Bough -- Logs

It is sometime in a timeless moment, when one's mind drifts ever so slightly in a dream and suddenly things are different, but that's all right because you know things are just the way they should be. Once again, Mikal finds herself elsewhere. This time, it is not anywhere she has been before, but it seems somewhat familiar.

She stands upon a stone balcony, looking out across a vast city. The city is simply huge, sprawling as far as the eye can see. But at the same time it is not horrible to the eye. THere are trees, and no building is terribly high. And while it is not quiet neither are the birds drowned out by the sound of people and horse-hooves upon cobblestones. And at the same time, off in the distance, stands a simply towering edifice. It is a tower, of apparently wrought iron or steel, but of such a scale as to be unbelievable, the sides curving upwards and narrowing to a point so far above the streets. And yet, it too seems to fit here, and is not starkly out of place; rather, it stands there, not lording over the city, but a part of it, as if some part of this place simple reached upward to show the world beyond the city -- if there can be and 'outside' with such a sprawling community -- that it was here, and nothing more.

The balcony Mikal finds herself standing at is but two stories off the cobblestone street, and ivies cling to it's walls tenaciously, like nature is not so much aggressively reasserting itself as it is shrugging and carrying on with the way nature is everywhere. The buildings in this part of the city are a simple earth tone, with bursts of greenery in window boxes and the occasional tree along the street. There are quite a few people milling about but this seems to be a sleepier part of the city. From below, directly below, comes the scents of fresh-baked bread, of splashes of wine, of rich chocolate and pastries. Somewhere there is a softly melancholy band playing music, and a woman's voice singing accompaniment.

Briefly, a large-eared squirrel scampers onto the balcony's ledge, nervous and preening as it braves being so close to a person on the off chance that it might find food nearby or, better yet, instead of being chased off with a broom, be gifted by said human with a few small, tasty nuts.

Mikal grins at the squirrel, then checks her person to see what she's got.

Mikal is humming in contented harmony with the music. Oddly, though the music seems melancholy, she can feel her spirits lifting as she listens. She is wearing a blouse and slacks, and sandals. She sees that the balcony has a plater of chocolates and fruits there as well, and a bottle of wine and two fluted glasses.

Mikal considers the fruits, then happily picks up a peach, "This should work!" She pulls her little belt knife and neatly cuts the peach in half around the pit, then lays down the knife and carefully peels it apart. A moment to break one half-a-peach into quarters... then, very slowly and calmly, she holds it out in the palm of her hand. Resting there on the balcony bannister, she doesn't look directly at the squirrel so it remains calm, murmuring softly, "Come on then! Time for breakfast, yes?"

The squirrel is obviously tense and nervous, and it skitters forward but a few inches at a time. In a moment, though, it is close enough that Mikal can feel the creature's rapid pulses of breath upon her fingertips... then a moment later with a lightning-quick motion the squirrel has snatched the piece of peach from her fingertips and is nibbling on it rapidly.

Mikal giggles quietly, watching the tiny creature hastily nibbling for a moment... then she turns her gaze outwards, wondering where she is. It's lovely and peaceful and she rather likes it... wait... what's behind her? She turns around curiously, pushing back her long, very curly hair behind one ear.

Jareth is in the room behind Mikal; it is a studio or salon of some kind, with bookcases and a warm, thick, spiced scent that speaks of a place where many people have come to write or compose or sketch. The workings on the walls are of wood carved in ways that would stun a goatherd, but which Jareth finds comfortable and famiiar. The books carry a scent all their own, all bound in leather or linen, and they nestle in shelves set between paintings at once obscure and magnificent. The lighting is dim, though the day's light is streaming through the windows, with enough of a chill to the air to suggest that they day is beginning.

Mikal blinks, her eyes widening -- oooh, books! She wanders into the room and starts reviewing the titles in a sort of dazed delight.

Jareth wanders along the bookshelves and chooses one that looks as if it has been well-loved, but well-cared-for. The leather cover is still supple, but the coloring has faded in the places where it has been handled and read. Opening the book, he leans his head down and breathes in through his nose, unaccountably happy at the smell of the old paper.

Jareth grins over at Mikal, moving over toward her while still holding the book, "Looking for something in particular?"

