[ DRAFT 16 ] The Woman's Work Is Never Done

[metharchy]

Buffet is open again, and the library is next.

Miniature golf course and deck seventeen are still closed until further notice.

[That said and done, Meth was going to enjoy the rest of her day off and retreated to her treehouse.]

Comments

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[Meth was enjoying the conversation, but she was just off work, and didn't want to bother coming up with some cryptic hint for Tyler. It simply wasn't important enough to make him work for it.]

I built it myself.

[The tree house in question was nothing like the little shacks that kids made in their back yards. This one had a stairwell that wound its way up the trunk to a deck platform. There was a door that opened into a large room complete with pull-out couch, television, minifridge, and a few other amenities.

Meth spent her nights there more often than not, and considered the place hers, though those facts were not something she advertised at all.]

On the topic of unpleasant things, well, there's no guarantee he'll tolerate everything. I might enjoy taking my time finding which things they are.

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

Just you all alone. What, no friends to help out?

[Tyler laughs again, the sound a low, amused chuckle. There's a ding of the elevator in the background and the sound of footsteps before the door closes.]

True. After all, he's just a man.

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[His first comment earned a snort.]

You've seen what I can do. Do you honestly think I need someone to help me?

[Meth heard that chime of the elevator, but instead of commenting, took another sip of her soda.]

Precisely, just a man.

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

Need. Want. The pair go hand in hand.

[Elevator rides are always boring when you're alone. Sure he doesn't have far to go, but that doesn't make the trip any more exciting. So he's pacing, lifting himself on the railing and when the lift does come to a halt, Tyler jumps in time that momentum will make the thud of his landing a little bit louder.

Ding. The doors open.]

Rainforest on a cruise ship. I gotta say that guy is pretty impressed.

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[The pair did go hand in hand. Meth didn't need anyone to help, and she certainly didn't want anyone to help.

She rose from her seat when she heard the elevator ping again, and headed for the door. Soda and comm clutched in one hand, Meth opened the door with her free hand and stepped out onto the porch. She leaned her forearms on the railing, watching for Tyler and sipping from her soda.]

Redd is a great man who captains an impressive ship.

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[The tree house is decently easy to find. Tyler was fortunate to of picked one of the elevators that spat him out in the rain forest side of the deck. Upon spying the building he slowed his pace, taking on a more casual stroll as he admired Meth's handy work.

The comm raised again to his mouth and he gave a low whistle.]

Whoa. Not a bad little tree house you've got there, Meth.

[Not waiting for any further invitation, Tyler heads for the stairs.]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

I doubt you've seen better.

[It was after all, a house in a tree, distinctly a residence and yet the design seamlessly worked with the shape of the tree. Unlike some tree houses, Meth's looked as if it belonged there.

She could see Tyler soon enough from her vantage spot on the porch and rather than straighten to greet him, raised the soda can to her lips and drank again.]

Well aren't you prompt.

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[Tyler walks up beside her and joins Meth in leaning on the railing. He's admiring the view, unwilling to give too much praise to the woman's work on the house. If she wants that, she'll have to earn it.

He shrugs a shoulder.]

Bored men do crazy things. Besides, you've got me curious about this big ol' debt of mine.

[Smug Tyler is smug. He remembers all too well what happened last time they met.]

[o right, comment log]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[Designing and building the house single-handed was earning the praise, but she hadn't built the house for others approval.]

Well like I said, it can go one of a few ways.

Since you didn't make me hunt you down, those unpleasant things that no one likes can be ruled out. The ones you...tolerate [She's using that word loosely.] are still in the running.

[She ended the sentence on a note as if to imply there was a third option. Tyler wasn't the only one that remembered their last encounter.]

[pfft. whoops! comment log!]

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[Tyler smirks at the word 'tolerate'. He tongues at the split in his lip, once again in a state of scabbing it's way back to normal. Steadily he turns his head to look at her (http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/1700000/HOT-edward-norton-1728996-373-474.jpg), meeting her eyes and holding her gaze. It's almost as though he's challenging her.]

Don't tell me there's no option number three?

[We're not distracted at a--*stares at picture*]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[Meth's gaze is momentarily caught by the motion of his tongue sliding over the split of his lip, and the moment she looks up, he's got this look on his face. It takes some quick mental effort to push down any physical reaction she might have to that look, and Meth schools herself to stillness.

She wasn't one to back down from something like that, however, and counters it with one of her own.]

Option number three is I give you that turn you mentioned the first time we met, and see if you can impress me enough to forget about options one and two. Picking option three and failing means I go back to one of those two. My choice, my judgment.

[There, the gauntlet was thrown.]

[My work here is done. |D]

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[His smirk spreads to a grin. Tyler is weighing up the options given, debating each one and finding himself torn between putting on a show of his own, or seeing what else the girl could do.

What she is capable of is far too tempting to turn down.]

Option three is an interesting prospect. Option two however, wins me over. Besides, it's not 'punishment' if I'm having too much fun now is it.

[This time.]

[Comment Log]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[Meth smirked and pushed away from the railing with ease.]

I never said it had to be punishment, just that you owed me. But since you prefer option two...

[Her soda can was empty, and she lifted it with her power before sending it at his forehead with enough power to crush the can and then some. It dropped to the ground after, significantly smaller.]

I may just accommodate that.

