1106/Made of Stardust

Made of Stardust
Date of Scene:	11 April 2020
Location:	Emma's Suite - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Emma gives Alex a thoughtful gift... and he gives her an emotional revelation.
Cast of Characters:	Emma Frost, Alex Summers

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Emma Frost has posed:
Emma's apartment is a bit messy, as things usually go. Her dress and Alex's tuxedo and accompaniments had been delivered earlier in the day, and the bagged dress clothes had been whisked to her closet. The various other bits and pieces for the gala the following night were laying either on the coffee table or the couch.

Emma herself is only half dressed from trying on her dress for a few moments before putting it back away. She had thrown on a thin camisole and slipped into a short pair of pajama shorts after, but she certainly wasnt prepared for public viewing. Which was fine, as it was evening. Alex was supposed to join her sometime after he had given up on his dissertation for the night. There is take out on the counter in the kitchen: kabobs, hummus, fattoush, pita, falafel and tzatziki. A case of sparkling water and a six pack of craft beer is in the fridge.

Alex Summers has posed:
    There's a faint noise by the door and the click of the door unlocking, before Alex pushes it open, stepping inside. "Hey..." he says, breaking into a smile as he sees Emma, pausing to kick off his shoes as he quickly closes the door so no passerby can peep in. "It looks like a piece of luggage explodes across your couch..." he says bemusedly, crossing over to slide his arms around Emma, giving her a firm hug and a lingering kiss hello.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma smiles into the kiss and the embrace, genuinely pleased to see him. "Mmph. A lot of that is yours, you know. I got dinner." She leans up to steal another quick kiss, before breaking away to move towards the fridge, pulling out a pair of beers. "How did your work on things go today?" She pulls the magnetized bottle opener off the side of the fridge and pops the caps on the beers before handing Alex one.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex happily accepts the quick kiss. "Mm, I saw and smell, yes...quite a spread..." He steps aside to let Emma past to the kitchen, heading over the flop down on the couch. "I think I'm pretty well done with the actual writing. Now it's the tedious part of going through the footnotes and making sure they're all right and the little finicky crap like borders and margins and typefont and things like that. There's a certain way it all has to be done.: He accepts one of the beers to take a long draw from it. "Mm, how was your day?"

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma laughs a bit. "It was all right. Mostly helping with the behind the scenes stuff for the gala... dealing with the artwork and such for the auction." She takes a drink from her own bottle, wrinkling her nose a bit. Really, this is too... rustic. She fights the urge to acquire a glass. For now. "I will be a lot less busy once tomorrow is done with."

Alex Summers has posed:
    "Anything I can do to help?" Alex offers, peering over at her. "I mean, if it's just entering stuff into a computer or such, I can probably manage that, or editing for grammar or the like." He shifts an arm to slide it around Emma's waist lightly, resting his hand on her hip. "I didn't even realize there was an auction, actually." He wrinkles his nose. "Should have been paying more attention."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma shakes her head, giving him another quick kiss. "I appreciate the offer, but it's already been finished. The only thing left is to attend." She gives him a grin. "I'm looking forward to seeing you in some proper clothing instead of..." she gives him a mock stern once over. "I think you will look absolutely..." she bites her lower lip, her eyes sparkling a bit mischievously. "Mmph."

Alex Summers has posed:
    A cocky grin is Alex's response. "I'm sure I will, you picked it all out. And it's only fair I dress up some, when you've been dressing down. Not that you haven't looked fantastic." he promises. Before gently pulling Emma down onto his lap for another little smooch and a playful growl.

Emma Frost has posed:
She lets out a giggle as she's pulled onto his lap. "Alex! If you start this... I'm pretty sure we will forget about dinner." <<And probably forget sleep, too.>> Her mental addition has a tinge of teasing to it. "Mm. Besides, speaking of dressing up.." she extricates herself from his lap, leaning back down to give him a kiss that's meant to be quick but ends up deepening.

The infatuation is quite strong on Miss Frost's part.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex gets puppy eyes! But lets out a little laugh and doesn't resist as Emma squirms free. "Probably true." he allows, tilting his head up to kiss back lazily, his free hand sliding up to brush his fingertips down the nape of Emma's neck. It's equally strong for Alex...the desire to just touch and hold Emma and be close to her, nevermind more carnal matters.

    Still, he comes up for air after a moment, raising a brow. "Mmm, dressing up?" he repeats curiously.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma's lashes flutter a bit as the kiss ends, and she pouts for a moment. "Mmph. Yes. Dressing up." She straightens herself and scoops up a rich black leather bound box from the coffee table.