Mikal looks up a bit startledly at Jareth, her storm-gray eyes having the same half-surprise of a wild thing as he's always seen in her -- then she grins shyly and shakes her head, "N-no, I just..." She looks up at the bookcases in awe, "I... I've never seen so many books before! It's so beautiful." She blinks up at Jareth, adding, "Um... where are we, Jareth? Do you know?"

Jareth shrugs, grinning, "I have no idea. It's a lot different from where we've been, though." He's not quite caressing the cover of the book, but he is touching it rather reverently. The clothes are unfamiliar but comfortable. "It smells good."

Mikal nods happily, then looks back towards the bookcases, her eyes almost drawn there. She reaches out to gently pull a book, then grins at Jareth again, almost peeking at him from under her bangs, "So, um... there's wine and fruit and stuff on the balcony. Want to sit there and read some?"

Jareth's brows go up and he grins broadly, "That sounds wonderful, actually. At least for a while. I'd like to go out and look around if we're in a new place." He resists the urge to brush Mikal's bangs off her face. "Does that sound appealing to you for later?"

Mikal hesitates... then recklessly decides why not? She grins, "Okay!" and skips out to the balcony. Once there she looks around and sighs happily, wondering where this lovely place is... then sets the book down and carefully opens the bottle of wine. She calls over her shoulder, "What book do you have, Jareth?"

Jareth looks at the spine of the book and calls out, "Cyrano de Bergerac." He follows Mikal out onto the balcony and catches his breath at the beauty of the city spread out before him. This, he thinks, is exactly the way a city should be. It just has a feeling of joy about it.

Mikal smiles up at Jareth as he steps up beside her, offering him a glass goblet with a light wine in it, "Want some? It smells really nice and fruity."

Jareth takes the wine, glancing down with a grin at Mikal. He raises it to his nose since she made a point of describing then scent, then takes a small sip, "Thank you." His eyes move back out to the city and fantastical iron tower.

Mikal beams at Jareth, then has a sip herself before she starts neatly slicing some plums and the rest of the peach. She sounds surprisingly relaxed (for her) as she cheerfully says, "Isn't it a lovely day? And there's chocolate and pastries, see? The pastries are still warm, too, yum! I think I've heard of Cyrano de Bergerac -- have you? And I've got a book of Rainer Maria Rilke's poetry. I think I really like his writing!"

Jareth takes one of the pastries and tears it in half, putting half of it on Mikal's plate and the other on his, "I think it's a story about a storyteller." He grins almost impishly, "We could read to one another. It's good practice for me."

Mikal beams cheerfully at Jareth, "All right! That sounds lovely." She puts fruit slices on both plates, then brings them over to a little table between two padded reclining balcony chairs. "Bring the wine and the books, please?"

Jareth balances the books and the wine carefully and carries them over. Once he's settled into one of the chairs, he makes sure to put Mikal's wine in easy reach, murmuring, "I wonder what we're doing here... I mean, is there a reason?"

Mikal shakes her head at Jareth, her eyes as bright with curiosity as the little squirrel warily watching them both nearby, "I don't know! I wondered that myself." She eats a slice of plum, licking her fingers with unconsciously sensual pleasure before she muffledly adds, "Iff awfu' nife, vough, if'n it?"

Jareth clears his throat and drags his eyes up from Mikal's mouth to her eyes, grinning at her, "Beautiful." He picks up a slice of peach himself, popping it into his mouth and then finding that he has to clean his fingers in much the same way.

Mikal settles back in the chair and has a few sips of the wine, interspersing it with small nibbles of pastry as she contentedly admires the city beyond. Her voice is soft as she murmurs almost dreamily, between bites,

"You see I want a lot
perhaps I want everything
the darkness that comes with each waking fall
and the shivering blaze of each rising...

So many live on and want nothing
and are raised to the rank of prince by the slippery ease of their light judgments.

But what you love to see are faces that do work and feel thirst
You love most of all those who need you in the same way that they need a useful tool.

You have not grown old, and it is not too late to dive into your increasing depths
Where life calmly gives out its own secret."

Jareth watches Mikal as she reads, nibbling on the fruit and pastries, his own book laying in his lap. He's very reluctant to handle it with sticky fingers and this is a sticky-fingers sort of a meal. After she subsides into silence, he waits a moment and says, "I like that. Reminds me of me."

