bakerstreet | ( slow dancing in a burning room )

( slow dancing in a burning room )

slow dancing
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FORMAL OR INFORMAL, WITH MUSIC OR WITHOUT, YOU COULD BE AT A GLAMOUROUS GALA WHILE A SINGER CROONS SOFTLY OR IN THE SILENCE OF YOUR OWN LIVING ROOM. WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU HAVE THE URGE TO DANCE. DID YOU ASK YOUR PARTNER OR DID THEY ASK YOU? HAVE YOU GOT TWO LEFT FEET OR IS THE VIENNESE WALTZ YOUR JAM? IT COULD BE AWKWARD, IT COULD BE ROMANTIC. EITHER WAY IT'S CUTE AS HELL.

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[ They only said how good of a singer he was, but they never touched on his dancing skills ;) ]

[It's a scavenging day - looking for something nice to keep them going, to trade, whatever. Blame the weather, blame whatever the hell's going on in her head, it doesn't stop Tess from knocking on his door and bringing in her usual haul along with something else. It's tucked under an arm as she slides her pack off, sets it on the table. They go through the count, and the smile on her face doesn't fall. They've got enough for emergencies and that's that.

Rounding about the table, she moves to the mystery object, tugs the sheet off with an unrepentant grin when the old radio's revealed.] I know it's useless, alright? But wait, it gets better.

[Fiddling with the cranks, she keeps her ear close to one of the speakers, and soon enough that static crackles into a slow melody - something from before their time, but still just as sweet.] Not enough juice to help us any, but it's a good way to kill time. Besides, when was the last time you heard this one?

[The smile's simple, fond if anything.]

[ And here Joel had been hoping he could lay back and rest his head for a few hours. He won't deny a good haul - Tess usually has the best and knows what she's looking for and where to look - nor will he deny a visit from her, doesn't matter what kind of visit it is. Joel sees that smile the entire time; it's a mystery to him, up to the point of when she's pulling off the sheet and that smile widens as her surprise is revealed.

A raised brow is directed toward the radio. Well I'll be damned. It's definitely a classic. He moves around the table as he eyes it curiously, and then looks at her to take in the way her smile has softened. There's a hint of nostalgia in not only that smile but mirrored in her eyes.

Joel looks away, looks back down to the radio, and clears his throat. ]

I ain't gonna ask who you had to kill to get it.

[ Despite his teasing, he's actually surprised it's still able to play music. ]

[No apologies for ruining his quarter day-off, considering he was the first person she wanted to share the discovery with. Leaning against the table, chin lowered to her chest in thought, she rolls eyes at the comment.]

So what do I owe to make sure my secret stays that way? [Looking back to the radio, that look returns to her eyes, almost peaceful while her fingers drum against the wood. Her lips move, but the sound is soft, faint as it blends with the music.] Whoever had it last wasn't appreciative of it, that's for sure.

Lemme get back to you on that.

[ Hearing the soft voice blend with the song, Joel's watching her again, a side-glance from the corner of his eye. He didn't think she bothered with that sort of thing, singing. He takes a moment to listen to her voice, to the way it flows with the music from the radio. It's been a while since he's heard anyone singing around here. ]

Looks that way. [ His words are a murmur as he then moves away from the radio and her to go over her haul again, broad shoulders hunched down as he goes to lean over the other table. ]

[She swears she has a bad ear for this kind of thing, but that's only because in this day and age, having little things is what makes you vulnerable. Need to be shitty, and shitty people don't get to have hobbies, little vices like music or anything - it's wasteful. It's a good thing that only Joel is in the room, else she'd probably be tight-lipped, impartial despite a twitch of the lips, the possible curling of her fingers.

And them he checks the haul again. Tess looks up with a crooked brow, crosses over to him and gives him a nudge in the side. For an extra touch, she moves a hand up his arm, covers his knuckles with her fingers, in spite of how tiny she compares to him.] Hey.

Got a better idea than you checking that bag 'til your eyes bleed.

Edited (one day I won't have to edit jack) 2013-07-10 22:15 (UTC)

Yeah? [ His gaze drifts to the hand over his. He never wants to think about the little things in life, how in spite of her hard-ass attitude, Tess is still a woman. There's something unmistakably feminine about her that tends to always draw him in, even if he fights it. ]

I'm listenin'.

[ A quick glance to her face and then he's looking back down at the haul. ]

Dance with me.

[It's blunt - no beating around the bush with it, because she'd sooner eat shit than get like a teenager who doesn't know how to say what's on her mind. Squeezing his hand, she tilts her head, moves the hand she's got a grip on away from the pack.] Now before you look at me like I've lost my mind, hear me out. It'd be nice, and we've got something to enjoy. I don't know about you, but I actually wanna enjoy it.

And I want you to be the one I get to do this with.

Tess... [ It sounds like the beginnings of a protest. He's ready to pull out and move away, but it seems like she's already got him in her hold. How can he deny her something as simple as a dance? It's been years since they'd last heard anything musical, had such a luxury.

Joel stays where he is, his hand in hers. This is going to be like learning how to walk all over again, he just knows it.

A helpless glance is shot in the direction of the door. ]

[No, she figures that this is the farthest thing from fair that she can do to either of them, but here she is doing it. Damned either way, is the philosophy here and Joel seems to prove that right considering the way he's responding. Her hand loosens, and she inches away just to give him space, let things stay in his court.] You want out, that's fine. All you gotta do is say the word and I'll get my things, leave yours and go.

