i give you air from my lungs

[Benjin Preistley]

“I believe you might be using the wrong connotation of exciting.” He couldn't help but to smile. Her modesty always did that. He smiled more around her than any other. Easy. “There's just the one sort of exciting.” He really did believe that, most of the time. Everything else could be thrilling, or titillating, but not exciting. Not like that. Her shifting the way that she was was enough of a hint to know that yes, she had to know he was right, and what he was talking about. “I’m sitting, how can you even tell?” Because he had looked at it thousands of times over the years that he had known her. Because she knew how to have a dress tailored to fit her frame, and like all real businesswoman, could work every last drop out of a skirt. Words he wasn't going to voice out loud, lest she taken them the wrong way. Perhaps she could glean enough from the look that he was giving her. Seated, or not. “Because it’s not.” Sure. That was all she wanted. For him to acknowledge her anatomy? He wasn't her physical validation. Not....in this form anyway. Though, her little pout was spoiled entirely by his next words, leaving her silent, and stunned...which was exactly what he wanted. It was more than a lot satisfying. If he were a medical man, he would have said that...it had the desired effect on her anyway. It never ceased to amaze him, the very, very slight peach tint added to her whole face, all the exposed areas of skin really.

She was hardly even listening to him now. She was fantasizing, right here in front of him. She no longer had any shame left. It was adorable. He could remember a time whenever she would get all flustered and indignant by his words, even the slightest suggestion of sexual deviance and she was turning away from him. Now, she was drinking it up, wanting more. Wanting him to whisper even more perverted little ideas in her ear, and he was sure the closer to the skin he got, the more she was going to like it. “Hmm? Meeting, right.” “You're practically salivating.” he put to her bluntly, his hand brushing over his mouth as he grinned. “I thought you were a lady” a fake gasp for added effect as she straightening to her skirt, moving her little hips around in the chair. Of course she was. “I have two this afternoon. One is an artifact check, and the other is more of a discussion than a meeting.” Both sounded horribly droll. Not that he had anything else to do, really, because his line up of meetings wasn't much more interesting. Politics and realignment of budgets over the country. A large amount of contracts to sign...boring. “Do you have any particularly pressing matters to attend to today?” “Pressing,” he winked. “I light your word choice.”

Letting his smile fade from his face organically he finished off the last of his tea and eased himself back into his chair, his hand waving in front of his face. As if what he did couldn't possibly interest him. It wasn't likely to anyway. “Dash the meetings, let's just spend the day on the floor of the bathroom here, I'm sure I could keep you better entertained,” He was kidding, he had to of said that to her a dozen times or more in the last year alone, and while he was fairly certain, that she would have taken him up on any one of them. Certainly within the last couple of years. It was a running joke, yes, but it was more than that too. “Maybe I can give you a tour,”

[Hadley Carpenter]

She wondered briefly if this would constitute as that one sort of exciting he was talking about, or if would use a different word. What word he might use? “You’re practically salivating. I thought you were a lady.” His hand brushed over his face and she smirked at him. “Slander. I am a lady. Obviously.” That was his fault; well, she was going to associate the fault with him anyway. Whispering his honeyed words in her ear for years and years, it only made sense that some of it happened to stick in the way that her mind worked. Whittling through the carefully constructed defense that had been her modesty. She was practically desensitized at this point, but that was a lie, a lie inside her own head. If she was any margin of desensitized she wouldn’t react anymore, and that clearly wasn’t what happened ever. If anything she was still too reactive, too responsive; it meant she never won this little game. She could remember a time not so very long ago that she would never have abided by his sordid suggestions, when her modesty used to win out. Now there was very little of that left anymore, instead taking his filthy ideas and running away with them. So much for being a lady. How was she supposed to go in and focus on her meetings now that she was distracted by such thoughts? Terrible man. “Pressing. I like your word choice.” She rolled her eyes at his wink. “Of course you do.”

He waved his hand in front of him as he leaned back, waving away the question on his work. Momentary disappointment. He never talked about what he did, and she did want to know. It seemed as though he knew all that there was to know about her vocation at this point. “Dash the meetings, let’s just spend the day on the floor of the bathroom here, I’m sure I could keep you better entertained.” She shook her head for a moment. “Promises, promises.” That wasn’t the first time that she had heard those words from him. It probably wouldn’t be the last time either, if she knew him at all. It had become a sort of joke between them, but every time the offer came up a small part of her couldn’t help but still hope that this time he was serious. “Though that does sound rather tantalizing, the floor of a bathroom just sounds a little too unforgiving on the back, all things considered.” She picked her cup up off the table to finish it, sipping thoughtfully for a moment. “Unless of course...but no, I couldn’t suggest it. I’m a lady after all.” She smirked at him over the rim before taking the final sip of her own and placing the cup back down on the table. Modesty had been replaced by playfulness now.

