Settle Down With Me, Cover Me Up, Cuddle Me In || Jamelle
TAGGING: James Berry and Isabelle Crawford
LOCATION: Isabelle's Dorm Room
TIME FRAME: Monday Night - 19/01/15
NOTES: James turns up for a cuddle session that gets extended to all night.
James felt exhausted, not tired in a way he wanted to sleep but just exhausted of the day. Of the drama that was caused, of him standing up to himself to the new Dominant and if it were under different circumstances he would be happy that he managed to come out on the better end of the argument and gotten respect from the other and ended up on the better side of it all. But then of course there was his sisters who he had pissed off and then the punishment that he had just gone through with Rachel. He hated punishments, the commanding of submitting but not for positive reasons. He dragged himself to the blonde girls room happy to actually see someone that he would know make him feel better, after their art session he found himself liking her more than he thought and getting hugs from her was just what the doctor needed. Lifting his hand he knocked on her door leaning against the frame as he waited for the other to open the door.
Isabelle had a good idea what had brought about the headache. Stress and worry were never particularly kind to her and after the catastrophe which was Sebastian's first encounter with the students of the institute and the resulting clash of opinion between herself and James, it had left her head in a somewhat fragile state. Currently it was throbbing and a sense of guilt lingered. In many ways, she felt that in challenging James' actions and upon hearing his reasons and emotional state afterwards, that she had let him down. Of course, that wasn't to say she didn't stand by her opinion but that perhaps she should have been a little more mindful of his reasons. As it was though, he didn't appear to be bearing a grudge but Isabelle still needed that physical reassurance to ease her emotions. Freya had come and dropped by tea and food, the girl being a godsend when she needed her and she vowed she would make that up to her at some point but it was that knock at the door she had been needing. With careful manoeuvring, she rose from the bed, conveniently keeping herself warm in the sweats and jumper she had managed to convince James to lend her until she could buy some appropriate night wear. They were too big on her of course but that only added to their comfort. Isabelle barely managed to allow James one toe in the doorway before she sought out his comfort, wrapping her arms around the other male in a tight hug.
James looked at the other when the door came open, a smile making his tired eyes light up slightly as he saw her wearing the clothes he let her take so she didn't freeze in her room. She looked cute in them to say the least, them hanging off her small frame from being slightly on the bigger size for her, it truly was endearing. He took a step forward but ended up stumbling back slightly as he felt arms wrapped around him more or less as soon as they saw one another. He was quick to return the hug though, his own arms circling her as he rested his head on her shoulder, his face nuzzling into her neck as he felt the tension slowly seep from his body just from the small amount of contact, "I think this is just what I needed. Thank you." he said, his voice coming out muffled from where it was against her body.
Isabelle smiled softly against James' body, allowing herself to inhale slowly, the others cologne filling her senses and enveloping her with a feeling of security. "I think I am getting as much from this as you are. Maybe more." Isabelle murmured with a little chuckle as she felt the rough rub of James' chin and cheek nuzzle into the bare skin of her neck. "Like some serious stubble rash that I am going to have to explain tomorrow if you keep that up." She teased, her hands rubbing up and down the others back in soothing motions though who it was meant to sooth was unclear. They stayed like that for a minute or two before the fact they were still stood half on the hallway registered and she pulled back just enough to reach around James and shut the door. "Can we go lie down? I really do need to put my head down before it puts itself down." That didn't prevent her from guiding James with her as she climbed back under the covers. "I know we said something about it being presumptuous to ask one another to get into our beds but..."
James smirked his old self seeping into his body slowly once again, "Really, are you getting a lot from this hug. Is it doing things for you." he teased, his voice trailing into a chuckle that only intensified when she mentioned the way his stubble was rubbing against her soft skin. "I would shave it off but it makes me lose around ten years so I tend to keep it." he mentioned thinking about the pictures he had with him clean shaven making him look like he was in his early teens when in fact he was in his early twenties. "I could cover it up with some mouth bruises if you would prefer to answer those questions." he spoke continuing the teasing. He let out a soft humming noise at the hands on his back the calm washing over him, something that he really did need after the type of day that he had. The sound of the door closing and the way she pulled back slightly made him do the same, taking a proper look at her since he had entered the room. "Of course, I don't want it falling off or imploding." He removed his shoes along with his jacket leaving him in a t-shirt and sweatpants, very similar to the others borrowed look as he moved over to bed watching as she climbed in, "For cuddling purposes it's totally allowed." he mentioned before moving to get in beside her, "Plus you weren't joking when you said it was cold in here."
