Logs:Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine,

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine,
Dramatis Personae Kitty, Leo, Joshua-cameo	2023-02-14 "Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge."
Location <PRV> Kitty and Marinov's Apartment {Cathaus} - Lower East Side and El Nido, Palawan, the Philippines
It's early in the evening -- probably just about time for many people around the city to start getting picked up for Date Nights, tonight -- down on the street many people hastening to and fro are carrying bouquets of flowers tucked in the crooks of arms, are dressed up far more than would be usual for a Tuesday. Joshua looks like he is ready for a date, himself, bolder in his formalwear than probably Kitty has ever seen him -- judging from his typical staid presentation at shul it would be reasonable to assume he only owns One Single bland but proper suit. Today his suit is deep red, a small flash of gold accent visible at its lining, paired with a black dress shirt, polished monk shoes, no tie, black-trimmed red kippah on his head, a small white boutonniere of yucca flowers at his lapel. His basset-hound mournful expression looks the same as ever, though. Was Kitty expecting someone else, this evening? Nevertheless it is Joshua who she is getting, politely teleporting himself only as far as the outside of her door before he knocks, quick and firm. The door opens immediately — was it even locked? — on Kitty, whose face is doing some very quick processing work. Her excited smile morphs to confusion — “Hi?” — to understanding — “Oh thank you so much,” — to a shocked sort of impressed — “you look great!” — to anxiety — “Oh no are we interrupting your plans?" -- as she twists the twine handles of the forest green gift bag in her hands. She’s in a shin-length sapphire blue velvet dress, topped by a gauzy semi-sheer burnout of stylized stars above the rather low neckline of the bodice. The high waistline of the dress is cinched with a gold fabric belt in a pattern of heraldic suns and moons that wraps all the back around to hang loosely just at her hips. The blue velvet of her heeled ankle boots is just half a shade lighter than the dress, adorned with stars in silver thread along the sides. Her hair is pulled into twin buns on either side of her head, some curls strategically pulled loose to frame her very-lightly made up face. Her ever present gold Magen David pendant rests on her collarbone; opalescent green earrings match the impossibly well-fit jade bangle around her left wrist. (Is the outfit a repeat? Perhaps. Why mess with a known success?) Kitty glances down at the red peacoat draped over one arm. "Do I even need this?" Her eyebrows lift, curious. Through the many shifts of Kitty's expression Joshua is still largely wearing Just The One -- though it cracks at the end, a small hint of amusement brightening his dark eyes and twitching up at the corners of his mouth. "Trip's quick. I'll be on time. You look nice." He follows Kitty's glance down to the peacoat and dismisses it with a shake of his head. "Little overkill," is his judgment of the coat. He offers his hand out, his idle-afterthought question: "-- you have sunscreen?" coming just a beat too late to do anything about it if not. Kitty hangs the coat back up before stepping into the hall, the door locking closed behind her (does she have keys? it kind of looks like she doesn't have keys, or a purse, the top of her phone just barely of sticking out of the bag). Takes his hand, eyes curious and just a beat more behind Joshua's train of thought -- "Wait I didn't know you were seeing anyone who -- sunscreen?" Instead of an answer, the world disappears -- -- but only for the briefest of moments. When it resolves again it's to a warm salt breeze and a hint of jasmine, and despite the sunscreen warning, mostly just a small flicker of candlelight in the sort of very-early-morning darkness that's just considering lightening. Underfoot the floor sways, now, a gentle rocking. "Have fun," is perhaps to Kitty -- to her date, a little gruffer, "-- if you need me back sooner --" But he doesn't finish this thought. Glances at the quiet dark expanse of ocean around them. Takes a deep breath. And then before his imagination can run away with scenarios that might require him back earlier than arranged, simply vanishes. Leo only has time to murmur his thanks and very decisively not think about needing Joshua back sooner before the other man is gone. For a moment he's just left staring wide-eyed and awed at Kitty as if he hadn't seen this outfit before, as if seeing his girlfriend is freshly amazing every time. The sailboat that he has -- rented? Stolen? Borrowed? who is to say -- is a comfortable singlehander currently hove to off a coastline difficult to make out in the current predawn light, a table carefully set for two in the seating area with flickering candles in glass jars, a fragrant sampaguita centerpiece on an elegant white tablecloth embroidered in red. Leo himself is in a white linen three-piece suit whose jacket he has currently discarded to drape over a seat, its vest