nysalogs | ( open ) out of isolation

I didn't have anything appropriate to wear and this is what the ladies at the shop stuck me in.

[ He somehow retains his dignity. Look, it's comfortable, and he's at least somewhat less likely to immediately light on fire. Do you want your cocktail or not, Dutch?? ]

I think I look very fashion-forward and secure in my masculinity, actually.

[ HE KNOWS, ALRIGHT. ]

( is she secure enough in his masculinity to let him stay, though? wait for the answer... )

Fine. You can stay.

( yes. or maybe she just really wants another cocktail. )

Thank you kindly. [ A little bit teasing, having entirely the wrong American accent for that. Jim sits next to her, careful with the drinks, and -- yeah he does look a little squinty already, and is that a gun in his pocket or is he just -- ok no it's a sunscreen bottle, which he produces with a flourish. ] I should put more of this on, probably, before my skin actually starts boiling. Sunglasses seem wiser, in hindsight.

[ It's been a while since he's been to the beach, okay. ]

The academy was on the coast, but the weather was usually really foggy. I have no idea what I'm doing. [ Yeah Jim she noticed. ]

( dutch doesn't know anything about america or american accents, so the fact that he has the wrong one for the words goes entirely over her head. the sunscreen bottle doesn't, though. nor has the fact that he's really bad at this. )

If you take off that monstrosity, I'll do your back.

You are so mean, [ Jim laughs, without any heat. He pulls the hat off and sets it on her head before pulling the robe off over his own, like it's a t-shirt. He shakes dark blonde hair out, pushes his fingers through it; he could probably do with getting it cut, soon. ]

You also look like you were born to be out here. [ FYI, pretty lady. ]

Yeah. So?

( she's not just mean, she's unrepentantly mean. but she's also grinning, reaching over to muss up his hair a little more. it's bigger and fluffier than it was when she'd first met him.

and then she takes one of the cocktails and treats herself to a long sip. shrugs. ) It's a nice place and I haven't had a holiday in forever.

Mmm. [ Jim smiles at her from under the fringe of his hair, barely-there slivers of blue observing, before he shakes it out of his eyes. Maybe he'll leave it for a bit, if she likes it. He takes a drink of his own cocktail and then opens the sunblock. ]

You and me both. [ Bottlesqueeze. ] Jeez, I could attract bears with this.

[ It is Extremely Coconut. Whatever, on it goes. ]

( she doesn't not like it, that's all she'll say on the matter. it seems good for sinking her fingers into it. a weapon in a fight, something else entirely in a different context. )

Some bears might think you're extra-delicious.

( ignore her, dutch is not an expert on wildlife except for when she is. her knowledge of poisonous plants and animals is vast, for example. thanks, khlyen. )

[ He could always just shave his head. Dolphin smooth protection against attacks. ]

Unfortunate for me. [ Coconut goes on anyway. It reminds him of old, crusted-over bottles found in his mother's bathroom cabinet when he was a kid; she never used anything in there, because she was never home. Winona's probably never been on a vacation either. ]

Hopefully something more friendly will think I'm delicious. [ Worst delivery of that line, ever. ]

Maybe you'll only meet friendly bears.

( she moves to sit behind him, reaching for the bottle and pouring some of it on her fingers and making a face at the smell. it really is quite strong.

but she smooths her fingers over his back — the black thing is out of the way, right? right. good. )

There's a whole community for that sort of thing that I'm not opposed to out of hand. [ Shut up, Jim. He holds still and only glances over his shoulder at her a little, smiling. Yes he pulled the robe off, though he still thinks it's perfectly fine. (Maybe he's jealous somehow about the green v-neck his counterpart gets!!!!) ]

This whole beach thing may be underrated by leaving moments like these out of the brochures.

Is there?

( the robe is ugly and his upper body without it so much nicer. generally nice. she's quite happy to run her hands all over his back. for proper coverage with sun blocker, of course, and for no other reason. )

Planning on bringing lots of girls cocktails?

[ Uh huh. Whatever, they met over aphrodisiac chocolate cocktails and fucked within thirty minutes. Neither of them have to pretend their friendship isn't what it is. ]

What other girl could possibly hold my attention next to you?

