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| Show Me The Way; 5/23 evening (Doug/Topaz) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 7 2013, 04:02 PM (746 Views) | |
| Topaz | Aug 3 2013, 06:54 PM Post #16 |
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Magical Sacrificial Lamb
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Despite the many gifts she'd been given, they were hardly effective on everything. The Sentinels gave her problems - magic of her type tended to be somewhat ineffective against things made of metal - and telepathy and empathy were hardly of any use against machines. Even if they had been, Topaz was certain she didn't care at all to know what the things might be thinking. Doug let out another very nice laugh, shaking his head. Yes, she supposed she was being a bit silly, but it felt good to be able to do that. "I've heard them 'think', so to speak - it's not all that exciting," he admitted with a crooked grin, piquing her interest quite thoroughly? Yes, he could do that, couldn't he. 'Talk' to machines, in a way, via code and instructions. How amazing and interesting that must be. "Pretty sure they don't feel much of anything, though, so I don't think you have to worry about it." It was good to know, even though the Hindi girl supposed she shouldn't really care if giant machines built to kill them all had any sort of feelings or not. But, as Stephen had sometimes told her, there were times when she let her heart get in front of her head. It distressed her to hurt something, or someone, even in the times it was unavoidable. They were talking about her powers, though, and the Sentinels that had run inexplicably rampant through a populated neighborhood with no known mutants, metahumans or anything of the like. She, herself, had been of little use for anything aside from helping evacuate those she could, give support where she could for the others, and watch as Mikhail, Laynia, and the others wielding greater powers than her own fought the things. Even that was barely enough, with the numbers and the Sentinel's abilities to self repair, but they'd defeated them. Yet, still, they had no idea what could have possibly been behind this senseless attack. One that obviously wasn't just some random 'glitch' in a group of machines. Even she, with her limited scientific bent, knew the odds of that happening to so many at once would be astronomical. The shake of Doug's head again, and the frown on his face, told her he was as perplexed as she. In a way, it made her feel a little better. At least it wasn't her own lack of understanding of mechanical things that was somehow keeping it from all making sense. "I don't know - it doesn't make any sense," he admitted, running through what he'd heard about their mission and the oddly behaving Sentinels. "I do know that the ones you ran into weren't the only ones acting weird, though." He smiled a little and shrugged. "I hacked into the government's system earlier - they're not sure what's going on, either. It's like the things went rogue." That was also very impressive, and also very worrying. Of course she'd heard of rogue Sentinels before. It wasn't entirely unusual. Those instances, however, normally only involved one single unit, two at most. Not this many. "I find it hard to believe the government might not have planned this somehow." Hadn't there been talk of Sentinels being set on the Marysville Camp to rampage through and take care of those inmates in a very permanent way? Surely that was the government's doing. "Except I can't imagine what it would have gained them to attack normal humans that way with their own Sentinels." Perhaps it would be easier to not try to puzzle it out. Topaz feared she was making her own thoughts more tangled and possibly Doug's in the process. He looked very thoughtful, though, and she had only a moment to wonder what might have occurred to him before he asked, "I know this is going to sound crazy, but...did you pick up anything from them? Anything at all?" The dark skinned girl frowned, slightly perplexed. "The people?" she asked, feeling as though she'd missed something somewhere, "Yes, of course. A great deal of fear and panic and anger. Pain from the injured and dying..." Oh, no, that wouldn't be what he meant, would it? He wouldn't be asking about the people, but the Sentinels. A soft blush stole over her face and she smiled sheepishly, "I'm sorry, of course you would know that already. You mean the Sentinels themselves?" Expression drawing into something of confused consideration, Topaz did her best to pull those memories to the front of her mind, pick through them carefully, looking for signs of anything she might not have noticed in the heat of the moment. "I'm...I'm not certain," she finally settled on, looking back to him in apology, "There was a great deal going on and so many people and their thoughts and emotions. I can't say. I only remember...an odd feeling . As though something was 'off'. Askew, if that makes any sense at all." It was a vague feeling and she barely remembered noticing it, as though something was there in the periphery of her mental 'vision' that she couldn't quite see. But it could have been anything and she couldn't imagine that even a sentient robot would have a mind that could actually be felt by a human. |
