InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It was NEVER that big."

Johanna Svensson (wintergrown) wrote in morningstar_mnr,
@ 2008-03-08 16:46:00

Current mood:	chipper
Entry tags:	jack, johanna

OG: Saturday Night; Jo and Jack's date
Oversized slices of New York style pizza, a pitcher of frothy beer, and a basket of freshly-baked breadsticks, served in the casual atmosphere of a family-owned Italian restaurant. Not the high dining experience, perhaps, but it was just Johanna's speed. Had it been some hoity-toity establishment, she would have been intimidated. Here it was relaxed, unpretentious, and she wasn't afraid to be herself.

She was dressed in a deep red, long sleeved tunic that hugged her body, topped with a dark sash that fell low on her hips, dark jeans, and boots. She'd only spent an hour frantically digging through her closet before she'd settled on that particular get-up. Once again she'd taken the time to painstakingly do her hair, which fell to her shoulders in loose, lush ringlets. Tonight, she felt pretty, which helped with her confidence, but didn't entirely quell the butterflies.

"You have no idea how long I've been craving pizza," she said, leaning across the booth and smiling at Jack. "Not like Pizza Hut or Dominos. I mean, like good pizza. This--" She paused as she served herself a second piece. "--is good pizza. Thanks for suggesting this place."

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mm_kel
2008-03-10 08:54 pm UTC (link)

Jack grinned.

"You're very welcome," he said, picking a pepperoni off the top of his piece and popping it in his mouth.

He'd dressed in dark blue jeans (no tears in these), boots, a white button down and at Nick's suggestion had borrowed a jacket from Charlie. Classy casual he was and for once didn't look like he had an empty pocket book. Of course thanks to Nick he didn't at the moment but he was still watching how much he spent.

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	wintergrown 2008-03-11 12:23 am UTC (link)
	She took a little bite and chewed slowly and happily before again speaking. "So tell me more about your band," she said, talking over the clinking of various utensils and the chatter of the other patrons. "I'm really curious." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-11 07:36 pm UTC (link)
	Jack grinned. This he loved talking about. "We decided on a name. Arcane. Pretty cool I think. Deacon sounds sorta like the guy from Nickelback - only like ten times hotter. The girls will be swooning. Hell so will the guys for that matter." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	wintergrown 2008-03-11 08:22 pm UTC (link)
	"Seems like a prerequisite. You have to be hot to be in the band, huh?" She averted her eyes, but her lips curved flirtatiously. "If you guys ever need a test audience, while you're practicing, I'd love to check you out." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-11 10:39 pm UTC (link)
	"Anytime," he said. "You're welcome to come along. Might not be all that fun cuz half the time we're just talking about what we want to do, stopping in the middle of songs to discuss a change and things like that, though." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	wintergrown 2008-03-11 11:03 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, I don't mind. I'd still get to hear what you're like." She smiled. "Arcane - that's a cool name. I like it. So, how did you guys get started as a band? You were already friends, or…?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

mm_kel
2008-03-11 11:21 pm UTC (link)

Jack nodded as he chewed and took a sip of soda once he'd swallowed.

"Nick started it," he said. "Nick and I've worked together at the Manor for a while. We're close." Very but then she didn't need to know that. "Deacon - well everyone knows Deacon. He was the Manor playboy until he finally settled down. And Zack is best friends with Seth, Nick's boyfriend. So it all kinda came about that way. Nick plays drums, see. Used to roadie and stuff years ago. He's always thought about starting a band and the opportunity came up and here we are."

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	wintergrown 2008-03-11 11:34 pm UTC (link)
	"Wait, Deacon is with Charlie, right? Weird. Morningstar is like a small town. Everyone's connected." She shook her head, then clarified. "I just applied to work at Charlie's gallery. Turned the application in today, in fact. I should have a job interview with him some point soon. Coincidental, huh?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-12 12:13 am UTC (link)
	"No shit really? Cool. Yeah Deacon's with Charlie. We're one big happy family." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

wintergrown
2008-03-12 04:22 am UTC (link)

"I hope I get the job. I'd love to learn about art, and to be honest, I need something to do. Most days I'm bored out of my freakin' mind. I'm hopefully going to school in the fall, but until then I want to do something productive." She gave a little shrug. "And Charlie seems really nice."

