(I mean, we Could, but… )
Ronnie slid an arm around Arriss, rubbing her back. "I'm stable, and have been for a while, but I hurt. That'll take a while to fade, apparently. I'm sorry I worried you."
He nodded slowly as she spoke. "Well, nobody is dead yet, so let's not count tomorrow's troubles today. But." He looked down at her. "You do what's right, and we'll make our decisions, and what happens, happens."
He'd long come to terms with the idea of death, though just now, with her in his arms, it seemed like a bad idea.
………………..
Romulus gave her a deeply sympathetic look. "Not knowing is the hard part, but… I can tell you that anyone from my crew who tried to fight these guys… didn't make it. So. There's that."
He watched her rocking, wondering if he should offer some more personal comfort.
"Do you… would you like to come sleep in my room?" he said quietly. "I barely fit in yours, but I've got a couch I can sleep on in mine."
(( I’m down for anything xD ))
She lifted her head from his chest for a moment, meeting his eyes. Sometimes, she wished she could be like Ronnie. He always seemed to know the right thing to do, and he wasn’t nearly as anxious as she was.
“You’re right. As usual.” She laughed softly, planting a kiss on his forehead. “It’s just… hard sometimes. Knowing that we can get attacked at any moment.”
She looked away for a moment. She was having a nice moment with Ronnie; she didn’t need to be thinking of all the things that could go wrong in the next few days. She needed to keep her mind on now.
“Ronnie,” she said in an attempt to change the subject, “why did you decide to confess your feelings earlier? I mean, on our other ship, we were too nervous to even get close to each other.”
She stared at him for a few moments, slight surprised, before she nodded in agreement. She always knew Ronnie had cared about her, but she never realized to what extent.
She smirked faintly, wanting to crack some sort of joke to lift the mood. “Are you gonna carry me there?”
(Drops in 4 more characters, for a grand total of 7 conversations going on at once)
Ronnie frowned just a little when she kissed his forehead. "It is difficult, you're right, but… we'll make it."
He wanted to ask why all the forehead kisses, but avoiding his lips, when she brought up the topic herself. Sorta.
"Well… on the ship, you were Captain. Here, we're unranked crewmates. There's no professinoal barrier there. Plus… like we just said, anything can happen, and I wanted you to know." He smiled at her gently, a soft smile from a happy man. "And I'm glad I did, look at us now!" He grinned for a moment, before his expression changed to something a bit more serious.
"Though, I do need to ask… boundaries. What are yours?"
……
Romulus grinned at her, before immediately scooping her up, cradling her against his chest. "All you had to do was ask." He had to turn sideways and duck to get out of her room, but they made it. Down the hall, left turn, down that hall, last door on the right. He swiped his thumb across the doorpad, and set her down just over the threshold.
His room was just the one room and attached bathroom, like hers, but his was bigger, obviously customized for someone his size. There was also, indeed, a couch against the far wall, perpendicular to the bed.
"Make yourself at home."
(( Most insane rp ever xD ))
Arriss paused for a few moments, thinking. She hadn’t thought much about boundaries so far, but she needed to discuss them with him in order to keep from crossing them.
“Well, I’m okay with most anything. Kissing, hugging… just nothing past that, if you know what I mean. We’ll save that for when— if— we ever get married. And you’re probably wondering why I never kissed you.” She laughed softly, blushing. “I think I’ve just been too nervous. I’ve never been this close to anyone before.
She held his hand, stroking it with the back of her thumb. “How about you?” she asked softly. “What are your boundaries?”
“You know, I didn’t actually think you would carry me.” She laughed softly, wrapping her blanket around her. “I’m glad you did.”
She watched him for a few moments, smiling. They seemed to bicker and tease each other a lot, but it was nice to have these genuine moments between them.
“They’re going to tell us who we’ll be paired with soon,” she whispered. “Do you think they’ll put us on the same crew..?”
Ronnie's eyebrows shot up. That was… very conservative thinking. I'm glad I asked. He wouldn't have wanted to cross that line, if it bothered her, but he certainly hadn't even thought about it being a problem.
