irisnetwork | un: xspire

[If they had a heart, it would be pounding in their chest. As it stands, Rover still feels more than a little overwhelmed. They're not sure why something like a kiss is effecting them so deeply - it's just lips against lips. It's nothing that special.

But...they feel adrift at sea, and Maverick is a grounding presence. They squeeze his hand, gently, blinking at him.

Slowly, they nod.]

It's more than okay.

[They're so uncertain of what they're doing, but...They want to see where this goes.]

[It's gonna go places, that's for certain. Once assured, Maverick scoops up their lips again and works to ease their back down against the bed, their joined hands moving so he holds it above Rover's head. He knows that if at any point they change their mind, they could easily just break his wrist and that would be the end of that, nothing to worry about, but he keeps his grip light and tentative all the same. He was already going faster than his usual comfortable pace, shifting to hover over Rover as he trails kisses down from their mouth down their chin and neck.

He exhales, a little breathless laugh of disbelief. This is his life now, huh? Well. Could be worse. It feels good to be this close and to be leaving tender kisses rather than something hungry from loneliness.]

[The further down Maverick's kisses go, the warmer Rover feels. All the heat seems to be coming from their core, and there's a faint whirring sound as Rover tries to relax.

They...were not expecting this. They probably should have - someone was going to make them put their money where their mouth is - but they didn't, and now that this - whatever this is - is happening, they're completely overwhelmed. They cover their face with their other hand, laughing softly.

Perhaps the strangest thing is, though, that they can feel it. They aren't sure if they were made to feel pleasure, but they feel pleasant and warm and they can feel each brush of Maverick's lips against them.]

[From anyone else, the giggle probably would have triggered a mess of hurt feelings, but knowing the other's inexperience with...every aspect of this conceivable, and keeping in mind that might account for an unexpected reaction helps to temper his insecurity. That soft internal hum is reassuring, too, when not completely weirding him out.]

Feel good? [He murmurs it close to Rover's ear, and while he'd like to sound like a smug bastard, he doesn't quite have that much confidence that he's interpreting their reactions correctly. There's uncertainty there, along with an unasked, hopeful, You can really feel this?]

Yeah. [They peek at Maverick through their fingers, feeling shy. Exposed in a way they've never felt before. (Which...they've never done this before, and they weren't built to do this, of course they've never felt like this before.)

They wonder if they should be doing more. They move their hand, brushing it through Maverick's hair in an awkward pet.]

I wasn't expecting to.

[Hmm!]

Gee, that little faith in me, huh?

[Or his skill, which was, you know, not extensive, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that he's feeling comfortable enough to tease, and he tips his head to lean into the touch. Pauses to study their face.]

...You're really beautiful.

[It's a dumb thing to say, he feels like, but those are the words that fell out when he opened his mouth. The shyness is charming, too, like he's being trusted with this. Trust...is nice. Another award-winning observation, good work.

Maverick kisses them to distract from his blush, hopefully, then pushes himself up onto his elbows, securing some space between their upper bodies, although it must be glaringly obvious that he's getting hard, with his pelvis against the other.]

You, uh...aren't gonna overheat on me if we keep going, right?

It's not that.

[They thread their fingers through his hair, before dropping their hand. They feel warm, but not in a way that concerns them. Everything seems to be in order, they just...

Feel overwhelmed.]

I just wasn't sure I could feel anything at all.

[It's a quiet admission, as Maverick calls them beautiful. Those words make them feel even more flustered, but looking at him he seems...just as flustered. So at least they're not alone.]

But I don't think I'm going to overheat.

[They're pretty sure they won't - they don't think they could get much warmer, but they have no idea.]

Are you going to be okay?

[It takes two to tango, after all. On this, they can agree. Might as well have them both be idiots about it, in different ways, so they can fumble their way to the finish line together.

Maverick laughs, even it's...embarrassing. He's done this before, he shouldn't need to be asked!! But...it's never been quite like this. Definitely feels exciting and new, with this little gremlin of a robot beneath him.]

I'm... [He ducks back in, leaving a soft kiss on their neck before continuing.] ...going to be fucking great.

[Of this he's almost certain. How could he not be way more than okay? Satisfied, Maverick pulls back again so he can peel his hoodie and shirt up over his head, revealing the eclectic collection of tattoos and pierced nipples, and remove the fingerless gloves. He's aching for as much contact as possible, really, and tugs their hips together with a shaky exhale. With confirmation they can feel... His now-bare hands slip underneath Rover's clothes, gently exploring their skin for any hints of something that they seem to enjoy feeling more than the rest.]

[They prop themselves up on their elbows as Maverick undresses, looking him over. They know they don't have anything to compare it to, but...]

You're pretty hot, you know?

[They laugh again, awkward and embarrassed, feeling a little bit like they're making a fool of themself.

They hope they don't disappoint him.

They roll their hips up against him, taking a shaky breath at the feeling of Maverick's hands against their skin. They don't need to breathe, no, but with the exhale they can release some of the heat that's building up in their core. Their cooling system is working on overdrive, now, and their breath is hot.]

What should I do...?

I would think they have to be self aware. I haven't given it that much thought.

[He laughs, too, happy to hear it even if he doesn't exactly get it. It sounds genuine, which pleases him more than the words themselves, and the little markers of insecurity help to make the doubts lighten up on his heart even more. Heh. He's already feeling great, and they've only just started.

He bites his lip to suppress the soft groan and presses his lower half more insistently against them. He's quieter when he speaks, too, but a little rough.]

That. More of that. [Directing someone in how to please him is definitely out of his depths, but he sure does know that was a good feeling that would finish hardening him up pretty quickly. Which -- hm. Grinding into them and burying his face in Rover's collarbone to reward them with more kisses, he murmurs,] Can you get my zipper? N'touch me... You can play with my piercings. Kiss me.

[He's needy and easy to please, really, they could do pretty much anything.]

You should think about it. How do you know you're a person otherwise?

I can't say i dislike it.

Discomfort makes people reflect on matters.

Questions like that are why I generally stay away from creating life. It gets mess, morally and physically.

Do you think of being a person as something undesirable?

I think if you've got to chase after it perpetually like a dangled carrot no one intends to hand over, it's more trouble than it's worth. Especially if the only thing you win from it is more restriction.

I'm me. That's the only definition of self that I or anyone needs.

That's fair.

It all comes down to a matter of definition anyway. To me, being 'me' and being a 'person' is the same thing. I don't feel like society as a whole is actually fit for people - not any of them, even those who try and assimilate. It's an approximation, violent in its forced benevolence.

I won't integrate. I won't become useful to them. I'm not a 'member of society'. I suppose that's how you see 'people'? As members of society?

Next conversation we'll be BFFs, then.

Maybe. But for how long are they responsible for what they've done?

I think it mostly just makes people think you're not worth talking to.

Have you created life before?

That's certainly not my loss.

[ She doesn't even respond. She's got nothing to say to that. ]

Do you have some kind of paper on the subject?

[He wonders why the question would be asked, otherwise.]

Not everyone has a soul, but for some people having a soul is what makes them a person. If they give up the soul, they stop being a person.

But if they give it up, maybe they could become a new kind of person. I have not thought about this before. I don't interact with non-persons much.

un: xspire

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jazz hands, we really in that warning territory now, folks

sorry folks it's all downhill from here

stay on this path to enter the bone zone

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UN: Stormflower

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