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

[pursuedthestars]

"Does it matter if I'm deflecting?" he asked, dropping his head back onto his pillows. "You're leaving. The point is moot."

And he didn't want to open himself up to more hurt that he was going to repress like hell.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie kissed his hipbone and lowered her voice.

"You would've made a fine boyfriend," she told him quietly. "If things were different, I would've wanted to date you."

[pursuedthestars]

"But, they're not," he sighed quietly. "So, it doesn't matter."

He shook his head and tried to push those feelings away.

"Thanks, though."

[whenshewasnice]

"It matters, because someone cares," she said, softly. "That it's not long-lasting doesn't mean it doesn't have worth."

[pursuedthestars]

"Just don't lose touch," he told her after some silence. "I'd like to know at least one good friend doesn't completely disappear off the face of the earth and leaves me thinking they're dead."

Karolina.

"And shut up."

That'd been somewhat vulnerable.

[whenshewasnice]

And what a great save that had been. Natalie ran a hand up his body. If it ended up somewhere over his heart, well, that was a habit of hers. "I'm not disappearing."

Just changing.

[pursuedthestars]

"Okay."

He sighed and gave her hand a gentle pat.

"Okay."

[whenshewasnice]

"Don't pat me, I'm not a pet," Natalie quipped, pulling her hand away because she was just going to pull his shorts the rest of the way off now. "Anymore."

Since she'd just been a snake and everything.

[pursuedthestars]

"It was meant to be affectionate," Jim told her, lifting his hips again. "See if I ever try that again."

He wasn't serious.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie yanked his shorts down. So efficient. "Oh I'm sure you'd be happier if you never had to try again."

Just lightly teasing.

[pursuedthestars]

"Don't rip my boxers," he chided, shaking his head. "So violent. I know you want me and all but calm down, Natalie."

He could tease too.

[whenshewasnice]

"Don't tease the person about to put her hand on you like that," Natalie admonished him back. Running her hand up his thigh for now. "It could get ugly."

[pursuedthestars]

"Oh, you wouldn't dare because that would deprive you too," he sighed, snickering. "And I'd have to sue you."

[whenshewasnice]

"Don't sue me." She was getting her hand on his cock. That was one great reason not to seek legal action against her. "For one thing, I'm connected. You wouldn't stand a chance."

[pursuedthestars]

"Yes, I would because I would have the truth on my side," he told her confidently. "And the truth beats connections."

[whenshewasnice]

"The truth is not that simple," she told him idly, as her slim fingers curled around his cock. "It's malleable."

[pursuedthestars]

"Still the truth and I'm very convincing," he told her, shrugging. "You wouldn't get away with it."

[whenshewasnice]

Her hand moved for a light stroke.

"There isn't a single truth about anything involving more than one person. I'd have an okay chance."

[pursuedthestars]

"I have no idea what you just said," Jim admitted, brow furrowing. He exhaled quietly. "What now?"

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie looked amused.

"What now in general, or specifically now that you've failed to understand me?"

[pursuedthestars]

"Single truth about anything involving more than one person?" he repeated, shaking his head. "That doesn't make sense."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie shrugged one shoulder. "If an event involves more than one person," she said, "then what's true about that situation gets complicated. At least in the hands of people who know how to spin things."

Few people could be as nonchalant about getting philosophical with their hand on someone's private parts.

[pursuedthestars]

"There's still truth even if it gets muddled," he murmured, sighing and shifting his hips slightly. "People can spin things all they want but the truth is what sets you free to be cliche."

[whenshewasnice]

"Not necessarily in a court of law." Her touch got a little firmer for just a second, then let up again. "Or anywhere else where presentation is crucial."

She wasn't about to be a politician's assistant for just no reason at all.

[pursuedthestars]

"Maybe not but presentation is just that: presentation. It doesn't have anything but opinion and assumption behind it," he replied quietly. "Anyone can make a guilty man look innocent if they're talented enough. Still not the truth."