adorned with intricate Taal embroidery, a red mandarin collar shirt of fine lightweight silk, a white sabutan boater hat with a red and black band, and black woven leather loafers. He's reaching towards Kitty -- dropping his hand again like he's not exactly sure what to do with it. "I -- you look -- hi." The tip of his tongue darts out to wet his lips and he tries again, a little more confidently: "Happy Valentine's Day." Kitty maybe meant to say thank you to Joshua, but by the time he disappears she's still stuck on the make sounds come out part of the talking process, her mouth just open in surprise. Her gaze takes it all in, wide brown eyes darting from the candles, the flowers, the ocean around them, the sail rippling faintly against the seabreeze, the hat, the boyfriend wearing it. "--Oh," she finally says in a barely voiced exhale. "Leo." She seems just as stunned as Leo is. When she recovers, Kitty steps forward (a little cautiously, perhaps nervous about the combination of high heels and seaspray), sets her bag down on the nearest seat, and pushes up on her toes to throw her arms around Leo's neck. "Happy Valentine's Day," she replies, soft in his ear, "and happy anniversary." Leo's arms wrap back around Kitty, hug firm enough to briefly lift her just a bit higher on her toes. He kisses her, soft and gentle, when he's set her back down, forehead resting down against hers for a moment. "I thought -- I have really wanted -- I'm sorry I couldn't --" When he does step back, his head is slightly bowed, but his smile easier and warmer than his sheepish posture would suggest. "I am sorry I couldn't tell you better. What to expect." He is turning to the table -- which currently has No Food but a bottle of sparkling rose chilling on ice that he uncorks to pour into two flutes. "I have a year's worth of real dates to make up to you, this seemed like a good time to start." Kitty's eyes flutter closed, pleased, into the kiss, into the press of their foreheads together. "I don't always love a surprise but this -- this is amazing. Don't apologize!" Leo can't see the furrow form between her brows at this last comment while he pours the wine, but it lingers even after Kitty has taken one flute in hand. "I -- you don't owe me dates, real or otherwise, you know that, right? I knew this would be..." her gaze drops to the gift bag, nose scrunched while she thinks of an appropriate word, "... tricky, from the beginning. Any time I get spend time with you makes me so happy, wherever or whatever that looks like." Her brow smooths, smile returning, brighter -- "Not that I'm going to say no to this view, though. Where are we?" Leo sets the rest of the bottle back on ice and picks up his glass, nodding slow and uncertain in acknowledgment of Kitty's words. "Maybe -- not owe you," he agrees cautiously, "but I like --" Briefly, his teeth catch at his lip. "I know we will never going to have a very normal relationship, probably. But sometimes I think it's nice to pretend for a while. Just relax with you and not worry if..." The if trails off into a small shrug. His smile lights at the question, his answer coming on an excited-breathless rush: "Home." And then immediately the correction, a bit sheepish: "Almost-home. Manila is --" He sets a gentle hand on Kitty's shoulder, turning her towards the northeast, the coast behind them and the sun just beginning to glimmer over the water. "-- about four hour sailing that way. Behind us is El Nido. It's one of the most beautiful -- well. You will see." The smile on Kitty's lips falters at the shrug, glancing back down at the bubbles in her flute. Maybe she's going to agree, maybe she's going to object again -- whatever it was she's been distracted, again, by the reveal, the orientation to where in the vast ocean they are, the sun rising again when she just watched it begin to set in New York. "Oh my god." Louder, more excited as the implication of you will see sets in -- "Oh my god, is this -- when is Joshua coming back, I thought this was magical when it was just dinner, I --" The rosé threatens to spill over the edge of the flute when Kitty whirls around and tilts her head up at Leo again. She's smiling hugely, but trying to school her voice into something Serious when she continues; "You have to let me give you your presents now before you say anything else too incredible to follow up." "He has his own plans, we have some hours before --" Leo's eyes widen here, his smile first delighted -- then anxious. "Presents! -- Oh, presents, I did not -- get you..." His brows crease deeply, and with a very deliberate effort he catches himself before this particular anxiety can take root. "Thank you," he says instead softly, settling down on one of the cushioned benches by the little dining table, leaving plenty of room for Kitty to join him facing the limning of sunlight peeking up over the horizon. "I will say nothings more until I open them." “Yes you did,” Kitty insists, flashing the bangle on her wrist as she gestures out, wide, to the lightening sky around them. She picks up the bag where she left it before sliding in next to Leo. “Some hours in