Room 222 | Sunday Morning

[pursuedthestars]

Jim hadn't wasted any time in getting back to his room. Hey, he would almost welcome Jackson's presence after all that time without privacy. He didn't mind the bouncy castles but man, the novelty wore off quick and he didn't like rolling over in the middle of the night and ending up splayed against the side of a castle with plastic up his nose.

He'd brought Natalie the snake back first, setting her up on his bed so she could slither around and do her snake thing before going back and getting the rest of his stuff. He'd dropped all that on the floor beside his bed and stretched before flopping down beside Natalie.

Who was still a snake.

"You ever gonna change back?" he asked idly, not expecting a response. He got none. Jim sighed and tucked an arm under his head. Snakes were not great conversation partners.

[Door is open, post is open]

Comments

[whenshewasnice]

"Not doing anything isn't the same as relaxing," she pointed out in turn. "Just means that there isn't anything to do. I figured chewing a hole into your castle would've been bad form."

[pursuedthestars]

"I would have laughed," he said, coming back and sitting down beside her. "And maybe I would have gotten a chance to come back to the dorms early."

[whenshewasnice]

"Well, I also didn't want to get squished by a collapsing castle." She stretched her arms out above her head, blanket sliding a bit further down as she did. "There's also that."

[pursuedthestars]

"I'm sure you would have found your way out of there," Jim told her, stretching out and sighing. "You're resourceful."

[whenshewasnice]

"But I didn't want to put myself in that situation," she replied, glancing over at him. "Resourceful, but also sensible."

[pursuedthestars]

"How complimentary of yourself," Jim told her, chuckling. "Well, welcome back. I'm glad you're back to being you."

[whenshewasnice]

"And yet you're keeping your distance," Natalie replied lightly.

Less to actually accuse him of anything and more to invite him to get even closer to her. In her own way.

[pursuedthestars]

"You could just ask me to come closer, you know," Jim said, moving himself closer to her. "The world wouldn't crumble if you did that."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie gave him a lopsided smile. "Yes, but where's the fun in just asking you to do things?"

[pursuedthestars]

"Well, I'd be flattered that you wanted me to be closer," Jim told her. "That'd make me feel good and all."

[whenshewasnice]

"But you know I wanted you to be closer," Natalie retorted, turning a bit more towards him. "But fine. I want you to touch me, too. Does that make you feel good?"

[pursuedthestars]

"It does," he said, reaching out and settling a hand on her hip. "How do you wanna be touched?"

[whenshewasnice]

"In interesting ways," she replied. Joking, for no real reason other than that she could. "Gently, like I have skin instead of scales."

[pursuedthestars]

"You saying I didn't touch you gently when you were a snake?" he wondered, stroking his hand down her hip easily.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie shook her head. That was all wrong.

"I'm saying I'll enjoy it more now."

[pursuedthestars]

"Good answer." And a good answer meant he kept moving his hand up and down her hip.

[whenshewasnice]

And Natalie was enjoying that. It was nice to get touched. It was nice to be here, just in general. "I know," she said. "I'm a smart girl."

[pursuedthestars]

"I guess you're pretty intelligent," he said, tapping his fingers against her hip and smiling. "You're okay."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie brought a hand up to cup his cheek, wanting to reciprocate the touching now that she could. She even glanced briefly at her slim fingers against his skin. "I'm going into international politics straight from high school. I'm more than just okay."

[pursuedthestars]

"Cocky," Jim told her with a little smile. "You're never gonna get laid with a schedule like you're gonna have."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie made a quiet, amused little sound. "I also won't have time to worry about that," she quipped. "Besides, shouldn't you be convincing me I should try and get all that I can while I still can?"

[pursuedthestars]

"No because I know you know that and you know you need to get it while you can," Jim told her, shrugging. "You're smart, like you said."

[whenshewasnice]

"That's very pragmatic of you," Natalie replied. Yeah, still amused. "Though not very flirtatious."

[pursuedthestars]

"I have to be flirtatious now?" Jim wondered. "I spent all week taking care of you and finished classes. I deserve some attention."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie exhaled a soft chuckle, moving her hand so she could brush her thumb along the edge of his lips. "I thought it came naturally to you."