cuddletalk | video | un: vaquero

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video | un: vaquero

[ The sheepish look on his face is not one that he's proud of, especially because of what's happening immediately behind him. There's a dog on its back, all four legs in the air, and its chewing on the rope of his lasso. He only wishes that he could say this has happened to him before. ]

If anyone's seeing this, I could use a little help to get out of this...situation.

[ The dog barks. ]

I don't know if I'll get arrested for this, but I think this animal might belong to someone and is lost, so any distractions for the police would be very appreciated.

[ Another bark, like the dog approves and is enjoying its upside-down antics, kicking its legs in the air like it enjoys it. With a wary look back at the screen, Vasquez gives one last pleading look of help in a single expression. ]

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We didn't do much dancing on the ranch, not even at home. We were taught to be useful and to be strong, not to dance.

[Not that he'd mind it now, especially if there's a pretty woman in the mix, but it's probably not something Vasquez is going to be very good at. He only barely managed at the fancy party and that had been because of the slow nature of it.]

You think maybe I could be taught to be a good partner? Maybe even the right one?

[ Her smile turns gentle, her shoulder knocking his softly. ]

I think you could, yeah. Being the right partner is not necessarily about being good, anyway. It's about chemistry, and having fun. And I think you and I have fun.

I know you and I could have fun, isn't that what we've always known?

[It's a bit wicked and a little mischievous, but they spent a very uncomfortable night at a bar while under a truth rain going over this very issue. So, now, he thinks that it's worth pointing out.]

Maybe once this dog is dropped off, we could go somewhere? Have a drink? Maybe some fun?

[ Claire laughs, nodding. Yes, they've known for a long time, but have been pretty exemplary in how they have managed to do nothing about it.

Until now, at least. ]

Sounds like a plan to me. You're lucky it's my day off today, I guess.

[ She leans closer, her shoulders hunched up against the cold. The dog, ahead of them, is walking happily, turning regularly to look at them, his eyes adoring. ]

But I don't know how you'll manage to drop him off without your heart breaking, though.

Am I? Well, then I guess you can definitely call me lucky. Maybe a hand of cards is in the mix.

[Frowning when he sees the way she leans in, cold, he reaches for the scarf he's been wearing, undoing it so that he can slide it around the skin of her neck, his fingers lingering there.]

It's an animal. I had them on the ranch all the time, including dogs. I never wanted to keep one. If this were a horse, I wouldn't be giving it up, that's for sure.

[ She smiles when he slides his scarf around her neck, burying her nose in it for a second, hiding the flush in her cheeks and the grin on her face.

And while she feels bad about abandoning the dog to a shelter, fact of the matter is, she isn't really an animal person herself. She prefers people, generally, and she'd really like to spend some time alone with this particular guy, now. ]

Hmm. Well, you can always get him back from the shelter if you change your mind, or you start missing him, or something. I don't like the idea of him going there, shelters can be so sad, but hopefully this place treats its animals well.

[ She pauses, before biting her lip when she looks back at Vasquez. ]

What if we had this drink at mine?

I'm not going to start missing a dog. It's a cute animal and I have respect for all of them and want them to be healthy and safe, but not in my own house.

[In an employer's barn? Sure. Where he can interact with them in town? Yes, why not? Where he has to be the one to take care of them all the time? Not so much. Raising a brow when she suggests her place, the shelter is officially much too far away.]

We could definitely drink at your place, once we drop off the perro.

Fair enough.

[ She can't begrudge him that; not everyone is made to have pets anyway. She prefers them when she can give them away, herself.

Claire throws Vasquez a little smile, nodding. When they turn the next corner, the shelter comes into view. ]

I hope you don't just drink tequila, because I have an excellent bourbon.

It's my preference, but a parched man would never turn down anything, especially if it's of high quality.

[That goes for other things in life too, not just drinking. Picking up the pace just a little, he doesn't take his arm away from Claire, but it's just to keep her warm, if anyone were going to ask. That's all.]

What's the occasion for the excellent bourbon?

