Laurel Hill Springs

July 28th, 2024, 3:30am
Players: Jackson and Vik McQueen

Jackson had gotten drunk, still conscious and able to make a fool of himself if he was ever enticed to do so by way of a silly goof. Though with the party winding down, the playlist's volume was softened and the sounds of goodbyes, and the bald mage was just saying his goodbyes from his seat while eating spongy foods and drinking water while just relaxing. He didn't plan on staying for the whole duration of the party and was surprised he even did two party tricks, let alone one that nearly revealed his magic fully. Of course, there were some people he hadn't really been able to speak with during the party. It'd take a lot of reflection on what happened!

Hopefully he recalled some of these people's names, and they would come to visit him at his shop so he could speak with them properly instead of relying on random encounters in town. One person of note, Gram gram Edith, gave the bald man a hug, and Jackson, in his drunken state, playfully fanned himself and slurred something out about how Gram gram was looking too good to be here without a date. With more people leaving, it was just Jackson and Vik, and she was closing up and starting the shut-down process. The necromancer was stable enough after using absorbent food and water to get him down from being a drunken mess to being a helpful drunken mess. The mage started to help with cleaning up, and after speeding up the process, the pair had found themselves outside.

Once the lockup process was done, Jackson still had enough liquid courage in his system to be as bold, as brazen, to ask one simple question to Vik. "Do you want to spend the night at my place?" Jackson rarely invited people over to his place, and Vik was one of those few people. His home was about eight minutes away from the bar, and teleporting wouldn't be viable for two drunk people as they wouldn't fit really well in the bathroom after experiencing motion sickness. "No pressure; I'll walk you home if you decline."

Vik was inebriated, but maybe held her liquor a bit better than the handsome mage. She looked at him as he made sure to hydrate and smiles while ruminating on how much he had come to mean to the town and to her since his arrival. He was extremely talented & pleasant in a way she hadn't expected of a mage from the big city. Didn't take long for Jackson's absurd charm to fit him right in with the group branching from Gil, Vik & Caprice (by default after the 80s years of his wonderful presence & the blanket of his loving protection). To note, not everyone is wise to this. However, the most important people in their lives get pieces, usually. That topic was only brought up to the most trusted. And rarely.

They stood outside in the security lights and she smiled at this lovely man who was also her friend. She couldn't picture not knowing him, it was odd. His friendship was as important to her as that of Caprice. He was her best friend aside from the trouble-two-some, Gil and Caprice. However, regarding Jackson this was more sweet...
She leans in to hug him without asking, their cheeks are warm and pressed together. He can feel her nodding. Her dark curls, accented by strands of beautiful colors, tickle his face.
"Yes, I'd like that." She pauses a moment. "Is this a sleepover where we lay on opposite couches talking til 6? Or we snuggle then go to sleep? Or, do you want to fuck, um specifically. Or, wait until we're sober? Because I'm into that, especially if you let me shower."
She lets out a super awkward laugh at herself and buries her face near his neck.
And internally, 'Please someone, take me out back. Just end me...'

She'd been dying for Jackson to seem comfortable with her. And she hadn't been extremely sure how to gauge him til he came out of that shell a bit more. The cheeks of this sad, and often grumpy, beauty turn from a soft cream to pink & hot. She pulls back with a smile.
Her lips look soft
She smells like some sweet herbal soap; & of alcohol both on her shirt & in her belly.
She seems serene like this, however, it is known to hide her dourness & anxiety about her seemingly cursed abilities which were more like a burden of talent for full-on migraines and no sleep.
USUALLY.

Some time, not long, before the Crow Bar opened Vik's sour grey cloud of a mood, like an eternal headache, seemed much lighter. Perhaps even replaced by something more vibrant? She seemed well-rested. Able to relax. Lighter, free, & focused.
Unburdened?
Jackson had never seen her this way. Unburdened, more secure about her gift which had so long seemed a curse.

