431/Just another day

Just another day
Date of Scene:	15 May 2017
Location:	Harry's Apartment
Synopsis:	Harry tries to tell Karrin something important, but she is way to tired.
Cast of Characters:	Harry Dresden, Karrin Murphy

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Harry Dresden has posed:
For Harry Dresden, being injured is par for the course, but it doesn't prevent the wizard from a serious case of cabin fever. Having been 'resting' for the last few days, Harry slipped out for a few hours to run some errands, only recently arriving back home to his basement apartment. There is a fire lit in the fireplace, casting an ambient orange-red glow over the rest of the one room apartment, as well as a couple candles placed sporadically to add more light to otherwise darkened corners. Mouse and Mister both lay curled up on the couch, one on each end, with the cat still eyeing the dog warily.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Well, he did give her a key to the place. That means Karrin no longer feels the need to knock. Or, perhaps her head is just ten million other places now and she's halfway into a rant mentally so she doesn't want to pause that by being polite. Who knows. But the sound of the spare key in his lock can be heard and a heartbeat later short and fiesty comes down, news paper in her hand, eyes shining with anger and cheeks flushed with whatever yelling she did in the car.

"...Did you see this? DID YOU SEE THIS?! The JOKER. The fucking JOKER! NO wonder we are striking. This city is going to go to hell. HOW THE HELL DO I WORK FOR HIM?!" No hullo, no smile, no hug or checking on just how injured he still is. Karrin plops in and slams the newspaper down on the table. She really looks ready to murder something.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Putting the last of the groceries away, the tall wizard reaches into the icebox and produces a pair of beer bottles upon hearing the lock in the door. He opens both and sets them onto the little counter the separates the kitchenette from the rest of the apartment.

He pauses for a second, and then reaches under the counter and slides a bottle of scotch next to the beers as well.

When Karrin finally opens the door and starts commenting on the happenings in the city, Harry lets out a little nod. "Yeah, I saw. I can't believe it. It has to be a, well, joke. No pun intended. They can't honestly think this is going to work. I just want to know where your pointed eared friend is during all this. I can't imagine he endorses this idea."

Harry leans against the counter with a little bit of a wince even as the puppy bounds off the couch and makes his way over toward Karrin's side, raising a little paw and batting at her leg.

Harry shrugs a shoulder, "Maybe it's time to take all that vacation time you have saved up."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
It's like he expected this or something. Once Karrin has finished with her slightly overly dramatic entrance -- she REALLY needed to get that out of her system -- she narrows her eyes and looks around the place. Two ales. Scotch. Yeah, he'd clearly seen the paper. She's about to stalk over in that direction, probably grabbing for a belt of the scotch first, but then suddenly there is a large puppy paw batting at her leg and she looks down at the little fluff ball. "...You.. are probably very good for my blood pressure." She mutters to the pup, simply UNABLE to continue cursing in front of him.

She then leans over and scoops the little guy up, giving his head a good scratch before moving past the couch and leaning over to give Mister some love too. She doesn't want him to feel neglected! Once that is done, still with her puppy luggage, she moves to the kitchen and does grab for the scotch. "I'm considering joining everyone else on strike. I am... I have no clue where Batman is but I really want to give him a piece of my mind. But then...what the hell ACTUALLY happens to the innocent citizens of Gotham? Do we just fu... uh... fudging..." She should not swear in front of maybe intelligent puppy, right? "abandon them?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
He can't help it. As much as he tries, Harry can't help the little smile that forms on his lips as Karrin's fury is derailed by the four legged fluff ball. The little ball of fur wuffles a bit as he is picked up, and then once settled in her arms gives her a lick to the cheek.

