a reason to commit

AS ROMAN WAITED UPON HER ARRIVAL, HE WASN'T ENTIRELY SURE IF HE WAS NERVOUS OR EXCITED, BUT HE DID KNOW THAT THIS FEELING THAT SETTLED IN HIM WAS MUCH THE SAME AS JUST BEFORE A MISSION. EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD DENIED IT, HE STILL FELT THERE WAS ALWAYS A TIME WHERE EVEN NOW SHE COULD TAKE THAT CHANCE. AND COMPLETELY STAND HIM UP HERE. WHICH WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME. DOUBLE CHECKING THAT HE HAD THE RING FOR HER IN HIS POCKET FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME, ROMAN TOOK A DEEP BREATH. THE SECOND HE HAD SEEN IT, HE HAD ASKED IF THE DIAMOND CLUSTERS COULD BE REPOSITIONED. ALL FOR THE SAKE OF A TOUCH TO GIVE WAY TO THE WORDS 'LIGHT OF MY EYES'.

HANDS ENTWINED IN THE RIBBON HE BROUGHT FOR THEIR CEREMONY. A COMMITMENT CEREMONY HE PLANNED, ALL IN HOPES OF CEMENTING PROOF OF HIS DECISION WITH HER. IT WAS ALL NOTHING SHORT OF PLAYING OFF OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OLD WAYS AND RELIGIONS, IN SOME VAGUE ATTEMPT OF MAKING IT THEIR OWN. IT WASN'T UNTIL HE THOUGHT HE HEARD THE DOOR, THAT HE WAS SURE HE MAY HAVE RELAXED A LITTLE BIT. LOOKING BACK TOWARDS IT, HOPING FOR THE BEST HERE. FINALLY SMILING ONCE HE WAS ABLE TO SEE her. Hoping beyond all hope that this would illicit a positive reaction, and all of her own worries would dissolve with it.

Everything in the room felt that much more silent as she took it in. The full sight before her with only Roman left standing there. "Wow.. oh my god, you got us a cake? That's very sweet. I love it. I love everything. I love you." Her eyes wide, a smile on the horizon, but with uncertainty on what to do as she looked over everything.

This wasn't marriage. It wasn't even legally binding by any means and held the equivalent of going all out for a promise ring. All that was around her was action from spoken words, hoping to make them feel the validity of truth behind it all. That he would at least take her feelings, their feelings, this seriously.

If he didn't know better, he would have thought she floated on air to him. At this point, he might himself, but then he would have to question gravity again and no one needed to go there. Smiling back at her, lovingly, he stayed quiet, still a little more breathless on her being here, mixed with how she looked in the moment. Squeezing her back just as tightly, inhaling a slow deep breath, taking in her scent with his own eyes closed. He barely had time to register the rest of her words, too tempted to lean back in and steal another kiss. "And I love you," he gave back with a small laugh. "Be prepared for that cake feeding because it's happening too."

"Really? Oh you know a way to a woman's heart. This looks amazing. Really." She reached down and took a hold of his hands. "Do .. you want to start?"

The weight of her hands in his, the softness and warmth that resonated deeper than the feel of those hands, he couldn't do anymore than smile. Rather than answer ins words, he simply repositioned one of her hands in his. Holding hers at the wrist, and hers matching. Roman's gaze would reach up to hers curiously, now and then as he moved, but did make sure to drape the tied ribbon over their joined hands. Wrapping it, but loosely, keeping everything more draped than anything.

"Each of these colors represent something that's here, between us. Something promised and unbreakable. Red for the passion and love that's here. White for the devotion between us and the peace we give one another, and blue for the strength we will find in one another to make this last and get through all of our hardships together. Silver to protect and inspire us in all that we do."

