[ South's content to let the silence stretch for those first few moments, not entirely sure what else to say without dipping into feeling she's hesitant to get into as they walk through the Down, turning thoughts over and over in her head until Sombra speaks up again. The hand on Sombra's back/side tightens its grip just a little. ]
Fuck, you really do just straight up forget all of this? [ she had an idea of that, she's pretty sure it was actually the same back on the Rig, too, the odd times people would disappear and then reappear, but ] That's... yeah. Mindfucky. Like. Seriously, you were home a whole fucking year?
[ When only two weeks have passed here... what the fuck. The time fuckery in these places is ridiculous. ]
[ The whole thing being mindfucky, that is. And with a heavy sigh, her head nuzzled into South's shoulder enough that her breath is warm against her where she exhales, ] A year's worth of stupid missions, keeping Moira's weird cold hands off Siebren, an upgrade here and there, ruined another corrupt politician or two, rerouted this and that to fix the power flow problem hacking was causing my invis, [ Hacking doesn't auto-deactivate her cloaking, is what she means, ] -ate way too many American tacos, and drank with vaquero some more. I just didn't remember I was in love with him, you know, the usual, just Sombra in space-time things, blah blah blah.
[ Now that she remembers everything, it means she remembers all of her cowboy shaped feelings too.
On one hand, there's a sting to them. On the other, the ache seems- duller, now. Knowing their friendship transcends universes, or something. Siebren would understand the space-time of it better (she thinks), but...
This is enough. She doesn't have South anywhere else. ]
[ Sometimes it's weird to remember that the people around her often do have lives to return to. They haven't been snatched out of their worlds right before their deaths, they've got people who care about them and a whole life ahead of them that's not in one of these worlds between worlds. Even Wash has years ahead of where he's come from, going by what she heard from Carolina and Wash on the rig.
She doesn't have any of that. She has the knowledge that she's mere weeks away from being shot in the face, if she ever goes home, and that no one there will miss her when it happens. Because the her who dies at Wash's hand is a terrible, backstabbing bitch who pushed away everyone who might have cared.
And yet here she is now. Sombra cares. Wash cares. It's not a lot of people, not after all those she's lost since she changed, but... it's still people that will actually miss her if she's ever gone. So though she intended to say something flippant about Sombra clearly having been busy busy, the words catch in her throat by the time Sombra's telling her she would have missed her.
She swallows a little thickly. ] ...guess I just had to miss you enough for the both of us, since space-time bullshit was so rude it didn't let you do it for yourself.
[ Thinking about her own recent trip home, the things she's working on there vs here - it has her thinking about South, too. She knows that if South were to return home she wouldn't have much time, knows that there aren't projects waiting to her to work on them, there aren't drinks waiting to be shared with a friend. That everything worth having for South is right here. In Sex City of all damn places, but-
That just means that it's even more important they spend their time here together, doesn't it? ]
I'm glad you have me back, too.
[ Can't let the moment go too long without a bit of Sombra confidence, now can she? Nuzzling her face in against South, both for badness and for warmth, she ignores the world around them for now. Ignores any people still awake and about at this hour, ignores any guards (a Dominant carrying her submissive home, c'mon, what possible problem could they have with that) they pass, and seems just... cozy. But also slowly more and more tired now, humming softly as she rubs her cheek against South intermittently as they make their way home. ]
[ South snorts and rolls her eyes, but it's all dripping with fondness she's not actually bothering to try and hide. She keeps Sombra tucked close against her as they walk through the city, dwelling in the odd moments of sleepy silence between Sombra's chattering about how weird it is to have basically settled into the idea of this place as home. And how it feels more like home when people like Wash, and people like Sombra, are here.
Now, the thing about 008-B is that, in Sombra's absence, South's already lacklustre chore routine has absolutely gone to shit. It's a mess. There's old takeout boxes scattered around, bottles and cans of alcohol, clothes and more. But perhaps most importantly, something that Sombra might notice if she's awake enough as South hip-checks the door open, is the fact everything Sombra left out before she vanished is still there. Exactly where she left it. ]
[ There's a moment or two (or more) in the journey where, when Sombra goes quiet, it's because she's fallen asleep in her arms. Something always wakes her up, jostling her enough to rattle more sleepy chatter loose. She still shivers occasionally, too, but otherwise? She's safe, she's cozy, she's doing okay. And as she slowly realizes that they've made it back to the apartment, Sombra finds herself a little impressed South managed the entire trip without putting her down once. ]
Hogar dulce hogar...
