Pestering seismic_sense

[allbedestroyed]

It takes a while to scour the compy pen for any escape routes, and then another while to check all the others since Muldoon can't help but be thorough. Then there are people to needle (metaphorically, of course, he's not the metalbender), and a change up in security measures to oversee. All before he does anything to step outside his workplace.

Thankfully Lin Beifong is as dedicated to her work as he is to his, so he's not too concerned about how late he arrives. It doesn't make it any less strange coming into a police station with a metal cage in hand. He can't quite tell if it reminds him of dealing with pest control or whether it makes him feel like one. In this case he supposes he is acting like pest control. Even if he would fight anyone who tried to hurt the silly creature.

After being directed to the appropriate door, Muldoon takes a moment to clear his head and remind himself to stay focused. Then he knocks on the door.

Comments

[allbedestroyed]

"Overall that sounds good," he points out. "You need the quiet moments to train up those new recruits properly. Especially when everything has been as chaotic as it has been. Who knows what will happen next?"

He looks over at her, conceding a small smile. "At least you'll be more prepared for whatever it is."

[seismic_sense]

"All the more reason to be very sure your, uh, larger specimens stay very firmly on that island of yours."

She'd only seen pictures of some of the others and that was more than enough.

She steps out of the elevator with a sigh, nodding to the front desk staff as they stride out into the night.

"So what's it like? An island paradise, all those special challenges..."

[allbedestroyed]

As soon as they step out into the night air, Muldoon takes a deep, grateful lungful. Being outside is always nicer, but something about the refreshing evening air is just that bit better.

"Truthfully? Chaotic. All parks like that are, really," he adds in what he considers reassurance.

"I enjoy it, though. Working with animals like that is incredible. If my boss would follow my recommendations more readily it would be even better."

[seismic_sense]

She does much the same, looking up at the night sky.

"Oh, the familiarity you keep speaking into life," she says, with a smile. "The bosses never listen. Or if they do it's too little too late."

She starts to walk, the pavement beneath them slightly wet from an earlier rain.

[allbedestroyed]

He shakes his head in sympathy.

"They say they want our expertise, but really they just want our ability to clean up their mistakes."

A moment of silence stretches on then, settling between topics. So that when he speaks next his voice is a little quieter.

"You should visit sometime. I'm sure you could take your pick of excuses."

[seismic_sense]

"I've got essentially an infinite amount of vacation days stored up," she admits, hands in the pockets of her jacket.

She gives him a bit of a look as she turns a corner, moving confidently.

"Where does one stay on an island full of remarkable creatures? Are there guest suites, or are you expecting me to crash on your couch?"

[allbedestroyed]

"If you don't want to stay in one of the luxury rooms my boss has built for special guests, you could always crash at mine," he answers, all amusement. "But you won't be on my couch. Guests get the bed, no argument allowed."

To be fair, he'd much rather also be in the bed, but he won't say as much aloud.

[seismic_sense]

Another twinge, and he has to be doing it on purpose. At least, she hopes so. A hundred responses go through her head, all of them inadequate to her mind. She stops then, looking around. There's a few passer-by, but none seem to recognize her. Good.

Because the thing about Lin Beifong. The thing about any Beifong, really. They have a limited patience for beating around the bush. She steps closer to a shop window, in the bay between the windows and doors, gesturing him closer.

"So I can get food delivered," she said, "and I really don't feel like people tonight. Most nights. But a specific person..." she turns to face him, and nods, decisively.

"I think you're a good man. Also handsome. And it's been a while since I've felt either of those things. So I think you ought to kiss me now, if you're interested. And then we'll see how how interesting we make tonight. Or we can still grab food, shake hands as friends, and go."

Or you can take me back to my place and we can break the furniture, she tries to communicate with her eyes.

[allbedestroyed]

At first he starts to worry if she's seen something related to work which calls for some discretion. So he follows her without even a glance around to echo her own, his expression falling naturally into seriousness again.