Pressing his lips together, he licked them a moment in thought with a small laugh falling out. "Without knowing it, you have brought me everything I have believed was out of my reach. That I was unable or unworthy to have. And all in the undeniable package that is you. I may never be able to show you everything I think you deserve in one life, but I swear to try. To be worth every ounce of faith you place in me. The reasons that you are so lovable begins with how you make this old man's heart skip a beat, how you makes me feel alive and like I can take on anything and everything. Especially with you besides me. You're honest, clever, full of hope and ideas, you don't hide from me, the way you take care of me, passionate, inspiring, funny, tender beyond words, those magic jazz hands, thoughtful, curiosity, taunting, ticklable, provacative, unspoken chemistry, forever trying to be better and do better, you have this undeniable way of making a person feel special even when they try to fight it off, you chase the fears away, snuggler, fearless, foodie, with principles are stronger than anyone I know."

The list fully there, memorized even though a page was in his pocket in case he forgot any. "I know I fought something here, in fear, in worry of how things might turn out. But the entire time, I was drawn to you all the same. For all of those reasons, as they found me. I've done some not so great things, we both have, but I don't care about any of that. Because it still brought you and me here. And nothing is going to change that. I love you from your head down to your toes. You're this dream that was always out of reach." Squeezing her wrist lightly, he smiled at her.

"You're my soul. And that kind of distance leaves me feeling much more lost than anyone would ever know. The tether here, you hold my world as that gravity. And I am devoted to you. I choose you for life, this one and any other. I promise you love, devotion, and care through all times certain and otherwise. I pledge my respect and support in everything that you wish to do, along with lending you my strength when anything becomes too much for you. I give you every part of me, from my hand to hold, to my life to keep."

Even as she was smiling, he could see the tears briming and he didn't know what to do. He didn't know where to go. He was tied to her and all he wanted to do was get her a tissue. The squeeze she gave him was reassuring, as much as it could be. "Roman Cortez, ever since the day that I met you, you've been this shining light in my life. It took me all of five minutes to absolutely fall in love with you. I didn't think that I would ever feel this way again, and yet somehow you managed to accomplish in stealing my heart the moment you came into my life. It's different though this time. With you, I can completely be myself. I feel like a whole person, you see every inch of me and you still love me. I can feel how much you love me, not just emotionally but in the way you touch me, the way you kiss me, the way you tell me. I'd never felt that before, until I had you in my life."

She paused, voice shaking. "When I look at you, I feel as if my heart would burst with how full I feel. You are everything that I've ever wanted. You're kind, and compassionate, you're strong and yet vulnerable, you're the funniest man I've ever met, you're wise, and the bravest man. I'm always so honored that you looked at me and knew you wanted to spend your whole life with me. I never want you to doubt for a second how much that I love you, how much I adore you, and would do anything that you need. We're in this together, you and me. I'll always have your back, the way I know that you have mine. Never doubt that I will protect you with my life. I give you all of my support, no matter what. I will always be behind you."

She took a deep breath. "I'm forever grateful to be standing by your side, and promise that you will know how grateful I am each day."

With their hands bound in a way, it made certain additional movements to be taken in this a little bit more difficult. But he would wait, right through every word she spoke. All of his attention focused on her and nothing else, as he smiled and listened to her. Even in moments he was tempted to look away, to look down at their hands, or her dress due to some of her words, he didn't. Instead, he only rubbed his own fingers against her wrist again.

There was a moment of silence, once she was done speaking. His free hand moved over their held hands, and even over the ribbon. Sliding a bit of the ribbon in between two of her fingers for her to hold. The hand against hers slowly pulled away, holding a touch of the ribbon. Just enough that once his was outside of it, it was easy to see the formed knot between them. Without fully letting go, it didn't stop him from moving his hands again. Not to move towards her, at least just yet. Instead, he moved to sign the words he had been speaking Italian to her many times before. Light of my eyes.

free falling

It happened in a flash, a simple joke moved too far. But that was his own fault. Even Nacho could see it as the dog was only to be found scooting that much deeper under the bed. Unprepared to rush out there, knowing the damage that could be done on this slippery road. That is the last time Roman uses a machine to take care of the floor. This is nothing like a navy ship and he needed to learn that the hard way in many ways. Including this one, apparently. Sliding across the floor in his socks, that was one thing. A testiment of how smooth and clean it was. Except when he miscalculated his glide and this turned into a human game of Plinko. So much for not making a fool of himself here. But he did feel as though she wouldn't judge him too much. Even as he ended up hitting the floor a bit harder than expected.

