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EVENT

REVERTED.
"Every moment is a fresh beginning." - T. S. Eliot

Happy July, Retrospecters. Can you believe it's been nearly a year since the city was under attack and several of you were pulled and lost in Unreality? Time sure does fly, doesn't it? But don't fret. It seems as though the city is in for a real vacation this time...rest easy.

THE BEGINNING
Recollé has been fully restored thanks to the effort of the citizens working to paint the city back to life and breaking down the layers separating the city from most of its non-Retrospec users. The sky is painted multiple colors (a permanent fixture, it seems) and some buildings and plants are extraordinary but everything appears to be in solid, functional condition. All buildings are where they should be. The roads are safe. And everyone around you appears to be preparing for one of two celebrations...

THE 4TH OF JULY
With the 4th of July tomorrow, citizens of Recollé are preparing for their own celebration. Much like last year, the city will be preparing with a large gathering at Peach Beach, food trucks aplenty, discounts at several stores in Tisse and Enprise, and of course at 9pm sharp the beautiful and historical fireworks display will begin. Street vendors sell glowsticks and lemonade as everyone gathers to watch the show in the sky.

This year, however, while the fireworks display still shows events of the city's history citizens may recognize a few new scenes added to the show. As they look up into the sky they'll notice scenes depicting several of the events that have happened over the last year ranging from the Retrospec bingo games to the nightmare fog to the mistletoe bats and more. This year will also include scenery and displays from the four regions around the city. Perhaps you recognize these events a little too well. Care to share the tale with your neighbor?

TANABATA
It seems as though this week is a non-stop celebration though. As the 4th of July ends, several members of the city are hard at work in preparation for Tanabata. Celebrated on Saturday, July 7th this year, residents are hard at work decorating areas in Tribunal Terrace and Chata with massive colorful streamers and moving in several bamboo plants. Stalls are set up and prepared and carnival games line the sidewalks for citizens to play.

On the evening of the 7th, all are invited to attend the celebration and try Japanese cuisine, play a few games, and most importantly write a wish on a colored sheet of paper to hang on one of the bamboo trees.

No matter how citizens choose to celebrate at this festival, for anyone who makes a wish and hangs it on the tree they will soon receive a Retrospec ticket in their mailbox. While your wish may take time to be granted, good fortune is upon you and a free gift has been provided.

THE NPCS
NPCs are back in the city and all is well. They are unaware of the layers they were caught between but they are grateful and happy to see you again! Professors will be lenient of students whose finals have been delayed, employers will inquire about your vacation time, and your friends and family may constantly badger you for time and attention. Isn't that nice?

In addition, citizens of the city may now place calls to members outside of the city for up to five minutes. While that pesky growling problem still appears at the tail end of all conversations, citizens will be able to reach out to anyone in the world and speak for that length of time. Let's just hope your loved ones aren't too bothered by the previous radio silence.

THE DREAMS
What was that about resting easy? Perhaps you won't be able to as well as you'd like. Though everything appears to be fine, the moment you close your eyes beginning on July 3rd, you may find yourself plagued by strange, unusual dreams. As you dream you'll find yourself experiencing everything from wild scenarios set in space or on a pirate ship to everyday, mundane interactions. Your dreams will reflect who you are, but...maybe in a different light. Perhaps your siblings aren't related to you in your dreams, or perhaps your hair is a different color. Maybe you find yourself dreaming about a whole different lifestyle than the one you currently possess. Why, you could even be one of the lucky ones and dream about those memories you've been receiving since you've joined the app.

Then again, you'll also find that you aren't dreaming alone. When you look, you may find that someone has joined you. It's easy to move in dreams and intrude on other people's dreams. You may choose to watch the scene play out or find yourself able to change scenarios within these dreams. Some of you will recognize what is and isn't real, but...what is real anymore? Aren't you curious what it all means?

The moment you awake, however, these dreams will fade away and simply be dreams.

THE QUESTS
If you're looking for a way to pass the time and bring a little adventure to your life, a new feature on the Retrospec app is the quest hotline! By submitting a request, Retrospec will generate a new task for you to accomplish either in the city or around one of the four regions. While Retrospec cannot claim that all tasks will be exciting, all tasks given are important to the functionality of the city.

Or perhaps you're interested in exploring Mementos or Tartarus...? Just what are these new places anyway? Strange.

Happy questing!