[ Wiggling out of South's arms at last, Sombra yawns as she stretches and kicks her shoes off haphazardly, carelessly adding to the mess. Which-
She notices. She notices the mess is worse than usual. She notices a half finished project she'd had in the middle of the living room floor, right where she left it, and it tells her things without South having to say a word. So she's quiet, for moment. Quiet, as she shrugs off her fuzzy coat and sets her little backpack down on the floor beside her, as she turns to face South again. When she raises up a hand to rest against South's cheek, her fingertips still cold, when she stands up on her tippy toes to reach her for a kiss - giving her something softer than usual, so sweet and so sure of herself despite her tiredness. A kiss that lingers just a little bit longer than it might otherwise, one that Sombra doesn't ease back from until she's ready. ]
Thanks for coming to get me, South. [ A little grin tugs at her lips - even as she presses them to South's again. Another moment she, maybe selfishly, demands. ] I'm still cold though, you know.
[ South pulls her boots off without undoing them or bending over, dropping them equally haphazardly out of the way. Her own coat is still only bunched at her elbows when the cold fingers on her cheek, then the kiss, distract her from getting it the rest of the way off. It's only needing the range of motion to settle her hands comfortably on Sombra's hips that makes her grunt and shrug it the rest of the way off.
If she had anything to say after Sombra kisses her the first time, it dies with the second and South might try linger longer than she does, then, if just for a moment before she snorts faintly. ]
Duh, you did take off the fluffy coat. [ a low noise ] What exactly do you want me to do about it, princess?
[ As much as she's thrown by her year back home with no memories of South or anything here, as annoyed as she is that she wasn't even able to just miss her-
Standing here in their Duplicity apartment living room, surrounded by the combination of their messes (even as Sombra's half finished projects and empty energy drink cans and South's clothes and empty pizza boxes hardly paints the most pretty of images), South's hands at her hip while she kisses her sweet, Sombra thinks: maybe, maybe, part of her knew she was missing someone after all. Why else would this feel like such a relief, if not? ]
Hmm, something nice. [ Princess. A little huff of laughter is warm against South's cheek where Sombra nuzzles her, playful. Cold fingers with manicured nails touch her friend's hand now instead, curling around her fingers as Sombra steps back, tugging South with her. ] Come cuddle me.
[ As if South would refuse, yet Sombra pulls her along into her room all the same. She does have a cursory glance about once she's there, just taking it all in, seeing it laid out just the way she left it. Her doodles still on the walls, pink and purple glowing lights still on when they activate for her, Arturito on her bed. Laughs a little at that one, pleased to know she still has her little stuffed friend, before letting go of South's hand - to promptly huff and bunch her hair up, holding it up in a loose, messy bun atop her head that makes the softly glowing purple lines of her cybernetics, laid out in a different pattern than before against her skull, obvious. ]
Ugh, I want out of this dress. Unzip me?
[ She could do it herself if she wanted to, she knows she could. But that's not what she wants, now is it? ]
[ South lets herself get dragged through the apartment to Sombra's room with nothing but a faint eye roll, no protest, no resistance, no comments, all too happy to return to Sombra having her do exactly what she wants her to do. To return to what was really and truly becoming her normal—had become her normal, even, months ago. Seeing Sombra back in her own space, cast in those signature purple tones and already acting right at home, it's... it's a relief. ]
Forgotten how to do it yourself?
[ Said as she starts unzipping the dress anyway, crouching a bit because it's honestly easier than stretching down. In the end she can't quite resist a quick kiss to her shoulder as she does, either. ]
[ It feels right, being back here. Having South again, having her follow her lead without question and only a harmless tease, the way they always are with each other, and Sombra feels... comfortable. Like she's remembering all over again that she made something of a home here, one way or another.
