said - we should really have a picnic up here. An actual one, not just a hypothetical one.

Okay.

[Jade might have been talking about finding giant steam-powered dinosaurs and riding them to Africa, Ellie would have responded the same.]

I-

I have a question.

[ Let's face it: Jade has probably talked about that before. ]

Okay?

Did- you just kiss me, or did we accidentally put the magic mushrooms in the salad again?

No, um.

[ Tucking her own hair behind her ear. ]

That was definitely a kiss. Why?

Why?

[Ellie echoes her, dumbstruck and pink, eyes drawn to the movements of her fingers in her hair.]

... I- didn't know you liked girls.

[ And that's when Jade's expression gets a little more serious, eyes ticking up to Ellie's face with a measure of surprise. ]

That doesn't - um. My first boyfriend was like- a third crow and a third sprite. That kinda stuff doesn't really mean anything... [ She trails off awkwardly. ]

[Ellie just keeps getting more pink. Stupidly pink, freckles standing out.]

... do you wanna do it again?

[ And if Jade could change anything about this situation right here, she'd make the lighting a little better so that were easier to see. ]

You're not creeped out?

No, why would I be?

[It's not like she hasn't had a few thoughts of Jade. Frankly, who wouldn't? Ellie's. Well. Been more worried about Jade finding her weird.]

I was starting to wonder if you were doing this shit on purpose.

[ She'd be beyond flattered to know that Ellie thought that having 'thoughts' of her was common. Instead, she's just going to grin a little sheepishly at her remark. ]

Did you think I was flirting on accident?

I don't know!

[Ellie's voice goes a little high, and she throws her hands in the air.]

My idea of flirting is... beating the shit out of someone at video games, you're just-

[She throws her hands towards her, agitated.]

Naturally that adorable all the time.

[ Jade is, for a moment, shocked - before she presses her hand hard to her mouth to suppress laughter and shoots Ellie a look of pure incredulity. ]

I'm two years older than you, you are not allowed to call me adorable!

You could be ancient and still be adorable. You have these... these stupid cute little teeth and you cover your mouth when you laugh, and you pronounce your words like they're goddamn italics sometimes.

Emphasis is important! And my teeth are the reason I cover my mouth when I laugh, Draco used to make fun of them.

[ But she's way more openly amused than 'wounded,' and she reaches out then to try to catch Ellie's sleeve at her wrist. ]

Besides, you are the cutest one. It is you. You dominate all of Asgard and it is unfair, no one else stands a chance.

Are we gonna have this fight? Really?

[Ellie reaches out and presses a finger to her cheek, giving her a look.]

And I love your teeth.