Cara opens her mouth as well.

She doesn't have words. Just need. She leans in, catches Cara's mouth with hers. It's not gentle - more desperate than anything, seeking a deeper connection.

The taste is clinical - toothpaste and nothing else. Like kissing a mannequin that happens to be warm.

She pulls back after a moment, breathing hard. Her hands are still on Cara's shoulders, thumbs pressing into her collarbones.

Cara is responsive, when kissed, but doesn't otherwise react. The only change Vera might observe in her at all is a minute increase in the intensity of the guiding sensation, as Cara's backlash level moves slowly towards hers.

She stays like that for a moment, forehead resting against Cara's shoulder. The guiding flows between them, steady now. Manageable.

"Okay," she says, mostly to herself. "Okay. We're going to-"

Going to what, Vera? What's the plan? Have you decided?

Um.

Cara could help with this! She's good at plans! 

Well. Not right now, she isn't. Whoopsie.

1. Blush and avert her eyes, apologize for the kiss and invading her space.


2. Make deliberate eye contact to keep her gaze above her neck. Stammer an explanation for her behavior. There is one, right?


3. Lose her train of thought staring at the curve of her bare shoulder. Shake herself and refocus. Roll again.


4. Run her hands down Cara's arms, goosebumps rising in her wake. Cara shivers under her touch.


5. Get distracted tracing Cara's collarbone with a fingertip. The light fixture flickers - or was that just her imagination?


6. Press open-mouthed kisses to Cara's neck and shoulder, tasting the clean dampness of her skin.


7. Nuzzle into the crook of Cara's neck, inhaling the scent of her. Is that lavender? No, it's her body oil.


8. Notice an odd spot on the ceiling. Blink and refocus on the expanse of bare skin in front of her.


9. Guiltily consider stopping… but only briefly.


10. Feel her stomach growl. Was that Cara's too? When did they last eat? Maybe they should get food first… She won't let her starve? Probably?


11. Fixate on a hangnail, picking at it anxiously. Resist the urge to bolt.


12. Cara's lips are so soft…


13. Wait, what was that noise? Pause and listen intently.


14. The room feels warm. She should open a window. But then Cara would get cold… She's very naked…


15. Briefly imagine how awkward this could be in the morning. Push that thought away to deal with later.


16. She always has at least one more option.


17. She could make it worse.

The crowd awaits with baited breath.

n. She should open a window.

She pushes away, opens the window, breathing heavily. Does she actually want to do this?

It sure seems like she wants to do something. What, exactly, might still be a mystery.

(Cara will get cold, with the window open, but she won't do anything about it, besides maybe suffer in silence.)

g. Nuzzle into the crook of Cara's neck, inhaling the scent of her.

She likes when the thing smells like her. Maybe more than she ought to.

Yay, skin contact! The guiding resumes.

She grinds her teeth.

q. She could make it worse.

She won't.

p. She always has at least one more option.

And that is?

… Take a wild guess, sweetcheeks.

There is something very wrong with me, she thinks, as she sinks her teeth into Cara's shoulder, hard.

Cara's blood tastes salty on her lips, enhanced greatly by the source being a heavily backlashed compatible esper.

(The girl doesn't react, of course. It's like biting a doll. a disturbingly lifelike doll.)

She pulls back, blood on her teeth. She watches the roughed up skin with a sort of detached fascination.

"Down," she says finally. Her voice comes out rougher than intended, husky with a hint of growl.

One task at a time.

It's not actually obvious to Cara what Vera wants of her, actually! She tilts her head in confusion.

(Her shoulder is bleeding still.)

"On your knees."

Oh!

She can do that.

She looks down at Cara kneeling on the carpet. The blood from the bite is running down her shoulder in a thin rivulet, following the curve of her collarbone. The room still reeks. The window's still open. Everything is still wrong.

But this helps. Having her like this, looking up with those empty eyes. It narrows things down.

She reaches down, threads her fingers through Cara's hair. "Unbuckle my belt."

She can do that, too.

"And the top button."

She's really feeling remarkably clear, given the circumstances. Maybe she should?

She undoes the button.

This feels nice, actually. She's doing what she's told, and it's going to make Vera so happy!

She tugs down her zipper, hooks another finger in the elastic of her panties, pulling them to the side for her doll.

She looks up obediently.