damned_institute | [NIGHTSHIFT 35] M31-M40 HALLWAY

"W-well, we might run into delays-- monsters, or brainwashed patients, or find too much to carry in one trip...."

Well, the last was pretty unlikely, and he was pretty sure that they only did the brainwashing alternate nights, but the first was a valid possible problem! Almost as big a problem as the fact that ZEX wasn't deterred at all (was he ever? Aside from the occasional tactless comment that summoned bad memories or something, and like hell if Zelnick was going to do that on purpose), and was, in fact, getting uncomfortably close to being able to grope Zelnick. And he was running out of bed to retreat along. (Just standing up and walking away never crossed his rather flustered mind.)

"Well, we'd best get started then right away, if we're so pressed for time." Still smiling all too widely. Chasing his human was always so much fun! Even as he tried to squirm away from him. If he had his natural arms, ah, then he wouldn't be able to get away from him...

ZEX hummed somewhat to himself, an attempt to replicate a pleased VUX sound that almost translated between the two species, still insistently trying to work his hands beneath his clothing to touch his smooth skin. What was that thing that his human appreciated, the last time they'd spent some time together? Their thick, supple neck, that was right... well, if he'd allow him to get close enough to kiss it, after all.

Much to his bewilderment, Zelnick was finding arguments rather hard to find, even though he knew that there had to be some reason to explain why he shouldn't spend some time with ZEX. Like there being absolutely no chance of ZEX actually stopping if they did much of anything, and then they wouldn't get a change to go out and find supplies at all...

Zelnick made a rather startled sound when his retreat ended up against the wall, even though he'd known he was running out of escape.

[*falls asleep on her keyboard* I'm done for the night, I think. 8D; ]

This was great fun, and a welcome thrill as well! ZEX did so love chasing and catching things, particularly things he loved. How else could his menagerie have gotten so large? He knew humans were delightful, but it was as if the Creator had designed them specifically to appeal to his tastes. It'd be the one kindness they'd ever afforded him, after all.

ZEX laughed, a bit satisfied, at the surprised noise when his human had no more room to back away. He was quick to try and move to pin him in place, and now that he wasn't moving quite so much, he closed in on his neck. "Hmm, now what are you to do, my human love?" he mumbled against his skin, although the answer ("Me") seemed a foregone conclusion to him at this point.

[ XD The last line made me lol~ also, Tanaka might be coming by Captain's room to return his flashlight. Let him interrupt, y/n? (Personally, I think it'd be delightfully awkward XD )]

"Ah, you-- I-- we--" Zelnick began, obviously trying to figure out some way to protest and not doing very well. ZEX had no right to be able to get him to not-protest so quickly! "Admiral, don't..." Even if it felt kinda nice, and Zelnick found his hands half-raised to hold on to ZEX before he caught himself. Dammit, he'd convinced himself that this wasn't a bad idea once before, and been proven wrong; he shouldn't make the same mistake again. Definitely shouldn't. In fact, he really should get away from ZEX and put an end to this neck-kissing, no matter how nice it felt. Really, really put an end to it.

He was going to push away any moment now. Really.

[i was totally just thinking of that! 8D such an interruption would be so awesomely awkward, hee hee. i am totally for it.]

Hmm, his human was going to have to try harder than that now that he'd gotten started! As if he could stop touching or tasting his skin so easily, really! It was almost an impossible thing to ask, with how addictive humans were. His Captain could be so silly at times.

ZEX was, in fact, only encouraged by his feeble protests, his hands finding their way beneath his shirt to stroke along his sides. Human skin was so delightful... he wished he could remember some of the more advanced kissing techniques Xigbar had shown him earlier, but it was difficult to think clearly when he was already somewhat drunk on the experience. They were such beautiful creatures, the sounds they made, the texture of their skin...

"Mmmm, I don't think I can stop now..." A heavy, pleased sigh across his neck. "Unless you make it worth my while..." After all, reciprocation always made things ten times better, at least.