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| Cypher | Aug 6 2013, 09:19 PM Post #17 |
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Can translate all 25 languages of silent brooding
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It was a longshot. There was really no reason why Topaz would've been even attempting to get a read on the rogue Sentinels, and no real reason why she'd have picked up anything from them. No reason to believe it was anything other than a freak incident, which seemed to be the government's take on the situation. Except there'd been several freak incidents reported across the country, and the coincidental timing was bothering him. One or two Sentinels going rogue? Distressing, definitely, but half the time he'd believed the government was using it as a ploy to take out something they didn't want to admit they were trying to take out. More than that? Well, it could've been more of the same, but still. He'd feel at least a little better about it if Topaz hadn't gotten any impressions of sentience from the robots. "The people?" she asked, apparently mistaking his question. No surprise there, considering the unlikelihood of what he was asking, but she continued before he could clarify. "Yes, of course. A great deal of fear and panic and anger. Pain from the injured and dying..." She broke off abruptly and smiled sheepishly, her cheeks darkening just a little as she blushed, which served to temporarily wipe all thoughts of malfunctioning Sentinels from his mind. God, but she was beautiful, even when blushing. Something about that smile... She began speaking again, pulling his attention back to the matter at hand before he could do or say anything abysmally stupid. "I'm sorry, of course you would know that already. You mean the Sentinels themselves?" He nodded, and she seemed to consider the question seriously, despite looking confused by it. "I'm...I'm not certain," she finally settled on, looking back to him in apology, "There was a great deal going on and so many people and their thoughts and emotions. I can't say. I only remember...an odd feeling . As though something was 'off'. Askew, if that makes any sense at all." He considered it for a moment, then nodded. "I know what you mean," he acknowledged, finally equating it the feeling he got when talking with Vanessa. Things that didn't quite fit, that you couldn't reconcile and that made the world feel as if it had tipped just a fraction of a degree on its axis. He shrugged a little and smiled, then added, "I'm not sure what it means, though, if anything." Probably nothing, considering that it seemed really unlikely she'd be picking up anything from the Sentinels at all. As she'd said, there were a lot of panicked, injured people, and a truly horrific situation. Maybe that explained her feeling of unbalance. He filed the information away, though. He'd check on it later, see if the government had any new reports out on the situation. In the meantime, he glanced back over at the video on the screen, only to see it had finished. He wrinkled his nose and shrugged, smiling crookedly. "We missed the end," he pointed out, probably unnecessarily. "Did you want me to back it up? It's kind of all downhill after the explosion, unless you want to see the obviously doctored footage of Johnny doing a kickline with the cheerleaders." He guessed she probably didn't, but hell, he could be wrong. She wouldn't be the first Johnny Storm fan around HQ, after all. |
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| Topaz | Aug 9 2013, 02:49 PM Post #18 |
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Magical Sacrificial Lamb
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Goodness, Doug was going to think she was an idiot. Of course he hadn't meant the people. He'd obviously know, or at least suspect, she'd have picked things up from them. It would've been impossible not to in that situation. And there she went, blushing again like a little girl. Sigh. Why was it she couldn't seem to stop doing silly things, or saying silly things, all of sudden. Generally she was at least a little better than this. Well, then, she'd just have to nudge herself back on track and sort it out, wouldn't she? Before Doug began to think she was completely useless or tragically slow or who knew what. He had, of course, in retrospect, meant the Sentinels. Had she perhaps gotten anything from them? The idea was alarming and it sent a shiver down her spine. To see into the mind of a machine, like it was a person? To think those, those...things might somehow have thoughts and feelings? It was a terrifying contemplation. All the same, she did her best to call up the memories of the night before. They were still fresh, if also a jumble of impressions and emotions and thoughts. So many people, so many emotions, it was like stepping into flood waters and trying to part them to find something hidden at the bottom, but she did her best. In the end. all she could honestly remember, the only thing that stood out from the