"Of course not.", Harry says with a snort, "We don't abandon anyone, we just fight the good fight without being behind the protection of a badge....well, you do anyway. I've never really had that particular shield to fall behind." Harry reaches into the icebox and pulls out a Coke, pressing the ice cold can to his shoulder. "Strike. Take your vacation. Do something that gets you out of having to actually take orders from that madman." He pops the Coke open and takes a swig before replacing the can to his shoulder, "I'd say even quit if you have to. I'm sure you can find something with another agency."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
With the adept talent with alcohol that only someone named Murphy can have, Karrin opens the bottle of scotch one handed, her other palm still cradling that puppy, and she actually knocks back a good belt of it without hesitation and even without much of a wince following. Apparently, the plan for THIS evening was to get completely shit faced. Who knew if she'd even ate. She then leans instinctively a bit closer to that puppy's lick, he really was helping her not entirely lose her mind, but the words Harry offers make her look a little ill.

"...Harry... it's not about falling behind a shield. It's about making certain the people KNOW who the good guys are. It's about... protecting and serving. I took an *oath*, Harry... I made a promise to this city a long time ago. And yes, it involves that badge. I've... been nothing but a cop my entire adult life for a reason. I'm a damn GOOD cop. If... if we all run, then the people won't know WHO to trust. There's no where for people to turn. You can't trust vigilantes. And, no offense, how much of Gotham do you think takes seriously the wizard in the yellow pages?" SHe doesn't say it insultingly, but with a flat practiality to her voice. "...I... I'm a cop. I can't quit. I made a promise." She reiterates. But there's a touch of fear behind there too. She doesn't know how to be anything BUT a cop.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Taking the Coke from his shoulder, he takes another pull from it. "The you be the best damn cop you can be under these circumstances, Murph. You let the public know that you are there for them, get the word out that even under the most bizarre and dire of circumstances that there are those of you on the force that will not give up or give in. Use your connections, call your friends on SPECTRE...hell, call Jack Ryder and give him an interview. Let the public know that you are not going to give up, or give in, and even if it takes working under a lunatic you will be there for them."

Harry takes another quaff from the can, "And to answer your question, judging by the amount of disposable income I have in mu bank account, I would say the percentage of people that take me seriously is very, very low."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
It's only then, when he TAKES the can from his shoulder, that Karrin realizes he's still nursing injuries. She knew, but her brain hadn't really been there yet. The blonde lets out a slow breath, trying to calm that too quick trip of her heart, easing into it all now. "...Sorry, Harry. You certainly don't deserve this anger. How are you doing?" She nods to the shoulder, some gentle concern now actually hooding at her eyes. She takes another shot of the scotch, this one making her wince a bit before she puts it down and lets her fingertips focus on scritching into puppy scruff. THat makes things better, certainly.

"...The interview thing isn't a bad idea. I might end up getting myself fired if I...uh... Imply that we aren't all backing our illustrious commissioner. I guess I don't care. Are rogue cops a thing? Shit, Harry... I... I don't know how to do this." She admits softly, not quite meeting his eyes. It breaks something in her to admit that.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden shrugs the good shoulder as the corner of his lip raises in a bit of a smirk, "It's fine, Murph. I've gotten used to being on this side of your wrath, for slights imagined or otherwise. I mean, at least you aren't throwing me into handcuffs and trying to arrest me, so I call this a win."

"I'm healing. I managed to make it out of the house today and took a drive over to Bludhaven. They have a magic shop over there that actually is legit. I needed to pick up some supplies and decided to check it out. Ran into a pair of hedge witches there, it was interesting. But not important."

He sets the can of Coke down and slides a butt cheek onto the counter to half-sit on it. "I wish had the answers for you, Murph. But it wouldn't be the first time the cops didn't show solidarity for their commissioner. I mean, didn't Gordon do the same before he became the commish? Seemed to do ok for him in the end."

