She doesn't reject him and in fact, it's when he slides his arms around her that she lifts her own to go around his shoulders. She stays there, chin dropping onto his shoulder as she leans forward a little to tuck her nose against his coat. Her fingers curl into the fabric of his lab coat and she stays there.
If someone breaks the hold, it'll have to be him. ]
I know.
[ She leans her head against him, cowl against his short hair. ]
You're not entirely bad like this.
[ Like this, alone and a little more human. Neither of them have chance of being caught by anyone else, just the two of them here with their guards a little down. She said no to him and she stills means it! But... the hug isn't so bad. It's kind of nice. Bryce is hugged so rarely, she might as well take it when she can. ]
[ He can't help but chuckle, his deep voice improved by his new body. He once self-described his old self as sounding like a walrus underwater- he's retained the bass register, but none of the tremor his weight gave it. A dead ringer for Thurl Ravenscroft. ]
High praise indeed.
[ He'll not be breaking them apart quickly, if doesn't have to. One arm moves lower, but he doesn't take advantage and go too far, stopping at the small of her back. Not only would playing grabass now damage his future plans... it'd just ruin the moment and he's enjoying the moment immensely. The other moves upwards, between her shoulder blades and moves in slow, gentle circles. ]
You, on the other hand, are wholly lovely like this.
[ Her suit may well be the furthest thing from huggable an outfit has ever been designed to be, but he can tough out some small discomfort for a taste of affection. If that is what this is. God, he hopes so. He knows he has her attraction, probably her respect. Her trust he knows he doesn't have. But affection... floats in the horrid position of unknown. ]
[ She definitely takes note of where his arms are going but... they haven't gone anywhere entirely inappropriate so she's able to accept them. They're fine, for now, and she doesn't disengage just yet.
The compliment he pays her doesn't do much other than get a noise of acknowledgement from her. She's a little used to his comments and it's not like they're what's making her like him, after all.
There's a bit of movement from her though and that's because she's tugging off her gloves. Arms still around his shoulders, she just tugs lightly at the fingertips until one drops off, and then the other.
Bare fingertips now curl in the back of his short hair, holding onto him lightly as she stays just like this. There's no specific intention here, other than her just being kind of tired and going with it for a moment. ]
You think I'm lovely all the time, doesn't really hold any weight anymore, Otto.
[ He takes a breath when he feels her fingers scrape his scalp lightly, the thud of her gloves hitting the floor sending sparks of excitement through him that he has to contain. He can curb his red-blood for her comfort, he CAN, he knows he can.
His own hands move a little, simultaneously to the side. But before it seems he's letting go and give her chance to release him, they slide back. This time under her cape, rather than over it. The fingertips between her shoulder blades are a little more forceful, just a shade of that mastery of pressure he'd shown before but still not overtly erotic. Just... trying to ease the tension, the tiredness. ]
And you have appalling manners sometimes.
[ As he says it, they're still like compliments in tone. Flaws can be appealing. ]
...But even then you're lovely, so I suppose you've got me there.
[ Well, she can't exactly argue with both of those points. They're true and exact. She knows her faults pretty well, honestly. So, she's not insulted by any of it, just makes a noise of acknowledgement and continues with the slow hug. The hug that's gone on for a while now.
When his hands move under her cape, she knows she's missed her window to break the hug naturally. She supposes that's alright, doesn't quite want to pull away yet. Otto is warm and broad and firm and she very clearly expressed interest when they were together the last time.
What she says next, might be a bit surprising to him but is definitely something she's been thinking about since she texted him earlier. ]
[ The length of their embrace is, he feels, maybe a misstep. It could get more awkward and end up being less a romantic connection between two souls with their own pains. But... it just feels nice.
As close as she is, she'll feel as much as hear the sharp intake of breath when she apologises. That is a surprise and he can't hide it, pretend he knew it was coming. He wasn't thinking about the eye, the dull throbbing of it forgotten from the softness of their touch. ]
All is forgiven.
[ This is it, he thinks. He has to let go now. Otherwise, it's just so... mushy and not suave. ]
[ It's a nice moment and it would be a shame if it ended. She doesn't want it to end, she just kind of wants to... stay right here. Damn. Damnit, Otto. She can't even blame him this time, it's all her. ]
I'm not exactly dressed for it, Otto.