Only when she starts speaking does he start to realise what the discretion was for. The surprise is only brief. Lin has never come across as someone who beats around the bush. Even then, she's far more direct than even the most straightforward people he's known. Once the initial surprise is gone, however, he finds himself thoroughly appreciative of it. None of this dancing around the point, none of this wondering. She knows what she wants, and she's being clear about it. Few things could be more sexy than that to Robert Muldoon.

His eyes move, giving a glance around their surroundings, much like she did earlier. Then, with no obvious onlookers, he turns to her, one hand pulling her close by her waist even as he pushes her back against the shop wall. His other hand cups the side of her head, thumb hooked around her ear, as he kisses her and kisses her deeply.

[seismic_sense]

Oh, she likes that. She's starting to actually smile before the kiss happens, and she presses into it, fingers lifting to card through his hair.

The rising feeling of anticipation she feels in her guts tell her that she's made the right call.

"Two blocks," she says, tilting her head. "This way."

[allbedestroyed]

That she puts her hands on him and swiftly gives directions, tells Muldoon he's done well thusfar. Now they can get into it properly.

A smile pulls at his mouth and his eyebrow twitches upwards in interest. "Lead the way."

He'll stick close to her, of course, but she's the one who knows where they're going. And it's a hell of a lot closer than the island.

[seismic_sense]

Her building is a quiet one, thankfully. Granted, she's not the sort to encourage people randomly walking up to her and talking - but she definitely does not feel like interruptions right now. It's close by, and that's what matters, richly decorated in wooden panelling, and green-shaded lights.

She stands next to him in the elevator, hands going to the pockets in her coat - until the doors shut. And then she turns, grabbing fistfuls of the lapels of his coat, and this time it's her kissing him, hungrily, trying to get to know his lips.

[allbedestroyed]

There's something inherently appealing to Muldoon about a confident woman, but that doesn't really cover Lin. She knows exactly what she wants, and exactly how to get it. More than that, she's not afraid to go and get it.

Muldoon knows all of this, and yet it still takes him by surprise when she turns to kiss him. Knocked off balance by the suddenness with which she moves, he stumbles so that his back hits the elevator wall. That's when his brain catches up.

His hands take her by the waist and pull her tightly to him as he kisses her back. In the back of his mind he hopes the elevator ride is long so that he can savour this, and yet he also hopes it's short so that they can get somewhere more private. For now he gives a testing little nip of her lip to see what kind of rough she's angling for.

[seismic_sense]

The little growl he gets in return suggests he's on exactly the right track. She's one for the vigorous, really - the life lived fully, in every regard. Her arms go around his neck, pulling him tight, lifting up into him as best she can.

"Mmm, good man," she whispers, against his lips.

[allbedestroyed]

It's both right and frustrating to feel the armour beneath her coat. They need to get that off. Especially with that little turn of phrase of hers.

He kisses her hard until the elevator door opens and he pushes her back, keeping his hands on her waist as he encourages her out and towards her place. A glance down the corridor to make sure they're alone, and then he turns her around kissing and then nipping her neck. She needs to guide them to where they need to go, but he's making damn sure she knows he's enthusiastic about getting there, and getting there quickly.

[seismic_sense]

Part of her worries what the neighbours might think, before the rest of her comes thundering down and buries that under desire and the mountain of stubborn Beifong that has gotten her through life.

They reach her door and she fumbles her hand over the lock, using her metalbending with some complicated - if distracted - gestures to make the correct sequence of motions to unlock it. Once the door is open she pulls him through it, kicking it shut behind him.

The apartment is spartan, but surprisingly warm in colour and feel - she flicks on the lights, still kissing him - and works off and throws aside her coat, helping him do the same.

[allbedestroyed]

Muldoon wouldn't really expect anything less from Lin. He'll realise that later, when he's not entirely focused on the woman herself.