He smiles a soft smile, reaching his hand over to place on top of hers, giving Mouse a ruffle in the process, "It's ok to be scared, Karrin. I'll let you in on a little secret, i'm terrified about what I am doing about ninety-five percent of the time. If you asked me at any given moment if I knew what I was doing, I would have to say no if I was being honest."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"...I'm not scared." Karrin immediately bounces back, a defense mechanism FAR more than it is the truth. Mouse gives a little, obstinant yelp at that and, though she might imagine it, a doggy raised eyebrow. She stares down at the pup. "Harry. Your dog is giving me flack. Tell him to stop giving me that look." She smirks, but it's really probably the same look HARRY is giving her, so she just sighs and sinks to the side on the counter as well, right next to Harry. Enough that her lower ribs can brush against his hip.

"Yeah...Gordon did that too. Gotham's always been messed up. I... guess I just keep trying. The interview thing is a good idea. I'll do that. See where it gets me." She murmurs, staring into the dim room in front of her, the drowsy warmth of too much booze, too fast on an empty stomach is now sinking into her limbs quite nicely. "...and you're pretty damn good at hiding how scared you are. Just not that you know what you're doing. We're all full well aware you have no clue what the hell you're doing." She teases him lightly, giving a gentle poke with her elbow.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Letting out a little snort, the wizard elbows back gently. "Hey, there isn't a manual for the sort of things that I have to do. I have to make it up as I go along. Sue me, but you won't get much."

"GCPD would be fools if they let you go, Murphy...but given who the city just chose to be the GCPD Commissioner, I think they have gone past fools straight into insane. Regardless of what happens, i'll be there to support you, you know that. If you loose the badge you can work with me as a PI, or I'm sure the feds would want someone of your caliber, or there is always Bludhaven or New York or even Metroplois. I am sure you can get a job as a cop elsewhere."

He smirks, "Maybe you can get a skin tight suit with a cape and run around on rooftops. That seems to be all the rage now as well. Let's see, what could we call you? Batwoman..no, that's taken now isn't it? Batgirl is taken. Robin...taken. Hrmm. Sparrow? Finch?"

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"You just want to see me in a skin tight suit." Karrin states flatly, the look she's giving him as deadpan as her voice. Her smirk deepens, but she doesn't look like her head is literally ready to explode any longer, so that's a good sign. She lets out a long breath and leans against him just a bit deeper. "We'll start with an interview. If I can get the radio or paper to take me... we'll go from there. I need to set up some sort of... anonymous line. Or shit, just give them my desk line, as... as long as the commissioner leaves it connected. Some way for people to get through. An email address, maybe..." SHe's just talking aloud, now, the scotch helping her brain to ramble between good and bad ideas.

"You should be resting, you know that. After your adventures today... don't want to push it too hard. You want me to take a look at those ribs again?" Karrin seems done focusing on self-care for the moment. She's not good at drowning in pity overly long, it doesn't sit well in her heart. So, now she focuses on him, though she's scooping up the open bottle of ale and has hands full between it and the puppy, though Mouse is now getting wriggly as he is a pup and she clearly doesn't need face licking QUITE so much as she did before.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Opeing his mouth to say something, Harry just ends up closing it again, replacing whatever words he was going to utter with the sound of him swallowing a mouthful of Coke instead. He nods his head once, in agreement and understanding. "Sounds like a plan."

At the comment about him resting, he shrugs his good shoulder, "It was just a drive and a quick shopping trip. I don't think I did anything that could damage myself to much. But if you are just trying to get my shirt off..." The wizard grins and finishes the Coke in one long pull, tossing the can into the recycle bin. "...who am I to try and stop you."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The blonde turns towards him, head tilting and a DEEP smirk dancing across her lips. "...So, you managed to actually bite your tongue on whatever idiotic thing you were going to say about the skin tight suit... But then totally blew it by shirtless comments? You're already in trouble, might as well go for the whole hog." Karrin teases him, setting the dog down so she can swat at his arm, though in a spot she knows isn't injured. Mouse immediately takes off running in some overly energetic puppy circles because Puppy.