She cared, she cared that he fell, and that he might be hurt. She cared about a lot of things. As she offered to help him up, Roman found himself unable to do anything but laugh lightly at the sheer look on her face and shake his head. But this didn't mean he didn't reach for her arm. Tugging lightly at first, as he moved to get up, but his feet slipped out from under him again. The weight of it all causing him to pull her down on the floor with him. Breaking her fall using himself. After the initial fall, groan of pain, and the air making it back into his lungs, there he was looking up at her, smiling. "We found the real risky business." Her previous yelp of surprise turned into a full snort now. Even as she tried to make sure there was no damage to either party. "Oh my god stop, you're making me snort," she poked his side to make her point. "If you wanted me down on the floor so bad, you could have just asked."

The snort surprised him but he was only more proud of that. Taking in everything, he didn't see that poke coming. It caused him to squirm a bit. His brow came together as if there were words behind it all to fight that moment, but nothing came out. Instead, he rubbed his side before using his hand to swat her away. "Hey now, I didn't call out for dog pile. That was all you, and look at that, you're on top of it." he mused. "Not that I'm complaining about the view." Curiosity flared, as his gaze stayed quite steady on her. That whole idea seemed a bit peculiar for him. "Wait...that's all it takes, huh? Asking?" The words a little softer spoken than before.

She squirmed, tangled a bit over him, gasping in surprise at his motion. "All me?? I was trying to help you up and now I'm down here with you," she protested, sticking her tongue out at him. Now she was trying to tickle him, "Are you looking down my shirt?"

Her squirming had him frozen in place. There was something she had said that had been plaguing him from last week. Something he wasn't letting go, only seemingly. How she had told him she loves him. Expressionless for about half a second, as he found himself speaking the words without a second thought. All in their own rhythm. "Gotta get up, get up to get down." One arm going behind his head, since at this rate he might as well make himself comfortable too. Instead of giving her an answer to her question, he only gawked at her a bit, mimicking her down to tone. "Are you looking down my shirt?" He wasn't really ticklish, but he wasn't about to go admitting to that. Looking to fight fire with fire, his own body curved in a bit, leaving his own free hand moving to her side to do something similar. Pushing himself up some, there was still that height difference but it called for less distance between them. Thoughts mulling through his mind, questions and answers alike as he only quietly continued to stare at her, affectionately so. And then, he opened his mouth. "You are totally looking down my shirt."

"Are you quoting Coolio at me?" she asked with amusement in her voice and a grin plastered onto her face. Worries long gone now, but even as she protested against his fingers, she shook her head in response. "I'm not, I couldn't look down your shirt, even if I wanted to." Trying her hardest to glare at him, as she pushed his hands away laughing. "Okay, okay! How could I not be? I should get up, before I do something I shouldn't." The words were said without much affliction as she didn't actually bother to move.

Acting as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, his own gaze wandering around the ceiling. "...Maybe." The smile that came after, added to the confirmation of his lyrical choices here. As much as he wanted to protest that there was something to look at, he really couldn't do anything funny in this position. Outside of continuing to tickle her, which was still working to his own benefit in one way or another. "Are you telling me I'm too small for you?" he couldn't even be bothered to feign seriousness. With no movement on her part, he only leaned in that much closer to her. It was hard to say what his motivations were on this given the mixture of thoughts in his own head. A perpetual challenge to shouldn't, a source of defiance, or the recognition that she was right. Little mattered, even for the scene Nacho got to see. Possibly too close, his gaze lingered on her lips before meeting her own eyes. "Like what?" he whispered. "You going to snort again?" The smirk there wasn't about to go anywhere.

