❝ Do you ever feel like your life and everything in it...❞

[unpreach]

Who: Kate Fuller & You (Yeah and maybe Richie Gecko okay. This could happen)
Where: Various Locations in Wonderland
When: Early to Mid January.
Rating: PG+ to NSFW.
Summary: Kate settles into Wonderland
The Story: ❝...is just slowly turning upside down, like a ship flipping over in the ocean?❞

ɴ.ʙ I welcome threadjacking from anyone (tagging into ongoing threads to have more than 2 characters in it). That said, if you'd prefer the thread to only be with Kate, just put [closed] in the subject line! Prose or Action is good with me, I'll match whatever I get.

[ Despite her appearance with Richie at the New Years Eve Ball, Kate's presence in the Mansion is not easily noticed as January rolls around. She keeps to her room on the tenth floor, getting out only when the walls feel like their closing in on her. If encountered during the day, you can be fairly certain that Kate will be alone but as the sun goes down, there's every chance you'll find any conversation you might have with her, interrupted by a tall man with glasses who if you think is sizing you up, undoubtedly is. ]

ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴇʟ

[ The house of God had once been a place where Kate felt welcomed with open arms, a sanctuary that wrapped her in peace and warmth in a way that even her home could not. It was one of the few places where she had the certainty of belonging that so few ever found in life and she'd thought it would always be that for her, no matter where her life took her. Now? She wasn't so sure.

It had been many months since Kate had stepped foot in a Chapel and though Richie had shown her the one here in Wonderland as a way of putting her at ease, she already wondered if it existed to torment her more than comfort her. Kate had never wavered in her beliefs, despite all she'd seen and experienced this last year. She'd held firm to the knowledge that God loved her because as far as she was concerned, God was love but having time to stop and think about every choice she'd made, Kate could feel the weight of every one of those decisions whenever she stepped foot inside the chapel.

While she doesn't spend hours on end here, Kate can still be found in the Chapel at various times throughout the day, usually when there doesn't appear to be anyone else around. Always tucked into one of the pews at the back, as if she weren't sure she should really be here at all. ]

ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪᴛᴄʜᴇɴ

[ While some people took to the magic of Wonderland; the ease and comfort it afforded those who lived here, Kate found it difficult to trust anything that could be achieved without effort. She'd tried eating in the dining room where most people took their meals but these attempts usually ended with her being more hungry than satisfied and she always ended up retreating to the kitchen where she could fix her own meal.

She was hardly what you'd call a gourmet cook, but Kate had always helped her mother in the kitchen and she'd in many ways taken on the role of caretaker in the time since her mother's death. It wasn't like her father had been in a state to do so and Scott? It was a miracle if Kate could get him to set the table.

Used to cooking for two or more, Kate will be prone to making too much and never one to see food go to waste, anyone who happens into the kitchen while she's here will be offered some of whatever she's making. Those who happen to frequent the kitchen might even realize that she's the one responsible for the plates of food that have handwritten notes beneath them, inviting anyone to take it for themselves. ]

ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sɴᴏᴡ

[ When you spend your whole life in the small town of Bethel, Texas, a place that despite the bitter cold that came during Winter, had never seen an inch of snow in the time Kate had lived there, the Winter Wonderland that existed beyond the Mansion walls had its own kind of appeal.

Some days, Kate would be content to sit by a window, a cup of hot chocolate warming her hands as she watched the flurries of snow, dance through the air. On days when the weather was mild enough to dare venture out, however, Kate would don multiple layers of clothing and would brave the biting cold just to experience what for her, was more magical than anything she'd seen inside the mansion.]

ᴘʟᴀʏᴇʀs ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ

[ Set something up yourself! Kate will explore the various parts of the Mansion so it won't be inconceivable that you'd come across her almost anywhere. She will also be curious about the mirror side of Wonderland so Mirrors! are more than welcome to tag her as well. Alternatively, if you want to hash an idea out with me, you're welcome to PM her journal or hit me up on plurk: brooklyn2181]

Comments

[seeingthings]

[There was that look in her eyes again, the one that he could never quite pinpoint the cause of, but wanted to see as much as he could. Richie had been needed for plenty of things over the course of his life and career. Maybe some people wanted to be needed, but for him it wasn't nearly as good as being wanted. Plenty of people had needed his mind to get what they wanted. But to be wanted without being needed for something?

It wasn't something he was really used to, but it felt like that's what he needed.

