museboxingring | (no subject)

[Ironically, she wasn't kidding about that last remark. Mostly not kidding. She didn't think he would have one on hand and hand it to her.

She couldn't believe she was letting him do this. It was actually becoming a little much now. She felt...itchy. Her shoulder was itchy. She knew what that meant, this wasn't good. It was just like with Trent, wasn't it?

She continued to play it completely cool. She caught the bullet and sure enough, "Daria", in scratchy handwriting.]

Well I'll be, sure as hell. Good to know you don't disappoint. I just hope your flattery department doesn't take over the emergency department.

Unless you plan on making another one in case you still need to do the deed.

[She DID just say she hoped the flattery wouldn't go to her head earlier. She felt feverish, but she knew why that was. Not like she was telling him.]

[ This is a man who deals in death. Always has, and always will be. It's a job for him, so for him to talk about bullets and blood and handling all those gorey gristly things are no problem for him. He's used to not having people around.

And yet. ]

Get over here.

[ Erron gestures with his bandaged hand. He really doesn't want to not have Daria around, which is really strange for him. ]

I ain't gonna shoot you.

[So why the bullet then? Don't tell her that the bullet was something sentimental. When was the rough edged cowboy sentimental. When was she?

Really, she expected him to say something else. Not sure what, but maybe not that. Well, maybe she hoped he wouldn't shoot her for real, sure. But maybe shrug it off and not pay her somewhat grisly remarks with too much mind.

When he gestured, she obeyed it. Albeit, a little wary. Not that she didn't trust the brutal mercenary, oh no. She just wasn't sure.

She followed his lead so far in this weird place. Besides, she wanted to know where he was going with a statement like that. Why did she want to know?]

Not even if I became a zombie.

You run your mouth as bad as I do.

[ He paused. ]

That's rare.

[ Erron's just gonna reach out and put his arm around her neck and pull her close. ]

I like that.

[ He's going to crane his neck up to try and kiss her. Try being the operative word here. ]

[No. No. No. Bad, this was bad. This was a bad idea.

Daria, dammit, how could you have been so stupid? What in the HELL are you going to do? You made this happen, so FIX it!

She shouldn't let him do this. She should push him away. This was horrifying. Yet she stood still, she remained where she was. Her face was in some shock but she didn't move. She couldn't move.

Erron was everything she couldn't stand for, almost. She liked him anyway. It was her fault, from the very start. She actually now wished for some assassin or some thug to come along and change the whole tune. She wished for anything, anything to prevent her from standing there.

To stop her from reaching up with her chin to kiss.]

[ Oh good, she didn't kick him in the nuts. That would have hurt if she did because it would mean that it was another failed attempt at hitting on someone.

Well, he's glad to know that he hasn't lost his touch despite not really pursuing anyone for the best part of a few years.

It was encouraging when she kissed back because he could feel his ego swelling. Boom. He was good, oh yeah.

When he can finally bring himself to pull away, his arms slid from around Daria's neck to her waist. ]

Well, that was good.

[In about a few hours from now, she was going to feel the repercussions of what she did. She hardly believed he did it, and she did it too.

The only one she would ever tell would be Jane. Jane would call her crazy. Then Daria would show her the bullet, and call her crazier.

She wasn't sure if she should love it and relish in the fact that she...might have been attracted to an egotistical gunslinger outlaw. Feel guilty she had a thing for an egotistical gunslinger outlaw in the first place. Feel afraid how having a thing for an egotistical gunslinger outlaw would bite her in the ass later.

Or kick him in the nuts, that option was still there.

This...was awkward. What did this mean now? Was this sincere of either of them? What did he think of her now? A sucker? Someone to bloat his own ego some more? Some stupid girl who was supposed to be smarter than that and just got completely suckered in to some suave tactic.

She felt weird, and she was going to feel weirder later. She had no clue what to do.]

Uhm, yeah...it was.

[Maybe it felt good this very second. Maybe.]

You wanna do it again?

[ It was part ego. Part he liked Daria. Part he enjoyed thrills and doing shit for kicks. Because despite living for over a hundred years at this point, it gets boring. Things to spice up his life always go down well, and girls tend to be good for that. But it wasn't just that Daria was some girl, she had a great wit and humour which made it all the more appealing that he did this. Because he knows she's smart, so let's see whether he can unpick any other things from her.

All the while, he's making sure that his nuts are... untouched because he quite likes them and he's seen what Cassie Cage has done before. ]

[He actually wanted to do it again?]

We're...already completely out of our minds.

[She actually wanted to do it again.]

[ Erron shrugged. ]

Never stopped me doing shit.

[ He's just gonna lean in again, his arm supporting her back and a half grin on his face. ]

[Daria was pretty short in comparison, at five feet and two inches. Six and a half sized shoes. So she literally felt tiny in comparison to Erron, surely she was of no problem here.

Clearly not, cowboy.]

Can't knock what's made you live over a hundred years. You could write a memoir.

[It was a bit easier this time, for some reason. She leaned a little bit herself; as much as she could with the support.]

