< Whiskey Kiss | Hang Time

---

After we figured out what had happened... that I'd somehow... faded in...

Well, that was pretty amazing all by itself, but there was this other amazing thing.

Sabrina.

There's so many jokes I could make about that. So many corny, stupid things.

She was right there, and smiling at me like... like someone who just discovered music.

She asked if I knew what was going on, and I told her we could be smart about it in the morning, so we curled up in the middle of the living room carpet like two kids on a pretend camping trip.

It just felt right.

---

Jason lies awake in the pale morning light, his right arm beneath Sabrina's head as she lies with her back against his side. His left arm is propped behind his head, and he stares at the ceiling of the unfurnished living room.

Sabrina stirs, turning over in those moments before consciousness comes fully to snuggle against him, her arm over his chest. With the tell-tale symptoms of a mild hangover come memories of the night before and her eyes slowly open to verify them.

"Boo."

She smiles sleepily and lifts her head to look at him better, partially propping it on his chest, "Good morning."

Jason reaches with his left hand to tug his water bottle free from his pack. He sets it upright on his chest, near her cheek. "Pretty much, yeah." He smiles -- crookedly, but not his typical grin.

Sabrina makes a slightly embarrassed half-chuckle and picks herself up enough to take a drink, then returns to laying the way she was, watching him watch her, "Yeah."

Jason takes the bottle back and drinks as well, sets it down. He curls his arm around her shoulders and shifts to turns his head toward her. "We still okay?"

Sabrina smiles at him, tilting her head a little, her eyelids still a little droopy with sleep, "More than okay."

He brushes at a stray hair on her cheek. "Sleep more?"

She shakes her head a little, "I'm alright. How are you doing?"

Now, he does grin. He reaches across, clasps Sabrina's waist near her belt and lifts her above him, gently. There's some strain, but not a great deal, as he lowers her to lay on top of him, situated so she can rest her elbows on his chest.

"I," he says, leaving his left hand at the small of her back and propping up his head with his right. "I am all right."

Sabrina 's smile widens as he re-positions her and feels her cheeks warm with a self-conscious blush as she leans forward to deposit a quick, affectionate kiss on his lips. "Good."

Jason gets a particular look in his eyes and lifts his head up to return the kiss. His lips move, then, along her jawline, and the soft hollow just beneath her earlobe. He nuzzles gently.

Sabrina closes her eyes as his lips caress her face, idly wondering if she's smiling as stupidly as she feels she must be, and gives herself over to the moment, sliding her cheek against his and lifting her right hand to play with his hair just above his ear

Jason leaves his left hand firmly against the small of her back, while his right moves to her neck, his forearm pressing against her back, his bicep against her side. He pulls back just enough to see her face, then rises again for another kiss.

Sabrina kisses him deeply this time, her fingers sliding through his hair to cradle his head as, slowly, he begins to fade back into full view.

Clearly reluctant, he breaks the kiss, but keeps his face close to hers. "I think your smile feels even better than it looks. It's really close."

Sabrina bites her lip, feeling her cheeks burning, and quick-kisses him again before studying his face with a rare light in her eyes, "That settles that question. You're a poet for me when you're sober too."

Jason smiles, dipping his head, almost embarrassed. "Call it inspiration." He lowers back down to the floor. "You see me okay, right now, right?

Sabrina slides her hand out from beneath his head before he leans it back and returns to the gentle carressing just above his right ear, nodding, her voice soft, reassuring, "Oh yeah. I see you... and you're visible again too."

Jason lets out a soft, surprised chuckle. He glances to the side, perhaps simply to break eye contact. "Yeah. I ... I'm getting an idea when it happens. We can beat it." His face betrays nothing at that, but Sabrina can feel his heart hammering at that last sentence.

Sabrina takes her hand from his hair to gently take hold of his chin, pulling his gaze back to her dark eyes, the smile lessening just enough to reflect something more serious and determined, "Yes, we can."