And with a little huff of laughter as she's unzipped, ] No. I just know how much you like to undress me.
[ The kiss to her shoulder is sweet, if unexpected. A soft little smile touches her lips, a reaction difficult to see from behind, one that turns quickly into one of Sombra's more playful little quirks of her lips as she promptly wiggles out of the loosened dress, letting it fall to the floor about her feet.
The only thing she's wearing underneath? The ripped open fishnets. No bra, no underwear, nothing but the mess of fishnets she's tangling her fingers in and pulling off already with a huff, bending as she undresses without a care in the world - because why would she have a single one, right now? South's seen her body a thousand times before, and she knows they both like her naked. Just- you know, they're standing here because Sombra had whined she was cold, and yet- ]
Hmm, where're my pajamas? The purple ones I like, with the fuzzy shorts.
[ And yet instead of looking for them, she's turned herself around to cozy right on back into South, arms about her shoulders as she nudges at her cheek again, softly kissing the warmth of her skin. ]
[ South folds her arms loosely as she watches her fuss with the damaged fishnets, shaking her head. It's true, by now seeing Sombra naked is just... normal, and though her gaze never gets less appreciative, though Sombra can still somehow get her to do just about anything by offering to strip, sometimes it's just... comfortable familiarity.
There's a soft snort, as Sombra steps closer again and South wraps her arms back around her, ] Wherever you fuckin' left them, I didn't go rooting around in your stuff you know.
[ Having South's arms around her, so instinctually around her when she snuggles into her, feels - right. The kisses she so freely peppers along South's cheek taper off only because Sombra burrows her face into the taller woman's shoulder instead, sighing softly. A relieved sort of noise, while she momentarily ignores the sass.
Just momentarily, though. ]
Ay c'mon give me a break, it's been a year long two weeks for me, okay?
[ It also doesn't help that she'd thrown them somewhere without looking, as usual, not that she fesses up to that part. Another sigh, warm against South, before Sombra's tilting her head to rest her chin against her instead, tired eyes peering up at her through those pretty, dark lashes of hers. ]
Whatever, I'll find them later. You can keep me warm tonight, instead.
[ It's the only warning she gets before Sombra, small as she is in comparison, is very purposely herding her backwards toward her bed - before giving her a shove and, like she's done a hundred times before, quickly takes a seat right on South's hips when her back hits the bed, a mess of blankets that haven't been made up in months. Once there, she puts a hand to the center of South's chest, as if to pin her in place, and giggles softly as she leans down to kiss her again, intending to tease and nip at her but-
But falling easily into relative softness again, instead, when she kisses her soft and sweet, as if it's everything in the world she wants. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ South's content to let the silence stretch for those first few moments, not entirely sure what else to say without dipping into feeling she's hesitant to get into as they walk through the Down, turning thoughts over and over in her head until Sombra speaks up again. The hand on Sombra's back/side tightens its grip just a little. ]
Fuck, you really do just straight up forget all of this? [ she had an idea of that, she's pretty sure it was actually the same back on the Rig, too, the odd times people would disappear and then reappear, but ] That's... yeah. Mindfucky. Like. Seriously, you were home a whole fucking year?
[ When only two weeks have passed here... what the fuck. The time fuckery in these places is ridiculous. ]
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[ The whole thing being mindfucky, that is. And with a heavy sigh, her head nuzzled into South's shoulder enough that her breath is warm against her where she exhales, ] A year's worth of stupid missions, keeping Moira's weird cold hands off Siebren, an upgrade here and there, ruined another corrupt politician or two, rerouted this and that to fix the power flow problem hacking was causing my invis, [ Hacking doesn't auto-deactivate her cloaking, is what she means, ] -ate way too many American tacos, and drank with vaquero some more. I just didn't remember I was in love with him, you know, the usual, just Sombra in space-time things, blah blah blah.
[ Now that she remembers everything, it means she remembers all of her cowboy shaped feelings too.
On one hand, there's a sting to them. On the other, the ache seems- duller, now. Knowing their friendship transcends universes, or something. Siebren would understand the space-time of it better (she thinks), but...