She then nods towards the couch, "...but come on. I can at least see how worried I should be and how green your bruises are. Has the shoulder popped out again at all?" Karrin asks, concern trumping how angry she is at him. She really has no anger LEFT In her right now, having burnt most of it out at the news paper. Her walk is a little less than a straight line, a good sign she probably didn't eat a damn thing before she came here, but she manages over to the couch smoothly enough and plops down there.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Letting out a good belt of laughter, Harry follows her over to the couch. "Hey, I wouldn't be me if you weren't mad at me about some comment or another. If I didn't get you at least riled up by one sentence in a conversation you would think I was some alien dopploganger or Fae imposter. Besides, I've already gotten close enough to skin tight."

He moves to stand in front of where she sat on the couch, moving gingerly as he moves to slide the t-shirt up and over his head. "No, it's stayed in place. I can feel a bit of grinding when I move it, but it's not to bad." He winces a bit as he moves to get the shirt over his head. "The bruising looks like...well...bruising. All greens and purples and funky yellow colors."

True to his word, the bruises are exactly that, all the various bruse colors radiating from the impact point of the slug and moving out to cover a good portion of his shoulder and upper chest/back area.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"Fair enough. I can't expect you to be THAT intelligent." Karrin teases gently, taking a good belt from the beer and then resting the bottle down so she now has two free hands to look over his injuries before she actually gets any more tipsy. Her fingertips are quite warm, for once, the blessings of alcohol despite the forever chill of a basement apartment. "...Sorry I wasn't back over to rewrap those ribs. Work has been a bit... well... You know." SHe does sound genuinely guilty about that, though, as she sees the miserable amounts of bruising on his shoulder and chest. She knows it's in that looks worse before it gets better stage, but it's still uncomfortable.

Shifting closer, she starts that careful trace of her fingertips along his ribs, checking to see that none of them seem to have popped out of place. "I'll re-wrap them. And you really should sling that shoulder until it stops grinding. I mean, unless you like doing possible permanent damage to yourself. That's all up to you." She deadpans, her breath gentle against his neck as she speaks, tone far softer than the implication of her rough and tumble words.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"It's fine, Murph." Harry says with a smile, "I know you have been busy, and it isn't like I am not a big boy. I can take care of myself alright. I took it easy, so the lack of wrapping shouldn't be to detrimental to my recovery...but it was either leave the wrapping on, or take a shower and I needed a shower."

He doesn't wince to much as his ribs are prodded. They seem to be healing well enough, but still tender to the touch. He shrugs his shoulder, glancing from his shoulder down to Murphy, "I'm sure I can find something to makeshift a sling for the arm. Hell, I probably have one around here somewhere from the last time I needed one."

The gentle breath caressing his naked neck causes his skin to ripple in little goosebumps and he gives the barest of shivers. "I think...I need to stoke the fire some more."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"I think you need to keep your ass put until I make certain you don't shake yourself apart again, Capiche?" Murphy half growls at him, finishing her probing and pulling quickly away. Whether she even realized what sort of affect her proximity had or not, it's not clear. She then heads for the bathroom, looking where she's found the ace bandages and various things before.

Mouse, having finished tearing around the house like a mad man, trots back over to Harry and looks up to him almost patiently. It's not the 'need to go out' look. It's the 'so what are you going to do about this?' look. He gives a little yip in the direction of tipsy-Murphy in the bathroom, then back towards Harry before his jaw lolls open in little doggie grin and he pads up to put his paws up on Harry's lap. Mister, of course, not to be out done, immediately gets up from where he's been curled up on the couch and prowls over to Harry, head butting his shoulder and rubbing up against his arm in back and forth paces.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Looking after Karrin, Harry watches the doorway she passed through until he is batted by a puppy paw. "What?" exclaims the wizard as the breaks his gaze towards the bedroom and looks down at Mouse. "Don't give me that look. You haven't been here long enough to be able to give me that look, Mouse. As I have told Bob, It's complicated."