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/454044.html?thread=37621916#t37621916)]

Tanaka slowed as he approached his destination, carefully checking each door to make sure he didn't miss the Captain's. Sure enough, there was "M39", written on the second door to the left. The Shofixti wasted no time in making his presence known, knocking twice on the door using his flashlight.

Yeah. Any moment now, he was going to put several feet between him and ZEX, because the attention to his neck most definitely didn't make him feel rather nice, and ZEX's hands exploring his skin certainly seemed nothing like a convincing argument for just going with this for a few minutes.

No matter how totally not nice feeling everything was, though, he couldn't ignore the knock on his door, and he wriggled a bit, trying to dislodge ZEX. "There's someone in the hall," he said, voice a little shaky, and not at all because he'd kinda liked what ZEX was doing.

Hmmm, his human was enjoying this, he was positive! Although, he probably wasn't enjoying it as much as ZEX did, as that would probably be impossible. How he loved their species...

Bah, someone knocking at the door. ZEX cursed inwardly, not at all in the mood to be interrupted. Whenever things seemed to be going his way...

"I didn't hear anything," ZEX said, not easily moved or dissuaded from his current activities. In fact, he only began to double his efforts. He was going to enjoy this as long as he could. "But if there is someone out there, they could always come back later..."

[will be barging in on next post unless something significant changes]

Tanaka was able to make out both voices in the room. One of them sounded like the Captain, at least... and given his tone of voice, the other was almost certainly ZEX. Figuring that knocking again would prove equally useless, the Shofixti called out in an attempt to get Zelnick's attention. "Captain? It's Tanaka. I need to talk to you." Hopefully the human would be able to convince ZEX to let him in, despite... what were they doing in there anyway?

Damn, he hadn't had a chance to talk to Tanaka about-- well, not this, because this wasn't supposed to happen, and was about to stop happening, yes. "Admiral, move," Zelnick whispered, half-heartedly trying to get ZEX's hands out from under his shirt. "Just a moment!" he called out to Tanaka. This, er, would probably look pretty bad if Tanaka came in...

Ugh, it was the Shofixti! Of all the bothersome pests to interrupt him in the middle of something so vitally important! Was anything ever easy?

His human hadn't even had a chance to reciprocate yet! And he was sure of course that he would, given the time. His skin was so beautiful... so smooth... how it felt against a human tongue...

A moment, hmm. With his human so close to him, it was almost impossible to let him go. He frowned a bit at his Captain's attempt to move him. What was he doing? "Can't you come back later? We're very busy."

Tanaka's brow furrowed. The Captain wanted him to wait just a moment, and ZEX wanted him to come back later? Clearly something strange was going on in there. Of course, Zelnick's orders still stood... but after a few more seconds, he began to get worried. What if Zelnick needed his help, and was just trying to shield ZEX from blame? Given the Captain's usual temperament towards... well, basically anyone... it wasn't far-fetched.

The Shofixti put his ear to the door. If he wasn't to come in, at least he'd get as good an idea of what was going on.

"Admiral," Zelnick hissed, pushing him away a little less half-heartedly. "You can't just tell him to go away." And now that he had something else to think about, it was easier to resist the (totally un-) pleasantness of ZEX's attack.

Voice taking on a slightly irritated tone, he said more loudly, "Disregard Admiral ZEX, Tanaka." Quieter again, he told ZEX, "If he needs to talk to me, then he needs to talk to me."

"Well, why not?" ZEX glanced at the door irritably. "We are busy, aren't we? And I don't think he'd care to join us." His human was trying to get him off now, bah, the Shofixti had ruined everything! This wasn't making ZEX any more favorably inclined towards him, that was for sure. "Well, we were busy, until he rudely interrupted."

That and ZEX did not care for being disregarded. ZEX defiantly refused to move very much, although he wasn't quite in the mood to continue lavishing attention on an officious human now. "How could it possibly be more important than this?" ZEX grumbled.

