Private Awakening

[Colette]

Lily Decoria

She wanted to linger in this moment and marvel in the sensations it carried. This was the part of being with someone else that Colette had missed. The part where she felt safe, unavailable to the rest of the world for just a small moment of bliss.

Yes, Colette was dangerously close to breaking the code but for tonight that didn't matter. This wasn't love, this wasn't even that sort of intimacy. It was rawer, it felt more primal than anything. Affectionate, but shallow, by choice. She wanted to learn how to make this clock tick, what made the ocean sway.

This was a version of Colette that only a precious few had ever seen. Her shoulders were practically slouching, her demeanor and the way she looked around the room a lot more softer than what it usually was. The otherwise stoic warrior was letting herself drift in unsteady waters towards an unknown destination. Shan had managed to pierce her defenses with his personality and principles. With Lily it was something else far more instinctual or even physical.

The food arrived, but it wasn't the meal she savored with every bite. Instead she was fixed on those lips. The way they parted with each bite that Lily took and how just a few minutes ago they had torn down the thick duracrete walls that Colette usually tried to operate behind. She was mesmerized by the relief that was slowly taking the place of her fears. All because she had taken the risk that her friend had encouraged her to take.

"You're beautiful." Colette said and stuffed her mouth with one of the smaller sushi pieces just to give herself more time to think and stare. "Ever since that day in the market. I think I always knew."

"It was just another feeling to swallow back then, but now it's…" She swallowed, felt her jaw shift for a moment. "It's…"

Suppressing an emotion didn't mean you would automatically know what it was that you starved yourself of. Colette's voice trailed off and she gently leaned to her side. Except this time it wasn't shameful, just… A loss for words.

She let in a deep breath to exhale a content sigh.

"Burning." It was the best word she could think of. "Like I have a fever and you're a pillar of ice."

"I don't know how far we'll be able to get tonight. I have a lot to process, but…" Colette reached out for Lily once more so that she could hold her hand. "I'm really glad that it's with you."

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Rodia - Nightclub
Outfit: Party Dress
Tag: Colette

Lily could feel a pleasing blush form on her cheeks as she could feel Colette watching her eat after their kiss. It was clear that the kiss only stoked the fires of desire, not extinguished it. To tease only a little further, part way through the eating, Lily stretched her body. Showing off the curves of her figure even further for Colette to admire. It was clear that Lily liked when someone she was mutually attracted with was admiring her body. Looking over to Colette, there was a flirtatious wink that Lily gave to her.

"Well, I have always thought you were hot too. Seeing how much more toned and stronger you have gotten has only increased your appeal," Lily grinned as she loved a muscular look on a person. Gave a feeling of safety in their arms but also a dominance and self control that had been an attractive trait for Lily for as long as she has known the concept.

Finishing her food, she placed the utensils down and looked over to Colette, "you never have to feel bad in complimenting a person. Especially me. There is a reason I take such pride in how I look, what I dress and why I keep in shape as much as possible." Lily smirked widely, not entirely serious since there was definitely sometimes where she would rather people appreciate her as a being beyond her looks, but she also knew that Colette did feel that way. She wanted to hear more of what Colette liked about her in a new way, the more intimate ways.

"If it wouldn't be perceived as too indecent for a restaurant, I might try straddling your lap for a kiss." Lily leaned in close and whispered in a deeply sultry tone, being a lot more forward and seductive in her tone. Just to see how much Colette would allow her to get away with in terms of teasing. "Once you finish, we can head back and find out." She continued to whisper seductively into Colette's ear.

Giving a teasing kiss to her jawline before pulling back.

 

[Colette]

Lily Decoria

The water in Colette's glass brushed against her lips. She listened to what Lily had to say, but it was the lean-in that got her to hear. The image of her friend straddling her leg sent a shiver down her spine. The whisper and the kiss to her jaw merely amplified it all.

Colette felt herself get lost in the dream, trying her best to remain present enough for Lily to understand that she was completely beside herself. The idea was for Colette to finish her meal, but the longer she stared at the plate the less she cared to do so. Two decades of work on walls she had thought indestructible were slowly crumbling around her. Years upon years of insisting that this was something she couldn't feel: all gone.