He reaches down and ruffles the puppy's head with one hand, and giving Mister his due worship with the other. He calls out to Murphy, "If I have a sling, it's likely under the sink. If it isn't there, check the dresser...left side, third drawer down. Behind the boxers."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The fact that Karrin doesn't complain about going behind his boxers means she's either REALLY that tipsy or, more so, they are simply just that close. "Got it!" She calls, ducking out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. It's about another two minutes before she returns, Mister now having taken the chance to settle down RIGHT on Harry's thigh and half curl up, which means Harry's going to be pinned to the couch for a while.

Coming back with ace bandage and sling, "Victory." Karrin declares, sinking down behind him once more and starting the familiar, warm dance of wrapping that ace bandage. She's careful, pulling it just tight enough to give support to those ribs without strangling him. Her motions are a bit more languid for the booze running through her, but this activity is practically done by muscle memory alone these days. ANd her breath is there, against his neck, the side of his face, too close to be anything but tempting. "I forgot you were a boxers guy. When did you get the ones with little hearts on them? Are those actual *silk*?" She asks, not totally able to hide the faint giggle behind her voice.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Looking up from Mouse and Mister when Karrin returns, Harry pulls his lips into the hint of a smirk, "Yes, they are silk, I got them from Susan before...you know. At least you didn't rifle through them too much. You might have found the blue ones with the duckies on them that I ended up wearing when I busted out of Bianca's. It was either that, or going about free willy...and I wasn't about to die naked. If I am going to die naked, it's going to be doing something fun if I can help it."

Harry raises his hands to let Murphy have better access to his chest, resting his hands on her shoulders, his fingers absentmindedly rubbing gently across her shoulders in a light massage. In a obviously teasing voice he exclaims, "At least I keep my unmentionables in a drawer, Murphy. Not tossed behind the bed."

It's like he can't help himself, really. The idiot.

"Actually, I think that is a point in your favor, not mine. I'm going to have to toss some random underwear around the apartment just for the illusionary effect."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
It doesn't take too much longer for Karrin to finish wrapping those ribs, especially with his hands on her shoulders, massaging against the far too tight tendons there. While the booze is helping, Karrin has been operating on 110 percent anger for HOURS now and the remenants of that are clearly left over in her body. She's often tense, regular strength training will do that, but she also often stretches well. She's clearly NOT done that today. But the brush of his fingertips on her shoulders are enough to get a little moan of sore approval from her lips. It felt good.

Then she finishes securing those little metal stays, about to pull back and say she's done, when she looks up and realizes he's *right there*. So close. Hands on her shoulders, half naked, talking about her unmentionables. This should be far more romantic, if he wasn't running his mouth about things that make her blush. She clears her throat, trying to get some control. "...How... how do those bandages feel?" But her mind has been totally derailed by other thoughts. She's trying to get the professionalism back. It's a lot harder two shots and half a beer in.

Harry Dresden has posed:
If Harry has any idea the conflict that Karrin is feeling inside, he doesn't seem to acknowledge it. He lifts his hands from her shoulders for a moment, stretching his arms over his head slowly and then twisting to one side, then the other. "They feel fine, Murph. Nice and tight."

He places his hands back onto her shoulders and rubs the tension there with a bit more forethought than as an idea gesture, "You're tense, Karrin. Turn around, let me work on these shoulders for a bit. It's the least I can do."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Safer that way, really. She's not feeling anything, right? Nor is he, surely. Karrin blinks as he pulls away, taking in a deep breath to try and clear her head, calm her pulse. This was HARRY, after all. She gives him a slightly distracted nod, "Good. Then on with the sling and you'll be all set." She clips out, a bit overcompensatingly professional. This was just business.

Of course.