Mikal blinks as if she'd just been awoken from a daydream, then looks over at Jareth and smiles warmly, "Howso, packbrother?"

Jareth shrugs and smiles, "It just. I want everything. I want to see everything. Hear every story. See every place there is to see. I want to watch people's faces when they don't know they're being watched. Gives you an idea who they really are."

Mikal nods thoughtfully, "You know, you're right -- it does." She studies Jareth's face for a moment with almost disconcerting directness... then smiles shyly, looking away. "I think that's one of the reasons I like you -- I like your face when you don't realize anyone's watching you. You really look like you care about people, you know?"

Jareth blinks at Mikal, glad she's looking away because his ears are feeling suddenly hot. This isn't a common feeling for the wannabe bard. Thinking back, he probably hasn't blushed since before he started growing all that extra hair adults get. He clears his throat and mutters, "Thank you..." And then to cover his unexpected reaction, he flips through the book and starts reading at random.

"A kiss, when all is said -- what is it?
An oat that's ratified, -- a sealed promise,
A heart's avowal claiming confirmation,--
A rose-dot on the 'i' of adoration,--
A secret that to mouth, not ear, is whispered..."

Mikal's long, loose, wavy hair falls easily to her waist; right now it's completely hiding her face. She appears to be studying her hands: the fingers of one holding the slim tome, the other fingers delicately grasping the fragile stem of the goblet.

It's the wine that betrays her -- it's sloshing slightly back and forth from her trembling fingers.

Jareth clears his throat and reaches over to carefully take the glass out of Mikal's hand, setting it on the table and saying kindly, "It would be a shame to spill the wine." He closes the book and says, "Maybe I should choose something else if we're going to be reading to one another." He stands up, starting to go look for something else since he truly doesn't want to make Mikal uncomfortable.

Mikal jumps slightly as Jareth takes the wineglass, then looks up in startlement at his comment. "What? Wait! Wh-what's wrong, Jareth?"

Jareth smiles in self-directed wryness, "I think I'm making you uncomfortable. And that's the last thing I want. It's been a lovely time so far."

Mikal blinks confusedly at Jareth -- then turns bright red and looks away hastily, "N-no! Er, I m-mean no, it's not you. I j-j-just, uh, I th-thought, I mean my thoughts w-w-were, they, uh..." She trails away in embarrassment.

Jareth pauses in the door, arching a brow, "They were what?" He's still holding the book and he's obviously actualy curious.

Mikal struggles to verbalize, "I-I, uh, th-they w-w-were, uhmmm, they, er, sort of n-n-n- uh..." She gives a small, frustrated, "ooooh!" then covers her mouth with both hands when a small, embarrassed squeak escapes her. She looks up at Jareth in chagrin, her face very red, and whispers, "Sorry!"

Jareth comes back and perches on his chair, leaning his elbows on his knees and leaning forward a little bit, "You were thinking of the roof?"

Mikal turns, if it's even possible, a brighter shade of red. Both hands are still over her mouth, and her wide-eyed gaze is caught in Jareth's, like a little rabbit frozen to the spot just before darting away in a panic.

Jareth is careful not to reach for Mikal, keeping his hands on the book and smiling crookedly, "You look like you're about to bolt. It's OK, really. I promised not to push, didn't I?" He rises again and says, "I'll get another book. Will you be here?"

Mikal blinks again, starting to relax a bit as Jareth doesn't do anything scary. She nods once, her hands slowly lowering into her lap. As Jareth starts to turn away she adds timidly, "I... b-but I like Cyrano...?"

Jareth laughs quietly, pausing again, "So I shouldn't change books?"

Mikal says, "W-w-w-well if you want to...?"

Jareth shrugs, "I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable. You were shaking." He is still standing in the doorway. He's determined to let Mikal make the decision here.

Mikal smiles ruefully, glancing away, "I, uh, th-that wasn't the book, it was my own b-b-bad th-thoughts... m-my fault."

Jareth brings the book back and settles down into his chair and waffles for a while on what to do next. In the meantime, he takes a couple of sips of wine and looks out over the streets of the strange and compelling city, "Why do you say they were bad?" He tries to make the question light.