Least I tried, right? [The song in the background starts to die out, moving onto the next track.] Can't hold it against me.

That's not... [ A heavy exhale. You sure do have a way with words. He cups his own chin with a hand to scratch at his beard. She's taking his reluctance the wrong way, which he doesn't want. Does he speak up? Should he? ]

Tess-- Dammit. [ He's fumbling. It sucks. It' embarrassing. Joel's grateful it's just them and that the door's closed. ]

It ain't that. You're fine where you are.

You sure it ain't?

Then what is it? And don't tell me you've got two left feet or somethin', because I doubt anyone 'round here can even can keep rhythm at this point. [It's strange, hearing this string of words out of herself and then him, tongue-tied over what she thinks he might be. It's downright ridiculous almost, if it's thought on, and she's relieved that no one's around to witness this.]

Look - I never said anything 'bout bein' able to do the cha-cha. I can sing but that don't mean I can dance.

[ Poor guy looks pretty tight-lipped about this. He looks over at the radio and then back to her. His one shoulder shrug is one of defeat, helplessness. ]

It's not like you're hot-wiring a car or somethin', it's just a dance. You can move your own two feet now, can't ya? [She moves close, holds a hand out to him.] I ain't so hot with this either, y'know. We'll... figure it out together.

- you more than me, probably. [A tease.]

[ He eyes that extended hand. At her teasing words his eyes snap up to her face and he's scowling. ]

Play nice now.

[ A tentative step forward and his large hand takes up her smaller one. ]

All right then. Now what? [ Funny question coming from a man once married and had danced with his wife on numerous occasions. But that was a long time ago, some things are better left buried in the past. ]

No promises, but I'll go easy on you. [She flashes a smile at him, gets a hand on his shoulder right after she directs his own onto a hip.] Nice and slow, how's that sound?

[Tugging him away from the table, at least Joel's experience can speak volumes when compared to Tess' own accounts. She's just a little more sentimental compared to him, easier to remember it seems, when she straightens up and takes his other hand into hers.]

We really doin' this?

[ Joel glances at her arm that's raised with the hand rested at his shoulder and then down at her. ]

Guess we are. All right.

[ He steps in closer and looks down between them to their feet, fingers squeezing at her hip. Deep breaths, Tex. Deep breaths. ]

I ain't pullin' your leg, that's for sure. [She makes a quick side-to-side motion with her hips as if answering the squeeze, a brow arched high in his direction as she spreads her feet, just barely.] Relax, cowboy.

Just you and me here, with all the time in the world. [With a glance to the radio, she tries to figure out the part of the current song before she counts it under her breath, leads with a step to the side. It's shaky and stiff, that's for sure, but it'll even out between the two of them, right?]

[ He can do this because dancing can't be too hard to relearn, two decades later right? Catching the movement, it jerks him out of his thoughts and there he goes, already stepping on her toes. ]

Jesus. [ His fingers dig into her hip, squeeze her hand. ] Tess--

[Hurts like a bitch to have that happen, but all she does is wince and stop, look up to him. Head cocked to the side, she squeezes him on the shoulder in turn, waits.] I'm fine, it's not like you haven't done that to me before. The hip bit, though -

[She repeats the motion, looks coy once she spares the glance down.] - actually, that's real familiar too.

[ His eyes dart down to the top of her head and then further down to where he feels she's looking, her skin feeling warm even through the thin material of her shirt. Without responding, Joel steps in as he pulls her towards him, the hand at her hip sliding back around to the small of her back.

Wordlessly he begins to lead this time. ]

[That's new.

Tess wasn't expecting Joel to take the lead, but she won't complain about it once they're closer. Practically pressed up against him, Tess looks up to watch his expression, fingers dragging down the front of his shoulder slow. She follows the lead, the corners of her lips tugging up.]

[ It just took him a moment to get it. And stepping on her feet once to remember.

Unfortunately for her Joel's wearing no real expression. There's not much there for her to be able to pick at and wonder on. If anything, his gaze is thoughtful as it's not really focused on anything at her shoulder. Catching her lifted gaze in his peripheral, his eyes drift over to meet hers.

There's no need for them to speak. Things can remain as unspoken as they are between them. ]

[Her shoulders lift when his head moves, the breath in her chest swelling up. Slow, she lets it out as a sigh and shakes her head before daring to get closer. Turning just barely, Tess leans her head forward to rest against him while never missing a beat. Those feet move just as Joel's does, back when he goes forward, to the side just behind him when he sways.

Those fingers curled in his other hand? They squeeze, give this quiet answer against the music.]

[ One, two, three, four...

It's a slow moving sway and beat. The silence between them carries on for a few more moments. The light weight of her head rested against his shoulder eventually has him lowering his own. His lips brush over the tip of her ear, her hair soft against his cheek but catching faintly in his beard.

One, two, three, four...

They move lower, over the shell he knows to be a sensitive place on her. One of her many. ]

Joel → The Last of Us → m/f

'm shameless at this point, and I suppose you're to thank

I really am the worst ... I mean - you're welcome

you make it almost sound like a bad thing...

it's not at all <_<

good |D also mobile tagging yaaaaay

yayyyyyyy it's like a love/hate when you're at work or out but want to tag something good ohsobad

it really is, ughhh 8(

damn the game and these characters 8(

exactly. how dare they make us feel this way!! :c

:cccccc

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