Chapter Text
-- timauesTestified [TT] began bothering tipysGnostlagic [TG] at 22:08 --
TT: There's a certain princess I'm intending to romance.
TT: Here's a hint.
TT: It's you.
TG: tahts a pretty big hitn
TG: *hnt
TG: *fuck it
TT: Are you saying you mind the size of said hint?
TT: Perhaps I should be more obscure.
TG: im sayign u could benefit from being more subtle jackass
TT: Allow me to reiterate.
TT: Here's a hint:
TT: It's a lovely young lady who happens to be slightly intoxicated at all times.
TG: oooohhhhhhh
TG: :3 see that was better
TT: You can't possibly expect me to constantly be subtle.
TT: Especially during said romancing.
TG: yeha dont be a tease
TT: Unless you're into me being a tease?
TT: That could be arranged.
TG: we coudl find out
TT: Oh?
TT: Elaborate.
TG: i mean u could totes see how obscuer
TG: and sbtle
TG: and teasy u could be
TG: before ive had enough and jsut like
TG: jump ur bones or s/t
TT: Oh, please, Roxy.
TT: I'm purring.
TT: Stop.
TG: purrign
TT: Yes, purring.
TT: Purring: to speak in a low, soft voice, especially when expressing contentment or acting seductively
TG: like a big fuckinf kitty
TG: oh
TG: ot that
TG: *or
TT: Are you likening me to a cat?
TT: Perhaps you have a fetish for that sort of thing.
TG: cant i just pet ur hair
TT: My hair resembles that of a bird.
TT: Close enough.
TT: Pet away.
TG: but ur all teh way across the room
TT: Then come over here.
TG: im even reachign for u but its not working
TG: ugh
TT: You look like an idiot.
TG: ur face looks liek an idiot
TT: My face is perfectly handsome.
TT: Look, see?
TG: ughhhhh it is
TG: u coeme over here
TG: *come
TT: Alas, the fate of the Prince.
TT: I'm on my way.
TG: yaye :3
TT: All the way across the vast expanse of the room.
TT: I'll make you pay for this later.
TG: its like ur in china
TG: deal
TT: I could say the same for you.
TG: im waitign
Dirk resisted heaving a heavy sigh. Since hey, that shit was just uncool. His hands found their way into his pockets, now standing in front of her. How or why the blonde was at her house was probably a mystery even to them, but who was going to question it?
"Close enough?"
Roxy smirked up at him, her eye contact lingering for just a moment before she peered back at her phone again.
TG: u coudl be closer
Rolling his eyes behind his shades, he sat down next to her on her bed, leaving a foot of space between them.
"How about now?"
She rolled her own eyes in reply, scooting closer to him so their legs were touching. It made her tingle just a little bit.
TG: perfect
He struggled to keep a smirk in check. Definitely uncool.
"Now what?"
Without saying a word Roxy lifted her hand, gently running it through his hair. Clearly enjoying the feel of it, she smiled. It was exceptionally soft, even with the product he had in it to keep it in its stylish little flair. She went back to her phone after a minute or so.
TG: that
He smirked, now, making it look totally suave in the process.
"So you actually pet me." As if she wouldn't have!
TG: ya
TG: whatcha gonna do abotu it
A quick adjust to his glasses was given, Dirk seeming to give careful thought to the situation.
"Well. There are two options. And literally just two."
Roxy narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"A, I could ignore you. Or B, I could pet you back." He nodded resolutely. "There are no options other than that. None."
TG: pffffffff
TG: wel lthen make ur move
"I thought you wanted subtlety, Roxy." A careless shrug. "But so be it."
TG: ok then surprise em
TG: *me
Surprised she was, then, when he reached to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. She smiled at the motion, enjoying it quite a bit. Eyes even closed. He didn't stop until her hair was presentable, smoothing out the tangles in a methodic manner.
"Better."
TG: groomin me
TG: liek a kitty
"Yes. Like a kitty."
Smile. Roxy lifted her hand to feel her hair, pleased to feel it all rightfully in place.
TG: nwo im ready for a ngith on the town huh
TG: watever will i waer
Dirk rolled his eyes behind his glasses. Again.
"Anything, really. You say that like you care."
She frowned.
TG: ehy sometimes i like lookign nice
"You always look nice, Roxy. Even when you don't look nice."
A blush rose in Roxy's cheeks, the girl smiling at the comment juuuust a bit. The alcohol may have helped in both of those things. Certainly such a simple complement couldn't get her all doofy like that! She didn't even bother looking at her phone this time for her response.
"Thank you." It was quiet and sincere.
Dirk's thumb gently traced the curvature of her face, the trademark smirk he tried so hard to hide surfacing again.
"I won't say 'you're welcome', since I'm not wont to hand out complements like I do sarcasm." The statement made her roll her eyes playfully, and go back to her phone.
TG: lol ass
"And a damn nice one."
TG: ill sya
TG: *wonk
His fingers trailed to her mouth, traced the bow of her lips.
"You've got your fair share of fine attributes."
Against his fingertips, her lips curved into a delicate smile. Again, she didn't bother with her phone.
"Tell me about them."
"Well, for one, you've got lovely lips. Even though the nicest things don't come from them sometimes." She smirked. "Your hair, when it's not a bird's nest. Your eyes, and your nose, and your chest and ass, too." Pause. "Pretty much everything."