“Maybe I can give you a tour.” She raised an eyebrow delicately as she looked at him. “Of the bathrooms?” There were some times she really just couldn’t help but to be a smartarse. It was probably going to get her into trouble someday, but she’d cross that bridge when she got to it.

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Tagged. Benjin
Wearing: This

[Benjin Preistley]

“Slander. I am a lady. Obviously.” Benjin chuckled, a short burst of laughter before stifling himself. Clearly, incredulous at her words, her insisting that she was a lady. To everybody else In this place, certainly, but not to him. “A lady wouldn't be wishing she could figure out a way to snake that hand between her legs.” Flat, like he was talking about the weather, “Well go on, don't let me stop you. I give you permission,” A wicked glint in his eyes as his tongue flicked over the roof of his mouth. One of these days, she was actually going to do it. He had told her she could, he certainly wouldn't mind...while it would be uncomfortable for awhile...but it would be oh so very worth it. Today, though, it didn't seem like his lucky day. Sure enough the conversation carried on, and she tried to pretend that it didn't matter, and that the words were nothing to her. That he was just being a boy, or just being him, and he could almost see it, like a film through to her brain just how she was picturing doing that exact thing, although maybe with his hand instead of hers.

“Promises, promises.” It was fact, enough anyway. Just not yet, but soon enough. She was almost ready, almost old enough. Mature enough. Nothing he hadn't said before, and it was usually a joke, or it tended to come off as one. “Though that does sound rather tantalizing, the floor of a bathroom just sounds a little too unforgiving on the back, all things considered.” Oh she had to be more creative than that. “Unless of course...but no, I couldn’t suggest it. I’m a lady after all.” There she was. “That's my girl,” he glanced over the top of his cup, finishing off the second helping. “My offer from before still stands, if you get carried away again, as you ladies tend to do,” dirty, it was all so very dirty. Pushing his cup away from his person he shrugged, indicating her hands very clearly before setting about folding back the paper the way that it was supposed to go, and not the way he had had it before she had fallen earlier. He didn't have a watch on him but he figured it was about time to head on in to the office.

“Of the bathrooms?” Benjin nodded enthusiastically, “All of the bathrooms,” There were quite a few, and if she felt like pushing the issue, then he was going to have to actually give her a tour of the bathrooms, and there were only a handful of even semi-decent ones. Reaching into his pocket and pulling out some money, pausing to pick out the currency of the last place he was in, and return those bits back into his pocket, and paying the bill. Vastly overpaying. Standing he gestured toward the entrance, his hand hovering just above her back as she moved, pushing back in her chair for her as he buttoned his coat with one hand, only lowering his other hand after they were out of the place and back on the street. “Do you you're going to make it this time?” he grinned, glancing over at her. “I would offer to carry you, but that tiny behind would slip right out of my hands,” he held them out in front of him for further reference. “The ankles however, those are very pretty. I will be egregiously offended, if those are harmed,”

[Hadley Carpenter]

“A lady wouldn’t be wishing she could figure out a way to snake that hand between her legs.” She tilted her head to the side, blinking quickly. Had she heard him correctly? After a moment, she realized of course she had heard him right, this was Benjin she was talking to. It was always as sexual as it seemed. He had just said it so nonchalantly, as though it were nothing more than an inane comment. “Well go on, don’t let me stop you. I give you permission.” She rolled her eyes at him, she hadn’t been aware that she needed permission in the first place. “That’s my girl.” She met his gaze over the top of his mug as evenly as she could muster considering the fact that she now had a rather strange feeling running through her chest in reaction to his words. Something to be thought about later, perhaps when she was soaking in the bath after work. “My offer still stands, if you get carried away again, as you ladies tend to do.” She took her hands and purposefully folded them on the table in front of her as he gestured towards them. “I think I’ll be alright, thanks.” Just a touch of sarcasm to her tone. Dirty old man. He was probably just trying to make her feel uncomfortable anyway. She watched him nod quickly, “All of the bathrooms.” That sounded like quite an adventure if he were to actually carry it out. He pulled out some money from his pocket and sorted through it, she noticed a few foreign bills intermixed with this countries, before throwing it on the table. He stood and she moved to follow him, a little slower than she would have normally, as it felt to be around time to head into the office.

She moved stiffly, bracing her hands on the table as she tried to keep her back as straight as possible while standing from the seat. There was still a small twinge with each movement, but it was tolerable enough to make it through the day, especially because she only had meetings to sit through. Sitting could be done easily enough. She felt the heat from his palm through the thin fabric of her dress as it hovered just shy of resting against her lower back. It stay hovering there until they were out of sitting area and walking in the direction of the Ministry. “Do you think you’re going to make it this time?” Her eyes slid to his face, looking at him from the corner of her eye. “I would offer to carry you, but that tiny behind would slip right out of my hands.” Her eyes moved to his hands that were out in front of him now; she merely raised an eyebrow before responding airily. “I believe I can manage, and if not I’ll simply blame you for allowing me to walk around on my own power. How does that sound?” She walked steadily, despite the twinge each step sent shooting through her nerve endings. It would be fine, she would endure. For pride if nothing else at this point. “Those ankles however, those are very pretty. I will be egregiously offended, if those are harmed.” The corners of her mouth quirked up as a small laugh escaped. “I’ll see what I can do to ensure they are kept safe.” Sarcasm dripping in her tone regardless of the open expression on her face.