"Wow, Coolio. That's a deep pull." There was no weight to her words, only teasing, as she continued trying to push his hand away from another attack to her side. Seriousness seemed to be long gone here. "I.. seriously doubt that," she added, but she also seemed so distracted. Licking her own lips, she took in a breathe. "Damn it, Roman. I don't have as much self control as you do. You know what I want." She leaned in and pressed her lips to his cheek, probably too close to his lips and lingered too long, cupping the other side of his cheek with her hand.

The best he could muster was a shrug, outside of his own obvious amusement. That and a challenging look over the teasing. Nothing taken seriously at all, but there wasn't much else he could do or say given how distracting the squirming around had been for him. There was something to be said about discipline in the face of pain. In the face of things unforeseen that could cause damage to what you believed in or what secrets could hurt someone else. But this didn't fall into the same means, the same patterns, the same place. This wasn't the kind of thing anyone ever actually prepared you for. And for all the hints about this and what possibilities he knew of, that he had tried to give her, tried to explain his side without saying, he never knew if she saw but guessed otherwise. "No, I don't. What do you want?" The words came out in a hush, as a hand slid up her hip, working up her back, until it found purchase at the nape of her neck. Roman could feel her heartbeat against him. He could have sworn as his own slowed, hers sped up. Her face tilting to the side of his. "You, I want you," she whispered in his ear. His fingertips running up into her hair before giving it a slight tug, pulling her back a breath away. "I love you too." His own lips to find hers.

Lost in the moment, in her and every sensation that followed, there wasn't a single thought that moved beyond this. It may not have been how he had thought up or imagined it, but that was only due to how they managed to be in this position. The softness of her lips, the sweetness of her breath, even the air of the previous shared peanut butter. He was sure he could breathe her in and all of this, he could open his eyes and it all be gone. Where she had whimpered, a low noise reverberated from his chest. Even with the lack of space between them, a driving need to somehow pull her closer urged him on. His free hand gripping her hip, before wrapping around her tightly. Unwilling to to pull away from her in any way. At least until she decided to and spoke those words. "Take me to bed."

He only had one response. "That's not the meal you came here for.' Leaving them both in a fit of laughter.

you are a firework

Over the past few months, life on the station had become a hardship for him. Not that it had been something easy to notice, too few knew him, and no one well. The severe change in a lifestyle he had grown to hold over the course of eighteen years, this was nothing like. Through those ups and downs, he had felt excitement and lack of energy through a number of means. But no matter what was going on, he could find himself looking at her and letting everything else melt away. Leaving only a stirring of the warmth that seemed to grip his own chest, and the smile across his face. Enjoying all the time he could have with her, tiptoeing and even falling a number of times, in the wealth of growing feelings he has for her.

Once they reached the spot she had gone on about, she slid off of his back with ease. The long piggyback ride here meant little to him, she had been on her feet much of the day with all the current ongoings of the station and the concert events. It only felt fair. If anything, he was all too easily content to carry her, almost regretting the idea of her setting her feet on the ground as they made it to her destination. But there she was, eyes wide with excitement over the bright lights in the sky bursting. "Look! Roman!" she called gleefully as she darted off to move as close to the edge as she could to see it all better. "How do you think they do all of that?"

Following her, he did look up to where she pointed, but his gaze didn't linger. Quickly falling back to her. At her question, there he was reaching for her hand, pulling her back to him. His free hand holding the side of her face, guiding her back to him. Leaning in and kissing her. "I bet they see them there and permit them to memory." His thumb caressing her cheek. "Used to be gun powder, but I'm betting it has something more specially engineered with plasma blasts."

She smiled ever so sweetly at him, not at all fighting to pull away, even for as much as he knew she wanted to look at the blasts of light in the sky. Her empathy giving him more and more, even after their lips met. The electricity was no longer crackling in the air, but somewhere between them. It hadn't been long before this, that she had been left solely in his care, without any other choice. With him having to carry her to a clinic due to the power of an EMP knocking out her spine. And her hours upon hours of waiting for assistance, with him doing what he could to attempt to get her seen faster. Even going as far as volunteering his time and service. All for the fear of watching her lose herself to some form of depression and anxiety that could rise, PTSD and reminders of how this all occured. Only for her to be standing here now.

