[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]he’s… confusing her. and she’s torn between looking elated and confused.

”i didn’t do anything to deserve this, though.”

and even if she did, she wouldn’t expect fireworks as a gift.

”why me? why not someone else?” comes from insecurity etched into her expression. and it settles like a rock. heavy but fragile, easily broken beneath enough pressure. her mouth parts slightly and her eyes dart away to watch the fireworks, embarrassment heating her ears.

CIAN MAHER
mission

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]what does she need?

is there even anything? yes, she realizes, there is. and it’s not something she can just be handed.

she looks away to white walls and beeping machines. and her face slowly begins to fall, crumpling slightly. she avoids his eyes when she asks, as if she doesn’t want him to see her.

”can you come up here?” she murmurs. her voice is soft, shaky, fragile. ”please?”

CIAN MAHER
mission

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]there's definitely something about the maher genes... they make her stupid, acting up at the slightest bit of attention.

she shivers beneath his tone. it's... terrible that her body is betraying her like that. his hands aren't even on her body and it's still shivering? ridiculous. unfair. she wants a refund.

"here," she whispers, shifting a little closer. there's a slight pause where she stills, where her eyes dart to trace lips, and then return. "i'll show you."

the pink coils go unnoticed because, really, gia's attention span is nonexistent to begin with. you add a hot man to that? attention span becomes abysmal. besides, she's a little too preoccupied with locking lips, thank you.

caden maher

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]eager... you could say that. there's another word she'd use, though.

he leans closer and as fingers brush against the shell of her ear, tucking strands away, she lets out a shaky sigh. men: they're not good for her health.

"you could," she murmurs and the smile turns saucy. "but i can think of better things to do with your mouth."

she's certain: they're flirting flirting now. and she's suddenly very glad she picked this window. yep, definitely glad.

caden maher

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]her lips spread into a fuzzy smile, bright like the fireworks that fizzle overhead.

"i do, they're amazing."

and finally, his eyes meet hers. she mostly ignores the way her body shivers slightly.

"special?" her head tilts and she doesn't quite understand. "why?"

CIAN MAHER
mission

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]"why?" comes before her mind can process. and she lets it settle between them, offering nothing more than a confused look.

why would he want to? it'd make sense for another but for her?

he fires off options and she flushes a little more with each one. "i," she starts, stops, and lets out a small sigh. in truth, gia's a very simple girl. she can steal whatever she wants, whatever she needs, but she can't steal affection.

and it's awkward, uncomfortable to ask for it.

"i don't need any of that," is what she settles on. and it's half a truth if she thinks back on it.

CIAN MAHER
mission

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]single, her? yeah... that's accurate enough.

"oh, you want it now?" her head tilts as if weighing the thought. eventually, she flashes a teasing smile. "but... you didn't beg enough first."

she knows, without a doubt, that he doesn't beg but it's a nice thought all the same.

"that's the one," she confirms. well, mostly the suit and just a bit herself. "i'm surprised you remember."

her body leans back into the bench, a soft sigh escaping. the heat is nice... it'd be uncomfortable in her suit. the towel's better, she decides.

UREHIhiZ
Sénon Game
heat points | 659/1000

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]he releases, flops down next to her, and her eyes follow him instinctively.

"well, there's usually no one to admit them to," she murmurs. everyone's usually out, sleeping, or otherwise down for the count.

and before she can stop it, giggles bubble out from her lips. it's only one or two at first, as if she's trying to stop it. and then, the floodgates burst and she's dissolving into laughter.

"me, all figured out?" another laugh. she settles down enough to continue. "absolutely the fuck not. anyway, uhhh... dunno, you could kick me out?"

does he want to? does she?

he leans, then, and she breaks into a pleased grin.

"oh, you're not?" her body follows his lead. "do tell."

caden maher

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]she expects him to start yelling or threatening her. instead, he… crosses the room? hovers over her? even grips her jaw?

and really, she’d be enjoying this if it weren’t for her previous rambling putting a metaphorical foot in her mouth. she’s not into that.

the look she gives him is odd, as if he has three heads and they’re all staring down at her.

”what? no no, i came here to rob you?” it comes out as a question, as a “what else would i be doing here?” statement. ”i’m a thief, duh.”

and despite already digging herself a grave by words, alone, she somehow strives to make it worse.

”besides,” she murmurs, voice dipping low. her eyes dart down, trace lips, and dart back up. she’s distracted. he’s fucking distracting. it’s unfair. ”flirting’s fun and you can’t do that when people are unconscious. no thanks.”

caden maher

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]well, fuck.

"this," she breathes out, cheeks flushing despite herself. "this isn't how it's supposed to go. you're supposed to be sleeping. why aren't you sleeping?" by the end, she's whining.

and if he steps a little closer, he can smell the alcohol wafting off of her body.

she sighs dramatically and all but plops onto his bed. manners, gia. please get some...

"anyway," she continues, waving his growl away with a hand. "i'm giada and you're... not wearing clothes." and she just noticed now? nice.

she keeps talking, half to distract him and mostly because of nerves.

"that's also not how it's supposed to go, for the record." and as if she's trying to make a point, regardless of this terrible situation and the fact that her skirt covers absolutely nothing, she crosses one leg over the other. "it's more fun to, you know, take 'em off myself."

caden maher

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]her head tilts at the question, as if her mind is struggling to remember. has she brought anyone home? well... there was an ex, an old friend, two or three lucky guys from the bar. oh, and CIAN MAHER! now, the list is continuing to grow to include paxton.

"technically," she murmurs, finally. "yes and no? they're picky about who they beg from." her cats are great judges of character. well, aside from her, at least. somehow, they're the biggest fans of paxton and CIAN MAHER. maybe they just like men? wouldn't be the first bad habit she taught them.

a laugh escapes and she's leaning toward him with a grin, wine somehow not spilling in the process.

"you don't need to bring nice clothes to hang out! hell, you could show up naked and i'd be content." actually... no, down, gia.

as ollie scurries off to the kitchen for look for snacks, a couple of her cats break away from the cluster to scamper after him. they'll find nothing of value besides a few bags of cat treats. all the goods are tucked away for now, hidden from her nosy little critters.

"absolutely best of both worlds! now, tell me," she's practically shoving herself into his side at this point. the wine glasses rises to her lips for a sip before she's staring him down. her expression is, admittedly, more serious than the actual question. "what's your favorite rom-com?"

paxton concordas
mission

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]she hums a soft acknowledgement. anything else she wants to say on the matter dies out in her throat. it's... difficult to talk about things. past experiences, trauma, heartbreaks. she shoves them down and drowns them in alcohol or warm bodies to pretend they don't exist.

and somehow, it never quite works well enough.

he slides closer to the glass and her head turns instinctively. a confused look rises before she's following his line of sight.

the first firework begins with a bright flash of colors, ending with an echoing boom. and she's in awe, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. it's so... pretty!

"wait," she murmurs after a moment, brain catching up a little too slow. her head turns and her eyes search his. "you... paid someone to set off fireworks? for me?"

somehow, she doesn't understand it, doesn't believe it.

CIAN MAHER
mission

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]she shrugs.

"it's nothing, really," comes tumbling out. it's a deflection if she stops and truly thinks about it. he doesn't technically owe her anything and neither does she but... she would still do the same thing over and over again.

despite herself, her cheeks begin to radiate soft warmth. and as they color pink, she glances up toward him.

"you don't have to make up for it, you know." nor does she expect him to.

CIAN MAHER
mission