Although the doubts and the fears remained to some extent, they were quiet. Her shame made itself known like a burn in her stomach. The occasional skip of her heart brought her fear to the surface. But it was all too easy to just ignore when she looked at her friend.

"I'm finished." Colette admitted with a whisper and put down the piece that she had picked up just before Lily's advances. She wiped her hand on a nearby napkin and gently rose from the table.

What she planned next was uncertain. For a moment it was as if all blood in her body would suddenly start to flow again. She became all too aware of what she was doing. She blinked for one second and in the next she was face to face with Lily again and the world melted just the same as it had a few moments ago.

She started to look around them as if Lily's room would be right there. Of course, Colette wouldn't have known what to look for in the first place.

"I uh…" She chuckled at herself and the whole situation. "I don't know where your room is. My place is usually a bit more, uh…"

"... Rustic." she laughed. "Yeah. Let's call it that."

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Rodia - Nightclub
Outfit: Party Dress
Tag: Colette

Seeing Colette getting lost in the fantasy that Lily was hinting towards was cute. It was fun to see this reaction in another person, it was something that Lily did often with people she was attracted to. Driving them crazy with thoughts about what she was willing to do and the boundaries she was willing to push. And she could see that this was all very new and surprising to Colette, Lily had known Colette to be straight forward and direct in her intentions, to see this side of her, to see the effects that she was allowing Lily to have on her. It was thrilling to see and only made Lily more determined to see what else she could bring out in Colette.

When Colette announced her meal was finished with food still on the plate, Lily was surprised, she had never taken her friend for someone that would allow food to be left. However, it could also be that the idea of holding off any further was impossible for Colette to endure. It caused Lily to giggle and nod her head, "let's head back then." Looking over to the waiting staff and giving a nod of her head to inform them that they were leaving.

Rising from her chair, she sauntered over to Colette, purposefully making sure her every step and movement was as alluring as she could make it. It was only fair that Colette got to enjoy viewing Lily as much as possible now. Boldly taking Colette's hand without checking first, Lily led the way back to her apartment. "Of course we are heading to my place. Not only is yours rustic... as you say," Lily grinned a little devilishly as she said the next part, "mine has some tools that we can use to enjoy the evening a little more."

Lily then guided Colette the short way back to her hotel room.

 

[Colette]

Lily Decoria

Hand in hand towards something unknown. Two waves swaying towards the shore at their own pace. Colette felt her breaths shorten with each step that she took. What she felt was the thrill of the moment tangled with the trepidation of discovery. Or perhaps the shame of defiance, the tension of dismay.

Did it have to be either? She was safe and she was cared for. The ghosts of her past would have a steady grip on her soul for as long as she let them, and there was no denying that the galaxy had worn down the energy she had left to keep telling herself the lies she told herself. She was beautiful, she was in good company — no, better yet, desired company. It didn't have to go much further than that, did it?

The walk was a refreshing change of pace. The air seemed to cool as they stepped out of view from the others. Colette felt the world's gaze peel away from her skin as the two of them found the privacy of corridors and stairways. There would be no judgment here. The world wouldn't care for what it couldn't see or hear.

Reality came knocking once more with the soft sound of keys and cards. Colette was torn from the depths of her mind and found herself by the door: the physical threshold of a mental obstacle. Lily slotted her key and the door would gently follow their command to open up.

Colette stopped Lily at the precipice with a gentle tug. One foot in the door, the other on the outside.

"Slow, right?" she asked. Her breath had caught in her lungs, eyes like a doe before impact. She knew the answer but she needed Lily to hear it. Not that she didn't, obviously, but this was the moment. The big one that had haunted Colette for most of her life.

Lily's nod was the answer she sought. Once given there was still room for hesitation, but the worst of it was gone. Colette grabbed Lily's other hand for support. Then she lifted her trailing foot from beyond the border. The door closed behind her, and for the first time, she was fully in the moment.

The leap had been taken. All that remained now was the fall. She kept her grip on Lily's hands to let the moment sink in and let herself wade through the worst of the slowly fading panic.

"It's really quiet here." she laughed. Couldn't stop herself from making a joke. "I—..."