Isabelle should have seen that coming really but she hadn't. It did make her laugh softly though and she shook her head as he got into her bed. Waiting until he was laid down, Isabelle shuffled closer, winding their legs together under the covers. "Your stubble suits you. No need to get rid of it." She murmured, eyes drifting over the area whilst one hand gently traced the short hairs. He thumb rubbed softly at the line his his jaw before skirting upwards to brush along his ear. She caressed the skin of his earlobe and the shell smoothly before her fingers finally reached their destination to card through the dark locks. "Did you think I was exaggerating when I said that?" Isabelle asked, the corners of her lips turning upwards. "Because I wasn't. I am used to wet and cold weather in England."
James smiled at the sound of her laugh and instinctively curled closer towards her once he felt her legs twined with his own, he moved his arm from beside him so it was wrapped around the blonde girl, having no choice but bringing her that extra little bit closer which he would argue was for warmth. "Thank you and I wasn't planning on it, I mean it. Twelve." he said with a chuckle, "I'll show you pictures one day. I would feel naked without it." he said with a slight shiver just coming to think about it, he was too attached to the scruff now that he wasn't sure if he could part with it. The touch to his face was surprising and yet no unwelcomed as she watched her out of the corner of his eye as her hand traced around the stubble and over his features, he couldn't help the small hum of pleasure that left his lips or the way his eyes fluttered closed when her hand reached his hair though, because it really did feel good and he would certainly never be opposed to her petting his hair from now on. "I thought you were exaggerating slightly, next time we do this though we should stick to my room since I do hold the almighty heater and I don't have a roommate." James laughed remembering the weather from his trip, "After I finished college I traveled and I went to London for a around a month I think, I'm pretty sure the time I was there it rained non stop."
Isabelle had always been quite physical in that she enjoyed the ability to touch and explore. It was no different now. She could get to know someone from the sound of their voice or how they looked but feeling... there was just something about it, that connection you couldn't get any other way. There was nothing sexual about it just the need to be close to another human being, someone she trusted. "Maybe I should ask your sisters. I am sure they would have amazingly embarrassing photos of you when you were younger or drunk..." She teased, fingernails scratching playfully at his scalp. It wasn't fair that a male could have such thick, soft hair. "No... not making it up." As if to emphasise her point, Isabelle pressed the tip of her particularly cold nose right in against the others adams apple. "That sounds like good old London. I still love it there despite the terrible weather."
James recalled the other claiming she was pretty physical when it came to being with someone and touching and she really wasn't joking. James wasn't complaining though, he was a pretty physical person himself, he learned more that way, through the ways of touch and he found it really comforting too. It was the easiest way to have him calm down and also as an artist, taking a feel of something helped with the images that he produced on the paper. But this, the soft touches to his jaw and hair, they were intimate without it being in a sexual or romantic manner, it was just nice and he wasn't just if he could name a time when he had something like this. "Maybe you should- though you might want to wait until they've cooled off a bit before mentioning my name." he said softly, "But I think there are some ones of me on table tops from my drunken nights out, people take too many pictures for my liking." he chuckled even he knew he was the one who was most likely to have his camera out. The noises were almost a purr as he reveled in the way Belle's hand felt in his hair and he had to make sure she would never stop because it felt relaxing and pleasant in so many ways. "Shit." he cursed moving his head away from her cold nose, he reached his free hand out and rubbed it trying his best efforts to warm it up, "Cold noses are the worst." James laughed and nodded, "It's a beautiful city I'll give you that, I got so much work done while I was there too. The city of my muse."