His eyes search her face, a smile equal parts gratitude and disbelief slowly spreading over his features. Something flickers behinds his eyes and his eyebrows draw together a fraction of an inch, but his smile doesn't falter.

Sabrina lifts her head just the tiniest bit, studying his face with something between concern and affection reflected in her eyes, "What?"

He starts to shake his head, his eyes sliding away, but stops. His jaw works, his lips pursing for a moment, then: "I don't want to... I don't think it's right to get into something and mess up a bunch of other people." His eyes meet Sabrina's. "I know what you said last night, but there's other people involved that didn't tell me anything about fresh starts. Some of em are friends." He's clearly gutting himself to even think about stepping aside, but puts up a good front. "I don't know anything about any of it, I know. I guess that's why I'm even bringing it up."

Sabrina's gaze falters for the first time, an evolution of emotion playing across her features... seeming reminded, at first, as though she'd forgotten everything until just now, then guilt, then understanding...

Sabrina finally looks back up at him, nodding as she takes a deep breath, "You're not stepping on anyone's toes. Johnny and I have made our peace with each other, and it's over. I'll tell you anything else you want to know... and I won't lie and say I'm ready... but I know I want this... whatever comes of it."

Jason searches her face again, but not in the way of someone looking for a clue or a tell; his eyes are memorizing features. "Okay," he says, and his voice is soft and hoarse. He lifts his head until lips are close to hers. "If I can make this the right thing, I will," he murmurs, and kisses her gently, once, twice. "If I can help you be happy, I'm going to."

Sabrina 's smile slowly returns as he speaks, and what little she'd been holding onto finds it's way to the surface - hope - and she kisses him back with a depth of affection that even surprises her... finally breaking the kiss to lift her eyes to his. "I want this to be the right thing for both of us... but can we agree on slowly? I don't want to screw this up."

Jason nods, resting his forehead against hers as he eases back to the floor. "Slow is good," he begins chuckling softly, but it quickly grows in volume to a warm sound that fills the corners of the room. "I'm going to need to remember how all this works anyway. I'll probably need the time."

Sabrina grins, laughing a little with him, "Well, I already know a lot about what _not_ to do... I haven't gotten this right yet."

"Ah, I think we've got the basics," Jason slides his arms around her waist. "You go here," he smiles, "we'll figure the rest out later."

Sabrina laughs quietly, bending her head to leave another quick kiss, "Are you aware of just how cute you are right now?"

Jason grins, "yyyep."

Sabrina giggles and kisses him again, a lingering promise conveyed in its depth

Jason pulls back a bit, tilting his head slightly, "so I was thinking I could run down to the shop and pick up --" he turns his head as his comm beeps, then again at the knock on the door. "The hell?..."

Sabrina looks up in surprise, but realization dawns and she rolls off him to the side and sits up, giggling just a little. "Shit...the furniture."

Jason sits up and reaches for his comm, checking the small code screen, frowning. "17? Oh hell..."

Sabrina jumps up to head for the door, "17?"

He grins, pushing himself up from the floor and slipping into his shoes. "I'm supposed to be doing an interview with Patriot One."

"Oh." Sabrina opens the door and speaks briefly to the delivery man, who leaves to go begin bringing up the furniture, and she bites her lip as she closes the door to look back at him. "Right... you've gotta... and I need to..." She lets out a resigned sigh.

Jason walks over and slides his arms around her, bending to meet her gaze. "One. Hour."

Sabrina nods, grinning a little, "Okay."

"If whoever it is can't get it done in that time, I'll dump em in the lake and run." Jason's comm beeps again. He glances down at it. "Shit. Okay. Going."

Sabrina laughs, then kisses him, holding him for just a moment longer before letting him go

Jason kisses her again. "Going." Kisses. "Going."

And he is a rush of air through the open door, and a memory.

---

(( The following occurs later in the afternoon on the same day as the previous Section. Barometra and Hang Time at their very best "ships that narrowly miss in the night and instead crash into icebergs."))

