( closed post ) bizarre celebrations

[clearasil]

 [ And, later, when she's talked to people, teased Enjolras about the Kesha song yet again, and opened a handful of presents, Natalie's feeling full. It's a good, contented feeling, like things, while they may be shitty for a great deal of time, seem to be looking up for her. She is never ungrateful for her good friends, or a boyfriend who apparently doesn't need to be wooed.

When she shows up, she doesn't say anything, just smiling softly, tucking her loose hair behind her ears. ]

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[commandertoolbelt]

[ By the time Natalie gets there, Festus has been banished into the woods, and Scout is recharging in the cabin. Leo has been working on some adjustments to those specialized demigod phones, tinkering around inside of one when she walks in. Hearing her footsteps, he looks up and smiles, setting his tools down. ]

Hey.

[clearasil]

Hi.

[ She enters fully, assuredly. All of that will soon dissipate but it's good to at least make a decent entrance. There was an effort made to actually look somewhat presentable - just color on her lips and a spritz of body wash, let's not get too fancy here. And of course, she's nervous, but she tries not to let it show right away, folding her fidgeting hands behind her back. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

You should probably shut the door behind you. [ But he's already moving to do that himself. And he already has confirmation that none of his siblings are likely to be up here this afternoon, so they've got the place to themselves. ]

Did you put lipstick on? [ Leo asks, walking up to her. Natalie had never struck him as that type of girl, but there's nothing bad about it. It looks nice, actually. Complements her skin tone, or something. Maybe she did get advice from Cabin Ten. ]

[clearasil]

Tinted lipbalm. It's raspberry flavored.

[ She's never been a girl of any real flavor except maybe salty or sour but it's not a terrible change for the moment, accompanied by the woodsy-vanilla scent she does use. The rest of her is casual as always. ]

I got it accidentally when I wanted plain chapstick but. Yeah. [ She leans in. ] Can you confirm that this is raspberry?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Okay, that sounds more like her. He chuckles, shaking his head, but grins at her nonetheless. ]

So I'm your taste tester now? [ he teases, and steps a little closer before leaning in to kiss her. Good thing he likes raspberry. ]

[clearasil]

Mhm. [ She hums against his lips, lifting her hands to rest them over his chest. She really has to pat herself on the back for that line, considering how strange their flirtatious banter sounds most of the time. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Smiling into the kiss, he slips his arms around her, circling her waist. It's another moment or two before he breaks for air. ] Definitely raspberry.

[clearasil]

I guess I'll take your word for it.

[ She takes a deep breath and rests her forehead against his, brushing her fingers up the back of his neck, into his hair. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He lets out a soft, nearly inaudible sigh as her hands reach into his hair, relishing the feeling. There is a fluttering in his stomach, a nervousness that's hard to ignore when he thinks about why Natalie's here, what they were talking about earlier. But Leo tries to ignore that, distracting himself by kissing her again. ]

[clearasil]

[ She learned quickly when they first started kissing - really kissing - that he enjoyed her hands there and she sincerely wants to see him happy, especially because of the things she does. What she feels for him, she'd rather not put to words right now, but she does know that they're strong, overwhelmingly so. Natalie pulls him closer, closing the small space between the two of them. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ If Natalie wants him closer, closer he will come. His arms tighten around her a bit, securing her there as his fingers restlessly trace the folds of her shirt. Leo knows exactly how he feels about her, and has for months, even if he's never said a word about it or done anything extra to show it. In a way, he's scared to open up to that, because if he gets too invested and it isn't mutual...

