baby, I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

Who: Peter and J
When: Late August, time when they've passed the Luminous Sea
Where: On Moira. Secret date location
What: Peter and J have a date.
Warnings: Two teenagers being all over each other. Implied sexy times and discussion about character death. Rest warnings to be added.


To be honest, the message Peter had sent her not too long ago, telling her to get ready because he was coming to get her, had came to her as a surprise. Of course, she hadn't forgotten about the little date he promised to her to but it had already been weeks and it had started to feel like he was going to chicken out from it. After all, he had been very drunk then. But once she read the message she quickly texted Tony to look after the bar for tonight (she couldn't bring herself trust Sans to do it) and started preparing herself. She straightened her curly hair and took a a black dress along with a white fluffy coat out from her closet, sat down in front of her beauty table to prepare her face.

J's never been the type to get nervous before going for a date but this time she has to admit that she's feeling rather curious. All her previous date partners had been more or less predictable when it came to their choices. Dinners, movies, museums or some art performances around the city. But they had none of those things on Moira, so it'll be interesting to see what he has planned for them tonight -- and just how is this going to differ from all their previous hangouts and outings.

She's just finished applying the mascara and is about to add some lipstick when she hears an eager knock on her door. She quickly checks the time from her MID, smile spreading to her face, not even a minute late from the promised time. Placing the lipstick on the table she stands up and straightens her dress a bit as she takes a good look of herself. Aside from the red stripe wounds that she still had decorating her arms, she's rather satisfied with her looks. She gives a quick, confident nod at her reflection and then turns around her heels to open the door, greeting Peter with a smile.

Comments

[takeitslow]

He doesn't have much by way of nice clothing; his wardrobe consisted of only the uniform and the few things he'd gotten from home when they'd went through the temporary Ingresses. Peter had considered wearing the formal uniform just to try to be impressive, but settled on the cleanest of his jeans and the nicest of his t-shirts. It wasn't much, but he thought by now she wouldn't expect anything less out of him. He'd shown up at her door with a bundle of flowers he's stolen from the garden, trying not to squeeze the plants too hard.

"Flowers are the traditional thing, right?" He says as she answers the door, holding out the red and yellow bundle. A beat later, once he's had time to stare at her, he continues. "I should probably say some line about them not being as pretty as you. You look good."

Peter's a little nervous, it's obvious in his quickened speech and the slight twitch to his movements. While he's grateful she agreed to this, beyond grateful if he's being honest with himself, he's being worrying himself since he sent her the details that the evening was going to be a huge mistake. All of his plans since coming on this ship had gone wrong, why should this go right? Peter half expected the date to crash and burn before he even coaxed J out of the room.

Still, he wasn't about to turn tail now. Not when she stood there looking like that.

"You didn't have to be fancy for me, you know. I mean, I'm not going to say you shouldn't because, wow. But it's not like I can get you into some four star restaurant while we're here."

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

J parts her lips slightly in a surprise when she's suddenly greeted by a bundle of colorful flowers, but it doesn't last more than a second or two for her to recover from it. Blinking her eyes, she summons a delightful smile to her lips and extends her hands to take them from him, pressing a light kiss on his cheek as a thanks.

Aside from the flowers, Peter really appeared just like she had thought he would: nervous and unsure of what to do next. Traits that she had never really thought to be attractive as she's always preferred more confident and mature men who wouldn't hesitate to take matters to their own hands. But still, Peter's awkwardness had its own charm, at least he's trying his best.

She pulls herself away from and withdraws to her room, expecting him to follow her in. She walks back to her beauty table and places the flowers on top of it, feeling little bummed out that she doesn't have a vase where to put them. When he comments her looks again -- or rather her choice in clothing, she glances at him over her shoulder before shrugging briefly.

i certainly hope not. with this places standards four star restaurant would probably mean two extra protein bars instead of just one. She writes him before focusing to her reflection in the mirror as she adds lipstick. Of course, she's aware how their current appearances made them look very odd couple. It's not like she had expected Peter to show up in a suit and honestly? On a place like Moira she hardly cared what he wore as his sense of fashion had already proven out to be rather catastrophic. But Peter looks like his age, she supposes, while she managed to look more older and mature with her current getup.

besides. its a date and just because were stuck in a huge tincan doesnt mean i shouldnt put effort.

[takeitslow]

He laughs lightly under his breath, shuffling awkwardly in the doorway for a moment before swallowing some nerves and walking into the room. It's not like he hadn't been in there before; just because it was a date didn't mean he had to barred from her quarters. Probably.

