♦ 19
Who: Larry Paul and Sophie Deveraux
What: Kissing doves shenanigans
When: Various points between this thread and now.
Where: Various.
Rating: PG-13
Larry: [sometime after his first strange kiss, before getting back to his room, Larry is walking through the lobby near the stairs to the Leverage tower. He is dazed and confused and not paying attention to what's around him]
Sophie: [is coming downstairs to head into town for the day, and closes the door behind her, before starting to head into the lobby]
Larry: [will actually stumble into her, if we're going with cliché. And his hand will reach out for her elbow before he even realizes who it is] Oh. Sorry.
Sophie: [catches him when he falls into her and gives him a small smile] It's alright.
Larry: [looks up and smiles.] Sophie. Hi.
Sophie: Hi.
Larry: How've you been?
Sophie: Fine. You?
Larry: [nods and stuffs his hands in his pockets, taking a step back] Good. Fine. You know...staying warm. [and yes, he is looking over the dress. He's amused]
Sophie: [smirks] I suppose that's all one can do.
Larry: You fit right in in that. [nods to the wear, his way of saying she looks classy]
Sophie: [glances down and shrugs] What kind of actress would I be if I couldn't wear a costume?
Larry: Oh, right. Of course. [he forgot, bad Larry]
Sophie: But thank you.
Larry: [a nod, and...he's starting to get awkward now. Looking at his feet.]
Sophie: [small smile, before] Well, I should be going.
Larry: It was good seeing you.
Sophie: Good seeing you too.
Larry: [starts to go, but then...oh look a pair of turtledoves just flew over and perched by the very stairs they're standing by. And he turns around again...he's suddenly feeling the need to do something really, really stupid...] Wait, Sophie..
Sophie: [turns and looks]
Larry: [is closing the space between them, taking her hand, and pulling her in for a kiss]
Sophie: [is going with him, cuz that's the magic, sliding her arms around his neck]
Larry: [clearly it's the magic, he'd be too scared to do this otherwise. And when she's close his arms will go around her waist as he holds her closer]
Sophie: [will lean into the kiss for a bit, before it dissipates and she's pulling back just slightly] Well. That was ... sudden.
Larry: [and...he snaps out of it. He blinks at her. Shit.] There are doves. [the only logical words he can come up with]
Sophie: ... Right. Of course.
Larry: It wasn't me. [because...after the last time...he just feels that needs to be said]
Sophie: [it ... doesn't, but ... ] It's fine.
Larry: Do you know about the doves?
Sophie: I'd heard things.
Larry: [nods] Wish I had heard before...I was just trying to take a walk into town. [not kiss a hundred people along the way...oh, he'll also realize he's still very close. He'll step back now.]
Sophie: [nods] Well. I should still go.
Larry: [nods too] I'll....see you.
Sophie: [waves and wanders off]
Larry: [continues on his way]
***
Larry: [and another day or two pass, before Larry is in town. He's still on his piano mission, and he's trying to avoid looking anyone in the eye. He doesn't want to get caught by the turtledoves anymore. One would think he'd stay in his room..]
Sophie: [trying too hard to avoid them really only pushes you towards them. Sophie is in town as well, and has just ducked out of the Magick Box II after checking in on something with Bela]
Larry: [considered going to visit Bela, but doesn't want to accidentally kiss her, so he's got his head down as he makes his way by the shop]
Sophie: [makes her way through town, and catches his arm as she passes]
Larry: [looks up suddenly] Oh.
Sophie: [a small smile] Hello again.
Larry: [a smile back] Hi. Again.
Sophie: How are you?
Larry: Not bad. You?
Sophie: [shrugs] I've been worse.
Larry: Hopefully not recently. [that friend factor kicks in here]
Sophie: No, not recently.
Larry: Glad to hear that.
Sophie: [nods]
Larry: I should probably...uh...you know. [not that he wouldn't like to stay and talk, but....]
Sophie: [nods] I'm sure you have better things to do.
Larry: [a bit of a snort] No.
Sophie: [eyebrow raise] No? Don't you have a play you're supposed to be putting on?
Larry: [oh....totally forgot about that too. And...damnit. She didn't. Quickly, he will save face] Can't do it without my co-director can I?
Sophie: Be careful, Mr. Paul. Someone might think you're chickening out.
Larry: Never, Ms. Devereaux. I just wouldn't want to leave you out of it.
Sophie: Mmmm-hmmm.
Larry: I just...wasn't thinking about it. And I wasn't sure if you still wanted to......assist.
