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[anticipations]

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[anticipations]

You saved yourself Dominic. I wasn't in control of myself. [she sighs and begins to follow, her stride determined to keep up with him and make sure that he knows that she was the one to blame for the things that ultimately led to her death.]

I don't know what duty you have when this place forces us to lose all control and believe things that aren't true. I thought I was in love with you for god's sake, and that I had to kill you or you'd leave me. I mean, I don't even know you.

[she stopped and looked at him.]

Look at me, damnit. I know you have to feel something about what happened besides duty. Let me apologize or cut me, something other than walking away. I forgive you. Can you at least acknowledge me?

[she's spent her life trying to deny the monster, trying to control this thing inside her and in one night, duplicity took away her choice and this man is witness to that. It leaves her feeling vulnerable, and fucking frustrated and it shows on her face and in the way her hands ball and straighten at her side as she talks.]

[arkbound]

[ He stops then, feet coming to an abrupt halt, and he looks over at her. If she wants to see the expression on his face, he'll let he do that, although it's more determined than anything else, with a hint at the corners of confusion. ]

I'm not walking away from you. We're going to get you some knives.

[ He sighs, rubs a hand over his face. Her forgiveness had sent something through him, but the fundamental guilt is still there. The fundamental guilt is his. ]

I forgive you too. Obviously. You clearly didn't kill me.

[anticipations]

[It doesn't matter if it confuses him. She's pretty damn stubborn about her emotions and about caring for people and somehow he'd gone very quickly from stranger to person she cared about and she really didn't have a good reason why, but she'd allow him this service if this was what he wanted, because, no, she'd never take it that the guilt was his. If he wanted a part, she'd share, but never give it over.

She sighs as well, and briefly reaches out to touch his face with her hand, eyes soft as they meet his, before she drops both and begins walking again.]

Alright then. Lets find me some pretty new babies. Mama needs too fill her case back up. I thought I lost the one I brought to the ship with me, but it ended up washed up on the shore with me. [a beat.]

You're cute. I'm glad I didn't kill you. [she does her best to lighten the mood with a playful wink now as they walk.]

[arkbound]

I've spent almost two years building up my collection in this place. No one else seems to understand, they seem to think that I have too many knives already.

[ An obvious falsehood.

At the question he smiles back, a little chagrined. ]

You should know my killing of you is no indication of what I think of your level of attractiveness.

[anticipations]

[There's a little bit of a look of incredulity on her face. Certainly in this places above all others, someone would have figured out that weapons come in pretty handy. There's a time for sex, and there's a time for arms, always.]

People obviously have no idea what they are talking about. There is no such things as too many knives or swords. I had a pretty amazing collection at home. Sadly, I was only able to bring two weapons with me, and none of my knives.

[she huffs, but then laughs at his evaluation of her death upon the ship. Walking up to him, she taps him on the ass.]

You know, I dare say that we were half in love, and that you my dear had no trouble getting it up for my looks. I wouldn't dare question what you thought for them. As you should never question what I think of yours. I still remember every inch of you.

[she smiles softly at the memory, because even with its disastrous end, she can still recall everything that happened that lead up to it, and while the emotions were not her own, she can still recall them, and how he treated her. How connected they were.

There will always be something there for her, even if it is mixed because it was from the city, and she doesn't know how to unpack any of it along with the guilt of what happened.]

[arkbound]

I brought two knives and a crossbow with me, even though I was carrying far more when I was taken. But I've been here for close for two years now.

[ Plenty of time to acquire more weapons, and that's been one of his primary focuses. ]

I'm glad to find someone like-minded. [ He slips her a smile. Of course he's found plenty of people who see the benefit in being dangerous, but it never hurts to find more.

That smile turns a little embarrassed, a little chagrined, but he's not displeased by the contact or the compliment. ] Ahh, good. And thank you.

[ He's got lingering fondness for her too that's growing as he learns more about her, and it mixes with the guilt. ]

[anticipations]

Two years? [Holy shit, she thinks even if she doesn't say it. Maybe somewhere in her mind, Bo had thoughts about returning home and not going through this life for month after month. She'd heard tell of people being here for maybe a year, but she was still getting to talk to people beyond sex.

Dominic was certainly the first person she'd known that had been here that long. She'd have to remember to pick his brain about it sometime. Instead, she returned to their weapon talk.]

I too am lucky to have found someone that shares my fondness. [she turns to face him and smiles softly.]

Maybe there was some reason for us to meet after all. I have to hope that there was some method to the madness beyond fantastic sex.

[she notices his embarrassment, but pays it no heed because he really doesn't need to feel that way around her. She merely scoops up his hand and laces her fingers with him as they walk, giving his hand a small squeeze as an acknowledgement of their shared experiences.]

[arkbound]

[ Dominic certainly has some thoughts on this, doesn't think he necessarily is the actual Dominic Price. It almost feels better to think of himself as a clone or copy, not have to think about Verity dealing with his mysterious disappearance. Now that he has someone to miss. ]

It was pretty fantastic sex.

[ Even if some of that came from how they'd felt about each other, Dominic doesn't think it necessarily all was. And he's not going to be too shy to admit that. ]

But I'd like to have another friend as well.

[ Maybe he can't forgive himself yet, but he can start to move on from that place. ]

Ah, good, here we are.

[anticipations]

[There was a lot to take out and unpack about actually being here and what happened to time at home, did it cease to be, was it halted as they left and would they be returned at the same time. Were they merely kidnapped from the space and time they knew and never returned. Could they be copies of their former selves, or maybe the copies were the ones living back home and they were the true flesh and blood manipulatives being used for the pleasure of this creator.

Bo had given it some thought, and then stopped when it had begun to break her heart. Instead, she'd focused on other things, like the people here and yes, great sex.]