That was enough for Tanaka. If he had heard through the door correctly, the Captain was ready to discuss whatever it was, despite ZEX's protests. On the other hand, it was clear that the situation was still a delicate one, so the Shofixti was careful to be polite about his entry, explaining himself as he fumbled with the doorknob. "My apologies for the intrusion. I merely wanted to get some instructions for the night, and return your..."

Tanaka stopped short as he entered the room and the two people in it came into view. A moment later, two flashlights clattered to the ground. The Shofixti stood transfixed, mouth half-open and a look of utter confusion on his face. Why was ZEX tangled up in the Captain's shirt? Was he actually... but then why did the Captain...

Tanaka squinted, a pained expression on his face, and a single word excaped his lips, not too loud but plenty emphatic and plenty confused.

"What?!"

Zelnick froze, staring back at Tanaka as he blushed a remarkably vibrant red.

Then, after a few seconds, he burst into a torrent of nervous words. "It, it's not--" Well, it kinda was what it looked like, "-- it's just-- er, I, we were. Uh." Necking on a bed in the dark. "This isn't..."

He trailed off for a moment, then said, very quietly and very obviously mortified, "Did you say you wanted instructions?" Oh man, ZEX really needed to stop being all over him. Two minutes ago.

Well, the Shofixti was in the room now, which he supposed was the end of that. Humans were so picky about doing things privately! And he was so close too. Maybe after the Shofixti left they could resume...

On the other hand, it wasn't like ZEX was not used to, or in fact did not expect, to shock and offend people. He knew the consequences of his preferences when they'd been made all too clear to him by his people. He regarded Tanaka's confusion/disgust in a kind of distant, unaffected way. What people thought never mattered much to him, after all.

"I'd appreciate it if said instructions were quick?" ZEX said, as if there was nothing unusual about what he was doing. He was quite comfortable where he was, after all.

Tanaka was still in a certain degree of shock. He knew what it had looked like, of course, but the Captain? And a VUX? Struggling to continue doing his duty through his growing suspicion (and refusal to consider) that the Spathi had been on to something with his bizarre blurt-out the previous evening, the Shofixti bent down and tried to pick up the flashlights, failing several times due to his own distractedness and lack of depth perception, before finally getting one of them and putting it properly in front of the nearest closet. At the same time, he tried to respond to the Captain as coherently as he could. "Yes. Yes. We had made plans yesterday. Things didn't work out. If you have any ideas for what to do tonight... it would be helpful. And also when you plan to go out yourself." He was still worried about the Captain going out without a bodyguard, but to an equal extent he felt he had to throw out something, some excuse for an exit, anything to help him vindicate his hope that Zelnick had been trying to get out of this mess.

"Y-yeah, I don't think Usopp would take kindly to you showing up without me..." And, he realized, he hadn't even talked to Yuber in days; he wasn't sure the guy even knew Tanaka existed. It was hard to remember details like that, when ZEX was still not moving away and you felt like you were about to catch fire from your blush. "I was planning on going upstairs and searching for supplies. Actually." With about as much subtlety as he could muster in this sort of situation, he shot ZEX a Look to try and convey that they should do that right away. Of course, he wasn't quite sure how much of what he meant got to ZEX, but he certainly tried!

Tanaka obviously didn't want to be here, though, so Zelnick suggested, "Of course, you could go out independently to try and obtain weaponry, or find more allies, or something. Without unprovoked attacks on other prisoners."

ZEX waited for the conversation to end (which would be hopefully soon), still seemingly unperturbed by the entire situation. Even though he was fairly sure that his Captain wasn't going to let him molest him any further (although he couldn't think of any reason why not) and that they might actually set off to do something a bit more constructive (although not nearly as enjoyable), ZEX still wasn't entirely in the mood to move. Well, not completely off of him, anyway. ZEX shifted a bit to one side, curling up against him with an arm around him a bit possessively.

Although his voice was tinted by his smile (now completely irrepressible), ZEX still sounded like there was nothing particularly odd about the situation at all. "Yes, we were planning on searching together, actually. In time, anyway. Hee! Hee! Hee!" ZEX was still grinning at Tanaka in a kind of satisfied way. "But perhaps you'd be better off exploring on your own?"