"What do you take me for J? I'd totally steal you more than just two." Peter half-jokes. He watches her put on the lipstick, in part because it's an excuse to stare at her lips without seeming like so much of a creep banking on getting a little action. The rest is that he's not sure if he wants her to hurry to get the date on or if he wants her to stall. "You're totally worth three. Four, even."

He takes an amused look down at his own outfit. "Saying something about my lack of effort?" Peter laughs, showing he's not offended or actually that worried about it. "Sorry, I don't do suits on a first date. Besides, why distract from what people really want to see?"

Flattery couldn't hurt, even if he was laying it on a little thick.

"But speaking of the meals on this tin can, are you saying you're not hungry? Not to give anything away, but just curious, you know."

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

The joke earns a quick grin from her through the mirror with a touch of satisfaction in her expression. He can stare all he wants. It's not like she's ever been bothered by him, or anyone else for that matter, gazing at her direction so she's hardly going to complain now. After all, she loves the attention and right now Peter's ogling is more cute than creepy.

This time she takes a moment before she replies back to him, focusing on finishing her makeup. When she's done with adding the lipstick she rubs her lips gently together to make sure that the red color spreads evenly and then opening her mouth with a faint pop-sound. Satisfied with her work, she turns around and goes to pick up the coat she had laid on the bed before.

ha. here i thought it only mattered what i wanted to see? but if youre going to wear a suit on second date then maybe i should dress up in slacks and top. to make us even. She gives him a wink at the end of her message and pulls the coat on, leaving it open so that it'll only cover the ugly marks on her arms.

maybe, it depends on what you have in your mind, dear.

[takeitslow]

"Do you really want to see me in a suit? I'd look stupid and you know it." Which isn't to say he wouldn't try to find one, if he thought she really expected it. There had to be something suitable he could buy or steal from some planet side shop, or he could bribe the tailor into it. But he was mostly certain she was just messing with him. "And we both know you'd still be turning heads in pants."

She was the catch out of the two of them and he saw no reason to be upset about that.

"Well I can't give you a five star restaurant but I can offer you a little snack in the garden. Kind of a picnic, which is sort of cliche and boring I know, but I found candles and I can promise there's no ants up there." He barrels on, smiling widely at her and appraising her outfits once again. "If you're interested in that, I mean. There's always music, dancing and stolen booze."

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

everyone looks good in a three piece. you should give it a try some time. She replies with a witty smirk. While she firmly believes in her own opinion he's still right that she's not completely serious here. She knows there's no arguing that Peter would look like a really odd duck wearing a formal outfit like that, no matter how well it would fit him.

The flattery only earns a small amused puff of air from her and a quick confident look that says you have no idea. After all, as long she can remember there's always been people looking at her way -- even when she had been younger and hadn't owned a single dress or piece of make up.

i get to choose from two? havent you been busy boy. She teases a little, pleased with the thought he's put into this. as much fun the last time i think id like to have you sober tonight. Picnic isn't exactly what she'd usually choose but after seeing and dealing with more or less drunk people every night the idea of something simple and calm sounds rather refreshing.

And with that she walks closer, pressing her body against his as she wraps her arms around him and softly nudges her head towards the door. Go and take them away, darling.

[takeitslow]

"Maybe next time," he says, and then fights to keep the awkwardness off his face. Next time? Maybe, hopefully. Maybe it was brazen to assume.

Peter shrugs and grins, scratching at his neck. "Well, I did promise you it'd be worth waiting. Figured you'd like a little choice since we didn't end up anywhere cool." He would have rather they landed somewhere with better atmosphere and more that he could take her out for something interesting. But he'd never had that kind of luck, so he'd had to improvise. "I promise not to drink then. You'll have my full and sober attention all night."

He flushes a little at the reminder of how smashed he'd gotten in his effort to work up the nerve to talk to her. And maybe a little because she'd sliding up against him. Peter grins down at her, wrapping an arm around her waist and bracing her neck. "Ready?" He asks, mostly as a formality because he doesn't give much time to react before they're off.

He sets her on her feet in the garden in the space of a second, keeping a firm hold to her until he's sure she's got her bearings. A few feet away is a classic scene, a blanket spread out under a tree with a box instead of a basket and tableware set out. There's even a candle waiting to be lit in the middle of it all. Peter has her angled so she could see it the second she recovers. "Okay there, J?"

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

Well, aside from Emiri and Collective, the planets where they had previously stopped at would have made horrible date locations. So, she didn't exactly mind going with the safer option and do it on Moira, even if it meant that they'd have to get more creative. Who knows when, if ever, they're going to land on a suitable planet next time?