He couldn't do more than chuckle as she still found herself distracted by the lights once pulled away. Her eyes widening, "Gun powder?"she asked, only to drop her gaze back to his lips. Nipping another lingering kiss from them. "Did they permit them to memory then, too?" She murmured.

of bright lights and a pitched tent

Roman's current apartment was still a bit smaller, but also big enough to make him feel uncomfortable to sit around uncomfortable. Planning ahead, he had already picked up everything needed, waiting on her arrival as the final piece. Much of the open space in the living area had been overtaken by pillows, sheets, and soft blankets for a decor all of its own. Except that it was lit up in the colors she had spoken of earlier in the week, when he was out to make her brain bleed from having to make decisions on favoritism. The kitchen holding the fresh scent of strawberries, powdered sugar, and butter with the still warm waffles as a means of dinner. Everything set up on the counter all too meticulously. Roman smiled at everything as he wiped his hands clean with a dish towel. And turning on some music, letting it play as he waited for her to find her way to his door.

The moment she did, he was fully at attention, rushing to open it. Only to see her smiling, curious face on the other side. Why had he asked so many questions and then invited her over? He knew that ruse was up long ago. "What have you done?" The greeting was nothing short of teasing, as she embraced him there only to find herself quickly distracted by the twinkling lights behind him. "Oh my stars..." Her gaze leading away from the giant blanket fort in the middle of the living room, and very much stuck on her favorite colors floating around the room.

Far too amused, between her question, the teasing, and her own ability to get caught up in a distraction, Roman could do little more than grin at her. So far so good in a job well done. He would accept that point. Still locked in the embrace, his own arms still around her, he kept her close. Choosing to use the position for a small dance in the moment. Swaying softly, side to side, in tune with the beat. All before reaching for one of her arms and using it to gain her hand. Entwining his fingers into hers and using it for momentum to pull her deeper inside. Kicking the door closed behind him. Each movement slow, elongated, but careful. His own gaze staying glued to her, even as he dipped her in front of the pillow fort. "What does it look like I've done?" he spoke, teasing her back. Pulling her back up and setting her into a spin for the fun of it, but letting go of her hand after one rotation.

Dancing together there, her fingers entwining with his, she continued to be distracted by the lights but mostly in awe. A feeling he began to gain in return from her, a feeling she sent back to him with her own empathy. Where words seemed to fail, not everything else did. Even as she playfully narrowed her eyes at him when he tried to pull her away, she melted into him all the same. "It looks like you... I don't know. Just, wow." Her smile lingered, even as she shook her head with a giggle as he spun her around. Features softening as she was face to face with him again. "You did all of this, for me?" Her fingertips grazing his cheek. "A grand gesture deserves a grand reward," she teased but leaned in for a slow kiss. One that left him flooded with her feelings in that moment, a form of communication that wasn't his own. And full knowledge of how he made her feel. Her guard was down, fully and completely, giving him her excitement, intrigue, attraction, desire, even those butterflies in the pit of her stomach.

cotton candy daydreams

Waking up and going through his regular scheduled Tuesday morning, Roman found himself with an extra bounce in his step. Conversations with her had been a welcome surprise for him. Enough so that this man carried a bag of cotton candy to her door. Not for her, specifically, but for something he had found out of curiosity. The fact that there was something deemed cotton candy coffee and it actually used cotton candy. There was no way he could pass this up, no matter how many weird looks he picked up by the few people roaming around in the early morning hours. The idea set, even as he stood at her door in a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt trying desperately not to hold it like a bouquet.

