[Surprise and wonder and glee all cross his face, one after the other. He settles on a devilish grin, and tenderly brushes some stray snowflakes from the strands of hair framing Shrike's face.]
She tucks the box with the tea set into the compartment on the back, though, and scoots onto the very back of the bike’s seat. It’s. It’s probably mostly like riding a horse, right, ]
[It's fine they can just fall on their swords. That's what 'falling on your sword' means, right
Griffin straddles the bike and turns the key - the dashboard lights up and he revs it, making the whole thing roar to life. Ohhh god it made his blood sing. He grins wildly.]
Hold on tight t'me! Like, really tight - it's about to get wayyy faster than a horse!
Just t'be safe, I'll stay in first gear. It is snowing.
[He revs one more time and--ACCELERATION KICKS IN, going from zero to Oh Fuck way faster than the van ever manages to. Shrike may have gotten a taste for speed in D.Va's sports car, but without a metal frame around to protect them, and the snow and wind pelting their bodies.
she yelps at the sudden rush of wind and snow and presses her face entirely into his shoulder, holding on for dear life and balling her hands into his jacket. ]
[He also does not hear this! But the ride is thankfully not long - otherwise they might freeze to death, realistically. There's like a layer of caked-on snow stuck to him when he finally slows to a stop outside the love hotel, which he has to brush off.]
Woo! Fuck, that was fun! [He glances back:] Are you doin' okay? Let's go warm up inside.
[ she's brushing snow out of her hair and off of her sleeves, and rubs at her face to try and warm it up, but she's grinning from ear to ear—as harrowing an experience as that was, there's really nothing like knowing that a gift was received even better than you dreamed of. ]
[Griffin takes her hand heads in, practically light-headed from how giddy he felt. A Feint grabs the tea set behind him - so the box wouldn't start getting soggy and disgusting from being left outside.
A quick scan of the directory and he finds one: a rustic cabin with a roaring fireplace, a cozy bedroom of lumber and stone. There are alpine flowers and a chandelier made of antlers, little wood-carved statues of elk and warm flannel sheets. And one ceiling to floor window that overlooked a gorgeous, crisp mountainside.
As soon as he's inside, Griffin tugs Shrike towards the bed, laughter bubbling up in his throat as he rushes to kiss her.]
[ she shrugs off her damp coat and leaves it in her wake—for once not bothering to fold it, because she's kissing him back with urgency as they tumble toward the bed, longing to feel the heat of his body against her. ]
[He's like, trying to shuffle off his coat mid-kiss, resulting in a sloppy time for all, but-- who really cares, right? They're here, they're together, and they have all the time in the world.
When they fall onto the toasty duvet, he can't help but laugh into the kiss. His heart's still beating so fast from the adrenaline of the bike, even now, and he takes both her hands to warm them, even though his own are just as freezing.]
[ she curls into him as she attempts to kick her boots off, letting them fall over the side of the bed, breaking off from his lips to kiss up the line of his jaw. she's never precisely warm, but the chill starts to bleed away into the coziness of the room.
she's smiling, she can't stop smiling, and it's wonderful. she wraps her legs around his, and twists her hips a little to right herself with him beneath her.
...can't waste all that advice from Amaranth, after all. ]
[His laugh trails off into a pleased moan in his throat as her kisses start to wander, rolling his head to give her the access she deserved.
That happy moan stops when she rolls on top of him though, replaced by breathless awe. He tilts his bare neck up like a subconscious offering to her, worship and anticipation in his eyes.]
[ Haha gods help it's working WHAT DOES SHE DO NOW, that kind of adoration flusters her so easily, but—the way he reacts, the look in his eyes: that's direction enough. She trails her lips down from his jaw down the side of his neck, all the while her hands finding the buttons of his shirt to undo them.
...on a moment of inspiration, she breathes out against his neck, scraping her teeth lightly along in the wake of her lips, to see how that gets received. ]
[A soft gasp moves through him as he feels the teeth against his neck, instincts tightening to a razor focus. At first he tenses from the inherent threat of it, but as he accepts her dominance, his body relaxes with a soft growl beneath her.
It's like taming a wild beast - knowing that this creature of extreme, unfettered violence was allowing her to claim him at his most vulnerable. He brings a hand up to stroke her hair, as though gently urging her with further permission.]
[ She's a little startled at the growl, but—she had sort of been thinking that... she wouldn't mind seeing that side of him a little bit. She wants to love every side of him, after all, and—the sense of permission and his hand soft against her hair, it's exhilarating to have that kind of trust.
Her palms press against his chest under the fabric of his shirt, pulling the lapels apart, and emboldened, she nips at his neck a little harder, just enough to leave a little bit of a red mark; her breath falls heavy against his skin. ]
[His breathing grows heavy as he feels the skin pinch, a flash of heat in his chest, behind his eyes - he knows he was marked. It sparks a howl in his soul like a crashing wave, one that dashes itself into a mist against the rocks. Rage and submission, a humbling before a greater power.