"I.. had these made for you. For tomorrow, or whenever else you may need them." She looks a bit amused and embarrassed at the same time as she offers him the box.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Brow raise in suprise, as Alex takes the box carefully. "Wow, thank you..." he says, sounding genuinely touched by the unexpected gift as he looks the box over, then carefully opens it, before chuckling. "Wow..." he repeats. "Cufflinks...they look beautiful...are these?" He squints lifting the box up. "...what kind of stones are these?" he says with interest, looking up to Emma.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma blushes a bit, but replies to his question with a bit of cheek. "You're the geoscientist," she teases. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?" She sinks onto the couch next to him, drawing her knees up to her chest and watching him with interest.

Alex Summers has posed:
    There's a faint 'hmmph' from Alex, but he looks intrigued by stones, his eyes lighthing up as he moves them a little closer to the light so he can see. "They're not a semiprecious stone I recognize. There's signs of high heat...striations in the rock..." he murmurs, running a thumb over one carefully. "Is this...a meteorite?' he says, glancing up at Emma with a smile. "Wow...how did you find something like this?"

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma nods, grinning a bit. "Hmm. It's like I said to Allegra earlier, Alex: in a world full of superpowers, the most potent one is still money." She is pretty matter of fact about that. "I wouldn't know where to find something like this, but I knew I wanted it, and who to pay to make it happen." She gives him a grin. "But I'm glad you like them."

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex carefully closes up the box and sets it aside, then stands up, his hands resting on Emma's hips as he tugs her closer, then leans in to murmur. "I love them...best girlfriend..." He follows it up with a slow, lingering, deep kiss, pussing quite a bit of passion in it with full intent of making Emma's toes curl a bit.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma practically melts into Alex's kiss, her arms slipping around him, dinner all but forgotten for the moment. Her pale cheeks pinken in a faint blush, her heart rate picking up.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex seems intent on stoking that flush, his lips more aggressive against Emma's for a moment, then relaxing into a lazy passion that takes a good minute or two before he comes up for air with a little sigh, then smiles at Emma, reaching up to playfully brush a fingertip under her chin.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Hm." Emma sighs, shaking her head lightly at him. "I fear for my productivity once you are done with your paper," she teases. "It would be too tempting to just never leave your arms for a few days."

Alex Summers has posed:
    "Think of it as mandated stress reliek." Alex teases back, leaning in to nuzzle her cheek, brushing his lips against it. "Maybe you can actually take a long weekend for a vacation?" He leaves his arms comfortably wrapped around her, but seems content to let her talk. After all, she went through the trouble of all the food too, it'd be rude to ignore that more everyday gift, after all.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma chuckles. "Food, then we can discuss those sort of things," she insists. "If you distract me too much we may not even make the gala," she teases, kissing his cheek. She slips out of his arms and to the kitchen, grabbing a couple of plates to dole out dinner.

She mentally, however, sends him a few mental images of various items of clothing she has tucked away in her closet, paying attention to his responses.

Emma Frost has posed:
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~

Morning comes, and the sunlight peeks in from behind the curtains. Normally, Emma doesn't mind it, the light helps her wake up early for the long day ahead. But this morning, the light is an unwelcome thing as the drowsy socialite awakens, tangled in bedsheets with far too high a thread count. A trail of discarded clothes lead from the living room into the bedroom, and beside her Alex Summers lays still sleeping peacefully, the incoming morning sun not bothering him quite yet.

It had been a... late... night.

Very late.

Quietly, Emma rolls over on her side to observe him. Things had escalated quickly last night, and in more ways than one. She draws in a deep breath of air, tugging the sheets over her slender form and laying back, staring at the pristine white satin canopy above.

There were many things that once said could never be unspoken.

She sits up, gently but as quickly as she dares, turning to face him, placing the fingertips of one hand on his forehead. She could just... make him forget. It would be simple. Simpler, even, than not doing so. How would he even know?

But she would. There was no way to make herself forget what he said in the heat of passion. And that had to be it, didn't it? A slip of the tongue, lust driving admissions of something breifly felt by the loins and not the head or heart.

That had to be it. She barely breathes. It could be excised in mere moments. And only she would know.

Alex Summers has posed:
    He sleeps on, unknowing of Emma's dilemma, his chest rising and falling as he breathes in and out. He mmphs as Emma moves away from where she was snuggled up, finger twitching for a moment before the abandoned hand comes to rest on his chest instead. Asleep, Alex looks without a care, his hair mussed and the sheet laying just below his chest across his body at an angle, a foot poked out near the edge of the sheet.