Then he's going on about working on her shoulders and she cocks a single brow, staring up to his dark eyes. "And what happened to giving that shoulder a rest? Fighting with my knots certain isn't going to do you any good. I'm fine. Really." She's not, but she narrows eyes in a touch of worry at that still quite purple and green shoulder. She's still not pulled back, though.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Let me worry about my shoulder." Harry says with a sigh, "I promise if it starts to bother me I will stop using it, but at the very least I can use my hands and my hands don't hurt. Now stop arguing and turn around. Hell's bells, let me do something nice for you for a change."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"Mmph." Is Karrin's big, dramatic, completely verbal argument. She narrows her eyes at him like she's waiting for a surprise to pop up somewhere, but he's got her on this one. "When'd you get smart?" She grumbles. She then shifts and turns around, reaching down to abruptly peel out of the teeshirt she's wearing because she's just tipsy enough to not be thinking about it, and one doesn't actually work on shoulders through a teeshirt. Fortunately, she's in a sports bra that covers more than most bikinis, so this shouldn't be *too* distracting, right?

She's got a few extra bruises herself, things that weren't there before, but it's been a bit since he's seen her unclothed. There's the same old scars -- a knife wound, two different bullet wounds, some shrapnel scars. It's simply Murphy. A map on her skin of a life lead in the fight. She reaches a hand out for her beer, taking another sip of it, letting it nurse between her fingertips.

Harry Dresden has posed:
When Karrin turns around and whips her shirt off Harry does pause a moment, clearly not expecting that. Looks like he was expecting to work though a t-shirt after all. Still, the brief moment of surprise is quickly pushed aside with a muttering of 'Stars and stones' just under his breath as he moves his hands back to her shoulders.

The grip is firm, his fingers moving along the taught muscles between her neck and her shoulders as his thumbs dig into her skin to break apart the mess of knots they have become. There is slightly more pressure applied to the right side where his hand and shoulder can bare a little more effort, but the left is doing a decent job as well. "Looks like I'm not the only one that should be taking it easy."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
While Karrin doesn't necessarily see it in herself, for those who appreciate a nicely toned woman, she's definitely a pretty sight. Lithe lines, the faintest hints of indentation with muscle and tone. Her hair short enough to expose the clear line of her neck. She was lovely, in that short (very short) Amazonian kind of way. "Hmm?" She asks drowsily, as she hears him muttering SOMETHING about stones, but doesn't catch it all. She's just leaning into those strong hands she trusts. She did need this.

Another good gulp is taken of her beer, though she suddenly needs a hand free for Mister, who isn't getting enough attention from Harry, so he comes over to Karrin's lap. She murmurs gently to him, rubbing behind his ears. "Yes, you are still king here. I promise..." She half teases, but her voice is almost more drowsy now. Until he hits a particularly awful knot and she just hisses, "Daaaaaamnn ....eeeegh... " She doesn't tell him to stop, but that definitely hurts. "'mfine. Certainly had worse. Just the job. Especially now."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Yeah, where have I heard that before?" comments Harry as he works on that particularly nasty knot in her shoulder. "I swear I have heard someone use that same excuse and have heard you bitch back at someone for using that excuse. For the life of me I can't remember...it's on the tip of my tongue." He clucks his tongue for effect, "Oh, I am sure it will come to me eventually." He sighs, working at the knot a bit more with his string hand, "I should really get some massage oil from the bathroom so I don't rub your skin raw doing this."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"You keep *massage oil* here? Harry Dresden. You're more of a scamp than I realized." Karrin states with a tone that hints to the fact that she is probably more tipsy than she realizes, because the under tone of those words was DEFINITELY flirtatious. Not chiding. She's pleasantly surprised, tossing him a flushed grin across her shoulder. But then she just shakes her head, "You also are a smart ass and it's not always attractive, you know. Stop being... Right, dammit. That's my job." Her nose wrinkles in that horribly cute way that she'd hate if she realized how cute it was. She then sinks back into his hands and just sighs, still idly rubbing at Mister's ears, but he's finally getting through some of that tension in her muscles.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Believe it or not, I have actually had a woman here before and she was, as remarkable as this may sound, less dressed than you are. We even did some adult things. I know, shocking right?! " Harry gives a little good natured grin to Karrin as she turns to look at him, as he continues to work on the knot in that shoulder. "We just have to face facts. We are both work-a-holics, and don't know when to quit. I knew that about you when we first met. Not many cops are going to see a Troll and just shrug it off."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"My innocent ears. Adult things, Harry. You have a child here. What is that young, impressionable mind going to learn." Murphy nods towards the half snoozing Mouse, her tone all relaxed, light teasing. She's definitely feeling better in multiple ways. A deeper sigh escapes her lips as he speaks about not knowing when to quit. "I know... and... that troll was trouble. Just because I saw a thing that shouldn't exist didn't mean I should stop doing my job. It's Gotham. There have been stranger things out there." Karrin mutters, leaning back into his hands, a bit closer than before. She might be trying to tempt him. Or, well, she might be half falling asleep.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Glancing over at Mouse, Harry smirks, "You mean the child over there that licks his own butt? I don't think he is going to care about what I do as long as I keep feeding him and taking him out for walks. Isn't that right, Mouse? I don't think the talk, or even the action, of 'adult things' are going to phase him." He turns to look back at Mouse, "But i'll let you know right now...cold dog noses are not appreciated in sensitive areas. Got it?"

