Yeah, dummy, she's into you. ( with the most affectionate of shoves, kimberly climbs over him, taking the other side of the bed by flopping into place. cuddle with her, baby, she's feeling affectionate. ) I don't know why that's a surprise; you've been a catch since day one, duh.
( but as they settle in, she'll relent to the more serious of his statements. it helps, in some strange way, that baby already knows. in some capacity, whether sansa's actually spelled it out for him in full gory detail or not, he gets it. he may not get what a goddamn catch he is, but at least he understands trauma. they all do, to some extent, those that have wound up here instead of living their fairy tale lives at home, but she knows he does more than most.
her voice drops a little as she turns in towards him, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. ) I know. I mean, I didn't ask her for a play-by-play, obviously, but yeah. I know.
( it's kind of hard not to put the pieces together. )
She's worried, I guess. That guys won't like her because she doesn't want to have sex. ( god, kimberly, be less subtle, why don't you? ) I tried to tell her you're not like that, that you wouldn't push her to do things she doesn't want to do, but...
I think she needs you to make the first move, you know?
I don't know if she wants a guy in her life, is all. [ He lets Kimberly pull him into a cuddle, wrapped all over him. At this point in this relationship, he's kinda glad that they can do this, completely innocently. Just lending support.
But then Kimberly says that Sansa doesn't want to have sex, and it's - well, kind of a blow. Not that Baby's lacking in that department, but he didn't exactly expect that. ]
Oh. [ He expected that maybe, if she was interested, she'd just want to take things slow. Which he's fine with. He's going to have to wrap his head around that one. ] Like... no sex at all? Ever?
[ Way to sound like a douche, Baby. ]
I mean of course I'd never push her. But if that's not what she wants, what kind of first move should I make? Does she want to be friends?
[ Because no sex = nothing physical ever, obviously. Baby's still a guy. ]
Well, I don't think she wants to get married any time soon, but neither do I. ( she shrugs, reaching out to comb her fingertips through his hair, nails just barely brushing along his scalp with each pass. it's a gentle touch, just enough to keep her attentions focused on him rather than distracted by sounds in the background, but she hopes it's reassuring too. ) That doesn't mean she doesn't want you to kiss her.
( the line is a blurry one, and kimberly knows she certainly doesn't make things very clear on her own. between cuddling like this or kissing like they had on their first date to something much more heated, how she chooses to give and receive affection and attention blends together, changing by the day and the mood. sansa might not live in those shades of grey, though. it might be more straightforward for her. but even so, it's not quite so stark (ha.) as all or nothing. )
She doesn't think she'll enjoy it. Which... I mean, I get it, you know? I didn't think I'd enjoy it either, and I didn't even have that kind of stuff to deal with. Just shitty high school guys.
( his question, though, earns a bit of a laugh, a teasing eye roll too. )
I think she wants you to ask her on an actual date, rather than just to hang out and play the piano.
[ Considering what Sansa told him before, it seemed to him like any kind of intimacy had to result in some form of commitment, back where she came from. Which wasn't what scared, or worried Baby; it was more that he had to find out where the line was, in what was acceptable for Sansa, and what she wanted, against his own experiences. ]
Hm. I mean, I wanted to kiss her, the other day, but I felt like... maybe I shouldn't. She made it clear that men had hurt her and I don't want to be another one.
[ He was probably lightyears apart from these guys Sansa had dealt with before, but still. He wasn't going to risk it.
He closes his eyes against Kimberly's ministrations, relaxing on the bed as he does. ]
Yeah, but you enjoy it now, right? [ Not that he'd ask more of Sansa if she didn't want to. ] I understand where she's coming from.
[ Which is why he mentioned friendship. Because he likes Sansa, a lot, and he'd like to be more than friends, but he's also honest with himself, these days. Especially since Isabelle left. ]
But what if that's a dealbreaker? I'd like to go out with her again. I like her, Kim. But I've gotta be honest, I don't know if I can have a romantic relationship where sex is completely off the table.
Yeah, men in the medieval kingdom who ( airquotes ) "assert their marital rights" ( end airquotes ) sound like real winners, Baby. I don't think she's comparing you to them.
( she'd stuck up for him for a good reason. she trusts baby, above all else, to be the kind of guy she'd want in her life. honest, genuine, caring — they may not be romantically linked anymore, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care for him. besides her actual boyfriend, he's the best guy in her life... and sometimes, when her boyfriend's being a shithead, he is the best guy in her life.
but she knows, too, that baby's no more a virgin than she is. he might not be as overt about it, but asking a guy to completely wipe the board of anything is a bit unfair, in her opinion. which is why she's spent the last day or so trying to think up spaces in the middle, between sex on the first date (whoops) to no sex before marriage. something that will appease both parties, until sansa might feel more comfortable trying something new. )
And I do, yeah, I do enjoy it. ( it'd be silly to deny it. ) But — and maybe this is different for guys, I don't know — I didn't, at first. Before I came here, anyway. I liked the build-up, everything before it, but I never had a guy who was any good at making me feel good. I mean, high school guys are garbage, they just shove it in and they get off and that's it. It's not worth writing home about.
