Pulled Through the Ocean

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny continued to take a few steps backwards before finally turning on a heel, heading back for the closet. Despite how easily she could have stayed with the ink manipulator, they were both almost finished. Stepping away now was offering a much more rewarding end at in this instance.

So she worked quickly; the rest of their clothes came easily. Then everything else; cosmetics. Showering things. Toothbrushes. The psychometrist went through the list in her mind, triple checking everything through the bag as she did so. Everything. Perfect. Penny stood up quickly, palms pressing to her dress to ease away the wrinkles her counterpart had created by pushing up the material only a handful of minutes before.

"Is there anything else you would like packed?" She asked, hands on her hips as dark eyes scanned the rest of the room for anything else either of them might need.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

After a spare moment, Lucy leaned back in her seat. Her hand pressed to the card on her desk, and she tossed it back into her wallet. Raising her hands over her head, she stretched her arms as if booking a place to stay had been the most difficult thing in the world. As if it was as time consuming as packing a bag for two people.

As Penny asked, Lucy shrugged her shoulders. Her eyes momentarily glanced towards various sources of technology she had. From handheld consoles to everything else.

"Nope." She replied as she left her seat, doing her best to bypass the psychometrist as she made her way towards her closet. Hands pressed themselves to the buttons on her shorts; the need to change was clearly paramount, and she was determined not to take up too much time, "So long as you've got everything you need."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Technology was spread throughout the room; how Lucy had so many devices was beyond Penny. She was still trying to figure out the difference between a Gameboy Color and a 3DS. Or rather, why both seemed necessary to own. Although she didn't think that any of it was needed for the evening, hearing she didn't want any of it was still different. It set a definite tone. An agreement without actual acknowledgement.

With a quick nod, Penny zipped up the bag with a fluid movement of her hand before straightening her back, and by the time she did, Lucy was several steps closer with hands that really should have been her own working off buttons. Fingers twitched as she brought her hands together. Now was not the time to allow herself to get distracted. Again.

So physically stepped away, snatching the bag and bringing it closer to the door. Even with the distance, she couldn't help the backwards glance offered towards the ink manipulator.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

It was strange to have changed her clothes this many times in one day, but Lucy was hardly about to complain about the fact. Working the buttons free, she dragged the pointless zip down and eased her way out of the shorts she'd barely worn that day, stepping out of them and throwing them in with the rest of her clothes from the day.

The moment Penny stepped away, Lucy stalled. She took obvious notice of the decision. She reached for yet another set of jeans, free from any definite holes in the knees as far as she could see, but before she moved to put them back on, she looked at her again.

Or rather, she stared.

Clever eyes for her clever love as they filtered down the line of her form slowly. Because there she was - pantsless and by all accounts, incredibly willing - and the Brit was doing nothing to reach for her, but giving every indication that she wanted to. Creases in the line of her dress from the way her own hands had dragged it all up, once balled and resting at her wrists.

Slowly as she hauled her gaze away, up the curve of her neck to the corner of her lips, where she found herself snagged again. Pressing her own into a line, she raised her eyebrows. And moments later, her gaze followed suit.

"Jacket?" Lucy asked her. Given that she'd chosen a majority of her clothes already, she might as well keep going.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

What was supposed to be a glance was hardly that; it should have been expected as such. When it came down to Lucy Serrano, Penny always looked. And when she looked, she stared. Dark eyes slowly traversed the line of Lucy's form. No matter how tight her jeans were and how much Penny not-so secretly loved them, she much preferred the ink manipulator out of them. It occurred to the Brit that Lucy stalled; halted in the process of hauling the second skin material up and as her gaze finally managed to catch where hers was.

Incredibly willing, and very much wanting to.

A quick, almost frustrated turn of her head and she took in a quick breath. "The green parka." She offered as quickly as she could manage. They could not get out of here soon enough. "May you please grab mine?" Penny tacked on, knowing well that if she took a step closer they likely would never get out the door.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

With the advice in mind, Lucy gave in involuntary nod despite the fact that Penny wasn't looking at her. She worked as quickly as she could to ease herself into her jeans, trying not to cringe at the inevitable cold weather she was to step into soon.

Reaching for a spare set of matching socks, she threw them on before putting her boots on. Laces took moments, and she was standing upright again.

In the end, Lucy chose the parka in question. She slipped her arms through the sleeves before finally going for her counterpart's jacket. It was a strategic move on the ink manipulator's part; the moment she got close enough she knew it was going to be difficult to step away.

So she finally took steps closer and handed it towards her, "Here."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Although she didn't see the nod given to her, Penny assumed her counterpart had acknowledged what she said. Moments later it proved true, for Lucy offered her the jacket in question. "Thank you." Grabbing a hold of it, dark eyes lingered on the Australian. Her lips. The perfect curve they always made and how easy it was to just stare.

With a quick movement she slipped her jacket on, buttoning up the peacoat with as much precision as she took unbuttoning one of her flannels, and the her hands were free, one grabbed the duffle, swinging it over her shoulder before opening the door, and the other naturally went towards the ink manipulator.

Reaching for her hand, fingers interlaced with ease as she squeezed lightly. Enough to give a light pull towards the open door. "Come on." She offered, accent feeling slightly strained as she tried determine just how painful the car ride would be until they reached their destination.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Briefly, Lucy wondered if they were intent on making as little contact as possible. It was going to be a lengthy journey, even if the place wasn't exactly far. Minutes burned like hours when it came to halting the inevitable.

But her eyes followed the length of her arm as she extended a hand back towards her. There was a brief moment of consideration; was it wise? Was it clever? Did it even need to be? Without a second thought, she breached that minimal distance with a step and took hold of the hand offered to her. The small pull was more than enough to kick her mentality into gear, but the encouraging words worked their magic all the same.

"Always." She offered quickly, squeezing her hand in return as she moved to leave the comfort of the room they practically shared.