He wants to worship her all the more for it - that indomitable power she has called love.
His hands caress her from her temples down to the sides of her neck, framing her reverently, before forming a loose embrace over her shoulders. Griffin's eyes flicker with gold as he nuzzles his face against the top of her head, whispering,]
You made your claim - what're you gonna do with it?
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Good thing motorcycles are like hundreds of pounds or he would've knocked them both over.]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
This is still the best gift, though.
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
I'm inclined t'agree.
Which present d'you wanna test out first?
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Well, I'm always ready and willing for you to take me on a ride.
[ the shrike of three months ago wouldn't have said that, but also the shrike of three months ago was miserable, so. ]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
I can think of a certain somewhere we could go...
[coughlovehotelcough]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
[ she's—giddy? she's giddy. not all of these Exciting New Emotions are an emotional wringer and she's starting to get fond of this one. ]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Well, what're we waiting for?
[WHO NEEDS HELMETS NOT US]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
She tucks the box with the tea set into the compartment on the back, though, and scoots onto the very back of the bike’s seat. It’s. It’s probably mostly like riding a horse, right, ]
Take us away, then.
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Griffin straddles the bike and turns the key - the dashboard lights up and he revs it, making the whole thing roar to life. Ohhh god it made his blood sing. He grins wildly.]
Hold on tight t'me! Like, really tight - it's about to get wayyy faster than a horse!
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Is this going to be like D.Va driving cars—
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
[fingers crossed]
Just t'be safe, I'll stay in first gear. It is snowing.
[He revs one more time and--ACCELERATION KICKS IN, going from zero to Oh Fuck way faster than the van ever manages to. Shrike may have gotten a taste for speed in D.Va's sports car, but without a metal frame around to protect them, and the snow and wind pelting their bodies.
IT'S A RUSH. It's also fucking cold.]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
she yelps at the sudden rush of wind and snow and presses her face entirely into his shoulder, holding on for dear life and balling her hands into his jacket. ]
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Still, she might be able to make out a distinctive hollering]
WOOHOOOO--!!
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
'm glad it seems like it's exactly what you wanted
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Woo! Fuck, that was fun! [He glances back:] Are you doin' okay? Let's go warm up inside.
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
It's f-f-freezing, let's go!
Maybe we should pick something with a fireplace.
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
[Griffin takes her hand heads in, practically light-headed from how giddy he felt. A Feint grabs the tea set behind him - so the box wouldn't start getting soggy and disgusting from being left outside.
A quick scan of the directory and he finds one: a rustic cabin with a roaring fireplace, a cozy bedroom of lumber and stone. There are alpine flowers and a chandelier made of antlers, little wood-carved statues of elk and warm flannel sheets. And one ceiling to floor window that overlooked a gorgeous, crisp mountainside.
As soon as he's inside, Griffin tugs Shrike towards the bed, laughter bubbling up in his throat as he rushes to kiss her.]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
When they fall onto the toasty duvet, he can't help but laugh into the kiss. His heart's still beating so fast from the adrenaline of the bike, even now, and he takes both her hands to warm them, even though his own are just as freezing.]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
she's smiling, she can't stop smiling, and it's wonderful. she wraps her legs around his, and twists her hips a little to right herself with him beneath her.
...can't waste all that advice from Amaranth, after all. ]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
That happy moan stops when she rolls on top of him though, replaced by breathless awe. He tilts his bare neck up like a subconscious offering to her, worship and anticipation in his eyes.]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
...on a moment of inspiration, she breathes out against his neck, scraping her teeth lightly along in the wake of her lips, to see how that gets received. ]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
[A soft gasp moves through him as he feels the teeth against his neck, instincts tightening to a razor focus. At first he tenses from the inherent threat of it, but as he accepts her dominance, his body relaxes with a soft growl beneath her.
It's like taming a wild beast - knowing that this creature of extreme, unfettered violence was allowing her to claim him at his most vulnerable. He brings a hand up to stroke her hair, as though gently urging her with further permission.]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Her palms press against his chest under the fabric of his shirt, pulling the lapels apart, and emboldened, she nips at his neck a little harder, just enough to leave a little bit of a red mark; her breath falls heavy against his skin. ]
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
He wants to worship her all the more for it - that indomitable power she has called love.
His hands caress her from her temples down to the sides of her neck, framing her reverently, before forming a loose embrace over her shoulders. Griffin's eyes flicker with gold as he nuzzles his face against the top of her head, whispering,]
You made your claim - what're you gonna do with it?
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe
Re: Day 18X nebulously after mistletoe