Isabelle let out a slight sound of amusement at the fact she managed to throw him off kilter with the touch of her nose to his neck. It was such a simple thing but it was a little like having cold feet in bed; there was a definite shock to the system when the cold caught you off guard. The movement of the others hand rubbing her nose was somewhat bizarre and comforting in the same moment and she shifted her hands to wrap them around James' waist, smiling softly at his attention. "It is a beautiful city. I am lucky to come from there." Isabelle admitted, her eyes closing for a minute or two until his action's ceased. Her fingers drew small patterns on James' back as the fell into companionable silence, making the most of the warm body in front of her. "Thank you for coming to me tonight. I know things haven't necessarily been easy for you but I'm glad you're here." Isabelle admitted slowly, letting her head tuck under his chin and rest there. She swore she could almost hear his heart beating steadily from this position and it soothed her after the days antics. "I had worried that I had upset you for a little while there and I couldn't bear thought. I dislike seeing you unhappy as it is without becoming the cause of it."
James felt the way her small hands wrapped around his waist and it was almost like all the emotions that were bubbling inside of his from when he first arrived were now non existent, that they had never even been there in the first place. Right now he felt safe, warm and comforted and it was making him relax, more than he had relaxed in who know's how long. "I can imagine why you're proud. I'm proud to be a New Yorker, would rather say I came from Manhattan then Long Island but you can't please everyone." he joked. As they both fell into a silence that was far from awkward, her felt his hand absentmindedly following hers but instead of it being on his own back it was on Belle's, his fingers tracing over jumper she was wearing, down, along the hem and back up again, a soothing process that caused the calm to settle further in him. "I don't think I could have stayed alone in my room tonight, I would have drove myself crazy by the time twelve hit. So it's really not a problem, I'm enjoying this too." he said with a smile as he continued to listen to her, his brows furrowing together at her words. "You hadn't upset me, I was more confused at the fact I seemed to be standing out alone but then when I spoke to Chris I realized that different people have different opinions, like her saying she would have had no problems getting on her knee's for him because she knew he meant no harm. But I'm not upset with you, not one bit." he said leaning his head on top of hers for a moment weighing his options before pressing a small kiss to the top of it, once again it wasn't meant to be romantic - just comforting and something he found himself doing if he were with his sisters.
Isabelle had always been very responsive to touch and to positive attention. The hands on her back were a warm heavy weight through the material of her jumper causing pleasant ripples of sensation to travel along her skin. It relaxed her and Isabelle appeared to melt even more compliantly under James' ministrations. Isabelle found that she felt the same calmness forming here that she often felt around her brother Adam but there was also something more honest and raw here that Isabelle could only put down to a common understanding that she hadn't expected to find between them. In moments like this they were extremely similar and because of that understanding of one anothers needs, they appeared to gravitate toward one another. " You don't have to be alone James. You can feel free to come here whenever you need to or you can text me if you ever want my company. I would have hated attempting to sleep after our discussion. I didn't particularly want to be alone either." Her fingers tightened their grip on his shirt, hugging him fiercely as the lips pressed against his forehead. "And you didn't stand alone. We all made our points clear in different ways. You just stood out like a sore thumb." She teased with a smile. "You have quite the mouth on you Mr Berry."
James noticed a small section of her back where the jumper she was wearing had ridden up, moving his hand down to let his warm fingertips caress the exposed skin that was on show there, the softness making him smile. When he had drawn her he had the urge to reach out and touch, to see if her skin was as soft as it looked and this confirmed it, it helped when it came to drawing people too - soft curves and skin leading to softer pencil stroke where was harder lines made for harsher strokes. He was thankful for using the softer technique the day before for him. He had been with men and woman like this before but there had always been something attached to it, whether the moment was following from sex or they were in a relationship but he had never done this with a friend before, it felt good, really good actually. He felt safe, comfortable and just content, the need to move closer to hold her closer to his body and have her hands explore his body more. "I know I don't have to be and you should be careful with what you offer because you'll get sick of seeing me, because I'll be texting you every night telling you to come and keep me company and if you say no I will get needy." he teased, he knew it wasn't true and he wouldn't actually do that but it felt nice to know he could ask her to come keep him company if he wanted it. "Okay maybe I didn't and it's just because I used some choice words and made a bigger splash but I don't care. It's who I am not going to change that." he said with a shrug. He winked at her "Not the first time I've been told that, but they usually say that after I've done some pretty amazing things to their body with it."
