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

(snip)

Roman watched her pull a can of cheese whiz from his cabinet, and then popped the lid. He wore his playful grin for the first time in a while. “Oh dear, the cheese whiz made it over, that must mean you’re all moved in,” he said, smiling as he said it. He realized after it had already been said that it might stress her out, he hoped it wouldn’t.

~ Roman

Rand inhaled in surprise when she swallowed and just barely managed not to choke. Is that what she was doing? They had kind of talked about it before and Roman had said no. that she could stay or go; whatever she wanted, but they weren’t living together. Not exactly. She wasn’t trying to move in. She’d been very careful not to leave any of her things in his quarters. It was just, the whole week he’d worked and not slept, she couldn’t sleep and she hadn’t wanted to keep Randy awake. And if he’d come back she had wanted to be there when Roman came back. Someone had to take care of Pipkin. Okay so maybe, she’d admit to herself, she missed him and was worried and felt better waiting for him there. But she wasn’t trying to move in. Had she done something wrong? “What? No…I…umm…I’m sorry......”

Rand

It was exactly what Roman was afraid of, she nearly inhaled her cheese when he said what he said. He put an arm around her and pulled her closer. “Nothing to be sorry for. I was only joking, anyway. But honestly, if you did want to… That would be okay.” He thought it was bit overdue, really, she’d been staying overnight all the time anyway, yet she was still having to go next door anytime she needed anything. It would just be easier if she moved some of her things over, wouldn’t it?

~ Roman

She leaned over against him and was toying with the lid of her cheese whiz. “I…I just didn’t want to wake Randy up going back and forth.” Oh…that sounded bad…she just told him she was in his room, all week when he wasn’t there. Why was this so complicated?

Roman didn’t seem to mind she’d been there when he wasn’t. There was little reaction to the information at all. “Quite right. Poor Randy has medical shifts, those things are all over the place. Never understood how doctors and nurses put up with it.”

It would be much easier. Especially on nights when she worked late and ended up having to sleep in her uniform. Or like that horrible morning she over slept and had to run next door to change, or get stuff for tea, or make sure to take her PaDD or comm or running to her office. It also meant she’d get to spend more time with Roman. He was only joking, but it would be okay? So which was it? Why did he have to be so confusing? Which just confused her more because any other time Roman was very specific and very clear and that’s why she’d originally liked spending so much time with him, and helping in the labs. “But…but what do you want?” He didn’t have to say that just because he surprised her.

Rand

Oh, so she needed him to spell it out. He could do that. “I want you to live here, with me.” There would be almost no change to Roman’s habits, he’d just have to share the bathroom a bit more. He’d been wondering why she’d made sure she never left anything behind.

~ Roman