Mikal sighs softly, her tiny smile rueful as she draws her knees up and wraps her arms around them, "Because... b-because I'm a wolf... and you're a honeybee, Jareth."

Mikal hastily adds, "Uhm, uh, w-would you read s'more, please?"

Jareth mms and nods, settling back into his chair, picking up the book and flicking through the pages, looking for something less fraught with emotion. He smiles when he finds the right one.

Mikal stays slightly huddled up, feeling a bit foolish and wishing the heat in her face would dissipate.

Jareth says, "

My nose is Gargantuan! You little Pig-snouth, you tiny Monkey-Nostrils, you virtually invisible Pekingnese-Puss, donyou realize that a nose like mine is both scepter and orb, a monument to my superiority? A great nose is the bater of a great man, a generous heart, a tower spirit, an expansive soul--such as I unmistakably am, and such as you dare not dream of being, with your bilious weasel's eyes and no nose to keep them apart! With your face lacking all distinction--as lacking I say, in interest, as lacking in pride, in imagination, in honesty, in lyricism--in a word, as lacking in nose as that other offensively bland expanse at the opposite end of your cringing spine--which I now remove from my sight by stringent application of my boot!"

Mikal turns her head so she can watch Jareth read. She ends up giggling softly in spite of herself as she listens.

Jareth delivers the word with grandiose arrogance and much gesticulating.

Mikal is watching with her eyes shining with delight when Jareth concludes, curled up more relaxedly in the chair. She has a few more sips of the wine, then giggles again, "Cyrano is so much fun!"

Jareth chuckles and takes a deep breath, releasing it with relief. He enjoys Mikal's company far too much to have her uncomfortable around him. Even if he does have some similarly sensual thoughts. He did, after all, promise not to push. He smiles, "It's definitely a fantastic story."

Mikal bouncies a bit, now she's finished the wine, and grins at Jareth, "Hey, Jarr! Would you like to go down and explore a bit in the city? It seems nice and safe, after all..." She blinks, looking around, then adds confusedly, "Er... any idea where Raphael is?"

Jareth looks aorund himself and says, "I don't see him... but would he want to be inside?"

Mikal bounces to her feet and trots over to lean far over the balcony's balustrade, unwittingly giving a near-astonishing view of her rear. Her voice is a bit muffled as she calls back to Jareth, "I don't see him, Jareth..." She straightens up abruptly and turns to add, "I'm not sure he's that big on cities either, though, you know?"

When Mikal turns around, she catches an expression of rather startled admiration on Jareth's face. She did, after all, present him with rather an attractive sight to watch as she looked for Raph. He does his best to get his face pulled back into his normal, pleasant and smiling expression, "I know he's not. But I'll bet there's a park or two..."

Mikal blinks at Jareth -- then brightens, "Oh, a park, of course!" She turns to face back out over the city, calling mentally, [Raphaeeeeel! Can you hear me, big brother?!]

Mikal has some sort of reply, and after a few minutes, with raucous barking, Raphael comes bounding through the streets to stand in front of the building Mikal and Jareth are in. The raptor-wolf looks slightly less raptorish and more wolfish, but still is clearly Raphael. More than a few pedestrians had moved out of his way in his marathon bounding gallop at Mikal's call.

Jareth takes a moment to admire the view again, though less blatantly.

Mikal beams delightedly, leaning in what seems a dangerously precarious manner over the balustrade to wave. She calls out, "Hi there! We'll be down in just a moment, Raph -- Jareth's with me, so we have to use the stairs!" She starts to straighten again, then adds, "Oh! Want a pastry?" At the big wolf's eagerly rising up onto his hind legs, she laughs and tosses him one, "Here you go! We'll be right there!"

Mikal whirls and darts cheerfully towards the door, pausing only to grab one of Jareth's hands with both of hers. Laughing, she tugs, "Come on, slowpoke -- let's go!"

Jareth gathers up an apple or three and stuffs them into his pockets, chuckling and letting Mikal lead him along, going just slowly enough that she has to tug on his hand once in a while.