Isabelle made a small sound of surprise at that and jumped a little at the contact. The action had grazed her skin in a way that had tickled and caught her off guard but a moment later and her body appeared to relax once more as she let out a content sigh. Feeling skin against her own... it was really nice and the action wasn't one that tread the line of inappropriate. For all James' talk, he had never once acted inappropriately and she supposed that may have been why she felt so at ease to allow him to do as he wished. There was no expectation of anything more just the closeness of another person and the delight in close contact. "I very much doubt that James." Isabelle offered softly when he told her that she would eventually get fed up of seeing him. "I am pleased that you know you don't have to be alone though." That was the most important thing. He didn't have to feel wound up or upset. He didn't have to deal with it alone because she was more than happy to help shoulder any burdens he had. "Needy.. aw... like my own little puppy again aren't you." She playfully jested, one hand reaching up to scratch James' ear before ruffling his hair and staying there. "You are like a big overgrown puppy dog though with those big brown eyes and cuddly nature." She had always had a soft spot for puppies. "I know you won't, as long as you don't expect me to not try to calm you down." Isabelle rolled her eyes, laughing at his comment. "Your sex life doesn't interest me James Berry. Kindly keep it to yourself."
James couldn't help but laugh at the way the other jumped in reaction to his touch, he was half expecting her to tell him to move his hand but when she relaxed once again he left it be, rubbing his thumb back and forth over the small patch. He was all talk and no game when it came to being crude with his words, sure he made those kind of jokes but he would never push someone into sex, he was just a big flirt with a different way of talking. Some people hated it and some people just found it endearing - well they found it endearing once they got to know him better. "You say this now." he commented in a sing song voice, he was hoping she was right though and not him because he couldn't see himself getting sick of the other girl, ever. "I know, but I don't want to burden you with what goes on up here." he said tapping his head, "Each of us Berry's do something different when we're upset. Rachel just doesn't say anything and keeps it bottled in, Chris - she just runs away and me. I pace my room and self hate on myself and it won't necessarily be about what's just happened it can be stuff from back in the past. My main one is going to think back about my old relationship that I had before I came here." he said idly letting his hand trace up to rub up her back. "Oh hush." he said nudging her, "Mhm, your pet I got it the first time you said that and I'm not going to complain because that feels so freaking good." he said as he let out a small noise at the ruffle of his hair. "I would be grateful for you to try and calm me down, I'll need it to stop me from doing something really stupid. Like seriously if you see me doing something like beyond stupid stop me, okay?" James let out a small scoff. "I'm sure it doesn't - you really want to find out what it's like. Don't you." he teased.
Isabelle whacked the others chest gently when he decided to laugh at her sudden jump though it held no malice behind it and was little more than a swat. "I'll say it whenever." She continued with a little smile, settling down to listen to him explain the differences between the triplets. She liked listening to the stories, as simple as they were because they gave her more of an insight into the male she was currently curled up with in bed. The fact he felt like he could talk to her about this kind of thing felt like a privilege and it wasn't one she was going to ruin. "You know if you ever want to talk about it you can but I won't force you to." Isabelle knew he would tell her in his own time if he ever wanted to. Some things he supposed no one wanted to remember. She was laughing a moment later when James exclaimed how good the fingers in his hair felt and she made a point of massaging his scalp in slow, fluid motions. "Unless I think it will be great for blackmail in the future, I will stop you." She playfully responded. "And no, I am fine like this." Isabelle murmured with a smile.