THE REGIONS
Travel is available once more for the regions outside of the city, though do watch out for the common monsters that still linger between districts. It will take three hours by boat southward to Pesgare, an hour underground eastward to Respatrum, two hours west via horseback to Bosuma and seven hours via driving north to Magatus. Depending on where you travel though you may find some surprises waiting for you.

Fishing season is at its prime in Pesgare and it's the perfect place for a seaside getaway this summer. The region remains untouched and stable, and the economy is thriving once more thanks to the repairs after their tsunami and the work of Retrospec users.

In Respatrum, the workers in the mines don't seem to mind the heat and continue crafting and creating. Anyone who ventures into these parts will be put to work, but may be rewarded with small tokens and hospitality from the natives of this region.

Bosuma, however, is a little different. The Swamp Witch is nowhere to be found though the forest is alit with bright, blooming flowers, strange multicolored animals and friendly natives from a nearby village in the woods. Monsters lurk the deeper parts of the woods, but one would actively have to go looking for them.

But should one linger in this region for too long, they may soon discover that they'll start to see things...not just things, but people. Vivid, life-like forms of people you've seen in your memories will appear before you even if you're unaware of who they are. They seem to beckon you to come closer, happy to see you and encouraging you to explore the forest further. Some of these forms may engage in combat if the relationship you remember is a hostile one. Should you follow or fight them, however, you will soon find yourself lost in the woods and it may take days to return to the city. Do keep sight of what's real, won't you?

Finally, over in Magatus, for anyone who has ventured there before they may be expecting the snowy mountains and ski lodge. However, it's summer! Snow isn't fit for the summer and as residents approach the region they'll come to find that the ice-capped mountains have been replaced with cliffs, sand dunes and a desert-esque climate. The iced-over lake is now perfect for swimming and further exploration will lead you to a path in the mountains that's the perfect height for cliff-jumping into waters below. This is the perfect region for you outdoorsy, camping types. Just be careful of the scorpions and rattlesnakes out there.

THE CITY
It's summer vacation everywhere. How are you spending your days? Maybe it isn't such a bad idea to listen to Joanne and plan your days with fun and exciting ventures. Parties and meetings and spending time with your friends...it sounds nice, doesn't it? Even if some of you may notice your friends seem...off.

The city is peaceful. Everything seems to be calm and safe, so much that you may not even notice the difference at first. It all begins in mid-July though. One moment you're sitting in a café and the next you realize you're wearing an apron and you feel as though you should be working behind the counter. One moment you're sitting in your bedroom and the next you look up and notice that the items on your wall have changed. These little hallucinations are minimal and only last a few moments, but they will begin to increase as the month goes on and leading straight into August.

But hey. It's probably nothing to worry about.

Welcome to

recolle's July log! The information above provides loose guidelines of things occurring this month, so please feel free to make your own prompts based on these. You are also free to create your own logs and inbox threads.

Regarding Tanabata! If you would like to claim a free 10-20 point item, please head to the regains page and submit as normal! Please indicate that it is a Tanabata freebie.

Characters are free to travel to one of the four regions this month (Pesgare, Respatrum, Bosuma, Magatus), but keep in mind the effects/changes as listed above.

As a reminder, you may qualify for an additional freebie this month by threading out a dream sequence with at least one person experiencing a new AU! This thread must be at least five consecutive comments from you.

Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here. Be sure to review the mods' question thread on the plotting post for important information as well!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Es ist nicht deine Schuld.

[she's quick with that because saying something in German comes easily to her. and she's still on du terms with Kara—she's not switching over. why would she? it isn't her fault, she's right. it's Retrospec's, and whatever it did. to change things, as it does, and this time in a way that Annalise cannot ignore quite so easily.]

You could never be useless. Whatever is happening, whatever has been done to change the way I remember you, I am confident that nothing could change you so drastically that you would ever... not be able to do great things in your own life.

[for the first time in years, she sounds uncertain. like she's trying to convince herself that she's correct. she joins Kara in looking up at the sky.]

I suppose this is one way to force me to care about what this app does.

[Kara jolts, and this time doesn't shy away from touching Annalise. She leans over, actually using her for support now. Her gaze remains skyward, but she doesn't see the fireworks starting. Stinging tears begin leaking from the corners of her eyes, unwanted and unbidden, but she has enough control not to break down. That statement is just so incredibly overwhelming.

Annalise. The perfect student. The model girl, the one she often wonders how she's stayed friends with...has that level of faith in her?]

...You didn't know me well, before. But shit. I...don't know what to say to that.

[Stumbling over words is a foreign thing for her.]

You mean it, don't you? You really think I can be more.

