[OPEN] empty bottles and broken glass

[cachemoney]

CHARACTERS: Fiona and YOU
DATE: Early to mid-October
SUMMARY: A sexy farmhand bounty, an open prompt post-canon update, and some closed threads.

early october. RHINESTONE COWBOYS.

[Having absolutely no idea how to budget and already spending all her money on frivolous things (though she would argue they are not at all frivolous -- one can never own enough hats, you know), Fiona is out of money. Already. Just completely broke. So, she's started looking over the bounty board for a quick way to get cash, and helping out this farmer with his love life seems to be the simplest and lowest impact option.

She did not, however, anticipate it being this boring.

She's out at the edge of the farmer's land, dressed in some ridiculous midriff-bearing outfit with Daisy Dukes and the worst hat she's ever worn ("it's part of the costume," the farmer told her when she protested, "you have to"), leaning seductively on fence posts and draping herself sexily over robot horses. She would be embarrassed if she weren't getting paid so well, playing sex kitten is not her usual forte, and she mutters to the metal horse she's currently arching her back against.] I promise I'm not usually like this. [The horse nickers, unconvinced.]

mid-october. CANON UPDATE.

[After getting smacked so hard that she flies into another dimension, Fiona has A Lot to deal with. It's very disorienting, going from trauma to trauma and having the memory of both things hitting her all at once. She's back in Perdition's Rest immediately, though it's not immediate for her; months have passed, she's been through some stuff, and she's also, like, frustrated? Kind of frustrated. Getting whisked away right after opening a Vault is frustrating.

She's at the saloon, hunched over a little at the bar as she nurses a whiskey, watching her hand as she curls and uncurls her fingers, trying to reconcile both sets of memories into some kind of coherent timeline.]

Comments

[moneyballer]

[It's electric, almost, how Asher's face lights up right away. He's never been very good at hiding his emotions, and the pure, unadulterated joy he experiences in this moment is almost palpable.

Taking Fiona's hand in his own, he gently leads her to the dance floor, scoffing at the local melody.]

This is preeeeetty slow.

Not really my speed, but! It's something.

[Here's an excuse to touch her, although she will notice that he's very careful about it. Both hands wrap around her waist but not too tightly, and he pulls her in close enough to almost close the distance between them, but not quite.

Even if nothing comes of this, the minimal physical contact is enough to sustain him. There's something about the warmth of another person's body, even the slightest brush of skin against, that's enough to keep him going for a good long while.]

[cachemoney]

[The more time she spends with Asher, the more endearing she finds him. She was trained since she was young to keep her emotions in check, to never let anyone know what she's thinking, and it's honestly refreshing to hang out with someone who's that open about himself. She can't reciprocate, it's too hard, but it feels good to be around it at the very least.

She grins broadly when he holds her, easily looping her arms around his shoulders and tilting her hips a little closer. He's being gentlemanly, she knows, but she's not really here for that.] What kind of music do you dance to where you're from? [But also, uh. More importantly.] Where are you from?

[moneyballer]

[Her body language is what causes him to shift gears a little, taking the hint as he steps closer.

Asher sways in tune with the rhythm of the melody. An index finger grazes Fiona's back as one hand slides a little further downward, not enough to be lewd but enough to imply that he's ready to go farther if she's willing.]

You really wanna know?

[He wants to tell her that he grew up in upstate New York dreaming about a life in the city, a place full of people.

The bigger a house is, the smaller you feel.]

Ever heard of Philadelphia?

[Asher's voice gets softer and deeper all at once.]

[cachemoney]

[Asher is in luck, because having her back touched is a sure-fire way to turn Fiona into a stupid pile of human-shaped Jello. Her back arches subtly but she keeps her attention on what he's saying; she doesn't really know anyone in ALASTAIR all that well, and it's never a bad time to start gathering information.]

Hah. Is that a planet or a city? [Thaaaat should answer his question.]

i was so ashamed i had 2 rewrite this

[moneyballer]

A city.

[His smile grows wider.

Asher may seem as though he has nothing to hide, but there's definitely one secret he isn't telling anyone about soon.]

It's where I go to school.

[Catching wind of that slight wriggle, thumb rubs a small circle over whatever he can feel beneath it, which is her jacket most likely. If she's down, he's down; this is about as subtle as he gets.]

[shame]

[cachemoney]

[She wears a lot of layers, it's true. That #steampunk #aesthetic.

She can't help it; her smile brightens in response to his own. This sort of easy, low-key situation is just what she needed. Running around the multiverse saving planets can get tiring, and it's nice to unwind every now and then.]