Roxy's smile widened, threatening to break into a short laugh at the comments. Instead she let one of her hands rest chastely on top of his thigh. One-handedly, she tacked something into her phone.
TG: sos it my turn to flatterer u all over teh place orm i jus sposed to sit here swoonin
"The princess has her duties, as well." He watched her hand move, and went to snatch the phone away with his free one, tossing it beside them on the bed. "If you're going to compliment me, I'd rather hear it from this pretty mouth of yours."
Roxy watched her phone be tossed carelessly to the side, pouting in a jest. She smiled, though, hand once again stroking his hair gently.
"I really, really like your hair. And your voice. Even if you totes have an attitude problem a lot. But it's strong and... makes me feel safe. You've got a rockin' bod, too. And..." From petting his hair, her hand moved; fingers delicately removing his glasses. Tossed them next to her phone. Looked back at him. "I'm absolutely in love with your eyes."
Dirk avoided hers for a moment, his tone steady when he spoke.
"They're remarkably freakish."
She shook her head enthusiastically, both hands moving to hold his face so he'd look at her again.
"They are not. They're absolutely beautiful." Her words were soft and encouraging.
"I'd like to hear you say that sober," he murmured, his thumb gently pushing down her bottom lip. His own parted slightly. She smirked.
"There's a limited time offer that drunk Roxy will say anything you want for free."
"Then humor me, drunk Roxy. Are my eyes the only thing about me you love?"
"I love everything about you." His free hand came to cup her cheek as he slowly leaned closer. Her heart fluttered in her chest.
"I think you're allowed to get your hopes up. I've long since suspected that the feelings I have for you might not be purely platonic."
Her heart leapt into her throat. What was he saying...? The faint glimmer of hope in her chest - that he said she could have - grew intensely. Especially.. when he...
He kissed her. Without realizing it she leaned into it, her eyes closing as her head tipped gently to the side. She felt his hand curl around her waist, not even remember him taking it off her face. He was pulling her closer. Her heart was racing. She pulled back, studying his face with the faintest traces of uncertainty in her odd pink eyes.
"You know how I feel about you, Dirk."
"I've known for a while."
Roxy's cheeks flushed a bit, and she glanced away. She really wasn't that hard to read, huh?
"I'm sorry if it... got in the way of things."
"Now here's a shock. Roxy Lalonde being embarrassed about something. Someone catch me, I'm about to faint." She scrunched her nose, moving to pinch his arm - but he caught her hand instead, leaning forward to brush his lips against her cheek.
"Look on the bright side, Rox. I'm closest to you. I hope you're good at catching things."
Roxy smirked again, winking at him.
"I'll catch whatever you throw at me."
"Then get ready to catch a patented Strider kiss."
Roxy bit the corner of her lip anxiously, never more ready for anything in her entire life. His hand squeezed her hip gently, pressing his lips to hers once more. His head tipped to the side just a bit, encouraging Rox to deepen the kiss. She responded by bringing her hand to his cheek again, shifting to kneel next to him on her bed. She imagined that she tasted like gin, and wondered if he minded. ...she seemed slightly alarmed when he broke the kiss to lay back on her bed. The alarm melted into slight surprise when he beckoned for her to join him. Hesitantly, she crawled over her bed, kneeling next to him. She'd... never really waded this far into the waters of whatever... this was turning into. And honestly Roxy was a little terrified of doing something wrong. It obviously showed.
"Oh come on, Roxy. Just get on top."
A nervous laugh left her but she swung her leg over him, straddling his hips and leaning down to gaze into his eyes again. Hers were a little glassy from inebriation, but crystal clear otherwise. His lips brushed hers once more; and when he spoke his voice was low and soft.
"Don't be afraid, Rox. We can quit if you'd like."
Instantly, a frown was on her face; brows pinched together.
"Fuck no. I've been waiting forever for this."
"I just don't want to unintentionally hurt you." His words were touching.
His hands were on her waist, thumbs rubbing encouraging circles on her skin. The motion was, in fact, pretty calming. She leaned forward, placing a kiss very gently between his eyes. Her voice was soft, but serious.
"The only way you'll hurt me is if you get up and leave." His nod of understanding comforted her. ...even as he carefully switched their positions, hovering over her. She squealed from the sudden rush, giggling quietly. It hushed at his words.
"I'm not a coward, Roxy."
The look on her face was one of muted desire, her eyes watching him carefully.
"I know. It's one of the reasons I'm in love with you."
He leaned down, kissing her jaw gently.
"You really shouldn't throw the word 'love' around so easily. You might get hurt one day."
Solemnly, she looked him straight in the eye.
"You'd never let yourself hurt me." Pause. "You'd kill yourself before you even tried."
"Ha." His kisses were feather-light, showering her neck and jaw. "You've got me read like a book."
Roxy let her eyes close, tipping her head a bit to the side - exposing more of her neck for him to shower with attention. Was it just the booze or was it getting hot in here...?
"I know I'm right," she murmured through a smirk.
"Shh." He linked his fingers in hers, slowly dragging her arms above her head as he kissed the new spanse of neck she'd provided. She bit her lip again, fingers gripping his in a definitely non-platonic way. "It doesn't matter. Nothing does."
Roxy Lalonde sighed in a dream-like way, the world spinning behind her closed eyes as she struggled to cope with the fact that her childish, dying hope was slowly coming true.
"You matter. And I do. We matter."