ic inbox for duplicity

[skaikrudad]

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[skaikrudad]

Hey, princess.

You still at the pool? I was thinking of checking it out myself.

[sheriffing]

As much as I hate missing the chance to watch everyone stare at you while you're shirtless, I just came in.

Your friend Clarke was out there. She ended up in the chair next to mine.

[skaikrudad]

You're not joining in?

[ And he can't help but wince to himself when she brings up who she bumped into. ]

Oh... Let me guess, it didn't go well. [ He gets the feeling she'd still be by the pool if it went swimmingly (no pun intended). ] You okay?

[sheriffing]

I'll get you naked later, when there's less of a crowd.

[ he did mention a certain balcony once or twice...]

I'm fine, but she might not be. She's not a fan of our partnership.

[skaikrudad]

I really don't think there's a crowd... but you'll definitely be getting a private show later.

She wasn't exactly a fan the last time. [ He never really told Emma that though, not wanting her to feel awkward every time they passed each other whenever Clarke left their apartment. ] I'm sorry, I probably should have been there to introduce you. I guess I've been avoiding it.

[sheriffing]

You're so damn good to me.

I know, but I expected it last time. [ last time was different. she stayed out of her way out of respect for what they were trying to build. she hadn't wanted to be that reminder to someone he cared about.] It's not your fault, Bell. It's not anyone's fault. I tried to give her some advice about how to get through all of this, but I'm probably the last person she wants to hear it from.

[skaikrudad]

We're damn good to each other.

Advice kind of falls on deaf ears with her sometimes. I'll talk to her. I know you're said you're fine but that doesn't mean I'm fine with her making you feel uncomfortable.

[sheriffing]

I got the sense that she was uncomfortable. Not just with our partnership, but with how much you matter to me. Things were tense - really, obviously tense. But she didn't do it on purpose.

And I won't pretend that you're not important to me.

[skaikrudad]

It's because she doesn't know you. And if she's refusing to get to know you, that's not fair on you. If she knew you like I did, she'd know I was in safe hands.

You're important to me too. Raven gets that. So will Clarke.

[sheriffing]

I don't need her to get to know me. I just need her to understand that I'm not gonna let anything happen to her friend.

I'm sorry if things are weird the next time you see her. You've always known I'm not great at first impressions.

[skaikrudad]

It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. Thank you for defending what we have.

And you say you're not great at first impressions but I still remember after the first hour of talking to you on the ghost ship, thinking, wow, this woman's badass.

[sheriffing]

I get the feeling you'd do the same.

That was after you broke the ice, and probably around the same time I realized I wasn't going to throw you out.

[skaikrudad]

Of course I would.

You planned on throwing me out, huh? What happened to you making a run for it like you told Ruby?

[sheriffing]

Oh, there are men back home who can confirm I do both. Sometimes in rapid succession.

[skaikrudad]

Oh, I believe you. I'm glad you went with the third option (getting to know me).

I should probably go talk to my friend. But I'm all yours later.

[sheriffing]

I'm glad you reminded me that was an option.

I'll see you when you get back, I'm gonna try to finish my book out on the balcony.

[skaikrudad]

Right. The Balcony.

[ Goddammit. ]

[sheriffing]

👋🍑😈...👉👌

[skaikrudad]

[ Well. ]

I just wanna say, from the bottom of my heart...

Thank you for giving me an excuse to spank you later.

[sheriffing]

I know it's not the best time to point this out, but...

You never needed an excuse.

[skaikrudad]

I know.

I gotta stop messaging you.

[ This is literally the texting equivalent of "you hang up"/"no, you". ]

[sheriffing]

Then stop messaging me.

[skaikrudad]

I'm going to.

[ Any moment now... ]

Have you read The Iliad? I brought up a copy with me in my bag. You can read it if you want. [ He pretty much grew up obsessed with it. ]

[sheriffing]

Thanks, that'll keep me busy for a while.

I haven't read it since high school, but I didn't finish high school.

[ and, along with it, she didn't finish the Iliad.]

[skaikrudad]

I can read you some of it later. It'd be like dirty bookworm talk.