Owner Pose
Jimmy Hudson     A few hours had passed though they seemed like minutes.
    Once they had emerged from the Thai restaurant the sun was well on its way setting behind the Winter horizon. The chill was greater in the air now and small flurries of snow fell from a sky that threatened much more. Yet for the young man known as James Hudson he was not feeling the cold at all.
    For his mouth was still on fire.
    Though perhaps that might be an exaggeration.
    "You weren't kiddin' about spicy." Stepping through the door he holds it for the redhead that trails along behind him and once she's clear he lets it swing closed with the bell jangling. Stuffing his hands deep in the pockets of his pea coat he gestured with a nod down the street. "I'm off thissaway."
    The statement really a silent question, and an offer of them walking together assuredly, but trying to give the freedom of an out in case she had somewhere else she needed to be. So he hovers for a moment, seeming about to say something more. But holding off for the nonce.
Carrie Kelley "You should probably get some milk or something. Water doesn't really do a good job of washing the spice away." Carrie chuckles as she steps out the door that the man is holding for her. She looks up to him a little, the height difference isn't stark, but she's also in flat soled boots. Then she nods, "I'm that way as well." she tells him as she points out the motorcycle down the way.

She starts to walk with him as she wraps her scarf around her neck and ties it loosely. Her green eyes twinkle with mirth as she gives a smile, "You'll have to tell your friend thank you on my behalf. Had he not stood you up I wouldn't have enjoyed lunch so much." she grins to that.

Apparently she didn't have anywhere else to be for the moment. "So what do you do when you aren't teaching, Jimmy?" she asks him.
Jimmy Hudson     Tilting his head over yonder he espies the motorcycle down the way. It's far, but not far enough. So when he turns and starts walking, it's a nice slow leisurely stroll, his footsteps casual and his gait relaxed. "I'll tell him. His not bein' around leads to good things." A slight half-smile lights those rugged features, makes him seem not quite so stand-offish at a casual glance. "He might get all grumpy about it, but hey."
    Then she asks him that question and his eyebrows rise. "Ah, that's the question ain't it?" He looks sidelong at her smiling as they stroll. Close enough that at times their arms might lightly touch, but not too close. That comfortable place one has when they're walking with someone that they've taken a shine to.
    "Justify your existence in so many words." He teases at her wryly, but then he actually takes a deep breath. Answers.
    "I like to read. Don't tell no one. Lots of folk I grew up with feel reading a book is admitting you don't know somethin', so best to never show weakness." His smile broadens as he makes light. Then his eyes lift upwards. "I like playing some sports. Train a fair amount. Took up MMA a year ago. Still lousy at it."
    He bites his lower lip in thought, "I spend some time doin' what I can with the people of the school. But unlike a lot of them my life hasn't been as rife so I'm not as... useful in some ways I reckon."
Carrie Kelley "Excellent." Carrie grins to that. "But no, don't tell him that. I hope that you guys can meet up and catch up on what's been going on." she tells him seriously. "I've got a lot of catching up to do with folks, but I'll have to check my way down the list." she admits. There's a bit of a chuckle to him, "I mean, it's a fair question to ask. I could have asked others." she points out.

"Nothing wrong with reading. Learning and enjoying learning is not a bad thing. And reading sometimes lets you enjoy other realms." she admits to that as she joins him in the leisurely pace. "Ooooh. MMA, you like rolling around hugging folks, hmm?" she teases him gently.

"Not everyone needs to have a broken past to help out an organization or a cause, Jimmy. Sometimes I wish my past was not what it was, but we accept it and move on to do what we can." she smiles. "And I'm sure that it's nice to have someone to talk to that's had consistent normalcy in their lives." she adds.
Jimmy Hudson     A small scoff is heard from him as he strolls along with her, but when she ribs him about the MMA he can't help but laugh a little while shaking his head. One hand slips out of the pocket to rub at the back of his neck as he smirks at her sidelong, "That's right. Full contact combat hugging. I give the best hugs." He accepts that teasing as is his due.
    But he does lightly nudge her with his shoulder as if getting back at her for such meanness. Or just an excuse for that light contact. He crinkles his nose at her and then accuses her with a single word. "Mean."
    But then the discussion drifts more toward their past and he nods a little. "I'm curious about what you'd wish to share about that. If you like. But also I don't mind waiting for another time." Hopefully another time, perhaps.
    "So your turn, what is it you do when you're not hassling guys at Thai restaurants and picking out the spiciest dishes ever made for them to sample?"
Carrie Kelley Carrie gives a chuckle, "Sir, you cannot just talk about full contact combat hugs and things of that nature and just claim that you give the best hugs." she points out to him. When he nudges her there is another chuckle, "See, I get a little sassy and you say I'm mean. This is the highest form of Ginger Discrimination. Shame on you, Jimmy. Shame." she wags her finger at him as she tries not to grin too much.