James let out a small oomph when he was hit in the chest and chuckled while holding his hand up to where he was hit playing on the dramatics, "Well I come here to keep you company and you wound me. Violence - it's never an option." he told her nodding in her direction. "I'm going to hold you to that mind." He told her pointing towards her, as she told him he could talk to her he hummed considering it, he wanted a chance with her, hoping he wouldn't hate her for his mistakes that he still beat himself up over. "His name was Oliver, he was, well he was amazing. We had been together for a year but we had been friends before that and it was getting serious, like looking into claims serious- he made me feel safe, calmed me down when I got upset all that shit Dominants do." he commented looking up at the ceiling as he let his hand continue to follow the strokes on her back, the same motion of up and down. "We got into a really bad fight one night and I left, just walked out and decided to go to a bar, I got drunk off my ass, took something I shouldn't - probably ecstasy or something along those lines and I fucked another guy." He said nodding slowly before sighing. "I went back once the effects of everything wore off, I had a panic attack outside our door and he sat there and told me everything was going to be okay. I told him though, the next morning, safe to say it ended then and there. To this day it's the biggest mistake I've made and it's part of the reason I'm here. I want to be better, both as a man and as a sub - I don't want to be labeled as a bad person just from that mistake." he confessed as he looked at her finally, "Please just, don't hate me." he said a slight crease of worry at the corner of his eye. He could deal with other people disliking him for his mistakes but he couldn't stand the thought of this girl hating him for it. He closed his eyes and hummed deep in his throat chuckling at her words, "Thank you, I mean if it was something hilariously stupid then go ahead and let me do it and film it, I'm always amused by my stupid antics when no one gets harmed." James looked at her and smiled, "Alright then, I'll keep my sexcapades to myself then."
Isabelle hadn't been expecting James to confide in her so soon. She had expected that it would take time for his past to come out but it did make sense. Right now they were close and there were no barriers or walls up. There wasn't any judgement between them just acceptance and understanding that no matter what they said it would be kept between them. It was an unspoken understanding and because of that, Isabelle listened intently to his story, lips forming a soft frown at the thought of him being left by his Dominant. Removing both her hands from his back, Isabelle placed them on James' cheeks, cupping them in a tender manner. "Hey... look at me." She requested softly, thumbs caressing his cheeks gently. "I don't hate you. How could I possibly hate you for that? Do you really think you are the only one who makes mistakes?" Isabelle inhaled heavily before pressing her lips to his nose. "You can't get rid of me so easily. You are not the only one who did things to be ashamed of." She murmured, her eyes serious and filled with sadness and she pulled back enough to tuck her face under the others chin. "My Dad died when I was twelve." She began, lips pressing together in silence before she continued. "Remember when I told you he wasn't a Dom but I treated him like one? Well yeah... I adored him. I was a Daddies girl through and through. I don't think I ever remember being happier than when I was looking after him and pleasing him." Her arms moved to wrap around James once more, finding the weight in her arms a comfort. "Anyway... losing him... it felt like I had lost myself too. Stupid as it might sound, I couldn't imagine a life without him where I wouldn't have him to turn to. In such a short space of time I lost the meaning in my life. I was only twelve but that was how it felt. You are supposed to have your parents for so much longer than that and it didn't seem fair." Isabelle could feel that familiar lump at the base of her throat but she took a moment, swallowing it back. She was older now and had more control and she wouldn't let herself keep getting upset over it. "My family... looking back I know they were hurting too but... it just... it was like he was forgotten about so fast. They couldn't talk about him and then they were smiling again and laughing... I just couldn't I guess. I got bitter watching them move on with their lives and I was just stuck. I was a pretty selfish twelve year old who couldn't see past herself and what I was feeling I guess." She gave a slightly humourless laugh. "Anyway... I fell into the wrong crowd... skipped school, started smoking, drinking... doing anything I could to fit in with the group. I guess we all felt like our families had abandoned us or let us down in some way, or at least that's the excuse we used to act the way we did." A shuddered sigh left her and she centred herself using the scent of the other male, inhaling slowly until she felt more collected. "I don't know how many times I was punished for climbing out the window or running off on my mother. My siblings tried to help too but I was awful to them. I mean it, seriously awful." But that was for another day. "In the end I put myself in hospital; not on purposely of course but yes... I ended up having an alcohol overdose at thirteen or fourteen." She couldn't recall exactly the age now but a lot of that time had been a blur. "It opens your eyes when you wake up to see the faces of your family stood around your bedside." She admitted, nuzzling against his neck. "I kind of knew from that point after the Doctor yelled at me for being lucky it hadn't done any damage that I needed to change. It wasn't easy but my siblings helped most of all." She pulled back to look at James. "So we aren't all that different. We have both done some seriously stupid shit in our lives." She rarely swore but this time it was with a somewhat wobbly smile but a smile none the less. "So do you hate me?"