He can see the direction her mouth is headed and his head turns to the side before she even reaches his skin, opening up his throat to her in a way that's almost submissive, letting her do what she will and just soaking up the feel of her pressing kisses against his skin.

A contented sigh passes from between his lips, his eyes sliding shut as his hands tighten on her waist before the slide further up her back, fingers splayed wide until the tips brush against the closure of her bra.]

[unpreach]

[It's different for her, being the one in control and driving things but she can't bear the thought of just laying here and doing nothing, always having to react instead of act. Plus she wanted to hear, see, feel his responses. She wanted to know that despite his assurances that he didn't need more from her, that he wanted more - wanted her, too.

Kisses pepper his skin all the way up to the base of his neck, Kate pressing her lips against his pulse, feeling the soft beat of blood beneath the surface. The pain if his teeth sinking into her flesh might still be a memory but so was the pleasure that overcame her, the way it felt like this point was connected to every nerve in her body, how his mouth, tongue and teeth lit up the pleasure center in her brain.

She's tentative at first, lips parting against his skin, hot air fanning out across it but then her tongue slips out, rolls against him, the taste of salt dancing on her taste buds as she gently sucks and while she's aware of his fingers as they glide over her bare skin? It never once occurs to her that she should be nervous or want him to stop.]

[seeingthings]

[His fingers rub back and forth across her skin, kneading the muscles along her spine, which also serves to pull her against his body, an unavoidable instinct as she continues to press kisses below his jaw.

He's holding his breath when she pauses, exhaling hotly when her tongue drags across his skin over the heavy pulse of his veins, a seductive mirror of what he'd done to her not so long ago as he feels her mouth pull at his throat.

He groans, not bothering to stifle the noise this time before his head descends as well. With her gentle assault on his neck, hers is laid bare as well, which he proceeds to take advantage of, her mouth covering the relatively fresh wounds he's made, tongue rolling across them to taste the remnants of her blood.]

[unpreach]

[The pressure of his touch causes her to arch into Richie, her hip sliding higher, brushing against his groin and his response to her kisses only seems to embolden her, Kate's teeth gently scraping his skin in an experimental tease.

His mouth covers the still sensitive wound on her neck and she half expects to feel the piercing of flesh once again. Instead, the tantalizing drag of his tongue draws a moan from her in kind, one that vibrates against his skin as her fingers press into his chest.]

Richie - [She's said it before, let it spill out in moments of emotion and pleasure but there's something more desperate in the way she says it now, as if being in here with him has helped to lower her guard and she's less afraid of letting him see how she wants him.]

[seeingthings]

[His fingertips against her back turn into the press of nails instead as her hip presses against him and her teeth nip at his neck, and he has to fight back the urge to do the same, his lust briefly mingling with his bloodlust that coils in the pit of his gut.

He draws away from her wound, moving lower into the dip of her collarbone before teeth drag across her skin, though they're blunt instead of sharp.

He presses closer still as his name resonates in his ear, pressing her partially on her back, one hand slipping from under her shirt to press into the mattress over her shoulder.]

[unpreach]

[The bite of his nails elicits a soft gasp from Kate, Richie teasing at the line between pleasure and pain, one that until tonight, she'd never considered let alone explored. It wasn't something she could have understood, the very idea of it repulsing her but the way she'd felt when he'd taken her blood was enough to give her the taste for it, Kate welcoming anything that he might offer her next, especially because she trusted him more than anyone else in her life.

Richie dips lower and Kate's forced to pull her mouth free, head tipping back to allow his exploration and she moans, long and low at the tease of his teeth, Kate freeing the hand from between them so she can run her fingers through his hair.

The ache that had finally started to dissipate, is back with a vengeance, the shift of their bodies causing her to groan softly and she sucks in her lower lip; as if to try and stifle the little sounds of pleasure that continue to spill over, Kate moving beneath him in an attempt to recreate the friction from out on the couch as she exhales a stream of hot air against the top of his head.]

[seeingthings]

[It doesn't last long, the sting from his nails fleeting as he regains control of himself, however briefly, because the sounds she's making are not at all making it easy for him.

His mouth pulls away from her skin as her fingers finish their course through his hair, his teeth clenched together and his chin lifted as she moves against him again, his eyes half open as he peers down at the expression on her face, the way her teeth tug at her lip.