While she's still not quite used to the sensation of being moved with such fast speed, getting carried by him didn't leave her nearly as sick or disoriented as it used to. Her head is still spinning a little when she's set down on the ground again and it takes a few seconds until her vision catches up with her, the blur clearing up. Panting heavily, she gives him a quick nod as a sign of affirmation. She's fine.

She blinks twice as her eyes settles down on the sight before her, a delighted smile returning on her face. Creative isn't the word she'd use to describe Peter's little picnic, it's really just as cliche as he had said earlier. But that doesn't mean J didn't appreciate it or find any charm from it. Leaning back on him, she slides her arm underneath his and looks up to him impatiently.

[takeitslow]

He slowly retracts his hands at the nod, but stays close. Nominally, it was to make sure she was really fine and wouldn't stumble. Really he just liked the excuse of being in her space for a few moments longer.

Peter's glad that the smile that spreads over her face looks genuine. He was worried the picnic would be found cheesy or simplistic; that she'd make some annoyed remark or turn her nose up at it. That he was going to break some unspoken rule of dating he hadn't the experience to know and this would be a failure before it began. But she looks happy, like she's decided to be flattered by it instead of put off by the lack of imagination. Peter sighs under his breath, letting out a little of the nervous energy that's plagued him since he gave her the time and place.

"Shall we be seated?" He asks, grin wide and leading her over to the edge of the blanket. He untangles their arms hesitantly, reaching down for the box. There's a clinking of glass as he roots around. He pulls out a few bottles; alcohol, some kind of juice, water. He'd grabbed far more than needed, not knowing what she'd want. "Drink first? I know with that speed it take a moment to settle down, so."

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

Without even thinking about it, she gives the ground a quick scan with her eyes as they walk to the blanket, checking out for any traces of a glass. Of course she's aware that majority of the glass had disappeared almost two months ago, save for body parts that few crew members still suffered from, but guess paranoia can be harder to get rid off.

Straightening her dress, she settles to sit down on the blanket and tucks some of her escaping strands behind her ear, trying to save her previous hairdo. She leans forward to see what all he has prepared for them and hums softly at the sight of the big variety. He can grin and act cool all he wants, she can still see his uncertainty shining underneath it, bright like a day. She's never had much patience for something like that but with Peter it comes across as more endearing than annoying.

Did you really raid a kitchen for me? She writes to him jokingly and nods at the juice bottle. Normally, she'd prefer alcohol over anything else but now it seemed more fair to go with something else since he's not having any either. Besides, it could be interesting to do something different for this unusual date. At least for now.

The only thing that's missing is a band playing in the background.

[takeitslow]

If he knew what she was looking for, he'd feel a little disappointed she thought he wouldn't clean up the place first. Peter and Toriel had cleaned up a lot of the glass from the gardens after he came out of the tubes, mostly to keep the small playground there from posing a threat to the kids. But of course he looked over the area for the picnic before spreading out the blanket. He wanted the date to go as perfectly as possible.

"Well, I didn't want to run back out for something you wanted," he says while pouring her the drink. His smile is sheepish, almost embarrassed that she's pointing out just how much he brought with him. At least he's not blushing yet.

Peter hands the glass over, snorting lightly. "I don't think we've got that many musical types around here. Or any instruments." That and he really wouldn't want someone to witness if this went bad. Or well, for that matter. "I would have brought my Walkman for you, but I don't think Alice Cooper really sells the atmosphere for a date. Unless you like everything loud and angry."

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

There are some around. J can actually think few right away off the top of her head. After she started to work as an assistant to the personnel office team -- another job that she's lately greatly neglected -- she's come to be more familiar with different jobs and positions on the ship. Though, if asked J's personal opinion the most of those 'musically inclined' people had absolutely zero talent and even as a mute she was more capable than them.

She takes the offered glass from him and waits until he's done with filling his own, then raising it in the air towards him to toast. To their humble, overly cliche first date.

[takeitslow]

"Next time I'll consult you before planning." If she wanted music, he'd have to keep it in mind for the chance to do this again. Maybe he'd catch a break and they'd end up some planet he could take her dancing. She seems the type to like that.

He clinks his glass to hers, grinning widely. A sip later and he's digging into the box to pull out the rest of the picnic, sitting several choices from the mess in front of her. The portions aren't much, not with how the rules have been recently, but his own dietary needs meant he could get away with taking more. He raised his eyebrows as he set out different treats; if she thought the multiple drinks was bad, she'd probably get a laugh out of this.

morning after; CW: implied sex, discussion of character death

[takeitslow]

He's up well before she is, not surprising since he rarely sleeps well or long. There's a few moments where he keeps still, just watching her breath before thinking that would be an entirely creepy thing for her to wake up to. He thinks about going to get them both breakfast, being served in bed had to be a nice way to start things off. But he knows he can't get back in without waking her up and Peter doesn't want her to wake up to thinking he left, so he ends up slipping out of bed to putter around the room instead.