The second Roman saw her, he needed a moment. Mostly to blink. This was real, wasn't it? Everything seemed to slow, as if he had found some way to step into some holofilm. Yes, he had seen a photo of her, and even made a comment on it, but it wasn't over her appearance. There had been an actual curiosity given his own previous adventures in the park. Ones he didn't care to relive himself and could only imagine how it would be on some new, unknowing victim. But even there, it wasn't something one couldn't go without noticing. It simply didn't prepare him enough for seeing her now, answering the door in a billowy, magenta red dress. Bright eyed, she took note of the cotton candy in his hand, bringing a touch of color to her cheeks. The second that blush crept up though, he couldn't do more than slowly smile."Good morning," she started, but there was a sound coming from behind her. "Frax." Shaking her head, motioning for him to wait a moment.

It was during all of this that Roman was about to finally put some type of thought into words. Something about how it was indeed a good morning, but the thought never fell from his lips as she was heading off. The noise she followed, it was a newer one for him. Brows raised in curiosity, but he didn't move. A bit of laughter once she did explain what happened. "I didn't bring home the right meat, apparently. He's pissed." she explained, locking the door behind her. "Shall we?" she asked, motioning again. "Well, Frax gave me a minute to remember how to breathe again," Roman stated looking her over again. "You should make sure to tell him thank you for me." he mused.

Even as they walked, in step no less, that blush of hers crept up more and he couldn't help but wonder if he had done something to leave her open to his feelings. The empathy between. "I'd introduce you, but he's a bit feisty when he's like this. Needs time to cool down."

Roman's knowledge of animals didn't extend far beyond what he grew up around and had to learn in order to help manage the family farm. Tidbits of unused information that he incurred through his youth. Ways to repel certain animals and insects, birthing, slaughter, rotation of crops, and the like. Any information on Frax would only be accepted as what it was. Her knowing the animal and what was going on. Although, that didn't stop his own mild surprise at being told he might meet him. It was almost a comforting thought. Not everyone was so keen on new people meeting their pets, and no matter how she might have seen it, the idea settled in a positive note for him. "Feisty? Sounds like someone I know." He smiled, nodding in her direction. He was only teasing, but had thought that of her a few times in their conversations.

The closeness was noticed by Roman as well. It didn't bother him at all and he never tried to put any extra distance there. The first time their hands brushed against each other, he thought perhaps it was an accident that was caused by him. For mere seconds he worried that it might have bothered her, but once he noted it hadn't, he was right back to smiling. There was a tendency to lean towards physical contact. It was much like speaking with one's hands to him. But there were times where he knew that it might make others uncomfortable so he tried to wait out cues and see how someone acted with him. And often times, reacted.

"I found out there's something called cotton candy coffee. I wasn't sure if anyone around here does it or not, so I brought this to make sure it can happen." He even had the how-to if need be. He wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by. "It's no cotton candy daydream, but hopefully it'll live up to something on it's own?" As they spoke of the coffee, she seemed very enthusiastic about the idea of it, the curve of her lips twitching into a smile again. Leaving him to be blown away by her next question. "You are very handsome, has anyone ever told you?"

The compliment was a pleasant surprise. Bluntness was a personality trait that he favored. His own smile widened as he nodded. "I've heard it before, even at my age," he only meant that last part as a joke. "But I think I appreciate it more coming from you right now." He did add honestly. Reaching for the door before she made it there, he held it open for her to head on inside the coffee shop.

There was that blush again. "Thank you," she said, stepping ahead of him. Leaving him to see the glowing blue lights emanating from the nape of her neck, and slipping down behind her cardigan. Taking their seats, she got right down to it. "So you're going to show me how this cotton candy coffee stuff works?" Her fingers sliding over the surface of the table to find his hand. Only to lightly graze over his own. There was something noticable about what that touch did to her, but he couldn't understand, not more than she had already explained to him. "You have seen war. Yes? A lot of death. A soldier with stories. I can sense it." It was spoken so matter-of-factly. Nothing they had spoken of previously.

