Library, Monday, July 3

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler took his seat behind the counter and started flipping through a book of martial arts techniques.

After a while, he stretched, then struck a pose, then another. But he would freeze, and deny that he was acting out the exercises in the book if anyone else came in.

The library is open for beach reads and other important library business.

[OOC: No OCD. SP after 1:30 EST. Etc.]

Comments

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Hi," River said, looking up at him. Sh wasn't that tall, after all. "I brought you this," she said, handing him a plasic bag full of popcorns. "If you get hungry working."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler took some popcorn. "Thanks, this is really nice of you," he said, mouth full, and swallowed. "So how have you been?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Oh, good," River said. "You?"

This conversation was boring. River pushed Tyler down in a chair and kissed him with obvious enthusiasm.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler pulled back. "Better now," he said, and brought his hands around to the back of her head so he could stroke her hair while they kissed.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River wrapped her arms around his neck. This was nice.

"Want to go out and do something sometime?" she asked.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"Something sometime," Tyler agreed, trying for another kiss.

Then his brain switched back on. "I don't have workshops tomorrow. Want to-" he groped for an idea. "It's warm. We could have a picnic."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River returned his kisses, then nodded. "I'd like a picnic." She looked at him from behind the hair that had fallen across her face.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler tucked the hair behind her ear, seemingly entranced. "Good."

"I'll meet you in front of the dorms tomorrow around noon. Do you need to be anywhere?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

She shook her head. "No." Pausing for a moment, thoughtfully, she then looked at him. "Tyler, I want to ask you something."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Questions, especially questions from girls, made Tyler wary, and he sobered quickly. "Okay, what?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River noticed and looked nervous. "Do you want to make love to me?" she asked quietly.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

That was not the question Tyler imagined. "Um."

His mouth was dry, and he pushed back in the chair so he could stand up. "I don't want to rush anything," he said.

It wasn't a no.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Obviously this wasn't the right sort of question to ask. She should have asked Kaylee about this before, really. "Ok," River said, looking slightly embarrassed and nervous. "Picnic then," she said, quickly changing the subject.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler reached out and grabbed her wrist. "No, wait, River. I guess we should talk. I... do you want to with me?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River blushed. "I... I wouldn't have asked if I didn't," she said. "But I don't know how to let you know. Except telling you. But I shouldn't have asked, should I?" She flapped her arms nervously.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"No, no. Asking is good, honesty is good." Tyler looked about as panicked as River. "I'm just -" freaking out "Surprised."

He ran a hand through his hair. "We could meet in one of our rooms and see what happened. Kick out Buffy or Alec."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River wondered if that was a potential yes. Then she remembered Buffy's reaction when she had asked her if she had slept with her date. She wasn't sure Buffy would be ok with this. "Your room?" she suggested. "I know on some planets people are supposed to wait until they marry, but I can never quite understand what the custom is here," she tried in way of explaining.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"There isn't really one custom here," Tyler said, deciding that yeah, his room probably would be better, given that Alec had hardly come home lately. "Some people wait until they're married. Most people don't."

He reached out to stroke River's back, trying to calm both of them. "Can I ask you something?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River nodded, still looking nervous.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler lowered his voice. "You don't need to say if you don't want to," he said. "But -- before. Have you?"

He hoped that would pass as a question.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River shook her head. "Have you?"

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Oh, great. That didn't put any extra pressure on the situation.

"My ex," Tyler half-explained. "I mean, my body has, but my brain ..." he let the sentence trail off. "It'll be a new experience in a way."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River looked up at him grinning, then reached out and squeezed his hand.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler squeezed her hand back and leaned in for a kiss. "I'll call you tonight?"

She wanted to, right? It would be fine.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River kissed him back and nodded in reply. "I shouldn't distract you from your work," she said and turned to go.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"Anytime," Tyler said, a distant smile on his face. "See you."