May 22 02:11:42 106 PA

From Chronicles

May 22 02:11:42 106 PA

Golden Carafe - Leonard's Room

Weekend. This is something Leonard is beginning to understand more thoroughly, now that he has somewhat of a daily commitment. The late Saturday afternoon is a lazy one, and finds him lounging on the sofa in little more than shorts and shirt. Someone and her relaxation notions might be rubbing off on him. A glass of wine rests on the nearby table, with an opened book in one hand occupying his attention. The other hand rests in his lap, a towel-wrapped lump atop it.

Vixen has been out. She said briefly. Though that was this morning. Now she comes in, quick to slide off her heavy coat even as she's nudging the door closed. "Just dropped off some info.. harder than I thought to find that stuff," she huffs, breathing out lightly. The boots come off next, dropped to the floor without regard for those below before she moves towards the couch. "You look like you've had a good day," she notes, eyeing him, then the lump.

Leonard looks up as the door opens and offers her a smile. "Things don't turn out as simple as we'd like sometimes, do they?" Her shift in eyes is noted and he lifts the covered hand slightly. "My morning run, for example. It was interesting for a while."

"You hurt yourself?" Vixen frowns a little, concern rising as she settles down on the couch. "What's going on, Leo?" Asked as she starts to reach for the wrapped lump, though she pauses before touching, looking up towards him for a silent request of permission.

"Just some bruising, I think," Leonard sets the book aside to remove the cold pack and offer up his hand for her inspection, "but I wanted to keep the swelling down. Hard to waggle my fingers around if they look like sausages." Sure enough, most of them are nicely black and blue from first to second knuckles.

"What'd you do, punch a wall?" Vixen's tone soft as she lightly touches his hand with both of hers. Though she can do little more than eyeball it, then put a light kiss on the back of it before she nudges it back down to be covered again. "Or just getting more rreckless?"

Leonard rolls his shoulders at the question, although the gesture provokes a grin as he recovers it. "A post, actually, and yes. I was invited to a bit of boxing. Not that I expected to do well, but I didn't think that I'd put myself out of the match."

"Boxing?" Vixen grins a little at that. "What's got you boxing? Looking to be my little tough guy?" She shifts herself closer, moving to straddle his lap as she oft does, though back a little to not sit on his hand where it rests. "You know you don't have to be, don't you? Don't got nothing to prove to me. As long as you know that, I'm ok with whatever you're up to."

Leonard shakes his head, grin widening. He gladly moves the hand elsewhere to make room. "I had entirely selfish reasons in mind. With my history, it seemed wise to learn to better duck the next time a woman decided to swing at me. So, when Cel sought some practice, I accepted." His unconvered hand moves to rest on her hip. "Obviously, I still have a great deal to learn."

"Well, whoever this person is, make sure they don't mess you up too much," Vixen murmurs, casually slipping forward to take up that abandoned space which she fits upon quite well. "Snad save some energy for me." She grins slyly, leaning forward to nuzzle her lips against his own softly.

"After I touted my lack of skill," Leonard's grin turns lopsided, "she did promise to be gentle. I will always have energy for you. You needn't worry about that." As proof, the cold pack is ditched in favor of her other hip. "It sounds as if your day was better, and less painful?"

"A bit boring. I was never one for libraries," Vixen replies. "Or research. That sort of stuff has always been annoying to me. I like dealing with people more than books but sometimes you have to go to text and such." She gives her hips a slow little sway as she murmurs, "But not painful. A ride out to the camp helped to clear my head after all that reading."

Leonard can't help but laugh softly. "I get into fisticuffs while you're shuffling through data at the library... Did we switch roles somewhere along the line?" He leans in to return her prior, brief kiss. "Maybe I'll have an undue influence on you and, before long, you might actually enjoy the library?"

"Nah, only reading I enjoy is stories," Vixen murmurs, not drawing back. So leaning into her is an easy thing. "And I don't do that much fist fighting. I'm ok at it, but not that good, really. Would be nice if I was really good at it, could make a better living than I do if I was all mercenary."