Peter gives her all of another half hour before he's bored of stopping himself from going through her things. He ends up back on the bed, poking at her covered sides and placing a kiss on her cheek. "Just going to sleep the day away J? Do you really want to leave me to explore your room by myself?" He laughs, speaking into her hair. "Come on, get up. Talk to me.

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

Well, Peter's not the only light sleeper in the room. It's been ages since J had been able to go through a whole night without waking up and this was no different. She had woken up from middle of her dream at least twice during the night, but had also luckily managed to go back to sleep almost right away.

But the slight and careful shift on the bed was enough to disturb her sleep, bringing her to the hazy state between the awareness and dream. At first she listens him moving around the room, the quiet and uneven steps preventing her from falling back to sleep. And just as she's used to the sounds he makes, feeling the dream catching up on her, the mattress moves once again - this time with a small weight pressing down on her.

Unfortunately just because she's up easy to wake up doesn't mean she's morning person.

She answers to his coaxing and kisses with a slow and deep sigh, withdrawing away from him as she pulls the blanket over her face. Give her five more minutes.

[takeitslow]

He laughs under his breath at her antics. He's in a good enough mood that the action comes off as cute and he slips his finger tips under the edge of the blanket. "Come on J," Peter says, voice low and sing-song. He tugs at the cover just a little, testing whether she's going to give into him yet.

"Don't make me tickle you awake," he tries, wiggling his fingers under the blanket enough to touch at the nape of her neck. He's trying to keep everything gentle and quiet, not wanting to break the fragile feeling of a good morning. He just wants it to keep being good, for things to be just as happy with them awake and together as it had been the night before. "I don't want to be awake all by myself. Help a guy out, huh? As much fun as you are to stare at, you're a lot better when you're talking."

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

There's even more sighing and silent grunting as a protest to his bothering. Feeling the light touch ghosting against the skin on her nape accompanied by the teasing threats about the tickles causes her try to cling on the cover more and hunch shoulders up to her ears. Well, it's clear now that she's awake now and that there's no chance for her to get any more sleep as long he's awake. And at this point she's not getting up out of stubbornness.

But then he persuades again, voice sweet and nice with a hint of love-struck and she decides that there's really worse things wake up to. For a brief moment she smiles faintly to the pillow out of the satisfaction, not that Peter can actually see it, but then the second comment about her talking reaches her eyes which makes the smile drop and turn into more confused one. The first one she had let slide, not paying any attention to it and maybe it was the morning sleepiness but this one sounded way too off to her ears, considering her 'condition.'

She shifts on the bed again, turning to look at him under her messy curls with a questioning eyes. He has her attention now.

[takeitslow]

The first thing she'll see is the stupid smile on his face, the glee lighting him up, when he realizes she's awake. She's not wrong to think of him as love-struck, there's nothing in the moment he's thinking about other than her and how happy he is that they're finally here. That this happened. Not even what Peter's saying is registering in his mind, the words just coming out in some stream of conscious to detract from the spring of happy nerves in his stomach.

"Finally," he says with a degree of satisfaction, moving strands of hair away from her eyes. The smile starts to slip a little when Peter notices the look in her eye. For a moment he wonders if he crossed some line of sleeping over etiquette. "What's with that look, huh? I can promise you don't need any beauty sleep if you're mad about me getting you up."

When in doubt, flatter.

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

Well, unfortunately Peter's going to find out soon that flattery isn't going to salvage every situation with her.

Her brows are knitted into a small frown as she keeps looking at him, lips slightly curling downwards in disapproval. She's not angry with him as the comment must have slipped off from him accidentally, which isn't all that surprising since Peter's mouth tends to run just as fast as he. It's just too bad that his brains always seems to come a few too many steps behind. And yes, while it's true that his little tactless choice with words isn't enough to make her angry, especially now that she's still feeling some of the bliss from the last night, it doesn't mean that there isn't any traces of annoyance waking up in the back of her head.

She really isn't a morning person and no matter how good things were between them last night, she still doesn't want to be waken up by Peter jumping on her bed and demanding her attention like some overly eager puppy. Well, guess she can let it slide this time, as long he doesn't make a habit out of it.

