[Nexus] Home 9

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Ericka's

"Or he wins, and I lose you..." Julie's eyes are closed tight, and she holds onto Ericka like a piece of flotsam in a storming sea.

I can't lose you. We can't. S'hel speaks even louder than Julie, surprisingly. It hadn't seemed like she'd developed much of an attachment to Ericka up until now, so perhaps Julie's feelings are just bleeding over somewhat.

The kiss that comes is fast and desperate. Another reassurance that Ericka will still be there in the morning.

After that, all of her worries catch up with her and unless Ericka wishes to prod her further she falls into a fitful sleep, clinging to the smaller woman tightly.

[Halae]

[Julie & Ericka's]

Julie will perhaps get more confirmation of Ericka being there, as when the kiss is put forth, Ericka leans into it passionately, and will attempt to try and draw the curtain, knowing it's something that Julie knows and is comfortable with. Also, it's something very nice to do, to remind yourself you're alive.

Falling asleep afterwards though? Ericka will sleep well once that's done.

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Ericka's

Julie does not protest the curtain, but is certainly not interested in it. What she is interested in is keeping Ericka as close and as happy as possible.

She is extremely gentle though, tender in a way that hasn't been present in their relationship until now. There are so many things she wants to say, but they can wait, just for tonight..

Julie probably falls asleep first, and will stay that way long past what she normally does. She's emotionally exhausted.

[Halae]

[Julie & Ericka's]

Ericka will wake up before julie this time, looking at the other woman with a wuiet kind of endearment. Ericka hasn't decided if she loves Julie. or rather, if she will. It's a bit too soon, especially after what she did to her with forcing him to rape Julie. But no matter what, Ericka is there for her.

Unfortunately, she's also probably eaten almost everything in the house. She gets up at this point, disentangling her from her fiendish paramour, and heads into the kitchen after pulling on some clothes, intent on making something for Julie in return for what was made for her.

What's left around the house?

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Ericka's

What else? About a half dozen massive pretzels, enough liquor to start a bar, and an assortment of frozen foods in the fridge's freezer compartment. If Ericka's search takes her to the back of the freezer she'll find a pair of steaks in a baggy that don't look too freezer burnt. There's also a half eaten package of waffles and three egg rolls that aren't terrible. The rest is covered in ice thick enough that she'd have to melt it out just to read the labels.

When Julie wakes up and Ericka isn't right next to her she lets out a little whimper, both audible and telepathically. Almost immediately afterwards Ericka should sense her go back into her restless sleep.

[Halae]

[Julie & Ericka's]

Ericka will take the Waffles out and, using starspawn power, reconstitute them. this isn't even reheating; she's literally returning them to how they tasted before they were frozen. add in a bit of syrup, and Ericka brings a plate full of delectable, syrup covered waffles to Julie, waking her up with a quiet voice, "Hey, breakfast is ready."

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Ericka's

"You weren't there when I woke up. You should always be there." Julie neglects the waffles, instead reaching out with her telekinesis to try to lift Ericka back into her arms.

If it works, the waffle plate will be left floating in mid-air as Julie attempts to cuddle, not wanting to let her go for anything.

"Somedays I just want to burn the world and not look back Eric. Who's going to be there to stop me if not you?" Julie forgets Ericka's current form for now. She knows who she needs.

[Halae]

[Julie & Ericka's]

Ericka just smiles as she's lifted into cuddles. It would be terrible if the waffles spilled over, but that isn't happening, "I'll be here as long as you need me Julie. As long as I can keep helping you, I'll be here."

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Ericka's

Julie almost smiles at that, "I'm not sure I'll ever stop needing this. I guess you'll be stuck with me for a very long time."

The waffles float down to land on a pillow between them.

"I don't eat much. Why don't you go back to being Eric for now? You could use a bit more meat on your bones. Tonight is supposed to be the show, and I'll need you at your best." Julie's intentions aren't very honourable, but she's being honest with Ericka about them. She isn't sure when Magtok will strike at them, but if it's at the Casino she doesn't want Eric at anything less than a hundred percent.

[Halae]

[Julie and Ericka's]

Ericka sighs, knowing she has to change back to the painful body now. The switch happens quickly, and Eric gives out a little grunt as he transfers back into the pain. That said, the repairwork he did last night was good enough to fix a few things and lessen it somewhat, and with all of his tentacles reconstituted, he should be able to do even more. which he does, even as he eats waffles. MMMMMMM, waffles.

He doesn't say anything for a while, just eating to get his strength back.

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

Julie coos to him as he eats, still holding him loosely in her arms. The last of the waffles might get stolen from the plate, coming to dangle from Julie's teeth as she looks into his eyes innocently. The challenge is clear.

Elsewhere in the house, Boo is packing some essentials. Things important for going on the road, but too trivial for Eric to spend biomass creating. Once the ghost is done, he shoves it all into the hall closet just in case they need to leave in a hurry. He even throws in his much hated dollhouse.

[Halae]

[Julie and Eric's]

Eric just keeps eating, not really minding any stolen food items here. It'll take a couple hours before he's fully fixed himself, and before then he's in too much pain to do any real talking.

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

Julie seems to be getting better emotionally as Eric heals. It's as much about seeing him get better as it is about feeling more secure in herself.

What's all this worrying about? She's done worse things than this to worse people. So long as she can make sure Eric gets through alright she'll be okay. Nothing can kill a Fiske and make it stick, she's sure.

When he looks well enough to talk, she decides to ask him something, "What do you think about the Orgs? I've been to AMEN, and it was like a pile of snakes in there." She shudders at the memory.