( sorry, not sorry. )
I think that's where she's at, you know? Minus the high school guys, add in medieval asshole "husbands".
( a pause, as kimberly adjusts her weight, shifting a little next to him so as to get her arm a better angle for the back of his scalp. )
Like I said, I don't think she wants to get married or sign a commitment ceremony or anything. I think she just wants the regular stuff, you know? Going on a normal date, kissing a guy, maybe build up to anything beyond that. If you asked her now, she'd probably say never, but...
[ He huffs out a breath through his nose, fingers finding Kimberly's free hand, toying with her own fingers, just because - he needs something to do, the grounding of her presence next to him. Baby didn't have friends, before Cadelle, and now, he has no idea how he even managed to survive this long without them. Kimberly's become vital to him - like Robbie, and Clary. The missing pieces in his life. ]
I know I'm not the same, but I could still hurt her. Without meaning to. I've hurt -
[ He stops. I've hurt you, he means to say, but it feels pointless to bring it up. They both know it, and moved on. ]
Right. [ If he gets what Kimberly's saying, Sansa's never experience foreplay. Never experienced someone taking their time with her, making sure she is satisfied. Which isn't surprising. ]
She's never had a normal relationship. Normal, in our sense of the word. And she's never had - [ he can't help the slight flush to his cheeks. ] - proper sex. I don't want to be presumptuous, but I think I could probably show her there's more to it than what she knows.
[ He's not here to rehabilitate men in her eyes, but. There's also the fact that he wouldn't mind being the one to show her how good it all can be.
( his words drop in the middle of a sentence, and kimberly knows the train of thought he's on without question. it's guilt, lingering between them, that he's still carrying this many months later. a girl had come between them, a fault in their relationship that had been only somewhat surprising, nobody to blame but sheer inevitability. they'd never been the one and only for each other, but they'd become something else: friends, the kind of genuine ones that kimberly had never had before, that stood by you and supported you even when you couldn't support yourself.
she doesn't bother to correct him. instead, her fingers tangle tightly with his, squeezing reassurance into the touch, holding firm until the conversation picks back up in another direction. )
I don't think we're even working out of the same idea of what dating is. I mean, like... we didn't date, even. Not like, actual dating, anyway. ( they'd gone on dates, sure, but they'd never been exclusive. they hadn't even come close to it. ) I think she just needs somebody to be patient with her, you know?
( she's quiet for a moment, considering, before she smiles broadly in his direction, nudging him with her shoulder. )
I'm sure you can handle whatever her needs are. And stop arguing with me, you are too a catch.
[ He squeezes her fingers with his when she tangles their fingers together, nodding with his jaw clenched. Moving on, sure, but he'll always feel bad for how he handled things, how wrapped up he'd been. He was still so glad Kimberly had found something solid with Robbie, since. ]
Well, patience is a thing I can do. [ He'd shown that ability time and again, here and back home. Sometimes, he couldn't take waiting. But most of the time, it was as normal as breathing, for him.
Wait for the right beat, the right moment, the right person, the right green light, the right turn, the right song. It was part of his life. ]
What do you think her needs are? Besides patience.
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no subject
( but as they settle in, she'll relent to the more serious of his statements. it helps, in some strange way, that baby already knows. in some capacity, whether sansa's actually spelled it out for him in full gory detail or not, he gets it. he may not get what a goddamn catch he is, but at least he understands trauma. they all do, to some extent, those that have wound up here instead of living their fairy tale lives at home, but she knows he does more than most.
her voice drops a little as she turns in towards him, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. ) I know. I mean, I didn't ask her for a play-by-play, obviously, but yeah. I know.
( it's kind of hard not to put the pieces together. )
She's worried, I guess. That guys won't like her because she doesn't want to have sex. ( god, kimberly, be less subtle, why don't you? ) I tried to tell her you're not like that, that you wouldn't push her to do things she doesn't want to do, but...
I think she needs you to make the first move, you know?
no subject
But then Kimberly says that Sansa doesn't want to have sex, and it's - well, kind of a blow. Not that Baby's lacking in that department, but he didn't exactly expect that. ]
Oh. [ He expected that maybe, if she was interested, she'd just want to take things slow. Which he's fine with. He's going to have to wrap his head around that one. ] Like... no sex at all? Ever?
[ Way to sound like a douche, Baby. ]
I mean of course I'd never push her. But if that's not what she wants, what kind of first move should I make? Does she want to be friends?