Colette swallowed hard, breath catching halfway out. Her stomach knotted tight, and for a moment she thought she might fold in on herself. It didn't feel right to be this fortunate and yet feel so lost. Standing there in the company of someone so effortlessly beautiful, she was helpless to bridge thought and action.

"I don't know where to start."

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Rodia - Nightclub
Outfit: Party Dress
Tag: Colette

The late night air was cool and Lily was glad to feel the air against her warming skin. She was burning with an intensity for Colette, for the potential that the night could still hold. Lily opened the door and moved inside, looking back over to Colette. The doe eyes of concern and desire for a steady pace that didn't just rush to the end, Lily fully understood what she wanted and it was understandable. This was going to be all new, not just because it was with another woman but this was clearly a level of desire and intimacy that Colette hadn't really felt for another person.

Gentle pulling, Lily guided Colette to be as close as possible to Lily, pressing against the other woman as she wrapped her arms around Colette's waist. Her steel eyes looked into Colette's as she let her fingertips to caress Colette's back slowly. Just enjoying the feeling of her body in Lily's arms. Attempting to offer a warm and comforting embrace. Leaning in a little more, Lily offered a small kiss, before biting on the bottom lip teasing before giggling deeply at Colette's joke.

"We can... We can definitely change that." Lily suggested in a soft, teasing whisper.

Hearing Colette not knowing where to begin, Lily grinned widely, "well then, you will follow my lead and my instructions." There was a firm tone to her voice, a tone as someone offering guidance and instruction. Leading Colette slowly towards the bedroom so that Colette could prevent the full walk that way if she was not interested but Lily also used the force to dim the lights for a more intimate setting.

The bedroom door closing behind them.

 

[Colette]

Lily Decoria

The silence in the aftermath carried a calm Colette hadn't expected. Her hand rested on her companion's waist, each slow breath pulling her deeper toward sleep.

Peace, finally. Somehow it had found her, even after a night like that. No doubts, no fears remained. Not here. Questions left unspoken were finally being asked. The answers wouldn't be found in this half-lucid state between her dreams and the morning, but eventually she would know.

The subtle hum of the ceiling fan pulled her back into reality, piece by piece. A small groan rumbled in her throat. Colette blinked at the ceiling fan that turned above her, then draped her arm over her eyes. Only then did the memories of the night before settle in.

The rising sun poked her in the eyes as she sat up. Her face scrunched up with a grimace. Had she not been awake before then she truly would be now.

Colette took in the room at a lazy pace. Her body ached, just a little, but for all the right reasons — or so she hoped. The realization struck her but she kept from hastily turning around to confirm it. Instead she listened for the stir of another. Behind her she noticed quiet sounds of Lily Decoria's breathing. A close friend, and now, she supposed, confidant of a different kind.

"Morning." Colette spoke through hushed words, her voice didn't quite carry as she wanted it to.

She set her feet on the ground, elbows on her knees, hands covering her mouth. Each breath rolled over her knuckles with warmth. For a moment she wasn't sure if she was trying to breathe or keeping from laughter. The surreal nature of the moment hadn't passed yet. She and Lily had arrived at the academy together, argued, sparred, and seen each other for years.There'd been so many chance to notice, and yet it wasn't until last night, when Lily wore that dress, that Colette had finally known.

She could see it right there on the chair by the bed. Her eyes remained fixated on it.

These emotions would take some time to sift through.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Rodia - Nightclub
Outfit: Nightgown
Tag: Colette

Lily was already awake, she had always been a morning person so she was wearing a nightgown to hold some modesty. Seeing that Colette was awake, Lily grinned widely to her friend and poured a hot cup of caf for her friend. "Figured you might want something to help wake you up. There is a bottle of water as well if you need to hydrate after last night." Lily poked her tongue out teasingly to Colette, sipping her cup of caf as she sat up on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

One leg was laid flat as the other was lifted up, having the nightgown cover her but leave something for Colette to tantalisingly admire. "Did you have any plans for the day?" Lily asked as she took a final sip of her caf, settling it down to the side as she wondered what Colette would be thinking now. How did she feel after the night that they had shared? Were there regrets? Was there anything that helped bring an understanding or realisation? Did Lily help her friend with the issues that had burdened Colette for a long time?