[ Said a little wryly, but her head turns towards him when she says it. There's hot breath on his skin and the nudge of the cowl nose against his jaw. She should know better, she should do better, but she is... not.
She's just here. With Otto. Enjoying the softness. Maybe she's a little more lonely than she's been letting on. ]
[ It's an involuntary sound as the heat of her breath on his skin, just a quick quiet hum. He's instantly embarrassed about it but doesn't do anything to try and cover it up. They're too intimately linked at the moment, it would be too obvious. ]
I was asking for our date.
[ She did promise him that, remember? ]
But... if you want to try now, I'd love to.
[ His head tips just a hint, bringing their faces closer a shade. Letting the warmth of his cheeks and his own breath touch her. ]
Which is... going to be interesting, if she still doesn't let him see her without the cowl. Will their date be something in costume? Does he want it to be a real one? Something with the both of them, as people, not as vigilantes? If that's the case, then Bryce really has to make a decision here.
These are her thoughts even as she presses a little closer, just a little and -- And then her lips press to Otto's in a kiss. Her hand moves down from his hair to curl against his cheek as she presses her mouth to him, sweet and gentle with her kiss. The cowl will poke at him slightly, still too firm for these kind of actions, but it's very clear -- she initiated the kiss. She kissed him.
And she's going to kiss him for a while, actually. ]
[ It's not totally unprecedented, to date with the masks. Peter had the Black Cat, after all. Peter even had dates in public with civilians whilst in full costume, because he might be a super genius but he's also stupid. If she does choose to keep her identity hidden, he'll not have a problem with it (yet. He may get impatient eventually because he's... Otto). He'll figure something out.
He's not entirely surprised when she kisses him, because he always assumes she wants to but some irrational insistence on not indulging stops her.
Amongst those many skills Otto has developed is kissing and he doesn't hesitate to apply his experience. Not too heated, not too deep. Keep it sweet, but not entirely chaste, a little like their embrace. Press his fingertips at her shoulders into the knots of tension. Move his other hand down just the smallest fraction. ]
[ He's not... totally off the mark because she definitely has a lot of frustration towards him that stems from that. She'd like to be able to just kiss him and not also want to punch him at the same time but that's a little harder to manage. Right now, she's not feeling too twitchy about it so hey, that's an improvement!
Because yeah, she's definitely going to keep kissing him. It stars veering a little from one kiss to you know, making out but she's going to ignore the little voice telling her to stop. Instead, she stays there, hand moving away from his cheek again to his neck as her other curls in the fabric of his lab coat and maybe the kiss becomes a little firmer. That's fine, it's fine.
So, yeah, not entirely chaste and it isn't all on Otto either. She definitely notices his hands but she's not shoving him off, so maybe that's a sign. After a bit, she will break the kiss to catch her breath a little, lingering right above his mouth and glad for the white lenses of her cowl so she doesn't have to make direct eye contact and, you know, give herself away entirely. ]
Don't talk.
[ And that's all she's going to say before she's pressing in for another kiss, firmer and definitely not chaste this time. ]
[ Proving Otto is exactly as stupid as he is smart, he was already taking a breath to say something when Bryce shuts that shit down with a kiss that is just as good as hearing his own voice.
In his Otto fashion, he can Ode to Joy in his mind. He had fuzzy formations of it from that sweet kiss that sadly ended, but the music is clear as if there's an orchestra of history's greatest musicians when she delivers a second.
She likes him! She really likes him!
He gets into the mood straight away, his hand no longer shy. Getting a full and firm grip of her ass, whilst the other loops at her shoulder. He tries to turn the experience into one of those sweeping, swooning affairs- but leans back rather than into her, still taking most of his weight on his tip-toes. Surrendering control to Bryce, showing the trust she'll hold him. She's already made it quite clear she's more comfortable calling the shots.
...And maybe this way it's more ingrained that it's her choice to be with him. ]
It's a little frustrating, maddening really, and she keeps trying to think herself out of it. But then she spends longer and longer moments with him and he gets under his skin like a plague and frustration overtakes her. It's getting more frustrating by the minute and the more time she fights it, the more intense the feelings return.
It makes situations like this, where he's being absolutely ridiculous, letting her dip him into the kiss catch her off guard. She ends up letting out a huff of laughter against his lips, not even that angry about the groping. She ends up breaking the kiss, holding him in the stupid dipping position for a moment with a hand in the middle of his back and the other curled against his neck.
