Barry's whole body seemingly deflates at the way the human phrases her question, ears drooping and everything, instantly making him look about a decade older. What are you. He's a person. Looking past the fur and the horns and the snout, he's more human-looking than a lot of Others populating the city. Four limbs, knees bending the right way, circular pupils, language, a job, opposable fucking thumbs. But no, he's a what. That's all he'll ever be.
With a long-suffering look down at his notes, Barry sighs deeply before he starts explaining, the same speech he always gives when this question comes his way.] I'm a bipedal humanoid ursine, with some spattering of cervine DNA from millennia back. If you've ever heard of Bigfoot or the Yeti, you've heard about us. We prefer foozles - I know, okay, y'don't have t'say anythin'.
[He can't quite help himself from adding:] As for who I am, I go by Barry. I'm forty-eight, a research assistant, a student, a pianist, I have a library card, I like old movies and brown liquor and long hikes in the woods.
[Barry sighs, then deflates, then explains himself as politely as possible to this random stranger, the woman's bright expression not shifting in the slightest during his whole spiel. By now it would make sense for someone else to at least feel a little ashamed of their insensitive line of questioning, probably finding a quick reason to excuse themselves from the conversation before making a fast exit.
But Lup just continues to smile, her brows arched curiously as she takes it all in, listening intently without interruption until Barry finishes.]
Shit, gettin' all scientific on me, huh? [Lup's always had an interest in science, but it's one of the many things she's never had the resources to pursue studying. Still, the man speaks plainly enough that his words come across easily, the explanation of what he is exactly enough to make the woman's lips curl in interest. Or maybe she's just grinning because of the name foozles. Either way, at least she keeps it to herself.]
Barry, [Lup repeats before the woman's thrusting a hand his way in greeting.] I'm Lup. Cool to meet you an' all that.
[She's still making no move to get up and leave yet.]
Of course. I'm a scientist. [Research assistant, but. As close as he's going to get until he graduates anyway.
This one can't seem to take a hint, huh. Barry eyes the hand the woman - Lup - holds out for him to shake, all cheery and casual. He doesn't want to shake it. What he wants is to go back to his notes, to prepare for his test over the weekend, to drink his coffee, to be alone without invasive questions from humans looking for a thrill with a monster. He wouldn't be surprised if she uses that term, even if she doesn't know that it's hurtful.
But he can't ignore human etiquette. And despite everything, Lup seems sweet enough. There's no scorn in her eyes when she looks at him, no distrust or disgust on her face, no hesitation.
She's beautiful too. For a human.
So Barry reaches out and takes her hand, small and smooth and hairless against his fuzzy palm.] Nice to meet you too, Lup.
[Seeing as she's not leaving...] Uh, can... can I get you anythin' t'drink?
The woman's been watching Barry with obvious interest this whole conversation, her eyes locked on his face for the most part, but every so often drifting to dart over the thick fur covering his body, the long ears that twitch every so often, the horns sprouting so strangely from his head. But his invitation to stay--that's how she'll interpret it, at least--seems to take the younger woman by surprise, her eyes suddenly creasing in delight, the grin at her lips softening to a smile.
She was going to stay and bother him regardless, but it helps a little if he doesn't mind having her around.]
Sure. I'll take a beer. [It would be a little more polite to have whatever he was having, but Lup and her brother have never been known for their manners.
And as if to drive that home, Lup suddenly throws an elbow on the table and leans in closer to Barry, smiling up his way.] So what's your field, Mr. Scientist? Is it related to the notes you've been taking all afternoon-- [She leans in even closer to try and get a better view of his papers, but Barry's scrawl is just too foreign to the woman, she has to squint.] Oh shit, is it all super top secret? Should I not even be asking?
It's Barry. [The correction comes gently but immediately as he motions for one of the employees to bring his new companion a beer along with his coffee refill. He's been called a lot of silly things, but "Mr. Scientist" is new. It's still clearly not his name.
At least she's not too gross about her gawking, actually deigning to keep eye contact with him, only occasionally staring at his long ears or his shaggy fur. For all her very human tendencies, she's... somehow still respectful. Even as she tries to read his notes across the little table.
Something weird happens then. Barry laughs. It's short, quiet, quickly stifled, but that was definitely a tiny little chuckle from deep in his chest.] If it was super top secret, I wouldn't be working on it in a public drinking establishment.
[Big furry hands reach out to tidy his papers then, some covered with notes from his integration classes, some covered with graphs and mathematical formulae. For having such big hands, he sure has teeny tiny neat handwriting.] I'm a physicist. Most of my work is theoretical, but we're workin' on synthesizin' approximations of my findings that has potential for physical testing in th'lab. It's mostly uh, dark matter, if you ever heard of that.
[A pause. Humans tend to ask about things that they themselves want to be asked. Barry is nothing if not a pleaser:] So what's your... field? What do you do?
[He immediately shoots down the playful title, leaving the human woman to roll her eyes back at him in retaliation.] Fine, Barry it is. [Though even as she says it, there's no guarantee that the monster was going to get out of a conversation with Lup without having gained at least three new nicknames along the way. It was just the way she was. Barry better start opening himself up to the possibility or he's going to get dragged along against his will.
Lup watches the man's hands, so much bigger than hers and covered in thick fur, carefully rearrange the notes spilled out across the table, but not before she's reaching over to pluck a single page up, her eyes darting across the contents. Barry laughs and she can't help how quickly she falls into laughter with him, pleased that she could drag that kind of reaction from him after all of his standoffishness before. There's something sweet about the sound, something that makes her want to get him laughing again.
He's just cute, alright. Older than her and a total nerd, but kind of adorable in a weird way Lup can't really describe.]
Dark matter, huh? [The page is littered with numbers, calculated out in perfectly tiny scrawled writing, Lup's eyes following along a particular line of formulae. Her first instinct is to retort with 'dork matter, you mean', but she's actually interested, curious about what exactly the man does. The way Barry describes it is just vague enough to pique her interest.] Can't say I have. Is it, uh, something new? Or like a monster thing?
[The question being parroted back at her isn't what Lup expected, but she slides the paper back to Barry, posture straightening beside him.] Oh, I'm not... I'm kinda into chemistry, but just workin' at a diner a few streets over. Saving up for classes with my brother. [She shrugs, all casual] Shit's expensive.
