by the grace of god

The Manhattan Bridge, 1970s.

Los Angeles (1976).

Valen can't help the way the thought turns him on. He wasn't one to share but the idea of showing her off just like that did more to him than he ever would have guess. Whether or not it would ever come to fruition, he didn't know. But that was okay. Just the idea did enough for the time being. "How cruel to tease them with something they can't have." He mused, smirking a bit in amusement.

And he could not get enough of the view that he currently had. He could stare up at her as did as she pleased for as long as he could possibly get. Perfection. Even as her hand reached to tease him, pulling a low groan from him.

"I think I can do just that." And he would without an ounce of hesitation. He let a third finger slip into her and moved his thumb so she didn't have to grind against it herself. His unoccupied hand moved to reach up for her other breast, giving it a few gentle squeezes before taking her nipple between his fingers.

Her fingers in his hair and on his cheek are almost enough to send him to sleep already, Chase lulled into such a state of contentment that there wasn't a lot he was thinking about otherwise. Still, he presses another kiss to her thigh.

"How can I not? I like doing it so much, and you're so pretty when you smile."

Do his lines ring as more genuine when he's sleepy like this? When he's not putting on an act of a little more bravado than he actually has? He's careful not to let his dry hands linger too long on her skin, since he knows they can be a little raspy.

Another smile was quick to appear as he complimented her, unable to help it. "You're so lame." Toby teased with a playful roll of her eyes. She expected nothing less from him but it still always caught her off guard when compliments were given.

And she can sense the more genuine intention. That he's not just saying it in the same way he normally does. Though she tried not to think too deeply into it, not wanting to get herself to overthink something that was likely meaningless.

OTP celebration week - Day 1: Your OTP

“I’m happy I get to see you too.” He murmurs after a moment, eyes flicking up to catch her face as she asks about Charlie, and then swiftly cuts herself off.

“It’s okay. I don’t mind if you ask. Charlie’s good now - she’s got an anxiety disorder. Has panic attacks. And it’s just the two of us.” So when she gets that way, Chase is the protector and the soother. Toby can probably infer that part of it though, so Chase doesn’t voice it out loud. He wouldn’t have flaked on plans for anyone who wasn’t Charlie anyway.

Being an only child she didn't have someone to back her up in the same way but Ran had filled that spot as much as one could as they grew up. And that she was grateful of.

A light laugh left her lips as he promised that he would stay awake through their movie. Of course she knew that he wouldn't but she didn't care. Maybe she'd even use it as an excuse to nap as well. "I'll believe it when I see it." She rolled her eyes playfully, shifting just slightly to make herself more comfortable while he kissed her thigh.

“ash to ash, flame to flame. my voice i give, my will i silence. i am bound, unbroken, in the radiant one.”

She leans back in her seat, considering what he was asking. It would be a risk to store whatever his shipment was here - but Callisto trusted him, and besides, they were going on a date. That had to count for something. 

It was clear why else he was asking her - no one would blink twice at a delivery turning up at a store, would they?

“How big of a shipment?”

That might have more of an influence over her answer than anything - would she be able to fit it in her store room?

Ah, she’d make it fit, wouldn’t she? Anything to keep people around, isn’t it?

If there was another solution, Ran would have gone down that road. Dragging Callisto further into it all was not the most ideal thing. But he had the same trust in her and he was sure that nothing would happen while his shipment was in her store.

"It's on the smaller side. I don't want to be taking up too much of your space." He was about to just leave it at that but then realized that he should specify. Small for him was likely not the same for everyone else in this context. "I don't know, fifteen to twenty boxes. Like that one over there." There was a gesture made towards a nearby medium sized box, doing his best to guess at the sizing.

If she could only make room for half or really anything, he'd take that. But of course he came into the conversation always expecting a no. "It hopefully won't be long. I'd like to have a new place lined up by the start of next week." And he hoped that the promise of an all cash purchase would entice a seller to move with a bit more pep in their step.