As Karrin leans back, Harry adjusts his hands to make it more comfortable for her. His fingers press more towards the collarbone and hallow of the throat now than her back. He leans his head forward and places a light peck on the top of her head, "I know, but that is also how I knew you were good people. Well, that and you didn't arrest me that time, even though I was wanted on an APB. You believed me and the girl...most cops would have just arrested me and Nick on her parents word. Like i'd kidnap a kid." He snorts, looking over to Mouse again, "You're a stowaway, I didn't mean to keep you, fuzzball."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Another little groan, especially as he gets the often neglected upper chest muscles. Karrin carries so much tension, constantly (really, they both do) it's no surprise that parts of her have been so sorely neglected. "You are... dangerously good at this." The mutters in drowsy approval, her head turning into that peck lazily. Maybe she didn't realize he did it. Then she's leaning against him fully, half wrapped in the warmth of his arms, and there is nothing simple friendship about any of this. But then, it was never really simple between them.

"...You... You're a good man. I could tell that. There was no reason for you to lie. The whole situation smelled. You might be an idiot but... you're a trustable idiot. I knew that from day one." She mutters, tired and approving, a weird line of gratitude behind her voice. It was so important to have someone she could trust. She gives another tired laugh at the comment concerning the dog. "I...have a feeling he's the one that kept YOU, Harry. Even Mister likes him, I can tell. He's just putting up a fight because he's trying to be a grumpy old man." She digs fingertips deeper into Mister's scruff, getting a deep, rumbling purr. She's probably not wrong.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry's fingers dip dangerously close to aspect of Karrin's chest he doesn't intend, he isn't paying that close attention. He just is idly rubbing the tension his fingertips find as he talks.

"Thanks." he utters as he continues to rub the muscles under the skin. Lighter now and not as deep not he chest as he was kneading her shoulders. "I can be an idiot, but I am one of those lovable idiots. Like your Uncle Steve or Eurkel from that TV show."