Seeing as that is the furthest thing from what he'd consider a protest, he shifts completely on top of her, one hand keeping his weight from completely covering her or making it hard for her to breathe. He leans in to capture her mouth with his as a knee parts her thighs so that the other can set itself beside it. That done, he settles himself gently between her legs, unable to hold back the craning of his hips against hers as a result of her own movements, his body instinctively seeking more of the friction she's already providing.]

[unpreach]

[There is no protest, not even as he parts her legs, the weight of his body against hers acting like a barrier between the fear and herself, the cage created by the blankets and his strong, tall frame, offering her a bubble in which she can exist without panic or thought of the world beyond.

Though awkward at first, her leg soon shifts to hook around his, the knee of the other bending to hug his side and her fingers continue to rifle through his hair as they come together. Kate's hips lift, her shoulders pressing back into the mattress and she moans against his mouth, her fingers closing around the length of his hair as the kiss deepens.]

[seeingthings]

[Whatever awkward exists in her movements, he doesn't seem to notice, seeing as he's simply and completely caught up in her scent, the press of her body, her fingers pulling at his hair and tugging at his scalp.

It might seem strange to some (maybe even her) that, given his background and his previous partner, Richie is shockingly gentle when it comes to touch. Other than the occasional press of nails when he's overcome with some new physical sensation or the tug on her skin with his fingers when her hips rise to grind against him, his movements are controlled and almost careful in their simplicity, his hands are smooth and comforting against her skin as he lowers himself to his elbows so he can keep touching her. They slip up her back, laying against her shoulder blades as if cradling her body against his chest, even though he's positioned above her.

His tongue tangles with hers for a short while before he pulls back his face, though it's only to start brushing his lips against the side of her face in a meandering trail, ending as he teases her earlobe with the slight press of his teeth before dragging them away.]

[unpreach]

[Later she'll assume it was because he was with her, he was holding back, being mindful of her own inexperience but now, the way that he's being is what allows her to get caught up in the moment, completely caught up in him as he holds her to his body.

Uncertain of what she's doing, her free hand moves to his side, resting there as her body gently shifts against his, a barely noticeable tremble going from her head to her toes as the hand moves around to press into his back. His scent overwhelms her, sending a warmth through her insides as the friction from the bodies causes her to groan softly against the kiss, the sound breaking, morphing into a whimper as he drags his lips away from hers.

With a slight turn of her head, she opens herself up to that trail of kisses, desperate to keep feeling the heat of his mouth. The rush of excitement as his teeth gently nip at her ear makes her heart flutter and skip, another soft gasp and moan sounding close to him as the arm around his body holds him tighter.]

[seeingthings]

[Her arm encircles him, and he breathes out against her ear as he pulls away again, taking a moment just to look down at her laying beneath him.

His expression is devoid of any of his usual facade, his eyes open and more vulnerable than Kate has ever seen him thus far, as if overcome by some strange and foreign emotion that he's just not sure how to contain or deal with. One of his hands moves from her back to her side and then down to his own waist where he quickly untucks the shirt he's wearing from his slacks because they've suddenly become too tight, almost stifling.

Then his hand lays against her hip before it travels lower, skating along the outside of her thigh to the underside of her knee where it hooks around him before his hips churn against her again, a bit more desperation behind the movement.]

[unpreach]

[Their eyes briefly lock and it's the first time that Kate realizes, she isn't alone in feeling lost in all this. She thought that she was the one who needed constant reassurance that everything was okay, that nothing she said or did could be wrong right now, but seeing the vulnerability that's etched across his features?

Kate holds his gaze in hers, rolling with the movements of his body as the hand that cups his head draws forward, pressing to his cheek as the intensity between them builds.

The urge to kiss him again, threatens to overwhelm her now, Kate's features twisting with constrained pleasure as he grinds against her and her thumb brushes along his cheek, her other hand traveling lower, in search of the hem of his shirt.

The ache between her legs grows almost painful now, a whimpering groan spilling past her lips and she struggles to keep focused as her breath quickens, her fingers finally grazing along his lower back as another groan, louder and more desperate, rises up from deep inside of her.]

[seeingthings]

[The muscles in his back seem to ripple in respond to her direct touch, his lips parting as their eyes remain locked, his head tilted slightly into the palm of her hand. His eyes seem to shift from vulnerable to intense, as if attempting to contain something within them, and he releases a shaky breath in time with the moan that spills from her throat.

He leans in then, finally, lips brushing across hers as he swallows up her quickening breaths.]

Kate.

[He murmurs her name against her mouth before he covers it with his own, his tongue reaching for hers before he pauses again to whisper once more.]