[ Of course, there would never be any kind of ulterior motive in anything he does. It's all well above board. ]

And let me guess, you feel parched right now?

[ She makes a mental note of purchasing tequila. Just in case. Then, at his question, she shrugs, smiling to herself. ]

Possibly, as I grew older, I grew more discerning with what brings me pleasure. [ And if that's not a double-entendre... ] Cheap bourbon doesn't really do it for me anymore. I prefer to spend more and have it less often, but enjoy a real good drink from time to time.

I'm always parched, I've never met a time in my life I wasn't since I grew up.

[He gives her a playful wink, because he can't help the flirting anymore than he can help it at any other point in time. He bends to lift the dog into his arms when they get close to the shelter, easily carrying him along as he pushes open the door, encouraged to get to that good drink.]

Five minutes, promise.

[And he holds true to that, getting the dog to the shelter for scans, curtly refusing to stay and talk about rescuing and adoption, and is back to Claire's side only five minutes later.]

So, now, about that drink...?

[ Claire waits in the shelter's lobby as Vasquez deals with getting the pup sorted and settled, but he's back much faster than she expected he would, like he was in a hurry, which makes Claire grin to herself, hiding it in his scarf. ]

I'm only a few blocks away. I'm still planning on moving, but finding the right place is taking some time. We don't want to pick something we're not happy with.

[ She gestures towards her starter building as she starts walking again, this time her hands in her pockets, half of her face in his scarf, hair blowing in the breeze. ]

Do you still live in the apartment you started in, too?

We?

[He echoes that 'we' with a raise of his brows, wondering who this we is and whether he's going to be running into them at any point when they're going back to hers for a drink.]

Of course I still live there, why would I leave? It's nicer than anything I would've had back home.

[Given that he'd only been recently sleeping in a corpse's house, pretty much anything is an improvement, no matter what he's sleeping on.]

Yeah. I've been looking for roommates, don't really feel like living alone, and Laurel and Thea are also looking, so we're looking for a place together. But, at the moment, I'm still living by myself.

[ Resisting the urge to fondly roll her eyes, Claire chuckles. Of course he does, and of course it wouldn't even occur to him to move. ]

Fair enough. I want something that feels more homey, but these apartments are nice all the same.

[ Two blocks further, and they're at her building. Claire doesn't waste time making sure he wants to come in, just leads him to her apartment, kicking her shoes off as soon as they're inside. ]

That's good. I didn't really want to have to deal with nosy roommates today.

[Which is an understatement. It's not that he would have minded shooing people out, wouldn't have been embarrassed by it, but he also wouldn't have wanted the delay in time.]

It's more modern and nicer than I've ever seen before. Like yours, here.[Glancing around her apartment, he whistles as he takes off his hat, then his shoes.

Leaning against the door, he gives her a hint of a smirk.] So, what are we doing now?

[ She turns to look at him over her shoulder with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, amused at the question. ]

I thought you wanted a drink? Changed your mind?

[So they're really doing that? Here he thought maybe the drink was going to be after, though he's not going to say that. It might come across as him being impatient, even if he is. It's been a long time coming, he thinks.]

It's your house, you're the host, I'll do whatever you like.

[That said, he moves inside to the kitchen area, sitting himself in one of the chairs.]

So, drinking it is.

[ She can't help the slightly impatient, amused chuckle she lets out under her breath as she discards scarf and jacket, draping them over the back of a chair, before following Vasquez into her kitchen. There's a knot of anticipation low in her stomach, as she realizes that she's probably going to have to make the first step, here.

She moves around the kitchen anyway, bringing the bottle and two glasses out, but doesn't pour anything. Instead, she takes her self-confidence in both hands and moves over to where Vasquez is sitting, not hesitating anymore when she straddles his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. ]

You'll do whatever I like, really? [ Teasing, a little cheeky. ]

[His eyes warm with interest when he's got her in his lap, shifting a little to make it so that he's covering as much of the chair as possible, giving her a wider base. One arm slings carefully around her waist to hold on, grinning up at her.]

I trust you to make good decisions when it comes to what you'd ask for me to do.