rest, was a subtle feeling that something was 'off'. It was indistinct, like motion caught at the periphery of her vision, but there. The vague sense of something askew, not right. It wasn't much at all and she was sorry she couldn't give him more, but Doug seemed to consider that then nod as if he might actually understand, despite her inability to be at all clear. "I know what you mean," he acknowledged and she smiled gratefully. Thank goodness. She had no idea how else to describe it if he hadn't. He shrugged a little and smiled, then added, "I'm not sure what it means, though, if anything." No, neither did she and she sent him a small, apologetic smile. Perhaps it didn't mean anything at all. How would a human possibly read a robot's mind? Even if that robot was sentient. It was something she couldn't reconcile in her head and so best not to even try. She knew little to nothing about machines other than how to operate the basic ones. With a wrinkle of his own nose as if he weren't having any better look, Doug smiled and shrugged, looking back at the computer screen, "We missed the end," he pointed out, probably unnecessarily. "Did you want me to back it up? It's kind of all downhill after the explosion, unless you want to see the obviously doctored footage of Johnny doing a kickline with the cheerleaders." Oh dear. With a soft laugh, she shook her head, smiling back at him and swiveling the chair more toward him. "No, I think that's a sight I can happily live without. I'm sure he was very good at it, though." Shaking her head, she peered up at him as she reached up to brush back some loose strands of hair. "We get enough of that sort of thing with Ariel. She tried to start a conga line during a Camp evacuation earlier in the week. I suppose you can guess how well that went over." Certainly a part of the job of leader Topaz didn't envy Laynia for at all. Between Ariel and Conrad, she sometimes had her hands quite full. |
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| Cypher | Aug 9 2013, 05:53 PM Post #19 |
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Can translate all 25 languages of silent brooding
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Given Topaz's apologetic smile, she had no more idea what, if anything, a feeling of things being out of place might mean when applied to malfunctioning Sentinels. Definitely something to tuck away in the back of his mind and to check on later, but there wasn't much he could do with it now, even if he was inclined to drop everything and start combing the internet for corresponding references. Which, given the way she was smiling at him, Doug wasn't at all interested in doing. Nor did the video seem all that important right now. It went downhill after the explosion, anyway, unless seeing Johnny Storm do a kick line with obviously edited in cheerleaders was high on your priority list. Despite being almost certain he'd already been friend-zoned (if he hadn't, he was having an awfully easy time talking coherently despite that, which seemed unlikely), he was hoping Topaz wouldn't be any more interested in Johnny as a cheerleader than he was. She laughed when he mentioned Johnny's newfound calling as a Rockette, and shook her head as she swivelled the chair, accidentally bringing it closer. "No, I think that's a sight I can happily live without. I'm sure he was very good at it, though." She shook her head, peering up at him as she fingered loose tendrils of hair from her face. "We get enough of that sort of thing with Ariel. She tried to start a conga line during a Camp evacuation earlier in the week. I suppose you can guess how well that went over." "Well, the evacuees might have been grateful enough to go along with it, if it took them through one of her doorways?" he guessed, chuckling as he shook his head, "but I'm guessing most of them were less than thrilled." Not to mention her teammates probable reactions, if she'd tried to talk them into it as well. He shifted a little so he could lean against the edge of the desk, half-sitting on the edge. "Did you guys take down the camp, or just provide evac?" |
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| Topaz | Aug 12 2013, 11:49 AM Post #20 |
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Magical Sacrificial Lamb
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No, she'd seen enough of Johnny Storm and Bobby Drake's Sentinel exploding exploits, Topaz believed. Entertaining though they were, she was sure she could live quite happily without seeing the Human Torch do some sort of kick line dance with...digitally inserted cheerleaders? The fact that she didn't quite understand how that would work didn't make her any more eager for the spectacle. And besides, Ariel usually kept them all well supplied with those sorts of antics. Especially when she was doing things like trying to start some sort of line dance in the middle of a Camp evacuation. "Well, the evacuees might have been grateful enough to go along with it, if it took them through one of her doorways?" he guessed, chuckling as he shook his head, "but I'm guessing most of them were less than thrilled." With a sigh and a smile, the