He looks over at Mouse, and smiles. "You're probably right. I am half inclined to believe he stowed away on purpose."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Is this the weird wizard equivalent of a massage train? Wizard, cop, cat. With at least two of them making low, happy sounds. Harry must be doing something right. "..You are WAY more loveable than my Uncle Steve." Karrin deadpans. But then his hand is dipping a bit lower and she drowsily blinks. "Hey there, cowboy. You keep doing than and you better plan on doing something else about it." She mutters throatily, definitely relaxed enough to have just completely let her guard down. To sink into the temptation of his hands, the easier night, the things they keep dancing around but the higher functions of her brain keep stopping. Occasionally she can shut those off, quite occasionally. This seems to be one of those nights.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Huh?" Harry looks down over Karrin's shoulder and his fingers stop moving. "Oh." he says quietly, but doesn't pull back his fingers right away. He is quiet for a minute, his fingers still lightly caressing her upper chest but making no move lower or higher than their current position. "Sorry." he says a bit sheepishly, slowly moving to trail his fingers slowly towards her collarbone, just a bit higher but not by much. His thumbs trace the curve of her neck where it meets the shoulder, lighting dragon his nail across the skin. "Maybe, uh...maybe I should stop."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The lowering of inhibitions might be exactly what they needed to happen. But it might also make it extra awkward in the morning. Was Karrin more herself now, or was it the scotch? That's always the question. Still, she leans a bit closer to him, another happy sound coming from her throat even as his fingertips stroke up her throat, making her pulse skip a bit in interesting ways that certainly aren't about relaxing. "...Stop? Why? Isn't this... what we're supposed to be figuring out how to do? Relax?" He finally got her there. Fully relaxed, almost half asleep, really, leaning against his chest, her head lulling back against his good shoulder as she's half sprawled. "Don't be sorry, Harry. I... came here for this. For... you. I knew you'd...make me sane. Talk me down off the ledge. You always do. You... make things better." She mutters, half rambling, because she's clearly forgotten all the times he's made things SO MUCH WORSE too.

Harry Dresden has posed:
There is an audible gulp that comes from Harry's throat as he swallows. "Mur..." he starts to say, and then changes his mind to, "...Karrin. I think maybe you might have had a little to much to drink. As hard as this is, and trust me...it's hard...I think maybe I should...take a shower or something, before I...." He takes a deep breath and slips one hand to cup the side of her face, turning it to face him.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
And there it is. The very reason she feels safe with him, the reason he IS a good guy, and she knows it. Even when everything in his body might be screaming to make choices, she's willing, wanting... He doesn't. Karrin's eyes drowsily flutter back open, head turning at that cupping hand against her face. She's frowning, her brow furrowed a touch, torn between the things she wants and that tiny voice in the back of her head saying he's right. That voice is so quiet right now. "'m...stupid, Harry. About this stuff... always have been... fucked up both my marriages... better if I just... screw around with the bad boys, the ones like Kincaid... Harvey... well, Harvey wasn't always bad, but... you know, no strings... nothing to get you stuck. I'd get...stuck with you, Harry. I want to get stuck... and that's dangerous." Rambling seductive goes to rambling maudelin pretty damn fast.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Karrin," he says, muttering almost as much to himself as to her, "Shut the fuck up."



Then he moves to kiss her.



Slowly he moves forward, giving plenty of time for her to move or pull away as his lips seek hers.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"Hmm?" Karrin asks, half asleep, as he says her name. Her eyes are flickering shut again. He's relaxed her into a nice puddle of uselessness. THey don't reopen, even if she gives him a half laugh as he tells her to shut up. "...fine... 'sleep..." She half mutters. It was probably a full sentence in her head. And just as he's moving into kiss her, well... He gets a nice lip full of temple as she sinks forward into straight up dozing against him. She was probably going for his shoulder. That looked comfortable. She slumps just a bit to the side, head making it's way there a moment later. Utterly oblivious to the leap he FINALLY managed to take.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Just his luck isn't it. When lips touch temple, he places the kiss gently against her skin and leans back, a small little smile forming across his lips. He shakes his head, the laughter erupting from his throat only to be choked back to a muted cackle since he doesn't want to wake her. "Stars and stones, Karrin..." He gives her another small little kiss on the top of the head, and stitches out against the couch to try and get as comfortable as he can. He mutters to himself as he pulls her to sleep against his chest, "I so need a cold shower." he groans as he flops his head back against the couch and sighs.