"My past is...odd, but it's not something that is a bad thing really. It just prepared me for dealing with certain situations." she admits. "But...maybe another time. I don't think it's a good first meeting tale." she offers.

Then she grins, "I mean, hassling guys at Thai restaurants /is/ my number one thing to do." she teases him. Then she sobers a touch, "I like driving, fixing things, and parkour." she states. "I know some martial arts, if you're looking to expand into other things." she offers.
Jimmy Hudson     "Is it my fault that gingers are just inherently evil?" James asks with such feigned innocence that one might almost believe his sincerity, were it not from that wicked half-smile that casts his features less toward the wholesome townsy sort and more... to the sly.
    But he's amused, and the ease of interaction with her is just lovely. Even as they stroll up toward that motorcycle. He pauses there, his eyes finding hers as she gives him the littlest glimpse into her past. He tries offering a small consoling smile but there's a curiousity in his eyes, twinned with concern as if he could do something about that which has shaped her life. The sentiment is at least there if not the ability. "Alright, I can understand that."
    But then the teasing is back as she /finally/ cops to the fact that she just likes hassling people. It's when she offers that comment about helping him expand into other things that his brow furrows. "That might be nice. I've never had..." He starts to say something, then laughs a little and says, "I mean. I'd like to see you again. If you want."
    There's a beat as he meets her eyes, then he adds with that small half-smile, "Though I get to choose the food."
Carrie Kelley Carrie gasps at him, a hand coming up to clutch at her scarf, "EVIL?!" she feigns hurt at that. "Look, it's not my fault that we lacked souls in gods great plan here." she points out with a chuckle. She doesn't have a problem with sassing, that is for sure. Maybe it was just the ginger genes.

She does slip back into being serious though when he says another time is alright, "Thank you, Jimmy. I appreciate the understanding." she tells him with a genuine smile that reaches those almond shaped eyes of hers.

Though she quirks her eyebrow at him, "You've never had what?" she asks him. Very curious as to what he was going to say. She then pulls her phone out and gives a smile, "I think I'd like that, if you can handle the jokes." she points out. "I don't have a card, so if you want to give me your number?" she asks him.
Jimmy Hudson     She can see him laughing a little even as he's digging his phone out of his pocket, just his broad chest lifting and lowering a little with a low chortle as she /asks/ him what his verbal misstep was. But, to be fair, she asked, so he answers. Even as he's extending the phone toward her and swiping it to life.
    "Never had a person I've been dating offer to teach me martial arts." Which is true, though perhaps he was thinking of a different term than 'person he was dating'. Then he adds "I didn't wanna presume."
    But once the phones are near they'll make that small virtual handshake and his information will pass over to hers and hers to his.
    Once that's done he tucks it back into his pocket, then looks back at her. "I suppose this is where we go our separate ways."
Carrie Kelley Carrie gives a bit of a blink to him. Another blink then followed by a look around before looking back to him. "Dating." she says that like she's making sure she heard it right. "Did I wander into speed dating and not know about it?" she asks him teasingly. "How about we give it a few more outings and then decide that, hmm?" she offers.

"Though I'm flattered that you'd say that given I didn't think I was anywhere near your type." she admits with a bit of a chuckle.