James waited with bated breath to hear the response from the blonde girl, waiting for her to start shouting her disgust over what he did, to tell him to get out of her room and to say she didn't want to see him anymore. It's a reaction he deserved for what he did, saying it out loud just made him realize how bad it was. He still had bad dreams haunting him of that night, how comforting his boyfriend had been when he had no idea what he himself had just gone and done. However what he wasn't expecting was the way Isabelle's hands came and rested on his face softly, giving him no choice but to look up and to her blue eyes. "Because I destroyed a man who loved me, who trusted me, who wanted me forever. I just threw it all away for one fuck." he said with a harsh and malice laugh. "No- I know I'm not the only one but I tend to make stupid one's pretty frequently." he commented and it was true, he was pretty sure that's why his sisters grew annoyed at him so much. The press of lips against his nose along with her telling him she wasn't going anywhere made relief wash over him, "I'm glad, I was getting used to having you around." he mentioned but stayed quiet upon hearing her next words and seeing the mood change in her face. It became more stormy, more upset and serious - the only reaction he had to it was him bringing her closer to his body in a way of trying to protect her from whatever bad thing was in her head along with trying to provide her comfort. The whole time the other talked, he drew patterns on her back, carded his hand through her hair and just listened. It sounded like she had been through so much and at such an early age too - and he thought his problems were bad, she had been living with such sorrow and sadness and he really did feel for her. His eyes widened when she mentioned ending up putting herself in hospital causing him to curse softly under his breath. The last five words made him look down in confusion, why in hell's name would he hate her. "Hate you? No, how could I." he said pulling her slightly so she was resting on his chest making it easier to look down at her while he took her small hands in his larger ones, "You've been through so much shit and at so young, fuck." he said shaking his head, "I'm sorry and I know that doesn't help because it doesn't change anything but..." he tried to think of better words before opening his mouth again, "You're such a strong person Isabelle, to go through all of that, to feel such a loss, to crash and burn and then pull yourself back together again. It takes a lot of fucking courage and I know-" he smiled, "I know your Dad would be so proud of you if he saw you now."
Isabelle hadn't expected him to hate her. Be a little surprised yes, but not hate her because she didn't think James was like that and that was exactly her point. If he didn't hate her for all her mistakes and for how foully she had treated the ones who care about her the most then why would he think that she would ever hate him. Unfortunately humans were stupid by nature and they made horrible and ill advised mistakes but for her it was the intentions behind them that were important. James had done something he really shouldn't have but it wasn't with the intention to go out and hurt his partner. It was a moment of idiocy where he simply didn't think. She flushed softly at the others compliments, mainly because they weren't deserved, not even slightly. "No, he would be so disappointed in me for they way I behaved James. He was such a gentle man and so kind and considerate of other peoples feelings. What I did was beyond awful and people go through that kind of thing every day. Children have worse to put up with and some don't have anyone. I nearly threw away my family and my life for selfish reasons. That isn't courageous it is just so... stupid." She said with a shake of her head. Those bad decisions were things she was going to have to live with, knowing she had let her father down and it killed her just thinking about it. "I just... My Daddy was pretty much my whole world back then."
James shook his head at her, "You need to listen to me now." he said mimicking her words from before taking her face in his hands, "He would have understood. You are human, I am human, he was human. Humans make mistakes, over and over, every day - but we learn from each little mistake we make and it makes us stronger, wiser. He may have been disappointed in the way you acted, sure, but that would be because he cares about you and wouldn't want to see you hurt in that way." He rubbed his thumb over her cheek gently as she continued, "People go through terrible things and they might have been worse then what yours was but it doesn't mean that yours wasn't terrible too. You did it because you were hurt and it was your defense mechanism. You're still here for a reason and you're not like that now right? You've changed, learned from it and that took courage to do that. You could have just fell back to your old ways." James pressed a small kiss to her cheek before pulling back and looking into her eyes, "You're a good person and seeing you now, he would be proud of you and the way you've progressed."