[ Delivered intentionally goofy. The truth is he's not fooling around with any other women here (except for that shop girl from Olympia who gave him her number when he and Alan were running around for Cree, but it's been a while, there). ]

We could always go find some.

[ Is Dutch into group sex, let's find out. ]

( dutch isn't going to pretend their— thing isn't what it is. sexual, to a great degree. does she want to call it a friendship? she thinks she might, but she's not quite ready to say that out loud yet. not in a way that is meaningful, at least. )

Fair point.

( she's clearly amazing. still, she rolls her eyes and nudges his side a little with one hand, not quite a punch. it'd probably be a lot more effective in communicating annoyance if her hand didn't linger, soft. )

Or some cute guys. ( but also: nah. )

[ Jim leans back enough to look at her, holding himself at a slightly stupid angle for purposes of trying to tease her - ]

I don't mind cute guys either. But I'm all yours today.

[ He doesn't even wobble. Showoff. ] Want to switch?

( good thing she likes showoffs. sometimes. usually. )

You just want the bears to chase me instead.

( but if she's already sitting next to him smelling like the stuff, she might as well smell like it, too. ) Gonna give me a message while you're at it? ( so demanding. )

Maybe I want some bear solidarity.

[ Is there even a single "bear" in El Nysa. Maybe their good friend Alan Foster, he's got the grief beard going on lately. ]

If you want one, [ he says. ] Since it's a vacation.

[ What, like he's gonna say no. ]

( alan foster is one of the few men dutch would hesitate to have sex with or hit on because their relationship is — it's different, is all. used to be, she'd try not to sleep with people she cares about, but that's gone out of the window long ago. )

I want one.

( how unexpected. )

[ Jim would definitely sleep with Alan, because Jim has no problem sleeping with people who don't actually care about him personally. Makes it easier. (Like this. He cares about Dutch, but there's something in her refusal to engage with emotions that makes her -- safe. Jim's not the kind of the man anyone keeps around for very long.) ]

Alright, [ he laughs. ] C'mere.

[ Jim's gonna steal his hat back, also. It'll be like she has an umbrella!! It's fine. ]

( dutch has no problem sleeping with people that don't care about her and that she doesn't care about, either. she has a problem sleeping with people she cares about — or she did, but between alvis and d'avin and admittedly also some people here (or not admittedly, because she's not admitting to anything), that's not where she draws the line anymore. )

You better be good at this.

Since when am I not good at things?

[ What, do you want to file a complaint, or something. Jim lets her stretch out, and settles next to her, skimming a palm over her back first before getting some of the sunblock. His touch is soft at first, running over exposed skin up to the back of her next, nudging her hair out of the way and arm bands to one side. Pressure increases as he decides what feels the most knotted up, because why not be productive at the same time. ]

You're terrible at not giving a shit.

( so clearly, there are things he's not good at. has always been not good at, probably.

she settles her head on her arms, stretched out in front of him. there are scars on her back and on her legs, some from bullets and others from knives, some burns. the story of her past, written in her skin. she doesn't try to hide the scars, though she has stories to tell people when undercover. )

You are the only person who thinks that's a problem, [ he complains, though he keeps at the massage. Jim's no professional, but he knows what he thinks feels good, and he's definitely done this for a partner or two, in the past.

(But really, Dutch has no idea to what extent Jim is the worst at not giving a shit. MAYBE SHE WILL.. IN THAT OTHER THREAD who knows it is a mystery!!) ]

Doesn't mean I'm wrong, though.

( but he's not wrong, either: he's good at this. she shifts a little under his hands, but mostly she lets him do his thing, sighing a little when he hits a spot that's particularly tense. )

I think you like it, [ Jim says, and it sounds more laid-back than banter. Since this is supposed to be relaxing. ] Because it means you know I'll inherently give a shit about trying to make you feel good.

[ The cut of her bathing suit presumably doesn't leave her entire behind hanging out, but Jim slips his hands down far enough to the small of her back and tailbone, where everyone ends up carrying tension. Darn you, humanoid bipedal existence. ]

( open ) out of isolation

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