all_inclusive | Gathering: Garden party, interrupted

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Gathering: Garden party, interrupted

From grand galas to informal gatherings, parties of one sort or another were not an unusual occurrence at the Nexus Hotel. Today was no different, a low-key affair erected in the rotunda of the Italian gardens with the aspiration that tea sandwiches and mimosas would facilitate mingling of the hotel's ever-shifting population.

What was unusual, however, was the inclusion of a wayward, bipedal lizard courtesy of a door standing open on the hotel's facade. Green, spry, perhaps five feet long and roughly as tall as a man, this new guest featured a curved, hard plate across his (or her) forehead that was perhaps indicative of the stubborn nature lurking beneath -- Perhaps because the foliage was so tasty, this little dinosaur resisted all attempts by the staff to corral it back to its home. It would run away from ropes and outstretched arms, knocking over bottles of champagne and destroying the decor before settling several feet away to chomp on some accommodating flowers.

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"I was thinking a drink, kicking back in a few comfortable recliners, and maybe a little light groping," he counters, because walking through the flowers is something he might have done when he was just a kid with Jocelyn, but he's long past that now.

"I've been wanting to grope behind the topiaries," Jim says, hooking a thumb toward a particularly interesting one. "So if you want to get some drinks and go walking through the maze with me, I'm open to that."

"Buy me a drink and we can make it happen," McCoy replies, feeling like he shouldn't be so open about being so easy in exchange for alcohol, but, well, Jim's hot as hell and yeah, he wants him, and that's not a bad topiary for hiding things. "How about we hit the bar and take a walk?"

Jim strolls up to the bar and orders for them both, whiskey since there's no sense in beating around the proverbial bush. The ice is spherical, just like that dive bar Jim used to frequent back in Iowa, and he appreciates the touch.

"Here you go, one drink for my gorgeous date."

"Aw, would you look at that, you're learning how to treat me sweetly," McCoy drawls, a little too damn pleased for his own tastes when it comes to how much he does enjoy the fact that Jim's charming as anything. He takes the drink and lets it rest in his hand, trying out this new patience thing. "To the shrubs, that means."

"Well, you catch more flies with honey," Jim says wryly. Maybe they're still just figuring this out but it feels natural enough to keep close to Bones as they make their way over to the maze, one hand low on the other man's back.

"I'm full of honey."

"I'm not making the dirty joke, but I want you to know it's there," McCoy clarifies, feeling strangely like he's a kid again falling in love for the first time. Hell, maybe it's not that much of a leap. He's only ever fumbled around with other guys before, so maybe falling for Jim, really and properly falling in love with him, maybe this is taking him back to being a teenager. Maybe this time, he'll get it right and won't end up a bitter, divorced drunk.

He turns, mind swimming with that thought and takes advantage of it, hand on Jim's elbow to lean in for a slow, careful kiss, still amazed he can indulge in this.

It's a good kiss, the kind that Jim feels like he's been chasing for years and not quite finding with all the women he's hooked up with between then and now. It's always been like something was missing, hollow, and it's not like that with Bones.

Jim deepens the kiss a little more, not worried about being caught by anyone. They're in the maze and so what if anyone sees them? He's not ashamed.

He lets out a muffled sound of surprise and happiness at the deepened kiss, eyes widening a little at how determined Jim seems. Still, the privacy of the maze helps out a whole of a lot and he's more than determined to enjoy the way he can lean back and tug Jim flush against him.

He breathes out raggedly, letting Jim go. "So I take it I'm not too horrible to look at like this, huh?"

"I never said you were," Jim says, breathless himself. He's a little shocked at just how into it he is but he's never really given sexuality much thought plus, strangely enough, being with Bones feels so natural it's almost like they've been together a lot longer than they actually have.

McCoy eases back and tugs at Jim's hand to lead him towards the maze again, using the opportunity to sip at his drink, giving a satisfied sound before he continues along. "So that mean we're in good shape? I mean, I think we are," he says, content.

"I never doubted it," Jim assures him. It's not flattery, it's the truth. He's never really worried about the gender issue and now that they're both men, the heat between them hasn't really changed. It's as if he just woke up one day and realized he's into his best friend and it's perfectly natural.

"Did you?"

"I mean, maybe for a bit, I did," he confesses. "Jim, we were roommates for how many years at the Academy? I saw the way you went through people," he points out. "I guess a part of me was thinking," and still thinking, if he's honest, "that I'm not gonna be enough for you, not for a long run kind of thing."

"Big difference. I was friends with you first," Jim points out. "And I make it a point never to mix friends and sex. So you're different from the start because I can't really stop being your friend just because I decided to date you. You know?"

"Yeah, I get that," he agrees, and he's grateful for it, seeing as he knows it makes all the difference in the world to have a friend before you take the next step to make things more serious. "I mean, I think it's working. We both like each other a whole hell of a lot," he reasons. "And besides, I already knew I loved you years ago."

"You'd have to, to keep after me like you do," Jim says, arching a brow. "Because let's be real with ourselves...I'm a pain in the ass to keep alive."

"Not just keep alive, but smuggle onto a ship," he points out, seeing as that one had put him in a very perilous position that threatened his career, but at the same time, he honestly doesn't think he could've done it without Jim. He finishes his drink and sets it on the grass below, fitting his palm at the small of Jim's back. "I guess I might keep you."

"Permanently or just until I lose my good looks? Because the men in my family look good for a long time, you're going to have to wait a while to trade me in for a new trophy," Jim teases.

McCoy slowly grins and leans back so he can get a good look at Jim. He's seen pictures of George Kirk and though he only aged to a certain age, he's also seen Winona, knows how well they age in that family. "You really think I'm the one doing the trading in this relationship? I'm the one who's got nearly half a decade on you," he points out. "You'd be looking for a new trophy."

"I think being the trophy is more fun than looking for one," Jim teases. "Because, let's be real,I'm definitely the pretty one in this operation."

He shrugs a bit. "I don't mind the age difference."

"I'm plenty attractive, but you're right. You're definitely the pretty one," he says, not intending to argue when he's plenty secure in his looks. It helps, having been married, because then you know that someone wanted you enough to get a ring on you. "It just means if we stick together, you might have to end up taking care of me."

"I think you're going to end up taking care of me. I'm the one who is constantly getting himself into mortal peril," Jim says.

"But I promise I'll be an excellent patient."

He doesn't want this to become him taking care of Jim, always the responsible, boring one. Still, he's grateful that Jim might give him a chance, seeing as there's been times in the past where Jim had bucked off his care out of stubbornness and he wants to avoid that. "You will, huh? And why excellent now?"

"Because I have motivation not to annoy you," Jim says cheekily in reply. Because, really, that's the game, isn't it? To annoy Bones to death, to get some attention from him. Now he has all the attention he wants or needs.

"Yeah, you've definitely got a lot of reason," McCoy does feel inclined to agree, seeing as he knows that he's much more eager to give Jim things if Jim is willing to play nice and do things his way. His smile broadens and softens at once. "You're charming as hell, and I think you know it."

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