Isabelle found it hard even now after so many years not to get upset when her father was mentioned. She could feel her face heating up in that familiar way and the lump forming in her throat, threatening to crumble her resolve. She didn't like crying in front of people or being upset in general. She had wasted enough peoples time like that already and she wouldn't do it to James. She shifted her head out of his grasp to instead bury it against his neck and chest, closing her eyes tightly. "I... Thank you...just... Can we not?" She requested quietly, trying to centre herself using James' scent and voice. This wasn't supposed to be about her and yet that was how it had ended up. "Tell me more about you... Anything, maybe a silly antic you got up to or your April fools plan." Isabelle murmured trying to move away from topics that would end up more sad than happy.
James could see the tell tale signs in the others face, watching as emotion was overcoming her and he cursed internally for being the fault of that. He thought what he said would have helped her, not made her more upset - he wanted to make it better but he had no idea how and all he could do was hold her tighter and comfort her using touch, he was just hoping that would be enough. "Yeah, of course. Sorry." he told her, his voice soft as he ran his fingers through her blonde hair smiling lightly. "Something about- erm well okay, give me a minute to think." he said tapping his fingers on her back as he tried to think of something about his life to make things lighter, to take away the heaviness that had settled in the room. "When I was little I really wanted a dog, I wasn't allowed one of course because most of the time your parents are like no pets. And I was really upset about it, my Dad's told me the only way we would get one is if we found a stray that was left." he licked his lips smiling at the memory, "So I went through a phase where I thought that if I got a dog to follow me home we would be able to keep it, so to try and get that to happen whenever I went out the house I always carried some sort of meat in my pockets, chicken, beef, turkey - and when I was near a dog I used to try and coax it away from it's owner with the meat just so I could take it home." he laughed shaking his head, "I think it's safe to say that it didn't work and dog owners got pretty mad that I was feeding their dogs random shit."
Isabelle appreciated that James took into account her words and she seemed to relax the more he talked though her head didn't move from his chest. It was comforting... warm. A small laugh was muffled into his t-shirt as he talked about his childhood memory. Really, it wasn't hard to believe that James was like that, always causing trouble in one way or another but with the best intentions. "You're terrible." She told him, though it was said with clear affection in her voice. "I always wanted a dog." Isabelle added after a minute or two. "Can't imagine being given a better present." But maybe that was biased due to watching Lady and the Tramp as a child and seeing the woman receiving a puppy for a christmas present. "Still, someday." She murmured quietly.
James smiled at the laugh that was emitted from the other girl, it was like that small sound was enough for all the tension and sadness to drop from the air in an instance, he shrugged against the bed and chuckled. "I'm not terrible at all, I'm charming and lovely." he responded, he remembered the looks his fathers gave him when they turned around to see him stuffing chicken back into his pocket when a dog took no interest. "I think they would make a great companion." he mused and smiled, "It would be a great present but as you said some day, you might get that." he said drawing swirls on her back with his fingertips. "A lovely house with a white picket fence, big back yard, a dog - dominant that loves and cares for you and everything just seems perfect. Like life couldn't get any better then that, your personal fairytale." he grinned, "A happily ever after."
Isabelle sighed softly. "Yes... yes you are." She admitted after a moment. It was rare that Isabelle would admit that with no teasing included but it seemed important to tell James that right now. She did think he could be charming and he was very lovely in her opinion. He was thoughtful and kind and that went a long way in the females opinion. She could imagine that though, having the house and the perfect little family with her Dom and puppy. It seemed a far way away at the moment though. She was young but it didn't mean she didn't thin about all those things often. As a sub she supposed it was only second nature to want the security of something stable. "And what about you and your happily ever after?"
James was a little taken back from her agreeing to his playful words, he had been joking, teasing but to have her agree caused his hand to pause on her back for a moment before continuing again. "You aren't half bad yourself Crawford." he said his voice continuing to be soft. There were rare moments when he felt the overwhelming urge to kiss someone just because of sweetness and a close intimacy - not the kind that made him want to sleep with someone, no he had those moments all the time and they were far from rare - but this one was one of the rare ones and he was feeling it with the other girl lying on his chest. "Hey, Isabelle." he said biting his lip looking down at her, not sure whether he should ask but the words were out of his mouth now and he couldn't take them back. James thought for a moment because he had no idea what he wanted, "I think, to have a claim that's more like a relationship and yet I still feel cared for. My happily ever after is to feel well... Safe."
