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Minerva looked over a shoulder curiously, tightening her grip on the hunter's hand as he paused. The glazed-over, slightly narrowed gaze that had been both of their expressions beginning to fade on Bix, a glimpse of reality seemingly keeping the man at bay. She too hesitated, but an elated giggle made it clear that the woman was still holding on to the high of that single bite taken only moments ago.

When whatever overcame him had passed (since surely reality was the drug and the lofty, aimless feeling they shared was as close to real as they wanted to get), Minnie placed her boots beside his, nodded her head smoothly and smiled wide. "I guess that makes sense! You're a long ways from home then, aren't ya?" Breaking off a large piece of her cookie, the woman tried her very best to listen to everything he said before replying...doing a lovely job considering her eagerness. "I mean- okay, you're definitely right about that. But there are a lot of mysteries and dangers in this world! I mean, tomorrow we could all be zombies like in those movies. Or we could wake up to news of Atlantis' discovery!" Looking out to the ocean instead of staring at him, (a difficult feat!) Minnie continued; taking several more steps forward until her feet were being washed over by a chilled current, shrugging into her coat further to hide the bare skin of her shoulders. "Well, I'll just say that I've always tried not to let fear hold me back!" And for the most part this was true.

Turning ever so slightly, she waved a hand for him to follow before hiking up the ends of her wardrobe, moving deeper into the water. The final bit of her cookie vanished just as Bix's had, enjoyed thoroughly before speaking. "No, surprisingly. You'd think so though, right? I'm from New York actually, and I lived really close to the harbor which is why I can't get enough of this! My mother and I would visit the dock every sunday morning just to browse the varying types of fish up for sale...I'm no fisherman myself, but my mother grew up on shrimp and salmon boats, so she enjoyed all of that more than I did." She had to take in a deep breath, voice cracking here and there as the trainee cleared her throat; Minnie never spoke this much!

EVER.

"But because of her love for those kinds of trips, I've come to enjoy the smell of...well...salt and trout." Thoughts wandering to the past once again, that nostalgia she had mentioned before surfaced. "Anyway, do you know how to swim? Because...I'm thinking today's the day we pop your ocean cherry."

Blythe growled.

Hmm?

Smiles would absolve all fears, right? Smiles and hand holding. Hadn't failed her yet!

She 'hmmed' at his reply, lashes falling over the bits of green and brown that pinched with a sweetened smile. Minnie would continue to wave him over with a single hand until the current brushed against his calves, just as it was hers. She would continue to feel the rush of adrenaline as they came in close to one another, and the warmth that still presided within her even in the aftermath of their sweet intoxication. It was a dying giddiness for sure, but one that would linger for a little while longer.

Not that the woman was complaining.

"We won't go too far in." The trainee reassured, lifting a pinky up to promise while she rushed toward the shore, dropping her coat off before stalling briefly besides Bix. "Waist high maybe?" HIS waist, to be exact. Entering the sea once again and sinking further into it, Minnie spun around and pat at its surface...looking rather expectantly at the man.

Minerva nodded her head, stopping as the water reached just above her rear. Did he really not want to do this? It seemed like such a good idea at first! Particularly the knowledge that she would be the first to paddle around in the ocean with him..

not a good idea Minnie! You're going to get sick!> A cold was likely to be the end result of this outing.. yes. Minerva gave this some thought.

Her bed.. yes. It was calling her name! The smooth white sheets and the comfortable pillows and the warmth of it making the ocean's chill that much more unbearable.

But.. he was warm right? And closer than the facility and her bed combined. Hmm..

Maybe.. just maybe he was right. This wasn't a good idea, at least not on a night when neither of them were dressed appropriately. "It IS weird." The trainee sighed conclusively, moving toward the shoreline still wrapped in both of her arms.

.. Wait, no, Minerva was headed toward Bix directly; moving on her own thoughts, wants, and curiosities, not bothering to side-step or shift a hair when she came to stand at chest-height before him. Hazel eyes refused to look up, not yet wanting to search his face for the sign of comfort or discomfort that surely came with her proximity. Because she was close. Dangerously close. And while the effects of joy were still pulsing through her veins and driving her actions whimsically; Minerva could sense a sort of improperness about the whole situation.