"Well, it seemed much more your bent than mine." Shoulders roll slightly as he remains close. "Not that I want you going out of your way to provoke trouble. I think we do well enough as it is, despite your shooting film more than a weapon." Leonard's brow arches at her last. "You could always seek to improve upon that, if you desire. I admit that I've given far more thought to such a profession than I ever expected."

"I've thought about it, but seems more a way to encourage trouble to me," Vixen murmurs. "Though I guess maybe it ain't so bad an idea. I'd like to learn how to actually poke people with a knife. Maybe learn how to use handguns. I've seen a neat little dart gun that could be nice to carry around, but it ain't so useful if I can't hit anything with it."

Leonard nods with her admission. "I don't ever expect to be especially handy with weapons, but I've come to realize that what talents I do have are sorely inadequate for any sort of direct action. As much as I'd like to avoid such, it won't always be possible. My repertoire could use a little expansion, especially if I do decide to put myself in harm's way. I won't always be able to frighten others away by doing this..." The grin on his lips curls wryly as he lifts his better hand to wiggle his fingers with false menace.

Vixen smirks a little and casually slips her hands low as she leans back a bit, down along his chest, then back up to rest her hands on his shoulders. "I like the idea of you in one piece. So I'm all for you learning more, babe." She leans in to kiss him again, this time more firm and lingering in that. "And if it makes you feel more confident. Didn't expect you to get all firm with me at the Alibi like that. It was kinda nice.. well, now that I think abck on it. Was a bit.. distracted then."

Leonard welcomes the affection, and is in no hurry to end it. "I prefer to remain intact, myself, but I would like to be... proactive in some fashion. Take some action rather than sit and philosophize over it." She receives a light squeeze from his hands, though his smile dims. "I didn't expect to be so harsh, myself, and was concerned that I'd stepped to far. We did arrange ourselves a bit too casually, I admit."

"No, I was wrong.. I shouldn't have doubted Maya. After all, she had a prime opportunity and it wasn't like you were in some private place," Vixen replies. "I'm just glad she didn't hold it against me. I'm glad you did snap me out of it. You didn't go too far. I want you to question me sometimes, if you think I'm stepping over the line. Sometimes I do and it ain't good." She shrugs a little. "Sometimes I just.. don't got much control, you know?"

"Actually," Leonard counters, hand lifting from her hip to cradle her cheek as his smile returns, in force, "I think you have a great deal of control, as I'm still in one piece. Not only do you have every reason to be ...suspicious, but it wouldn't be real, if you didn't, now would it? I'd like everyone to be happy, get along, but I know that's not always going to happen." Bemusement then returns in a slight headshake. "Before, I was fortunate if I could greet a woman. Now I seem to be drawing a drove of them as friends. This has me both terrified and flattered, in varying amounts, and at a loss, most times."

"I got right to be suspicious of some girls, but not Maya," Vixen corrects. "I still ain't too sure about that Emayn.. but I guess maybe things are ok now if she hasn't made another run at you yet. I think maybe she's got that.. forbidden fruit thing going on or something. Upset cause maybe she found a nice guy, but she can't have him." Her shoulders roll a little. "I dunno. Though it ain't like I've gone out of my way to talk to her as of late."

Leonard considers that possibility. "From what I know of her, I'd guess Ema to be more inclined towards spurning rules than envy, but she has been rather reserved. She is rather enigmatic of her motives, though." His shoulders roll in a slight shrug and his tone softens towards musing or wistful. "I wonder how things would be different had I accepted your proposal of fun as it was offered. Not that I have any regrets, of course." The last he is firm to note before he sighs. "I'm thinking too much, again."

"I dunno, Leo," Vixen murmurs, "But I'm thinking it's good you pushed like you did. Cause as nice as it is having no strings and no worries, I'm getting used to having someone to be close to more than just friends. It's been a long time since I felt anything like that before." She smiles lightly and leans in to kiss him again, her head laid down. Now that she's settled, she's of a mind to stay where she is a while longer and enjoy it.

Leonard has no intentions of forcing her to move, either, and is quite content to envelop her in a lounging, casual embrace. "I'm getting quite used to it, myself..." His smile turns briefly towards her before he relaxes with a pleasant sigh to gaze at nothing in particular.