Liam's Shuttle, Fandom and then beyond, Tuesday Evening

[firstofitskind]

So this time last year, Liam and Verity had woken up together for the first time. Yeah, much like this past weekend, it had been after being small children for a few days. But they'd decided that since that first weekend had involved sharing (toy) weaponry, then the morning after ought to count as far as anniversaries went.

Look, it made sense to them, just go with it.

A few months ago, Liam had promised Verity both flying lessons and a look at the Northern Lights, and tonight seemed like the perfect opportunity to make good on that promise, and so he'd worked out a flight plan to guide her through and packed a picnic dinner for when they got to their destination. Now all he needed was, well. Verity herself.

[ooc: for the giiiirl.]

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[firstofitskind]

"Personally, I'd say it comes in second," Liam grinned at Verity. "But... it is pretty cool."

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity glanced at him and grinned, then looked back up at the sky, cuddling closer to Liam as she did so. "I just - I'm happy," she said abruptly. "Not, like, came-in-first-on-Dance-or-Die happy or got-a-steady-dance-gig happy, but still...happy. Being with you is pretty close to best-tango-dancer-ever levels of happy."

[firstofitskind]

"I'm glad," Liam said softly. "This past year has been- well, 'interesting' is a good word for it. Weird, and wonderful... terrifying, at times, to be entirely honest. But through it all, there's you, and when I'm with you, everything just seems right."

[arboreal_priestess]

"Yeah," Verity said, resting her head against him. "You met my family and a dragon and didn't run from either! Good job." Her hand found his and squeezed. "I'm not a hundred percent sure what I'm doing, but so far, it seems to be working."

Then, more quietly, "We're working."

[firstofitskind]

Liam pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Does anyone really know what they’re doing, a hundred percent of the time?” he wondered.

[arboreal_priestess]

"God I hope not," Verity said with a soft chuckle. "The idea that we're all just faking it is what gives me hope."

Since they were at their destination, Verity reached for her bag, pulling out his anniversary present: a wrapped brace of throwing knives, in a leather brace that could easily fit around his calf or bicep.

[firstofitskind]

Liam's eyes lit up as he accepted and unwrapped the present; exchanging gifts was one of those things that he'd experienced infrequently enough that it still brought about a sort of childish joy.

"These are great," he said enthusiastically, taking one of the knives out of the brace and testing the weight.

[arboreal_priestess]

There were five knives in the brace, and while they were all the same size and shape, the middle three were clearly older; still in excellent condition and wickedly sharp, but worn from years of use.

"These three were from my first brace," Verity said, soft and a little shy. "When we were still learning from the Amazing Christopher. I've lost the others over the years, but these three stayed with me."

And now they were his.

[firstofitskind]

"Oh," Liam said, his own voice soft as he listened to Verity's explanation. "That's- thank you," he added, warmth blossoming in his chest. This was something from her past that she was entrusting to him, after all.

"Here," he added, handing her a wrapped package about the size of a small shoebox. Inside, she'd find a beam pistol much like his own.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I figure this doesn't count as losing them," Verity said, leaning in to claim another kiss before opening the gift he'd given her. "After all, they'll be right there with me as long as you are...oh, Liam."

Was it weird she was hugging the pistol? Probably a little weird. But she was doing it carefully.

[firstofitskind]

"They're not lost if you know where they are," Liam agreed, trying and failing to hide a grin at the sight of her hugging the pistol. It was a little weird, yeah, but it was also one-hundred-percent Verity.

[arboreal_priestess]

"As soon as we get back to the island, I'm taking it to the range to get a feel for how it fires," she said, cradling it gently in her arms.

[firstofitskind]

"I expected nothing less," Liam said, laughing. "The biggest thing to remember is there's no recoil."

[arboreal_priestess]

"So instead of going up, my arms are going to slam down because I trying to compensate for something that doesn't exist." She winked at him. "You gonna do that thing in the movies where you stand behind me and help me shoot?"

[firstofitskind]

"If you want," Liam grinned cheekily back at her.

[arboreal_priestess]

"When don't I want you pressed up against me?" Verity asked, giving him a wink.

[firstofitskind]

"Mmm, good point," Liam said. "Although... you know what the problem with that scenario is, don't you?"

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity shook her head. "I'm offended at the idea that my scenario could even have a problem," she declared loftily.

[firstofitskind]

"Well," Liam said slowly, drawing out the word. "Like you said, I'd be pressed up against you... and with you in my arms like that, I might get..." he reached out, fingers of one hand lightly tracing the line of her jaw. "Distracted."

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity shivered, goosebumps raising along her arms. She tilted her head a bit to catch a finger, drawing it into her mouth. Her tongue flicked over his skin before letting it slide out. "Go on..." she invited.

[firstofitskind]

There was a sharp intake of breath before Liam continued.

"It would start innocently enough, I'm sure," he said. "Maybe just a quick kiss or two, at the nape of your neck..."

[arboreal_priestess]

"I'm sure that'll be fine," Verity insisted, dropping her head down in wordless invitation. "I can handle a bit of light kisses, even on the back of my neck."

[firstofitskind]

"It's not you I'm worried about," Liam said, before leaning down to take her up on that invitation. "But then, of course, my hands would start to wander," and wander they did, sliding up to cup her breasts through the fabric of her dress.

[arboreal_priestess]

"That would be a lot harder to ignore," Verity agreed, voice suddenly gone a little thick. She sighed softly and leaned back, enjoying the view, Liam's hands on her chest, and his voice in her ear all at once. "You're good with your hands."

[firstofitskind]

"I just wouldn't want to do anything that would result in us not being allowed back, is all," Liam said, this time leaning down to press a kiss to her shoulder.