Under water and out of breath/Riding the crest of the wave

[maris_ocean]

Characters: Maris, and Zebediah
Rating: PG
Time Period: Modern
Location: the hallways
Relative Date: Shortly after this thread
Status: Open, PM to join

Comments

[purple_manners]

Zebediah had not been especially impressed by this place so far. It certainly wasn't Brazil, sunny or otherwise, no matter what the information which came with that ticket had said. Indeed, he wasn't sure where it was, save that it was lonely and dark

[purple_manners]

"Relax, be happy. Be glad that I'm here," he told her, speaking calmly, soothingly, "and don't give this window another thought." He glided past her, staying within a couple of feet, so that no more errant breezes would mess up his mojo. Reaching for the window, to draw it closed, he pointed out to her, as though it were she who was the author of some gross faux pas, "You know, you haven't introduced yourself to me yet, either, so let's not be casting any stones in my direction there. I'm just trying to figure out what exactly I'm doing here, the same as you, it seems. You don't see anything wrong with my approach," he informed her.

[maris_ocean]

"No, I haven't, have I? But then, I was always taught it's polite for the gentleman to introduce himself first. Then again, I haven't met many gentlemen in my life." Maris ran a hand through her hair, leaning against the wall a moment. "Your approach could still use a little work, you know. But anyway. I don't think anyone really knows why we've been brought here. Stark thought it was a cry for help, to stop some sort of destruction. I'm still not entirely convinced it isn't someone's sick idea of a joke, myself."

She looks at the man for a moment longer. "Seriously, though, it would be nice if you were more of a gentleman than the others I've met here. It might go some way to convincing me the world isn't a complete loss. So? Are you going to be polite and introduce yourself first?"

[purple_manners]

He was wiiling to give a little in order to get a little, he supposed. "Well, since you asked so politely," he allowed, smiling warmly. He stepped close to her, offering his hand in a handshake. "Zebediah Killgrave. Do excuse my earlier rudeness." He wondered if his increased proximity to her would help lower her defenses any; a greater immersion in his field of pheremones? A greater concentration? This was actually kind of fun!

[maris_ocean]

"Maris Newell." She took the offered hand, shaking it a moment before letting go. She stepped back, uncomfortable with him that close, heading for the table and chairs off to one side of the room. "You do need to work on that, it's not going to win you any brownie points to be that rude to people you've just met." She settles into one of the chairs, watching him silently for a long moment. "If it's not too rude to ask, why are you purple?"

[purple_manners]

"You know, honestly, I'm kind of used to making a better first impression with people," he replied, shrugging broadly and smiling a bit sheepishly. "I think you're just a little more standoffish than most people are."

He sidled on up to the table and took a seat across from her, leaning inwards with his elbows on the table. "As to my pigmentation... well, who knows? I had an industrial accident some years ago, and this was the result. The doctors I've spoken with haven't a clue why. Most people would have just gotten cancer and died, but instead, it had this curious effect on me. Maybe it was something that was already in me, just waiting to get out. Maybe god was just feeling playful that day. I'm long past the point of questioning it."

He licked his lips, thoughtfully, and then pointed at her. "My turn. You said 'Stark' told you what he thought of this place. Tell me: Are you talking about Tony Stark? That Iron Man guy? Is he here? Right now?"

[maris_ocean]

"I don't know where he is at the moment, I haven't heard from him recently, though he may have succeeded in finding his way out of here. And yes, of course I mean Tony Stark." Maris rolled her eyes, shaking her head indulgently. "My turn again. How do you manage to make people do what you want them to do?"

She's aware there's something not entirely right about this situation, that she shouldn't feel as relaxed as she does, but it's hard to be indignant about it. Perhaps later, when she's free of whatever influence he's exerting, but for now... it's almost rather nice.

[purple_manners]

Zebediah rolled his eyes. There were plenty of people with 'Stark' in their names. Sue him for not jumping to conclusions! He'd have to look into this. Soon. Figure out some way of getting past that damned armour of his. Fortunately, if this woman and she were on speaking terms, he might just have an "in

[maris_ocean]

Maris shivered, drawing in a deep breath. It shouldn't feel so good, his hand running over her hair; shouldn't feel nearly as enjoyable as water against her skin. She watched him with a slightly dazed expression a moment before she shook her head, wariness creeping in. "That... isn't fair."

She wanted a bath, or a good long swim, to escape from the sensation. That, or more of this, and the hesitation over which isn't something she's used to.