"Ok. I can do that." He moved his hips back from hers just a bit. He had positioned them rather closely on the bed. "And nerves are ok. Don't let me push you." He smiled at her. "I just wanted to check."
His boundaries? "Honestly, whatever yours were. I've always been…. pretty open to physical affection of all kinds."
………….
Romulus grinned at her and flexed like some parading strongman. "Of course I did!"
He moved to the couch and plopped down, taking up all of the space. "I don't know. But… they might put all the humans together." He shrugged. "We could always ask?"
He was a bit surprised by the switch. Mercy had rebuffed him from day 1, and he would have been a bit shocked to find that this one piece of tenderness had changed her mind.
Arriss took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. Honestly, she never thought she would be that close to anyone before. Her entire life had been spent chasing her dreams with no time for any sort of relonship. However despite her concerns, she had no regrets.
"Just… let me know if anything I do bothers you, okay? I don't want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable."
She rested her cheek against his chest, closing her eyes. Loving someone this much made her anxious, but she still enjoyed her time with him.
"So what does this make us?" She laughed softly. "Can I introduce you as my boyfriend?"
"Yeah, well, I'll go and make sure they don't put us together," she teased. "I'll probably get sick of all your frat boy bullcrap."
She grinned and hurled a pillow at him, hitting him in the face.
"I will, but you've got the stronger boundaries here, so I think you'll be fine." Ronnie smiled down at her as she cuddled into him.
"I mean… do you want a committed relationship like that?" He'd be fine with them being a thing, but he felt liked he needed to clarify where she was on this.
………….
Romulus laughed and hurled the pillow back, hitting her in the stomach with a loud boof.
"Oh c'mon! First of all, you know you like it, and secondly, frat boy!??? I'm a grown adult, thank you very much!"
(Sorry its short after a long wait. Busy weekend)
(( You’re all good! ))
She paused for a few moments, thinking. Is that what she wanted? She wanted to be with him more than anything, but at the same time, she knew that their jobs would make it difficult to keep up with that kind of relationship. However, despite the struggles, she was still willing to give it a shot.
“I do,” she said softly, “but only if you want it too. I know how hard it can be with everything we have to deal with.”
Mercy smirked faintly as she stood up and walked over to him. She hated to admit it, but she loved being with Romulus. He helped her forget about all her recent struggles.
“A full grown adult? As if!” She swung the pillow around, hitting him over the head with it. “I’ve seen children more mature than you.”
Ronnie's face slid into a smile, his eyes sparkling.
That was exactly what he'd wanted to hear.
"As long as you're aware this might not be easy, then… yes. Will you be my girl, Arriss?"
……….
Mercy seemed to be feeling better, which had been Romulus's whole goal. He grinned as she battered him with the pillow, covering his head with one massive arm.
"Oh yeah? Says the chick literally having a pillow fight like a little girl at a slumber party!"
She smiled and sat up, propping herself up on her elbow. She stared down at him for a few moments, grazing his cheek with her fingertips.
“Yes,” she said softly, at a loss for words. “I want to be yours.”
After she finished speaking, she leaned down, gently kissing him as she slid her hand into his hair.
She tried to push his arm away as she crawled up beside him, still trying to hit him with the pillow.
“Says the guy who still can’t get a girl even though he’s tried to flirt with almost every girl in existence!”
Ronnie wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close. He couldn't help smiling into the kiss. His heart was attempting to hammer its way out of his chest, and he wondered if she could feel his pulse racing. Her hands in his hair drove him a little nuts, and a small noise escaped the back of his throat.
It took a conscious effort to keep himself in check. He hadn't asked Arriss's boundaries, only to violate them immediately.
He pulled back from the kiss eventually, getting his breathing under control, his eyes still closed as he rested his forehead against hers.
…………
Romulus gently nudged her back onto the floor in mock offense. "Excuse you! I'll have you know that I only flirted with the girls on this ship, and there are only 2 of you, and one is taken! Hmph." He frowned, an exaggeratedly angry expression. "Every girl in existence, my foot!"