"I was thinking of heading to the gym the hotel has here, we could go spar, if you wanted?" Lily offered, then she tilted her head as she realised something that Colette might not understand about the Echani culture. Or might be aware of in a limited fashion and misconstrue the offer that Lily was mentioning. "Urm... So... Something to be aware of. Sparring with intimate partners in Echani culture is a whole thing. It connects two person on a level that is not really achieved in other ways. It happens over time, the more you spar with a person, the more you understand them and of course, the intimacy physically shared can just get more intense."

Lily chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about how to frame this, "but that isn't what I was offering. Not yet, and it would require you to be more attuned to how Echani fight to achieve that. So, when we spar, it will just be like a normal spar between two people. The only way things would get more intimate is if we both wanted that and you were willing to learn more of how an Echani fights... Hopefully that is clear?"

Hopefully Lily wasn't making a fool of herself in the moment.

 

[Colette]

Lily Decoria

Colette's shoulders rose and fell with each gentle breath. She kept her eyes on the neon blue fabric of the dress for a while longer before drawing a deep breath and closing her eyes to take in the moment. She could feel her emotions swelling in a way she wasn't used to as if she had sated a hunger she had never allowed herself to feel. She couldn't quite put her finger on what that was or why the relief seemed to weigh so heavy on her and yet faded into the void at the same time.

The offer of caf tore her from her thoughts. Colette twitched for a moment before she straightened her back and turned to accept the cup as it was given. She didn't like caf, the taste was too bitter, a waste of perfectly good water. But given the bravery of the moment, she dared herself to give it another shot.

Instant regret. The warmth was welcome but the flavor was not. A small cough caused her entire body to shake. She grimaced, set the cup on the nearby endtable, and looked for her canteen. She knew that water, trusted it with her life. Not that she didn't trust Lily's offer of water, but this was just as much about comfort as it was about the water itself.

"Any plans for the day?" Lily asked.

"No." Colette rasped, her throat dry. She carefully lifted her canteen off the ground and put it to her lips with a content smile as she started chugging. Lily continued and Colette did her best to listen.

As Lily talked she found herself caught between what she heard and what she saw. Her gaze lingered too long on the lines that drew the shape of Lily's form, tracing echoes of the night before while she tried to stay attentive. For a moment she admired the quiet rhythm of her friend's breathing before their eyes met and words finally mixed with meaning once more. She could see where Lily was coming from and she knew that she most likely felt the same.

"Of course. Or, I think so?" Colette said and adjusted her seat in the bed so that she could better face her friend. She furrowed her brows, struggling to find the words. "It wasn't without some kind of… Thing attached to it, but whatever that thing was, it wasn't necessarily love. It just sorta… Was."

"I took a chance." she admitted and began to drift off into her mind again. "I let you in because I trust you."

"I love you—" she started, then froze. "N-Not like that. I mean, I—…" Colette swallowed hard, feeling herself bungle the words. She took another swig and off-handedly passed it over towards Lily. She only realized after the fact what she had done.

It might have seemed small to Lily, but it truly wasn't. The canteen had never left Colette's side. It was too precious for that. Among her people it was the source of life. A filled canteen was guaranteed survival. To share it was a sign of trust. It meant that you believed the other one was healthy, and that even if they were sick it was a risk you were willing to take.

The hand wavered for a moment, arm pulling back on instinct. She felt the tremble in her hands, saw her skin pale under the weight of realization. Colette was giving away something that was intensely precious to her, yet insistence pushed her on. She straightened her back and let out a determined exhale. Colette gave her friend an encouraging nod, the canteen was Lily's to grab if she wanted to.

"Where I come from, this means trust." she said softly. "It's giving someone a piece of what keeps you alive. Not out of love exactly. Think of it more as… Because they matter to you."

"We shared something beautiful last night, I—" Colette said, then broke off with a breathy laugh. "Force, I'm bad at this."

Her gaze dropped to the sheets for a moment before meeting Lily's eyes again. "What we had was like this water… A good reminder that we're still alive."