driftfleet | Mistletoe Mingle!

[ Lotor is moving off his shift when he spots Allura standing in the hallway, a sight that a few weeks ago would have made him grimace at his luck but more recently has that old spark in it again. That happy feeling that she had pulled out of a depth in his soul that he had once thought, again and again, that could not survive in him.

And yet he keeps hoping.

His lips twitch up at the sight of her, and then pull down at her expression. ]

Allura?

[ As he approaches he glances up, only seeing the mistletoe when it's too late. He can feel his legs stick to the ground just as he tries to pull back to avoid the catch.

Too Late.

Heat floods up his neck in embarrassment at the realization. The others hadn't bothered him in a least, but Allura?

There's a new experience for Allura here, seeing him flustered. And he is, eyes wide as he looks around, and stumbles for words.]

Princess-I. I did not intend-

[ She's been stuck in archway for about ten doboshes when she can finally hear someone approach. Finally! She's about to call out for assistance when she sees who it is--

Oh.

Oh.

She probably looks a fool, doesn't she? But he surely won't leave her in this predicament now, right? They have formed a truce and seem to even be working almost amicably again. ]

...Lotor! Thank goodness.

[ Yes, she can be a little relieved. But then he's apologizing and suddenly very, very close. ]

Oh--oh, no, it's--there's--

[ How awkward. She will pointedly try to ignore how her heart is racing more than usual. ]

...I should start from the beginning. I appear to be...stuck. It's as if there's a particle barrier around me, but I'm unable to discern where it's being generated from. And yet somehow you were able to pass right through! Did you not feel it?

[ Yes, the mistletoe doesn't strike her as a source for concern. She's seen some odd decorations. ]

[ This would figure. He is just imagining what his bank account will look like this after, for all the drama that came of their last few intense interactions.

He's kissed Allura before, enjoyed it even. But that was such a different time and world and situation and-- Lotor exhales hard, looking everywhere but Allura's face. How to explain this? ]

I've experienced this phenomenon a couple times at this point. I apologize for not catching on to whaat waas hanging above you until it was too late.

[ He grimaces, pawing a hand over his face before he drops his eyes to hers. ]

It is not a particle barrier, it's an Atroma trick. A game, designed to catch two victims under this plant for what I can only imagine for...a ratings boost. And I walked right into it.

[ Funny--Allura is having a difficult time looking at anything but Lotor's face. Normally she does her best to try and keep her gaze level and civil and not in a staring state. Because that's rude and things between them are...in repair, but not perfect. Cordial co-workers, she would say.

But now she feels as if she's looking at him for the first time all over again.

So don't mind the actual staring, Lotor. It's happening. ]

Above me?

[ That is enough to tear Allura's gaze away for a moment as she turns to look up at the ceiling. ]

...A plant? I've seen those around, but...

[ That's what's causing this? ]

A ratings boost?

[ It's back to him. ]

So we are intended to work together to escape this forcefield of sorts.

[ Yes, she can see why that would boost ratings, especially for...well. Them. And their strange and sometimes disjointed fanbase. ]

[ Work together.

The heat that was moving up his neck pools in his ears, and he presses his lips into a round frown as he reaches up to touch the plant with careful pressure.

That is one way to put it. ]

The Paladin Lance was telling me that there was a human tradition on earth where if two people found themselves under one of these mistletoe plants they would find themselves obligated to kiss.

[ Lotor keeps his voice as detached as possible. He doesn’t rip the plant down, not wanting to bring on additional ire down on Allura’s head.

He does though look down at her again, his expression softening apologetically. ]

With the percentage of human beings on this show it is no wonder they pulled from those traditions for their own amusement. I am sorry Princess, but I have yet to find another way to be released from this trap other than that.

[ Allura listens carefully, gaze flickering between the way he touches the plant and Lotor's face. She's always thought he was handsome, but at the moment she feels that's it's particularly poignant.

And then-- ]

Kiss?

[ Oh.

Oh dear.

The sudden jump in her heartbeat is mixed with a sense of righteous indignation. She's suddenly very aware, again, of how close they're standing...and of the fact that one is never truly alone on the Fleet. ]

This...crosses yet another boundary for the sake of ratings!

[ Yes, she's flustered. ]

You're certain this is the only way?

[ If so, that would certainly explain her fixation with his face. And mouth.

Goodness. ]

[ Hearing her say it makes his stomach twist, and he watches her eyes drop to his mouth, her own pink and parted slightly. His memory pulls up the feeling of those lips pressed to his, the adrenaline of their trip into the quintessence field still rushing through the both of them. The spark from the contact, the warmth of her breath, the way she leaned into him-- soft even through their armor.

That heat in his ears is now turning his cheeks pink, and Lotor licks his lips once before reaching up to press his hand against the barrier and test it again with his weight.