Mikal is as enthusiastic as a squirrel, chattering happily about what she's seen from the balcony, and what she wants to go explore, as she tugs Jareth along. At one point as they step outside she pauses, brushing her curly hair back behind one ear and looking a bit bemusedly down at herself, "I wonder... where my bow went?"

The two go down a flight of stairs, and emerge upon the street. They discover the source of the wonderful smells: the balcony was right above a cafe, with small tables and a number of customers, reading, chatting, nibbling.

Mikal brightens, looking around happily and rubbing Raphael's ears as he bounds over. He bumps firmly against her, and she oof!s startledly, falling back against Jareth. "Sorry! Sorry, Jareth-" she tchs at Raphael, adding sternly, "Clumsy, Raph -- becaureful!"

Jareth's nostrils flare as the scent of the coffee hits him more strongly and he sighs happily, then wonders where he'd smelled that before. He oofs himself and braces himself, steading Mikal with both hands and keeping very close track of exactly where he's touching her. He smiles a bit wryly, "I get the feeling a bow might not be really something you'd need here."

Mikal nods amusedly up at Jareth from where she's standing and half leaning against him.

Jareth grins down at Mikal and gives her a quick little hug, shifting so that she's only leaning against his toroso from the waist up. "Let's go find a park. I get the feeling these folks are a little uncomfy with Raph here."

Mikal cheerfully returns the hug, then blinks, looking around in surprise as she straightens, "They are? I wonder why? Aren't people supposed to be more accepting in a city?" She adds to Raphael, "Take us to a park, please, Raph?"

Jareth shrugs and says, "They just seemed a little skittish when he came bounding up."

Mikal smiles, leaning to hug Raphael about the neck, "That's silly -- he's a sweetheart!" She straightens and trots along next to the big raptor-wolf, grinning over her shoulder at Jareth, "Stick close!"

Jareth chuckles and nods, moving so that he's on the other side of Raphael from Mikal. Perhaps the big raptor-wolf will serve as a sort of bundling board/chaperone.

Raphael tilts his head to glance back at Jareth, his tongue lolling out in amusement. He eagerly leads the group through the streets. As they walk, the city spreads out before them. It is a beautiful city even if it lacks forests and hills and mountains and lakes. But there are great gorgeous buildings as well, inclyding, on a small island in the river that runs through the city, a massive, beautiful stone church with elaborately-carved spires and archways and gargoyles. Yes strangely, despite the elaborate iconography, no symbol of the god worshipped there is readily apparent.

They see more of the people, and more of the city's features, as well. Including more than a few who are riding odd litle conveyances: they appear to be nothing more than two wheels set linearly, with a seat over the back and the front one able to turn to steer; a mechanical pully of some sort, and pedals for the feet, turn the back wheel. Despite the oddity of the conveyance, people riding them appear to travel quite fast, and for some reason they don't look at all out of place. Otherwise, there are a lot of carts and horses in the streets.

The people mostly speak in a language the two do not know, something musical and light and flowing, but if they listen closely they can understand what is being said.

The two find a large park abutting the massive ironwrought tower, a broad plaza with fountains. The tower is incredibly tall now that they're near it.

Mikal is enchanted with the city and with the strangely airy looking building with the lovely stained glass windows. She stares around her with wide, delighted eyes, sometimes skipping excitedly next to Raphael and sometimes quietly singing snatches of song that the big raptor-wolf yodels along with. The small woman beams up at Jareth as they reach the park and Raphael bounds swiftly forward and away from them. "So, shall we explore the park and this mountain tower?" A bit shyly she reaches out and takes Jareth's hand.

Jareth is fascinated with each new sight and each new discovery. The people on the little two-wheled vehicles have him frankly gaping at first. Then they have him wondering if it wouldn't be fun to try that out. The church with the carving and the amazing colord windows makes his heart feel as if it's a couple of sizes two large for his chest. The tower and its plaza do much the same thing. He grins back at Mikal, squeezing her hand and saying, "I wonder if there's a way to get up inside the tower..."

Mikal beams up at him, "Let's go see!"

The two go towards the iron tower. In one of the legs, they come quickly up a stair way that leads up the legs to a broad balcony about one fifth of the way up and where the arches of the legs come together.

Mikal is astonished at how high they are! She runs to the balustrade, staring out and down in awe, "Jareth, come see! Look, look, we're as high as the birds!"