Ooh, school. How fancy. [Fiona... did not go to school... if it wasn't obvious, she's kind of a hobo.

She can feel his thumb and bites her lip, head tilting to the side.] You learn anything that you think I'd like?

[moneyballer]

[Fiona is a little rough around the edges, sure. Then again, Asher has always been attracted to what he's never had, what he isn't. They don't know each other very well but that's not enough to discourage him, as he's prone to making rash decisions quite frequently.

He leans in a little flirtatiously, hoping he isn't making a mistake regarding his interpretation of that lip bite. People around here are quick to throw a punch at the slightest offense, so he's still staying on his toes.]

You into criminal law?

[A bubble of a laugh, and their foreheads are suddenly touching.]

[cachemoney]

[Fiona is trying to keep her whole con artist/grifter/thief thing on the downlow, instead telling everyone she's a Vault hunter. Much more reputable, much less likely to have people distrust her. But still, she can't help but laugh about it. He's going to school for law, how perfect is that?

The forehead bump is a nice touch, and she slides one hand under his arm so she can splay her fingers on his back. Lowering her voice, she teases,] Only if that means you have handcuffs on you. [She's grinning, it's a joke, but she still tilts up to plant a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth.]

[moneyballer]

[Oh no, a real kiss.

Asher's been starved for affection since day one. Being thrust into space after a messy hookup with a mentor figure wasn't the best way to start things off. Hot and then cold so suddenly, she had assured him that he was worth wanting until the minute that phone rang, and then he wound up here.

He should know better, but a bleeding heart and a foolish mind are a deadly combination.]

Whoa.

[Her breath is so warm against his skin, and he closes his eyes while savoring the sensation of her lips so close to his own, laughing. It's not a giggle or a loud noise, but deep, filled with something else entirely.]

Kinky.

[Asher kisses her without thinking, melting into her touch. For now he feels nothing but unbridled joy, because he's craved this for so long.

Later, however, it will be a decision he'll regret.]

[cachemoney]

[If you life on a garbage planet in the asshole of the universe where people kill each other for fun, you wind up getting a little kinky as a matter of course. Asher kisses her and she makes a low, pleased sound into his mouth, happy with the attention and what she perceives as reception to what she's angling for. It's been awhile and she's frustrated; she usually doesn't move this fast, but Asher is sweet and built, and she gets the feeling he takes direction well.

She reaches up to cup the side of his face and bites delicately at his lower lip, then pulls away. Her voice is still low and her eyes are half closed as she leans in and says,] I think I might be finished dancing. Do you want to go somewhere else?

[moneyballer]

[Fiona gives him a taste of something rougher; the slightest hint of teeth has his heart thumping mighty quickly. Hard and fast is fine with him, as he understands that the pleasures of the flesh are the easiest way to keep one's mind off more difficult matters.

That and he loves following orders, especially in bed.]

Sure.

[He watches her move away pretty reluctantly, eager to get close again.]

What'd you have in mind?

[cachemoney]

[Brushing her bangs back with her fingers, she smiles and steps back off the dance floor, expecting Asher to follow.] Weeeell. My... roommates. [Or whatever--] Are out for the night. So we would have my place all to ourselves.

[moneyballer]

[Asher takes a few steps in her direction before his brain screeches to an untimely halt. She was nice enough to invite him over, and yet his impatience is enough to affect his (already pretty irrational) manner of thinking.]

Couldn't we just use the bathroom?

[cachemoney]

[Jesus. Classy. Not that Fiona is the epitome of grace and elegance, but she'll accept nothing less than the back of a car.

She rolls her eyes and tips her hat back with a single finger to the brim.] Yeah, the bathroom we're sharing with like a hundred people, including literal hookers. Why didn't I think of that. [She holds her hand out for him to take, softening her tone to smooth the sarcasm out.] Come on, Millstone.

[moneyballer]

[She might be able to see his throat move as he swallows hard, considering his options.

Rhys had seemed so upset about the potential of these two seeing each other, and Asher had agreed to meet Fiona thinking that this evening would go nowhere. In fact, he wouldn't have been surprised if she ditched him mid-date, as she doesn't seem like the type of girl who'd stick around just to be nice.

Their mutual friend doesn't have to know about this, though, and he probably won't. It's just sex, that's it, two people comforting each other for a few hours. Besides, this is Fiona's choice to make.

And she's chosen him for the time being.]

Okay.

[Asher takes Fiona's hand, squeezing it gently.]

Let's ditch this joint.