Summary:Stephanie and 'Alvin' get comfortable in the new place. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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The apartment is bought. A modest place, but built for privacy — such nicely restricted sight lines on the windows! — and situated comfortably between school and the 'work' of the Bat Family. On the books, Tim Drake still lives at Drake Manor, while Alvin Draper is the apartment's owner and Stephanie Brown rents a room.
Today, Tim is still settling in at the new place. He's at his desk, and though 1) it's well away from all the windows and 2) all the windows are blinded anyway, he's still in his disguise. It's good habit, he says. And he's hunched over the laptop, fiddling with software. "Man. The cave's VPN concentrator is so finnicky these days. I swear it didn't take this much work to get the Redbird connected."
Moving during the Thanksgiving break was the best of ideas. Still nervous about how to manage this, Stephanie has spent the morning in her room, unpacking and settling into living with a 'stranger' who isnt a stranger. stepping out, Stephanie glanced over at 'Alvin', hesring his muttering about the vpn, before moving toward the kitchen to make them both an afternoon snack. it's sandwiches. nothing complicated, but still, she brings it over with a drink and sets it down on the desk nesr him. "i thoight… maybe.. you'd be hungry."
'Alvin' sometimes rolls back far enough to get a look out his room's doorway, just so he can see and smile at her. Hey, Alvin Draper can appreciate eye candy, too. Then he's back to work, and has things connected by the time she finishes making the sandwiches. "Now the problem's the hardware. No way am I getting those forensic suites in here, that'd be just too obvious. So I'll have to save that kind of hard analysis for when I go to the Cave proper. Here, it's all about soft data, like inspecting financial trails." He blinks when the plate and drink are set down next to him. "I'm not—" Then he actually considers it. "…actually, yeah, I am." He slides from his seat to stretch, and to more easily reach to kiss her cheek. "Thanks, sweets."
Stephanie blushes at the kiss, eyes flicking toward the windows briefly. seeing them covered, Steph leans into the kiss .
"youre welcome."
They're in privacy. Nobody's going to see her kiss 'Alvin', even while she knows it's definitely actually Tim. His arm slips farther around her, pulling her in close to his chest as he lets out a sigh. When it's done, he keeps his forehead leaned against hers. "So… what do you think of the look?"
Pulled close, Stephanie lets her eyes flutter closed. without sight, it's easier to tell it's him.
"It is definitely different than your normal," she says, inhaling. then it occurs to her… "you might need to change your cologne. someone with a good nose could pick you out" is murmured softly, not at all fondly. the things one does for 'work'.
Little kisses nip along her cheek while he cuddles her in closer. "And that's important for the disguise. But…" The next comes as a whisper right into her ear. "You did request the red hair." He nods slowly, fingers running down her back. "Cologne. That's a good point. I'll look over the brands and see if I can figure out what Alvin would wear…" One hand heads down to the laptop again… but then, he actively makes himself move aside. "…but first, lunch."
"i know," Steph huffs lightly, sighing into the familiar touch and tember of voice. Even as she suggested the cologne and he agreed, she wanted to whine about it. She LIKES his cologne, the way he smells. This was a fun thought experiment, when it was a thoight. ow that she'll be living with this persona… Steph reminds herself to get over it, and so she pulls away and smiles brightly, mentally braced when she opens her eyes.
"yes. lunch. because of i let you, you'll poke at that until it's time to go, and you wont eat until afyerwards, and that s just not healthy!"
Tim grumbles, slowly lowering back into his desk chair. "Yeah, yeah, I know." He doesn't even make an attempt to contradict her. He looks around. The desk is perfectly fine for him to sit and eat at, but there's a lack of other chairs. So with a light flush on his cheeks, he gives her a tug, drawing her towards his lap. "Thanks for making these. And I've been pondering just how we should manage 'Tim coming to visit' while 'Alvin is at work'. I mean, the guy's not going to be around 24/7."
Steph was fine being tugged into him. she was even okay with settling to his lap even with him looking like someone else. it was when he mentioned how to handle Tim being around when Alvin wasnt then had her cheeks lighting up.
"well… first off, we shohkdnt be in alvin's beroom… and Tim shouldnt sleep over unless Alvin is out for a weekend with his family or something," Steph says, not meaning to sound as coy as she did.
Her blush raises his, his chin ducking. It's a testament to his makeup skills that the blush is still clear behind the false freckles. His arm tightens around her waist. "S-Sleep over, huh." It's clear his mind goes places beyond 'Tim sleeps on the couch'. "Alvin wouldn't go spend time with family, not even this time of year. But…" He bites his lower lip. "We could figure out arrangements."
Oh gosh! her mind hadnt even considered it THAT way! blushing deeply, Steph clears her throat. "well… did you want chips?" distraction!
Tim lifts the sandwich with one hand while the other arm wraps fuller around her. Oh god now he's put the thought in her head. They're locked in a feedback loop of blush, and his chin ducks while he takes a bite. "Th-This is good as it is. Thank you." And now for the potential awkward silence.
Stephanie licks her lips nervously, watching Tim… 'Alvin' eat.
"Welcome." and yes, silence… for a few seconds anyway.
"I was thinking.. maybe after you're done settingnthings up… of you wanted… we could go to the movies?"
Tim smiles at her, softly, his fingers dragging along her back. "I'd like that. And a break would be good for me. Just give me a chance to… get changed?"
"Yeah. sure. of course," Steph babbles, blush high on her cheeks again.