Gambit

"Ain't no rest for the wicked." Penn Marion. 26. Hotel Manager and Creative Exec. The humidity in Hoku Lewa's worse than Florida's, but the money's better.

[professorcalen]

This underwater room is sort of disconcerting.

[professorcalen]

Do you think I am daft? Of course not. But you should be in the business of making people comfortable and not treating people who are using your services like shit.

Although I suppose that you are one of those people who thinks they can get away with anything.

[pennmarion-blog]

No, not everyone. Truth is, I just don't like you. I'm sure you've figured that by now. You could spend all day assuming things about me, kid, but you'd never be right.

I've had my fun. Don't choke.

[pennmarion-blog]

Simon & Penn // Cough Syrup

[simonlawrencenatureboy-deactiva]

“Consider this your warning, love. Stay out of my way.” He turned on his heel. With every step he took, he felt the pain in his body melt away. His anger dripped off him. His own lips were swelling from the kiss. When he was back in his place of residence, he cursed softly.

The pain was gone. The anger was gone. All he was left with was a memory of his stupidity. He shouldn’t have let it go that far. He should have left after the other had said there weren’t any clubs around. So why didn’t he? Because the way Penn looked at him reminded him of Madeline.

And he hated Madeline.

[pennmarion-blog]

He wisely kept quiet, allowing the furious man to have the last word. He didn't feel it was necessary to provoke him again. Penn glowered darkly, narrowed blue eyes watching the way Simon stalked away at first but then began to drag his steps. Simon looked like a man who had been defeated one too many times.

At the same time, the pain at the area of his birthmark lessened the further away Simon was. Penn took that as his body's intuitive way of telling him to avoid the emotionally unstable man. While he could hold his own if it came down to a physical confrontation, Penn preferred not to ruffle his nice shirts. 

Retrieving his phone from his pocket, Penn thumbed open the app in his phone again and made a memo to himself.

Simon Lawrence: aggressive and unstable (yellow)

He slid the his phone back into his chinos and continued with his daily tasks.

[pennmarion-blog]

Simon & Penn // Cough Syrup

[simonlawrencenatureboy-deactiva]

Simon licked his bottom lip. Penn’s cologne was starting to make him dizzy. He’d almost forgotten the ache he’d felt from his birthmark. He was too focused on Penn to pay much attention to anything else. 

He felt a breeze blow between them. It was like time had stopped. He was staring into Penn’s eyes. A volcano exploding couldn’t have made him look away. He took a deep breath.  He released it when Penn kissed him.

Even if the kiss had been to tease, it still made Simon’s body feel electric. He grabbed Penn by his ugly tie and yanked him into a lip bruising kiss. He used on hand to hold onto the tie and the other to tug on Penn’s hair. He licked and nibbled Penn’s lip before pulling away entirely. “You probably get turned on by hearing about yourself. Your cologne is obnoxious.”

[pennmarion-blog]

He stood there stiffly as the other man pounced on his bait. The kiss wasn't sloppy, but Penn didn't enjoy it at all. Glaring at Simon, Penn straightened his tie and ran a hand through his disheveled hair that'd fallen into his eyes after their heated little exchange. It's garnered some attention from the people in the lobby.

Ignoring all the gazes except for Simon's, he managed to keep from growling a reply. "Go." He said lowly. "Get your fucking libido checked out. If I see you sexually assaulting any one of my guests or staff, like you just did to me, consider yourself evicted."

Teasing was one thing, and Penn had to admit that payback was a bitch, but if Simon's temper wasn't reigned in then he was trouble. And Penn had zero tolerance for that kind of trouble. 

[professorcalen]

This underwater room is sort of disconcerting.

[professorcalen]

The thing is that if your hotel has a reputation of making people feel unsafe then that is a very negative connotation. And it would be awful for business.

[pennmarion-blog]

You're just one person. You gonna sing a song about me to everyone and complain about how disconcerting and awful it is living in a luxury hotel? While still living in said hotel?

[professorcalen]

This underwater room is sort of disconcerting.

[professorcalen]

Aren’t you the hotel manager? Shouldn’t you be making sure your guests don’t feel a sense of impending doom?

[pennmarion-blog]

Whether or not you feel anything is no concern of mine. My job is to make sure you don't actually meet your demise.

[pennmarion-blog]

Simon & Penn // Cough Syrup

[simonlawrencenatureboy-deactiva]

“See, I am almost one hundred percent sure that my type doesn’t include spoiled little boys whose mouths are only good for sucking and nothing more.” He growled back. It was always like this. One minute, Simon was fine. The next moment, he’d be completely different.

He didn’t even understand why he was so angry. Maybe it was because this guy thought Simon needed him. Simon didn’t need anyone. It was probably a mixture of the pain and the way Penn reminded him of her. 

Simon didn’t back off. He just leaned in closer. If he leaned any closer, their lips might touch. “Careful, darling. It seems that you might be jealous of my hand.”

[pennmarion-blog]

This was on the brink of bringing back that rush he got from gambling. Seeing fury and frustration on his opponents' faces...knowing that he was outsmarting them or getting under their skin...to Penn, it was a power trip like nothing else. Almost better than the money. Almost.

Simon was right about Penn. Well, partially. He was a spoiled little boy and had to learn the value of money and temptation the hard way. Almost losing his life and year in rehab certainly put things in perspective for Penn. Never took away his arrogance though.

"Not in public, honey." Penn mocked. "The neighbors might start whispering." But he puckered his lips to press a light kiss against Simon's and push his buttons anyway. 