Jareth is just a little disappointed that Mikal let go of his hand, but that's swept away as he joins her at the railing and his eyes take in the city from this perspective. He grins like a small boy and then cranes his neck to look upward, musing, "I wonder if we can climb any further..."

Mikal grins excitedly at Jareth, grabbing his hand again and cheerfully tugging, "Let's look for stairs going up, then!" She laughs delightedly, "Isn't this neat?! It's like a drea-" she stops, her eyes going wide as she stares at Jareth, "A... dream... this -- is this a dream, Jareth?"

Jareth squeezes Mikal's hand and grins at her enthusiasm, "Yes, it's very neat. And... it might be. I'm not surprised at anything anymore." His eyes are moving around, looking for another doorway, another set of stairs.

The stairs seem to go from his balcony, to another one about a third of the way up, and then a set of spiral stairs that go all the way to the very top of the tower's lattice.

Mikal thinks very hard for a moment, still holding Jareth's hand in both of hers. She peers a bit nervously up at his face as he glances around... then she takes a very deep breath and tugs gently on him, "J-jareth?"

Jareth blinks at Mikal and nods, leaning down to kiss her cheek, "Let's go on up." He pauses, "Are you OK?"

Mikal's usually heavily tanned face seems a bit pale, but as Jareth leans down she hastily flings her arms about his neck and turns her head so his lips meet hers. Her mouth is slightly open and her eyes are nervously half-closed, but despite her inexpertise she tries to return the kiss -- with interest!

Jareth is surprised into immobility for a moment, but then he slides his arms around Mikal and just enjoys the kiss. He didn't push. She started it. He eventually puts his hands on the sides of her face, slowing her down for the last moment or two of the kiss. When it breaks, he clears his throat and asks with as much playfulness as he can muster, "Well, I didn't expect that." Enjoy it, yes? Expect it? No.

Mikal gasps a bit breathlessly after the kiss -- then turns bright red, ducking her head to rest her forehead against Jareth's chest. She's nervous enough that her voice nearly squeaks as she says, "S-s-sorry!"

Jareth chuckles, just a little out of breath himself, and pets Mikal's hair, "Why the apology? It was a nice kiss. A very nice kiss actually."

Mikal's fists are nervously closed on Jareth's shirt -- she's not quite ready to look up yet, she thinks. Her voice is still breathless as she stutters, "Th-th-thank -- thank -- uh, I, I, I just thought... I mean, w-we, we, this is just a dream, right? S-s-so, so, uh... s-so it should be okay?"

Jareth keeps petting Mikal's hair soothingly, smiling down at the top of her head. "I think it's a dream, anyway." Part of him can't help wondering just how far she's willing to take this if it's just a dream. He shifts his body again, moving his hips away from Mikal just slightly, "But you know how I feel. Kissing is pretty much OK any time."

Mikal sighs in relief that Jareth isn't annoyed, her clenched grasp on his shirt loosening a bit. She lifts her head a little, although she's still carefully keeping her gaze level with Jareth's chest, "Y-y-you... you don't m-mind?"

Jareth has to clear his throat a little, "Mikal. We've had this conversation. I liked kissing you the first time. I'd be happy to kiss you any time you want. Or anything else. But you don't want to be with a honeybee. You wanot another wolf."

Mikal thinks a bit, then whispers, "B-but, um... this is a dream, right?"

Jareth takes a deep breath and says, "It possibly is. If it is... you're working through something in your head. What is it?"

Mikal thinks a bit again, then answers simply, "My feelings." She stands up on tiptoe, wrapping her arms about Jareth's neck again as she hesitantly lifts her face towards Jareth, "M-may, ummm... another kiss, please?"

Jareth smiles and shifts his arms so they fit around Mikal's waist and says, "Certainly." Since he knows it's coming this time, he takes control of the kiss, taking time to notice what Mikal likes and repeat those things. He gets a little lost in it and pulls her closer than he meant to at first.

Mikal's fingers tangle in Jareth's hair, and she ends up pressing herself close against him -- close enough he can feel her slight, nervous trembling. Her inexpert kiss is eager, though, and she breathlessly tries to follow along with what Jareth is doing.