the freaking Phillipines is absolutely a present.” She pulls her phone out of the bag before presenting it to Leo, deliberately looking away after he starts to open it to take pictures of the shore. In the bag, nestled among navy tissue paper, are two small boxes, one a thick wooden square a little bigger than a ring box, the other made of thin white cardboard held closed with twine. A small card in a red envelope sits alongside both, Leo’s full name carefully written in black marker. The wooden box holds a set of anchored cufflinks, silver with a round blue-black enamel surface. Thin blue glowing lines embossed onto the enamel form a familiar outline, to Leo's expertise -- Aequorea victoria, the crystal jellyfish. "In the light," Kitty says (okay, maaaybe she’s peeking over to see his reactions) with a faint blush, "the outline is reflective, too.” The second box holds an equally small gift -- a bracelet of knotted red thread, each end attached to small gold hamsa charm, one by the middle finger and the other by the base of the palm, an adjustable knot holding the other ends together. A luminous glass blue eye sits in the centre of the palm. Inside the envelope, the decorated side of the card is a foil outline of a oceanscape, dotted with all sorts of intertidal creatures. On the other is a note, in Kitty's neat, wide print: Leo, I think the cufflinks are self-explanatory -- one day soon I hope you get to wear them to a conference or something, and impress all the baby marine biologists. I assume that marine biologists are like physicists in that way, where we can't resist wearing our study systems on our bodies. The bracelet, I realized after tying it all together, maybe isn't as clear. The hamsa, the nazer, the red thread -- all of these are good luck charms, items to protect you when you are far from me. I'm not that superstitious, but my grandmother was -- she taught me how to tie these bracelets when I was a kid. When you're not at my side, I want every force of safety beside you -- probably it cannot hurt to add one or two more. I'm not nearly as good at words as you, so I borrowed some: "Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge." If you let me, my love, I will follow you anywhere. All you have to do is ask. This last year with you has been a blessing -- I hope for many, many more together. I love you. - K Leo unwraps the cufflinks first -- his eyes light, and he promptly removes the ones he'd been wearing, tucking the little silver ship-helm studs into the box as he fits the enameled jellyfish into the buttonholes. The other box is next, and he's still holding the bracelet cupped in his palm as he opens the envelope. He's staring at it considerably longer than the time it probably takes to read it, and when he puts the bracelet on after it is with a very delicate care. "Kitty, I --" His eyes are bright, and he slides closer, arm wrapping around Kitty's shoulders to pull her closer for a longer kiss. Kitty's phone is still nominally in her grip, still open to the camera app, but she's staring anxiously at Leo while he reads the note. "Was that too much --" she begins to say, worried, before Leo answers her with the kiss. It takes a moment for her to figure out where to put her arms, her hands, her phone (eventually abandoned to the bench behind her). Her near hand settles on Leo's thigh, the far one reaching to cradle the back of his head and pull him closer, deeper into the kiss. Moves to close the distance between them herself, too, her hip just phasing a touch into the table as she shifts one of her legs over his. "It's perfect," Leo is murmuring back, soft against Kitty's lips. He's shifting closer to her, pulling her closer as well; one hand slides to the small of her back, his other tracing fingers gently up her arm. He presses hungrier kisses down the side of her neck before finding her mouth again, a fiercer passion now in the press of his lips. His arm is firm around her but there's just a slight tremor in his other hand where it rests at her shoulderblade, growing less steady as his breathing quickens. "Oh," is a little breathless when he breaks off, an uneasy contrast held between the clear desire in his touch and the apprehensive tension tightening his shoulders. "I -- sorry -- do you want..." “I do,” Kitty says in a breathless rush, her pupils blown wide with desire, lips against his neck now with light, teasing pressure. She’s shifted even closer to him — the hand at his neck flits up and tosses the boat hat to the deck, the leg across his lap hiking higher like she might finish straddling his lap at any moment. The hand at Leo’s thigh has also traveled upward, her fingertips curling into the silk of his shirt. She leans forward again, eager to be kissing again — then stops, seeming to notice the shaking at her shoulder-blade. The fingers raking through Leo’s hair pause, too. Kitty takes a few steadying breaths. “Do you?” The question comes out soft, a touch confused but non-accusatory. “Because we don’t — have to.” "No," Leo replies immediately, and then just as immediately, "I mean yes, I mean -- I love you. I want you, I