[Lup snatches one of his papers up and studies it, and while it's borderline rude and incurably human, Barry lets her do it without comment. For as much shit as he gives them, he really likes humans. Always has. There's a reason he left his tribe to come be part of their society. Their technological and scientific advances, their many and diverse cultures, their go-getter attitude... even the way they look.
That last part is a private, shameful admission, but one he makes anyway. Humans are beautiful. This one in particular is very nice to look at. But humans and Others are discouraged from getting that close, to enter that kind of relationship. So Barry pushes the thought away as soon as it comes.]
Ah, it's not new exactly, but I guess th'discovery of it is new. It's like... the stuff that makes up the universe. Everything between gases and dust and electrons, all th'mass in between them. Since it doesn't emit or interact with light or radiation at all, it's been almost impossible to detect, but we're thinkin' some... non-human perspectives could change that. And, uh... [He clears his throat, cringing a little at the word "monster".] We prefer Other.
[The paper is tucked away, and Barry watches her with interest as she talks about herself. Human education is so strange. All Barry's classes are government subsidized, so he doesn't understand why humans have to pay so much for the opportunity. It strikes him as unfair.] Chemistry? No kiddin'. Anything particular about chemistry that interests ya?
[Lup's certainly been captivated this whole conversation, even as her eyes dance along his furry ears or fall to inspect just how big his hands look next to hers, but it's the mention of just what dark matter is that seems to have the young woman perking up completely. Her eyes fly to his, widened with immediate interest.]
Holy shit, [she breathes the words out, taking in all that Barry has to say. The idea of there being some physical force that could be tied to what makes up the entire universe sounds incredible. For how casually he speaks on it, Lup hadn't had a clue it was even being researched. Goes to show what she's missing while she's stuck in the kitchen every day.]
That sounds baller as heck. What kinda shit are you doing to test it? How was it even discovered? What will folks even do with it when it's been all figured it out?
[She has a lot of questions, and probably even more waiting on the tip of her tongue, but Barry cringes and Lup has the sense to at least look a little apologetic. She thinks the word monster sounds dope. No one was ever going to mess with someone who called themselves a monster. But if Other is what he preferred..] My bad. Got it.
Honestly, I like a lot of stuff about it. [Don't at her, Barry.] Mostly making explosions, but I've read up a lot on Astrochemistry. Seems pretty bomb.
[Another curious soul. Barry finds himself relaxing a little as Lup's face lights up, her whole body language changing as she starts asking questions. It helps ease the discomfort he'd felt at a stranger joining him, interrupting his work, at being called a monster - he can let that one slide this time, she seems apologetic enough. Probably didn't mean to hurt his feelings at all. Unlike some humans, who still use that word as a slur, use it to shame him. Funny how beings as small and frail as humans can think themselves so invincible, so superior.]
That's-- uh, we're tryin' some different stuff out. Stuff that kinda is classified. It'd take a while to explain anyway, I think... [That's the awkward thing about studying something so inherently complicated as theoretical physics. Explaining it even to someone with a degree is hard.] What we'll do with it, I actually don't know. Gotta figure out if it's even there first. What it can do, what interacting with it and movin' it around would even mean. Y'know?
[Barry laughs again, that same deep, gentle sound from somewhere far inside his huge body.] Controlled explosions can be real fun. Astrochemistry though, huh? That's interesting. Lotsa fascinatin' stuff got to do with molecular gas clouds and radiation. We study that a lot at th'lab.
Barry goes on, explaining without really providing too many answers, carefully navigating the rush of questions she'd thrown at him. But he looks so much livelier while he talks about his profession, when he laughs, when his whole furry body seems to relax beneath her attention, not quite as on alert as he'd been before. It's so obvious that this is his adorable, nerdy passion.
He's cute. And Lup's very into the whole horn situation going on. Hot.]
I'd love to hear about it. Y'know, the shit that isn't so classified. [She's already close to him from where their chairs are positioned, but the human woman suddenly leans even closer, smiling up at the monster of a man, her hand sliding across the table to brush her fingertips against his wrist. Just barely. Her expression stays fairly neutral, sweet and engaged in the conversation, a cute smile curling at her mouth, but there's no hiding the flirtatious glint in her eyes.]
[When did she get this close? When did she start touching him? When did his cheeks get this red?
When had Barry started leaning in closer?
Foozles are a very careful sort. Always have been. Choosing a mate among themselves can take years and years of slow courtship and delicate dancing around the issue, seen as something not really spoken about, not even between the prospective partners. It's like an achingly slow gravitational pull, a guessing game played deaf and blind that somehow ends in a lifetime spent together. Sometimes just out of convenience, sometimes out of comfort. Foozles don't sleep around. Foozles don't flirt. Not the way humans do.
But Barry has been away from his own kind for too long. He's been exposed to humans for a long time, their ways, their media, and he's never stopped being fascinated by how straight-forward they can be. How open-minded, how shameless. It's admirable. Encouraging. In some ways, he's adopted their ways, and in others, he's incurably foozle. He hasn't really considered how he'd respond to a romantic proposition in this environment until right now.
Given how nice Lup's touch to his soft fur feels, how striking he finds her eyes, how her sweet smile makes his stomach flutter, it feels like he's left his foozle inclinations behind on this one. He grins, still blushing, shifting his hand towards hers so he can feel more of her touch.]
[Lup could play coy, but that just isn't her style.
Barry grins and it's a little difficult to tell beneath the fur, but she thinks he's blushing too, slipping his hand beneath her fingertips, accepting her forward touch and silently asking for more. The human woman's eyes meet with his and she smirks, her light touch dropping down much more firm against his wrist, her fingers slipping through his fur. It's surprisingly soft, dense and wonderfully warm.
She wonders what it would feel like pressed gently against her cheek or wrapping her up completely. Yeah, she's definitely into this.]
Sure am. And if it wasn't obvious enough - [Her free hand snatches a pen and one of the man's papers that isn't completely crowded with his work. She finds a space at the bottom to scribble before sliding the page back towards him.] My number. I work mornings so my nights are pretty free unless I'm covering.