Public place. This is a public place. And Mikal feels extremely nice in his arms and the kissing is fun, somehow moreso because she's learning. And Jareth can feel his body reacting and realizes at the last moment that Mikal is definitely going to be able to feel it as well. Breathlessly, he raises his head and grins lopsidedly down at her, "Rabbit is definitely the wrong name. You really are more like a fox. Sometimes timid and sometimes deadly."

Mikal's mouth follows Jareth's a bit hungrily, and when he pulls away and speaks she makes a small, disappointed sound, blinking a bit dazedly up at him, "Uh? Oh, uh... sorry?" She wriggles a little closer, shivering at how hot she feels, and pulls gently on his hair, "Um... d-don't stop?"

Jareth clears his throat and says with as much conviction and calm assurances as he can muster, "We're in public Mikal, and if we keep kissing, I'm afraid my hands are going to start wandering and if that happens... well... it's not something you do in public."

Jareth hastens to add, "Only if you want, though. No pushing..." And his head is lowering again for another kiss. Conviction is all well and good, but sometimes hormones over-ride one's good sense.

Mikal says, "Oh..." she glances around absently over one shoulder, "uh... okay." She takes a deep breath and sighs softly, starting to relax as she turns her head back towards Jareth -- just in time to startledly recieve another kiss! She blinks -- then brightens, making a small, happy noise as she snugs herself eagerly up against Jareth again and returns the kiss with increasing confidence... and passion. She's not sure why this feels so good -- but the tingly feelings she's getting sure are nic!"

As predicted, Jareth's hands slide down Mikal's back and hesitate just at the small of her back. He breaks out of the kiss again and takes several deep breaths, "Okay. Yeah. Wandering hands. Sorry about that."

Mikal doesn't really register Jareth's words -- she makes a small and slightly impatient sound, tugging with both hands on Jareth's hair and going up on tiptoes again, reaching to claim his mouth with her own.

Jareth's voice is very hoarse as he says, "Mikal! Woah. Slow down." He's breathing very heavily and says, "Think. I know where I'd like this to go, but what are you wanting?"

Mikal makes a small frustrated noise as Jareth straightens, putting his head above her reach even on tiptoes -- then she blinks at her companion's words. Confusedly she says, "What? Where are we going?"

Jareth clears his throat again and doesn't even realize his hands are sliding up and down Mikal's back, occasionally brushing his hips, "Where I'd like to go is somewhere private and do a lot more kissing and let my hands do all the wandering they want. But then I'd want to take you to bed. And believe me, it's costing me a lot to not do just that." He's babbling a little, his compassion for his companion fighting with his natural inclination toward pleasure.

Mikal's voice is a little confused, "I... costing you? I -- am I bothering you?"

Jareth takes a deep breath and laughs shakily, "Mikal, you're not bothering me. I'm enjoying every second of this. It's a beautiful city and you're wonderful to explore with. And you're even more wonderful to kiss and I'm sure you'd be positively delicious to take to bed. But I don't want you to regret it after."

Jareth smiles wryly, "I don't have great self-control when it comes to pretty girls throwing themselves into my arms."

Mikal nods slowly, trying to make her head feel clearer -- right now she feels very steamy and restless, like she wants to tear at Jareth's clothes until he kisses her more. She takes a deep breath, making herself untangle her fingers from Jareth's hair and pushing her own hair back from her heated face. "I... I... okay. Yes, right -- of course. You're right, of course." She flushes hotly at Jareth's last comment, ducking her head with an embarrassed squeak, to rest her forehead against Jareth's chest again. She giggles nervously and breathlessly, "I... you... I feel so funny, Jareth!"

Jareth chuckles and leans down to kiss Mikal's temple, "Sort of hot all over and your heart's racing and your skin's tingling?" He leaves out some of the other details of how he suspects she's feeling. "That's about how I'm feeling, too. So, maybe we should walk a little. Cool off and then see if we want to try this again later. In private."

Mikal nods happily several times, "Yes, that's it! That's just how it feels!" She sighs happily, then nods again at the suggestion to walk some -- although she does shyly let her fingers weave through Jareth's, to see if he'd like to hold hands while they stroll.

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Last modified: 2008-Oct-04 19:17:18

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