(Untitled)

[floozyfacade]

It's only a few weeks into the school term and, if Olive were sensible, she'd be studying. Today's a light day, meaning she has plenty of time to do so, if she just buckles down, and it's not like she isn't a focused, disciplined student when she wants to be. Even without these grades contributing to the college applications she won't be writing

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[pointzerothree]

She might not be trying to hide any interest, but Eduardo is suddenly aware that this is not a conversation he wants to be having, probably at least in part because he's never had to have it before. Christy did what she wanted - and for a while, that was great, too - and apart from that, there's never really been much other than semi-drunken hookups at parties and the standard sex that follows. With Olive, yes, there's been a little more detail, but that's because of her inexperience. This is something completely different, and almost certainly unnecessary, given what brought the subject up in the first place. If Cosmo printed it, then it isn't something that should even be up for consideration.

"I, uh -" he starts, hand curling around the back of his neck, then shrugs. "It doesn't... matter, it's not, like, a thing, or anything, really, just... It's not like we can do anything now anyway. Besides, like I've said, we can try whatever you want, provided it... doesn't actually do me physical harm." That's kind of the point, though. Letting her be completely in control, calling all the shots, it's hard not to find that appealing, especially when he so often second-guesses himself.

[floozyfacade]

"No, I know," Olive says, brow furrowing. "I wouldn't - I don't want to hurt you. Ever. That's not even up for negotiation, and... I didn't say I want to, just... asking what you meant. You know you're allowed to suggest things, too. Just because we aren't gonna run off and try something now doesn't mean you can't talk about it." It's not like she's going to push for anything he's uncomfortable with, no matter what he says about her being able to try anything she wants, and today's off limits anyway. Which means that she didn't mean to start this discussion either, but if they're on the topic, they might as well. She suspects, given his reaction, he'd never bring it up on his own.

[pointzerothree]

It's less a matter of being uncomfortable with it and more a matter of being uncomfortable with the idea of being comfortable with it. How he would even begin to explain that, though, Eduardo doesn't have a clue, and he isn't sure that's really what's important. She's right, they should be able to talk about it; he just fails to see how it isn't awkward, so much less straightforward on these matters than she is. Still, he has to try, if only so she doesn't get the wrong idea. "I... All I meant was that I wouldn't be opposed," he starts, trying to imply as best he can that what he really means is stronger than just a lack of opposition, "if you ever wanted to... do that to..." Trailing off, he shakes his head. "I really have no idea how you manage to talk about these things so easily."

[floozyfacade]

"I grew up in a very open household," Olive deadpans. Setting the magazine aside, she sits up, edging over to kneel beside him, dropping a kiss to his shoulder. "I just... don't see any reason to be embarrassed. Not really. I mean, I'm not gonna run around talking to everyone like it's the weather, but it's... you know, it's part of our lives. It's something we do. And besides, I trust you. You're not gonna judge me if I tell you what I want or what I dislike." She reaches over for his hand, careful. Open communication is incredibly important to her, but sometimes that means treading with caution, too. "And I won't judge you. And I won't feel pressured or, or obligated."

[pointzerothree]

When she puts it like that, Eduardo isn't entirely sure what the problem is. He believes her, of course, would never really have expected anything else to be true, but there's a difference between knowing something and feeling like it, and when it comes to a subject like this, the latter is difficult to say the least. Maybe it doesn't make sense, when he could easily say all of those things back to her and would mean it entirely, but somehow, in talking about it, it's not quite the same. "Jesus, that makes it sound so serious," he says with a short laugh, just this side of strained. His fingers curl around hers, though, and he shrugs a moment later, something like rueful when he looks back over at her. "But yeah, I know. It's not a big deal or anything. Just... when you mentioned it, it... didn't sound half-bad. Is all."

[floozyfacade]

Olive smiles, mostly relieved to have made him laugh, even like that. It's a step. All this can be embarrassing for him, she knows, and she finds it kind of funny herself, that he should be the one to turn red when it comes up while she's the inexperienced one. It's not like she isn't a little self-conscious at times, but it's something so natural, not to mention something they do regularly. Edging around it simply doesn't make sense to her.

Leaning in to kiss him, she squeezes his hand. "Okay, then," she says, voice dropping slightly. "Then we'll have to try that sometime. It didn't sound bad to me either." She trusts him enough to cede control, and she's comfortable enough taking the lead now, too, that it mostly just sounds like it could be fun. "But see, that's what I mean. You can tell me things like that. We don't have to wait for a cue from, from Cosmo. I'd prefer we didn't, actually, that's just kind of weird."

[pointzerothree]

"Very weird," Eduardo agrees, expression just this side of dubious, though he's a lot more at ease than he was moments ago. She's always been good for that, more than just about anyone. He can't help the self-consciousness that has yet to fade, but that's as much to do with the way she can manage to be so certain, so comfortable with these things when he isn't as anything else. Confidence like that, in anything, really, has always been something he's admired; now, it's as true as ever. He nods, though, still not quite on her level of assuredness, but getting better. "Okay, though. I mean, it's not like I was thinking about it beforehand or anything, just. Yeah."