She waited after the last bit.
Now it was his turn to give a confirmation.

Jackson didn't drink often, really only socially or deciding to get the occasional drink in the form of some mead, and as such, his tolerance was low, but not so embarrassingly, so thankfully, or else he might have never thought to even approach Vik as he was sobering up. He wasn't one for really opening up to anyone romantically after what happened with his ex-fiancee and the whole situation leading to that, but Vik made him feel some sort of way. She made his head hazy, randomly thinking about her throughout the day when I saw some wild book title or some smutty book he thought she might enjoy. His heart would beat faster around her, and he wouldn't be able to keep up the facade of the cool nerd that wouldn't gush about what he liked and would put other nerds to shame. She was what crushed his guard, and she did it effortlessly.

Of course, he didn't want that guard crushed so thoroughly, so effortlessly! He was a wanted man by the factions back home; he didn't know if they would find him unless they sought him out through more mundane means, and he doubted that heavily. He just didn't want Vik getting hurt, nor anyone. It was why he moved a company of his undead minions into the old church, which they pretty much came to call home. Though until he was safe enough to know that no one would be trying to hunt him down with pitchforks and torches, he wasn't going to let them do more than patrol the border of the town during the dead of night. If he brought anything to Laurel Hill Springs, he'll be the only one getting hurt; it was more than likely his fault such a dangerous element came in the first place. So when Vik asked him the conditions of her staying at his place, he paused and thought about his answer. "So while I want to do the last two, I have to tell you something first." The bald mage stated, a bit nervous of how she'll take it, which led to him sighing and peeling them apart reluctantly, his hands on her shoulders as he held her at arms length.

Jackson stared longingly into Vik's eyes; he couldn't stop himself as his mouth moved, but no sound came out, trying to find the words to start this large reveal that clearly had to be done when the pair were alone. He took his hands off of her shoulders and hit himself on the head. "You big bumbling oaf, this is the moment you dreamt of, and you're just gawking like a mute owl! Aggggh!" He pursed his lips and grunted at himself before just stopping and taking a step back and sighing. The bald mage had to find his center, his zen, and he knew where it was. "Just... bear with me; I just gotta focus up. I gotta lock in." He took another step back to give himself ample space, conjuring his bident once more that he's shown off and starting up a form, going through the movements before finding the words and making sure that he's not swinging his weapon in Vik's direction.

"So I'm really into you. I get all hazy in the head; I think about you a lot; you make my heart race. All that. You're amazing, even when you're in a bad mood; all I want to do is cheer you up." Jackson grunted softly as he continued his forms, smoothly moving through them and not doing them to flex, but to just be able to speak. "So this spear is a family heirloom. Only special people can use it; I'm special. My mana? All colored. Fire, lighting, all purple. The only thing that isn't purple is my ice magic, so I just use it. Also, I'm not just an ice mage. I can control the dead. I'm a necromancer, BUT I conjure the bones with magic. I don't use actual people unless it's just a terrible situation, but I doubt that I'll have to cross that line ever. I know that's a lot. It's a lot to say. So I'm telling you all of this before you get with me because I'm just a big fool who didn't expect to be so into someone after my failed engagement, and I'm just worried about you getting hurt or anything." With everything said, the dark mage brought himself to an end naturally with his current form, sighing and taking a deep breath, putting his weapon in a resting position. "So yeah, your choice. I will be fine with friends, just ask that you keep what I said under wraps."

Vik is one who always appreciates knowing there's more than one way to solve a problem.
When Jackson berates himself, frustrated, she can't help reaching for his hands. The young witch wanted to offer her reassurance. But, she can sense he has a healthy grasp of his own method to center. Instead, she chooses to let him move freely.

Providing a wide berth for Jackson, Vik's back is pressed to the door. She watches, arms crossed, as he runs through the elegant and long-practiced forms.
His movement betrays the hours he has surely devoted.