This is enough. She doesn't have South anywhere else. ]
If I could have missed you, I would have.
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[ Sometimes it's weird to remember that the people around her often do have lives to return to. They haven't been snatched out of their worlds right before their deaths, they've got people who care about them and a whole life ahead of them that's not in one of these worlds between worlds. Even Wash has years ahead of where he's come from, going by what she heard from Carolina and Wash on the rig.
She doesn't have any of that. She has the knowledge that she's mere weeks away from being shot in the face, if she ever goes home, and that no one there will miss her when it happens. Because the her who dies at Wash's hand is a terrible, backstabbing bitch who pushed away everyone who might have cared.
And yet here she is now. Sombra cares. Wash cares. It's not a lot of people, not after all those she's lost since she changed, but... it's still people that will actually miss her if she's ever gone. So though she intended to say something flippant about Sombra clearly having been busy busy, the words catch in her throat by the time Sombra's telling her she would have missed her.
She swallows a little thickly. ] ...guess I just had to miss you enough for the both of us, since space-time bullshit was so rude it didn't let you do it for yourself.
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That just means that it's even more important they spend their time here together, doesn't it? ]
I'm glad you have me back, too.
[ Can't let the moment go too long without a bit of Sombra confidence, now can she? Nuzzling her face in against South, both for badness and for warmth, she ignores the world around them for now. Ignores any people still awake and about at this hour, ignores any guards (a Dominant carrying her submissive home, c'mon, what possible problem could they have with that) they pass, and seems just... cozy. But also slowly more and more tired now, humming softly as she rubs her cheek against South intermittently as they make their way home. ]
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[ South snorts and rolls her eyes, but it's all dripping with fondness she's not actually bothering to try and hide. She keeps Sombra tucked close against her as they walk through the city, dwelling in the odd moments of sleepy silence between Sombra's chattering about how weird it is to have basically settled into the idea of this place as home. And how it feels more like home when people like Wash, and people like Sombra, are here.
Now, the thing about 008-B is that, in Sombra's absence, South's already lacklustre chore routine has absolutely gone to shit. It's a mess. There's old takeout boxes scattered around, bottles and cans of alcohol, clothes and more. But perhaps most importantly, something that Sombra might notice if she's awake enough as South hip-checks the door open, is the fact everything Sombra left out before she vanished is still there. Exactly where she left it. ]
Home sweet home.
no subject
Hogar dulce hogar...
[ Wiggling out of South's arms at last, Sombra yawns as she stretches and kicks her shoes off haphazardly, carelessly adding to the mess. Which-
She notices. She notices the mess is worse than usual. She notices a half finished project she'd had in the middle of the living room floor, right where she left it, and it tells her things without South having to say a word. So she's quiet, for moment. Quiet, as she shrugs off her fuzzy coat and sets her little backpack down on the floor beside her, as she turns to face South again. When she raises up a hand to rest against South's cheek, her fingertips still cold, when she stands up on her tippy toes to reach her for a kiss - giving her something softer than usual, so sweet and so sure of herself despite her tiredness. A kiss that lingers just a little bit longer than it might otherwise, one that Sombra doesn't ease back from until she's ready. ]
Thanks for coming to get me, South. [ A little grin tugs at her lips - even as she presses them to South's again. Another moment she, maybe selfishly, demands. ] I'm still cold though, you know.
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[ South pulls her boots off without undoing them or bending over, dropping them equally haphazardly out of the way. Her own coat is still only bunched at her elbows when the cold fingers on her cheek, then the kiss, distract her from getting it the rest of the way off. It's only needing the range of motion to settle her hands comfortably on Sombra's hips that makes her grunt and shrug it the rest of the way off.
If she had anything to say after Sombra kisses her the first time, it dies with the second and South might try linger longer than she does, then, if just for a moment before she snorts faintly. ]
Duh, you did take off the fluffy coat. [ a low noise ] What exactly do you want me to do about it, princess?
