slightlyoffchilt | - IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

Is -- [No, no, that was a silly inquiry. Of course Harvey Dent wasn't hiding in her bedsheets as they spoke. He swallowed, calculating the difference between what he believed and what he wanted to believe from her. Raina was so uniquely compelling, that ratio was so slim.]

I would prefer it if you did come over.

[ Even telling Chilton outright that he was an equal while Harvey was a toy still had him questioning her relationship with Harvey Dent. And if Chilton felt so threatened by him, perhaps it was time to get closer to the man and find out why. Compulsion-ridden, fatalistic, audio hallucinatory schizophrenic. She absolutely couldn't wait to bring those things out of him. ]

Alright. [ She said, softly; exhausted. There was the sound of a bag being opened and some rustling going on as well. Packing a few of her things for the extended stay. ]

Do you still want the soy latte? Without the side of passive aggression, that is.

[ Not going to just let that slide. It still irked her that he talked to her that way. ]

But the passive aggression is what flavors the drink, Raina.

[The whine had evaporated from his voice; Chilton spoke only with a light and playful tonal twist. All was forgiven, nearly forgotten -- it was much easier to glaze over the details of their raw speech than admit to the emotional significance.]

I could still do with the latte, yes. When are you coming?

[ Back to normal. Back to Chilton. The insecurity was gone, but most certainly not forgotten. Raina didn't quip back, but she did smile a little to herself. ]

Cute.

[ And that was all she said on the matter. ]

I need to finish packing a few necessities and then I can be out the door. I really hope your sedative works.

[ Should we action this? ]

[YES.]

Oh, it works. [Maybe too well, he mutters before he ends the connection. Chilton waited in his office, finishing up patient reports and prescriptions, anticipating her arrival.

He glanced to the scotch decanter that he kept (inadvisably) in his office. Well -- perhaps once Raina arrived.]

[ It took Raina about forty-five minutes from the end of their conversation to actually arrive at Chilton's office. And she didn't look good. She was pale. The circles under her eyes were pronounced. She wasn't even wearing one of her typical flower dresses, having dressed in the all black hoodie and slacks she arrived in -- sipping her tea like it was a lifeline. ]

It's me. I'm coming in.

[ She balanced the drinks in one hand while she opened the door with the other, slipping into the room. Trembling fingers placed his latte down on the desk before him. ]

The I'm Sorry For Being Moody latte. With a gluten free Please Don't be Too Upset blueberry muffin.

Oh. [Chilton looked at the oddly named latte.] I thought I had asked for soy.

[It took him a quarter of a second to backtrack; immediately his hands were held up -- palms showing -- in preemptive surrender.]

Kidding, kidding! I'm only kidding. You gave it such a uniquely... Sweet name, I had to say something. [Chilton would never acknowledge that actually no, he didn't have to say something.] Thank you.

Won't you have a seat? On the sedan, if you would. I imagine you'd like to be sedated as soon as possible.

[ Raina gave him a playfully scolding look at his comment, smiled and shook her head. ]

You could have just said thank you.

[ She backtracked to the sedan, sinking down onto it. ]

But you're welcome.

[ Her fingers laced on her lap. ]

If you don't mind, then yes. I would appreciate the sedation. Are you sure it's going to keep me from dreaming?

It's the best on the market. [Chilton cooed the promise, an assertion amplified by his own ego. He stood up from his chair, and walked around to shadow her backing steps. When she was seated, he walked around the sedan -- until Chilton stood behind her.]

Close your eyes, Raina.

[He breathed the words, soft and certain as they were. Commanding. There was a part of him, a seedling buried beneath his smirking charm and casual pettiness, a burning drop of ink that craving this moment. He would enjoy it. Fingers stroking Raina's shoulder. He would savor the control.

Fingers caressing, pressing into her neck.]

I can't say this is FDA approved, mind.

[And Chilton released a dosage of heavy sleep sedative, right into her lovely skin.]

[ She looked back at him for a moment, hoping to catch a glimpse of what he was injecting into her -- to have an idea of what he was going to be using. But then his instruction came and she frowned.

Still. The prospect of sleep. Dreamless sleep left her in a state where she couldn't really argue. And if he wanted to play these little games of hide and seek, well, Raina had no choice but to play along.

It burned her a little, though.

But she did as told, closing her eyes and listening to him -- feeling his warm touch on her throat and leaning into it, receptive to his caresses and inviting him in for more. She was just about to ask what his tested, non-FDA approved sedative was exactly when she found out. The sedative burst into her system at once, catching her by surprise. And that surprise manifested itself underneath his fingers -- thorns bursting through the patch of skin he was touching, a thoughtless self defense that she didn't even mean to let happen. ]

You sneaky...