Sophie: Of course.
Larry: Oh. Well...I'd still be happy to have you. [word stumble] Your help. Happy to have your help.
Sophie: [smirks] Good.
Larry: [a real smile now] Okay.
Sophie: [smiles back] Well. I should let you go.
Larry: Yes. We'll catch up soon.
Sophie: Good.
Larry: [starts to walk past her in the way she had come from]
Sophie: [and with that, there might just be the rustle of those silly dove wings]
Larry: [and he's stopping in his tracks]
Sophie: [and there's some more kissing]
Larry: [very nice kissing]
Sophie: [it usually is]
Larry: [and...it'll sink in and he'll stop. He keeps his eyes closed. Another silent "Shit".]
Sophie: [will pull back slowly, and brush a hand to her lips] Sorry.
Larry: No...it isn't...it's the castle.
Sophie: I know.
Larry: [bites his lip for a moment and shakes his head] I should really go before it happens again.
Sophie: Probably best if both of us do.
Larry: [nods and...doesn't know what to say, so he just goes]
Sophie: [does as well]
***
Larry: [and it's the next morning, and he's...going somewhere important. He's walking out the front door of the castle and those doves are right above his head. Without preamble, he'll just grab onto the arm of the person right there and swoop them in for a kiss. He felt the need.]
Sophie: [is a little startled by the kiss, but it's magic so she's right there with him]
Larry: [and this time when he comes to he'll stop, look at her, and just laugh a bit] We really must stop meeting this way.
Sophie: Apparently it's a smaller castle than we thought.
Larry: Or something. [lets go of her] I'm sorry. Again.
Sophie: [shrugs] It happens. What can you do?
Larry: Run really fast in the opposite direction the next time you see me?
Sophie: [laughs] I don't think that will help.
Larry: [grin] It's worth a shot.
Sophie: [sighs] I ... can't even remember where I was going.
Larry: I'd offer you could join me for breakfast, but....those doves seem out to get us.
Sophie: Breakfast! That's right. I was meeting Hardison anyway. But thank you.
Larry: [a warm smile] Enjoy your day, Sophie.
Sophie: You too, Larry.
Larry: [will once again continue on his way]
***
Sophie: [is wandering through the castle, not really paying attention to much of anything until she spots him, and smiles a bit] Is this the part where I should start running?
Larry: [comes to a stop with a smirk] Probably.
Sophie: I'm afraid you're just going to have to deal with the consequences. These shoes aren't really conducive to a good sprint.
Larry: Some consequences aren't as bad as they seem.
Sophie: I suppose not.
Larry: And I'd hate for you to get hurt.
Sophie: [shrugs] Wouldn't be my first sprained ankle from running in heels.
Larry: Maybe you could run better by taking them off.
Sophie: Too many laces. Not enough time.
Larry: [raises a brow and tilts his head to look at her shoes] Laces on heels?
Sophie: These are period shoes, Larry. Everything has laces.
Larry: You have a point there. They just look....complicated though.
Sophie: [shrugs] A sign of the time.
Larry: I thought they were simpler times.
Sophie: Not for women's fashion.
Larry: Well....I'm not the expert on women's fashion. In any century.
Sophie: I'll make it easy for you. Women's fashion? Is never simple.
Larry: And that's why it takes women a long time to get ready?
Sophie: Essentially.
Larry: It's all beginning to make sense.
Sophie: I do what I can.
Larry: Was this my lesson for the day?
Sophie: Yes. You've met your quota.
Larry: [laughs] Always a good thing.
Sophie: It is.
Larry: [speaking of the period clothing, he'll glance down and adjust a button that's coming undone and not see the quick bit of white wings flapping up]
Sophie: [but she will, of course, and she'll be leaning in to kiss him as she's ... given up trying to fight the magic at this point]
Larry: [something makes him look up in time to catch that kiss, and he's kissing her back as his hand comes up to her cheek]
Sophie: [sighs softly into the kiss, because he really is good at that]
Larry: [even deepens the kiss for a moment]
Sophie: [but eventually the magic lifts and she pulls back slowly, letting one hand rest on his chest for a moment]
Larry: [and as the magic ends, his thumb brushes her cheek lightly]
Sophie: [sighs softly, before taking a step back]
Larry: [drops his hand and licks his lower lip a moment, watching his feet]
Sophie: [pauses for a moment, before looking up again] Larry, are we alright?
Larry: [looks up to meet her eyes and nods slowly] I would hope so.