---

[This entire conversation was conducted via private Direct Comm?, while both Hang Time and Barometra were conducting mission in different areas of Paragon.]

[Comm] Barometra: Hey Hang Time
[Comm] Hang Time: Hey! *grin in voice* You know you can just call me Jason, if you like.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh, okay. I don't think you ever told me your name.
[Comm] Hang Time: I always figure everyone knows, cuz Ulric calls me by that instead of Hang Time... like, exclusively.
[Comm] Barometra: Well I'm Lindsay. *laughs*
[Comm] Hang Time: Oh. Wow. Cool :)
[Comm] Barometra: Well, I haven't hung out with the two of you together in... ages.
[Comm] Hang Time: Okay, yeah, that's true. The night of a million zillion hospital trips, probably Smile
[Comm] Barometra: Probably...that was when Ulric and I were hanging out a lot.
[Comm] Hang Time: Not so much anymore?
[Comm] Barometra: Well not since I left the Phalanx.
[Comm] Hang Time: Huh. That's kinda too bad.
[Comm] Hang Time: So how're you doin?
[Comm] Barometra: I'm pretty good. How're you?
[Comm] Hang Time: A lot better'n I was yesterday, I think. Oh, I have a clue, by the way. I think. I figured out another time when I fade in.
[Comm] Barometra: Yeah? That's good. When's that?
[Comm] Hang Time: Okay, this going to sound pretty 'cry for help', but ... ahmm...
[Comm] Barometra: Hmm?
[Comm] Hang Time: It's when someone pays really close... when they pay really close attention to me? *clearly sort of embarrassed*
[Comm] Barometra: What do you mean? And uh...how'd you figure this out?
[Comm] Hang Time: Umm... when I got a really strong sense that someone was really... *looking* at me... I faded in for a second.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh...weird...maybe it was subconscious? Because your powers don't seem psionically based...
[Comm] Hang Time: Well, the nova thing isn't subconscious... I'm just tired, then. And yeah, no one seems to think mental comes into play with my powers. Smile
[Comm] Barometra: Well right, but I mean, maybe there *is* a way you can control it, you just haven't figured it out yet... but you subconsciously triggered it when you thought someone was looking at you.
[Comm] Hang Time: Yeah... *awkward* wasn't so much looking at me, cuz, like *you* were doing that, before, when I found out. This was different. Could have been just tension release too, cuz I had a few drinks, and I don't normally, but it didn't last that long, and a booze effect would, I think.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh... Well what was happening...?
[Comm] Hang Time: I was getting a tour of Scorpia's new apartment.
[Comm] Barometra: *unimpressed* Oh.
[Comm] Hang Time: *trying to bridge the 'chick stuff' he's hearing* She's trying to ... I dunno. she seems pretty happy about it -- turning over a new leaf thing. Not that that has anything to do with anything.
[Comm] Barometra: Yeah, that's great for her.
[Comm] Hang Time: You sound kinda mad.
[Comm] Barometra: I'm not mad. Why would I be mad?
[Comm] Hang Time: I... don't know? I thought you and Scorp got along, she seems like she likes you a lot. She was even... umm... talking you up, kinda.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh... really?
[Comm] Hang Time: She was... nevermind. Stupid. But she thinks you're cool, I think.
[Comm] Barometra: We don't really talk too much.
[Comm] Barometra: So I don't really know her.
[Comm] Hang Time: yeah? cuz you kinda sounded like you didn't like her... when I mentioned the apartment tour thing.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh, okay...I don't know what would make you think that.
[Comm] Hang Time: Cuz... your... voice when I said it made my comm freeze to my ear? *joking* I'm not really smart, but I'm not really deaf, either...
[Comm] Barometra: ...
[Comm] Hang Time: *small* Don't hit me.
[Comm] Barometra: *sighs* Sorry...I just...if she was giving you a 'tour' of her new apartment, that makes me think of something different...not that that would be a problem, its not my business who you choose to... tour...