have wanted you, it's not -- that." His eyes have screwed shut for a moment, his breathing deliberately slowing. "It's just been a long -- I haven't --" His hand slides slowly down to rest at Kitty's waist, and when he looks back at her there is a noticeable fear mixed in with his own desire. "The last time I was with someone was before -- the labs, before I knew I was a mutant, before -- all of it. I don't -- you are so precious to me. I do not ever want to hurt you. I've already once -- and they put -- many worse things in me than rabies." Very carefully Kitty is pulling her hand from Leo’s hair, sliding her leg off his lap. Her expression is turning thoughtful, the hand at Leo’s side changing to just hold him at the waist. “Oh,” is all she says for a moment. “I — I thought it was the. Um. Catholicism.” The flush in Kitty’s cheeks now is not just arousal, probably. “But I — also, haven’t, in a while, and it’s not like it’s not tricky for me just — differently tricky.” Continuing on, with a scientist’s curiosity and not that much fear in her voice, really — “Is there anything in there that’s, um, instant?” The duck of Leo's head is just a little guilty, his cheeks flushing. "I think," he sounds a little uncertain, admittedly, "when I meet God he will have much stronger critiques for my life than how I have loved." The tension in him is quieting as he thinks over Kitty's words, his fingers kneading slow and contemplative against her currently very solid back. "... you. Could take the become one flesh to some extremes." There's a hint of amusement, rather than horror, slipping into his words here; it's helped take the edge of anxiety off his quiet explanation of his own difficulties. "-- on their own, it shouldn't -- be anything that hurts you quickly enough to worry, but." His brows furrow once more. "It is not on its own. These things, they only do not grow because I stop them growing. But when I am -- excited, everything is just. More, you know. Heart is faster. Breath is faster." He does not say, petri dish of nightmares grows faster, but it's there in the brief unhappy twist of his expression, in the brief tighter squeeze at Kitty's waist. "And everythings to me is already -- so very -- loud." His face scrunches in a mild frustration, like this is not quite the word he wants. "Cluttered. There are so -- so many -- things living in everyone. On everyone. And to sort the helpful from the hurtful, that takes a focus and if I am not focused -- it just latches on. To anything. So if I am distracted and aroused --" He pushes a hard swallow down his throat. "It is a dangerous dice to roll." The small smile on Kitty's lips is wry, the press of her warm, present, solid left hand to his side meant as a comfort. The reassurance to Leo in her quiet laugh is lined with a faint inward worry. "Something -- maybe a little worse but basically, that, yeah." Her right hand hovers -- perhaps she was going to take his near hand, run her thumb over the tiny knots of red thread on his wrist, before Leo mentioned everything on everyone and it stuttered on its path -- before settling oh-so lightly on the left side of his chest. The waves fills the silence as she feels his heart beat. "If you want this -- me -- now, I trust you to fix me after, like you did before. If you say it's too risky -- I trust you there, too." Kitty's left hand wraps around Leo's waist, the jade smooth against the silk of his shirt. Leo's breath shivers out delicately as he lifts his hand, rests it warm over Kitty's. His other hand lifts, cups gently at her cheek as he kisses her again, deep. "I want you," he affirms, confident in this, at least. "-- and many things might be -- too risky. But --" His touch is drifting down, over the bodice of her dress, around her back to pull her close atop him again. Around them, the pink glow of the rising sun is starting to better illuminate their setting -- lushly tree-covered limestone cliffs rising over impossibly blue water, shadows of coral clear beneath them with occasional bright-flash glimpses of marine life darting through the reef, myriad slow-drifting jellyfish nearby bobbing gently against each other around and beneath the boat. Leo's words come softly in Kitty's ear as his hand slides up beneath her dress. "That still leaves -- a whole lot of wonderful, no?" Later, Kitty will take the beauty of where they are fully in, when the sun is higher and the glint of waves makes the everything seem impossibly bright. But here, now, her attention is tightly focused on Leo as she settles across his lap, pulse beginning to rush again. She shivers when Leo’s hand moves under the skirt, at the exhilarating question in her ear. “So much wonderful,” Kitty agrees, her voice once again gone breathy with desire, “around the risks, if you guide me.” The hand on Leo’s chest drops to her belt, helpfully pulling it off through her body and tossing it to the deck so Leo’s hands can climb that much higher. Kitty rocks forward, cleaving to Leo’s body, lips open and eager for another deep, heady kiss. Her request here is small, breathed into the space between kisses: “Show me the way.”