MHA #6, Friday Evening

[firstofitskind]

It had taken a ridiculously long time to get from the causeway back to Verity's apartment. Mostly because Liam was... let's just say the combination of 'easily distracted' and 'uncoordinated' was working against him in that respect. And Verity's apartment wasn't even that far from the causeway, all things considered.

But they made it, finally, stumbling in through the doorway. Or Liam stumbled, and Verity just patiently guided him towards the couch.

"We're here already?" he exclaimed, surprised. Apparently, it hadn't seemed like such a 'ridiculously long time' to him.

[ooc: for she what's named in the post! also warning for uh. side-effects of drug use? sort of?]

Comments

[firstofitskind]

"Of course!" Liam said, giving Verity a wide-eyed affronted look. "I am very trustworthy. You even said so!"

Being trustworthy in general and being trustworthy in this specific instance were two entirely separate things.

[arboreal_priestess]

"You're more trustworthy when I can't distract you by dangling water droplets off my fingers," Verity said, pulling out her phone and calling the diner.

[firstofitskind]

And Liam had no reply to that because he was too busy watching the timer on the microwave count down with single-minded determination.

[arboreal_priestess]

So long as the bag didn't spontaneously combust before the countdown hit zero, they'd be in business.

"--hang on, let me check." Verity moved the phone to ask Liam, "So they can't do your sinigang right now, but they can whip up pozole instead? Pork soup with hominy? Spicy and sour?"

[firstofitskind]

"Sounds super," Liam replied, which just set him off on a round of giggles again.

Oh, hey, the popcorn had stopped popping! Look at him taking the successfully non-burned popcorn out of the microwave, Verity. Totally trustworthy.

[arboreal_priestess]

He would get a kiss for his trustworthiness right after she--

"...Wait, was that a soup pun?" she demanded. "So help me, Liam, if that was a soup pun, I'm telling the mice you've been hoarding cake."

[firstofitskind]

It was totally a soup pun. An unintended one, but one all the same.

"You wouldn't," he said, giving her a wide-eyed look of shock.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Try me," Verity said, before finishing up the order with the diner.

How much did she like it that he recognized the severity of that threat?

A whole stupid lot.

[firstofitskind]

“I didn’t mean to?” he tried. Indeed, there had been a significant pause between his statement and the resulting gigglefit.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Better not have," she said, leaning in to kiss him to show she wasn't really mad. "Anyway, we're getting burgers, onion rings, fries, milkshakes, pozole, and sundaes delivered in about 90 minutes. Let's grab that popcorn and go watch a movie?"

[firstofitskind]

“‘Kay,” Liam mumbled in to that kiss. “C’n I ask you something?” he wondered, as he grabbed the popcorn and began making his way over to the couch.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Sure," Verity said, automatically reaching for his for the short trip to the couch.

Shh. She just liked holding his hand.

[firstofitskind]

That worked out nicely, because so did he.

"Sarah calls you 'Very' sometimes," he said, super-casually, as he flopped down on the couch and pulled her with him.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Yeah," Verity said with a nod, slinging her legs over his lap and resting the popcorn bowl in hers. Mice appeared from nowhere, inching towards the scent of salty, buttery goodness. "Most of my family does."

[firstofitskind]

"I like the way it sounds," Liam admitted. "I like your full name, too, but- I was just wondering if, um, it'd be okay if I did too? Sometimes, maybe."

[arboreal_priestess]

Liam was the fucking cutest. Honestly.

"Hmmm," Verity said, considering him like this was actually something she had to debate. "Are you ever going to call me Very-Very-Quite-Contrary?"

[firstofitskind]

Hey, all he knew was some people considered nicknames Extremely Serious Business.

"Iunno," he said. "Are you?"

[arboreal_priestess]

"Sometimes," Verity admitted because, hey, self-knowledge was important. "Not actually relevant to the question, though."

[firstofitskind]

"If it bothers you? Nope," Liam said, shaking his head. "I would not."

[arboreal_priestess]

"Well, you'd be doing a semi-decent impression of Antimony and that's not a good look on anybody," Verity said, leaning over to give him a salty kiss. "But sure. I think we're close enough for you to call me Very if you want to. My favorites generally do."

[firstofitskind]

Liam felt a warm wave of happiness crash in to him at hearing the words ‘my favorites’, like the way a sip of good whiskey burned pleasantly as it went down. His hand fumbled for hers again, palm flat and fingers splayed; sex (or a Joining) may be off the table tonight, but maybe Sharing would be okay? He just... wanted Verity to know how good she made him feel, and this seemed like the easiest way.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity pressed her palm to his and was immediately awash with warmth and fuzzy feelings. In the first few seconds, it was hard to sort through what was what: her feelings, his feelings, what each emotion was. She was still new at Sharing and it wasn't like Sarah's or Grandma Baker's telepathy.

All she knew was that she was afloat in care and fondness and it felt really good.

[firstofitskind]

Liam slowly curled his fingers down until they twined with hers, gently breaking the connection.

“S’what it’s like,” he said, with a soft smile. “See?”

[arboreal_priestess]

"I like it," Verity breathed. "It's...comforting. Does it always have to be palm to palm?"

[firstofitskind]

Liam nodded. “Energy flow,” he explained, or tried to. “Goes out from the core. Through shaqarava, the conduit.”