[it takes a moment for Annalise to realize what's happening. she glances over, sees tears reflecting on Kara's face as the colors only just start shining from the sky, and she has enough sense not to comment on it. not that she would know what to say if she did. instead, she waits for Kara to ask that question, and that's when Annalise looks back at the sky.]

[behind her glasses' own reflections, her eyes are serious, but her tone is soft. as soft as someone who's spent most of her adult life preparing for a doctorate that has taken too long to become hers can sound, at least.]

I do. I believe most people can be more, if that's what they want. [she's been honest before—she's always honest, but she's never taken quite this level of care in her words. maybe it's because she still views Kara as the kind of person she thought she was yesterday.]

It takes hard work. Dedication. No shortage of aptitude, but if you've managed to run your own business then you have all of those. Which I've known. I've known since I met you that you were capable of great things. [because she was doing those great things. Annalise tries not to sigh. emotional conversations are far from her strength.]

I'm... not certain I'm the right kind of person to be having a conversation like this with. Es tut mir leid. Aber... [is it really easier to say this in German? she hopes Kara understands.] Du hast meine komplette Unterstützung.

[Annalise has good sense. Calling attention to her would certainly put Kara on the defensive, and right now she's allowing herself a certain level of vulnerability. It takes so much for her to get to this point that it's better. Years and years of scrapes, being tough, putting on a front and avoiding weakness...it's good for her. Breaking down a little in front of a nerd, she'd have died of shame prior to the app...]

I think you're perfectly fine for a conversation like this.

[She laughs, a harsh, hoarse thing, turning to look at Annalise, eyes intense even if the other woman's looking up into the stars again. There's a tired, haggard cast to her face, a weak smile tugging at her lips.]

Let's be real. Not everyone's going to take me seriously. And not everyone's see the side of me you have. And...hell, somehow all...this...[she waves a hand at the two of them.] hasn't made us mad at each other despite the differences.

So. Yeah. Ich schätze deine Hilfe.

[Thoughtlessly, perhaps too careless of consequences, she tilts her head to the side and presses a kiss to Annalise's cheek.]

Really. I think...you might be the only one I can talk to like this.

[there are a few things to take away from what's happening here. that her friend is clearly not doing well, that maybe she was expecting things to go worse than they did. that Annalise herself doesn't know what's going on or how to handle it and is just stumbling her way through this in a way that she's never quite done before, but it's apparently working enough that Kara feels better.]

[all the thought experiments in the world can't prepare her for getting kissed on the cheek. she isn't mad at Kara for it—why in the world would she be?—but if the intent was at all to fluster her then the mission has absolutely been accomplished. her face immediately lights up red, blood rushing to it and making her even more uncomfortable in the heat.]

[she turns her head, face still flush with color, and tries not to look as shocked as she is.]

Kara? Is there something you need to tell me?

[realistically, probably not. this was only a kiss and it doesn't have to mean anything. but Annalise has no idea how to handle that since it's never actually happened before; it's very possible that in her head, it means something much greater than that.]

[There's a brief flash of worry that she's overstepped, Annalise's shock registering in Kara's ears as much as her eyes, but with no outraged yell everything seems to be okay. Settling herself back down against the older woman's shoulder, she smiles somewhat impishly...]

There's nothing I need to tell you. There's things I'd like to tell you, but I'd rather not spoil the moment too much.

[Pausing, she closes her eyes, considering how best to qualify that statement. Because Annalise is going to ask. That's just her nature and Kara knows it. Whether she fucked up or not is a matter that seems to be up for debate though.]

I just wanted to thank you for being you. You're an amazing woman, Annalise, and I wanted to show you somehow. And I have often wondered how much more cute than normal you'd look if you were blushing. [Stupidly trying to deflect from her own vulnerability with humor is a hallmark of Kara trying to avoid consequences and disarm people.]

[things she'd—ah. it seems Annalise has become predictable. she's less surprised that Kara has an answer planned out than she expected she would be, and certainly less surprised than she had been at the kiss on the cheek. up until the very last sentence.]

[deflection is a perfectly valid option in most situations, but here, it seems. it's hard to place. the word choice makes it difficult for Annalise to wrangle properly. it seems very deliberate. maybe that's what Kara wants. perhaps this was a deliberate ploy.]

I... appreciate your kindness. Thank you. [she doesn't know what else to say to that, really, and she doesn't like being at a loss for words. the only thing that really comes to mind is a desperately reserved sentence as she stares out in the middle distance and tries to ignore Kara's closeness.]