It's as though the air is steel, and does not budge in the slightest. ]

It seems so. Though... your paladin did not clarify if it was necessary to be a kiss on the lips. We may be able to slip out on a technicality...if we are lucky.

I see...

[ Allura swallows, barely paying his testing of the barrier heed. Is it just her or has it become rather warm? Usually that's not an issue for her. Hm.

Yes, this--is clearly having an effect. Whatever it is. ]

Lucky--yes, of course.

[ That would...certainly be a break for them, wouldn't it?

Allura clears her throat. ]

Well then--your hand?

[ She will treat this as professionally as possible. As long as she can stand it. A hand is safe. ]

My hand.

[ It takes him moment to catch on, for all the intelligence and experience he had is suddenly failing him in such close quarters. Rather than just offer it to her, he lifts his hand up as though to inspect it, the long curves of his fingers and claws, eyebrows furrowed. Allura's hands are tiny in comparison, and at one point they had disappeared in his palms as he held them.

Ah his hand.

Lotor shakes his head ever so slightly to clear the thoughts, offering his hand palm up too her as he tries to ground himself in the moment. ]

By your leave Princess.

[ She has held his hands before--a few times, though most had been by necessity alone. The last time, however, had been in the Fleet's makeshift garden, before...

Before everything had fallen apart.

Allura doesn't imagine this will make up for it, and it's very likely this is the last thing he'd like to do with her, but she believes that he offer an alternative if he thought it were more appropriate. Right? Right.

So Allura takes his hand and leans forward, quickly pressing a kiss to his open palm.

Yes. Yes she did just did the thing. She did it.

Pulling back, Allura looks to the side and presses her free hand out--and it stops. ]

Oh...it didn't work.

[ Allura's hands are soft and cool and small, and he watches as she ducks down and presses those warm soft lips against the sensitive skin of his palm.

Lotor wets his lips and tries not to think too heavily about that sensation, or the memories. When she pulls back he looks way from her, not wanting to meet her eyes. Instead he tests the barrier with her, a soft frown pulling his lips down. ]

It seems not. Maybe it has to be in the general proximity of the face.

[ He wants to kiss her. The pull in his chest urges him too, some his own desire and the rest...a compulsion. Both he pushes against; even as he reaches out to gently tuck some of her hair out of her face. ]

If I may try?

[ Of the face.

Of course.

Allura feels the heat rise to her cheeks against her better judgment and she can only pray that her markings stay unlit as long as this exchange lasts. She turns her attention back to Lotor just in time for kind but intimate gesture of tucking her hair. Goodness.

Her mouth feels a little dry, but she manages a-- ]

Yes.

[ There's a decent pause then, Lotor's fingers hovering at the corner of her cheekbone (safely away from those marks he had so envied throughout his childhood) before he leans forward quickly, pressing his lips to the spot just above her tiara. The smell of her hair is comforting and warm, and he lingers there for a moment before pulling back; his voice rough and low. ]

Anything?

[ She would be lying to herself if she said she hadn't ever envisioned a first kiss with Lotor at a time, but this certainly hadn't been it. She closes her eyes, feeling her heartbeat quicken as he leans in.

It's chaste, sweet--unassuming. And yet somehow terribly exciting at the same time. There's part of her that feels a little disappointed, a part that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Still, at the sound of his voice, she opens eyes that she hadn't realized she closed in anticipation. Allura blinks then sort of absently pushes against the invisible barrier.

Nothing. ]

...I'm afraid not.

Curses.

[ It comes out unconvincing, slightly drawled. He doesn't lean back as much this time, his fingers laying gently along the line of her jaw as he tilts her face to the side ever so slightly. ]

Perhaps then....

[ He lingers a kiss on her cheek, his nose brushing the pink mark on her cheekbone as he does. His heart beats loud in his own ears, and there's something distracting about how much she reduces him to a nervous boy only centuries old, rather than then the myrioi that he was. ]

Now?

[ Allura doesn't even drop her hand from the invisible wall, too taken in by the feel of his fingers and lips on her face. The crescent under her eye begins to glow despite herself, but Allura doesn't immediately notice, nor does she realize how she's already tilting her head slightly so that their faces align more properly.

She shakes her head ever so, her voice just above a whisper, ]

No.

[ Absently she can tell the wall is still present, but everything in her being--things outside her being as well are shouting at her to surge forward. She doesn't, barely keeping her lips from ghosting over his. ]

Hm...

[ He hums softly, his eyes barely open now as he takes in the warmth of her, the taste of her breath at this distance; the smell of her skin. He's pushed those feelings so far back these last months that he'd been certain he was over it. Over her. How could he just...

Lotor scrapes his teeth over his bottom lip, his hand settling on the curve of her neck, fingers tangling in the soft white curls there. ]

Let us see....