Indian girl shook her head, brows lifting a bit. "I'm afraid most of them were just very confused. But then that's not an unusual reaction around Ariel," she added with a shrug and the hint of a grin. The gods knew that a year or two around the other teleporter hadn't helped Topaz herself understand her at all. Even if she liked her well enough. Briefly, she wondered how things were going with the ReAssemble team that the alien teleporter, Conrad and Dazzler had left to help with, but then forced her mind away from that. All work and no play made for a very dull and boring Topaz. "Did you guys take down the camp, or just provide evac?" Doug asked as he moved a little, half-leaning, half-sitting on the desk. She swiveled the chair a little more toward him again as she nodded. "On that one, yes. Ariel, Conrad, Sil and I." A short pause for thought and she shook her head, smiling bemusedly. "Though I can't tell you what team it was for. We've done so many this week it's all running into a blur of faces and practically identical Camps. All I remember are things like Komodo clawing a Sentinel to death and people mobbing Juggernaut for autographs." The first was unsurprising, the second...well, that hadn't been something she'd have ever expected to see. As much because it was Juggernaut as that autographs weren't something they normally expected people to be asking for these last several years. "They're taking down the very last one right now," she continued, voice softening as she met Doug's blue eyes with her own darker ones. "Over in Utah. The last Containment Camp. Can you believe it? I can't really seem to wrap my mind around that completely." |
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| Cypher | Aug 13 2013, 07:28 PM Post #21 |
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Can translate all 25 languages of silent brooding
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From what little he'd admittedly seen of the camp refugees, not counting ones who'd been former members of one of the teams, he had little doubt that the majority would've just stared at Ariel if she suggested a conga-line evacuation. Oh, some might have gone along with it - especially if they could see somewhere else on the other side of one of her doorways - but he doubted most of them would've been in any condition for dancing, even if they'd been able to wrap their heads around the fact it was being suggested. Topaz sighed and smiled, her eyebrows rising a little. "I'm afraid most of them were just very confused. But then that's not an unusual reaction around Ariel," she added with a shrug and the hint of a grin. He nodded, grinning back and remembering the stories Warlock had told about the alien teleporter. Even accounting for Warlock-isms, he could definitely imagine the confusion factor. Especially considering that Roberto's stories hadn't varied much from his alien friend's. He moved a little to lean against the desk, and asked about the camp evacuation. He didn't think her team usually took down camps on their own, though a lot of things had been happening over the past week that were atypical, to say the least. She swivelled her chair a little, moving closer, and he felt his throat seize up yet again. Right. Focusing on the camp evacuation, and not the way the lights were bringing out blue-ish highlights in her hair as she nodded, or the fact she seemed oblivious to just how close they'd been on and off again. Maybe she was like Illyana, that way? Yana never seemed to have heard of the concept of personal space either, though in her case he was almost positive she did it to make people uncomfortable as often as not. Topaz just...didn't seem to think anything of it, at all. Which probably meant the "friend" designation had already been established, but... Yeah, he couldn't quite convince himself of that. Or at least, his brain was fighting a losing battle with his body over it. "On that one, yes. Ariel, Conrad, Sil and I." A short pause for thought and she shook her head, smiling bemusedly. "Though I can't tell you what team it was for. We've done so many this week it's all running into a blur of faces and practically identical Camps. All I remember are things like Komodo clawing a Sentinel to death and people mobbing Juggernaut for autographs." "Juggernaut?" he exclaimed, his expression flipping to one of disbelief. "Hold it - people were mobbing Cain Marko for autographs?" And then, because the possibilities of that were something he couldn't help but think of, he added, "Did anyone happen to get any pictures?" God, supervillain turned celebrity was definitely something he could use in the next newsletter. Hell, it seemed likely it was something Hone could use with the tv broadcasts, too - if pictures were available, he'd have to get a copy over to Ali. "They're taking down the very last one right now," she continued, voice softening as she met Doug's blue eyes with her own darker ones. "Over in Utah. The last Containment Camp. Can you believe it? I can't really seem to wrap my mind around that completely." He shook his head, smiling wryly, and confessed, "I can't either. I really wasn't sure it would ever happen. Not really." He cocked his head a little, raising his eyebrows, and added, "It sounds like something to celebrate, though. Did you want to head back to the party? I feel bad now, stealing you away from it." Except...he didn't. Not really. Nor was he in any particular hurry to return to the chaos in the strip club, if the alternative was to stay here, talking with her. On the other hand, he had kind of guilted her into helping him escape. If she wanted to go back and celebrate, he definitely understood. |