[With his free hand, he reaches for the bottle, but leans up towards her as he does so that their bodies are closer together. He can almost feel the way her heart beats, next to his, so close as he is.]

We shouldn't waste your good liquor.

[ She chuckles, low and warm, as she reaches up, a hand to his cheek. She leans close, thumb brushing the corner of his mouth. ]

You know what I want. I've not made it a secret.

[ She hadn't had a choice, then, with the weird rain, and she could still recall the awkwardness, how much she wished then that things would have been different, then.

And they are now. They're pressed together, playing some game of chicken as to who will be the first to pull the trigger, but Claire doesn't mind. She feels like they have all the time in the world, right now. She shifts a little on his lap, hips rolling. ]

It's not going anywhere. Although, neither am I, right now.

No, I know.

[His eyes are sliding over her face, slipping from her lips to her eyes and then down over her body. He inhales sharply when she rolls her hips, but he's careful to put the bottle down on the ground, intending for it to be a celebratory drink later, maybe.]

I also don't want you to go anywhere.

[He moves both hands to her waist so he can slip his thumbs under her shirts, stroking against skin before leaning up that last little bit to kiss her, the way he's thought about for a long time, but always held back off in respect for Buffy, for trying to be a good man, but he's learned there's no point to withholding when you want.

And Claire, well, she's someone that he very much wants.]

[ Claire lets out a soft sound when his fingers find her skin, warm and callused, blunt nails raking up his scalp, carding through short hair, pressing in gently, bottom lip held between her teeth as she looks at Vasquez.

And then he closes the distance between them, kissing her, something feeling like finally erupting in her chest, quiet triumph. There's a part of her that feels like she deserves this, she's been so good, so intent on helping, on filling up her card with good deeds.

She relaxes against Vasquez, legs spreading further against his, pressing the two of them together closer still, hand dropping from his face to the collar of his shirt, slipping under to press against his collarbone.

She definitely deserves this. ]

[It's distracting for him, when he's wanted this for so long. The fabric of her shirt, he bunches up in his hands as he tries to tug her closer to him, kissing like a man who's starved and who's just had a meal put out in front of him, even though it's not like it's been that long, but maybe it has.

After all, how long has this thought been sitting in his fantasies, idling around, teasing him?]

Claire. Claire, wait.

[He eases back, eyes half-lidded. It's not that he wants to stop this, but they're in a chair and they're both still very dressed, which means that there are things they need to improve.]

I don't want to do this anywhere but your bed. I don't want to rush this.

[ The kiss grows hungry, Claire moaning against his lips as she presses closer, not finding herself nearly close enough, which is definitely a problem.

But not as much of a problem as Vasquez pulling away, though. Her stomach drops with dread - she's a strong, confident, adult woman, but to be rejected now would really suck. Thankfully, she relaxes when he mentions just wanting to go to bed, which Claire can agree with. ]

No? Plan on taking your time with me? [ Her voice is a tiny bit husky, still a little teasing. She pulls away reluctantly, standing up and offering him a hand as she makes her way down the hall to the bedroom, the blinds pulled down still, the room mostly dark. She turns back towards Vasquez, licking her lips before she takes a step back towards her bed. ]

Now, question. Are you going to get me naked, or do I have to do it myself?

[ Because see, there's rushing, and there's rushing. She doesn't want to rush, either, but she definitely wants him to be wearing a lot less than he is. ]

[He's a tall man, he doesn't want to have to fumble around on a chair just to do this. Besides, he can already feel it digging into him a little, and the bed seems like a much better place for all of this.]

I plan on having something comfortable and not having to worry I'm going to break your chair when we're fucking.

[He's blunt about it, wanting it clear of what he's anticipating happens. If she disagrees, then he'll respect it, but there's definitely going to be some upset because dios, she's a beautiful woman and he wants to be touching her. Standing by taking her hand, he rises in a smooth, powerful motion, wrapping an arm around her waist to tug her back against him, grinning against her neck before pressing a kiss there.]

Go lie on the bed, I'll start with me, then we move on to you.

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