I've. I haven't been called cute before.

[It is indeed a cunning trap. A clever ploy constructed entirely out of Kara's own inability to deal with certain things, mainly that someone as smart and successful as Annalise would ever possibly be interested in spending any significant length of time with her. Though, that inability is beginning to come apart, after hearing all of what she'd said before.]

...I don't see why. You're severe, but that's not an un-cute trait.

[Her arm hooks around Annalise's, holding tight, but not too tight. She doesn't want to push her away, this is just one of the few ways she knows to show honest appreciation. Compliments, hugs, physical affection.]

Does that bother you? I'm sorry, if I'm making you feel uncomfortable. You just...you really leave an impression.

[there's. it's new. it's new but it isn't uncomfortable. Annalise isn't pulling away, and despite herself she's... trying to hold on a little more tightly? not much. but enough to let Kara know that she is not the only person involved in this. she has absolutely no idea what it means, though.]

It... doesn't bother me, no. [she's been told she leaves impressions on people, but never like this. what she hears usually has the word "icy", and the word "bitch" as well. she'd never repeat it, though.]

I'm just. Slightly overwhelmed by this. You have to understand that being physical with people is not exactly something I have... [a slight tilt of her head as she reorganizes that sentence.] Not something I do, typically. It is not... unwelcome. The opportunity just rarely arises where I'm comfortable enough to express it.

[then what does that mean for her right now?]

[Kara calm help but smile. Not because she expects anything out of this. Far from it. But it's the right night, the right time, and it's hard not to fall into a sweeter mood than usual after their much, much more emotional exchange moments ago. Slipping her hand down Annalise's arm, she tries to curl her hand around her friend's own.

Funny that. Thinking of her as a friend. It's complicated, made more so by the obvious gaps in one or both of their memories. But it's nice.]

And you are comfortable...with me?

[Surprise edges into her voice, her free hand awkwardly shifting, checking the hem of her top to make sure it's properly in place while she waits for a response.]

[there's an answer here that she could say with her words, but while she's still having difficulty trusting her own mouth, Annalise decides to answer nonverbally and hold Kara's hand for... at least a moment. this touch is more certain, if only because she's held hands with other people before. everything about Annalise down to her fingernails is carefully maintained and neat and tidy and nothing at all like the Annalise Kara might have known before whatever happened to change things.]

I am comfortable enough. [she's quiet, thinking about the myriad things she could say next and trying to come to grips with the way this entire interaction is making her feel. it isn't bad, by any means, but it's very. confusing.]

Something has happened to change things as they are now, but it cannot change the way we have each come to feel about each other. The regard we hold each other in. [hm. she must be flustered.] You may not have the same... experiences as the Kara I hold within my memories, but I still hold that same level of respect for you. What you have earned cannot be taken away that easily.

[Annalise is almost disgusted at the words coming from her mouth. nothing seems right. nothing seems like it has the right amount of... care to it. she's out of place here, out of touch with gentle emotional moments like this. but she's still sitting there quietly, holding Kara's hand, letting it all happen.]

I am not... liked. Outside of academia.

[It is confusing. And it is a little odd, hearing Annalise talking like this. It's still cute, and she appreciates how hard the older woman is trying, to be personable. To show care. Kara herself isn't sure exactly how she feels about all of it, but she likes it. Annalise loosening up even a little is a positive, welcome thing and the fact that she's willing to do so with Kara is something that she can take some pride in.

Flustering her, of course, isn't the entire goal. She does like Annalise, and she's not at all shy about showing or initiating any sort of physical affection. It does occur to her, at least momentarily, that she might be taking this as a romantic overture or a statement of interest, though. That doesn't stop Kara, because she's not sure how she feels about all of that.

She does enjoy Annalise's company a great deal, but she's not sure they'd work. At least...she's not sure she could make Annalise happy. This isn't enough to dissuade her, because she's already off balance enough by the care she's clearly putting into her words and this interaction. For now, though, quietly holding her hand? That's enough. There's nothing more complicated going on than that, and friends can hold hands.]

I don't...think I count as a part of academia. and I like you. That makes that a lie.

[Leaning her head down, resting it on Annalise's shoulder, Kara breathes in, concentrating long enough to memorize her friend's heartbeat.]

I'm glad we can connect like this. It might sounds stupid, but I'm glad we have time to share a moment. I don't like thinking of you alone, and of you feeling alone. I know you must feel pretty isolated, given your work, and maybe I'm not the person you remember but I still want to help you. Even if all I can do is give you a way to relax some.