[ Her words trailed off in a slur. If he got pricked, it was his fault for not warning her. But she didn't even seem aware that it had happened, and as the fatigue seized a hold of her, the thorns faded back into her skin -- leaving it smooth once more. ]

Edited (omg this is the last time I'll touch it. I swear. Just got the idea when I was showering. :P) 2015-05-14 20:19 (UTC)

Ow! Son of a -- [Chilton whipped back his hand, an arc of blood following his gesture. One of her thorns had punctured his thumb, and Chilton's hasty retreat concluding with a coddling the wounded bit of flesh in his healthier palm. He took a few deep breaths, his eyes wide and amazed -- the weaponized flesh had submerged back into her flawless skin, and had Chilton not felt that sharply presence, he likely would have questioned what he had seen.

Curious, curious. As he took a step back, his still eyes on the sleeping Raina, he considered what else she might be obscuring. They were both creatures of secrets, it seemed.

He moved to lock his door, so her rest would be uninterrupted. Chilton didn't have blankets on hand, but the Floridian heat denied the need for such utility in May. He could offer sanctuary, as he continued his own work until she woke -- and then would come the questions.]

[ It had been the most welcome and restful of sleeps she had, had in a long time. Not a single dream. Just her body being knocked for for a solid several hours. Roughly five hours, actually. And even when she finally started to stir, she didn't really want to wake up. She would have slept far longer had her body not metabolized the sedative by that point.

Raina's eyelashes fluttered open and she looked around the office, groggy and confused. And then her eyes found Chilton which caused her to remember where she was and what happened. A hand reached up to wipe the crust of sleep from her eyes and she subconsciously checked her hair to make sure it wasn't a mess of horrifying bedhead. ]

How long was I out?

About -- [Chilton, still at his desk and typing out his edited version of Kanaya's evolving diagnosis, paused only to glance over once Raina spoke. His eyes moved to the fanciful golden watch around his wrist, instead of looking at the digital clock inherent to his laptop.]

About five hours. You didn't make much of a sound, for which I'm rather grateful. Do you need anything? Water? A band aid?

[He held up his hand, exhibiting the bandaged thumb that had been punctured so easily by a protruding thorn.]

[ She stared at his hand, brows knitting together. And then it slowly dawned on her. And it was unmistakable, the way her eyes widened in horror -- the way her hands instantly came up to touch all over her face and the rapid check she gave her limbs -- relieved to find they were smooth and human. ]

N-no. I'm fine. What happened?

[ And more than that what did he see. Raina regarded Chilton warily. ]

[At this juncture, he closed his laptop. He shuffled aside his filed, stacking them in a neat and even pile, before making his way to the sedan.

Chilton sat not in the middle, but at the corner edge of the sofa. He intended to give Raina the illusion of personal space.]

I sedated you. Just like you asked of me. That's one of my abilities, in this world.

[He wiggled his fingers, palm shown to her, for emphasis. Chilton's gaze, however, remained magnetic to Raina's face.]

And your body had attacked me as consequences.

[ She looked at his hand when he held it on display. All of this time he had been touching her with hands that were capable of knocking her out, and he kept it a secret. Raina supposed she couldn't be too upset. He never used it on her and she was, after all, keeping her own abilities from him.

Her eyes flickered up to meet his, staring at them for any sign of repulsion. She didn't see any outright disdain. Had it only been a localized attack? Did he see her full transformation? ]

Perhaps you should have told me what you were doing before you decided to take me by surprise.

[ She wasn't about to apologize for something that was out of her control. The distance between them felt like miles, and Raina didn't like it. Did he not want to come near her now? She scooted a little bit close, taking his hand gently and pressing a kiss to his bandaged thumb -- amused warmth reaching her eyes. ]

Does that make it any better? Or should I kiss some other parts instead?

[He squirmed a second -- her delectable offering invoked a sudden, surprising warmth to certain parts of his own body. It was a tempting offer, and such was communicated through the swell of his swallow. Hesitance, consideration to the diversion. Nearly succumbing. But Chilton also considered the vital things that they surely needed to discuss, and he forced himself to embrace that logic.]

Is this your power, and have you others? A fascinating defense mechanism, one that's fairly clever I'd say -- after all, who would suspect it? So many want to touch your skin, and so few realize how it can bite back.

[Questions and commentary. Chilton leaned a bit closer to Raina, after she had scooted over, after she had kissed his tiny wound. He tried to slip his arm over her shoulders -- a somewhat awkward away, given his angle and desire to still watch her expression.]

Please, Frederick...

[ It was a plead and a beg. It was fear and finality. She didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want him to tread the path that led to these questions. She never, ever intended for him to find out about her form, her true form. ]

It's not important.

[ She broke eye contact so she could unzip the hoodie she wore, shrugging it off her shoulders and letting it drop onto the sedan. She wore a simple, black tank top underneath that she was starting to take off as well. Distractions at their finest. ]

My skin can make thorns. It's a power, yes. So it's not important. We all have them.