It also isn't like it's something he hasn't done before, but he knows better than to say that outright. Christy always had a tendency to get carried away, anyway, and he neither wants Olive to feel like she has to be careful with him nor for her to have to think about his previous sex life.

[floozyfacade]

It's unfortunate, probably, but his uncertainty is something she finds helpful. While Olive appreciates his having experience on his side, at least in that he's able to apply it to her, she also finds it simpler to step up and shed her self-consciousness when he's less sure. It's like she has to and there's no way she could fail on that front.

Now that it's all settled, she smiles, arms raising to drape over his shoulders. "Yeah," she echoes. "We'll just... tuck that away on the to do list for later. Along with anything else that might cross your mind. Although it probably shouldn't right now, am I right? It's not that long until sunset." If she'd realized he was going to join her, she would have worn something that covered more and brought different reading material. She doesn't think herself all that provocative, but she doesn't want to make this more difficult than it has to be.

[pointzerothree]

"Yeah," Eduardo says, nodding. It's not like there's a rule on not thinking about sex, but the problem with thinking about it is that it just turns into wanting it, and that's not a temptation he needs. He'll be fine, it's just a day, but the timing of this particular conversation, he has to admit, is incredibly ironic, and all the more reason not to stay on the subject. Of all the things to give him a convenient out, he never thought he'd be so grateful for this one. "I mean, technically speaking, everything's still fine, the sun's not going down yet, but it's close enough that I wouldn't want to do anything. And therefore shouldn't be thinking too hard about things I would want to do."

[floozyfacade]

"Or have done to you," Olive murmurs, kissing him before abruptly pulling back. "That was the opposite of what I was supposed to do. But yes, I - I would not want to tempt you or... you know, there's always tomorrow night. We'll make up for it then." She's not even sure that they don't have the time now, but he's right, it's getting close enough to dusk that starting anything now would probably create more temptation than it would alleviate. Besides, a single day really isn't terrible. It's not like that doesn't sometimes happen anyway. It's just being aware of it that's different.

[pointzerothree]

"Yeah," Eduardo agrees on an exhale, nodding, fighting the impulse to lean in and kiss her again for it. That's exactly what he's not supposed to be doing; while kissing itself is fine, he knows how quickly he can get carried away with her, how easy it is to wind up wanting more no matter how good his willpower is. There really isn't any point in driving himself crazy. He's just glad she's being so good about this. (Christy, he thinks, wouldn't have been half so considerate.) "Or... that. But yeah, we can - tomorrow after sundown, we can do... whatever."

[floozyfacade]

"And until then," Olive says, easing back a little with her hands folded demurely in her lap, "hands to yourself." She's sure that won't actually last long, when they're both innocuously physical with each other and always have been, but really, it's worth the effort. She may not be religious herself, but she has full respect for the fact that he is, at least enough so to observe holidays like this. "That's barely more than a day anyway. What else is on the no-no list? Don't tell me movies, because I was thinking we could commandeer the projector for one if you're up for it."

[pointzerothree]

"Eating, bathing," Eduardo says, one shoulder lifting in an easy shrug. The two of those are actually more difficult to go without than sex, but he's been managing that for all of his life, or at least as far as he can remember, so it isn't like it's a big deal. "Working, I already cancelled my class for tomorrow. Movies, though, are absolutely fine." Maybe hanging out and watching things on the projector isn't strictly in keeping with the mood for what's supposed to be a day of atonement, but that's never really made too much difference for him before. It isn't like he's all that religious, just enough to observe things like this.

[floozyfacade]

"Well, there we go," Olive says, giving his knee a little push and grinning. "We'll just skip the popcorn, and I will try to dig up something appropriately dramatic. And hope I don't just get several shelves of The Prince of Egypt, delightful a film though it is." She can't imagine going without bathing is going to be easy on a humid island, and going without food for a day is not something she has any plans of doing if she can ever help it, but then, she's not the one who has to do any of it.

[pointzerothree]

"Wrong holiday, anyway," Eduardo says with a huff of a laugh, shaking his head. He's never actually seen the movie, is pretty sure he remembers it coming out around the time he was in high school, but he remembers enough to remember what it's about. Granted, to the shelf, it probably doesn't make a difference, anyway. "And if you want popcorn, you can have popcorn. It's not gonna drive me crazy or anything, I've been doing this for... a very long time."

[floozyfacade]

"Because you're old," Olive quips, leaning over to kiss his cheek, her chin and hand settling on his shoulder. "I'm too lazy for popcorn. I'm eating dinner, but I'll skip the movie snack." It's mostly a gesture of solidarity, since whatever he says, she'd feel silly sitting there, eating it all by herself, when he can't. It's not like it particularly matters to her. She's not convinced it's ever the wrong holiday for The Prince of Egypt, but she doesn't want to go with that one tonight anyway. "Anything you're in the mood for?"