Can I touch you?

[unpreach]

[Richie's lips brushing hers as he murmurs her name, sends a giddy wave through her chest, Kate lifting her head to meet the kiss with an intensity that's level with the way he looked at her.

It's too short, however, her mouth chasing his, the hand on his back pressing harder, Kate's lips still parted as if she's going to pick up where he stopped until his words penetrate the haze of longing inside her head.

She doesn't entirely understand, not at first, Kate's immediate thought to point out that he already was touching her, but given their conversation before coming in here? It doesn't take her too long to connect the dots.

She pulls back, just a little, just enough so she can look into his eyes, her thumb again gliding across his cheek as she works through the emotions swirling around inside of her.]

I - [It's not because she wants to reject the idea that sees her hesitate, but rather that she intends to say yes; Kate unsure where the line in the sand is anymore, the act of simply being with him like this seeing her moving it back.

This, she was comfortable with however and it was already so much more than she'd ever experienced. Plus he'd asked her, made sure she was okay and she trusts him enough to believe he'd never push her too far.

He'd see that now, the trust she has him, an overwhelming faith that sees her swallow down any fear and give a small nod of her head.]

Yes.

[seeingthings]

[His eyes pierce through hers, his teeth biting down slightly on his bottom lip the only current indication of his building desire, except for perhaps the way his pants no longer seem to fit quite right against her pelvis. <.<

He waits patiently for her answer, a breath of anxiety stirring in his chest, a slight concern that she'll reject him, even if he logically knows what the reasoning would be behind it. It wouldn't be about him, but that didn't mean it would feel that way initially.

It's not even really about sex. He just wants to be close to her, to feel her skin under his palms, to be comforted by her warmth, to see her with his hands. And she wants him, he can tell that much, but giving him permission isn't so much about want as it is about other factors.

But he sees her answer before he hears it, his lips pressing together as he shifts slightly to the side, putting more weight on his left side so that his other hand, the one under her knee, can shift back up to her hip, slip under her shirt, and start to slowly roam across the soft expanse of her ribcage as he leans in to kiss her again.

Baby steps. Surely she'll say something if he goes too far.]

[unpreach]

[And she does pull in a shaky breath at that first skin to skin contact, the act more overwhelming than the idea itself but it's not enough that she actually wants him to stop, certainly not now that his lips are on hers again, Kate allowing the kiss to be her anchor as he starts his slow exploration of her body.

She can feel her heart hammering harder in her chest, can hear the thrum of her blood try to drown out every other noise in the room and while it's probably unnoticeable to him, she feels like her hands are shaking so violently that he'll ask her about it any moment now.

As if to combat it, her hand runs up his back, her touch firm to hold it steady and Kate's sure that if she thinks too much about this, she's going to forget to make her lips work as they kiss.

Still, she's constantly aware of where his hand is, of how easy it would be to move higher and the hand on his face almost seems to grip him, holding him there in the kiss as she tries to stop the rising nerves and refocus purely on Richie.]

[seeingthings]

[His hand is firm against her skin, his touch steady and constant as it slides in a diagonal across her abdomen before reaching up slightly, his thumb brushing across the underwire of her bra, as if to test her reaction.

His lips work against hers as a knee shifts upward between her legs and as he continues to shift sideway, laying partially beside her so that he doesn't have to hold himself completely off of her with only one elbow, the other too busy to be of much help there. His hips press into her thigh instead, making her all the more aware of the fact that he does, indeed, want her.

His movements are almost slightly methodical in nature, as if he's trying to mentally document each inch of her skin, remember how she responds to each touch, and commit it to memory.]

[unpreach]

[Kate moves with him, desperate to keep the closeness and the security that Richie provides; as if even an inch more distance would allow room for anxiety to overwhelm her. With her hand on his cheek, she continues to stroke him, Kate breaking the kiss to inhale another shaky breath before she's leaning into him once more.

The feel of him pressing into her makes her stomach somersault and she feels like she has to silently talk herself down from the edge, to shut everything out just to keep from spinning out of control. With her eyes closed, she's thrust into darkness, his warmth and touch all there is to guide her, Kate all the more aware of the hand that teases its way up her body.

Partially on her side and unsure what to do with her limbs, Kate shifts her leg against his, the friction of it adding yet another layer of intimacy as her fingers knead the muscles along his back.