She had to walk a little more slowly than normal and momentarily wished she didn’t feel the need to wear heels all the damn time. She noticed and appreciated the way he matched his pace to hers, even though he surely had things to do as soon as he got in. As the Ministry came into view, she straightened a little further, smoothing any remnants of what might be discomfort from her face. “When do you think you’ll be taking your lunch hour?” Perhaps they might coordinate, and if it was after her meetings she would get to eat and go home, which sounded lovely right now.

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Tagged. Benjin
Wearing: This

[Benjin Preistley]

“I’ll see what I can do to ensure they are kept safe.” Ever the sarcastic one. She shouldn't be talking like that. Well, about another subject, them perhaps it would have been better tolerated, but as it was about her well being – the majority of him just – expected her to take it seriously. Wanted it just understood, that she was to be kept in the best physical shape that she could manage. Which included those ankles. Not that he yet at the right to be demanding such things of her. Soon. Soon he would be able to, and be in a position to make him listen as well. Didn't matter much to him how slow they were walking. Keeping her pace as leisurely as she would care for. Tiny weight was easy to keep supported. He was the head of the department, first day or not the first day – he could set the schedule. Perks, of being the boss after all. This would have all been much, much better if she weren't in heels – perhaps that doctor he was already planning on arranging for tomorrow would warn her off of them – would keep her from being stupid for much longer on that subject. At least, for a couple of weeks. Shamelessly, he wasn't going to be keeping her out of them forever, because they did make her legs look wonderful, and in these little dresses that she was so fond of wearing...it was just all good news for him. Moving down the sidewalk – focused on her balance until the ministry building came into view. Finally, releasing her to her own person, his hands moving to his pockets.

“When do you think you’ll be taking your lunch hour?” Subtle. Benjin's head tilted backward with his smile, coming back forward slowly with a shake. “Oh Hadley, ever so eager” toying with her, and they both knew it. “It's far sexier just to show up – usually naked under a trench coat, as is forever the fashion. “ being purely ridiculous now. “Perhaps a strip tease – oh, or offering to have lunch off of you, again. Naked” not even taking himself seriously at this point, his eyes lifting upward to see if he could think of something even more inappropriate to say, something that would make those pretty cheeks on her face flush all pink. But – didn't want to really give himself full reign in a place like this. “Honestly, I'm not positive. Have to meet the staff dear,”

[Hadley Carpenter]

As he moved away to allow her to walk fully under her own power, she noticed starkly the absence of his body heat immediately. Glanced towards him, watched his hands move into his pockets while hers moved in front of her. “Oh Hadley, ever so eager.” That was not, what she meant by that at all. Feeling her face warm as she kept her gaze straight ahead. Wouldn’t look towards him now, wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of the, no doubt, pink tinge of her face and eye contact at the same time. “Why, I’m not quite sure what you’re talking about.” Denial. Denial seemed as solid as any way to go. “It’s far sexier just to show up - usually naked under a trench coat, as is forever the fashion.” And any form of embarrassment was now gone. Her gaze slid towards him, her face clearly showing how ridiculous she thought that idea was. “Perhaps a strip tease - oh, or offering to have lunch off of you, again. Naked.” A smirk slid easily onto her face, changing her look to coy for a moment before delivering in total deadpan. “That’s a thought, but I wouldn’t want to give you a heart attack from the shock or anything.” Just a tiny prod at his age, only a small one. They were fun to throw at him every so often because it didn’t seem to bother him at all. She was fairly sure that he was in excellent health, he seemed to be anyway. Always seemed much more concerned with hers.

Worried too much if you asked her, she was just fine after all. For the most part anyway; nothing that time wouldn’t fix now. And no chance of any field time to allow for danger either, much to her consternation. “Honestly, I’m not positive. Have to meet the staff dear.” She hummed in response; yes, so important and so many things to do. Wasn’t too much of an issue, it wasn’t as though she couldn’t do as she wished when she wished. But there was a chance that she would have gone home by the time he was good and ready depending on how thorough his meeting of the staff was. “Well, I’m in for half a day, so if you have time, then you have time. Shall I assume you know where to find me?” She was rather feeling a coffee before heading up to sort out some notes for the first meeting, even if it was just going to be the burnt coffee that was served in the lobby down here. She had low standards for coffee after living in deep jungles and arid deserts for months at a time, as long as it wasn’t decaf.

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Tagged. Benjin
Wearing: This