Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Side sim: Early Morning in the Lab

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Side sim: Early Morning in the Lab

(snip)

Roman thought about the question a moment and then shrugged. “Now we’re getting more into medical sciences and I’m not really sure how exactly it works.” He said, looking at her. He was never afraid to say “I don’t know” or “I can’t answer that” to one of her questions if it was outside his field of knowledge. But in contrast to earlier, he now seemed a bit disinterested in talking about work, which was uncommon for him, but he was looking at her and instead of thinking about bacteria and illness and strange alien planets his mind had wandered to earlier in the day, in Rand’s little tiny closet when they were alone, and holding hands, and hugging.

~ Roman

Well, that made sense. It was a passing curiosity. She grinned, “Maybe I could ask in sickbay tomorrow. Make them forget why I’m there.” She looked over at him, sharing her amusement. That wouldn’t get her out of the appointment but she figured he would understand. But he was looking at her funny. It made her feel hot, and flush, and her stomach feel funny. She picked up her water, drinking about half of it very quickly. He was looking at her like he had in her office earlier, when he’d sort of admitted he loved her…

Rand

“I would, I’m quite interested in the answer myself,” Roman said, though he still sounded just about the opposite of interested. All he could think of was Rand, from earlier, saying “I do, too”. And the hugging. He loved the hugging. He was still giving her that look, but he wasn’t saying anything. Until what he was thinking made its way out his mouth before he realized what he was saying once again: “Miranda… I really do love you.” But this time, he didn’t feel or look nervous after saying it.

~ Roman

Rand turned a very nervously happy but lovely shade of pink. He was still staring at her, and it made her feel breathless. Then he spoke and that cocky, confident look was on his face again. The one that made butterflies in her stomach, and made her want to stand closer to him and hug him. She sat there silently, pleasantly surprised for several moments before she realized she hadn’t said anything. Her voice was quiet but sincere, “I love you, too, Roman.” It felt a little off telling him that while sitting next to him rather than standing close, next to him, his arms around her or holding her hand.

Rand

That was easily, and quickly, remedied, as Roman crossed the short space between them and wrapped his arms around her, loosely at first, bringing her into another hug. He’d thought it enough times this evening, but he had to again: he loved the hugging. “Oh, you do, do you?” He asked, voice soft and just above a whisper, giving her another look, something between his cocky confident one and the one he’d worn when he’d told her that in her office. It clearly wasn’t a serious question, he was teasing again.

~ Roman

Roman’s arms were warm and steady, and although her stomach felt all kinds of funny with the growing seriousness of their relationship, there was no painful anxious sparks making her feel sick or want to run. Instead, Rand put her arms around his neck, stepping closer, before she thought about it too much and chickened out. Rand loved the way Roman hugged her and being able to hug him back; they just seemed to fit together. She smiled, shyly, up at him flushing a deeper shade of red, not just because of his question, but the way he was looking at her and teasing her. Her voice was just as soft and confident as his, “Yeah, I do.”

Rand

Rand stepped closer to him, her arms around his neck, and Roman tightened his arms around her, making it a closer hug. He liked when she flushed, her face turning deep red. It was as if the color of her face was betraying how much she liked him. Her words made him smile, he seemed happy in a way he generally didn’t. Despite his normal confidence and stoicism, ‘happy’ was something more or less no one would normally describe him as. He wasn’t sure where he got the idea from, they hadn’t done it yet, but he was going for a kiss, moving slowly so Rand could stop him if she wasn’t ready or comfortable with that.

~ Roman