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| Topaz | Aug 16 2013, 06:44 PM Post #22 |
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Magical Sacrificial Lamb
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Doug really did have very nice eyes, Topaz noted as he half leaned,half sat on the edge of the desk. And a very nice smile. He was also proving himself easy to talk to, not put off by her magic or her other powers, or he didn't seem to be. That wasn't always the way with people, so it was nice to be able to relax. Hold a simple conversation about the Camps and the evacuations and Ariel's sometimes odd but always interesting antics. There had been so much happening the last week, much of it blurred into one solid mass, with only distinct snatches here and there to delineate any of it. Things like Komodo rending a Sentinel limb from limb with nothing but her claws and teeth. Or the Camp today where normal, local humans suddenly turned up to lend a hand and several of them ended up mobbing Juggernaut, of all people, for autographs. There were things she'd never expected to see and that had certainly numbered among them. "Juggernaut?" he exclaimed, his expression flipping to one of disbelief as the dark haired girl's own smile became more amused and she nodded. Yes, that seemed to be the common reaction from anyone who'd seen it or heard about it. Cain had seemed less than pleased, but he'd cooperated all the same. "Hold it - people were mobbing Cain Marko for autographs?" And then, because the possibilities of that were something he couldn't help but think of, he added, "Did anyone happen to get any pictures?" With another laugh (and when was the last time she'd laughed so much?), Topaz lifted her shoulders in a light shrug. "I'm not sure. Perhaps?" She paused for a moment, trying to remember if she'd seen anyone with a camera or anything similar. "I'll have to ask," she told him after a moment, not having any luck pulling the answer from her memories. "Some of the teams had those floating, flying, camera things that someone or other put together." Something about PR footage or some such. She'd paid little attention, she was afraid. Too intent on getting people in and out as quickly and efficiently as she could manage so that she could move on to the next assignment. In retrospect, it was a shame she hadn't paid more attention to all the happenings. These moments that might well have been historical. The Camps were done, or nearly so. The last week's work having rid the country of all of them. Simon's team of Avengers were taking down the very last one likely as they spoke. It was hard to believe, almost impossible. But it was wonderful, too, even if she was still trying to wrap her mind around it all. With a shake of his head, Doug's smile turned slightly wry. "I can't either. I really wasn't sure it would ever happen. Not really." He cocked his head a little, raising his eyebrows, and added, "It sounds like something to celebrate, though. Did you want to head back to the party? I feel bad now, stealing you away from it." Smile softening, Topaz shook her head, giving him a reassuring look. "Don't feel at all bad. It was nice for a bit, but I'm not sure I was up for the entire thing." Reaching out, she laid her hand on his, curling her fingers over it gently as she cocked her head. "Besides, I'm having a very good time here, why would I need to go back down there?" There were many different sorts of celebrations, and all of them didn't require a crowd of people and a wall of noise. |
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| Cypher | Aug 17 2013, 08:26 PM Post #23 |
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Can translate all 25 languages of silent brooding
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Topaz had a nice laugh, Doug thought, not for the first time. Genuine, as if she were honestly happy, not just pretending it or forcing it because it was expected. It was nice to hear, even nicer to know that he'd played some part in prompting the reaction, even though in this case he thought it more likely that the mental image of Cain Marko being hounded for autographs had more to do with it than anything he'd said. He hoped someone had gotten a picture of that; it would be a great lead-in to a story on now the entire metahuman community (so to speak) had pulled together in this time of crisis, and how everyday, ordinary people appreciated them. If Topaz didn't know, he'd have to ask around. Maybe one of the Angry Guys had taken a shot, if only for blackmail purposes. She shrugged lightly. "I'm not sure. Perhaps?" She paused for a moment, trying to remember if she'd seen