[That. Yeah. That firm touch to his wrist feels really nice. Lup's fingers running through his layers of soft fur makes his stomach do flips, something hot coiling in the pit of his belly, his ears twitching with interest.
Barry can get used to this.]
I-- Wow, I uh... [He's definitely blushing now. The fur around his ears and his neck fluffs up a little, rising with excitement as the human woman scribbles her number on his notes. He might not be human, but through exposure to human media, he knows that's a pretty significant step.
He slides the paper closer, studying the numbers, memorizing it while Lup touches him. Her fingers feel so good. Thinking about them running through his fur in other places makes Barry very excited for tonight. Originally, he was supposed to review his research notes, but...]
Thank you. I-I'll call you tonight, then. [Barry grins at her, flashing huge sharp teeth. His expression is a little too dopey and giddy for his predator-like teeth to be any kind of threatening.] There's, uh... a bar right by my housing complex. We could go there, i-if that's okay?
[Lup gets to watch as Barry's body reacts to her flirtatious offer, the way his ears twitch and his fur fluffs up, the immediate slide of her number closer, not even attempting to shy away from how interested he is. It's just the kind of impression Lup was hoping to make. Her fingers slide just a little further up along the length of his arm, through the man's thick fur, lingering in the soft warmth there.]
Just lay down all of the deets when you call and I'll meet you wherever. [A human bar, a monster bar, it doesn't make a single difference to her. They're only going to drink and enjoy one another's company, so who cares what folks are lingering around in the background. Lup will be there either way.
There's a moment where some of her overflowing confidence falters at the sight of those impressive teeth, heartbeat rising, just the barest hint of a dark flush against her freckled skin. But Lup's obvious interest only soars, her grin sharpening when she finally slips out of her chair, touch falling away.]
Don't leave me waiting too long, stud. [And without giving Barry a chance to respond, the human woman winks and makes her way to the front entrance of the shop, slipping out onto the street and leaving him with the bill.]
After Lup leaves him with the bill and his thoughts, the foozle gets right to work scouring the internet for a good establishment where they can meet. Somewhere nice, so she'll get a good impression of him, but not somewhere too formal - she doesn't seem like the formal type, and honestly, Barry feels a little less like courting and more like dancing. Somewhere they can have some privacy, somewhere not too loud but not too quiet, somewhere they will be safe should they be seen together.
There's a lot to consider. Thankfully, Barry finds just the place.
Much later, he's nursing a scotch by one of the corner tables of a dark, trendy monster-friendly establishment - run by a human who's openly dating an Other. The music is loud, but not obnoxious, a steady thrum of complex, heady rock that makes Barry feel a little hot under his collar fur. Although, that could just be who he's waiting for. He'd called her and given her the address, stopping just short of offering to come find her. Something about her makes him want to be really, really close to her at all times.
He just wants to feel her hands in his fur again.
But he'll have to wait. Hopefully, she's not the kind of girl to make him wait for hours on end. Although he'll gladly do that too.]
[She leaves him waiting... but only for about ten minutes.
The woman enters the bar with a flurry of energy, pulling the immediate attention of everyone within the establishment, their eyes sliding quickly to where she's standing in the doorframe. But once Lup spots Barry in his corner and swiftly crosses the room to join him, their attention shifts back to what they'd been up to, leaving the two to their privacy.
Lup flops into the booth with Barry, sliding next to him instead of into the empty space across from him, already reaching up to tug off her jacket. Even if it's only been a few hours, she's changed her clothes completely, now dressed in a pair of dark, tight jeans paired with a girlie bandeau that leaves her midriff bare. Her long hair has been let loose around her shoulders, the ends a little tangled from the wind outside, and there's just a hint of something sparkly against her eyelids.
But before Barry can even get a greeting out, she's already talking.]
It's been a freakin' day. May I? [Lup gestures to Barry's scotch, and without even waiting for an answer, the woman takes his glass from him just to throw back a quick drink. Her eyes close against the burn that slides down her throat, but before too long, she's pressing the glass back into his hand and already launching off to talk about her day.]
So I get home and my brother's totally making out with his goth bee-eef all over the couch like, gross! I sit there sometimes too, y'know! I don't wanna have to think of Skeletor boning down on my baby brother the next time I'm trying to catch up on Netflix. What if I want to lay down on my own dang couch? Am I gonna press my face right into the same cushion his bare butt cheek was or what? Total yuck, right? So then he shrieked at me for twenty minutes an' nearly burned down our apartment with the stupid ass candles he lit all over the place, but I'll probably catch 'em eating face tomorrow again cuz they just can't keep their hands off of each other. It's so gross. But at least while he was busy, I managed to swipe a pair of his earrings.
[She shifts her head from side to side, showing off the glint at her ears.] They look better on me anyway.
Anyway, then my uber over was a real ass, so I had to walk the last few blocks over and got lost three streets down and totally ended up walking around in circles until I finally found the place. And here I am.
[Lup speaks it all as if in a single breath, like she just exhales and this rush of words just come tumbling out of her mouth, but now that she's finished speaking, she glances up at Barry next to her and smiles.] Hi.
There's something about the young human's presence that makes Barry's fur stand on end, tongue grazing his big, pointed teeth with a touch of hunger he wasn't aware he possessed. Lup crosses the room to greet him, passing the other patrons - all of them younger, smaller, more attractive than him - and he can't deny the little surge of pride that rushes through him at that, a feeling of strength, of power. A strange, unfamiliar sense of dominance.
But as she plops down beside him, Barry doesn't even get his cool (pre-rehearsed) greeting out before she's drinking his scotch and rambling about her day.
It's... a lot. But Barry listens, tries to follow along, completely unable to understand her references to "goth" or "Skeletor" or "uber". He's doing his best, okay? At least he understands Netflix. And eating face. He's very much thinking about eating face with--]
H-Hi.
[The foozle's grinning, relieved to see that she's okay - and that she made it here to hang out with him. The ten minute wait and the eternally long ramble was completely worth it.]
Sounds like you've had quite the day, huh? [He chuckles, resting his hand on the table. Within touching distance.] All I did since meetin' ya was gettin' some dinner and combin' my hair.
Uh-- Can I get ya a drink, maybe? What're you havin'?
[Lup meets Barry's grin immediately with a matching one of her own.]
Sounds like a real feat. That sure is a lot of hair to comb.