Sophie: I mean ... things between us.
Larry: [goes quiet because....he isn't sure what to say. He isn't sure what he wants to say...which are two different matters. But he'll sigh] I do...feel the need to apologize for kissing you. [quirks his head a bit] I mean...a couple weeks ago. Not...the recent....you know.
Sophie: [nods] You didn't have to apologize for that. I'm the one who made things ... uncomfortable.
Larry: I....don't really know what's going on here, Sophie. [his tone simple, not questioning]
Sophie: Well ... that makes two of us.
Larry: [this is where he will look down again] And...it's not the easiest time of the year for me, so...I don't want to be held accountable for... [scratches his forehead] I don't know. Not being myself, I guess. [No...he really doesn't know what he's trying to say.]
Sophie: My ... concerns have nothing to do with you, Larry. I just ... am not ready. [because she's used to being with the guy who wants her to just chase. she needs to ... adjust]
Larry: No, I wasn't presuming they did. That was just...my end. In a very unclear way. Me saying I'm okay with not knowing right now. [looks up again with this indescribable face, only altered by his eyes actually being on hers] As long as we can still be friends in the meantime.
Sophie: [it's nothing he did. She thought she was ready, and she wasn't. she wants to believe that she can be fine on her own without Nate, but that's easy to say when Nate isn't there. It's harder when he just keeps coming and going. She needs ... something that she doesn't know what it is yet. but friends? That she can do] Of course.
Larry: And anything you need...really, you can come to me. To talk or....not talk and sit in silence... [a shrug, a small smile]
Sophie: [a small smile, before reaching forward and giving his hand a squeeze] Thank you.
Larry: [squeezes back] And I promise. No more kissing. ...the free will kind, I mean.
Sophie: [nods, pausing for a moment] I should go.
Larry: [nods as well, letting go of her hand] And I think I still owe you a date.
Sophie: You do. But it can wait -- if that's alright with you.
Larry: Whenever you want.
Sophie: [nods] I'll see you around, then?
Larry: [smiles and nods] You will.
Sophie: Good.
Larry: [puts his hands in his pockets and steps aside for her]
Sophie: [heads past him to what she was doing before]
Larry: [ducks his head and starts in the opposite direction. And he might be humming a single Christmas tune under his breath. But he will deny it if anyone asks.]
What: Kissing doves shenanigans
When: Various points between this thread and now.
Where: Various.
Rating: PG-13
Larry: [sometime after his first strange kiss, before getting back to his room, Larry is walking through the lobby near the stairs to the Leverage tower. He is dazed and confused and not paying attention to what's around him]
Sophie: [is coming downstairs to head into town for the day, and closes the door behind her, before starting to head into the lobby]
Larry: [will actually stumble into her, if we're going with cliché. And his hand will reach out for her elbow before he even realizes who it is] Oh. Sorry.
Sophie: [catches him when he falls into her and gives him a small smile] It's alright.
Larry: [looks up and smiles.] Sophie. Hi.
Sophie: Hi.
Larry: How've you been?
Sophie: Fine. You?
Larry: [nods and stuffs his hands in his pockets, taking a step back] Good. Fine. You know...staying warm. [and yes, he is looking over the dress. He's amused]
Sophie: [smirks] I suppose that's all one can do.
Larry: You fit right in in that. [nods to the wear, his way of saying she looks classy]
Sophie: [glances down and shrugs] What kind of actress would I be if I couldn't wear a costume?
Larry: Oh, right. Of course. [he forgot, bad Larry]
Sophie: But thank you.
Larry: [a nod, and...he's starting to get awkward now. Looking at his feet.]
Sophie: [small smile, before] Well, I should be going.
Larry: It was good seeing you.
Sophie: Good seeing you too.
Larry: [starts to go, but then...oh look a pair of turtledoves just flew over and perched by the very stairs they're standing by. And he turns around again...he's suddenly feeling the need to do something really, really stupid...] Wait, Sophie..
Sophie: [turns and looks]
Larry: [is closing the space between them, taking her hand, and pulling her in for a kiss]
Sophie: [is going with him, cuz that's the magic, sliding her arms around his neck]
Larry: [clearly it's the magic, he'd be too scared to do this otherwise. And when she's close his arms will go around her waist as he holds her closer]
Sophie: [will lean into the kiss for a bit, before it dissipates and she's pulling back just slightly] Well. That was ... sudden.
Larry: [and...he snaps out of it. He blinks at her. Shit.] There are doves. [the only logical words he can come up with]
Sophie: ... Right. Of course.
