InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "EXTERMINATE!"

Lillie (darkeninglight) wrote in oceancove,
@ 2011-06-01 20:20:00

Entry tags:

c: joseph carlisle, c: lillie

Who: Lillie and Joseph Carlisle.
What: Joseph comes to Lillie's apartment for the first time.
When: Right after this thread.
Where: Lillie's apartment.
Rating: R / likely not safe for work.
Status: In-progress

The question hadn't been whether or not they'd make it the distance to her apartment, but rather when they would do it. Even though she was beyond pleased about the notion of Joseph being able to spend the night (actually stay, fall asleep, all of those things), the hardest part had been convincing herself to disentangle from his arms and get herself dressed again. Lillie had to bite back a smile at his tousled hair and the hopeless mess they'd made of his room, the wrinkled pages that had been everywhere when they finally found the means to leave. She'd offered to help him collect them, but he'd insisted it could wait.

There were still several hours of nighttime and darkness left when Lillie led the way across several blocks, to the apartment buildings that she called home. For awhile it hadn't been a question of comfort, just of getting by, but in the Cove she had been able to find something suited to her tastes, and she hadn't been about to pass it by. She didn't need a dozen rooms, but the apartment had two bedrooms and more than enough space for another person to live, should they not be opposed to sleeping on a sofa or in a more open room.

Lillie didn't have to detach her fingers from Joseph's to open the door, something that she was glad of. Her keys had been in her hand about a block away from her apartment, and she let them through the double doors and into the entryway. The elevator was around the corner and to the left, and from there it was a quick ride to one of the upper floors. Whether she was conscious of it or not, she hadn't let go of his hand since they'd left the bed and breakfast. Even when Mrs. Jones had fixed them both with a stern, wizened gaze as they left, Lillie hadn't dropped her fingers from his grasp. Instead she'd stifled a giggle with a turn of her head and managed to give a polite, pleasant smile when they stepped outside.

Now, though, there was no one to listen in on them. Neighbors were discreet, and even in that case no one would hear them. They had a relative amount of privacy.

"Do you want the grand tour?" Her voice was amused as she opened the door, looking over her shoulder to his face while she let them both inside. The apartment had definitely become her home, save for the vacant and spare bedroom which was decorated in relatively conservative tones. Her own bedroom was directly across from the front door and the open living area, the door slightly open. To the left was the kitchen and dining area, and a comfortable sofa across from a flat panel television set. Books were lined in stately rows across four book cases, with statues and other trinkets decorating here and there. The apartment most certainly had her touch.

"And here, just put your things anywhere you want. Something to drink?" A pause, then an amused smile. "I haven't played hostess in awhile."

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unsure
2011-06-02 01:08 pm UTC (link)

Joseph had been willing to subject himself to all manner of scrutinizing looks from Mrs. Jones upon their departure, only briefly glancing in her direction behind his glasses before clearing his throat and moving past, though he imagined out of the three of them, Lillie had won the staring contest. He was also fairly certain that things between him and the landlady were going to be somewhat frosty given his recent noise-making activities, but again, it was something he was willing to face in the wake of more time spent with Lillie.

He shifted his messenger bag over one shoulder, gently setting it down once they were standing inside the front door to protect his laptop inside. He hadn't been able to salvage some of his notes, their pages wrinkled and ripped and generally unreadable, but his computer had everything important on it, and if he needed any more details, he had the perfect source to turn to in this very room. His clothes were wrinkled, his hair mussed, and all he could think about was stretching out in that bathtub she'd mentioned before he started to turn ripe.

"Oh, no, I'm fine, thank you," he insisted, glancing around as he shed his suit jacket, pushing the sleeves of his shirt up over his elbows out of habit, and took a few more steps inside, his gaze scanning the contents of each room, walking to the bookcase to admire the titles - some of which he'd never even heard of, others she'd undoubtedly had to have come across hundreds of years ago, but which looked as though they were still in pristine condition.