[And maybe it's highly inappropriate considering how little they know one another, but the younger woman reaches out then to rest her warm palm against his waiting hand, to run her fingers ever so lightly through the thick fur that covers his whole body. Lup's gaze never once drops away from Barry's, her curving smile so wide it leaves the slightest crinkle of lines at the corners of her eyes, something bright dancing behind them.
The foozle is absolutely not the only one at this table dreaming of eating face.]
Same as you. [Lup props an elbow up on the table, dropping her chin into her palm, watching Barry while her fingers stroke through his fur.] I can handle whatever you throw at me.
[The way she says that might imply she means so much more than just the drink.]
One drink, then I wanna hit up the dance floor and give these guys a show. How's that sound?
Sure is. Wanna bet how many combs I get through in a day?
[Inappropriate or not, Barry can't help the rush of blood to his head as Lup's hand settles over his, his eyes immediately darting to see the way her dark fingers look all tangled up in his fur. It's a gorgeous sight. Tempting.
She's tempting, all of her. How her intense eyes are glued to his even as he breaks her gaze. How she smiles at him, looking so casual and so deliberately flirty at the same time. How warm and soft her skin is, how sharp her nails are, how gentle her touch is...
Barry catches her gaze once more, and his eyes look darker than just moments before. Consuming. All of a sudden, he doesn't feel like drinking. He doesn't feel like dancing. He feels like taking her somewhere private and making her his.
But the lady wants a drink. So Barry grins a huge, pointed-tooth grin and gets up from his seat. She hasn't seen him standing yet. He's massive.]
Sounds real good. I'll be right back with yer drink.
[And with a last, lingering look, he takes off for the bar.]
[Lup's fingers dance up along Barry's arm, the woman admiring the way her dark skin looks carding through his thick fur, when her gaze flicks up just in time to catch the look darkening against his face. Her interaction with monsters - er, Others - is still pretty limited, but there's no missing the almost hungry look the man shoots her. Maybe that sort of look should scare her, should send the woman running when it was paired with horns and claws and sharpened teeth, but Lup just feels warmth spread over her skin, leaving her cheeks just slightly flushed, heartbeat rising.
For all that he looks like he wants to consume her, Lup doesn't look like she'd at all mind being eaten up.
But the tense moment pauses quickly as Barry shifts to move out of the booth, rising to fetch her drink.]
Holy shit... [But Barry's already walking away, her eyes trailing right after his immense figure. Sitting down, he looked so much smaller, felt so much more approachable in that little shop. If Lup had seen him out and about walking, going about his own business, she may have thought twice about just sauntering up to him like she had.
Still, she doesn't regret interrupting his drink in the slightest. Not with the way this night might turn out.]
[Barry just barely misses Lup's awed words, the music too loud and his mind too muddled with thoughts of temptation to really even pay attention. He just needs to focus on this, this one task, getting her a drink. Simple. Nothing complicated about getting someone a drink.
Even still, the whole time he's standing at the bar, watching the bartender prepare their drinks, Barry can't help but let his mind wander. He's never done this sort of thing. Never gotten involved with anyone like this, anyone that has tempted him like she does. Foozles don't have the same outlook on virginity as humanity - sure, Barry's experience has been solely solitary up until now, but he's more animal than she is. It's in his blood. His instincts. Not something he needs to think too hard about. The doing it part, should it even come to that, certainly won't be a problem.
It's the who he wants to do it with that might get complicated.
Lup is human. A tiny human. As passive and laid back as Barry is, even for a foozle, he is still more than capable of tearing her to shreds. That must be frightening to her. Would it be painful? Probably, right? Would it even be possible? He certainly doesn't want to frighten her, or hurt her.
But he does want her. That much is undeniable. He can't get the thought out of his head, the image of her he's conjuring up in his mind, of her skin exposed and her body laid bare, open and willing for him. It might have to stay just a thought, just a daydream. As he returns to the table with their drinks, towering over her before getting seated, Barry thinks he might be okay with that.
While Barry frets over the possibility of Lup being fearful, of Lup being hurt by his size or his claws or his animalistic nature, the woman's mind is drifting right on into much more pleasurable scenarios, like Barry's fuzzy head shoved between her legs, her hands curled around his horns to guide him, or the giant foozle scooping her up with ease to take the much smaller woman right there against the wall, fully ignoring the bar's other patrons.
One thing's for sure, no matter which scenario the night ends with: Lup's gonna fuck the foozle. That's just happening. No doubt about it.
Barry returns with their orders and Lup takes her glass with a grin, throwing back a generous drink before she's eying the monster man again, not even giving him a chance to settle back down next to her. A hand flies out, to rest over his own, fingers curling into Barry's thick fur again, before Lup's meeting his gaze without a hint of shame.]
Wanna kill it on the dance floor with me? [Without missing a beat, she seamlessly adds,] Or we could finish our drinks and go straight to your place. Either or, handsome. Cha girl's up for whatevs.
[Well, this tiny human certainly doesn't make it easy for him to resist temptation.]
M-My place?
[Barry isn't up on his human slang. Not by a long shot. He knows some, of course, through exposure and osmosis, but for the most part, the way humans speak just makes him feel like an alien. The culture shock can be quite immense sometimes. But he does know what "going to your place" implies. "My place, or yours?" It isn't hard to infer what she's talking about.
Given the look on her face, the way her fingers curl into his fur, the way she calls him handsome... Barry would have to be a complete idiot to not get where she's going with this.]
If... th-that's somethin' y'want.
[He can't help but pin her with a look then, leaning closer, wanting to make absolutely sure she hears every word of what he's about to say.] Are y'sure you'd want that? 'Cause I'm not sure y'know what yer gettin' into...
[The look he pins her beneath leaves Lup just burning, her strong pulse thudding in her ears. Her whole entire body is suddenly so acutely aware of how close Barry is to her, of how he bends in towards her smaller body, almost near enough that she can feel the heat rising off of him, the soft tickle of his breath against her skin.
Lup isn't entirely certain how to interpret his reaction, if it's worry about herself or about him or some weird monster/human bias, so the woman reacts in the way she knows best. She meets his gaze head on, throwing back her thin shoulders and raising her strong chin. He may be significantly taller than her, but Lup and her twin have always simply had a way of making themselves look bigger, more important than they actually were.]
