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 (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(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

Yes Rand needed it spelled out. She wasn’t being coy or silly; she needed to know that she didn’t misunderstand. “Oh…” That was serious though. Really serious. She’d never go back to her quarters or Randy or…Oh what would happen to Randy? Would he have to move different quarters? Or would they still be hers because she was considered single? Oh no that was a thought she didn’t want to consider right then. But still that was serious and there were certain assumptions…certain realities about living with someone else. The cap turned over and over in hand.

She looked around the room trying to imagine her things in there. The space was so much a reflection of Roman, she couldn’t imagine changing that. This was his space, and Pipkin’s space. She was just a guest. He didn’t want her to be just a guest though, did he? He wanted it to be her space, too. “But…that’s a really big deal, Right?”

Rand

Roman shrugged. “You already stay over all the time. All that’ll change is you move some of your stuff in.” Was he oversimplifying? Maybe, but he figured it would work out one way or another. He would consider his space fairly empty, his walls were blank, there was little in the way of personal items. No images, of anyone, anywhere visible in the room. No sentimental items displayed. Just work stuff, his tea, and a few things like that. His violin, his uniforms, and his jiu jitsu uniform, were in the closet. And then Pipkin’s things of course, her toys, the box that had come with her, and her cage. He figured her quarters would remain “hers” since by Starfleet standards, she was single. And he wouldn’t want them to move Randy away from her. There were still things Randy could help her with that he couldn’t.

~ Roman

That sounded so simple. Was it really? Just choose some of her stuff and put it in here, and then…do what with the rest? She would have to figure that out, but that was her puzzle not his. She would have to be really choosey, these quarters were meant for one person, but they were bigger for the XO. “O…okay?” She sounded like she was wondering if she gave the right answer, but is blushing like she’s happy. She also had no idea what was going on with the movie, all her attention on what they were talking about.

Rand

It was that simple to Roman, though he did not have many things to begin with. He turned and smiled at her. She was blushing, she did that when she was happy, so she must want it too. He hadn’t any idea what was going on in the movie either, but he certainly wasn’t thinking about what happened earlier that day, so it didn’t really matter.

~ Roman

When he looked at her and smiled, she turned another shade redder and grinned. She put the cap back on the cheese whiz, put it aside, and curled up against him. She was happy and nervous. For awhile she stared at the movie without watching, trying to wrap her head around what had just happened. Eventually though, the movie caught her attention. Rand loved the performing arts so she wouldn’t ignore it for long.

Roman hugged her as she curled up against him, and then turned his own attention back to the movie. He’d seen it once before, so he had some idea what was going on, but they’d missed nearly twenty minutes of it. It was a relaxing afternoon and Roman looked a lot better than when Rand rescued him from his office all those hours earlier.

It was a quiet calm afternoon, but eventually 1800 came around and she had to work. Rand really hadn’t stopped smiling the whole afternoon. She hugged Roman before grabbing her PaDD and heading out the door, and she ran right into Randy. She paused, unsure why she was surprised to see him, turned really red and looked everywhere but at her twin. “Rand? Is everything okay?” She nodded “I have to go,” and took off down the corridor. Randy found that very odd, even for Rand. He stepped into the open door way, “Cmdr?”

Rand

Eventually 1800 came, and Roman hugged Rand as she left. Just as Rand was leaving, Randy was entering, and Roman looked up at the sound of his voice. Roman was still leaned back against the headboard the way he had been with Rand, looking very comfortable, and when Randy entered he sat up quick. “Randy! Were you looking for me for something?” He must have been in a good mood to greet Randy in such a way.

~ Roman