For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

(warnings: sexytimes. also, panic attacks, brutal violence, attempted murder, discussion of suicide and actual murder... )

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[theodorelasso]

The comment catches him off guard, and he mentally stumbles for a moment, blinking at her.

"Yeah, no, definitely," he agrees. "It's a... a good topic."

Yeah, this is clearly not something he does often. And he absolutely does want to talk about it, but he also knows he's going to be vaguely uncomfortable while they do. (That's alright though, he can deal with uncomfortableness.)

[formersurgeon]

He's adorable when he stammers like that, and Joan smiles wide with amusement.

"I'll follow your lead," she promises, hoping the control puts him more at ease. "However you want the conversation to go."

[theodorelasso]

"Right," Ted answers, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. While he appreciates maybe not being blindsided by questions he has no idea how to answer, he hadn't really prepped any questions either.

"Uh, are you on birth control?" he asks, because that's the thing that had actually occurred to him earlier.

[formersurgeon]

It's a good place to start.

"Yes. I have an IUD." With her sex life being so varied in New York, a "set it and forget it" method seemed best.

She waits for his next question.

[theodorelasso]

Ted nods. Alright, good to know, good to know...

He tries to think of more questions. And, more importantly, how to phrase them.

The moment drags on.

"Okay, I don't actually really know how to do this," he admits, which should not be a surprise. He goes and sits down at the kitchen table. "How about you just, I dunno, tell me things you think I should know? Or ask me things?"

Turns out being in control of the conversation doesn't help if you have no idea what to do with it.

[formersurgeon]

Joan sits down at the table next to him, and reaches out to take his hand.

"Is there anything you'd want to avoid?" she asks. "Anything that makes you uncomfortable?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted thinks about it for a moment, then shrugs. "Not really," he answers. Certainly nothing that they wouldn't probably discuss beforehand.

"Also, I know I seem a bit uptight or awkward, but I'm actually really open to trying stuff. You know?" He pauses. "I mean, I like to be private about it though. So no like fooling around at work in a closet or anything like that."

He may be blushing a little, but at least he isn't stammering.

[formersurgeon]

She smiles fondly, so charmed by his adorableness. "I think we can manage not to do that," she says, amused. She lifts her eyebrows mischievously. "If I'm hot and bothered after a game, I'll remember to get you home before pouncing on you. Is there anything you really like? A position? A way to be touched?"

[theodorelasso]

Between the flirting and the questions, the blush is definitely increasing. He's not even sure if he has good answers, because a lot of the stuff he can think of is... so tied to Michelle specifically.

"I dunno, I.. like to be able to see you and make sure you're enjoying yourself," he answers, although right now he's not looking directly at her, cause this is embarrassing enough. "I mean. I've only had sex with five people, including you. It's... specific for the person, it's personal, it depends on what they like."

[formersurgeon]

That is so deeply Ted, the one thing he can think of wanting being the pleasure of others. Her heart aches at how he's not looking at her, too embarrassed to talk about this to look her in the eyes. Joan is so used to sex being transactional, an arrangement for the exchange of pleasure, giving and taking so that each individual is satisfied. But this is different, and she feels it in the pit of her stomach. Consent is important, of course, as is communication, but this isn't a transaction. She loves him, deeply.

She gets up and goes to him, kneeling so he doesn't have to get up, and takes his face in her hands and kisses him. When she pulls back she gazes up at him, the love clear in her eyes.

"Let's find out what we like," she says softly. "Together."

[theodorelasso]

Ted blinks when she gets up, and makes a small noise when she kisses him.

When she says that, his heart swells, just from affection and gratitude for her sweetness. He puts a hand on her wrist and strokes it a bit with his thumb, smiling emotionally at her, and nods.

He's usually better at talking about this in the moment anyway. Then they're already doing it, so it's less embarrassing, it feels less incongruous. Heck, if they want to discuss ideas or things more in detail, it might just be easier to do during foreplay.