[ Too hasty to drop that topic. Too hasty to move on. Too hasty to start working on his shirt when she's down to nothing but her bra. ]

It is important, Raina. Everything about you is important -- including your abilities. [It was flabbergasting to him, that she would downplay her own transformative power. After she so effusively admired the power and capability of others? There was something to be pried open, something she frantically sought to avoid.]

I -- I can appreciate your reluctance. To discuss.

[He eyed her halfway nude form, the distraction slicking over his agenda. Chilton swallowed again, and rubbed his palms up and down his thighs. He knew this was an intentional disruption, he identified her haste and strategy. He stared at her svelte, toned body.]

Because. Power can be so. Personal.

[ Raina's brows were knit together, nimble digits dancing their way over Chilton's shirt and picking apart the buttons one by one before she parted the fabric and reached out, touching his bare skin -- her hand resting right on one of his surgical scars. She looked up at his face right then. ]

We all have our scars. The dark things we want to keep locked up inside. They heal but they leave their marks on our skin, in our hearts, on our souls. Yours, you can see. But mine...?

[ Raina let out a huff of breath, looking away from him. ]

This world gave me a chance to hide my scars. So let me keep hiding them. The way you hide yours from me. The same way you always avoid the topic when I ask.

[ Her tone became desperate. Raina was raw, open, and emotional right now. It was weakness, but it was real. ]

Please, Frederick. Just forget about it. Or at least pretend to forget about it. Humor me and I will never ask about your secrets again.

[ She brought his hand up, making an X over her chest. ]

Cross my heart.

[He looked down at his exposed torso, having put up absolutely no resistance to Raina's whimsical fingers. When she touched the dissection scar, he winced -- not because it caused him pain, no, Chilton had long grown numb to the faded ache of a split stomach. The damage was done, the cells that had remained were healed as much as they were ever going to be. What caused the wince was the fact he couldn't deny what she already knew, he couldn't blind her to what she had already seen.

When she pleaded with him, when she made the X with his hand brought up to her chest, Chilton's brow furrowed.]

You're right.

[The concession came after a heavy beat.]

I do hide my scars from you. My history. And perhaps -- perhaps I needn't to, especially if you're going to expose yourself. If I'm asking you to do so.

[Raw, emotional, vibrant Raina.]

[ Raina blinked. No. No, no, no. That wasn't how this was supposed to go. If he told her now, where would her bargaining chip go? If he exposed himself now, then she would be obligated to do the same. As long as they could both hide behind that curtain, hide behind their scars they were on equal ground.

Raina made the move to get closer, to crawl onto his lap. ]

You don't have to tell me.

[ She reassured, her eyes on his belt as she pulled at it. ]

You don't...

[ Tug, loosen. ]

...have to--

[ Unziiiip. ]

--tell me.

[ Raina's eyes met his. ]

I don't want to lose you, Frederick. And I'm afraid I would. Thorns are ugly, protecting the rose but it's the rose you want. No one wants to date the thorns. I told you, didn't I? When we first met -- that SHIELD had reason to be afraid of me.

[ She took his hand and guided it to her cheek, tilting her head to lightly kiss his palm. ]

I don't want you to be afraid of me. So you keep your secret. And I keep mine. Is that something we can agree on?

Raina -- Raina, goodness.

[She was a like tsunami surging -- no, she was a thunderstorm, an electric sexual force of nature illuminated against him. He couldn't say no to her fingers, he couldn't deny the way her eyes looked at him. He moved to hold her face between his palms, to calm that storm for just a moment.

Raina, you are remarkable. How could anything remarkable ever be considered unattractive? How can that be conceived?

[His fingers stroked back her hair. Gently, attentively, his motions controlled.]

Thorns aren't just a defensive mechanism. They can insulate, too. They manifest designs unknown to others.

You don't understand.

[ And he wouldn't. Not unless he saw it. Raina closed her eyes against his touch, savoring the warmth. ]

People are always so afraid of monsters, but they don't realize it's worse to be one.

[ Raina's eyes opened again and she worked Chilton's jacket off of his shoulders. ]

If I show this to you, then you owe me. A secret for a secret. You had your chance to back out. So now it's time to truly weigh the worth of your scars against mine.

I said I would tell you.

[He leaned over, offering a kiss to her lips. But even a kiss couldn't mask the smug smirk he wore; it was emblematic of Chilton thinking himself the victor.]

About what happened to me. What was done to me.

[Abel Gideon was not an avoidable topic. Better that he explained it with control, better that he carved out the terms of agreement.]

- IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

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action!

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Eh. Because I am greedy and want more of your threads. ;x

Good! I AM GLAD.

xoxo

winks >)

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idk if this is necessary, but CW: nonsexual nudity~

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