Well, if you ever wish for a repeat, you know where to find me. I would be happy to enjoy your company any way you want to give it. [a kiss to his cheek]

You're already my friend, I'd hope.

[She stops at the front of the store and looks it over, not finding much too it, she steps in tall and straight, owning herself as the strong and powerful female that she is. There will be no one here that can take advantage of her. Gone is the sweet, playful nature she'd shared with Dominic outside. In its place is Bo the unaligned Succubus warrior.]

[arkbound]

Yes, of course.

[ As he says it, he realizes it's true. He has so many more friends in this place than he'd ever thought he could. Even back on his world, even there, he's still just got Verity, and whoever he's met by extension there.

Ally is still an easier word for him to shape than friend, but he's learning, and he still likes the idea of it. This woman is a force of nature, and that's his favorite kind of person. The way she sets her shoulder and approaches the shop clerk just proves it even more, and Dominic is content to hang back and let her focus her attention on the weapons.

He'll just definitely be admiring both her ass and her attitude while she does it. ]

[anticipations]

[Moving along the wares as if she is intimately familiar with each one, Bo handles a few. She lifts them and balances the weight in her hand, flipping them around and seeing how they would feel pulling free from a harness. It's obvious she's got plenty of practice, and knows a great many ways to conceal on her person as she makes grabs from several areas.

She could be wearing next to nothing and still concealing a ton of weapons, even if she rarely ever needed to use a single one. She'd been taught how to use them, and never left home without her bladed arsenal.

Bo is impressed by the fact that Dominic isn't the type of man that hovers and tries to assert his dominance or guidance over things that she's obviously capable enough to handle. She turns to wink at him and offer an appreciative nod as she goes to work a deal with the owner. At first he tries to make her pay a deal over what the blades are worth, and after a fair arguement, Bo figures it's the fact that she's a woman that has her at a disadvantage, and so she does what she does so often in shops-- the only place she sticks to her rules from home.

She runs her hand over the shop keeper, and suddenly he's wanting to give her his shop. She declines, and offers him fair price for his goods. But she does ask Dominic what he would like, since the keeper of the shop is feeling so agreeable.] I'd say sorry, but I'm not. I don't like being taken advantage of. A few habits from home are hard to break...? [she walks over to Dominic and places her chin on his shoulder from behind, more and more feeling very natural in his company.]

[arkbound]

[ Verity can hide a good dozen weapons in a tango outfit, Dominic has no doubt that people used to it can manage quite well indeed. Dominic is aware of the automatic advantage that being able to pull off cargo pants grants him.

He's a silent observer through the negotiation, until she asks him what he'd like, and at that point he picks out a knife, goes along with this. ]

My wife's cousin never pays her Starbucks' bill, but she does always leave a tip for the barista.

[ Which is Dominic's way of saying he sort of gets it, without really knowing the details of either her powers or her ethics. ]

[anticipations]

[Bo snakes her arm around him and pats his side softly, the familiarity of his shape imprinted in her mind. The closer they get, the easier it is to be around him once more, tiny memories of affection bubble up inside, even if they are duplicity based-- she's beginning to structure them around the man she's slowly getting to know. She pats his side and laughs softly.] It's always good to tip the barista. They do all the hard work.

[she taps his neck with a kiss and pulls away, walking out of the store and back into the down, marveling at the dark underground world around them. She's been here a few times, but it's been a while.

Just as at home in places of darkness and disrepair as she is in those of glitz and glam, she finds it fascinating, and pauses here and there to peer at a few of the more intriguing shops.] Thanks for showing me your favorite place. It was just what I needed to stock up. I appreciate it.

[arkbound]

[ Her attention feels good, comfortable, and he's glad of it, is letting it slowly start to ease the part of himself that is incredibly guilty after throwing her off the boat. ]

I'm sure you haven't even started to stock up.

But I hope they can all serve you well. [ He's serious again, but earnest. ]

[anticipations]

[She moves over close to him, and scoop his hand up with hers winding their fingers together and squeezing.] Well, it' a great start and we can do this again sometime. You know that we're okay, yeah? I think I'm gonna need you around. I just feel...

[she shrugs, and leans against him softly as they walk, not saying anything for quite a while, just happy to be like this. Not needing more, or less, just a simple connection.]

[arkbound]

I'm beginning to get that we'll be okay.

[ He's still a little unsure, can't help that he feels guilty. But he is solid against her, and it helps a little, too, as much as anything that she's said. ]

And I'm glad to have met you, despite the circumstances.

[anticipations]

[by the time they make it back to the elevators, Bo has figured out that she most certainly wants and most likely now needs Dominic to be a part of her life in this city. No matter what form it takes, she will settle for it. For her, there's going to be a place in her heart that can't forget the love that was had on the ship-- it might have been false and created by something, but it made him special and she needs to find out why that special is lingering.

Maybe she's already beginning to see it, in the way he's such a gentleman, and the way he treated her today, and maybe it was how he treated her while they were 'in love'. The feelings might have been a farce, but the reactions during them were not, and a part of him shone through that wasn't easily hidden.]

Maybe the circumstances on that boat might not have been perfect, but they brought us together in a way we would never could have known each other so quickly. You're a good man, Dominic and no matter where we go, I will always remember it.

[Leaning in, she takes his cheek with her hand, and brings her lips to his, kissing him softly and carefully, neither taking nor giving power, just simply offering her mouth to his in a natural exchange, sharing her feelings of warmth and kinship before pulling away.] Thank you for today.

[arkbound]

[ he will still feel guilty, but he's starting to find the good in their meeting, too, even if her calling him a good man feels like a bit too much at the current moment.

He will do his best to earn that designation in the future.

He touches his hand briefly to his lips. ]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. We'll have to do it again at some point.