For about every instance and trait that Roman was self aware of, there were at least one to two that he wasn't. This was one of those extra reasons on why he could be quite open with people. And why he didn't take most things a person said with a grain of salt. It all built up to some form of trying to find ways of best getting along with people, even if it held some type of warning sign. Roman had always believed there was something hidden behind words, a meaning that stemmed towards a thought, an experience, or simply put, to someone's soul. And while Common wasn't actually his first language, it was one he believed fell shorter than most in deeper explanations and ties. With family ties that held strong towards a wide array of little traditions and beliefs, he used it as a guiding tool for how he lived his life. Only not living it much the way his own family had hoped. His belief on numbers holding a part of that. Age was a number, and it meant something to him. But it wasn't everything. A number didn't dictate the story of someone's life. It added to it.

With the order of coffee, Roman added a few extra needs, practically counting them off his fingers in thought. Extra stirrers, a couple of cups of espresso, and milk. Smiling over at her and nodding without a second thought. "Prepare to be amazed," he joked, while trying to make a pretend banner above them, one hand shot up as if to glide over it. Maybe he had spent too much time with those people from the circus. Who knows? Her simple touch pulled him out of that state of mind, leaving him entirely focused on her. The softness of it being where his own mind was locked. The words that came flowing from her threw him. There was no argument on his part, no reason to deny it. Roman nodded. It didn't bother him at all except in one regard. His lack of understanding and knowledge in exactly what she could do beyond what she had previously told him. It wasn't something he had seen in person, and it left him more with the worry that something there might somehow hurt her. His head tilted to the side watching her curiously as the hand she had touched flipped open, palm side up. An offering, in a way. Open to however she wished to take it, if she did. "It doesn't hurt you though, right?" Hurting anyone he didn't mean to, that was always on his mind.

She shook her head slow, smiling all the same. Studying his hand there before her, the offering, taking a moment before she reached for it. "No, it doesn't hurt." The words given as she softly let her fingertips graze over his, exploring, but in how many ways he was sure he still couldn't fathom.

"It's like... Tingly? I think that is the word. Just buzzy, tingly, at its most basic level." She continued tracing her own patterns into the palm of his hand. "But it's dependant on the emotion. I struggle to be in the same room as someone who is distraught, for example. I feel that acutely. I'll feel the negativity of the emotion very intensely. It takes a lot of focus to not be overwhelmed by that, and I'm not always successful."

Nodding slowly, Roman's gaze and fixed attention was left only on her. He could relate all too well as to the intensity she spoke of. He had his own issues with the strength of negative feelings. If he had an inkling that someone was distraught, he had a tendency to try to help where he could. It was too difficult for him to process, the idea that someone would be left alone or without help when in a time of need. It was such a deeply ingrained urge and feeling that he found he had to try to pull back. Because sometimes the way someone might react to you was far worse than seeing them in such a way. And the outlashing that was presented only allows the feeling to become contagious.

As far as negative feelings within him, those were more prone in knee jerk reactions. These were quickly pushed aside unless dragged out by others to speak on. Venting aggravations wasn't a popular idea for him. Instead of complaining, he preferred to do something about the issue. Only speaking to others in hopes of gaining their version of events, for another perspective. Speaking to her, he had his own worries early on. That it might turn out much the way he had found a number of interactions with strangers since coming to Terminus. Akin to the way a child may feel getting a hand slapped for trying to dip into the cookie jar. But with every bit of conversation that led here, he only found her more and more relatable. And in ways he found in very few people here.

It was then their order arrived, leaving her to arch a brow. "Well? The way you've hyped this stuff up, I have high expectations." Her hand lingering before pulling away.

Everything else was too easy to melt away, much like the way the cotton candy would next do. She wasn't the only one not wanting to pull away for the sake of the coffee. But there it was, ever slowly. Smiling to himself, he rubbed his hands together with a little laugh. "Better get this right then." he mused.

Setting the milks and espressos on one side of the table, and the two cups of coffee on the other, he moved to steal a little menu holding stand from another table, so that he had two. Setting up the coffee stirrers inside the clips, he made sure it held tightly. Small tuffs of cotton candy whipped around the sticks, as they stood only inches above the coffee cups themselves. Like a colorful rain cloud, dripping sweet sugar down into the murky depths of each mug. Roman only looking up to peek at her every now and then, as he went, grinning all the while.