[Comment Log]

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[Punishment and debt register in similar categories in Tyler's mind. He isn't fond of owing anyone anything, though in this case it's more a joke to him than a serious commitment so he isn't bothered too much.

The can crushing against his forehead comes as a surprise. Involuntarily, Tyler takes a step back and grips the railing for support. Once the can hits the ground, he brings a hand to his forehead and casts Meth an unimpressed look.]

That wasn't quite what I had in mind.

[Comment Log]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[She knew what he wanted, which exactly why she had pulled the move with the soda can instead. It was meant to be demeaning and condescending that she'd use him for such a thing instead of the perfectly solid tree house or trees that surrounded them.

The look he gave her made Meth smirk, pleased to find one thing that he hadn't liked very much. Her hand reached for the doorknob of the tree house's door, and she pulled it open.]

You were expecting something more like this?

[Meth used a burst of power to abruptly push Tyler off his feet into the room.]

[Comment Log]

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[That smirk is both alluring and annoying and part of the reason why they get along as well as they do. When she blows him off his feet, Tyler gives a surprised, but amused yelp.

He's flying backwards, losing his footing fast and landing with a thud on the ground. Once there, Tyler lies winded and grinning. Laughter doesn't seem to agree with him right now but if he could, he would.]

That's more like it.

[The statement doesn't have quite the force he'd intended and comes out as more of a wheeze.]

[Comment Log]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

Part of the situation is that I do what I want, when I want, Tyler.

[She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her with the heel of her foot. Arms crossed over her chest, Meth looked down at Tyler. He was sprawled on the floor of her tree house and that was appealing in all sorts of ways.

Meth walked over to Tyler and kicked him in the side. The move was casual. She hadn't put a lot of power behind it, but then she was only warming up.]

[Comment Log]

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[So she does as she pleases, when she pleases? Funny that. So does Tyler.

The kick is taken with a grunt and he rolls onto his side. He's lucky that she got his ribs more than his stomach region, else Tyler might have been winded as well as in pain. This is perhaps unlucky for Meth, given that Tyler is still able to move without wheezing.

His hand reaches out to snatch her ankle in its grasp. With a forceful tug, Tyler yanks on her ankle, intent of making Meth lose her footing and join him on the floor.]

[Comment Log]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[She felt his hand on her ankle and before she could think to do anything, he pulled it out from under her and Meth went tumbling to the floor. She hit the ground with a thud that wasn't as loud as Tyler's had been, and she lay there for a couple seconds stunned.

Meth then rolled onto her side intent on kicking Tyler again, or kneeing him, hitting, anywhere she could reach or get to.]

[Comment Log]

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[He was laughing, thrilled at his plan working and the attack that followed. Hands raised to defend himself, but serious as she might have been, Tyler could see this as nothing but a game.

Somewhere in the middle of it all, Tyler manages to speak.]

Payback for the can crush.

[Comment Log]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[The lines were far too blurred for Meth at this point. For her, this was delayed payback, but even she could admit that this was also play for her. Perhaps something more, depending on how things went.

It was with a tight smile, teeth grit, that she rolled up to her knees while he was still defending himself. She pushed him onto his back and sat on his chest quickly, placing one leg on either side of his body.

Then she just started punching him in the face. Her pace wasn't quick, but steady as she threw blow after blow.]

[Comment Log]

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[When she pinned him down, he wondered where exactly this was going. Then again, it was obvious that he'd annoyed her so when the fists came at his face, Tyler wasn't overly surprised.

For someone as small as she was, Meth packed a decent punch. One hit, two hits, three, they just kept on coming. In a determined move, Tyler reached to catch one of her fists and sat up, getting his bloody face right up in hers.]

You're a violent little thing, aren't you?

[Tyler grinned, lip split for the 4th time that week.]

[Comment Log]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[He caught her fist, and Meth raised an eyebrow at Tyler, giving him a fierce smile as if to say, "nicely done." She didn't try to punch him again with her free hand, but instead leaned over. Her hair drifted down on either side of her face as she wet her lips with the tip of her tongue.]

Yes, and that's why you like me. That's why you came here.

[She noticed his split lip, and idly wondered how long she could keep it from healing. With that in mind, she closed the distance between them, touching her lips to his before she grasped his lower lip between her teeth as before.]

[Comment Log]

[ilikesoap.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't get a chance to reply before she bites down on his lip again. A contented sound escaped his lips and with his free hand he drew her that little bit closer. Tyler doesn't mind the way they're positioned right now, and he's still grinning through the bite.

His other hand still holds her fist, just in case she's gearing up for another strike. Not that he would mind, but with his lip between her teeth, the action could take this horribly south.]

[Comment Log]

[metharchy.livejournal.com]

[Meth scoots her hips down his body just a bit so she isn't hunched over his head. It's in the interests of comfort, honest. It doesn't stop her from happily chewing on Tyler's lip, however, especially after hearing him sigh like that.

Originally she'd been intending to distract him with all of this and then rear up to continue hitting him in the face, but Meth didn't really want to anymore. It was much more fun to gnaw on his lower lip some, and then slide her tongue over it. Again, it was something she'd done last time, but Meth enjoyed doing so, and felt no need to switch up her routine to impress Tyler.

This wasn't about him after all. Right now, what Meth was enjoying was toying with his mouth, and of course that she was on top. Meth wasn't dead. She appreciated the contact as much as the next woman would.]