Larry: It wasn't me. [because...after the last time...he just feels that needs to be said]
Sophie: [it ... doesn't, but ... ] It's fine.
Larry: Do you know about the doves?
Sophie: I'd heard things.
Larry: [nods] Wish I had heard before...I was just trying to take a walk into town. [not kiss a hundred people along the way...oh, he'll also realize he's still very close. He'll step back now.]
Sophie: [nods] Well. I should still go.
Larry: [nods too] I'll....see you.
Sophie: [waves and wanders off]
Larry: [continues on his way]
***
Larry: [and another day or two pass, before Larry is in town. He's still on his piano mission, and he's trying to avoid looking anyone in the eye. He doesn't want to get caught by the turtledoves anymore. One would think he'd stay in his room..]
Sophie: [trying too hard to avoid them really only pushes you towards them. Sophie is in town as well, and has just ducked out of the Magick Box II after checking in on something with Bela]
Larry: [considered going to visit Bela, but doesn't want to accidentally kiss her, so he's got his head down as he makes his way by the shop]
Sophie: [makes her way through town, and catches his arm as she passes]
Larry: [looks up suddenly] Oh.
Sophie: [a small smile] Hello again.
Larry: [a smile back] Hi. Again.
Sophie: How are you?
Larry: Not bad. You?
Sophie: [shrugs] I've been worse.
Larry: Hopefully not recently. [that friend factor kicks in here]
Sophie: No, not recently.
Larry: Glad to hear that.
Sophie: [nods]
Larry: I should probably...uh...you know. [not that he wouldn't like to stay and talk, but....]
Sophie: [nods] I'm sure you have better things to do.
Larry: [a bit of a snort] No.
Sophie: [eyebrow raise] No? Don't you have a play you're supposed to be putting on?
Larry: [oh....totally forgot about that too. And...damnit. She didn't. Quickly, he will save face] Can't do it without my co-director can I?
Sophie: Be careful, Mr. Paul. Someone might think you're chickening out.
Larry: Never, Ms. Devereaux. I just wouldn't want to leave you out of it.
Sophie: Mmmm-hmmm.
Larry: I just...wasn't thinking about it. And I wasn't sure if you still wanted to......assist.
Sophie: Of course.
Larry: Oh. Well...I'd still be happy to have you. [word stumble] Your help. Happy to have your help.
Sophie: [smirks] Good.
Larry: [a real smile now] Okay.
Sophie: [smiles back] Well. I should let you go.
Larry: Yes. We'll catch up soon.
Sophie: Good.
Larry: [starts to walk past her in the way she had come from]
Sophie: [and with that, there might just be the rustle of those silly dove wings]
Larry: [and he's stopping in his tracks]
Sophie: [and there's some more kissing]
Larry: [very nice kissing]
Sophie: [it usually is]
Larry: [and...it'll sink in and he'll stop. He keeps his eyes closed. Another silent "Shit".]
Sophie: [will pull back slowly, and brush a hand to her lips] Sorry.
Larry: No...it isn't...it's the castle.
Sophie: I know.
Larry: [bites his lip for a moment and shakes his head] I should really go before it happens again.
Sophie: Probably best if both of us do.
Larry: [nods and...doesn't know what to say, so he just goes]
Sophie: [does as well]
***
Larry: [and it's the next morning, and he's...going somewhere important. He's walking out the front door of the castle and those doves are right above his head. Without preamble, he'll just grab onto the arm of the person right there and swoop them in for a kiss. He felt the need.]
Sophie: [is a little startled by the kiss, but it's magic so she's right there with him]
Larry: [and this time when he comes to he'll stop, look at her, and just laugh a bit] We really must stop meeting this way.
Sophie: Apparently it's a smaller castle than we thought.
Larry: Or something. [lets go of her] I'm sorry. Again.
Sophie: [shrugs] It happens. What can you do?
Larry: Run really fast in the opposite direction the next time you see me?
Sophie: [laughs] I don't think that will help.
Larry: [grin] It's worth a shot.
Sophie: [sighs] I ... can't even remember where I was going.
Larry: I'd offer you could join me for breakfast, but....those doves seem out to get us.
Sophie: Breakfast! That's right. I was meeting Hardison anyway. But thank you.
Larry: [a warm smile] Enjoy your day, Sophie.
Sophie: You too, Larry.
Larry: [will once again continue on his way]
***
Sophie: [is wandering through the castle, not really paying attention to much of anything until she spots him, and smiles a bit] Is this the part where I should start running?
