— I'ᴍ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴅᴀʀʟɪɴɢ Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ 'ʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ 'ʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ

[twelfthsong]

 

— psl clara & john 
modern au | coffee box
 

Comments

[makemeasong]

[ A smile tugs at her lips softly but she doesn't reply for a few moments. Instead, she looks at him, fingers lightly tracing his face. The gentle smile is still there but there's something else, something more than warmth. She doesn't even know it's a new way of looking at him before she leans in to kiss him again, deeply and slow, both hands on either side of his face.

When she pulls back, she kisses him again softly, sweetly, then stands. ]

Back in a mo'. Don't go anywhere this time. You know what, no, come on. [ And she's grabbing him by the hand to tug her with him. She's joking though. Mostly. ]

[twelfthsong]

[John can only let out a bit of a stunned laugh as he catches up from the two kisses Clara gives him before following after her.

A part of him knows she's joking - mostly - but he still wants to indulge her.]

I'm coming, hold on. Brittle bones and all that.

[makemeasong]

[ Clara hums, tilting her head to the side. ]

You really didn't seem all that brittle last night. Was I too rough with you? [ She asks that with a somewhat huskier tone, looking at him with those big, brown eyes. If there's one thing she's realized she enjoys immensely, it's seeing how red he can turn. ]

[twelfthsong]

[She knew what she was doing because almost immediately red patches begin to appear on his cheeks. He has no choice but to look away immediately.]

No. [With a huff and really in an attempt to save himself from having to say anything more he all but pushes her in the direction of her room.] I'll sort the shopping bags out, you go change.

[makemeasong]

[ Her laughter follows her down the hallway and she quickly puts on a pair of leggings and the same shirt, but with a bra. Washing her face she keeps the makeup off and returns with a pair of sunglasses on top of her head. ]

Try not to immediately pounce, I work hard to look this good.

[twelfthsong]

[John's practically muttering under his breath as he fumbles around the cupboards trying to pull out various shopping bags. By the time Clara saunters back into the kitchen he whirls around with one that has little cats and dogs holding little umbrellas.]

I'm going to have to fend people off with a stick at this rate at the shop.

[makemeasong]

[ The tips of her ears go pink and she ducks her head for a second with a pleased smile before helping him find the rest of her shop bags. ]

Yeah well, you have hot single moms in your area, apparently.

[ She holds four more bags to his one, pulling them out of various places. ] I can't decide where I should keep these. Hook, pantry, or folded in a cupboard.

[twelfthsong]

[He can't help but laugh.] Oh, shut up.

Ah that's where they were. It doesn't matter where you put them just put them in one place. That was like what - four or five places? How was I ever going to find them?

[makemeasong]

I was trying to figure out which place I liked best. There's a method to my madness. [ Is there, Clara? ]

I like things to be easy to grab without looking like clutter. Pantry it is. Besides, you got to rummage through all my things. [ She knows he isn't a snoop at all and leans against the counter with a grin. ] Find any skeletons in the cupboards?

[ Like she has any beyond the few maybe stupid things she did when she was in her late teens trickling into her early twenties. ]

[twelfthsong]

[John looks equally as skeptical but doesn't say anything else because it really is endearing.]

Nothing in the cupboards. But do you really need 3 different egg timers? I feel like that's excessive.

[makemeasong]

First of all, yes, because one is shaped like a panda bear and I really liked it, one was my mum's and the other is the one I use the most because if it breaks, I won't be sad about it.

[ Clara grins and presses a quick kiss to his cheek. Enough about my kitchen gadgets. ] I'd like to see what you think I need in my fridge and pantry.

[twelfthsong]

[He can't help but roll his eyes good naturedly as she kisses his cheek. John knows he isn't in any place to pick on what she has in her kitchen. This is her home after all - and it's all good natured ribbing anyway.

He makes a grand sweep back over to the fridge revealing...well not much of anything.]