[formersurgeon]

That smile is heartbreakingly beautiful, and she mirrors it, nodding back at him, smoothing her thumbs over his cheeks.

Then she kisses him again, more passionately this time, making a small soft noise of want. She wraps her arms around him and presses in as much as she can. Their relative positions make it difficult, but she doesn't want to let go, doesn't want to stop kissing him.

[theodorelasso]

Ted kisses back, though after a few moments he makes a muffled sound and then tries to get them both to stand up -- without necessarily taking a proper break in the kiss.

It ends up being not very smooth, and he laughs a bit into the kiss before pulling back a little, though instead keeping their foreheads pressed together. "I thought you said you wanted to talk in bed," he teases.

[formersurgeon]

Getting to their feet while still lip locked is awkward in the most adorable way possible, and Joan is laughing into the kiss as well by the time they manage it. Her arms are still twined around him as their lips part, and she laughs at the tease.

"I didn't say that was the only thing I wanted to do," she teases back.

[theodorelasso]

"Do we want to be proactive and responsible adults and brush our teeth and all that before we get carried away?" he suggests with a smile.

Not that he isn't eager to get into bed with her, but he has a feeling that once he does, he won't want to get up again.

[formersurgeon]

Joan laughs. "You know, I think that's the first time I've ever had someone want to hit pause to brush their teeth." She kisses him, then smiles. "Whatever you want to do."

[theodorelasso]

"Yeah, well, I just know I won't want to get out of bed again if I can help it," he answers with an amused shrug. And he enjoys just... being with Joan. Little domestic rituals are comforting.

Plus, this time he'd actually like to take his time. Pausing for a moment isn't really a problem. They'll have plenty of time to do what they want to do.

[formersurgeon]

"Fair enough," she says with a smile. She kisses him one more time and then pulls back and heads to the living room where she put her bag. "Oddly enough," she says, rummaging through her bag. She finds what she's looking for, turns to face him, and holds up a toothbrush. "I came prepared."

[theodorelasso]

Ted follows slowly after, and when she pulls out the toothbrush he chuckles and points at her with approval. "I'd expect nothing less from a seasoned detective such as yourself. What else you got in there?"

[formersurgeon]

She grins and chuckles a little at his approval. "Mostly seasoned detective stuff," she says with a smile. "Evidence bags, nitrile gloves, lockpicks. I didn't bring a nightshirt, though, which I'm kind of regretting now."

[theodorelasso]

"Well, we can solve that easy!" Ted answers immediately, then heads to his bedroom dresser. He returns moments later, and tosses her one of his Kansas City BBQ t-shirts, with a big grin on his face.

[formersurgeon]

She catches it and holds it out to take a look, grinning. "Very you," she says with a grin. "And will work perfectly." Joan being as tiny as she is, the shirt is almost certain to come down to her knees.

She folds the shirt and drapes it over her arm, then gestures toward the bathroom. "Shall we?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted gestures in a 'be my guest' kind of way, heading to the bathroom himself. There's of course still a tiny 'BELIEVE' sign on the mirror, matching the one in the team's locker room.

"Fun fact, the t-shirt's actually a mashup of four different barbecue places in Kansas City. You know, so you don't have to pick sides," he says as he's pulling out his toothbrush himself.

[formersurgeon]

Joan sees that sign and can't help but smile. She's noticed similar signs hiding here and there, all little versions of the sign she saw in the Richmond locker room while she was talking with players for the case. It's really a testament to the fact that Ted truly believes, down to his core, the things he says to his players. He practices that which he preaches.

"Is it?" she says, amused, as she wets her toothbrush and puts toothpaste on it. "It makes sense...people take their barbecue seriously." She gives him a smile, indicating she's mostly talking about him, and starts brushing.

[theodorelasso]

Ted gives an amused hum of acknowledgement, brushing as well. Since they can't really talk and brush as the same time he just loops an arm over her shoulder and leans slightly against her in the meantime.