Perhaps it worked too well? He explained and then continued to pour everything out in one fell swoop. His long-kept secrets and heartache all out in the open. Inside, Vik was quite surprised. But, we all have stuff that holds onto us...
She couldn't judge him, not ever. Didn't even make a joke about Larry & Dan. He probably knew, anyway.

Vik waited until he drew his artful flow of movement to a closing stance, "I do have follow-up questions."
She approached, examining the bident, but stopped a few feet out.
"Mostly. I just don't want to let you down, Dewell."
Her gaze directs itself to the grass sprouting through cracks in the pavement. "I have spent a long time dulling myself to everyone but my family (Caprice included). And... I'm still not even sure if I have it in me to be useful
to anyone, especially here. But, I don't think I need to belong anywhere else. And, I'm glad you're here with us too. So, We can just take our time. You've got the secrets to time manipulation, don't you? Groundhog day it, you know?" A soft chuckle comes out of her.

"I'll do my best for you."

Jackson only meant to reveal that he liked Vik, just how she made him feel, not that he was engaged or how he was different, and why he only used ice magic. He was going to bang his head on the roof of a car if there was one nearby and available for him to create a dent into. He was so glad that she didn't instantly question the fact that he was engaged, but it did instill some fear about having to answer some questions about that bit of his past.

With her approach, he decided to close the space between the two to let Vik look at the bident, to look at it closely and see the purple sapphire set into the head of the weapon before the gleaming steel blades, the shaft covered in pulsating purple ancient runes that are used to contain something within. Overall, the weapon is shown to be passed down by wear that couldn't be repaired. "Uhhhhh..." He blinked, still in the confusion of his word vomit confession, and blinking slowly. "I don't think so. I can move really fast though." He replied, surprised, before shaking his head and focusing himself by patting himself on the cheek. "I... don't think I understand right now... But you won't let me down, regardless of if we're together or not!"

He tapped his chin, tilting his head to the side, and then looked around before looking at Vik and trying to figure out how to best convey that his word vomit just rattled his brain around and made thinking a bit difficult. "Hm... Look, Vik..." He muttered, tapping his head with the flat of the spearhead. "I'm not at my best thinking wise right now. I drank; it's late; I basically just said a buncha shit I wouldn't have revealed, so early that makes me seem like I'm a mess. I honestly want to just kiss you and fuck when sober before talking about everything thoroughly. I'll answer your questions to the best of my ability right now, unless I say they're too... close to home." He spoke softly, trying to not seem shallow and just interested in sex, because all that zen shit made him spew his guts out!

Vik took a breath as Jackson closed the space between them. Even when he’s goofy or over-sharing… He makes her nervous. Those cloudy grey blue eyes study this clearly special tool, wondering if The Bident has a name. She mulls over the possible questions, but saves them for another time.
“I appreciate that. …Finally learned that I built too many walls after I made a big mistake. Long time ago. I’ll tell you that story one day…”

She leaned in fast and pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth, so light. Here, Vik lingered. She sought his free hand, to hold it, and pull him along to walk home for a long rest and recuperation.

The Bident itself had a name, but only the original owner remembered it, and he was long gone, along with those who could remember it besides them. It was well maintained, the blade gleaming in the moonlight when Jackson moved it around when just shifting in place. He soon blinked and nodded. "I understand. When I first moved, I had walls made, but... they faltered when I saw you, and you welcomed me. I figured that I needed to clean up myself and see if I still feel the same then... here I am, confessing, feeling like a schoolboy once more." His voice turned soft, looking aside and sighed before looking up, only to be caught with that kiss!

The dark mage was internally regaining himself, gaining the processing power back from that word vomit overshare session, before he was caught off guard by that kiss! Outward, his expression turned suddenly dreamy, and he was following Vik and holding her hand tightly as they walked to his place. "So... uhhh, kissing, touching, and the like? Just to know what we're doing, not like you couldn't just touch me in a lot of places..." He trailed off before realizing what he said and just letting it go.