Almost needing to ground herself in the moment, the slow sensuous kiss changes, a series of tender presses against his lips before she goes to deepen it again.]

[seeingthings]

[His hand pauses as she slows the kiss, the press of her mouth almost feather-light in comparison to how it had been before, but then her lips are parting against his so he does the same, brushing the roof of her mouth with the tip of his tongue as the kiss returns to its deep and smoldering pace.

Under her shirt, his hand moves again, this time to pass over fabric, his palm molding to the shape of her bra before it moves away again with a brush of his thumb.

And then, suddenly, it slips back downward, fingers grasping at her hip while his other arm tightens around her back, and he's rolling onto his back and bringing her with him, his strong arms easily settling her on his waist.

With both of his hands available now, his eyes are bright and eager as they reach for her waist to begin his exploration of her skin anew, so soft and warm under his palms.]

[unpreach]

[Nerves break up the breath she tries to pull in, Kate stealing air from his lungs in the process, her lips and tongue briefly faltering as his hand partially cups her breast.

She barely has time to adjust to it, though, to pull her racing thoughts in line when he's moving, hands, then her along with him until she's suddenly on top. Her legs naturally settle either side of his body, knees pressing into the mattress but Kate stays close, her lips still on his now his hands have the freedom to explore.

Unnecessarily mindful of crushing him, she rests one hand on the mattress beside his head, the other still pressed to his cheek as her forehead gently rests against his. Pulling in another slow shuddering breath, Kate focuses on the feel of his hands on her skin, her hot breath fanning out across his face as she finally tries to relax on top of him.]

[seeingthings]

[Once she's settled on top of him, his hands move to quickly adjust the comforter over them, keeping in the heat they've created between them, before they go back to their work, sliding over her back and down her sides, before the turn and slip just under the waist of her jeans, fingertips pulling at her hips as his own rise up slightly to meet her.

Each of Kate's shuddering breaths vibrates to his core, stoking the heat in his gut that continues to slowly spread, and as his eyes slip shut he lifts his chin, taking the last of her breath into himself as his mouth searches for hers.]

[unpreach]

[Encased by the blankets, some of her nervous energy starts to dissipate, Kate allowing him to take a little more of her weight as his hands move to her hips. She allows him to guide her, responding to the pull of his fingers, her knees digging into the mattress as she dares to roll against him.

When his mouth finds hers, it's met with a moan, the feel of Richie rocking up between her only serving to heighten her own arousal and she'd swear he has to know how much she wants him, that he can feel it the same way she can feel it from him.

Her lips part, Kate's tongue pressing against the barrier of his so she can become lost in the taste of him again, her body gently rocking against him as her fingers skim over his cheek, brush back through his hair. The dreaded ache has yet to abandon her, making Kate want to squirm and in a misguided attempt to smother it, she presses her hips firm against his, the friction between them intensifying as another loud moan spills over.]

[seeingthings]

[His head tilts to the side, his mouth opening up for her, his desire to taste her matching hers, and as she firmly presses her hips down on him, a groan rises unbidden and unrestrained from his mouth, though the sound is mildly muffled by their kiss. Still, it vibrates against her, a clear indication that he's most certainly affected by her, couldn't hold it back even if he tried.

His hands slide further back into her jeans in response, fingers gripping onto the outer curves of her ass, beneath the delicate fabric of her undergarments. It's probably the boldest he's been, but...she's not exactly making it easy for him to hold back.]

[unpreach]

[While she's aware of his hands, the press of fingers into flesh, Kate's so completely wrapped up in everything else that it drowns out things like fear or panic. His reaction washes over her, encourages her in ways she's barely imagined and she wants to hear it again, to know she's the reason that he sounds like that, that he doesn't just care about her, but he desires her also.

The hand that had been supporting her weight shifts, cupping the other side of his face as Kate's mouth becomes crushed against his, the kiss deepening with a low, guttural groan that rumbles in her chest and she continues to move along his length, the thin layers of their clothing doing little to dampen the sensation of pleasure that comes from the intensifying friction.]

[seeingthings]

[The steady thump of his heart in his chest starts to pick up speed itself, and as she continues to basically torture him with each press of her body, his mouth essentially stops working, his head lowering and his mouth breaking from hers as he lets out an almost pathetic and desperate sound followed by a low exhale of breath.

His hand slip from her pants, grasping the bottom hem of her shirt instead as he almost violent grips the fabric before he starts to slide it up her body, though it eventually gets trapped between their bodies where they press together.]