Trust me, big guy. I know what I'm in for an' I sure as heck wouldn't offer if I wasn't absolutely certain. [She meets his eyes with that same look, casual and determined, just a slightest touch of defiance brewing beneath the surface. Lup was clearly a woman who pushed back when told to be careful. It just made her want to fall straight on into bigger danger.]
I know what I'm about and I can handle myself. The real q here is if you can handle me.
[Lup's reaction to his question is certainly unexpected... but not unwelcome.
He hadn't anticipated that touch of defiance, the way she's meeting his gaze like she's ready to fight, vying for power, her shoulders tight and her jaw strong. An interesting feeling rushes through Barry then. A mix of wanting to give in to someone clearly dominant, something almost like the alpha pheromones of a foozle matriarch filling the air between them - and wanting to be the one dominating. Wanting to show this little human how big he really is. How serious he is.
It's impossible not to smile. A little restrained by their environment, but big enough that his huge teeth are plainly visible. The heat coming off her body in waves feels good. Barry wants to feel much, much more of that.]
I think I'm more than capable of handlin' you...
[He slips his hand out from underneath hers, reaching up to stroke along the slender line of her arm. His hand absolutely dwarfs her.] Y'ever do this kinda thing before? With somebody like me, I mean.
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Barry's whole body seemingly deflates at the way the human phrases her question, ears drooping and everything, instantly making him look about a decade older. What are you. He's a person. Looking past the fur and the horns and the snout, he's more human-looking than a lot of Others populating the city. Four limbs, knees bending the right way, circular pupils, language, a job, opposable fucking thumbs. But no, he's a what. That's all he'll ever be.
With a long-suffering look down at his notes, Barry sighs deeply before he starts explaining, the same speech he always gives when this question comes his way.] I'm a bipedal humanoid ursine, with some spattering of cervine DNA from millennia back. If you've ever heard of Bigfoot or the Yeti, you've heard about us. We prefer foozles - I know, okay, y'don't have t'say anythin'.
[He can't quite help himself from adding:] As for who I am, I go by Barry. I'm forty-eight, a research assistant, a student, a pianist, I have a library card, I like old movies and brown liquor and long hikes in the woods.
[It's been a long day.] Does that satisfy?
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But Lup just continues to smile, her brows arched curiously as she takes it all in, listening intently without interruption until Barry finishes.]
Shit, gettin' all scientific on me, huh? [Lup's always had an interest in science, but it's one of the many things she's never had the resources to pursue studying. Still, the man speaks plainly enough that his words come across easily, the explanation of what he is exactly enough to make the woman's lips curl in interest. Or maybe she's just grinning because of the name foozles. Either way, at least she keeps it to herself.]
Barry, [Lup repeats before the woman's thrusting a hand his way in greeting.] I'm Lup. Cool to meet you an' all that.
[She's still making no move to get up and leave yet.]
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This one can't seem to take a hint, huh. Barry eyes the hand the woman - Lup - holds out for him to shake, all cheery and casual. He doesn't want to shake it. What he wants is to go back to his notes, to prepare for his test over the weekend, to drink his coffee, to be alone without invasive questions from humans looking for a thrill with a monster. He wouldn't be surprised if she uses that term, even if she doesn't know that it's hurtful.
But he can't ignore human etiquette. And despite everything, Lup seems sweet enough. There's no scorn in her eyes when she looks at him, no distrust or disgust on her face, no hesitation.
She's beautiful too. For a human.
So Barry reaches out and takes her hand, small and smooth and hairless against his fuzzy palm.] Nice to meet you too, Lup.
[Seeing as she's not leaving...] Uh, can... can I get you anythin' t'drink?
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The woman's been watching Barry with obvious interest this whole conversation, her eyes locked on his face for the most part, but every so often drifting to dart over the thick fur covering his body, the long ears that twitch every so often, the horns sprouting so strangely from his head. But his invitation to stay--that's how she'll interpret it, at least--seems to take the younger woman by surprise, her eyes suddenly creasing in delight, the grin at her lips softening to a smile.
She was going to stay and bother him regardless, but it helps a little if he doesn't mind having her around.]
Sure. I'll take a beer. [It would be a little more polite to have whatever he was having, but Lup and her brother have never been known for their manners.
And as if to drive that home, Lup suddenly throws an elbow on the table and leans in closer to Barry, smiling up his way.] So what's your field, Mr. Scientist? Is it related to the notes you've been taking all afternoon-- [She leans in even closer to try and get a better view of his papers, but Barry's scrawl is just too foreign to the woman, she has to squint.] Oh shit, is it all super top secret? Should I not even be asking?
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At least she's not too gross about her gawking, actually deigning to keep eye contact with him, only occasionally staring at his long ears or his shaggy fur. For all her very human tendencies, she's... somehow still respectful. Even as she tries to read his notes across the little table.
Something weird happens then. Barry laughs. It's short, quiet, quickly stifled, but that was definitely a tiny little chuckle from deep in his chest.] If it was super top secret, I wouldn't be working on it in a public drinking establishment.
[Big furry hands reach out to tidy his papers then, some covered with notes from his integration classes, some covered with graphs and mathematical formulae. For having such big hands, he sure has teeny tiny neat handwriting.] I'm a physicist. Most of my work is theoretical, but we're workin' on synthesizin' approximations of my findings that has potential for physical testing in th'lab. It's mostly uh, dark matter, if you ever heard of that.
[A pause. Humans tend to ask about things that they themselves want to be asked. Barry is nothing if not a pleaser:] So what's your... field? What do you do?
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Lup watches the man's hands, so much bigger than hers and covered in thick fur, carefully rearrange the notes spilled out across the table, but not before she's reaching over to pluck a single page up, her eyes darting across the contents. Barry laughs and she can't help how quickly she falls into laughter with him, pleased that she could drag that kind of reaction from him after all of his standoffishness before. There's something sweet about the sound, something that makes her want to get him laughing again.
He's just cute, alright. Older than her and a total nerd, but kind of adorable in a weird way Lup can't really describe.]