[ Erron wasn't really expecting their trip to Outworld to end up like this but eh. It could be worse. Kissing Daria wasn't bad, it felt great and she didn't kick him in the balls either, which he was over the moon about.

When he pulls away again because damn this need to breathe, he brushes away some of the hair from his face with his free hand. ]

How'd you rate kissing a cowboy?

[Oh, don't knock kicking in the balls completely gone yet. It probably wouldn't happen but she would be ashamed if you let your guard down.]

If I answer that, all the other cowboys I kissed might be mad at me.

[Again, kidding. She was actually a rather honest person, finally now thinking of how to answer that.]

I don't know; never actually kissed someone like this before.

... I didn't take your first damn kiss, did I?

[ That's a terrifying thought, and he still didn't have it in him to let go of Daria's waist just yet. ]

...Is that a problem?

[Daria seriously stared at him.]

[ And Erron stares back, not sure what to say for once. ]

[Whoa, don't tell her he actually cared about stuff like that. That maybe she cared that he cared.

She cared a little, only because she knew this was a complete disaster and wouldn't maybe even last long. She wanted to kiss Trent before, but she never did. Especially since she knew a relationship with him would go nowhere.

But in hindsight, did she care that much? No, not at all. Erron became dead silent, and she should say...something, should she?]

If you think I would care that much about precious first kisses, I might actually be a normal member of the female human race.

Or, dare say, sappy like my sister.

[ Girls man. You never know what to do with them. But that does get Erron a little tongue tied still.

This doesn't change the fact that Erron is a walking disaster and there should be some level of sympathy for anyone who gets caught up in it. Especially this way. ]

Okay... as long as you ain't going to give me shit about it in the future.

[ Man he doesn't want that kind of responsibility placed on him.

It'll pass though, if she's okay with it. ]

[He...really did care. He honestly cared about it. It actually warmed her cold, bitter heart. Even if he cared about it affecting him, it still meant he took this pretty seriously.

They both knew the line they crossed and they both were going to have to deal with it. But dealing with it with Erron wasn't so bad.

At the very least, she now knew they were kinda on the same page. They didn't want to be pegged down by any of this. Daria didn't submit to anyone's will, but she could agree to terms if she deemed them good to follow.]

I won't.

Besides, I meant what I sorta said.

It was nice. I don't want to ruin the fun all of the time, you know. We both took the bullet, figuratively. I'm willing to take as much responsibility for it.

[ He exhales and lets go of her. Mainly because he needs a moment to catch his breath and look away and not think about kissing her again because that was too fun.

Erron looks around, and picks up a small leather flask from the ground. He opens it and takes a deep breath of the smell of strong alcoholic spirits and takes a gulp. The fire of it steadied his nerves and it was good.

This was one hell of a trip back. ]

[And now he was drinking. Daria had no idea what to think now. Was this a complete disaster or a complete disaster? Could they have some good come of this? Or will they never speak of it again? Were they still friends? Were they some screwed up exclusive thing that could screw up their friendship later? Something she wouldn't dare tell her parents and he wouldn't dare tell the Emperor.

Oh okay, so all of those repercussions were coming up. They did the thing now they have to deal, or else.]

What happens now?

[If he wouldn't ask it then she will.]

[ Just give Erron a moment as he takes a deep breath. ]

You want a sip?

[ Watch this man effortlessly try and skirt responsibility or culpability or anything as he holds out the flask, propriety be damned. ]

[He was avoiding the question. Either because he was in denial anything would change and affect him or because he was too stumped to deal with it right now.

It wasn't an easy thing for Daria either, and to be frank, she was a bit disappointed that he wasn't putting up a finger to make any sort of point about it.

She was trying, and she really hoped Erron would too. At least say something about it so she could figure something out.

Maybe Erron didn't feel the same way but she would like to speak with him somewhat normally and not be awkward and distant for the rest of whatever the heck kind of relationship this was. She could only assume he felt differently, because he really wasn't talking about it.

She held up a hand.]

No thanks, all yours, cowboy. My family might actually ask questions if I came home with anything other than disinterest on my face.

[She looked at him though. Did you have anything to say?]

I enjoyed that. Did you?

[ he says as he closes the flask and dumps it back on the ground. ]

I could go back to kissin' ya if it didn't freak you out. I ain't a... touchyfeely guy but I can bend a bit.

[Oh. Well. That was surely an answer.

Daria stood a little closer, if only so communication could be a little better.]

Look, it's just like with the med kit. I know you have a certain set of morals different from mine. It comes with the territory. My greatest concerns for the moment are being able to get out of bed and stay sane after listening to my sister every day.

You are a hardened mercenary who has to live off how large your body count is and hope your employer isn't cranky enough that you have extra work to do. We're from two different worlds and I don't want you to feel like you have to bend anything because we're different.

I get it, I understand.

It might be hard to believe but I honestly just want you comfortable around me. I trust you and I honestly can't imagine Erron Black to be any less of an egotistical ass.

[Daria was always honest with her feelings, no matter how blunt they were.]