But.. he was warm! A warm body to snuggle into! Another step brought her into the mans chest without hesitation, head resting upon it lightly at first.

A tiny smile thickened her cheek against his frame, not a hint of worry surfacing over her relaxed brows. She didn't even seem to be contemplating a next move, just acting upon the false, fiery connection that the two of them shared. Oh she was so brave. But was it false? In the moment, it surely didn't feel that way!

"Wow.." She thrummed with playful surprise as her entirety worked to close the tiny gap between them, a slightly nervous chuckle escaping softly as she tentatively lifted both hands to rest against him just as well. "You are warm."

Blythe didn't even know what to say. A part of her was sort of intrigued by Minerva's boldness. The trainee was brave no doubt, but forward? This didn't seem as calculated as Minnie wanted to believe..

The other part of her hated to know just how delighted Minerva was by Bix. She down right hated it.

His arms finding placement around her made Minerva sigh, taking steps out of the water in unison while a nod rubbed against him gently. Knowing that Bix didn't plan on pushing her off, and knowing that she hadn't made a complete fool out of herself was reassuring. He embraced her willingly, a strange weight to be felt as none had ever wrapped around her so comfortably.

But, even still, Minerva found it difficult to stay put for too long. Not when they were so close to one another. Suddenly she was antsy and squirming, and finally tilting her head back to offer him a heavy-lidded gaze. The joy was fading fast but the trainee clung to even the tiniest bursts with hope that his hold would not leave just as quickly. For a long while she let her head fall back, bangs brushing against her forehead and just barely tickling the lashes of her hazel eyes. Her lips pursed and then remained open ever so slightly, a nervous desire furrowing her brows. Words were whispered from those lips sweetly, as if to distract from what Bix might have seen flickering in her heavy gaze. "You are a good man, Bix. I can tell." It was probably out of place, but would no longer hide what was on Minerva's mind. Again, she nodded slowly with another blush coming on just as it had before. And like that of the cafeteria, the air around them was getting hotter. The desire was strong and relentless for but a moment, making her lips quiver, her hands clutch his shirt, her toes lift her closer to his face.

She sucked in a breath, a drop in her stomach sending her back onto her heels slowly...No? No. It wasn't right. It wasn't the right time!

Suddenly she pulled away from him, trying to be as nonchalant as possible but failing miserably. Minerva looked uncertain, taking a finger to her mouth to nibble on out of habit. She was running off of facts and conclusive data now, making note that.. she had no idea who Bix REALLY was! Flight mode activated.

"Cocoa?" She rubbed at her arm thoughtfully. "Yeah.. that sounds nice Bix. Um..." And then she reached up to brush against his own arm, tapping it with two fingers before pulling away. "But.. I should probably get some training in before it gets too dark." Moving toward her coat and boots, Minnie lifted them into her arms and turned to face Bix. "You know how it is, right? Maybe later though? If you're.. um.. still awake, or something?"

Awkward.

But it was the only way. What had she been thinking?! What were they even doing?

iloveyouDIE

To change? She cleared her throat, cheeks hot and bright and not at all helping to make her look at ease with the new situation. A gesture with her head prompting him to at the very least follow her back to the facility helped to move the time along, hands wringing together beneath the folds of her jacket as the anxiety still had yet to settle. As the woman moved, she briefly turned to speak over a shoulder as her bare feet crossed the dunes and returned to firmer ground. "Yeah, of course. Hunting and all of that." A pause. A low giggle. A another fleeting, slightly desiring glance. "And the same goes for you. Feel free to stop by if you ever need anything. My door is open for you." And anyone else?! Her throat caught before she was able to say so.

"I'll see you then?"

Minerva squeaked, stumbling against him with her eyes wide and her brows lifted. It was unexpected. She might even venture to say it was an unwanted embrace, as things were already confusing enough! Now she didn't exactly know what to think. Was it a friendship hug? Was the high still lingering?

.. in any case, the trainee returned the hug in full force, holding him under his arms tightly before falling back with his release.

Right. It was.. uh.. back to work.

((End?!))