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Standing here in their Duplicity apartment living room, surrounded by the combination of their messes (even as Sombra's half finished projects and empty energy drink cans and South's clothes and empty pizza boxes hardly paints the most pretty of images), South's hands at her hip while she kisses her sweet, Sombra thinks: maybe, maybe, part of her knew she was missing someone after all. Why else would this feel like such a relief, if not? ]
Hmm, something nice. [ Princess. A little huff of laughter is warm against South's cheek where Sombra nuzzles her, playful. Cold fingers with manicured nails touch her friend's hand now instead, curling around her fingers as Sombra steps back, tugging South with her. ] Come cuddle me.
[ As if South would refuse, yet Sombra pulls her along into her room all the same. She does have a cursory glance about once she's there, just taking it all in, seeing it laid out just the way she left it. Her doodles still on the walls, pink and purple glowing lights still on when they activate for her, Arturito on her bed. Laughs a little at that one, pleased to know she still has her little stuffed friend, before letting go of South's hand - to promptly huff and bunch her hair up, holding it up in a loose, messy bun atop her head that makes the softly glowing purple lines of her cybernetics, laid out in a different pattern than before against her skull, obvious. ]
Ugh, I want out of this dress. Unzip me?
[ She could do it herself if she wanted to, she knows she could. But that's not what she wants, now is it? ]
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[ South lets herself get dragged through the apartment to Sombra's room with nothing but a faint eye roll, no protest, no resistance, no comments, all too happy to return to Sombra having her do exactly what she wants her to do. To return to what was really and truly becoming her normal—had become her normal, even, months ago. Seeing Sombra back in her own space, cast in those signature purple tones and already acting right at home, it's... it's a relief. ]
Forgotten how to do it yourself?
[ Said as she starts unzipping the dress anyway, crouching a bit because it's honestly easier than stretching down. In the end she can't quite resist a quick kiss to her shoulder as she does, either. ]
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And with a little huff of laughter as she's unzipped, ] No. I just know how much you like to undress me.
[ The kiss to her shoulder is sweet, if unexpected. A soft little smile touches her lips, a reaction difficult to see from behind, one that turns quickly into one of Sombra's more playful little quirks of her lips as she promptly wiggles out of the loosened dress, letting it fall to the floor about her feet.
The only thing she's wearing underneath? The ripped open fishnets. No bra, no underwear, nothing but the mess of fishnets she's tangling her fingers in and pulling off already with a huff, bending as she undresses without a care in the world - because why would she have a single one, right now? South's seen her body a thousand times before, and she knows they both like her naked. Just- you know, they're standing here because Sombra had whined she was cold, and yet- ]
Hmm, where're my pajamas? The purple ones I like, with the fuzzy shorts.
[ And yet instead of looking for them, she's turned herself around to cozy right on back into South, arms about her shoulders as she nudges at her cheek again, softly kissing the warmth of her skin. ]
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[ South folds her arms loosely as she watches her fuss with the damaged fishnets, shaking her head. It's true, by now seeing Sombra naked is just... normal, and though her gaze never gets less appreciative, though Sombra can still somehow get her to do just about anything by offering to strip, sometimes it's just... comfortable familiarity.
There's a soft snort, as Sombra steps closer again and South wraps her arms back around her, ] Wherever you fuckin' left them, I didn't go rooting around in your stuff you know.
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Just momentarily, though. ]
Ay c'mon give me a break, it's been a year long two weeks for me, okay?
[ It also doesn't help that she'd thrown them somewhere without looking, as usual, not that she fesses up to that part. Another sigh, warm against South, before Sombra's tilting her head to rest her chin against her instead, tired eyes peering up at her through those pretty, dark lashes of hers. ]
Whatever, I'll find them later. You can keep me warm tonight, instead.
[ It's the only warning she gets before Sombra, small as she is in comparison, is very purposely herding her backwards toward her bed - before giving her a shove and, like she's done a hundred times before, quickly takes a seat right on South's hips when her back hits the bed, a mess of blankets that haven't been made up in months. Once there, she puts a hand to the center of South's chest, as if to pin her in place, and giggles softly as she leans down to kiss her again, intending to tease and nip at her but-
But falling easily into relative softness again, instead, when she kisses her soft and sweet, as if it's everything in the world she wants. ]