Larry: [comes to a stop with a smirk] Probably.
Sophie: I'm afraid you're just going to have to deal with the consequences. These shoes aren't really conducive to a good sprint.
Larry: Some consequences aren't as bad as they seem.
Sophie: I suppose not.
Larry: And I'd hate for you to get hurt.
Sophie: [shrugs] Wouldn't be my first sprained ankle from running in heels.
Larry: Maybe you could run better by taking them off.
Sophie: Too many laces. Not enough time.
Larry: [raises a brow and tilts his head to look at her shoes] Laces on heels?
Sophie: These are period shoes, Larry. Everything has laces.
Larry: You have a point there. They just look....complicated though.
Sophie: [shrugs] A sign of the time.
Larry: I thought they were simpler times.
Sophie: Not for women's fashion.
Larry: Well....I'm not the expert on women's fashion. In any century.
Sophie: I'll make it easy for you. Women's fashion? Is never simple.
Larry: And that's why it takes women a long time to get ready?
Sophie: Essentially.
Larry: It's all beginning to make sense.
Sophie: I do what I can.
Larry: Was this my lesson for the day?
Sophie: Yes. You've met your quota.
Larry: [laughs] Always a good thing.
Sophie: It is.
Larry: [speaking of the period clothing, he'll glance down and adjust a button that's coming undone and not see the quick bit of white wings flapping up]
Sophie: [but she will, of course, and she'll be leaning in to kiss him as she's ... given up trying to fight the magic at this point]
Larry: [something makes him look up in time to catch that kiss, and he's kissing her back as his hand comes up to her cheek]
Sophie: [sighs softly into the kiss, because he really is good at that]
Larry: [even deepens the kiss for a moment]
Sophie: [but eventually the magic lifts and she pulls back slowly, letting one hand rest on his chest for a moment]
Larry: [and as the magic ends, his thumb brushes her cheek lightly]
Sophie: [sighs softly, before taking a step back]
Larry: [drops his hand and licks his lower lip a moment, watching his feet]
Sophie: [pauses for a moment, before looking up again] Larry, are we alright?
Larry: [looks up to meet her eyes and nods slowly] I would hope so.
Sophie: I mean ... things between us.
Larry: [goes quiet because....he isn't sure what to say. He isn't sure what he wants to say...which are two different matters. But he'll sigh] I do...feel the need to apologize for kissing you. [quirks his head a bit] I mean...a couple weeks ago. Not...the recent....you know.
Sophie: [nods] You didn't have to apologize for that. I'm the one who made things ... uncomfortable.
Larry: I....don't really know what's going on here, Sophie. [his tone simple, not questioning]
Sophie: Well ... that makes two of us.
Larry: [this is where he will look down again] And...it's not the easiest time of the year for me, so...I don't want to be held accountable for... [scratches his forehead] I don't know. Not being myself, I guess. [No...he really doesn't know what he's trying to say.]
Sophie: My ... concerns have nothing to do with you, Larry. I just ... am not ready. [because she's used to being with the guy who wants her to just chase. she needs to ... adjust]
Larry: No, I wasn't presuming they did. That was just...my end. In a very unclear way. Me saying I'm okay with not knowing right now. [looks up again with this indescribable face, only altered by his eyes actually being on hers] As long as we can still be friends in the meantime.
Sophie: [it's nothing he did. She thought she was ready, and she wasn't. she wants to believe that she can be fine on her own without Nate, but that's easy to say when Nate isn't there. It's harder when he just keeps coming and going. She needs ... something that she doesn't know what it is yet. but friends? That she can do] Of course.
Larry: And anything you need...really, you can come to me. To talk or....not talk and sit in silence... [a shrug, a small smile]
Sophie: [a small smile, before reaching forward and giving his hand a squeeze] Thank you.
Larry: [squeezes back] And I promise. No more kissing. ...the free will kind, I mean.
Sophie: [nods, pausing for a moment] I should go.
Larry: [nods as well, letting go of her hand] And I think I still owe you a date.
Sophie: You do. But it can wait -- if that's alright with you.
Larry: Whenever you want.
Sophie: [nods] I'll see you around, then?
Larry: [smiles and nods] You will.
Sophie: Good.
Larry: [puts his hands in his pockets and steps aside for her]
Sophie: [heads past him to what she was doing before]
Larry: [ducks his head and starts in the opposite direction. And he might be humming a single Christmas tune under his breath. But he will deny it if anyone asks.]