Murmured against his mouth is a -- ]
You're ridiculous.
[ But it's fond, which is the worst part. She's going to move her hand then, curling it around his lapel and getting a good hold on it before she moves the other one, until she's tugging him back up by the front of his lab coat and leaning forward to press their fronts together as she keeps against his mouth. ]
And you're touching my butt.
[ Not a reprimand but kind of wry, like it's expected in an exasperated kind of way. She's not sure where she's leading from here, if she's going to keep kissing him like this or... what. She's not sure! She actually reached the end of her plan here!
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no subject
She doesn't reject him and in fact, it's when he slides his arms around her that she lifts her own to go around his shoulders. She stays there, chin dropping onto his shoulder as she leans forward a little to tuck her nose against his coat. Her fingers curl into the fabric of his lab coat and she stays there.
If someone breaks the hold, it'll have to be him. ]
I know.
[ She leans her head against him, cowl against his short hair. ]
You're not entirely bad like this.
[ Like this, alone and a little more human. Neither of them have chance of being caught by anyone else, just the two of them here with their guards a little down. She said no to him and she stills means it! But... the hug isn't so bad. It's kind of nice. Bryce is hugged so rarely, she might as well take it when she can. ]
no subject
High praise indeed.
[ He'll not be breaking them apart quickly, if doesn't have to. One arm moves lower, but he doesn't take advantage and go too far, stopping at the small of her back. Not only would playing grabass now damage his future plans... it'd just ruin the moment and he's enjoying the moment immensely. The other moves upwards, between her shoulder blades and moves in slow, gentle circles. ]
You, on the other hand, are wholly lovely like this.
[ Her suit may well be the furthest thing from huggable an outfit has ever been designed to be, but he can tough out some small discomfort for a taste of affection. If that is what this is. God, he hopes so. He knows he has her attraction, probably her respect. Her trust he knows he doesn't have. But affection... floats in the horrid position of unknown. ]
no subject
The compliment he pays her doesn't do much other than get a noise of acknowledgement from her. She's a little used to his comments and it's not like they're what's making her like him, after all.
There's a bit of movement from her though and that's because she's tugging off her gloves. Arms still around his shoulders, she just tugs lightly at the fingertips until one drops off, and then the other.
Bare fingertips now curl in the back of his short hair, holding onto him lightly as she stays just like this. There's no specific intention here, other than her just being kind of tired and going with it for a moment. ]
You think I'm lovely all the time, doesn't really hold any weight anymore, Otto.
[ So, affection? He may have a little bit. ]
no subject
[ He takes a breath when he feels her fingers scrape his scalp lightly, the thud of her gloves hitting the floor sending sparks of excitement through him that he has to contain. He can curb his red-blood for her comfort, he CAN, he knows he can.
His own hands move a little, simultaneously to the side. But before it seems he's letting go and give her chance to release him, they slide back. This time under her cape, rather than over it. The fingertips between her shoulder blades are a little more forceful, just a shade of that mastery of pressure he'd shown before but still not overtly erotic. Just... trying to ease the tension, the tiredness. ]
And you have appalling manners sometimes.
[ As he says it, they're still like compliments in tone. Flaws can be appealing. ]
...But even then you're lovely, so I suppose you've got me there.
no subject
When his hands move under her cape, she knows she's missed her window to break the hug naturally. She supposes that's alright, doesn't quite want to pull away yet. Otto is warm and broad and firm and she very clearly expressed interest when they were together the last time.
What she says next, might be a bit surprising to him but is definitely something she's been thinking about since she texted him earlier. ]
I'm sorry about your eye.
[ She felt guilty, she really did. ]
no subject
As close as she is, she'll feel as much as hear the sharp intake of breath when she apologises. That is a surprise and he can't hide it, pretend he knew it was coming. He wasn't thinking about the eye, the dull throbbing of it forgotten from the softness of their touch. ]
All is forgiven.
[ This is it, he thinks. He has to let go now. Otherwise, it's just so... mushy and not suave. ]
...Do you like to dance?
[ And that is him not letting go at all. ]
no subject
I'm not exactly dressed for it, Otto.
[ Said a little wryly, but her head turns towards him when she says it. There's hot breath on his skin and the nudge of the cowl nose against his jaw. She should know better, she should do better, but she is... not.