Then something occurred to her - Charlie's with Deacon. The drummer, Nick, was with someone called Seth. That meant that half the band, at least, was gay. That didn't bother her, but then she remembered a couple of Jack's comments that now struck her as unusual. "Deacon is ten times hotter than Nickelback," and "Guys will be swooning." Well, if his good friends were homosexual, that wouldn't be an unusual thing to say, would it? Still, she felt a tiny prickle of doubt.

"So, um... in the band... are you like the token straight guy?" It didn't come out quite as casually as she'd intended.

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mm_kel
2008-03-12 01:45 pm UTC (link)

Jack took a sip of his beer to give himself time to think of how to answer that. Honesty was probably best. If she lived in the Manor there was no way she could go for long without some guy mentioning Jack. Or a ghost, even.

"The only one of the band that's really, totally gay is Zack," he said. The rest of us keep our options open I guess you could say. Or used to, Deacon and Nick have partners. And I lean more towards women most of the time. But..." He shrugged. "I'm very open minded."

And there ya go, she'll run off now.

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	wintergrown 2008-03-12 04:57 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh." It took her a moment to recover. She'd never encountered this particular situation, and wasn't entirely prepared for it. Blame her native Cordova, population 2,524. "I really wasn't far off when I called you James Dean, was I?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-12 05:31 pm UTC (link)
	"Not really," Jack admitted with a chuckle, then sobered a bit. "Is, um, that a problem?" he asked and there was a hint of honest worry in his eyes. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	wintergrown 2008-03-12 06:26 pm UTC (link)
	"No, it's not a problem," she said softly. He was on a date with her, after all. That said something, didn't it? She scratched her arm distractedly, then glanced back at him with a faint smile. "I'm not a complete prude, you know." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-12 06:54 pm UTC (link)
	"Didn't think you were," he said, smiling softly at her. "Right, let's get this pizza finished off and hit the club. I'm in the mood for drinks and dancing." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	wintergrown 2008-03-12 07:24 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, me too." She balled up her napkin and tossed it next to her plate. "Where did you have in mind?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-12 07:28 pm UTC (link)
	"Well there's this nice place close called The Flamingo Lounge. Owner lives in the Manor so treats Manorites well. Not to loud or overcrowded and good drinks." Jack caught the waiter's eye and paid for the meal then took a final drink and stood, moving to pull Jo's chair out for her. "Could go there? Unless you're wanting something louder of course." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	wintergrown 2008-03-12 07:49 pm UTC (link)
	"Listen, on my twenty-first birthday a few friends and I drove to Anchorage to go clubbing. And Juneau has a few cool places to party, but that's my only real experience. I have a feeling that clubs here are a little different. So, I'll trust your judgment." She stood and nudged him gently with an elbow. "But go easy on me." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-12 09:12 pm UTC (link)
	"Flamingo Lounge then," he said and held out his arm for her. "To start with anyway. We'll work you up to the big ones over time." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

wintergrown
2008-03-13 06:55 am UTC (link)

Jo took his arm and followed him out. Once on the side-walk, she allowed herself to become preoccupied with his sexuality. She didn't nessearily hold his bisexuality against him. She wasn't exactly sure how she felt, other than curious. Her head was whirling with thoughts and questions, most of which were too personal consider asking.

Still, she couldn't let it go.

"So, since you're bisexual, er -- open minded -- if were looking for something meaningless, like a one night stand, or whatever, would you seek out men or women?" She was trying to speak conversationally but was failing miserably. "Men would be easier, right? I mean, guys can have sex and have it mean absolutely nothing. Women would be more difficult."

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mm_kel
2008-03-13 02:03 pm UTC (link)

Jack glanced at her but he was not bashful when it came to discussing sex.

"Both actually," he said. "You'd be surprised at the number of women that have no problem with casual sex. So long as you're safe, use condoms, etc etc. There's clubs - one in particular - that pretty much has a whole back room just for quickies. And it's got just as many women as men using it."

He fell silent for a moment then stopped and turned to look at her.