[Comm] Hang Time: Hey... it wasn't like that. There's not even furniture or anything.
[Comm] Barometra: Who needs furniture?....ahem.
[Comm] Hang Time: Umm... right... true... sure. But it was just a tour.
[Comm] Barometra: A tour with drinking.
[Comm] Hang Time: A tour with drinking, yeah, but that was mostly for me, I think -- I sorta asked.
[Comm] Barometra: Right, but like I said, none of my business.
[Comm] Hang Time: I wasn't having a pretty really no good very bad day, cuz of the thing.
[Comm] Barometra: Right, so then, at what point did you become opaque?
[Comm] Hang Time: Well, we were kinda of arguing about stuff, and I faded in.
[Comm] Barometra: Hmm, were you angry?
[Comm] Hang Time: I was really more embarrassed.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh, why was---never mind, but that makes a little sense I think. When you're embarrassed you feel like you're standing out, your face becomes flush...
[Comm] Barometra: Maybe you just need to recreate that feeling.
[Comm] Hang Time: ... *moving on* She was... she found out I hadn't been out since I've been in Paragon, which was like 7 years ago.
[Comm] Barometra: What do you mean... out?
[Comm] Hang Time: ...
[Comm] Hang Time: Umm. On a date.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh, well until the other night I hadn't been either... Wait that's not true....*blushing*
[Comm] Hang Time: Well, at least that means you can't give me quite as much crap.
[Comm] Barometra: What, why?
[Comm] Hang Time: Cuz you .. hadn't until a while ago, either? But then you just said you had, so I guess you can. I just meant about dating... you can sure give me crap about the stuff you normally do Smile
[Comm] Barometra: Oh okay. Phew.
[Comm] Hang Time: *deadpan* glad I can be there for you.
[Comm] Barometra: I wasn't going to give you crap about not going on dates. Missing one target and hitting another is a different story. And she shouldn't give you crap about anything.
[Comm] Hang Time: First of all, I hardly ever do that. Anymore. And Scorpia really wasn't giving me a hard time either, she was *pause, smallvoice* trying to figure out who I should ask out.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh.
[Comm] Hang Time: And why I haven't. Which was less fun.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh... so why haven't you?
[Comm] Hang Time: *makes one of those short, close-mouthed groans that sounds like *uhhn*
[Comm] Barometra: C'mon, if I'm going to help you at all with your transparency issues you're going to have to tell me.
[Comm] Hang Time: I don't talk... well... around people I like.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh, you get shy.
[Comm] Hang Time: Well, yeah, that's one reason. That's... that was the one she was focusing on.
[Comm] Barometra: There's more reasons?
[Comm] Hang Time: The talking thing only happens with some people. With others I just don't ask cuz it would be stupid.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh...like?
[Comm] Hang Time: Like... me asking them would be like a rikti monkey wearing a tux.
[Comm] Barometra: Hm. Seriously.
[Comm] Hang Time: I'm trying to explain this in a way that doesn't sound completely lame. Honestly, I just don't think about it much. Dating. So it's not like I sit around not being able to talk to people and pining for other I can't have...
[Comm] Barometra: Oh....okay. I'm not trying to pry, I just want to help.
[Comm] Hang Time: ...cuz that's not me... well, obviously, the not being able to talk is, but that's it.
[Comm] Barometra: I know, I don't think anyone's saying that... well maybe Scorpia is, but... well that's her.
[Comm] Hang Time: No, she was trying to ... she wasn't teasing. She was trying to convince me that whoever wouldn't think it was stupid if I asked.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh. Well I'd probably agree.
[Comm] Hang Time: I think that was about when I went looking for the kitchen knife to fall on *weak chuckle*.
[Comm] Barometra: *laughs* For you that's probably safer than running missions.
[Comm] Hang Time: You know, I am actually not entirely incompetent. You're just ... way better at everything than me.