[professorcalen]

This underwater room is sort of disconcerting.

[professorcalen]

Because that makes me feel a whole lot safe. I may not drown… just suffocate.

[pennmarion-blog]

Who said I wanted you to feel safe? 

[pennmarion-blog]

Simon & Penn // Cough Syrup

[simonlawrencenatureboy-deactiva]

“I’m almost sure that my younger sister can’t even spell vegetable.” He crossed his arms and looked Penn over. He continued to listen to him talk. Penn had a strong voice. He must give presentations. Of course, if you looked like that, you didn’t have much else to do besides talk. “Shame I’m not particularly fond of burgers.”

The thought of a cute tour guide did peak his interest, but that may be in contribution to the fact he’d not been laid. “If girls are giggling about him, I don’t know if he’d be so interested in me.”

It took Simon a couple of moments before he laughed. “I’m looking for a boyfriend, not a prostitute.”  Calling whatever poor sap got stuck with him a boyfriend would make it sound more casual. The smile was still at his lips. “I’m not hitting on you or your employees, Mister Marion. If there are not any clubs in the area, I might try out the internet. Maybe those commercials about their success are true.”

He made sure to look Penn in the eye for the next part. “Besides, you’re not really my type.”

[pennmarion-blog]

A beat.

Then Penn actually barked out a laugh at that false confession and sneered, an action that deepened the curved scar on his left cheek more viciously. Striding forward in one smooth motion, he invaded Simon's personal space. Penn tilted his head back just enough to look down on the man. "Daring, you'd better wish I wasn't your type." He husked lowly so people passing by them wouldn't overhear. 

The only thing sharper than the look in Penn's blue eyes as he held Simon's gaze was the pain flaring fiercely under his belt. He normally wouldn't have acted so aggressively but the pain was adding to annoyances throughout his day, the most prominent one being the lazy sous chef he was on his way to fire before Simon planted himself in Penn's path.

"The Internet might work in your favor. If you were looking for a boyfriend on this island, you'd have better luck with your hand." He arched an eyebrow, daring Simon not to excuse himself and back away first.

[pennmarion-blog]

Simon & Penn // Cough Syrup

[simonlawrencenatureboy-deactiva]

Simon could feel his legs start to ache, but attributed it to the running he’d done earlier. He wasn’t as young as he used to be. He probably pulled something. That was a great way to start the day.  It didn’t help that every step closer made his shin hurt worse. He’d have to go home and ice it.

He tried not to think about the weird looking birthmark he had. His older cousin had one told him that was where the doctors had tried to amputate his leg off as a baby. Simon knew that wasn’t true now, but as a kid, it made him cry. Simon hated his family.

Penn looked like the type of man that only worked in bed. He was attractive, no doubt, and he held himself in a way that made Simon feel like he was wasting Penn’s time by breathing. A very small part of Simon felt an even smaller type of attraction to that.

“No, no. I’m not here to complain. This place is really something. Nature around the place is beautiful.” He slipped his hands into his pockets. “I was just wondering what to do in terms of social aspects. I mean..” He took a breath. “My sister has been bugging me to get laid.”

Saying it short and simple would probably be the only way to get Penn’s attention. Penn reminded Simon of Madeline, for some reason. Maybe it was the way they both looked through him.

[pennmarion-blog]

Penn didn't so much as bat an eyelash. He was pretty sure Simon just up and propositioned to him. Much like an artist examining a model, Penn saw that Simon had a good face, boyish features with a lanky frame that added to his particular charm. Not bad for an Ecological advisor.  

"Nice family. Mine just yell at me to eat my veggies." He drawled with a slight smirk, sidestepping the implication behind Simon's words. "This place has a few good burger joints, but clubs? Not so much. There's always the handsome tour guide I keep hearing girls giggle about." Penn slipped his phone back into his right pocket, keeping a calm poker face despite the ache near his groin.

"Maybe if you're nice to the spa employees downstairs they'll be willing to give you a happy ending. Not that you heard it from me." He flashed Simon a devilish grin.

[out-in-the-open]

[phil-strider-blog]

And I have internet.

[phil-strider-blog]

Oh… I don’t live here. I work here. I live in one of those underwater rooms. 

[pennmarion-blog]

Right...you're that tour guide I've been hearing about. Thought your name sounded familiar. Apparently, you left quite the impression on a couple of teenage girls on your tour.

[phil-strider-blog]

And I have internet.

Probably for not very long. The woods are finicky. 

[pennmarion-blog]

How do you do it, living out there with all the mosquitoes?

[melodygalestorm-blog]

Fucking Insomnia

[pennmarion-blog]

I find that reading everyone's posts helps put me in a lethargic mood.

[professorcalen]

This underwater room is sort of disconcerting.

[professorcalen]

I can’t say I have. I’ve never seen a need to waste an egg.

[pennmarion-blog]

Sigh, if done correctly by applying pressure to the egg evenly from all sides, the egg would be perfectly fine. My point is that the underwater rooms work the same way. The water will keep you safe. 

It's the atmospheric pressure you need to worry about. If that drops, oxygen may stop flowing to your room, in which case you'll suffocate, or you'll get the bends. 

[professorcalen]

This underwater room is sort of disconcerting.

I keep getting scared that maybe the glass will crack and I will drown in my own bed.

[pennmarion-blog]

Have you ever tried to crush an egg in the palm of your hand?

[pennmarion-blog]

Of course I mean dirty.

[pennmarion-blog]

I somehow find a way to misinterpret everything you say. I have a dark, dark mind.

By dark, I do hope you mean dirty.