Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Honoring the Ardent

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Honoring the Ardent

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Honoring the Ardent
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Roman could smell it as soon as Rand opened the bottle and even more so when she poured some into her hands. It was a muscle rub. Then she started working it into his shoulders and neck and the warm, cooling feeling helped to relax the muscles and ease his discomfort. That, and the feeling of her rubbing his shoulders to work in the oil, was so nice he was nearly falling asleep sitting in front of her.

~ Roman

The tension was not confined to his shoulders tonight. The knots spread down to the small of his back. As she got his shoulders to relax, his lower back seemed to arch painfully with the knots there. He looked like he was going to fall asleep. If that meant she had She reached around him and took the small container of scraps and set it at the far corner of the bed for Pipkin to investigate. Then she added more oil to her hands. “Lie down on your stomach.” Her hands gently urged him to do so. Then she focused on his lower back. She thought about saying something about his leg, but didn’t want to bring up anything else that might upset him.

Rand

She reached around him for the container and Pipkin’s eyes were on it. Then, Pipkin was already waiting for it when she put it on the corner of the bed. At Rand’s urging, Roman lay down stomach first, his head on his pillow. Then she started working on his lower back and he hadn’t realized how tight it was until she started working on it. He let out a few quiet, happy “ooohhhh”s as she worked.

~ Roman

Rand shook her head slightly at Pipkin. At least one of the three of them was eating well. Rand smiled as the quiet sounds he made. Even after the knots relaxed she kept working, to ensure they didn’t return right away. She was careful not the use too much oil so the heat or cold wouldn’t become uncomfortable. When she was done she pulled the extra blanket it up and draped it lightly over his back. She got up trying not to disturb him, closed the bottle, and went looking for a towel to wipe her hands on.

Rand

Roman fell asleep as she kept working after the knots had relaxed. He needed the sleep and he slept as she pulled the blanket over him and as she moved around the room. His towels and his hand towels were in the bathroom. Pipkin, having eaten the contents of the bin, was curious to what Rand had been doing and went over to Roman, sniffing him with her front paws on him.

~ Roman

No matter how much time she spent there, no matter how many times Roman told her he wanted her there, some times it still felt strange to freely make use of whatever she needed. She found a towel and washed the excess oil off her hands. She finished her food and cleaned up. She picked up the small container for Pipkin and shook her head and whispered at the bunny who was so curious about Roman at the moment, “Don’t get used to it, you won’t be eating out of the bowl again.” Pipkin twitched her nose and then sneezed from the scents of the oil. Rand stifled a laugh and scooped her up, turning the lights down and sat at the desk, Pipkin in her lap. “I know, I’m worried too.” Pipkin stayed on her lap as long as Rand was petting her, but when Rand turned on the computer to work, she hopped down and returned to the bed.

Rand was so tired she couldn’t sleep. She tried working for about an hour but when the words started moving around on the screen she decided it would be best to stop. She moved over to the bed and laid down, but ended up tossing and turning, so she sat up and just stared into the dark. Eventually, around 0300, she fell asleep, sitting up, head at and awkward angle, one hand resting on Roman’s arm, just incase he had a nightmare.

Rand

Roman slept soundly most of the night, just because of how exhausted he was. Even as Rand moved about the room, washed her hands, spoke to Pipkin, worked, and tossed and turned, he slept. It was after 0300 that the nightmare started, it seemed like lately he couldn’t sleep without at least one. It woke him with a start, sweating and clenching the sheets in his fist. He rolled over and sat up, trying not to wake Rand.

~ Roman