Dark matter, huh? [The page is littered with numbers, calculated out in perfectly tiny scrawled writing, Lup's eyes following along a particular line of formulae. Her first instinct is to retort with 'dork matter, you mean', but she's actually interested, curious about what exactly the man does. The way Barry describes it is just vague enough to pique her interest.] Can't say I have. Is it, uh, something new? Or like a monster thing?
[The question being parroted back at her isn't what Lup expected, but she slides the paper back to Barry, posture straightening beside him.] Oh, I'm not... I'm kinda into chemistry, but just workin' at a diner a few streets over. Saving up for classes with my brother. [She shrugs, all casual] Shit's expensive.
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That last part is a private, shameful admission, but one he makes anyway. Humans are beautiful. This one in particular is very nice to look at. But humans and Others are discouraged from getting that close, to enter that kind of relationship. So Barry pushes the thought away as soon as it comes.]
Ah, it's not new exactly, but I guess th'discovery of it is new. It's like... the stuff that makes up the universe. Everything between gases and dust and electrons, all th'mass in between them. Since it doesn't emit or interact with light or radiation at all, it's been almost impossible to detect, but we're thinkin' some... non-human perspectives could change that. And, uh... [He clears his throat, cringing a little at the word "monster".] We prefer Other.
[The paper is tucked away, and Barry watches her with interest as she talks about herself. Human education is so strange. All Barry's classes are government subsidized, so he doesn't understand why humans have to pay so much for the opportunity. It strikes him as unfair.] Chemistry? No kiddin'. Anything particular about chemistry that interests ya?
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Holy shit, [she breathes the words out, taking in all that Barry has to say. The idea of there being some physical force that could be tied to what makes up the entire universe sounds incredible. For how casually he speaks on it, Lup hadn't had a clue it was even being researched. Goes to show what she's missing while she's stuck in the kitchen every day.]
That sounds baller as heck. What kinda shit are you doing to test it? How was it even discovered? What will folks even do with it when it's been all figured it out?
[She has a lot of questions, and probably even more waiting on the tip of her tongue, but Barry cringes and Lup has the sense to at least look a little apologetic. She thinks the word monster sounds dope. No one was ever going to mess with someone who called themselves a monster. But if Other is what he preferred..] My bad. Got it.
Honestly, I like a lot of stuff about it. [Don't at her, Barry.] Mostly making explosions, but I've read up a lot on Astrochemistry. Seems pretty bomb.
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That's-- uh, we're tryin' some different stuff out. Stuff that kinda is classified. It'd take a while to explain anyway, I think... [That's the awkward thing about studying something so inherently complicated as theoretical physics. Explaining it even to someone with a degree is hard.] What we'll do with it, I actually don't know. Gotta figure out if it's even there first. What it can do, what interacting with it and movin' it around would even mean. Y'know?
[Barry laughs again, that same deep, gentle sound from somewhere far inside his huge body.] Controlled explosions can be real fun. Astrochemistry though, huh? That's interesting. Lotsa fascinatin' stuff got to do with molecular gas clouds and radiation. We study that a lot at th'lab.
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Barry goes on, explaining without really providing too many answers, carefully navigating the rush of questions she'd thrown at him. But he looks so much livelier while he talks about his profession, when he laughs, when his whole furry body seems to relax beneath her attention, not quite as on alert as he'd been before. It's so obvious that this is his adorable, nerdy passion.
He's cute. And Lup's very into the whole horn situation going on. Hot.]
I'd love to hear about it. Y'know, the shit that isn't so classified. [She's already close to him from where their chairs are positioned, but the human woman suddenly leans even closer, smiling up at the monster of a man, her hand sliding across the table to brush her fingertips against his wrist. Just barely. Her expression stays fairly neutral, sweet and engaged in the conversation, a cute smile curling at her mouth, but there's no hiding the flirtatious glint in her eyes.]
You busy tonight?
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When had Barry started leaning in closer?
Foozles are a very careful sort. Always have been. Choosing a mate among themselves can take years and years of slow courtship and delicate dancing around the issue, seen as something not really spoken about, not even between the prospective partners. It's like an achingly slow gravitational pull, a guessing game played deaf and blind that somehow ends in a lifetime spent together. Sometimes just out of convenience, sometimes out of comfort. Foozles don't sleep around. Foozles don't flirt. Not the way humans do.
But Barry has been away from his own kind for too long. He's been exposed to humans for a long time, their ways, their media, and he's never stopped being fascinated by how straight-forward they can be. How open-minded, how shameless. It's admirable. Encouraging. In some ways, he's adopted their ways, and in others, he's incurably foozle. He hasn't really considered how he'd respond to a romantic proposition in this environment until right now.
Given how nice Lup's touch to his soft fur feels, how striking he finds her eyes, how her sweet smile makes his stomach flutter, it feels like he's left his foozle inclinations behind on this one. He grins, still blushing, shifting his hand towards hers so he can feel more of her touch.]
Are you askin' me out?
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Barry grins and it's a little difficult to tell beneath the fur, but she thinks he's blushing too, slipping his hand beneath her fingertips, accepting her forward touch and silently asking for more. The human woman's eyes meet with his and she smirks, her light touch dropping down much more firm against his wrist, her fingers slipping through his fur. It's surprisingly soft, dense and wonderfully warm.
She wonders what it would feel like pressed gently against her cheek or wrapping her up completely. Yeah, she's definitely into this.]
Sure am. And if it wasn't obvious enough - [Her free hand snatches a pen and one of the man's papers that isn't completely crowded with his work. She finds a space at the bottom to scribble before sliding the page back towards him.] My number. I work mornings so my nights are pretty free unless I'm covering.
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Barry can get used to this.]
I-- Wow, I uh... [He's definitely blushing now. The fur around his ears and his neck fluffs up a little, rising with excitement as the human woman scribbles her number on his notes. He might not be human, but through exposure to human media, he knows that's a pretty significant step.
He slides the paper closer, studying the numbers, memorizing it while Lup touches him. Her fingers feel so good. Thinking about them running through his fur in other places makes Barry very excited for tonight. Originally, he was supposed to review his research notes, but...]
Thank you. I-I'll call you tonight, then. [Barry grins at her, flashing huge sharp teeth. His expression is a little too dopey and giddy for his predator-like teeth to be any kind of threatening.] There's, uh... a bar right by my housing complex. We could go there, i-if that's okay?