She felt a warm blush creep onto her face as she let her fingers trickle down his face. She had held off her first kiss as long as possible, but now that she had shared one with him, she felt like her heart was going to explode. After he broke the kiss, she stayed silent for a moment, her hands on his shoulders.
“I love you so much, Ronnie,” she said softly. “So, so much.”
Mercy laughed, pushing herself to her feet. Her blonde waves were a mess as she stared down at him, her pillow in hand
“Pssh! I’m sure you could flirt with more if you could,” she teased.
His smile grew, and when Ronnie opened his eyes, they were full an emotion Arriss had seen him trying to hide before.
"I love you too, Arriss. So, so much."
He sat up, sliding his hands down her arms and eventually holding her hands.
"How, uh… how long have you felt this? Just out of curiosity…"
……..
Romulus grinned up at her. "Maybe, but… I'm more than just a flirt." He was working very hard to keep the conversation light. The mention of his flirtatious ways had made him laugh, but if he wasn't careful, he was going to dredge up… more hurtful topics.
"Besides, you both flirted back, so I don't see why I'm the only one getting labeled a flirt!"
Arriss leaned back into her partner’s arms, closing her eyes as she listened to the sound of his breathing. She knew that things would be difficult for them, but she would try her hardest to ensure that they lasted.
She squeezed his hands and intertwined their fingers as she noted how well her hands in his. “Oh, a long, long time,” she whispered. “I thought you were incredibly attractive right when I met you, but as we worked together and talked, well… I developed a major crush on you.”
She turned, resting the side of her head on his chest. She loved the sound of his heartbeat. “How about you, my love?”
“I did not!” she retorted, laughing as she sat down next to him. “I’m pretty sure that’s all in your imagination, sweetheart.”
His arms tightened, without Ronnie really meaning to. Arriss just felt so right, like she fit here. Her answer was a bit longer than he'd anticipated.
"I, uh…" He swallowed hard. "It's not been that long, actually, since I realized it. I'd been… in a bit of a mess when I came onboard, so… it took me a while to figure out my emotional state, and longer after that to really open up. But. It's been a bit now that I would honestly say I've loved you." He hoped that answer didn't bother her.
…………………………
"First off, it definitely wasn't." He winked at her as he moved his massive legs to make room for her on the couch. "And secondly, sweetheart? That's a prime example right there!"
She nodded. She figured that would be his answer. For a while, it seemed that Arriss was doing most of the flirting; he either wasn’t reciprocating or was simply oblivious to it. However, things changed, and they eventually used up at where they were today.
She laid down again, resting her head on the pillow with her hand still in his. “I’m glad we’re together now,” she whispered. “I hope we last. I really do.”
Mercy smirked, placing her hand on his. She knew very well that she was flirting, but hey. It was nice every now and then.
“Mm, I call everyone that,” she teased, knowing very well she did not. “It’s nothing special, I assure you.”
Ronnie squeezed her hand. "I mean… that's kinda up to us." To be fair, he'd not been in a relationship with the kind of physical boundaries Arriss had. It would push him to build something more meaningful, certainly. But even so, every relationship lasted based on the efforts of the people in it. "We can make it last, if we're willing to work at it."
…………
"Oh. Well then." Romulus wasn't sure whether or not to believe her, but he turned his hand over so she was resting her hand in his palm.
"….. you feeling a little better?" That had been his whole point, and he didn't want to gloss over what she might be feeling by assuming she was ok. It could just be a brave face.
“Good.” She pressed her forehead against his, her fingers tracing designs on the back of his neck. “Now, why don’t we get some rest? We have a long day tomorrow.”
She smiled faintly before she gently kissed him and let her fingertips trickle down his cheek. Eventually, after a long while, she broke it and laid down with her back facing him.
Mercy smiled faintly, gently closing her hand around his. She then moved up beside him, still holding his hand as she stared blankly up at the ceiling.
“Yeah. The thought of him is still painful, but…” Mercy sighed, but gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I think I’m slowly getting through it.”
