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

(snip)

While Rand got up, Roman stayed sitting on the bed, trying to control his shaky breaths. Then Pipkin was on his lap, giving him the cutest look she could. It took Roman a whole of two seconds before he started petting her, unable to resist her cuteness. The bunny, though she was the cause of his momentary panic, helped to relieve it. He checked the time. He’d slept two and a half hours, maybe one more earlier in the night. He sighed softly. Three-ish hours of poor quality sleep.

~ Roman

Rand sat down next to him as he sighed. She knew that sigh, he hadn’t slept well. Then she looked at the time and was confused why he was still there. He wasn’t going to the lab today?

Roman caught her confused look as she looked at the time. He shrugged and said, “It’s your day off. I always take your days off with you.”

“Hmm,” it was the only reason Roman took a day off. He enjoyed his work too much to find it a burden but more a relief. “If you’d rather spend the day in the lab, it’s okay.”

Rand moved slightly and began to rub his shoulders. It seemed to help some, she hoped. Pipkin had hunkered down on Roman’s lap and Rand was sure they wouldn’t get her to move anytime soon. Rand wasn’t sure she felt much better. Her dreams had been filled with the feeling of being chased, flashing lights, and the ground collapsing under her.

Rand

Rand moved behind him and rubbed his shoulders. Though it hadn’t been long since the last time, tension had already built up and it was definitely helping. Pipkin had settled in on his lap, too. He was comfortable, leaned back slightly towards Rand. “Do you want to get breakfast?” Even if he didn’t end up eating much (or anything) they always got breakfast on their days off.

~ Roman

Rand was determined to work out every knot he had in his shoulders, one in particular gained the attention of both her hands. She considered, “I’m not particularly hungry right this moment.” She meant to reassure him it was simply a matter of not feeling hungry, and not stubbornness. She leaned forward and gently kissed his neck. “We don’t have to rush, maybe…after Randy’s shift has started?” She wasn’t feeling up to dealing with a crowd and strongly felt the need to avoid people. She knew it would do no good putting off seeing Randy or talking to him, but she was going to avoid him never-the-less.

Rand