xp_logs | Log - Darcy and Inez, Wednesday afternoon

xp_outlaw posting in

Inez decides to brush up on some simple roping skills, Darcy simply observes, then things simply become a little more complicated.

After talking with Darcy on the journals, Inez felt like practicing some of her roping skills. It'd been a minute since she'd used them, not having much need for them in Manhattan or its surrounding environs, and she didn't want them to get rusty on her. The Big City was fine but she couldn't let it make her soft, wouldn't let it.

So, she changed into her most well-worm (and therefore comfiest) flannel shirt, a black tee underneath, and denim jeans before grabbing her rope. With a quick snag of her hat, she flipped it on and shut her door behind her, heading for the outside of the mansion. There were some tree stumps out around the stable area if she recalled correctly, and some fencing with posts as well, all kinds of things to work with.

Darcy had taken a walk to calm herself down, meandering around the grounds with her phone on silent in the pocket of her hoodie and a bottle of water in her hand. Her wandering eventually led her to Inez, and she watched the other woman for a moment before letting out a low whistle to grab her attention. "Looking good, Cowgirl!" she called out as she headed closer, coming to a stop next to the other woman.

The whistle caught her attention and she grinned as she saw Darcy approaching. She inclined her head in a greeting, smiling as she readied her rope for some lasso practice. "Fancy meetin' you out here," she said. "Lookin' good yourself. All our talk got me thinkin' that I should practice a little, it's been a minute and I don't wanna completely lose my skills." It prooobably wouldn't happen that quick, but better safe than sorry and all.

"How're you doin'?" Inez asked. She'd seen some of the other comments on her journal post before she headed outside and hoped that she hadn't accidentally caused an argument or something.

"Just a little raw the past few days," Darcy admitted. The trip to Boston had done a number on her, loathe as she was to admit it. Being around that much negativity directed at her had not been an enjoyable experience. "We'll talk it out. Not the first time we've accidentally stomped on each other emotionally, we've both got plenty of baggage." She gave Inez a sheepish grin. "You mind if I watch for a bit? Maybe you can give me the extended edition of that lasso story while you're practicing."

"Not at all, though I can't promise ya much of a show," she confessed with her own wry grin. Even though she wasn't bad at it, it wasn't like there were any moving targets around or the like, but Inez was more than fine with having Darcy's company if she wanted to grant it. She adjusted the stiff rope and the knot near the top, then gave it a few test whirls over her head.

"The lasso story..." she said, trying to recall what they'd talked about on the journals. "Oh yeah," she said once it came back to her. "So, heh, there was this bounty I had back in... shoot, somewhere in southern California, can't recall 'zackly where, but somewhere thereabouts." She spun the rope a few more times, then turned to face a specific fence post, making it her target.

"Tracked the fella to a fancy suburb, he ran and knew the area better than I did, and almost got away... 'cept he ran past this fancy outdoors pool in someone's backyard. And 'fore he could leap over the fence and escape, I snagged this life preserver from a lifeguard chair, swung it a few times, tossed it, aaaaaand..."

She let go of the lasso with one hand, more releasing it and following through than throwing it, and watched it sail over the post before tugging it and tightening the loop around her target.

"Thankfully the hole was big enough to sink down over his head and part of his shoulders, and - honest to God - when I pulled him back he went SPLOOSH! right into the pool," Inez recalled with a laugh. "Dunno if he could swim or not but luckily for him the preserver kept him afloat until I could wrangle him outta there."

Darcy's eyes had followed the rope as Inez told her the story, letting out a loud whoop of laughter once the guy fell into the pool. "Oh no, that's amazing," she wheezed out between giggles, eventually sinking to the ground before she could fall over. "Y'know, I bet the Danger Room could set you up with some moving targets. If you wanna be up at the asscrack of dawn for it, ask Garrison. Otherwise... Scott, Kyle, Sooraya, probably a few others could show you the ropes, make sure you don't accidentally turn on the mode for like, Colossus. I'd offer, but I'm not cleared to run it alone yet."

"Oh really? Danger Room, huh?" Inez wasn't quite sure what that was but it sounded promising for sure, especially if it'd allow her to practice with moving targets. "And I could use it for more than just ropin' skills, I'm guessin'?" Not that those weren't important, but she had other ones that'd require upkeep too, if at all possible.