Ronnie twitched, just a little, when she traced along the back of his neck. Arriss seemed intent on teasing him in all the ways he liked.
"I'm down for some sleep." he said quietly. He'd been unconscious, sure, but it wasn't the same.
She kissed him, and Ronnie didn't want her to pull away this time. Her hand on his face, the curve of her lips as she smiled… he could have lived in that moment forever.
Still, she pulled away and turned around, and he took a second to collect himself, before snuggling up to her.
He was out like a light.
…………….
"Good." he said quietly. "I'm here for that." He looked at her for a moment, before his gaze turned more far-away, more distant. "Here to help…"
Meanwhile, Conner was still sitting out in the living room with Valiel, half asleep as they watched the movie. Alien movies were… interesting, to say the least, and he wasn’t quite sure if he liked them. But still, being able to spend this much time with Valiel was nice, but he’d never admit that to her.
“Enjoying the movie, dearest?” he teased, his voice drowsy. “I might get to bed soon. Today has been exhausting.”
Mercy noticed the change in his demeanor and the distant look in his eyes. Did something she had said upset him?
“Hey…” She hesitated before reaching out, cupping his cheek, and turning his head to look at her again. “Is something wrong…?”
Valiel was also half asleep, though she immediately sat up and looked at him. "Me too, but… would you… could you…" She was trying to lead up to him sleeping in her room, or him in hers. Her loneliness had begun to subside, here in Ronnie's room with her crew around her, but the thought of Conner leaving had caused it to spike again.
……….
Romulus smiled and briefly leaned into her touch, before shaking his head. "No, everything's fine. Just thinking." He looked at her for a moment, some unreadable expression in his eyes, before his smile widened and he nodded towards the bed. "You should get some rest. It's late." He stretched, his muscles rippling under his skin, and Mercy was struck with the reminder of exactly how big he was. 6'6" of blonde muscle stretching within arms' reach leaves a bit of an impression.
However, that smile assuaged any nerves his body brought on.
He smiled at her before he finally gained the strength to stand up. He took her hands, pulling her up along with him, before he began to walk her towards the door. He could feel his hands shake slightly, and he was hoping that Valiel hadn’t noticed. She had always managed to make him rather anxious.
“Stay with me?” he said softly. “That sounds good. I would be afraid to leave you alone in this ship anyways.”
Mercy watched him for a moment before looking away, her face slightly red. When did she think it was ever okay to stare? Besides, her staring would probably boost his ego, which was already too big as it is.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll get to bed.” She sucked in a breath before standing up and heading over to the bed on the other side of the room. “Just… let me know if you get uncomfortable. You can always come over here.”
Valiel smiled and nodded happily as he filled in the blanks for her. She squeezed his hands and followed him out the door.
"Thank you, Conner."
……….
Romulus had to grin at her slight blush, and her choice of words. "Oh don't tempt me. I don't think you want me crawling into bed next to you." He was pretty sure she'd meant they could switch, but the chance to tease was too good to pass up.
“Hey, no problem.”
He led her to his room, and when they got inside, he immediately headed towards his bed. That day had been… a lot. He was so exhausted that he could barely stand anymore. After he got comfortable, he smiled at Valiel.
“Goodnight, dearest.”
She smiled and rolled her eyes. Gosh, he was annoying, and he had the biggest ego she’d ever seen. But he could be adorable at times.
“You can,” she said. “Just don’t get any weird ideas or you will go straight back to the sofa.”
Valiel watched him get comfortable, her expression happy, gentle. "Goodnight, Conner." She didn't curl up next to him this time though. Rather she jumped and shifted in mid-air, to a strange octopus looking thing with fur. Her legs, or arms, or tentacles reached up and suckered her to the ceiling, and she hung there, sleeping upside down like a bat.
………….
Romulus's eyebrows shot up, and he had to laugh.
"Wow. Um, I'm going to pass." He shook his head a bit. "I might not have weird ideas, but my body does its own thing. I'll stay over here."
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