Once their coats are off, he pauses, stumped by the armour. A quick glance doesn't reveal any easy way to get it off, and it covers her pretty well. He ends up lifting an eyebrow at her. "I don't suppose there are some straps to get this off nice and easily, are there?"

[seismic_sense]

She can't help the smile that comes to her face.

"I haven't used the party trick in a long time," she says, and steps a bit to the right, and the armour - well, it falls away as metalbending pops open every strap and holding, meaning it all drops off in a heap, leaving her in an undershirt and olive grey pants. She steps forward, kicking aside a last plate, and pushes him with a hand towards the couch.

[allbedestroyed]

The slow arch of his eyebrow shows that he enjoys the show almost as much as he enjoys what it reveals. Muldoon's smile is impossible to smother as he's pushed back, and he follows her lead, stepping back until the couch hits the back of his legs. Except that when he allows himself to fall backwards onto it he grabs Lin by the waist to pull her down with him.

Without the armour it's much easier to kiss more of her, and he fully intends to explore her body now that she's let him in.

[seismic_sense]

It's a happy yelp that comes from her as he pulls her down with him, hands ending up on either side of his head, and moving to straddle him quickly.

"I don't often bring men home," she says, pausing to kiss him again, one hand moving to the side of his neck. "But I'm pretty sure you're going to make me very confident about that decision. Multiple times, if I'm lucky."

In other words, Robert Muldoon: she's all yours tonight.

[allbedestroyed]

"I can promise you, you won't regret it," he assures her. 'Multiple times' might be ambitious for pleasing such a self-assured woman, but he's always liked a challenge. Especially when the reward is making someone like Lin happy.

He lets his hands run up and down her body, palms pressing firmly to get a good feel of a woman so often hidden under armour. It's a privilege, and one he intends to make use of. Then his hands fall to her hips, pulling her close so that she can feel his growing excitement even as he kisses her.

That wonderful closeness is followed by his touch wandering as his lips do the same. His fingers slip under her shirt as he presses kisses along her neck. Eager as he is to get closer to her, he's not going to pass up the chance to savour such a rare gift.

[seismic_sense]

She's never been what she would consider a beauty. Or, rather, what many men would consider one - too bold, too strong, too whatever for their tastes. But the second she feels his touch on her skin she shudders. It really has been entirely too long. And he'll find her firm to the touch, her strength worn on the outside like armour.

And she can feel him too and oh is that an intoxicating feeling. Her own hands start to work at his shirt, suddenly wanting more of him, and right now.

[allbedestroyed]

Firm is no bad thing. Muldoon has lived his entire life outside. Nothing about him is particularly gentle. Even when he's simply feeling her skin his calloused hands are rough.

Just as she undoes the last button on his shirt, Muldoon interrupts her to slide her shirt up and over her head. It's a little sneaky of him to look to get her sorted first, but he doesn't think she'll mind. Especially when, after he's paused to take in the sight of her, he helps take his own shirt off properly.

Hopefully Lin doesn't mind scars, since he has a few of them. Claw marks and bites, mostly, between a healthy amount of chest hair. He's in no way self-conscious, though. Especially not when he has her in front of him.

[seismic_sense]

Rough and delicious. Proper hands. Hands that have done some work. And likely know what they're doing.

She grins at him, her bra strap falling down off her shoulder as her hands start to play over his chest. The scars are like catnip to her. So is the chest hair, all things said and done. She kisses him again, hands running over his chest, fingers curling a bit with a growl.

[allbedestroyed]

Muldoon presses into that kiss while his hands work to get her bra off. There's no need for it to be getting in the way. Once it's off, he takes a moment to feel her breasts... before he supports her back as he swings her to lay along the couch.

Right now he doesn't care if it's a little awkward and messy. That's part of the fun of it. He doesn't care that one of his legs is off the couch, or that he has to support her leg wrapped around him to ensure she's more comfortable. For the moment all that matters is that he's on top of her, where he can kiss her hard and proper, and feel every curve of her body beneath him.