[ He places his free hand next to hers on the wall, bracing his fingertips against the force resisting them as he places a soft kiss on the tip of her nose...and then after a moment the soft corner of her mouth.

Lotor lingers there for a moment, eyebrows furrowing as he pulls back ever so slightly, eyes closed now as he pushes against the barrier ever so slightly. ]

Allura...

[ He's so close. So very close she can almost taste him. She would be lying if she said she hadn't imagined what he tasted like before, long ago when things between them hadn't become even more complicated than they began. But his touch is so intimate and so gentle, and the natural pull she feels towards him strengthened by supernatural means--

She can't take this anymore.

Allura suddenly reaches up to grab Lotor by his collar and pulls him forward, closing the already diminishing distance between them in a tick. Her lips are firm and demanding, but she sighs all the same, as if some unspoken wish has finally been granted. ]

[ Lotor makes a soft sound of surprise as her fingers dig into his collar, tugging him forward to meet her. Her lips are soft and sweet, but her kiss eager and the sigh that excapes her sends a twist in his gut.

Lotor closes his eyes, eyebrows furrowing up as he leans into her, curling his height down; taking the pressure off his collar.

Stars, he's wanted this. He had wanted this again right after the first time he had kissed her, had let himself consider their future together; and then everything had been dashed so quickly--

The ship melted away from his focus, and it was as if they were back in the castle of lions now; sharing the high of such an amazing discovery. His hand drops from the wall, settling gently on her waist. ]

[ It's a mix of instant relief and excitement and she angles her head to get full access to his lips. Allura slowly releases her grip on his collar and smooths her hands up over his his shoulders to link behind the back of his neck.

The hand on her waist only urges her forward--quite literally--as she presses herself up against him and moves her lips, demanding attention. ]

[ There is no armor between the two of them this time, nothing but soft fabric to mask the softness of her body as she presses up against him; and he slips his fingers from her neck into her hair.

Lotor pulls her closer, turning her back more towards the bulkhead as he rolls the soft fabric of her top between his claws; the hesitance in his kiss gone now as he makes a pleased sound through his nose.

She smells and tastes delicious, and despite her petite frame she fits against him more perfectly than he could ever hoped. His entire life he was too small for any Galra to find worthwhile; but with Allura his hands spanned the small of her back, her weight barely pulled him forward.

He could kiss her forever if allowed, and the mistletoe above is utterly forgotten. ]

[ She loves every tick of this. It's as if all the yearning and tension built up over the past few phoebs through betrayal, misunderstandings, and hints of forgiveness all come to in a single moment. That she has been urged by the effects of something outside of her control has escaped her entirely, instead losing herself to the fact that this is something she might have liked to do otherwise.

There had been a time in which Allura entertained the thought of kissing him more than once, but after she heard of his misdeeds, she abandoned those ideas entirely. Now with new understanding and renewed resolve, all she sought was a means to correct mistakes and move forward. Never had she thought that this would be a possibility, let alone a reality. But his hands are on her and his mouth is warm and enticing.

Allura urges him forward again as her lips readjust. She takes a step back, feeling her heel hit the wall as she does so. The markings on her cheekbones glow brilliantly as she pulls back ever so, breathing out across his lips. ]

Lotor...

[ Lotor chases after her lips as she pulls back, breathing in his own name as it escapes her. His nose bumps against hers, fingers tightening at her waist even as he makes a small pained sound; the little break giving just enough time for sense to reach him.

They're standing in the middle of an open passageway, on a ship barely big enough to breathe in, doing something that should be private.

His cheeks tingle where he knows his marks hid, only recently discovered, and he licks his lips as his forehead bumps against hers.]

I am certain...we have satisfied the conditions...

[ His voice is almost pained, and he leans ever so slightly closer; his fingers felt glued to her, and he finds himself incapable of quite letting her go. ]

[ Allura hums lightly, absently, as the heat from his mouth is immensely distracting. The mistletoe itself is almost forgotten entirely, though the quietly uttered words help remind her.

Yes, they were...doing this with a specific purpose in mind. To free them of the barrier which, if she pays attention, she realizes they have already crossed and proven successfully removed.

But she hesitates to pull back, knowing it will break the spell and the sudden thrill and strange comfort in his closeness. It's a farce, isn't it? Working towards a mutual end benefit by strange methods. Satisfying, but strange methods. Whatever chance this had before is gone. Allura had only just began to seriously entertain those thoughts before the reality was taken away. Why should he begin now? ]

...

[ She could not possibly explain or excuse this if she continues. ]

Yes...

[ Allura breathes out, long and low, slowly pulling back, but not really away. Not far enough to properly look him in the eye, lest she find something there she isn't prepared for. ]

Thank you...for your assistance.

Mistletoe Mingle!

Hello Princess

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