She walked over and loosened the rope as she talked, removing it from over the post and winding it up into coils again as she turned around and headed back towards Darcy. "So, about the feelin' a little raw bit, anything I can do to help? By listenin' or maybe using this thing on whoever's done you wrong?" Inez asked, mostly joking about the last part but, well. Have rope, will travel.

"Yeah, we use it for training and well... all sorts of stuff. I don't know everything that went into her making, but think the most advanced training simulator you've ever seen in a sci-fi movie, and make it better. That's the Danger Room. VI - the uh... program that runs it - is really smart, and the various people that have done the programs can show you how to do everything from basic moving targets to whole realistic scenarios." Darcy shook her head as Inez asked about helping. "Just had a rough weekend, let some bullshit spewing outta people's mouths get to me more than I normally would. This is helping a lot, really. Hanging out with you, doing something that passes as normal around here."

"That does sound like something I oughta check out, thanks for the heads up." She finishes gathering up her lasso and re-adjusts the loops, swinging it slowly overhead and taking aim at a different post, further away this time. While swirling it around, she listens to Darcy speak, a small smile on her face at her last words.

"Hah, I don't know if I've ever been referred to as 'normal' before," she said, letting the lasso go and eyeing it as it sailed towards the further post. It connected and she tugged once again, tightening the lasso over her target. "But I 'preciate it," she finished, chuckling. "It sucks when people let their mouths run like that, an' I know it's easier to say not to pay them any mind when talkin' to others, but when it's yourself, well..." She shrugged, advice like that was easier to give than to follow, most definitely.

"Fuck 'em," she concluded, then paused, biting her lip. "I mean, I hope that's not too rude t'say or nothin'... clearly they don't know what they're talkin' about if they're shit-talkin' you."

"There's no weirdness going on, so just being able to hangout and chat feels normal. And normally yeah... I wouldn't pay it much attention. Just sometimes they hit you just right to get past not giving a damn." Darcy gave Inez a cheeky grin, watching the lines of the other woman's body appreciatively as she swung the rope. "The eye candy is definitely a bonus. Bad thoughts, who?"

Inez chuckled as she moved to release the second post from the rope, loosening and sliding it off with a chuckle. "How'd you know I was havin' bad thoughts?" she quipped with a wink at Darcy. "Well, more naughty than bad, I reckon. Which is actually good, right?"

She coiled the rope up once more, sauntering slowly backwards - now that she knew she had a captive audience - and, after opening the loop again, lazily twirling the lasso through the air once more. The furthest fencepost was shorter than the others and a good ten or twelve meters further, but she gave it some extra oomph and just managed to snag it.

"Bullseye!" she exclaimed, a little more excited than maybe she should've, and gave a little jump and a fistbump. "Sorry, just a lil' happy to see I've still got it, heh," she chuckled, turning back to Darcy and giving her a little curtsy.

"Might've been the flirting, just a bit," Darcy teased. "But Team Cowgirl is looking like a great place to be." She clapped enthusiastically as Inez snagged the fencepost again, blowing a kiss at the blonde as she curtseyed. "What sorta naughty thoughts are you having while twirling that rope, ma'am?"

"I miiiight be thinkin' 'bout what else I could tie up instead of fence posts. Or who else, t'be more specific," she teases back, making a little show of catching the kiss mid-air as she strutted over towards Darcy's general direction. "Though... I might also be thinkin' that that's a little forward, 'specially when I don't know exactly what said person's situation is," Inez finished, one hand holding the rope while the thumb on her other hand threaded through a belt loop on her jeans, hips cocked slightly to one side.

"Last time I was tied up it was more for decoration than practicality," Darcy replied, looking up at Inez from her spot on the ground. "And situation..." she sprawled backwards, tipping her head back to stare at the sky. "Doug, Matt, and I are dating, but Matt's also got his boy Foggy and Doug and I both sometimes have roles to play for work. Or Doug's position in the Hellfire Club. Mostly we talk things out, try to make sure nobody's feeling left out or ignored. It's not perfect. If someone'd asked me a few years ago if I'd ever be in this sorta situation I'd've laughed in their face. It's a lot to juggle if someone's looking for more than dipping a toe in on occasion."

Inez took a spot on the ground beside Darcy, listening as she explained her situation. She picked at some grass on the ground, nodding along as she took it in. She let out a low whistle once the other woman was finished.