“Sober’er not, Feelings can be hard.” She followed the route from her bike as they walk in the early morning darkness. “Oh, “heavy petting”, As the young people say?”
Vik smirks at him from her dark mess of curls, those bright rainbow colors almost shining from underneath; even out here. The sound of evening nature accompanies them, composed of all the late summer early morning nocturnal creatures. Safe as always, this long-loved weird little place…
“Yes, check all the boxes. I’m not as boisterous as Gil, but I like fun.”

"Feelings are very hard, but I think I can sort them out when they come to you." He mused softly, walking along the sidewalk and Jackson has to remember to put away his bident, using a stop for waiting for a crosswalk to send the bident back to its display. He then chortles as she asks about heavy petting and nods to her question.

With the pair reaching Jackson's home, he quickly unlocked the door and pushed open the door and stepped aside to let his companion in. The house smells like lavender thanks to some air fresheners he has scattered about. On the wood paneled walls there are framed posters of campy horror films and book to movie adaptations that varied in how good they had pictures of the Faust's Fount staff inside as well. A ritual the staff did for any book they sell or have sold in the past. The foyer's flooring was white tile, which gave way to beige carpet for the living room.

The furnishings of the living were fitting of a single man, made sure to focus on comfort and practicality. Thankfully, nothing was on the ground! He had a velvet blue couch with a black long table behind it, holding pictures of Jackson and what seems to be of vistas he's pointing out and a mix of people like family members. In the middle of the living room is a black coffee table with a fancy gold leaf tome on it and a tv remote next to it in front of a wall mounted flat screen TV. Jackson took off his shoes and flexed his toes as he released Vik's hand and was able to land safely on his couch. "Make sure to take off your shoes please, even if I like you!"

“Well good. Me too.”

Vik glances inside before crossing the threshold with his invite. She’s looking around at anything ready in her line of sight; even while slipping off her boots just inside the entryway. Following suit politely, she places her boots in a tidy fashion near his or the next sensible place. Respectfully.
Her toes wiggle inside those soft black socks on the cool tile.
“Of course!”

Immediately, if he doesn’t stop her, Vik is headed over to look at his posters with a silly smile; she hunts for that shiny bald head and the other familiar faces. “These are really great. I should have known you were an artist with the mention of your famous reel.”


Looking for known vistas, but mostly at the people in the pictures with great interest, “Do you get much opportunity to chat with your friends and family back home?” Here, she’s also thinking about their conversation outside the bar. For now, she skirts around it. Didn’t seem like the kind of topics that would improve any possible foreplay.

The witchy woman’s hands are clasped politely behind her back while looking over his pictures. She doesn’t touch without being invited first, admittedly quite nervous to be here. His space was a friend boundary they had not yet crossed.

He chuckles softly when she replies and then snaps to his senses! His manners were lacking but they were planning on making this more than a social visit. He laughs when she says he's an artist. "I mean I get by. I'm no photographer for a major magazine or having art gala shows. If I wasn't trying to make sure that Faust's is decent. If I'm going to do anything, I'm going to make sure it's my best." He stated, his black socks covered in skulls flexing as he moves his toes around.

When she asks about friends and family, he gives pause but shakes his head to snap himself out of wandering. "Yeah, friends and faction members who aren't trying to get me back in Rinami. Family, I go visit every once in a while and have calls with. My dad and I tease each other, mom is the referee who makes sure we aren't going to create a rift. Old man, Chrome dome, so on and so on." He states with a small chuckle. The name of Chrome Dome wasn't exactly false, just a teasing nickname. He soon grunts as he gets up, stretching his body and taking a moment to reassure himself that he can initiate and doesn't have to just wait. He walks around and gets next to Vik, giving her a small playful bump. "Y'know, you can come over whenever now. Hell, I might show you my evil lair." He muses, though there's a hint of serious in his offer.