Yawning widely, she rubs her eye to her palm and briefly considers of opening her MID to check the time and to write Peter something -- only ending up deciding against it. No, it's him who wanted her awake (and talking) so he gets to decide what to do next.

[takeitslow]

The frown makes him feel wrong footed and nervous. He sits up straighter, putting a few inches of space between them. He flounders for a moment, plucking at the duvet and then smoothing it out again.

"Good morning." That's a safe place to start, he thinks. He turns his voice teasing again, trying to cover his hesitation. "Rise and shine. If you wanted to spend all day in bed, I promise I'll leave you alone for that later."

Even if part of him wanted to spend all his time around her, soaking in her attention, he's not so far gone yet not to realize she was going to kick him out eventually. He starts to ramble, nerves worse that she's just staring and not even bothering to text.

"I was going to go get you breakfast, you know. Everyone likes to be served in bed, right? But I realized I couldn't get back in without you being up. Or we could go get some, together?" Or is that against the unspoken rules to keep spending time the morning after? "I mean, it'd be a shame to make you get dressed for that. Which is why I'm saying I'd go if you wanted. Or we could just sit here and you know."

He gestures between the two of them. Talk about it, is what he means to communicate. But he's not sure if that's what's going through.

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

She turns on the bed to lay on her back and pulls her arms out under the blanket to run her fingers over her face and through her hair, letting out another deep sigh. She doesn't need to look at him to notice his nervousness. She can really feel as the excitement drops from him and is replaced with the uncertainty and -- oh dear, he's rambling.

Moving her hand a little off from her face, she takes a peek at him. Seeing his obvious discomfort does make her feel a little bad. It's not like she wants to get rid of him, in fact she had kind of hoped to spend a long morning with him in the bed, maybe stretching into the afternoon even. And his thought about the breakfast together had been sweet and cute. Maybe she's being too harsh with him?

She crooks her finger to invite him lean in close again and then gives her lips a quick tap. Come on. Give her a morning kiss at least.

[takeitslow]

He smiles, relief crossing his face. The invitation means she can't be too upset with him, right? Or at least he doesn't think J would kiss him if she was truly angry with him.

Peter leans over, catching her wrist and first landing a peck on her fingertips. Then he goes in for a real kiss, kissing her cheek too for good measure. When he pulls back, it's with a grin. He thinks things are back on track.

"Now are you going to tell me what you want to do? Or are we going to spend all day in bed?" His grin turns cheeky, eyebrows wiggling. He doesn't expect that to be the option she takes. "Or are we taking the talking about things option?"

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

Her smile widens, too, as he leans over again to press kisses on her. She closes her eyes as she parts her lips and kisses him back, slowly and tenderly. Her free hand finding a place behind his neck to keep him close and even as he pulls away she slides hand along his shoulder down to his forearm.

There's a moment she looks nothing but pleased, like a cat that's found a new warm spot where to lie on. The word 'talk' still echoes badly to her ears but this time she lets it be, it's really not worth to get mad about. Tact had never been Peter's strongest suite, especially in the mornings apparently, so there was really no point in starting to fuss about his choices with words.

Lazily she moves her hands away from him and finally reaches for her MID, opening it and fumbles around the keys as she takes a little longer than usually when trying to find right letters.

what do you want to talk about?

[takeitslow]

He doesn't back up much, still hovering near by like metal drawn to a magnet. His hand finds her leg, lighting settling on her thigh from over the blankets. He's practically addicted to touching her, now that he thinks it's allowed. Peter squeezes a little once he realizes she's typing.

Everything, anything. But those answers sounded too loaded for them even now and he swallows the urge. Peter rolls his shoulder into a shrug, gaze skittering from the wall back to her. "You, maybe," he says with a smile. "Or anything you want to tell me."

He'd listen to her, read from her, all day if she'd let him.

"If I was mean enough to wake you up," he starts, chuckling, "I might as well let you pick, huh?"

[gentlemenpreferblondes]

J responds to his hand by moving her legs a little and bends them so that they're leaning gently against his sides, hoping that it'd encourage him to keep it up. The touch was very much welcomed, just as it has always been. While she had a good run with playing him, keeping him on the leash at the distance and teasing him for his hesitation, she still liked this side of him more.

Ok. She answers and looks up from her MID, giving him sleepy but coy smile. She wonders if it'd be worth of the effort to ask him more about the Walkman and who Alice Cooper is. It's challenging enough to have any lengthy conversations with using text only and now that she's still barely awake it just feels way too troublesome. Besides, Peter had already suggested her favorite subject to talk about: herself.

ask me anything.