"This isn't a one night stand," he assured her. "In all honesty this is the first real date I've been on in years. And because I can see your mind working - if you have any questions about my 'open mindedness' just ask." He smiled. "I'm not shy."

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wintergrown
2008-03-13 06:12 pm UTC (link)

"I don't think this is a one night stand. One night stand would imply that we’re having sex."

She nudged him and winked playfully.

"Okay, so what do you do with men?" She blushed and found it difficult to make eye contact. "I mean, do you--" Just do oral. "--or, um," Go all the way. "And..." Are you a top or a bottom, or both? She looked mortified. "Yikes. Nevermind. Forget it."

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	mm_kel 2008-03-13 06:54 pm UTC (link)
	Jack laughed and they continued walking. "What do I do with men," he mused, still grinning, then smirked. "The short answer... Everything." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	wintergrown 2008-03-13 06:59 pm UTC (link)
	"Everything?" Well, that certainly answered all of her questions. "I'm not grossed out, or anything. Not at all. Actually, I'm... I'm... I guess 'intrigued' is the best word." She smiled awkwardly. "I can have a dirty mind sometimes. Like I said, I'm not a complete prude." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-13 09:12 pm UTC (link)
	Jack smirked. "I know plenty of women who find the thought of two men very erotic," he said then leaned close to whisper in her ear, voice low and slightly rough. "Do you find that thought erotic?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	wintergrown 2008-03-13 09:27 pm UTC (link)
	"Heh..." She couldn't help clamming up a little. "Um, maybe a little." She could feel his breath aginast her neck, and faintly smell him. It was dark, masculine smell, whether cologne or just him, she wasn't certain, but it made her short of breath. She turned her head slightly and their noses touched. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2008-03-14 12:55 pm UTC (link)
	She smelled soft and warm and sweet and Jack smiled, studying her face as best he could from this close and then tilted his head a bit and brushed his lips across hers. "I'll keep that in mind," he said, then continued to lead her on down the street. "There it is, just down there." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

wintergrown
2008-03-15 04:31 am UTC (link)

"Jack, wait," Jo said suddenly. She grabbed his hand and tugged him gently back to her. She didn't have anything to say, but she did have something she needed to get out of her system. They'd had the opportunity to kiss on several occasions, but it never quite happened. Her hesitancy was usually to blame, but now it seemed she was over her reservations. A kiss was just a kiss, after all, and that last teasing brush of his lips was too much to bear. Jack seemed to ooze sex. He pushed her buttons. He was everything that was bad, and naughty, and forbidden. Kissing him didn't mean that she was going to lose her self-control, she reminded herself. No, she had a grip on her hormones. She'd resolve to keep her legs crossed until she was sure.

But now, right now, she wanted to kiss. Right there on the sidewalk.

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	mm_kel 2008-03-15 06:30 pm UTC (link)
	Jack studied her eyes for a minute and then smiled softly. Ignoring the people walking around them he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him. One hand raised to slide into her hair, cupping the back of her head, and he leaned down. This time it wasn't just a brush of lips. It was a slow and very thorough kiss. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

wintergrown
2008-03-15 09:43 pm UTC (link)

Jo melted into the kiss, a tingling warmth flooding through her. She tilted her head obligingly and pressed even more firmly against him, her hips resting just below his. Dizzy with the moment, and completely entranced by his lips and tongue, she seemed to lose touch with reality. She couldn't recall ever being kissed like that, and when it ended, she couldn't prevent a dopey smile loping onto her face.

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	mm_kel 2008-03-18 02:06 pm UTC (link)
	Jack smiled back, dark eyes even darker. When was the last time he'd had a kiss like that? Soft and innocent and with no pretense? He couldn't remember. "C'mon," he said, taking her hand and heading for the bar again. "We have drinks and dancing waiting for us." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	wintergrown 2008-03-18 07:38 pm UTC (link)
	"Lead on, Sailor," she said, interlacing her fingers with his. Overall, it was everything a good first date should be. Flirtatious. Informative. Maybe a little awkward at times, but a pleasure nonetheless. It was clear, to Johanna at least, that it was the first of many to come. (Reply to this) (Parent)