anyone with a camera or anything similar. "I'll have to ask," she told him after a moment, not having any luck pulling the answer from her memories. "Some of the teams had those floating, flying, camera things that someone or other put together." Doug nodded, remembering the cameras that Madison Jefferies and Nemesis had cobbled together. He wished the teams had been using them all along - but then, they might have if he'd actually asked them to and told them why he'd needed them. It had seemed like such a good idea to keep Singular Vision under wraps when they'd started it, but they'd missed a lot of opportunities along the way as a result, and it was no one's fault but his own. There wasn't anything he could do about it now, though, and the overthrow of the last camp was definitely a cause for celebration. Maybe he shouldn't have been so quick to drag Topaz away from Rogue's commentary? She might have enjoyed more time at the party. Her smile softened, and she shook her head in reassurance. "Don't feel at all bad. It was nice for a bit, but I'm not sure I was up for the entire thing." Reaching out, she laid her hand on his, curling soft, warm fingers around it as she cocked her head. "Besides, I'm having a very good time here, why would I need to go back down there?" Acutely aware of her hand on his, Doug nodded, higher brainpower shutting down once more as he met her eyes and got lost in them. He should probably do something, if she was having a good time. Run another video, or think of something else to talk about, or... Or maybe, for once, he should just stop thinking entirely. He turned his hand to thread his fingers through hers and smiled, and said softly, "I'm having a good time, too." And then, before he could talk himself out of it, leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. If nothing else, at least for once he wouldn't have to wonder what would have happened if he'd actually acted instead of just thought about it. |
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| Topaz | Aug 19 2013, 03:42 PM Post #24 |
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Magical Sacrificial Lamb
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It would be something of a shame if someone didn't have pictures of Juggernaut being mobbed for autographs at that Camp (or had it been a SHIELD base?). Come to think of it, there had been those flying, remote control camera things that some of the field leaders seemed to have gotten from someone or other, so perhaps there was a decent chance. For all she knew, Doug himself might've helped design them. Mostly, she'd attempted to avoid accidentally teleporting them out with the evacuees and tried to stay out of their range, but it seemed they'd been zooming around everywhere she turned the last day or so. She'd have to ask around and see if there had been any at whatever event that had been. Black Tom Cassidy would know, she was certain. Or Sean, who was generally more pleasant to speak with. Black Tom always reminded her a bit too much of the shady bazaar merchants with sly, flattering words that were an attempt to distract you from noticing their overly shoddy, overly expensive goods until it was too late. Which perhaps was unkind of her, but the comparison came to her mind all the same. Doug nodded, though to which part of that, or perhaps all of it, she wasn't certain and it hardly mattered. It was something that could easily be asked about in the morning. Everyone was busy at the party now and she wouldn't want to drag them away from that, even though she, herself, was far more content out of the press of the crowd and the noise. For a bit, it had been nice, just to see everyone together like that, but she was having a nice time here, with Doug. Why would she need to go back there? Again, Doug nodded and Topaz began to feel a bit self-conscious. Oh. Perhaps that had been a hint? A very nice way of telling her he'd rather have some time to himself without having to entertain her? But then his hand turned under hers, palm brushing her own as his fingers threaded with hers, drawing a smile from her. "I'm having a good time, too." Her smile widened and, before she could reply, he leaned in, lips brushing over her own. Feather soft and surprising her in a very pleasant way. Eyes fluttering open, her head tilted, smile still on her lips. No, she didn't suppose that had been a hint for her to leave after all. Pushing out of her chair, Topaz stood to face him, hand still in his and very close now. He did have such nice, blue eyes. And she quite liked his face. Free hand lifting to his cheek, she leaned in and kissed him in earnest, which was a very much more pleasant type of diversion than going back to the party. Or watching Johnny Storm kick dance with digital cheerleaders. |
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| Cypher | Aug 19 2013, 08:47 PM Post #25 |
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Can translate all 25 languages of silent brooding
