Envy's Duplex, The Hegemony Compound, Ribeirao Preto, Tuesday

[whenshewasnice]

At the end, Envy's multiversal tour had looped back in on itself: there'd been an extra leg of shows in universes where the initial attempt had been successful in creating interest. Several shows per universe. Kind of like a tour made up of smaller tours. No one could say Envy wasn't a professional.

But today, the tour of tours was done.

She had security carry her luggage up to her apartment. She had many more bags now than when she'd left, filled with souvenirs as well as clothes and general necessities she'd had to purchase on the road as she ran out of things or a bag got misplaced on a portal layover.

She had the bags set down by the door. She figured she could go through all that crap there instead of lugging all of it further into the apartment. Efficient. She thanked the guards, and closed the door behind them. And then she kicked off her shoes, and walked into the living room.

And laid down on her back in the middle of the floor.

She was home.

[ooc: NFB, but open for all the usual. And SP-y as hell.]

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[whenshewasnice]

Envy shifted the guitar onto the floor – carefully – before leaning over, reaching out a hand to tangle in his shirt so she could pull him towards her.

And kiss him.

She had more words. But she'd spilled a lot of them, just now, so she figured she was allowed a few seconds of silence, at the very least.

[lockestheway]

A few seconds of silence, marred by the surprised hmph Peter made as her lips descended on his without much warning.

His hands came up to touch her hair and cheek as the surprise faded and he gave into it.

[whenshewasnice]

He recovered admirably.

It was a soft, slow kiss. It was 'hello', and 'I've missed you', and, well --

When she pulled away, she didn't actually pull away, but rested her forehead against his, and murmured, "Happy birthday, Peter."

[lockestheway]

"Thank you," Peter said, mouth quirking slightly. "How old am I again?"

[whenshewasnice]

Envy opened her mouth.

But no words came out for a second or two.

She squinted. "... Twenty-one?"

Look, she was barely sure how old she was, right now.

[lockestheway]

Peter snickered softly. "It's okay," he said. "I'd have to check the records, too. The passage of time really loses its lustre after age 18." A beat. "I like the song."

[whenshewasnice]

"Good."

She smiled. Nothing too wide, but with him so close to her, that hardly mattered. Her hand moved up, cradled his cheek.

"See?" she asked quietly. "Relevant."

[lockestheway]

"Exaggerating only a little," Peter said, his fingers sliding idly through her hair. "Lately, we've only fought on even-numbered Fridays."

[whenshewasnice]

"It's not that literal," Envy murmured. (Well, it wasn't just literal, anyway.) "Viewpoints can be challenged without actual fighting."

And a lot of people in her life bowed down to her, whether because they were paid to do so, or just because it was easier.

[lockestheway]

"Something I've dedicated my life to trying to prove," Peter said.

He kissed her. It felt like a moment.

"As far as love songs go... could've been much worse."

[whenshewasnice]

Envy made a little sound in her throat, kind of like a tiny 'ugh'.

Okay, it was exactly like a tiny 'ugh'.

"Don't call it that," she murmured, even if she didn't actually sound offended. "That's simplifying things too much."

[lockestheway]

"As far as 'we've known each other for what feels like a very long time and you used to be my assistant before striking out on your own to become a multiversal indie rockstar while I went on to conquer the world, now we're back together again' songs goes..."

Peter paused.

"It doesn't really roll off the tongue."

[whenshewasnice]

"Doesn't have to," she retorted, and gave him a quick kiss. "I don't write simple songs."

Because she didn't feel simple things. Or deal very much in simple anything.

[lockestheway]

"But sometimes people follow you more easily if you break up a complex thought into small bite-sized chunks," said Peter.

Who nipped at her bottom lip.

[whenshewasnice]

"And do I care whether people follow me or not hmm?"

For the most part, no. It weeded out the weak ones.

[lockestheway]

"You care if people find something of value in your music," Peter countered.

[whenshewasnice]

"I wasn't talking about my music, anymore."

So there.

[lockestheway]

"You've certainly got me now with that rapid goalpost-moving action," Peter said, running his hands down her arms.

[whenshewasnice]

"I was never into sports, so you can't blame me for not knowing the rules," she quipped, with a quick shrug. "Anyway. We're going to have to talk, at some point. About the lows and the ranting."

She sighed, and pressed her lips to his cheek.

"But not right now."

[lockestheway]

"Do we?" Peter said. He had another quick joke on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it.

"Never mind," he settled on.

[whenshewasnice]

Probably shouldn't have said even that much. "Never mind what?"

[lockestheway]

"Never mind because my original question implied opening up discussion," Peter said, "And I agree on the 'not right now'."

[whenshewasnice]

That seemed like a satisfactory answer, because Envy nodded. "Good." There was another kiss. Another soft sigh.

She was so tired. "I assume you're on lunch break, so... just hang out with me for a while?"

[lockestheway]

"It can take a little longer than lunch," Peter said wryly. "I only have a few type-2 emergencies on my plate. My people can handle it."

Since she'd been gone for so long and Peter basically only took breaks when she was around.

[whenshewasnice]

Envy looked wryly mused back at him. "Translation: this is like the first break you've taken since you left my hotel room... wherever it was."

It all blurred together. She wouldn't have even remembered the hotel if he hadn't been there, too.

"Okay, then hang out with me a little longer," she concluded. "I'm not exactly going anywhere, except maybe the couch. Or bed. Or shower." None very far-off destinations.