Isabelle felt so weary and zapped of her energy after their talk. Mainly because of the emotions it had evoked but also because she was so completely content and safe in the warmth of James' arms. There was no guard up and she felt comfortable to let her eyelids droop somewhat as she nuzzled further into his chest in a sweet manner. The others voice though brought a lazy smile to her lips and she pulled her head back, humming in question when her name was called. She looked up at him for a moment, waiting for him to voice whatever was on his chest and when he did she leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Claims can be a relationship James, you'll get that. I'm sure of it." Isabelle assured him, stroking his cheek with a gentle touch before tucking her head back against him, letting herself listen to his pulse silently.
James looked down at her and the way in which the other seemed so comfortable, they had talked a lot but this was in fact one of their only few times in meeting face to face and he marveled in the way she just seemed instantly relaxed around him. He liked that, liked that she could feel this comfortable around him. He looked down at her hearing her answer with a hum, he didn't know what was happening. He was James Berry for crying out loud, he didn't get nervous around people like this, didn't hesitate when it came to showing his affections, this wasn't him at all. "Nothing, it's nothing." He chickened out. The kiss to his cheek didn't help much at all, it only made him want to turn his head to feel those lips on his own instead. "I know that, I guess I'm just an awkward sub. I need to learn a lot more, have dominants want to claim me." he scoffed, "I don't see that happening in a long time."
Isabelle let it rest without commenting. Normally she might have pressed a little more but everything was so relaxed right now that it didn't seem right to ruin it. "An awkward sub?" She queried after a moment, almost falling asleep against him. It was certainly taking her longer to answer but she was still with him at least. "We both have a lot to learn but you will have Dominants wanting to claim you James. You are different and you are yourself. Both of those things are good. You'll be fine, I know it." Isabelle let her fingers rub the small of his back gently where his shirt rode up a little, just as he had done with her. "I imagine you will get snatched up by someone soon enough. You are a good person James, so good."
James couldn't help the small smile on his lips at the way her eyes were becoming heavy as she rested comfortably against her chest. "Yeah, I'm not normally what a dominant looks for in a submissive. They think I'm too outspoken, too reluctant but I do submit, I like to and I like getting orders and praise." he commented, a lot of people didn't think he did because of the way he talked back but if there was someone he respected then it wasn't a problem for him and it felt good to do it. "I'm different yes, but sometimes people don't like how different I am." The idea of being claimed was a nice one and he really did hope Belle was right, even if he wouldn't admit to it, "You will too I mean, someone will see you and want to make you theirs." The small skin on skin contact made him shiver, but it was a welcoming touch. "Thank you, really thank you." the praise was nice coming from her, he knew she wasn't a dominant but it was praise none of the less. Looking down at her he kissed her forehead, "You should sleep, I'll wake you before I go back to my room."
Isabelle smiled a little ruefully at that. In some ways it was sad. In a different situation maybe they could have helped one another but they were both subs and they were friends. Isabelle really did want the best for James though. For all his mouth and attitude, she could see that there was so much more to him than that. She was one of the lucky ones who James allowed a glimpse of it and she hoped a Dominant would come along who could see it too. "Mm... That'd be nice." Isabelle admitted tiredly when James told her someone would come along for her too. "I'd like to belong to someone." There was something fulfilling about that instead of just being on her own. "Sorry... Not being a very good hostess." She spoke a little guiltily even as her eyes shut and she curled further under the covers.
James knew that people got the wrong idea of him at times just because of the way he talked, just because he was cocky and had the confidence that other submissives didn't when it came to talking to dominants didn't mean that he was one to reject orders, he only did so when he thought he had done nothing wrong but then again he would accept punishment. He did what people asked him, he would kneel before a dominant and he would be a good submissive once he learned. That's all it was, it was a learning process and it was going to take time to get him to the stage of an advanced. "It would be, yeah." The few words that came from her mouth warmed his heart and he rested her head on top of hers, his own eyes closing slightly waiting a few moments to reply. "Me too.... me too." he replied. "It's okay, cuddling has those effects on people. Sleep, it's okay. Sleep." he said holding her closer and tighter as his own eyes shut.