[ Because no sex = nothing physical ever, obviously. Baby's still a guy. ]
no subject
( the line is a blurry one, and kimberly knows she certainly doesn't make things very clear on her own. between cuddling like this or kissing like they had on their first date to something much more heated, how she chooses to give and receive affection and attention blends together, changing by the day and the mood. sansa might not live in those shades of grey, though. it might be more straightforward for her. but even so, it's not quite so stark (ha.) as all or nothing. )
She doesn't think she'll enjoy it. Which... I mean, I get it, you know? I didn't think I'd enjoy it either, and I didn't even have that kind of stuff to deal with. Just shitty high school guys.
( his question, though, earns a bit of a laugh, a teasing eye roll too. )
I think she wants you to ask her on an actual date, rather than just to hang out and play the piano.
no subject
Hm. I mean, I wanted to kiss her, the other day, but I felt like... maybe I shouldn't. She made it clear that men had hurt her and I don't want to be another one.
[ He was probably lightyears apart from these guys Sansa had dealt with before, but still. He wasn't going to risk it.
He closes his eyes against Kimberly's ministrations, relaxing on the bed as he does. ]
Yeah, but you enjoy it now, right? [ Not that he'd ask more of Sansa if she didn't want to. ] I understand where she's coming from.
[ Which is why he mentioned friendship. Because he likes Sansa, a lot, and he'd like to be more than friends, but he's also honest with himself, these days. Especially since Isabelle left. ]
But what if that's a dealbreaker? I'd like to go out with her again. I like her, Kim. But I've gotta be honest, I don't know if I can have a romantic relationship where sex is completely off the table.
[ However, he could probably try. ]
no subject
( she'd stuck up for him for a good reason. she trusts baby, above all else, to be the kind of guy she'd want in her life. honest, genuine, caring — they may not be romantically linked anymore, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care for him. besides her actual boyfriend, he's the best guy in her life... and sometimes, when her boyfriend's being a shithead, he is the best guy in her life.
but she knows, too, that baby's no more a virgin than she is. he might not be as overt about it, but asking a guy to completely wipe the board of anything is a bit unfair, in her opinion. which is why she's spent the last day or so trying to think up spaces in the middle, between sex on the first date (whoops) to no sex before marriage. something that will appease both parties, until sansa might feel more comfortable trying something new. )
And I do, yeah, I do enjoy it. ( it'd be silly to deny it. ) But — and maybe this is different for guys, I don't know — I didn't, at first. Before I came here, anyway. I liked the build-up, everything before it, but I never had a guy who was any good at making me feel good. I mean, high school guys are garbage, they just shove it in and they get off and that's it. It's not worth writing home about.
( sorry, not sorry. )
I think that's where she's at, you know? Minus the high school guys, add in medieval asshole "husbands".
( a pause, as kimberly adjusts her weight, shifting a little next to him so as to get her arm a better angle for the back of his scalp. )
Like I said, I don't think she wants to get married or sign a commitment ceremony or anything. I think she just wants the regular stuff, you know? Going on a normal date, kissing a guy, maybe build up to anything beyond that. If you asked her now, she'd probably say never, but...
( a small shrug. )
You are pretty irresistible, you know.
no subject
I know I'm not the same, but I could still hurt her. Without meaning to. I've hurt -
[ He stops. I've hurt you, he means to say, but it feels pointless to bring it up. They both know it, and moved on. ]
Right. [ If he gets what Kimberly's saying, Sansa's never experience foreplay. Never experienced someone taking their time with her, making sure she is satisfied. Which isn't surprising. ]
She's never had a normal relationship. Normal, in our sense of the word. And she's never had - [ he can't help the slight flush to his cheeks. ] - proper sex. I don't want to be presumptuous, but I think I could probably show her there's more to it than what she knows.
[ He's not here to rehabilitate men in her eyes, but. There's also the fact that he wouldn't mind being the one to show her how good it all can be.
He chuckles, eyes crinkling at the corners. ]
Sure, I'm a real catch.
no subject
she doesn't bother to correct him. instead, her fingers tangle tightly with his, squeezing reassurance into the touch, holding firm until the conversation picks back up in another direction. )
I don't think we're even working out of the same idea of what dating is. I mean, like... we didn't date, even. Not like, actual dating, anyway. ( they'd gone on dates, sure, but they'd never been exclusive. they hadn't even come close to it. ) I think she just needs somebody to be patient with her, you know?
( she's quiet for a moment, considering, before she smiles broadly in his direction, nudging him with her shoulder. )
I'm sure you can handle whatever her needs are. And stop arguing with me, you are too a catch.
no subject
Well, patience is a thing I can do. [ He'd shown that ability time and again, here and back home. Sometimes, he couldn't take waiting. But most of the time, it was as normal as breathing, for him.
Wait for the right beat, the right moment, the right person, the right green light, the right turn, the right song. It was part of his life. ]
What do you think her needs are? Besides patience.