[purple_manners]

"Sometimes, life isn't," he agreed amicably, placing his hand upon the top of her head and slowly, slowly dragging it down, along the side of her face, her hair between his fingers and her cheek, as he looked her in the eyes. "And a lot of the time it just doesn't make any damn sense. Honestly?" he lied, placing his other hand atop her head and slowly drawing downwards, across the back of her head and neck, "I don't really know how it works, and I don't really care," he further prevaricated. "And does it matter? Would knowing how this works..." he stroked her hair, delicately brushing it behind her ear, "...really make this feel any better than it does right now?" He raised his eyebrows, shook his head, and silently mouthed the word 'no'. "In times like this?" he shrugged, stroking her hair down across her other cheek, "You just have to accept the idea that life is crazy, and maybe that's okay."

As always, this last statement was more than a philosophical observation; it was an imperative statement.

[maris_ocean]

She drew in a sharp breath, holding it as she shivered, trying to focus, to bring herself back to the present, and ignore the pleasure that wound through her. Shaking her head again, taking a very long moment to realize she'd held her breath longer than most people could, and letting it out. At least doing that had let some of the haze clear, though she still wasn't certain she could hold out. Or if she really wanted to.

"Life... is crazy enough without you adding to it." Maris was caught between wanting to pull away and wanting to lean forward. "And I like to know how things work. It's..." She can't quite hold onto the thought long enough to work it out, closing her eyes and drawing another deep breath, holding it for a long moment, trying to untangle things in her head.

[purple_manners]

Drawing a deep breath while sitting so close to him probably wasn't going to produce the results that she consciously intended; it just meant a greater lungful of his chemicals, left in her body a longer time; like a pot smoker holding that toke for as long as possible before releasing it. But maybe, on some subconscious level, that was what she wanted? He smiled, looking at her with a benign, beatific look upon his face, utterly at peace with the world, utterly unconcerned with her inner dilemma. Life was good.

He absently reached over towards the next nearest chair and dragged it over to him, taking a seat on it mere inches away from her, "I think you just have difficulty knowing how to be happy, don't you," he asked, his voice a mask of sympathy. "Tell me about your problems," he told her. "You do, and I'll keep on doing this for you. Deal?" He placed both of his hands upon her temples, and gently drew them down across her face, caressing her cheeks as he brushed her hair across them.

[maris_ocean]

Maris reached up to push her hair back from her face, though the irritation at it continually being brought forward to her face is a distant, almost dream-like feeling. "It's a little difficult when the water's out, and there's no way to get a good bath to relax. Not to mention that without power, it's a little difficult to settle in and read a good book. There's not much else to do here, after all."

She paused, looking at him for a long moment, tempted to hold her breath for another moment. It had helped to clear the haze, even if only just a little. "Hard to be happy, I mean, without a way to relieve the stress of dealing with this place."

At home, she'd just go for a long swim in the ocean, but she's not about to share that with him. Or the reason she doesn't think it's really possible here, without making use of that strange room.

[purple_manners]

"Yeah, what's up with that, anyway?" He asked, stroking her hair down across her face. He was faintly amused at her continuously brushing her hair back away without ever quite complaining about it, and decided to make a little game of it, as he stroked her cheek and a few stray strands of hair along with it. "I saw any number of lighbulbs and power outlets on my way here... the British kind, if memory serves... But I haven't seen a single light since I got here. Are the people who issued our invitations playing some kind of game with us here, or what?"

He leaned in close towards her, while running both of his hands down the back of her head and neck, "Oh, and because you're being so helpful to me with all of this, have a little gift. I want you to feel completely relaxed and at peace with the world and with our situation here in this room together," he said, his face mere inches from hers, his bodily chemicals absolutely suffusing her.

[maris_ocean]

"I don't know. All I know is there hasn't been any power or water since the fire." Which hadn't been a pleasant discovery when she'd returned from helping to put it out and wanted to wash away the soot and grime. "Although I think it's entirely possible the people who made this place are playing a very sick joke on everyone here."

Maris leaned back from him when he got in her face, pushing her chair back and backing away from him without conscious direction. Not comfortable with anyone that close to her, not in years. Though she did feel a certain amount of peace, it felt more like the lulling calm before a storm to her than anything else. Charged with the risk of more.

[purple_manners]

What WAS it about this woman? A-List celebrities would sink millions of dollars and years of time into therapy sessions designed to produce an eighth of the contentedment and peace he was trying to give away for free. Some people just don't know how to accept happiness, he reflected to himself inwardly. But perhaps that was part of the issue