[if this were... romantic, Annalise thinks (or has thought, somewhere in the midst of all her other bewildered musings over the past few minutes), surely Kara would have made a stronger move. kissed her on the lips rather than the cheek. but she's keeping this... chaste. and Annalise can handle that, or so she's convinced herself she can. the heartbeat that Kara's memorized is still faster than it should be, but slower than it was a moment ago. getting closer to normal.]

[she tries to let herself exhale. to let the tension drain from her shoulders, as much as she's ever let it out like that. the idea of feeling alone has never really... well. maybe Kara deserves to hear her say that with her words.]

Being alone has never felt like a concern for me. [she has to be very, very careful with the words she chooses next.] With you here... [and they're failing her again. this is terrible. despite their situation, with the weight of Kara's body against her, with the sky lighting up and the smell of fireworks tinging every breath she takes, Annalise frowns. best to just be out with it.]

I feel very aware of what it's like without somebody else. I've spent so much of my life in self-imposed isolation that I've... never had a moment like this. With anybody. And I don't know how.

[her hand squeezes Kara's.]

[Kara returns the squeeze, ignoring the fireworks for now, caught up rather thoroughly in the moment. The words, faltering and unsteady as they may be, help her to understand some things better. It's not an out and out rejection of the idea, and Kara hasn't ruled out making a stronger move. She's that kind of girl, always thinking with her libido, living in the moment, but Annalise deserves better than simple charm and physical enjoyment.

Her head turns, blue eyes looking up at the other woman's face...]

You're doing just fine. [Trying to sound reassuring, she pushes forward, booping Anna's cheek with her nose.] You're saying all the right things, you're making me happy, opening up...letting yourself be a little more vulnerable.

[Pausing, she inhales, taking in Anna's scent.]

That's all you have to do. Just...let me in? There's no right or wrong way to do that, so long as you're enjoying the moment.

[Kara is being... bold, now. in a way that Annalise might appreciate, were she more comfortable with the idea. perhaps she was bold to kiss her in the first place and this is just a natural escalation. perhaps it's all a test. at times, Annalise truly does hate herself and the way she insists on second- and third-guessing everything.]

I. [she turns her head slowly, her own blue eyes looking past her glasses and into Kara's eyes now. they're closer than she expected them to ever be, and her pale skin is as red as one of the burning streaks in the sky. there goes her heart rate.] I am enjoying this moment.

[as they are. friends who have forgotten very important things about each other but somehow remain friends. Annalise has no idea where to go from here. there are thoughts, of course, but... she cannot bring herself to act on them. they're fleeting. they cannot be right; they can't be what she truly wants. can they?]

[she swallows, then tries to ignore that her lips are hanging open while she thinks. it makes her feel vapid, doing that.]

I don't know why I'm... opening up to you. It doesn't feel wrong.

Because it's not. It's exactly what it's supposed to be.

[How could it be wrong? If Annalise was enjoying herself, then that was what mattered. She can tell this is tough for the older girl, as despite her clear academic acumen, this is outside her wheelhouse. An area Kara is more experienced at. An area where she knows what comes next. She doesn't want to push, but being a little more bold can't hurt.]

Annalise. Do you...want me to kiss you? [Her head tilts, making no more, and she continues with a qualifier. Putting parameters on this feels best for her friend's poor, clearly troubled mind.]

It's okay, if you say yes or no. I...know how these moments go, because I'm not inexperienced. I'm not trying to put any pressure on you, but I am trying to give you some sort of blueprint. Again, it's not a matter of right or wrong, but what feels good in the moment.

[Kiss me Y/N? seems pretty clear cut.]

[the question makes Annalise's head pull back and her eyes widen. she'd... she hadn't expected Kara to ask that, for some reason, even though everything about this conversation and Annalise's own body language feels like it's been leading to this? but Annalise doesn't have that sort of. awareness? she should have seen this coming but she just didn't and she just has to listen to Kara explain things.]

I...

[she thinks she knows the answer to that question, because she does, but there's a lot of other things going into it that she's. trying not to spend too much time focusing on. it doesn't have to mean what she thinks it means. it would just be one. right?]

[she closes her eyes, breathes out slowly from her nose, and moves her head back to where it had just been. when her eyes open again, there's actual resolve in them, the kind of look she's comfortable wearing as it accents her still-pink face.]

Yes. Please.

[Well. That was the answer she had been hoping for, if not the one she'd expected. Annalise's body language aside, she figured that would make her recoil and pull back. Naturally, it hits her a moment after that Annalise...a beautiful and reserved woman who she has a great deal of affection and respect for...has just requested a kiss.