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Fine by me.
[Lup gets to watch as Barry's body reacts to her flirtatious offer, the way his ears twitch and his fur fluffs up, the immediate slide of her number closer, not even attempting to shy away from how interested he is. It's just the kind of impression Lup was hoping to make. Her fingers slide just a little further up along the length of his arm, through the man's thick fur, lingering in the soft warmth there.]
Just lay down all of the deets when you call and I'll meet you wherever. [A human bar, a monster bar, it doesn't make a single difference to her. They're only going to drink and enjoy one another's company, so who cares what folks are lingering around in the background. Lup will be there either way.
There's a moment where some of her overflowing confidence falters at the sight of those impressive teeth, heartbeat rising, just the barest hint of a dark flush against her freckled skin. But Lup's obvious interest only soars, her grin sharpening when she finally slips out of her chair, touch falling away.]
Don't leave me waiting too long, stud. [And without giving Barry a chance to respond, the human woman winks and makes her way to the front entrance of the shop, slipping out onto the street and leaving him with the bill.]
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After Lup leaves him with the bill and his thoughts, the foozle gets right to work scouring the internet for a good establishment where they can meet. Somewhere nice, so she'll get a good impression of him, but not somewhere too formal - she doesn't seem like the formal type, and honestly, Barry feels a little less like courting and more like dancing. Somewhere they can have some privacy, somewhere not too loud but not too quiet, somewhere they will be safe should they be seen together.
There's a lot to consider. Thankfully, Barry finds just the place.
Much later, he's nursing a scotch by one of the corner tables of a dark, trendy monster-friendly establishment - run by a human who's openly dating an Other. The music is loud, but not obnoxious, a steady thrum of complex, heady rock that makes Barry feel a little hot under his collar fur. Although, that could just be who he's waiting for. He'd called her and given her the address, stopping just short of offering to come find her. Something about her makes him want to be really, really close to her at all times.
He just wants to feel her hands in his fur again.
But he'll have to wait. Hopefully, she's not the kind of girl to make him wait for hours on end. Although he'll gladly do that too.]
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The woman enters the bar with a flurry of energy, pulling the immediate attention of everyone within the establishment, their eyes sliding quickly to where she's standing in the doorframe. But once Lup spots Barry in his corner and swiftly crosses the room to join him, their attention shifts back to what they'd been up to, leaving the two to their privacy.
Lup flops into the booth with Barry, sliding next to him instead of into the empty space across from him, already reaching up to tug off her jacket. Even if it's only been a few hours, she's changed her clothes completely, now dressed in a pair of dark, tight jeans paired with a girlie bandeau that leaves her midriff bare. Her long hair has been let loose around her shoulders, the ends a little tangled from the wind outside, and there's just a hint of something sparkly against her eyelids.
But before Barry can even get a greeting out, she's already talking.]
It's been a freakin' day. May I? [Lup gestures to Barry's scotch, and without even waiting for an answer, the woman takes his glass from him just to throw back a quick drink. Her eyes close against the burn that slides down her throat, but before too long, she's pressing the glass back into his hand and already launching off to talk about her day.]
So I get home and my brother's totally making out with his goth bee-eef all over the couch like, gross! I sit there sometimes too, y'know! I don't wanna have to think of Skeletor boning down on my baby brother the next time I'm trying to catch up on Netflix. What if I want to lay down on my own dang couch? Am I gonna press my face right into the same cushion his bare butt cheek was or what? Total yuck, right? So then he shrieked at me for twenty minutes an' nearly burned down our apartment with the stupid ass candles he lit all over the place, but I'll probably catch 'em eating face tomorrow again cuz they just can't keep their hands off of each other. It's so gross. But at least while he was busy, I managed to swipe a pair of his earrings.
[She shifts her head from side to side, showing off the glint at her ears.] They look better on me anyway.
Anyway, then my uber over was a real ass, so I had to walk the last few blocks over and got lost three streets down and totally ended up walking around in circles until I finally found the place. And here I am.
[Lup speaks it all as if in a single breath, like she just exhales and this rush of words just come tumbling out of her mouth, but now that she's finished speaking, she glances up at Barry next to her and smiles.] Hi.
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There's something about the young human's presence that makes Barry's fur stand on end, tongue grazing his big, pointed teeth with a touch of hunger he wasn't aware he possessed. Lup crosses the room to greet him, passing the other patrons - all of them younger, smaller, more attractive than him - and he can't deny the little surge of pride that rushes through him at that, a feeling of strength, of power. A strange, unfamiliar sense of dominance.
But as she plops down beside him, Barry doesn't even get his cool (pre-rehearsed) greeting out before she's drinking his scotch and rambling about her day.
It's... a lot. But Barry listens, tries to follow along, completely unable to understand her references to "goth" or "Skeletor" or "uber". He's doing his best, okay? At least he understands Netflix. And eating face. He's very much thinking about eating face with--]
H-Hi.
[The foozle's grinning, relieved to see that she's okay - and that she made it here to hang out with him. The ten minute wait and the eternally long ramble was completely worth it.]
Sounds like you've had quite the day, huh? [He chuckles, resting his hand on the table. Within touching distance.] All I did since meetin' ya was gettin' some dinner and combin' my hair.
Uh-- Can I get ya a drink, maybe? What're you havin'?
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Sounds like a real feat. That sure is a lot of hair to comb.
[And maybe it's highly inappropriate considering how little they know one another, but the younger woman reaches out then to rest her warm palm against his waiting hand, to run her fingers ever so lightly through the thick fur that covers his whole body. Lup's gaze never once drops away from Barry's, her curving smile so wide it leaves the slightest crinkle of lines at the corners of her eyes, something bright dancing behind them.
The foozle is absolutely not the only one at this table dreaming of eating face.]
Same as you. [Lup props an elbow up on the table, dropping her chin into her palm, watching Barry while her fingers stroke through his fur.] I can handle whatever you throw at me.
[The way she says that might imply she means so much more than just the drink.]
One drink, then I wanna hit up the dance floor and give these guys a show. How's that sound?
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[Inappropriate or not, Barry can't help the rush of blood to his head as Lup's hand settles over his, his eyes immediately darting to see the way her dark fingers look all tangled up in his fur. It's a gorgeous sight. Tempting.
