rattlingthestars | IC Inbox II

[ As usual when something involves Zell's mouth, Jim's looking stunned by the time he gets the suggestion. ]

My -?

[ Oh! The drink. He jerks back, looking around. ]

- It got all over you, didn't it?

[ He couldn't help but crack a grin at that as he snickers quietly. ]

Not all over. Only my back feels sticky.

[ Keeping a hand on Jim's waist to keep him there longer as he presses a kiss on a finger that was believed to have a link directly to the heart. ]

I should have more. Snagged a bunch from the vending machines.

Cool.

[ Jim's voice is soft as Zell kisses his hand, but it takes on just a little teasing of its own. ]

Careful or we'll have to tell Doctor Watson you haven't been brushing your teeth.

[ Laughing quietly as he lets his mouth linger there. ]

I'm not the one drinking it.

[ Then pausing. ]

Think it counts if I kiss someone who loves the stuff?

[ Has to brush his teeth after every kiss? ]

What, you want to stop just in case?

[ Jim doesn't sound remotely afraid of that, at least. ]

What? No. [ Laughing as he nuzzles against his head. ] No threat of doctors or cavities will keep me away.

[ Curling his hand under Jim's chin to lift his head up to bump their noses together. Not going to kiss him yet, even if it's really tempting. ]

I know it's not really like the stories we've read, but there really is no time like now, right?

Mm-hmm.

[ Jim doesn't quite understand, but then he's not really thinking by this point. He's just worn out and close to Zell and will agree to just about anything. ]

-Wait, what?

You know how in stories it's usually a whole lot more romantic and someone gets on their knee.

[ He says it as if Jim totally knows where he's going with this. ]

Don't really want to move though.

[ Pausing to give him a quick peck on the mouth. He's comfortable, even with the sticky back. ]

[ Jim accepts the peck, but then he's pulling back to stare at Zell. Down on one knee couldn't mean what he thought it did, right? ]

Zell.

[ Zell what? Jim's not sure. ]

Are you asking me what I think you're asking me?

[ He has to pause there as he tries to read Jim's expression to get some inkling to where his mind is. ]

I don't know. I mean, I hope you're thinking of what I'm thinking. What do you think I'm asking you?

You first.

[ Jim's expression is still somewhere between dumbfounded and excited. ]

[ Forget plans. It's already basically canned thanks to the monster, so he'll just not think about it or whatever expression Jim is wearing. ]

It's this.

[ Giving Jim a longer kiss as a distraction as he digs into his pocket to pull the ring out. Just going to blindly feel for Jim's left hand as he deepens the kiss. Don't mind Zell, he just likes it so he's putting a ring on it. ]

[ The kiss makes Jim forget what they're talking about. It usually does, but when his emotions are already running so high it's even more distracting. He doesn't get it when Zell gropes around for his hand, keeps trying to move his fingers and make Zell work harder at it until the ring slides home and.

Oh.

Oh.

He was right.

He breaks the kiss with a breathless huff and stares at Zell. ]

Are you- really?

[ Panting as he sneaks a glance at Jim's fingers to make sure the ring is on the right finger. Booyah! He did the thing.

Grinning as he meets Jim's looks and finds himself unable to breathe completely. His chest pounds and there is a fluttery feeling inside of him. An almost nervous and joyous fluttering that is moving up into this throat. ]

Y-yeah. [ Taking a moment to swallow as he gives a nod. ] Yeah, I'm really. So, what do you think? I mean, what's your answer?

[ He accidentally skipped the actual asking part. ]

[ Jim helps; as soon as Zell lets go of the hand he holds it up to examine the ring Zell made. He recognizes the metal almost immediately. When did Zell even have time...?

He can't keep the grin off his face, even as his stomach rolls with some emotion he can't even name, it's so complicated. This is big - huge - and he still can't quite believe that someone feels this way about him. It's a promise, and one Jim's happy to make in return. ]

-Yeah. I mean, yes. The answer is yes.

[ He takes a deep breath and looks down at Zell's collar, then back into his eyes. ]

I said I wanted to be with you as long as we can. I hope that's forever.

[ Looking back for a moment and just going to pull them both down onto the mattress as he gives Jim a squeeze. ]

Yes! Thank you, baby. [ Giving a big smooch against his temple as he hugs him again. ]

I'll do my best. [ To make it go the distant. To make it worth going the distance. ]

One day at a time, right? [ That's how he's going to take it. He knows these things could go wrong, especially here. There are no guarantees but they'll cross it if they get there. This just... gives him some additional incentive. Something to look forward to. A promise to keep the adventure going even after they get the hell out of this. ]

[ Jim's happy to be pulled and not all that careful about landing on top of Zell in a tangle of limbs. ]

Don't thank me. I'm the one getting the better deal.

[ He punctuates that by tightening his arms around Zell and making a contented noise. ]

How long have you been thinking about this?

[ He adjusts them a little to make them fit a little better. Kissing the top of Jim's hair as he shakes his head. ]

I'm getting the best deal. I'm getting a guy who is smart, good with his hands, and has a great smile.

[ There are a lot of things he can say. Maybe he'll write all over him next time he's passed out hard. Or maybe after they finish off the alcohol. ]

Since I mixed up our last names. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it. Then you brought it up.

[ Which pretty much cemented it. ] I'll get something better when we're home.

[ Jim holds up Zell's hand in his own, looking down at the ring and then up at Zell. He raises his eyebrows. ]

I'm not the only one that's good with my hands.

[ He can't quite believe Zell's been thinking about it this long, and he feels a swell in his chest. Normal people might take the time to say 'I love you' or something, but Jim blurts out: ]

What if I want to keep this one?

[ He seems to preen at the compliment. Shifting his hold to make it easier as he decides to show just how good he is. Flipping Jim over as he rolls to be on top. Leaning down to kiss him breathless into the mattress.

Once he remembers he needs to breathe, he'll plant his hands on either side of Jim to keep from squishing him completely under him. Nuzzling against his ear as he talks ]

You can wear two.

[ He knows Jim's I love yous are gifts shown through actions and letters more than words. ]

I did make a matching one. It's in my other pocket.

[ Jim blinks up, a little stunned, before he dives for Zell's pocket without any warning. He comes up with the second ring, running his thumb over it to get a feel for which key Zell had used without looking. ]

That means it's my turn, right?

[ A part of him was hoping Jim might stay in his pockets. He's perplexed by what Jim is up to. ]

Your turn?

[ Tracing along his jawline, while looking up at him. ]

[ Maybe later.

Jim leans into the touch but then sits back on Zell's thighs, considering him. ]

Zell -

[ He hesitates, thinking it over, and then shrugs before holding out the ring. ]

Forever, right?

[ For a moment he's distracted as he looks Jim over. Then he nods as he lifts his hand up for the ring. ]

Yeah. Forever, baby.

[ Placing his other hand on Jim's hip as he sits up too. Just going to bump noses against each other. ]

Going to do my best to make you proud and give you reasons to look forward to the future.

You already did,

[ Jim says as he captures him in a kiss. ]

IC Inbox II

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TAKING SOME LIBERTIES

oh my

this is dumb pfft

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