She blushes, because again. Not what she expected, even with the hope. She tries to smooth her voice out before responding and it's marginally successful. She doesn't waver at least.]

Well. Alright then.

[And then she's doing it. Moving her head in close, careful not to bump Annalise with her forehead, making a conscious effort to make this good. At first a gentle brush of lips, and then a little more force, never pushing too hard. Just giving her friend a chance to get used to it, letting her decide if she wants more.]

[and then they're kissing. Annalise is kissing another woman, a woman she thought was somebody else until a scant few moments ago (and yet who still is that woman, just shifted a little). it's. this isn't her first kiss. don't be ridiculous. she's twenty-seven years old and she's certainly kissed other people by now.]

[her internal narration can protest all it wants. the dryness of her lips, the narrowly-avoided bump of her nose against Kara's, the way she's simply letting all of this happen and trying desperately to follow a lead that she can't grasp hold of—all of that should tell Kara everything she needs to know about how many times Annalise has been kissed by anybody.]

[Annalise's arm moves slowly and her fingertips brush against Kara's while her body shifts a little to, hopefully, make this easier. or better? something like that. she's not pulling away, nor is she deepening things; she's trying her absolute best to keep this even. if Kara is the one with experience, Annalise will defer to her. which means that she's setting the pace, which could be... dangerous.]

[Is it ridiculous? Truly? To wonder if Kara is the first? It is Annalise, and Kara is a book she can stick her nose into.

Kara makes a note of all of this, and opts to move positions. Shifting to place herself in front of Annalise, tilting her head to make it easier, she parts her lips to deepen the kiss. It is clear, all too clear, that she's into it and perhaps a little encouragement is needed.

She doesn't keep it going for long, though. Momentarily, she breaks it off, pulling back with a little gasp but staying close.]

That...was nice. [She bites her lip, staring at her friend.] Very nice.

[there will be little wondering in a moment, as Annalise will say outright what the entire kiss only implied, but when it breaks and Kara is still right there in front of her and there's nothing necessarily stopping them from doing this sort of thing again...]

[Annalise reaches up and takes off her glasses. she can still see Kara just fine, but there's little risk of them fogging up from the sudden rush of heat to her face, as she thinks is probably going to happen if this continues.]

Does... am I a lesbian now?

[wow. wow? what an utterly elegant sentence. she clears her throat and glances away, not moving her head but trying to find something outside of Kara to focus on.]

[Kara waits. And then...blinks.

Because...wow? Okay. Uh.]

Not necessarily...?

[She trailed off at the end there, because wait. Does she not know if she likes boys and girls at her age?]

I'm bisexual. If you have any interest in men, you are too.

[Annalise is pretty smart except when she's phenomenally stupid, and LGBT stuff has fallen very, very far by the wayside. anything romantic or sexual, really. she's barely interested, or so she thought, and never bothered to figure it out.]

[it's a stupid question for her to have asked, and Kara's reaction solidifies that. her face tries its best to get stony, icy, return back to the way she's used to presenting herself, but she's still flushed and feels some need to at least attempt to explain herself.]

I've never needed to... define myself. I've never given it any thought. [she sounds... sheepish. it's a bad taste in her mouth. she much prefers Kara's.] It hasn't been a relevant part of my life until right now. You were...

[do not make her say it.]

[Phenomenally stupid? No, just inexperienced and uncertain. Kara does try to cover up her reaction with a kinder look. Softening her gaze, focusing on Annalise's eyes, nodding silently for just a moment.]

Sorry, I didn't think about it from your perspective. I understand.

[Lifting a hand, she cups Annalise's cheek, trailing one finger up along the temple of her glasses.]

I'm glad you felt comfortable enough with me to kiss me. If you need to experiment more and want to try again, we can? And if you want me to back off, I can do that too.

Edited 2018-07-12 19:40 (UTC)

I... shouldn't.

[but she can't come up with a good reason why she shouldn't. she liked kissing Kara. of course she did; Kara's very good at it, or so Annalise assumes. and it's a new sort of... it's a new series of emotions all welling up inside her at once, ones she's never had a reason to pay attention to before now.]

[if the uncertainty isn't clear in her voice, she's avoiding Kara's eyes until she feels her fingers on her cheek, and she can feel her heartbeat in her ears, and her breathing is definitely, uh, above a resting state.]

I don't know whether I want you to back off. This is... complicated. For me.