Vik grins and bumps him back. “What’s in Jackson’s evil lair, hmmm? Is this like evil science or like evil magic? Is it like sexy? Or serious vibes only?” She laughs, looking around.

“Where’s your favorite place to make out?” Her eyes scan the room, of course couch is a good starting option.

"It can be sexy. It's basically just another home but more safe to do magic stuff and experiment. Most of my army resides there anyways." He replies before raising a brow, then takes a look around the room. "Uhhhh good question!" He primarily made sure to get "rid" of the memories of him and his ex, but it wouldn't ruin this moment to recall something this important. He then decides to beckon her as he heads to the couch before taking a seat. "Come here, Vik." He then does a gesture he hasn't done in a while, spreading his lap to make for a comfortable sitting area and patting it.

“Oh, well…” Vik crosses the room to Jackson with an impish smile and blushing cheeks. Denim-clad knees sink into the blue velvet cushions at either side of his thighs as she climbs onto his lap.

“Hello” When she leans close, those dark curls curtain their faces. Soft lips barely brush his, almost bashful, before snuffing it out with a series of soft kisses. Long delicate fingers brush his jaw as her hands cup Jackson’s face.

She’s too busy to ask him about his army…

Jackson couldn't think of anything to say when she says hello, just offering a dumb smile before her soft lips barely brush against his lips, and he places his hands gently on her hips. The mage's hold isn't secure, just his hands being placed there in case Vik wants them somewhere else. The bald mage returns her soft kisses, at first hesitant but beginning to get into the rhythm, his hands now taking hold of her hips and lightly squeezing them.

When it comes time for either one of them to take a breather, Jackson looks at Vik and slips his right hand lower to rest on her rear, squeezing it gently. "You're okay if I get more handsy and we get uh, less clothed?"

His dumb smile gets one in return from Vik and she makes the softest little noise as his grasp tickles her hips. She squirms. “Mmhmmmm…”

Trailing palms drift from his jaw to chest when he squeezes her bottom and an excited groan comes right against his ear. Her teeth clasp the soft flesh and have a light nibble.
Then, she leaves one soft kiss at the lobe and pulls back to pull off her shirt.

Jackson huffs out softly she has a soft nibble and plants a kiss, before soon biting his bottom lip when she takes off her shirt. The dark mage decides to follow her lead, taking off his shirt.

With them both shirtless, Jackson leans forward to kiss her jawline and start a trail to her chest while his left hand now palming her denim clad butt. His lips return from the end of the trail to her lips giving Vik soft kisses that grow hungry with his arousal.

Relentless hungry kisses and eager exploring tongues get very well acquainted. Vik pulls the roundness of his lower lip into her mouth, suckling, before she pulls away for air; huffing and laughing at herself.

“How are you?” She snickers, feeling a little silly. But she wants to be respectful. Her red cheeks are bashful, drunk, excited.

Jackson can't help but to give a dumb smile and soft snickers following that question, his hands moving to her thighs and running along them slowly. He takes a moment to collect himself before answering, his face warm from the excitement, the adrenaline pumping within. "I'm good, I'm comfortable with the pace. I want more, I want you." Jackson feels a little silly saying that, as he thinks he made it clear but sometimes it is best to clarify.

"You? You're okay baby?" It has been some time since Jackson has said baby, but with Victoria, it feels... right. At least he knows that at least during these moments she'll welcome it.

Pale hands, soft and elegant, but well acquainted with laborious tasks, rest atop his on her thighs. She’s petting them gently as if learning his skin and warmth. ‘Baby was for sweet women’, Vik hadn’t felt sweet but once before now. Long ago…

“Could we cuddle and kiss naked?” A sweet little smile comes again as she gauges his response to that very Romance novel, small town Christmas movie type request. “Like, just be close together so I can stop being a nervous wiener?”
She smells like alcohol and champa flower, & some kind of soothing vaguely spicy capsicum salve.