Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Lost in Thought

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Lost in Thought

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Lost in Thought
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Rand held the gown and stared at it. She bought it on a dare from Randy. She had been bemoaning her latest horrid dating disaster. And he told her she needed to do something for herself. New clothes or something. She joked she should get some little satin nightgown just because. Randy had dragged her out the next day, picked it out, and dared her to buy it. Out of some perverse need to not lose a dare to her brother she bought it. She had never worn it, not even to try it on. She had no idea if it even fit.

There was no way that thing was too big, maybe it was too small? But no, it fit perfectly. The thing was form fitting so she couldn’t have worn something under it, even if Roman hadn’t caught that loophole. It wasn’t like she was doing her hair or primping in the mirror. She was staring at the door trying to work up the nerve. She wasn’t even sure why she was nervous, it was just annoying. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered to herself. Given the cut, style, and neckline of her Valentine’s dress, this was more modest - comparatively. She huffed and reached for the door control. She jumped when he knocked on the door. She let out a little yelp that she smothered with her hand. She must have been in there longer than she thought. “Ye…yeah I’m alright.” It was another minute before she actually came out.

Rand

Roman stepped away from the door when she spoke up through the door. He was excited, he couldn’t wait. But he was going to let her take her time so he sat on the bed and waited. When the door opened, Roman looked up and… Well, it was quite obvious from his expression exactly what he thought of it. He was staring, his face slightly red, like he was looking upon a goddess. It took him several silent stunned moments to find his words. “Miranda… You look gorgeous,” he said at last, slightly breathlessly.

~ Roman

Rand thought he was right outside the door. That might have been easier, but now he was across the room and staring at her, not saying a thing. When she finally dared to look at him, it was obvious he liked it. His look pulled a flattered smile from her. She didn’t think she could blush any harder though, but she did. Now she was going to have to walk across the room and she was not, nor had ever been, a runway model. She didn’t know what to do with her hands and after fidgeting a moment, she tucked them behind her back. She doubted Elizabeth was nervous or awkward with Darcy. She closed her eyes, oh this is silly. She’d walked across stages in front of thousands, and even taken her bow, alone, when summoned for it. She could walk across the room to the bed, it wasn’t like she was going to be cutting a curtsy right in front of Roman in this. Right, okay, Elizabeth, she could do that. She made herself stop gripping her hands behind her back and walk. Goodness when was the last time her knees felt like they’d give out? Right…Valentine’s Day. The thought made her smile at him and carried her across the room next to him. “Th…thank you.”

Rand

Roman watched her all the way across the room with the same stunned look. When she made her way next to him and spoke, his look changed. Now he just looked like he wanted to kiss her again. He smiled again and made space for her. He opened his mouth to say something, but found himself speechless, unable to think of anything besides how beautiful she looked.

~ Roman

Rand sat down next to him, like she always did. He looked like he was going to kiss her, but he didn’t. He was just staring at her. After what felt like minutes, but couldn’t possibly be, it was making her squirm. Her voice was really quiet, but the tone made it obvious she was trying, nervously, to tease him. “Roman…if you don’t stop staring at me like that, not moving, I’m going to have to get my robe and go call Randy or Elbbirt to make sure those meds didn’t do something to you.” Then as if fate had planned it, and the idea was repulsive (it was), a cold chill went down her back making her shiver slightly for a moment, raising goosebumps across her skin.

Rand

Her words finally pushed him into doing something besides staring. “And what exactly you going to tell Randy we were doing? Or are you going to go find him dressed like that?” The robe wouldn’t cover much. Then he pulled her into a hug and said “It’s beautiful. Worth the food and the meds.” And then, finally, he kissed her.

~ Roman

Rand opened her mouth and closed it and then again. “I’m not telling them anything.” She grinned, relaxing a little, that mischievous look in her eye that meant she was teasing him, “I was in the bathroom and came out and found you this way.” Then he hugged her and though she was still blushing it was a happy blush rather than nervous or embarrassed. Worth the food and meds, Rand couldn’t think of a nicer compliment. “Really?” Instead of answering her, Roman kissed her. Well that was a kind of answer, wasn’t it? When the kiss ended, Rand laid her head on his shoulder, breathless.

Rand

Roman just hugged her for a moment after the kiss ended. Then he said, “Yes, really. Even worth the nausea medication Randy gave me the night he sedated you.” He lay back, inviting her to lay down with him and smiled again. “See? It wasn’t so bad wearing that, was it?” His look was playful, he was teasing her.

~ Roman

Rand lifted her head to look at him, surprised. He’d taken more medication? She wanted to say he must be doing better now that the project was over, but she didn’t want to remind him of it. She’d rather just move forward. She knew how hard that was. Sometimes the past refused to stay there, so she didn’t see the need to let it make an appearance right then. She also didn’t want to think too hard on why Randy had given her the sedative. Thoughts for another time.

Roman wouldn’t admit it, in fact he didn’t know it for himself really, but that had been the start of his recovery, emotionally. The meds had made him drowsy enough to sleep and a good night’s rest free of nightmares had allowed him the energy and temporary freedom from the past to feel better. He could tell she looked surprised and he shrugged, maybe a tad uncomfortably? “I wasn’t in the mood to fight about it…” Nor had he had the energy. He’d been that out of sorts emotionally. “And I fell asleep just about right after that. Nightmare free.”

Rand kissed his cheek, “I’m glad.” Not that he had been out of sorts, but that he had slept, without nightmares. She didn’t say anything else. She supposed she could tease him about not arguing with Randy and now Elbbirt. Tell him what Elbbirt said to Randy about giving Roman a full psych eval, but she would never tease him about the last few weeks. It had been too hard.

She laid down next to him putting her head back on his chest. She looked up at him, she loved that look. Whatever Roman might have expected, it probably wasn’t what she did next. But his question reminded her of what she had asked him before they ate. Her voice took on his high pitched English ‘thing’ as she responded, “It was torture!” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing too soon.

Rand

He put his arm back around her when she lay her head on his chest, he loved it when she did that. Then her voice took on his English accent, mimicking the high-pitchedness his voice sometimes took on and he looked at her with mock hurt. Then he smiled. “If it’s as torturous as that chicken and potato dish was, you must really love it indeed.”

~ Roman

Rand grinned at him before tucking her head back into place and settling into the warmth of his arm. Her voice relaxed, letting her Scottish lilt out, “Hmmm…maaaaybe,” she drew the word out and then chuckled softly, “I love how much you liked it, but, even if not, for you I’d wear it again.”

Rand