He folded his jacket over one arm and then turned to look back at her. "On second thought, why don't we open a bottle?"

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darkeninglight
2011-06-02 01:27 pm UTC (link)

It was impossibly wonderful, the idea of having him to herself and there being no interruptions. Lillie didn't bother to suppress the smile that wanted to show across her lips, because there was no need to hide anything now. Not when they were alone together like this. She left her purse on the kitchen countertop and opened one of the heavy doors, producing a bottle of wine. Several others glinted in the semidarkness behind, different colors of glass twinkling here and there.

"I liked to collect wine for awhile," she said, retrieving two crystal glasses from another cabinet. "It kind of tells a story." In a way, it did. Lillie had bottles dating back many years. But her favorite was dated 1914, with the Titanic's majestic image emblazoned on the label. If her inability to withstand the sun hadn't stopped her, she might have traveled on the ship, but in hindsight it had been a strange blessing.

"Follow me." She tilted her head in the direction of her bedroom, the bathroom connected to it. The bottle was tucked into the curve of her arm and she opened the Dior to let them both in.

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unsure
2011-06-02 06:14 pm UTC (link)

His gaze scanned over the levels of wine bottles, noting the different glasses and assorted labels, no doubt an impressive collection after so many years and opportunities to procure perfect vintages. He wasn't a big wine drinker on most occasions, but this one in particular felt more special than most, and Joseph thought there would be no better way to celebrate than with a good bottle. Judging by the label on the one she'd chosen, it would be a very good bottle - though hopefully not a foreboding choice, given the ship the label featured.

His eyes quickly found new sights to feast on as she led him towards her room, straight ahead. The bathroom was adjoining but first he wanted to take in the sight of where she slept, the colors she had chosen to decorate her place of rest. Even though his shoes, he could feel the soft quality of the white carpet beneath his feet, and the bed itself looked like the biggest source of comfort with its large mattress and flawlessly pressed clean sheets.

"Remind me not to spill anything in here," he murmured absently. His proclivity towards clumsiness and spills was a fairly obvious one, but the room looked so perfect as to be untouched, and he would've hated to do anything to mar that canvas.

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darkeninglight
2011-06-02 06:57 pm UTC (link)

She had disappeared into the cool interior of the bathroom and twisted th faucet knobs to spill warm water into the deep tub. Baths were something she indulged in on a semi frequent basis because there was something to be said about that kind of comfort.

"It isn't a museum, " she said, stepping out of the bathroom and toeing out of her heels. The shoes she left by her dresser, where the silky curtains covering the window whispered back and forth. "Touch whatever you want. Take your shoes off. Jump on the bed." Her smile was amused. "Just relax."

Lillie disappeared into the bathroom again, long enough to strip from her dress and wrap herself in the silk robe that hung on the back of the door. When she stepped out she returned to the dresser, opening the bottle to fill both glasses.

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unsure
2011-06-03 01:27 am UTC (link)

"A bit easier said than done," he confessed, toeing off his own shoes and leaving them just inside the bedroom door, wiggling his bare feet against the carpet and crossing the room to run fingertips across the comforter on the bed, marveling at the softness under his fingertips.

When she returned in just the robe he swallowed visibly, allowing himself a moment to let his gaze roam over the curves that were both visible and implied by the silk against her skin, whispering as she moved across the room to pour the wine.

He stepped up behind her, sliding one arm around her waist and tugging her back into his chest, lifting his other hand to pull her long hair back from her neck and lowering his head to kiss her skin, gently nipping at the cool flesh. "You look beautiful," he whispered, resting his cheek against hers.

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darkeninglight
2011-06-03 01:40 am UTC (link)

Her attention had been on the wine and pouring it into the two glasses, and while she'd been aware of his movement (acutely aware, as she was of nearly everything he did), Lillie had deliberately allowed herself to be surprised by his nearness. A smile crept across her lips, dawning there a half second's time before her eyes fell to a close, a little shiver creeping its way across her skin. He had that impact on her, no matter the place he chose to touch or kiss, and she'd stopped trying to hide away her reactions as if they were to be well kept secrets. No, she wanted him to know the way he made her feel, every time he made her feel it.