Not going to thinking about that right now, he decides, pressing a little closer to deepen the kiss. This is something he's wanted for... awhile, apparently something they've both wanted but haven't been able to act upon until now. Leo wouldn't unless he knows she wants it, and she's made it clear that today, she does, so they'll cross that bridge together. ]

[clearasil]

[ She likes how she fits against him, standing just a little shorter. There's little effort made when they meet each other halfway. Whatever happens, this is still an important happening in her life: the first time she's ever fully opened up to someone else. He will see all of her and she isn't terribly nervous about that. She'd be lying if she said that this hadn't been the only thing on her mind for the better part of today. Whatever her imagination had cooked up will likely pale in comparison to what will happen because she will actually be with him. ]

Here. [ She murmurs, reaching for his hands to bring them to the buttons on her sleeveless shirt. May as well take initiative. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ That brings a little flare of excitement to it; Natalie definitely doesn't waste time when she wants something, does she? His fingers work the buttons out with little trouble, and all the while he's wondering if it'll be like the guys at Wilderness School said - like he's imagined on those unfortunate nights that his sheets mysteriously caught fire. (His excuse has always been, and will remain, bad dreams, but they're the furthest thing from it). Leo's been wondering about it since they parted on the beach, and almost set his project on fire a few times because he wasn't paying attention. Luckily that's not an issue now, as the last button comes undone, and he slips his hands inside her shirt as soon as it's open to him, not even bothering to keep his eyes from wandering over what it reveals. ]

[clearasil]

[ And she's blushing under the warmth of his hands, her muscles tensing for a second before relaxing. Without that layer, it makes a world of difference and she can't help but note the way he looks at her. She covers her face in embarrassment, laughing softly and hoping that doesn't instantly ruin the moment. ]

Sorry - sorry. [ Natalie mumbles, shaking her head. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He pulls back almost instantly, worried that he did something wrong. The last thing he wants to do is upset Natalie somehow. ]

What - What's wrong?

[clearasil]

No, I like it, I'm just being an - an embarrassed idiot, that's all, [ she tries to be assuring, reaching for his hands again to rest on her waist, under her shirt. ] You're fine.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo smiles, forcing back his nervousness. ] Okay. Good. [ Because he really likes having his hands here, splaying out over her skin. It's different than the times he's held her like this; none of those other times had an end goal like they do here. Tentatively, he starts to move his hands up, his fingers tracing abstract shapes over her to let loose some of that spare energy. ]

[clearasil]

[ Natalie cups his face between her hands and brings him in to kiss him again, trying to push all those lingering thoughts and worries out of her brain. It's not possible for them to disappear entirely, but the kissing does help. The shirt doesn't come off just yet, her navy colored bra peeking through. She never thought she would be itching to be touched, but she likes how warm his hands feel on her skin. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ It's a happy distraction, and he takes to it eagerly. His hands continue sliding up her sides, brushing over the bra and back down again to settle on her waist. Running his tongue over her lower lip, he pulls her flush against him, taking great satisfaction in how well they seem to fit together. Part of him just wishes they'd done this sooner, though he hardly blames her for wanting to wait. ]

[clearasil]

[ She makes the softest, tiniest noise when he pulls her against him and she grins against his lips. It seems to be a good time for this, a good marker in their relationship, from his birthday to hers. She's so at ease with him, in his arms, that it seems to be the most natural step to take. Her hands drop from his face to move around his back, pulling up the hem of his shirt to rest her fingers there. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Hearing that sound, no matter how small, makes his stomach do a flip. It makes him want more, another like that, maybe, and to show it, he sucks lightly on her lip. ]

[clearasil]

[ Another groan follows, louder, her eyes fluttering closed. Her hands push his shirt up a little further but she doesn't make to tug it off, wanting to move slowly, committing every little movement to memory. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ As with anything, Leo can't keep his hands still for long. He's itching to get moving again, so his arms start back up her sides as he slowly leans back against the nearby worktable with a quiet, happy sigh, bringing Natalie with him. ]

[clearasil]

[ Natalie follows happily, leaning against him, lifting her hands to tuck her hair behind her ears. Her arms slide around his neck and she enjoys the feeling of him along the exposed panel of her skin, her hips to his. His belt digs into her but she doesn't care about it right now. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ If he'd actually thought it about it, Leo might have taken off the belt before she got here. But he was accustomed to the weight of it enough that it hadn't even crossed his mind, though as they press back against the table, he wonders if it should have.

Not his concern at the moment. There is a beautiful girl kissing him, with a shirt that's open and should probably be removed, but he continues up over her shoulders, hands curling in her hair. ]