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She smiled as his fingers tangled with hers, dark eyes brightening as they met his and further shutting down any higher brain functions that had been randomly firing off words such as inadvisable and disinterested and friend zone. Ignoring them, he decided that for once, he didn't care. If his attention was unwanted, she'd no doubt let him know. If it was? Well, at least he'd know that, too. She looked surprised as his lips brushed over hers, but smiled, and Doug felt his face warm a little as he smiled back, unsure what to say. His fingers still tangled with hers, he watched as she pushed her chair back and got to her feet, her other hand reaching up to rest on his cheek. Without preamble or hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him again. Not the rushed, undoubtedly performance-driven kiss he'd received from Joelle just a few days earlier - this was entirely different, and Doug found himself shifting closer, his hand reaching up to tangle in her curls as he returned the kiss with enthusiasm. He pulled back a little after what felt like hours but was presumably far less, and smiled at her, feeling more than a little dazed and breathless. "I've been wanting to do that since I saw you in the club," he confessed, shrugging a little awkwardly, his fingers still unconsciously teasing through her hair. |
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| Topaz | Aug 22 2013, 01:30 PM Post #26 |
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Magical Sacrificial Lamb
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Perhaps it was forward of her, but she was hardly thinking of that, or worrying about it as she stood and went with her immediate impulse. Kissing Doug as he blushed slightly, making the entire thing even more appealing. He moved closer, fingers threading through her hair. Apparently completely unoffended, since he seemed to return the kiss enthusiastically. It was nice and warm and it had been far too long since she'd indulged in this. Or since she'd had the time or inclination to. Now, yes, she was very glad she'd gone with impulse there, too, and left the party with him. Though Topaz wished again she might've been a bit taller, since she still had to stand almost on tip toe to reach him, but that was all right, too. She was managing well enough. After a few moments, Doug pulled back smiling at her and her own lips curved upward in return. "I've been wanting to do that since I saw you in the club," he confessed, shrugging a little awkwardly and her smile widened, one dark brow lifting curiously. Hand on his shoulder and not moving away, amusement danced in dark eyes as his fingers continued toying with her hair. "Is that why Rogue called me over?" she asked, smile shifting toward a grin, "If it is, I'll have to remember to thank her later." Even if he'd been complaining of 'well meaning friends' at the time. Sometimes, she supposed, they might actually know what they were doing. |
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| Cypher | Aug 22 2013, 09:58 PM Post #27 |
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Can translate all 25 languages of silent brooding
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He'd been wanting to do that since he first saw her. Her smile broadened when he said as much, and he smiled crookedly and shrugged a little. Probably not the best thing to admit, but he didn't seem to be reasoning well enough to figure out why, and at least she wasn't laughing. Or pulling away for that matter, considering her hand was still resting on his shoulder. Which meant...he wasn't sure what it meant, but she was smiling. At him. And looking amused by...what? That he'd wanted to? That he'd done it? By him having just randomly blurted it out - just blurting that out was kind of weird, wasn't it? She was still standing there, though. Smiling. "Is that why Rogue called me over?" she asked, smile shifting toward a grin, "If it is, I'll have to remember to thank her later." His face warmed and his smile grew more sheepish. "Well, I'm almost certain she called you over to see if she could break my brain, but I'll have to thank her later anyway." He shrugged a little and grinned, fingers still playing idly with her hair. "It really wasn't much of a brain anyway," he admitted. "I'm fairly certain I'll never miss it." Even if he did, he wasn't certain that it wasn't a valid exchange. |
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| Topaz | Aug 24 2013, 08:26 PM Post #28 |
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Magical Sacrificial Lamb