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

"Never been to any of them, actually," Eric says, "I went to Aurora briefly, but it was fairly short lived. Haven't really looked into any of the other locations. Why do you ask?"

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

I want to have options... she's broadcasting her thoughts, not meaning to.

"I want to check around, see if anyone has use for someone like me now that I'm getting away from Maggie. You don't really have to join in, but I'd like it if you were there when I made the rounds." She really would. She can just imagine the fallout that would happen if Eric wasn't there to stop her from trying to flirt bribe and blackmail her way into one of the better Orgs.

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

"Alright, I wouldn't mind that. Maybe see if there isn't a place I can go to as well, since I'm probably going to be out of a job myself," he says

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

"Maybe..." she gives him a heated kiss, "But lets make sure we end up on the same side okay?"

Hmm, Julie ponders her next words carefully. She had them perfectly in mind before she went to sleep, but her dreams had chased them away.

"Eric... I know you won't leave me just like that... but is this really okay with you? How happy can you be, being my minder all day for the rest of eternity?"

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

Eric just smiles, "Julie, you have to understand a bit about the way my mind works. I only do something if there's a direction to it, a purpose. for example; job hunting. some people can wander around with resumes, looking for places that are hiring. I can't; I have a specific destination in mind or I can't even get up the will to go."

"This isn't much different. I have a purpose, and you know from sharing my body that when I have a direction, I will focus on it until it's seen through. if it's never seen through? guess I'll just be focusing on it a long time"

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

She shakes her head, "That isn't what I mean... I need to know I'm not going to make you miserable before I can do this... I know there's not much we can do about Maggie, besides whatever you might have planned, but it's more than that." She nestles her head in his chest, crying openly because of what she's about to say.

"Because as stubborn and focused and driven as you're prepared to be for me, I'd rather let you go than watch you... feel you come to resent my presence."

The tears don't stop, but she chokes back her next sob and looks up into his eyes with a smile, "Because as much as I need you, I also need to stop hurting you. When I felt your pride welling up in me yesterday it was like everything was finally right again." Her face falls, "And a few days ago I felt like burning the world, if it meant knowing that there was a reason beyond my own idiocy that I'd never see you again."

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

Eric just grins, "I thought you would have noticed by now, what with having been in my body; I don't hate, resent, or detest anything. I almost physically can't. If you keep doing things to me like you dead when we were in the shower? Yeah, I don't know how much of that I could stand. Certainly not a lot. But as long as you're not going out of your way to be terrible to me, I don't think I'll ever find the need to leave you."

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

"And I'm not sure you've noticed, but I'm not exactly feeling my most self assured right now dear. But thank you," She plants another kiss on each of his cheeks, "for not letting me wallow in misery. I think I can manage to avoid being completely horrible from now on. I'll feel much better knowing you're here to keep me guided in the right direction though."

"So we're fed, we've talked, and all my horrible mistakes have caught up with me. The only question is, what now?" There are many places they can take this day, but in the end the destination has to be the same. The casino.

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

"We could look into a few places before the show; maybe GLoG and... well that's really the only one I know off had, and they ostensibly do redemption for the evil, so there's that too." Eric says, thinking. As he does, Julie may feel on of Eric's tentacles wrapping around her ankle.

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

She's rather preoccupied with showering his face and chest with kisses, so doesn't say anything about the tentacle beyond noting it.

"Hmm, okay. Might not be my first choice of places to stay though. I'm not sure they could do any better of a job than you have."

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

"So... Honestly, I think where we go is largely up to you. what sorts of places do you want to check out?" Eric says, returning some of the kisses.

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

"Let's go to GLoG first then. If it's not worth it the it's best to get it out of the way. After that maybe NO? I've heard good things about their leader." Julie is still a bit puzzled by the appendake around her leg, but trusts Eric enough not to trip her up or something else cruel.

"Now all we have to do is find the will to get out of this cozy bed." In between making out with Eric, Julie has managed to make herself quite comfortable here.

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

Eric's tentacle unwraps from Julie's ankle, but he seems to be caught in a conundrum.

"You're right; I can't get up. This bed is too comfortable."

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

"Hmm, no, we can't afford to waste any more time. I really don't want to be caught with my knickers around my ankles if Maggie pulls something tonight." With a lot of effort, Julie extracts herself from the sheets and Eric's arms, flicking her fingers and swapping the cheongsam she made onto her body in a puff of smoke and fire. It may be a "seen" outfit, but she enjoys how it turned out.

"Lets get away from the warm covers and the temptation to do things to each other's bodies for now. If we survive tonight, then I'll see about giving you a proper reward."

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

Eric chuckles, also pulling himself out of bed. It occurs to me now that he hasn't changed out of the clothes made for Ericka yesterday. In a sienna flash, he's back to more normal clothes, all pitch black, his longcoat hanging down over his tentacles, which hang out the bottom. "Then, to GLoG, I suppose." He walks over to the window, "I'll meet you outside,"

And then he fazes through the wall. When Julie gets outside, she'll find him just outside the front door.

[Slii Arhem]

Julie & Eric's

When he phases out she smiles, snapping her fingers and appearing at the door next to him in a burst of flame.

Her clothes appear in another burst a second later. Thankfully no one else was around to see that.

"Shall we fly? I can carry you if you're not feeling one hundred percent." The look on her face says she wants to chase away the melancholy that's been plaguing their conversations. And what better way to do that than a race?

[Halae]

[Julie & Eric's]

Eric smiles, "nah, I can work it." He jumps from his spot, landing on top of a lamp post, "I'll meet you there, slowpoke!" and with another leap, he's moving over buildings. Julie will have to move quickly to catch up.