Tanaka was glad to finally be getting somewhere. An expedition to the second floor... come to think of it, he had seen two or three stories on this building when they were outside yesterday. And with Zelnick's help in getting that knife back from Usopp... well, they might have some luck finding the materials they needed after all.

But then came the punchline: suggestions that he go and investigate. Tanaka was taken aback. It couldn't be that the Captain was trying to get him to leave them there, could it? No. He refused to consider it. The Captain was a hero, the savior of the Shofixti race. Such a person would never leave his betrothed for a...

He forced himself to stop there, and instead address Zelnick directly, with an occasional touch to his forehead and more than an occasional sideways glance at ZEX (who seemed far too pleased with himself about all of this). "Captain, I would... prefer if we were to all go together. You yourself said yesterday that this place was not safe for single parties at night. And besides, we have few weapons and little equipment - I have still had no chance to obtain a proper map." He sighed. "If you think it best, of course, I am willing to go alone. But I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to you while I was gone with your supplies, or busy recuperating from my own battle." Including, of course, whatever ZEX would do if he had is way.

Queens, he hoped Zelnick would see reason about this.

Zelnick leaned away from ZEX and rubbed at his eyes, trying to focus. You're not thinking with your logic, he thought sharply at himself, keep the situation in mind.

"You're right," he said, quietly, then repeated it louder, dropping his hand to his lap and looking up at Tanaka. "Of course you're right. I'm sorry. We should go do that," he turned a bit towards ZEX, "immediately."

And with that, he tried to pull away and get off the bed, if ZEX would let him go.

[Think I'm pretty much dead for toni-- *glances at the clock* ... this morning, since I need to be up in five hours. XD;; Night!]

It was worth a try to get the Shofixti to leave them alone, but it seemed he was as tenacious as the rest of his species. Ah well. ZEX sighed a bit melodramatically. He'd been so looking forward to this! But the night wasn't over yet... maybe they'd still find some time together later. He certainly hoped so! He'd been patient enough for his liking.

"Oh, if you insist," ZEX said, somewhat reluctantly. He let his fingers trail along his human's body as he moved away from him. "We'll simply have to resume later, when we have more privacy." With a glance at Tanaka.

Although, if they found where he'd been transformed and changed him back, ZEX would have to declare the night a rousing success, despite the interruption.

Tanaka breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the crisis had been averted... although he'd have to make sure to stop by the Captain's rooms regularly, in case something like this happened again. For now, though, he focused his attention on getting ready for the night. Picking up one of the flashlights (he wasn't sure which it was, having gotten them mixed up in the earlier confusion), he handed it to Zelnick, while keeping the other for himself in case an improvised weapon (or a second light) was needed. Of course, a real weapon, even that knife, would be better... but Tanaka wasn't sure that stopping by Usopp again would be the best idea, especially given the time that had already been wasted tonight.

Although, come to think of it, the Shofixti wasn't entirely sure where they were planning to go. Still looking at Zelnick, he inquired, "Do you have any plans for specific places to look, Captain? Anything on the map that seems most likely to have useful supplies?" After all, the Captain was the one with the map; Tanaka still had no idea of how most of this mudhole was layed out.

[NIGHTSHIFT 35] M31-M40 HALLWAY

Oh noes~ WHATEVER SHALL WE DO

i have some ideas O3

ideas? hmm, interesting~ what's your proposition?

proposition is a good word for it

Oh my, I see what you mean~

i've been told i'm very convincing O3

[Outside] M39

Is that a Tanaka, come to save Captain from ZEX's relentless attacks~?

Nooo, my sexy plans~

Plans are for cowards! Just like strategy!

He who fights and runs away! >.>

But sometimes you have to stick to your guns O3

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D:

O<

"Anything to declare?"

O///////////o ER, UM!

O3

#.õ

o____o

O>

#.¬

... ._.

O<

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Okay! Business, people!

this isn't sexy business O<

no, no it isn't #_^

No sexy times in front of the children, ZEX!

you are so strict

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And off we go!

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