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It was a very nice kiss. If he really had been wanting to do that since he'd seen her in the club, then Topaz was glad he'd finally done it. Even if it had, apparently, taken some intervention by one of the Resistance leaders to get things started. Topaz decided that she likely owed Rogue at least a little thanks the next time she saw her. Assuming that actually was why she'd called her over to begin with, anyway. Perhaps well meaning friends weren't such a disastrous thing after all. Doug blushed and that was rather appealing as well. How many men did she know who actually blushed? Not very many, she decided. Certainly not Conrad. She wasn't certain he was even capable of it. Not anyone else she could really think of. Perhaps Mikhail's brother? He was quiet and seemed a bit shy, he might be the type. His smile turned a little sheepish, too, which also held it's own appeal. "Well, I'm almost certain she called you over to see if she could break my brain, but I'll have to thank her later anyway." He shrugged a little and grinned, fingers still playing idly with her hair. "It really wasn't much of a brain anyway," he admitted. "I'm fairly certain I'll never miss it." Her head tilted toward the motion of his fingers, smiles widening just a little as her fingers skimmed along the line of his shoulder. "Nonsense," she told him with gentle teasing, "your brain seems to be working perfectly fine to me." Shifting a little, she took a half step closer, pressing lightly against him and arm slipping around his neck. "Though we can try to bring it to a stop again, if you'd like." With another quick grin, she leaned in, kissing him softly again. Yes, that was definitely very nice. |
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| Cypher | Aug 25 2013, 06:04 PM Post #29 |
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Can translate all 25 languages of silent brooding
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His fingers toyed with her curls as her head tilted a little towards his hand, her smile widening as he admitted that he thought Rogue's intentions were somewhat less noble than she might imagine. Not, as it turned out, that he was complaining. In fact, he likely owed her a thank you, despite the fact his brain seemed to have shut down, taking most of his higher functions along for the ride. "Nonsense," she told him with gentle teasing, "your brain seems to be working perfectly fine to me." "Oh, trust me," he assured her with a smile and a shake of his head, "it stopped working when I saw you in the club. I keep trying to reboot it, but it's not responding." In response, she moved closer, pressing against him so he could feel the warmth of her body through his t-shirt and jeans. Her arm looped around his neck, and after a moment's hesitation he wrapped his around her waist, fingers stroking the bare skin betwen her halter and skirt. "Though we can try to bring it to a stop again, if you'd like," she teased, and grinned as she leaned in, her lips meeting his again. His eyes slipped shut, fingers cupping the back of her head, and kissed her back slowly, acutely aware of her body against his, the feel of her bare skin under his hand. Far too soon they broke apart, and he laughed softly and nodded. "That's...definitely initiated system shutdown," he acknowledged with a crooked grine, fingers brushing slowly over her back. "Any ideas how I can get it working again before I need it?" He was pretty sure there was a reason why he would, but just now? He couldn't seem to remember what it was.. |
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| Topaz | Aug 28 2013, 10:57 AM Post #30 |
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Magical Sacrificial Lamb
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No, she couldn't see any sign that his brain had suddenly stopped working, though Topaz admitted that her own felt rather more than a little fuzzy at the moment. Doug, however, didn't seem very inclined to believe her. "Oh, trust me," he assured her with a smile and a shake of his head, "it stopped working when I saw you in the club. I keep trying to reboot it, but it's not responding." With a soft laugh, she moved in closer, arms sliding around his neck and leaning into him comfortably. He was warm and sturdy and it was a feeling she quite liked. Admittedly, she also quite liked the idea of causing his brain to need some sort of reboot, as well as she feel of his arm slipping around her waist, fingers stroking over her bare skin. It sent tiny sparks of sensation skimming along her skin and that wasn't at all unpleasant, either. Perhaps, if he wouldn't mind too very much, they could try bringing his brain to a stop all over again. Since he didn't seem to have immediate objections, the dark haired Indian girl leaned in, lips soft on his again. It had been far too long since she'd even considered something like this. Had had time to consider something like this, or the company that made her want to. And so she kissed him again, as Doug's hand moved to the back of her head, and let herself lose track of the seconds and minutes and anything else but just that. "That's...definitely initiated system shutdown," Doug told her, bringing a smile to her lips as his fingers brushed over her back, warm and gentle and prompting her to press in against him slightly more. "Any ideas how I can get it working again before I need it?" Smile taking on a hint of consideration, she tilted her head thoughtfully. Hmmm... "I suppose that depends on how soon you need it to be working again," she replied, rising on her tiptoes a bit again, to plant a soft kiss on his jaw, then just below his ear. "If you need it immediately, I could go back to the party and leave you in peace." Though she was hoping he'd rather she stay a bit longer. |
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3:33 AM Jul 11