Emma Frost has posed:
Minutes pass, Emma barely drawing breath. But eventually, her hand falls away from Alex's forehead, running down his jaw. She curls up beside him, sighing. Between that and the sunlight, it might even accidentally wake him.

Alex Summers has posed:
    The shift away from him does slowly seep into Alex's sleeping mind, the movement pressed up against him as he lets out a soft sigh, that slowly turns into a stretch and a yawn as his eyes open, focusing on Emma after a moment "...morning." he murmurs, his voice roughened by sleep.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma gives Alex a half smile as he awakens. "Morning, handsome," she murmurs. Maybe he didn't remember anyway. That could be... a solution. And she wouldn't have anything to do with it. "You look like you had a rough night," she teases. "Should I order coffee?"

Alex Summers has posed:
    "Long night, but not a rough one....' Alex murmurs, his arm reaching out to gently tug Emma closer so he can give her a soft peck on the lips, hand running up and down her back. "Breakfast could be a thing...at some point..." He mmms. "Pretty comfy where I am though.." His mind is turning back to the previous night, of course, reliving a few memories....annnnnd nope, he remembers that, as his brow furrows slightly, before he peeks over at Emma. Does she remember that?'

Emma Frost has posed:
The furrowed brow and the jolt of flitting memory loudly announced in Alex's mind (she really needs to teach him better shielding) is enough to make Emma's heart drop a moment. Her own expression falters for a second. But she forces a smile to her face.

"I'm sure we can have breakfast ordered in. I'm thinking french toast." Definitely avoiding that conversation. Or trying to.

Alex Summers has posed:
    "That'd be cool..." Alex says, looking thoughful over at Emma. Oh dear. He's actually considering saying something and figuring out how to word it now. "When we're feeling up for it..."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma looks down, though at least she doesn't pull back from him. "Yeah. I mean... we have some time. Gala is this evening and I don't need to be around directing traffic in the ballroom until midafternoon." So very careful not to say anything about it.

This wasn't the first morning they had woken up in the same bed, but it was by far the most awkward.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex is watching Emma now, then tilts his head. "...wanna talk about it?" he says finally. He's more a ripping the bandage off quickly sorta guy, really. "Last night?"

Emma Frost has posed:
"Do you?" Emma's tone is the contrived sort of flat that has the slight wobble to it, as if covering up actual emotion with feigned indifference. "Last night was fun. We will see if I'm still able to walk." When in doubt, tilt the conversation. Flirtation and teasing is a more solid ground.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex's lips twitch a bit. "That part was fun, and we'll have to do it again. And again. And again." He reaches up to gently brush an errant lock of Emma's hair off her forehead. "I meant the other thing though."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Alex, it's fine. It just happened, people say... things when they are..." Emma swallows and bites her lower lip. "Mm. We can just pretend it didn't happen."

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex considers that for a moment. "...I kinda meant it though." he says after a moment of thought. "I mean...I don't..." He inhales. "I haven't really...before. Said that. Not seriously. But....ah." He rests his head back on the pillow. "...I know it's weird. Considering how long we've been dating, so...if you want to...I'm not trying to require anything of you that you don't want to give." he says, awkwardly.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma's pale cheeks darken. "You meant it?" her tone seems lost and confused. "...how?" The rest of what he said seems to just be noise. Her mind is stuck on just that.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex shifts a bit, getting a bit of a flush himself as he looks away embarrassedly. "...you just....click with me. I haven't been with anyone who I felt so comfortable with so fast. I talk about things with you I wouldn't really talk to anyone else about. You feel like a friend I didn't know I had on one side, and on the other...the caveman part of me just wants to toss you into bed constantly." He pauses. "I like...seeing you. Not when you're all made up and have your armor on, but that you let me see you when you don't. I like that you're willing to try things with me, even though you haven't before."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma blinks rapidly. "I... Alex. I don't..." she stammers a bit, her heart pounding. "I've never... been with someone like this. Much less been told... that. I..." she looks lost.

Alex Summers has posed:
Alex shifts, rolling on his side so he can face Emma more easily, resting his elbow on his pillow and his head on his hand. His other hand reaches out, resting just above Emma's hip as they talk. "...I'm sorry. Maybe I rushed it a bit...saying that." he says after a moment. "I didn't mean to freak you out over it. But it wasn't just sex talk. I'm really into you, Emma. I think about you when we're not together, I love the time we can spend together. You make me feel trusted and wanted and that you care about me."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Alex.." Emma shivers a bit. She closes her eyes, and it's easy to find his mind: it's a warm, safe presence she has grown accustomed to. Hesitantly she 'looks'. She knows he is being truthful, but sometimes it helps to check.

