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[protect_and_survey]

Jemma has a plan - it's a good plan, in that it gives her both time to fully recover and gives her a nice long break away from the disaster that is the lab she's supposed to rescue.

(Honestly, she's not actually sure how they got as far as they did, she's just glad she doesn't have to work with any of its original inhabitants.)

That's why she's sitting on the couch, with a mug of hot cocoa beside her, along with a basket of fried paradoxes, and she's sketching the fish in the fireplace again. Some day she's going to understand how they're living in there.

Comments

[onceaviking]

Eric has not yet been teased mercilessly by Pam and is thus completely unaware if any developments in Jemma's personal life.

He is, however, looking for a place to sit.

"Is that seat taken?" he asks, suddenly standing very close to the couch.

He is in black again, jeans, gauze thin tank top. He might as well not be wearing it really. A necklace with a cast of an animal claw.. Boots.

[protect_and_survey]

Jemma Simmons: Brains of steel. Nerves of overcooked noodles.

She squeaks in surprise when suddenly confronted with quite a lot of vampire all at once, and curls up defensively.

And then she blinks sheepishly at him, wits catching up with reflexes.

"Err. Hello, I mean, yes, I mean, no I'm not waiting for anyone."

[onceaviking]

He manages to not laugh at her. The only sign of his amusement is a small twitch at the corner of his mouth.

"Good, "he says and sits down.

Or - lounges really. Sprawls.

There is also quite a lot of vampire when he spreads out like that.
Resting his head on his upper arm, trailed across the top of the backrest.

[protect_and_survey]

There really is quite a lot of him, and she tucks up a little in counterpoint, unconsciously.

And then she proceeds to be rather awkward at him - after all, how do you ask how someone is doing, since last time she saw him he was having the most horrendous time?

"... Hi." She's so smooth.

[onceaviking]

He's used to people being awkward around him. Though mostly it's because they're terrified.

"Hi. How're you, Jemma?"
He can do smooth for the both of them.

[protect_and_survey]

"Goodness, I am fine, I told Pam that, I never figured vampires for being nagging." She huffs, giving him a scowl.

...

So there may have been some assumptions there. Jemma should know better than that.

[onceaviking]

Eric has had a long time to perfect his poker face. A thousand years affords you with plenty of occasions to practice it.

There is the tiniest quirk of an eyebrow and then he says, "I just thought I ought to ask. It can be a little - overwhelming."

That bitch. And she never even told him.

He's oddly proud. And annoyed.
And imagining just how naked Jemma got. And just where Pam might have bitten her.

"And your clothes survived?"

Please say you took them off, Jemma.

[protect_and_survey]

That earns another glare. Or perhaps a continuation of the same glare. It's hard to tell, though now there's the benefit of added blush, if just a shade less obvious than usual. Jemma would love to say that it's because she's finally gaining control over that bloody reflex. That'd be a lie.

"I don't see how that's any of your business."

[onceaviking]

He may look just a little bit hurt.
"You're right. It isn't."

He looks away.

"I was just - I just wanted to make sure, you were doing okay."

He is verging on puppy eyes.

They mask gleeful so well. And as there is no hiding a blush from a vampire, he is willing to wager money that Pam really got her. Or that Jemma is wishing Pam had.

[protect_and_survey]

"I'm fine!" Honestly, vampires are ridiculous, this whole thing, ridiculous. "It was days ago, I was barely clinical at the time, and honestly as long as I stay hydrated and don't do something idiotic like run a marathon I'll go on being fine." She rants, rolling her eyes.

[onceaviking]

He lets his shoulders sag a little, as if relieved.

"Of course," he says. "You're so scientific about this. You have to remember, we're not used to people being sensible."

Was that the reason? An experiment? Why didn't he come up with that idea? He should have known it would have been the way in.

Oh, he just knows that Pam will gloat.
Bitch.

[protect_and_survey]

Sensible, yes. Usually, anyway.

Clever... also yes. Which is why she's giving him a narrowed-eyed confused look.

"From what I gathered, 'scientific' is hardly a compliment for quite a lot of people in your world."

[onceaviking]

"I don't mind science," Eric replies.

"I like my computer. And my car. What I don't like is scientists who want to cut me apart to figure out what makes me tick."

[not_his_pa]

William's been busy helping Mark get ready for school but grabbed a moment when he found Milliways and he's reading a novel he found upstairs.

Its an exciting scene and so he reaches out for the pile of cookies he has, he accidentally grabs one of her paradoxes and makes a face at it and puts his book down, "Oh, hell, sorry, ma'am."

[protect_and_survey]

Jemma looks up from her sketch once she realizes no one else has answered, and thus, the comment must have been addressed to her.

"Err... it's quite alright?" She has no idea what has gotten him worked up, but whatever it is, it hasn't done her any harm.

[not_his_pa]

Its mainly his book and tasting cornbread when he was expecting a cookie,

"Good, just wasn't lookin' at what I grabbed."

[protect_and_survey]

"In a place like this, looking is generally a good practice to follow." She hazards, still completely in the dark but... tragically, used to that sort of thing when dealing with non-scientists.

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, I know but I got too into my book," He holds it up to show her.

[protect_and_survey]

"Perhaps you should choose less interesting books?" Jemma offers, with a bit of a shrug.

[not_his_pa]

"But then I wouldn't want to read them. I mean I read things that are borin' cause they're useful but also others cause I want to."

[protect_and_survey]

"I suppose you could refrain from eating while reading." She tries again, sounding doubtful.

[not_his_pa]

"I guess I could," Its just that he's hungry a lot and reading is a good time to eat.

[protect_and_survey]

"Or you could just be doomed to put things in your mouth which you do not intend, which is generally a poor plan in a pub that connects to multiple universes." Jemma points out dryly.

[not_his_pa]

"I've been comin' here for years and this is the first time I've done this,"

He's done other stupid things here, but this was the only time he's done this one.

[protect_and_survey]

Jemma blinks at him, and manages to not give into the urge to argue with him - AD Hill wouldn't approve, after all.

"Ah." She says instead, and goes back to her sketching.