She's tempting, all of her. How her intense eyes are glued to his even as he breaks her gaze. How she smiles at him, looking so casual and so deliberately flirty at the same time. How warm and soft her skin is, how sharp her nails are, how gentle her touch is...
Barry catches her gaze once more, and his eyes look darker than just moments before. Consuming. All of a sudden, he doesn't feel like drinking. He doesn't feel like dancing. He feels like taking her somewhere private and making her his.
But the lady wants a drink. So Barry grins a huge, pointed-tooth grin and gets up from his seat. She hasn't seen him standing yet. He's massive.]
Sounds real good. I'll be right back with yer drink.
[And with a last, lingering look, he takes off for the bar.]
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[Lup's fingers dance up along Barry's arm, the woman admiring the way her dark skin looks carding through his thick fur, when her gaze flicks up just in time to catch the look darkening against his face. Her interaction with monsters - er, Others - is still pretty limited, but there's no missing the almost hungry look the man shoots her. Maybe that sort of look should scare her, should send the woman running when it was paired with horns and claws and sharpened teeth, but Lup just feels warmth spread over her skin, leaving her cheeks just slightly flushed, heartbeat rising.
For all that he looks like he wants to consume her, Lup doesn't look like she'd at all mind being eaten up.
But the tense moment pauses quickly as Barry shifts to move out of the booth, rising to fetch her drink.]
Holy shit... [But Barry's already walking away, her eyes trailing right after his immense figure. Sitting down, he looked so much smaller, felt so much more approachable in that little shop. If Lup had seen him out and about walking, going about his own business, she may have thought twice about just sauntering up to him like she had.
Still, she doesn't regret interrupting his drink in the slightest. Not with the way this night might turn out.]
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Even still, the whole time he's standing at the bar, watching the bartender prepare their drinks, Barry can't help but let his mind wander. He's never done this sort of thing. Never gotten involved with anyone like this, anyone that has tempted him like she does. Foozles don't have the same outlook on virginity as humanity - sure, Barry's experience has been solely solitary up until now, but he's more animal than she is. It's in his blood. His instincts. Not something he needs to think too hard about. The doing it part, should it even come to that, certainly won't be a problem.
It's the who he wants to do it with that might get complicated.
Lup is human. A tiny human. As passive and laid back as Barry is, even for a foozle, he is still more than capable of tearing her to shreds. That must be frightening to her. Would it be painful? Probably, right? Would it even be possible? He certainly doesn't want to frighten her, or hurt her.
But he does want her. That much is undeniable. He can't get the thought out of his head, the image of her he's conjuring up in his mind, of her skin exposed and her body laid bare, open and willing for him. It might have to stay just a thought, just a daydream. As he returns to the table with their drinks, towering over her before getting seated, Barry thinks he might be okay with that.
For now.] Well, uh... Cheers.
alex dont read this. cease!!
While Barry frets over the possibility of Lup being fearful, of Lup being hurt by his size or his claws or his animalistic nature, the woman's mind is drifting right on into much more pleasurable scenarios, like Barry's fuzzy head shoved between her legs, her hands curled around his horns to guide him, or the giant foozle scooping her up with ease to take the much smaller woman right there against the wall, fully ignoring the bar's other patrons.
One thing's for sure, no matter which scenario the night ends with: Lup's gonna fuck the foozle. That's just happening. No doubt about it.
Barry returns with their orders and Lup takes her glass with a grin, throwing back a generous drink before she's eying the monster man again, not even giving him a chance to settle back down next to her. A hand flies out, to rest over his own, fingers curling into Barry's thick fur again, before Lup's meeting his gaze without a hint of shame.]
Wanna kill it on the dance floor with me? [Without missing a beat, she seamlessly adds,] Or we could finish our drinks and go straight to your place. Either or, handsome. Cha girl's up for whatevs.
yEAH STOP THAT WE SAID CEASE
M-My place?
[Barry isn't up on his human slang. Not by a long shot. He knows some, of course, through exposure and osmosis, but for the most part, the way humans speak just makes him feel like an alien. The culture shock can be quite immense sometimes. But he does know what "going to your place" implies. "My place, or yours?" It isn't hard to infer what she's talking about.
Given the look on her face, the way her fingers curl into his fur, the way she calls him handsome... Barry would have to be a complete idiot to not get where she's going with this.]
If... th-that's somethin' y'want.
[He can't help but pin her with a look then, leaning closer, wanting to make absolutely sure she hears every word of what he's about to say.] Are y'sure you'd want that? 'Cause I'm not sure y'know what yer gettin' into...
UR INNOCENT EYES ARE BANNED
Lup isn't entirely certain how to interpret his reaction, if it's worry about herself or about him or some weird monster/human bias, so the woman reacts in the way she knows best. She meets his gaze head on, throwing back her thin shoulders and raising her strong chin. He may be significantly taller than her, but Lup and her twin have always simply had a way of making themselves look bigger, more important than they actually were.]
Trust me, big guy. I know what I'm in for an' I sure as heck wouldn't offer if I wasn't absolutely certain. [She meets his eyes with that same look, casual and determined, just a slightest touch of defiance brewing beneath the surface. Lup was clearly a woman who pushed back when told to be careful. It just made her want to fall straight on into bigger danger.]
I know what I'm about and I can handle myself. The real q here is if you can handle me.
I L L E G A L
He hadn't anticipated that touch of defiance, the way she's meeting his gaze like she's ready to fight, vying for power, her shoulders tight and her jaw strong. An interesting feeling rushes through Barry then. A mix of wanting to give in to someone clearly dominant, something almost like the alpha pheromones of a foozle matriarch filling the air between them - and wanting to be the one dominating. Wanting to show this little human how big he really is. How serious he is.
It's impossible not to smile. A little restrained by their environment, but big enough that his huge teeth are plainly visible. The heat coming off her body in waves feels good. Barry wants to feel much, much more of that.]
I think I'm more than capable of handlin' you...
[He slips his hand out from underneath hers, reaching up to stroke along the slender line of her arm. His hand absolutely dwarfs her.] Y'ever do this kinda thing before? With somebody like me, I mean.
i cant believe alex went to jail
if only she'd listened!! she was so young!!!
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