[Comm] Barometra: Hehe....I'm....I'm....just teasing... And I'm sorry, you're right, its just so hard to tell the difference sometimes.
[Comm] Hang Time: I wonder if your powers are based on utter confidence.
[Comm] Barometra: Actually, I only really act this way around you....
[Comm] Hang Time: Maybe my power is the mutant ability that prevents my mistakes from killing me -- eventually, I'll be unstoppable.
[Comm] Barometra: I'm joking, you know that.
[Comm] Hang Time: Sometimes I think i should video some time when you're not around, just as proof. Smile
[Comm] Barometra: No I've heard the dirty rumors, I don't need videotape.
[Comm] Hang Time: Anyway, that was the conversation, basically. ((<<-- so lying Smile ))
[Comm] Barometra: With your see-through problem, I think you should just try to envision yourself sticking out like a sore thumb, like when you're embarrassed maybe... As for the dating thing, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you like a girl, ask her, I really don't know who would refuse you...
[Comm] Hang Time: Ummm... okay, ... yeah, it wasn't really the embarrassment.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh...well then what the hell was it? You're really confusing me.
[Comm] Hang Time: She was trying to argue with me kinda in the vein of what you just said.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh...
[Comm] Hang Time: About a particular person, and... and... and the ONLY reason I'm trying to tell you this is because you've really been helping.
[Comm] Barometra: Okay...please go on...
[Comm] Hang Time: Dammit. One sec.
[Comm] Barometra: *sighs*
[Comm] Hang Time: *sounds of blasts and "Nein nein, not in ze face!"*
[Comm] Hang Time: Sorry, fan mail.
[Comm] Barometra: Right.
[Comm] Hang Time: So she... the conversation went a weird way.
[Comm] Barometra: How?
[Comm] Hang Time: *deep breath* shetoldmeshe'devendateme, anddidn'tbelieveherandthenwekindakissedandthenshecouldseeme.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh... Oh. So you enjoyed your tour.
[Comm] Hang Time: It was NOT like that.
[Comm] Barometra: That's just what it SOUNDS like.
[Comm] Hang Time: She was trying to prove a point about me asking you out.
[Comm] Barometra: *mumbles* A new leaf. Hmph.
[Comm] Hang Time: her out... I mean.
[Comm] Barometra: Oh... a-are you sure that's all it was?
[Comm] Hang Time: What, you mean what she was doing?
[Comm] Barometra: Did you like it? Is that what made you visible?
[Comm] Hang Time: I don't *know* ... it just happened. *(thoughtful pause)* I felt like I was actually ... *there*. Like... in a place. It went away after, but yeah, it was kinda cool that maybe it's not just exhaustion that does it.
[Comm] Barometra: Weird... Okay, maybe its a little more complex than just being embarrassed or angry. I was pretty sure there was more to it than that.
[Comm] Hang Time: Yeah, it's got to be more complicated than that... cuz if it was just embarrassment, You Could. See. Me. From. HERE.
[Comm] Barometra: Hm. Smile
[Comm] Barometra: ...
[Comm] Barometra: Wait a sec... did you...?
[Comm] Hang Time: What?
[Comm] Barometra: Nothing. I should get going.
[Comm] Hang Time: Wait. NO!
[Comm] Barometra: I have a lot of work to do. I'll let you---what?
[Comm] Hang Time: Whatever it is you think you were going to ask, no.
[Comm] Barometra: Eh... that's not... but you didn't so... okay cool...
[Comm] Hang Time: Christ after this long I don't even think I remember how that works.
[Comm] Barometra: What did you think I was going to ask?
[Comm] Hang Time: *embarrassed* I mean. Oh. Wow... okay, can you see me *now*?
[Comm] Barometra: No. *laughs* It's definitely not embarrassment.
[Comm] Hang Time: Yeah
[Comm] Hang Time: Umm... so. what were you going to ask?
[Comm] Barometra: Never mind... I can't even remember right now. ((so definitely lying. :) ))
[Comm] Hang Time: Umm... well, you know... if you get any ideas. That's cool if you gotta go. Sorry about... whatever, but I thought you should know everything.
[Comm] Barometra: Yeah... sure.

< Whiskey Kiss | Hang Time