"Thank you." It wasn't a coy remark, devoid of any teasing or manipulation, only the honest truth, and the fact his compliments meant something to her. He meant something to her. Lillie brought her hand up to thread her fingers into his hair, a little encouragement for his nearness, and she turned her head a little more to press her cheek against his own.

"This is the first time I've had company in awhile," she said, because it was true. When Lillie had shared nights with anyone else in the past, she'd typically gone to wherever they called home. She was far more private with her own residence, preferring to keep things quiet and secluded. Joseph was the first person - the first lover, to be more specific - who had earned that right. Her fingers stroked through his hair, a gentle caress, and she tucked her lips to the corner of his mouth.

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unsure
2011-06-03 09:35 pm UTC (link)

"Well, here's to making the most of that company," he declared, reaching around her for one of the wine glasses, tipping it against the other so that they chimed together with a soft sound, and then lifted it it to his lips, inclining it in a small, informal toasting.

He pulled back after a moment, glass in hand, after pressing his lips against the back of her head, his hand slipping away from her silk-clad hip to study the room in full again, fingers carefully clasping his glass to ensure no dropping or spillage occurred.

"And how long have you lived here?" he asked, curiosity winning out as he took another sip of wine, allowing it to serve as liquid courage. Even after the truth of the feelings they'd shared, he still had a tendency to let his nerves win out and get the best of him around her. It was her undeniable beauty, her otherworldly nature and the way she had of rendering him speechless with a mere glance. His sip turned into a larger gulp.

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darkeninglight
2011-06-05 08:15 am UTC (link)

"For about two years."

Lillie liked to watch him, and thought she always would. There was something to be said about humanity, about little traits and characteristics that might go unnoticed by others but meant everything to someone lacking them. The flash of his throat as he breathed, the twitch of his hand when he was nervous, or the way his face brightened when he smiled. Little things to some people, but of great importance to her.

"It's the first place I've lived this long in since New York." She twirled the wine in her glass a moment before taking a sip, a moment passing while she did so in consideration. Julian had been the last man she'd lived with for any length of time, and that ending had given her a different perspective.

"But there wasn't much reason for me to stay anywhere else. Las Vegas, the French Quarter, eventually I moved on. Here ended up being different."

She didn't go on to say why. Not yet.

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unsure
2011-06-06 06:05 pm UTC (link)

She had a window in this room, heavy curtains draped up on either side of the sill, no doubt thick enough to block out the light completely during the daytime. It was night now, however, and the only light outside shone down from the sky outside, stars burning brightly and uninhibited by smog or clouds. The moon itself wasn't full this time of the month, though it would be soon, and Joseph repressed a small chill of realization at the knowledge that several lycans would be shifting in about a week's time.

The wine burst into flavor on his tongue as he took another sip, though the rate at which he'd consumed his drink was beginning to go to his head, leaving him feeling somewhat light-headed and in need of a place to sit and relax. The fact that she had taken some blood from him earlier probably didn't help the dizziness. Suddenly a bath sounded all the more appealing, and he turned to her with a slow smile, reaching out to take her hand in his own and gently leading her into the adjoining bathroom.

"Had you considered moving on, before?" he asked, genuine curiosity creeping into the tone of his voice. "Perhaps traveling to another place entirely? Or was there a reason you chose to linger here?"

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darkeninglight
2011-06-07 12:40 am UTC (link)

Her fingers linked with his and Lillie felt warmth rush through her at his touch. There would never fail to be that sensation when he touched her, even if the contact was the barest brush. Her smile hovered at her lips and she followed at his direction, her fingers gently pressing his.