She's just here. With Otto. Enjoying the softness. Maybe she's a little more lonely than she's been letting on. ]
no subject
[ It's an involuntary sound as the heat of her breath on his skin, just a quick quiet hum. He's instantly embarrassed about it but doesn't do anything to try and cover it up. They're too intimately linked at the moment, it would be too obvious. ]
I was asking for our date.
[ She did promise him that, remember? ]
But... if you want to try now, I'd love to.
[ His head tips just a hint, bringing their faces closer a shade. Letting the warmth of his cheeks and his own breath touch her. ]
no subject
Which is... going to be interesting, if she still doesn't let him see her without the cowl. Will their date be something in costume? Does he want it to be a real one? Something with the both of them, as people, not as vigilantes? If that's the case, then Bryce really has to make a decision here.
These are her thoughts even as she presses a little closer, just a little and -- And then her lips press to Otto's in a kiss. Her hand moves down from his hair to curl against his cheek as she presses her mouth to him, sweet and gentle with her kiss. The cowl will poke at him slightly, still too firm for these kind of actions, but it's very clear -- she initiated the kiss. She kissed him.
And she's going to kiss him for a while, actually. ]
no subject
He's not entirely surprised when she kisses him, because he always assumes she wants to but some irrational insistence on not indulging stops her.
Amongst those many skills Otto has developed is kissing and he doesn't hesitate to apply his experience. Not too heated, not too deep. Keep it sweet, but not entirely chaste, a little like their embrace. Press his fingertips at her shoulders into the knots of tension. Move his other hand down just the smallest fraction. ]
no subject
Because yeah, she's definitely going to keep kissing him. It stars veering a little from one kiss to you know, making out but she's going to ignore the little voice telling her to stop. Instead, she stays there, hand moving away from his cheek again to his neck as her other curls in the fabric of his lab coat and maybe the kiss becomes a little firmer. That's fine, it's fine.
So, yeah, not entirely chaste and it isn't all on Otto either. She definitely notices his hands but she's not shoving him off, so maybe that's a sign. After a bit, she will break the kiss to catch her breath a little, lingering right above his mouth and glad for the white lenses of her cowl so she doesn't have to make direct eye contact and, you know, give herself away entirely. ]
Don't talk.
[ And that's all she's going to say before she's pressing in for another kiss, firmer and definitely not chaste this time. ]
no subject
In his Otto fashion, he can Ode to Joy in his mind. He had fuzzy formations of it from that sweet kiss that sadly ended, but the music is clear as if there's an orchestra of history's greatest musicians when she delivers a second.
She likes him! She really likes him!
He gets into the mood straight away, his hand no longer shy. Getting a full and firm grip of her ass, whilst the other loops at her shoulder. He tries to turn the experience into one of those sweeping, swooning affairs- but leans back rather than into her, still taking most of his weight on his tip-toes. Surrendering control to Bryce, showing the trust she'll hold him. She's already made it quite clear she's more comfortable calling the shots.
...And maybe this way it's more ingrained that it's her choice to be with him. ]
no subject
She really likes him.
It's a little frustrating, maddening really, and she keeps trying to think herself out of it. But then she spends longer and longer moments with him and he gets under his skin like a plague and frustration overtakes her. It's getting more frustrating by the minute and the more time she fights it, the more intense the feelings return.
It makes situations like this, where he's being absolutely ridiculous, letting her dip him into the kiss catch her off guard. She ends up letting out a huff of laughter against his lips, not even that angry about the groping. She ends up breaking the kiss, holding him in the stupid dipping position for a moment with a hand in the middle of his back and the other curled against his neck.
Murmured against his mouth is a -- ]
You're ridiculous.
[ But it's fond, which is the worst part. She's going to move her hand then, curling it around his lapel and getting a good hold on it before she moves the other one, until she's tugging him back up by the front of his lab coat and leaning forward to press their fronts together as she keeps against his mouth. ]
And you're touching my butt.
[ Not a reprimand but kind of wry, like it's expected in an exasperated kind of way. She's not sure where she's leading from here, if she's going to keep kissing him like this or... what. She's not sure! She actually reached the end of her plan here!
Oh god, what if they have sex again?
(Not an entirely unappealing outcome now.) ]