She lets out a breath she wasn't even sure she was holding. She swallows, and her eyes flutter back open again.

"Tell me again, without... the distraction," she murmurs.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex's sense of humor rears up, and he's really tempted to say something silly to break the tension...but a wiser part of him pushes it down. Also, he's not sure if Emma has seen Star Wars so 'Emma Frost, you're my only hope' might not go over well.

    But that bubble of amusement pops and he shifts a bit, his thumb brushing Emma's hip. "...I love you, Emma Frost."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma blinks rapidly again, her eyes glistening slightly. She shakes her head, taking a deep breath. "...Alex." Her voice almost breaks. She can feel his amusement and then his seriousness when he actually speaks. "You actually mean it," she says softly. There is still disbelief in her voice.

She can't respond in kind. She tries, but it catches in her throat.

Alex Summers has posed:
    "Yeah, I do." he says simply, flushing a bit. "I know it's...I know it's a bit fast to say that. And you don't have to say it back. Not until you want to. Or you're ready to or..whatever." he hastens to add. "I didn't say it to make you say it back."

Emma Frost has posed:
She curls up next to him, tugging the blankets up around them both. "Its not that," she says quietly. She's silent for what seems to be a long time, when you are having this sort of conversation. Finally, she sighs and mumbles, "nothing can be simple." The sunlight danced across the bedding and the two of them, and Emma, not for the first time, wished she was telekinetic as well as telepathic so she could yank the curtains closed from a distance.

"You know I'd never... been with anyone like this until you," Emma points out quietly. "Even those who wanted me, I just..." she shrugs lightly. "And somehow it ended up being you." Her fingertips trace his chest. "Not sure how it happened."

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex smiles faintly, his chest rising and falling under the fingers. "I know." he agrees. "That's why I'm saying...you...don't have to say it. This is new, and...I don't wanna mess it up by rushing things or forcing things or..." He inhales, then lets out a little huff as he cuts himself off. "...I feel really...special, that you wanted to be with me like that, over everyone else before."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma forces a half-smile to try and lighten the tension a bit. "Well," she murmurs. "Have you seen you?"

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex smiles softly. "Yeah, but I've also seen some of the men you hang around regularly. If you wanted, you wouldn't have had any trouble getting one of them interested too. You didn't have to ask me to the gala, when you barely knew me..."

Emma Frost has posed:
She laughs softly. "Well, you seemed harmless," she admits quietly. "I may have been a little wrong on that." She sighs softly.

Alex Summers has posed:
    "Nope. I'm serious like a HEART attack." Alex deadpans, his eyes twinkling.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma groans, reaching up and grabbing a pillow to hit him with. She giggles as she hits him with it, shaking her head. "No, bad Alex."

After the playful scuffle, she sinks back into the bed and looks up at the canopy. "You know my father will be at the gala tonight?"

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex acks as he's whapped, chuckling as he mmms and then turns a bit more serious. "Ah. No, but..i guess I shouldn't be suprised." He frowns. "...uh...I'm gonna guess he might have reservations about me, huh?"

Emma Frost has posed:
"Probably," Emma replies honestly. "But it's just a gala." She doesn't address... the rest. Tonight may be just a gala. But what has been growing between them is likely to be far more than that. "So hopefully he leaves it alone."

Alex Summers has posed:
    "Mmm. So on my best behavior, try not to piss him off, and let you deal with it, basically?" Alex offers after a moment. "I don't want to get you in trouble with him."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Pretty much," Emma replies quietly. "Hopefully he doesnt see you as relevant so he ignores you. Believe me, that's for the best." Emma stretches.

Alex Summers has posed:
    "....so, play peasant and unimportant. Check." Alex notes, sighing out a bit. "I'll try to keep my mouth firmly shut." He tilts his head slightly. "What about your mother, is she like that too?"

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma snorts. "Mother is so doped up she doesn't even remember her own name most of the time. She has been like that since I was a little girl. She will probably be there, but she won't remember you after she's walked away."

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex blinks at that. "Oh." he says, more softly. "I'm sorry hon..." Genuine sympathy in his voice.

Emma Frost has posed:
She shrugs. "Things are what they are." She sits up, stretching languidly and reaching for the phone on her nightstand. "I'm going to order breakfast. Afterwards," she lifts a brow at him, "we may stay in bed until we have to get ready." She grins at him. And she begins to punch in their breakfast order.

Alex Summers has posed:
    Alex chuckles, then sits up. "...maybe we should grab a shower while we wait then? I'm sure today is going to be a lot of work...so I don't want to wear you out either." He waggles his brows playfully, then gets to his feet, padding into the bathroom. "I'll get the water ready..."