"I thought about it," she admitted setting down her glass on the bathroom counter. With her free hand she twisted one of the silver faucets, bringing the water to flow into the deep bathtub. "But I'm very glad that I stayed. It would have been a shame if we'd never met."

She meant it, too. Her life would have been horribly bleak without Joseph. If he hadn't shown up in the club, she didn't want to think about what would have happened. How lonely she would have been. Being without him was something she didn't want to think about.

Almost as if an afterthought, Lillie moved her thumb across his knuckles, as if she couldn't bear the idea of letting him go.

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unsure
2011-06-07 07:58 pm UTC (link)

He cradled his glass in his hands, watching hers manipulate the faucets of the tub until warm water spilled out to fill the deep space. He could almost feel the heat of the water from where he stood, the anticipation of its soothing power making him itch to undress, but he held that urge back a little longer.

"It would have," he agreed, lowly and sincerely. "I can't really imagine my time here without having met you first. It's impossible to picture."

He drew her hand up to his lips when she ran her thumb across his knuckles in a sweeping motion, turning her hand around to kiss the back of it, then turning it back again, kissing the inside of her palm and down, along her wrist, his lips moving across the cool, pale skin.

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darkeninglight
2011-06-10 08:54 pm UTC (link)

The touch of his hand was something she'd never grow tired of, but the warm press of his lips would never cease to send a shiver along her spine. No matter the situation or their surroundings, Lillie would lack the ability to resist when he was that near, with his lips against her skin.

"It's a good thing you won't have to imagine it." Her voice was a low murmur, brought nearer to his ear as she tilted her head towards his. For every kiss he gave her, she returned with one of her own. Her lips brushed his cheek, then trailing in soft kisses along his jawline, to his ear and the soft place behind where her mouth lingered.

"Let's get you into the bath."

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unsure
2011-06-16 04:48 am UTC (link)

He finally set down his glass, ducking his head to hide the flush in his cheeks that ensued under the cool touch of her lips, each kiss sparking a sensation low in his stomach that spiraled outward and rendered him helpless to her whims.

"You already have me beat in the state of undress department," he confessed, glancing up at her face and into her eyes, smiling sheepishly. Since that was the case, he made every move to change that fact, reaching up to let his fingertips move along the buttons on his dress shirt underneath the crooked silk of his tie, slowly undoing each one.

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darkeninglight
2011-06-16 04:55 am UTC (link)

There was something endearing about the way he tried to hide certain things from her, especially when it related to how he felt. And Lillie wondered for a moment if, were her heart still to beat and blood still to move through her, if she would have the same reactions. Would her heart skip a beat when he looked at her, or a flush of colour rise up to her face at a few choice words?

Already, she knew that answer.

"Nothing that can't be changed." She didn't hurry his progress, instead curled her fingers to stroke across his arm, taking in the warmth of the skin she could reach. Her lips brushed his cheek again before she drew back, only enough to lower her hands to the sash that was tied at her waist.

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unsure
2011-06-16 01:00 pm UTC (link)

"Certainly nothing that can't be changed," he echoed, shrugging his shoulders back in a slow roll as the shirt slipped down to his wrists, at which point he briefly struggled with the buttons and nearly trembled trying to get them off, lips quirking in mild frustration.

Meanwhile, he found it almost impossible to concentrate on what he was doing under the stroking touch of her hands, the kisses of her mouth, and when her fingers came to rest on the sash of her robe, his eyes fell there, gazing over every inch of skin exposed as the sides of the robe drew apart.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered.

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darkeninglight
2011-06-19 02:37 am UTC (link)

There were moments in which she desperately desired the need to breathe or the means to blush, because right now he would either take her breath away or draw a warm flush of color to her face. But her eyes said what her reactions wouldn't be allowed to, and a slow smile curved at her lips.

"I love you. I love you so much."

Her voice was a murmur as she coaxed the robe from her shoulders, letting it fall away and to the floor.

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