"I did have a good time though, so crossing pathes was fun and I'd definitely like to see you again, Jimmy. I know I sass a lot...but I'm up for continuing." she tells him as she tucks her phone back into her pocket.
Jimmy Hudson     "Well..." James' features twist up a little as he looks to the side, then looks back though still smiling a touch. "Now you understand why I cut myself off, right?"
    Though he does take a slight step back giving her a bit more room. He does look a little off-balance as he looks down the way, rubbing the back of his neck with one rough hand. "But as for a type I don't really think I have one?" He looks back toward her and says, "I like who I like, and you make me smile. So..." He gives a small shrug, still a bit on his back heel.
    "That's good though, I'd like to see you again too. I'll give you a call." He lifts a hand in a hint of a wave.
Carrie Kelley Carrie realizes that she's made the man feel weird and she dials the sass and things down to a comfortable one on the sass-o-meter. "It's really sweet, Jimmy, please don't get all weirded out. I just got shocked." she tells him. Then there's a bit of a smile, "You mean tall, rugged guys with strong jaws aren't out here dating supermodels?" she asks him with a bit of a grin.

"Well, score one for me." she chuckles.

When he gives the hint of a wave she gives a soft smile, "Yeah, I'm curious where you want to get food on the date though. Be safe though, Jimmy." she tells him as she starts off. Though something makes her stop and pivot back to him.

"You said you give the best hugs, right?" she asks him.
Jimmy Hudson     "Well," Jimmy seems to weather her initial words, his smile still a little wry. "I mean usually I am totally all dating Victoria's Secret models and all, and Claudia Schiffer has me on speed dial. But you know..." He gives a small shrug.
    But he pauses there, a few feet away as his eyes meet hers, his smile a warm thing. "I have this thing for gals that make me laugh. Like you don't know it, but usually I'm all grr, serious, grr." He even says the 'grr' with some gravitas. "Like if you told folks at Xavier's that I was smiling and laughing they'd call you a fibber."
    Then he flares his hands slightly, "So I do like ya. Sue me." The words are teasing, but the brightness in his eyes is amused and playful.
    She asks that last question. "Yeah. The best hugs." He doubles down on that boast.
Carrie Kelley Carrie gives a look to him as he speaks on the Victoria Secret models and she gives a bit of a chuckle, "Well, I'm glad you had room for me in the phone then." she winks at him. Though she does turn fully to watch him as he speaks.

"Maybe I just need to get photographic or video evidence to show them over there and then your secret will be out." she grins. "I'm not complaining about you liking me. No complaints." she offers as she heads back towards him.

"Alright, then I'd like one of these 'best hugs' to round out my birthday to myself. If you don't mind?" she asks as she looks to him.
Jimmy Hudson     A small snort comes from him as she razzes him a lil more, his eyes rolling as if she were just /so/ trying. But that smile and the twinkle in his eyes shows he's amused, even delighted. And when she threatens photographic evidence he's already holding up a hand, "Oh no, that's alright..."
    But then when she confesses it's her birthday he blinks for a moment. Those deep blue eyes tighten as he meets her gaze asking that silent question if that was true or not, but then instantly accepting that it is so since she's seemed honest with him so far.
    Yet it doesn't stop him from murmuring, "Your birthday?"
    Then she asks for a hug and his smile returns, eyes lowering as hew grins around him chewing the inside of his cheek before he looks up with hooded eyes. "Alright, a hug." He looks around as if considering the surroundings. "I mean, we don't have all the gear or the mats but I can maybe manage somethin'."
    But as he says that he steps closer, a single step as he turns a little to the side, then another as he draws close. Their eyes meet and he murmurs softly, "Happy Birthday, Miss Kelley."
    Just a few quiet words, then strong arms easing around her, and then drawing her in. He's a good bit taller. So broad of shoulder and she can hear the rumble of his heart deep in his chest. One hand gently rests between her shoulder blades, the other at the small of her back.
    It's warm, something about him running at perhaps a higher temperature with how his metabolism is different. But he holds her for a time, enjoying that nearness as he rests his chin on top of her short red hair. A few moments. A little longer as their breathing eases. There's an earthy scent to him, as well as the masculine hint of effort and exertion and... apple shampoo?
    Then he murmurs with a hint of a smile she can hear in his words. "And see next move I'd throw you to the mats and win. Perfect Combat Hug."