I can't make much of a comment on it seeing as there's nothing in it.

[makemeasong]

You're the one who said you were making a list while I changed. Must've been distracted. What were you thinking about?

[ Clara's head tilts to the side as she grins, going for adorable and kissable. ]

[twelfthsong]

[John is quickly learning that he's a sucker for that face but he presses on despite the teasing look in his eyes.]

I think you misheard me - I was going to look for bags. Can't make a shop list if I'm not the one that lives here. But you were clearly thinking about other things.

[makemeasong]

What if I was?

[ Clara gives a casual shrug as if she's talking about the weather. ] My plan for pre-pre seduction included coyly inviting you to watch me change. Then you said something about something. Yes, I was still thinking about other things, John.

[ She's teasing right back but there's a nice mix of teasing and eagerness for him there too. The anticipation and the way they're building it up - well, she can't wait to see who breaks first. ]

[twelfthsong]

Ah and here I thought the pre-pre seduction would revolve around coming up with a list for this chicken dinner I was promised.

[He steps towards her, closing the fridge door behind him but still keeping enough of a distance between them.]

That would be my idea for pre-pre seduction.

[makemeasong]

[ She has to fight hard not to laugh as she takes a step forward. Her voice drops to a lower register and immediately she looks at him like he's the dinner. As she steps forward, she starts listing ingredients. ]

Well then, we'll need chicken. [ Another stop forward as if stalking prey. ] Capers. [ And on she goes with the ingredients until she's close enough to breathe against his lips. ]

Think you can remember that?

[twelfthsong]

[John's brain is hyperactive on the best of days constantly flirting from idea to idea. It had made his lectures a challenge for students that weren't used to his streams of thought - but his brain is nothing but quiet here. He's intently focused on Clara and the way she knows exactly what she's doing.

Just like with River, his brain can't help but lightly comment that he's in trouble. He clears his throat.]

Fairly sure I do. The question is are we actually going to head to the shops right now?

[makemeasong]

That depends on you. Because I'm trying really hard not to seem uh...what would be the worst thing you could think of me for wanting you really really badly?

[ She's joking, but she's also serious; that same worry and fear of not knowing how to navigate something that means something. ]

And uh what's the best case?

[twelfthsong]

The worst thing? [Is it possible for someone to sound confused and amused at the same time? Cause that's what he's currently sounding like.]

That's a compliment isn't it? In most circles. But if there was a worse thing it's probably that we wouldn't get anything done and I wouldn't be able to keep semi-normal hours at the Coffee Box.

[He can't help but let out a brief laugh.] And best case? We'd have some ridiculous stamina.

[makemeasong]

[ It's a relief when she's starting to realize the few times she's hinted at it possibly being embarrassed at her track record, he doesn't seem to care or even know what she's actually trying to say. It makes tension begin to fade away from her shoulders, from her features and she feels so much better than she has in a long time. ]

Hmm. Well, I like being able to walk semi-straight, so. I won't be totally unreasonable. What about if we don't get anything done today until lunch? Other than one another.

[twelfthsong]

[The colour from his cheeks rise to the tips of his ears and while there's levity to his voice, there's also a hint of something else there. Longing. Teasing.]

Jumping straight past the pre-pre seduction? Clara, how am I going to make a living.

[makemeasong]

[ She's the first one to reach out and touch, letting her hand glide up, down, and then back up his side. ]

Well, if you're really ready to get on with the day. [ She hums as if it's his loss and lets her thumb glide just at the hem of his shirt before turning as if ready to go ]. Would you mind driving?"

[twelfthsong]

[John didn’t think he would give in so easily but he also knows that he’s leading by her example. He wants her as much as she says she wants him and the brush of her thumb against the hem of his shirt is enough for him to grasp her wrist. With a click of his teeth he tugs her in the opposite direction towards her bedroom, tossing aside the bag he had been holding.]

The shops aren’t going to run out of food before lunch.