"Yeah, it ain't a simple one, but it sounds like you're all happy, I hope so anyway," she added. "Bein' on the road pretty much forever 'til now, I haven't exactly had what one might call a 'normal' datin' life either, but nothin' like that. And as for dipping a toe versus somethin' more, well..." She flicked away a few blades of grass, watching them blow away in the slight breeze before repeating the process as she thought.

"Y'know what it's like when you haven't eaten in a while, and you're hungry? For me, bein' with a guy feels like goin' for take-out, a quick n' easy fix, versus spendin' time with a lady and havin', uh... the whole buffet, heh." She tilted the brim of her hat down, ostensibly to block the sun out of her eyes but her cheeks reddened a little as she looked at Darcy. "An' I guess you could say I'm darn near famished these days..."

She cleared her throat and looked away again, plucking up more grass. "As for wantin' more than a toe, well, I've never really had more 'n that with my life bein' the way that it is, but now that I'm plantin' roots I'd by lyin' if I said that may change things." She shrugged; she wouldn't know that until something happened, even if she's never had anything long term before, she can't lie and say it's not possible.

"That's a good analogy, considering how much I enjoy a good meal." Darcy rolled onto her side facing Inez, fingertips reaching out to trail along the brim of her hat. "I did say you were welcome on the team, if you don't mind getting tangled up in something a little complicated," she said gently, enjoying the flush on the blonde's cheeks. "But even if you aren't, my door's open for friends and platonic snuggling, if that's a thing you like."

"Honey, I don't think I know what uncomplicated even looks like," she replied with a chuckle, grinning as Darcy touched her hat. "Gettin' tangled up into somethin' like that... gettin' tangled up with you," Inez said, returning the gesture after a beat of hesitation and tucking some stray strands of Darcy's hair back behind her ear, "sounds like a thing I'd like. Really like, even," she added, stroking her ear lightly with a thumb and then trailing her hand down her cheek, under her chin, leaning in closer.

Heat sizzled down Darcy's spine at the touch to her ear, the trailing hand "You can have the buffet and probably some takeout too, when you're in the mood for it," she murmured, leaning in as well. "And I'm really, really interested in letting you demonstrate more of those lasso tricks." It was tempting to get up and playfully run away, see if Inez would try and catch her. A thought for later. For now, she let her own fingers trail along Inez's jawline, thumb smoothing over her bottom lip. "Gonna kiss me, Cowgirl?"

"Mhm," was all she murmured in response, nipping at Darcy's thumb playfully. When she didn't pull back, Inez leaned in slowly, closing her eyes just before pressing her lips against Darcy's. She sighed against those soft lips, tilting her head to one side to form a better angle as she caressed her cheek, kissing until she had to stop to take a breath. With a quick lick of her lips, Inez opened her eyes and grinned.

"So... does that count as an appetizer then, y'think?" she quipped.

"One of those little hors d'oeuvres they serve at fancy parties that leave you wanting more," Darcy replied, wiggling closer until she could plant soft, teasing kisses along Inez's jaw. "But then, maybe we don't want to serve up the whole buffet on the lawn."

"N-no, we don't," Inez cooed, trying her best not to melt into Darcy's arms as she received a trail of kisses along her jaw. "Public exhibition is a second date situation at best," she joked, though it was difficult to pull away.

So she didn't. Instead she gently tilted Darcy's chin up with a finger, kissing her again. "...maybe we should take this somewhere else before that's what ends up happenin' though, mmm?" Because it was getting harder and harder to make herself stop, if she was being honest.

"That sounds like a fantastic plan," Darcy agreed, pulling back reluctantly and slowly transitioning back to standing. She held her hands out for Inez as well, and once they were both standing pulled her in by the belt loops for a firm kiss. Her eyes twinkled as she stepped back, smile curled in a mischievous smirk. "But first... hey Cowgirl, think you can rope me in?" She spun on her heel as she said the words, setting off at a teasing jog towards the mansion. "Catch me if you can!" she called over her shoulder.

Inez was grinning like a fool after the last kiss, so much so that she was caught completely off guard by Darcy's actions. She blinked then appreciatively watched her running off for a second before chasing her back to the mansion.

"I'm comin' for ya!" she yelled with a laugh, wondering just what she'd gotten herself into.