Leaving all of that to sit, he moved to the espressos and milk. The glasses of milk were lined up, as he separated and placed what was left of the cotton candy on the rim of each cup. It's own fluffy fog, hovering over the pale liquid. As he poured the espresso as slowly as he could into each glass. Watching the candy melt away, leaving a colorful swirl of milk, espresso, with the pinks and blues to be stirred there. Nudging one of the glasses towards her, he could only imagine how these were going to turn out. "I fully expect not to live this down if it turns out badly."

ride that pony

Life on Terminus typically laid out into finding a balance of making oneself useful or finding entertainment. At least, that's how he had been taking it. Having been here for months now, Roman was trying to make it feel a little less like shore leave but it kept falling short. For as many ships as he'd been on, how long his own career had been settled into, and the way of life he thought he could kick into a new gear here, he found himself playing the part of entertaining himself more than anything. His own focus skewed until there was someone to hold a conversation with, or at least willing to. No matter how long or short. And during that time, he felt a little more like himself. Comments shared between them since the blind date, only settled him into pulling her into such attempts.

The most recent conversation giving way to a simple enough thought, that led to his own version of a mild challenge. He couldn't imagine finding an actual horse in all of Terminus. And given the amount of time restraints he held, some creativity was going to need to be had. And that was one place he was happy to serve it up. A costume designed to fit every aspect of need in this little replay of an image. How it turned out, or how she might see things out of this, he had no idea. Arriving at the park on his recently purchased hoverbike, he pulled everything he needed from a bag on the back. Making his own change behind a few trees before pulling himself back into the park, and whatever onlookers eyeing him wildly.

A couple of wolf whistles and bad laughs in his direction, he only went along with it all, tilting his hat towards them until he caught sight of her and the laughter that fell from her lips as she saw him. Pretending the horse was real, and speaking to it, even making clacking sounds for the hooves. Roman pulled the reigns to halt his ever lovely, hot air filled steed. Fully smiling and holding out his arms for her inspection. While he knew she had spoken of a kiss, he didn't expect it. She took hold of the open edges of his vest and pulled him in for a kiss. "Giddy up, cowboy," she chuckled. His arms moved around her in that short time, as if on their own accord. As she pulled away, he caught a wild look in his eye, as a slow smirk formed. "Guess I passed the test." he muttered before quickly dipping her with a kiss of his own.

Right himself with her, he took his own hat off his head and placed it on hers. "Yee-haw." He told her quietly. The grinning and the laughter, it did not end, and he didn't want it to. Even if the way she licked her bottom lip caught his attention more than he cared to admit to. Watching her readjust the hat, even with its size, he couldn't imagine a better moment. A freeing one, out in public in a way that he never expected her to be with him. "Yee-haw indeed."

Digging into the side of his leg and finding the little air blower and shutting it off. "Bet you didn't expect me to be that much of a blow hard, huh?" he joked. Her hand over her mouth at this comment, finding the humor meant to be placed there. Even shaking her head before she lightly stuck out her tongue at him. "Maybe I've never found it bad blowing hard." But there was that snort he recalled all too well from their date. Even a shrug of her shoulders. As far as he was concerned, this was a job well down. "Seems we've got ourselves an audience. I should just jump on your back and tell them I've found my steed to ride home. Go ahead, cowboy. Give them a bow."

Paying far less attention to anyone looking their way, since he finally made his way up to her, this was his moment to actually take notice. Only to end up taking a second glance back at her, fully laughing. And now also pointing between the two of them? "Ourselves? No way. It's all you. Look at this." He said, pointing over at her before turning to look at anyone glancing their way. "I'm sorry, show's over. Nothing to see here." His hands went up then, as if to defend himself. "I know, I know, she's gorgeous, but that's no reason to treat her like that." The sideshow dropped, as he smirked, only to end up giving the over dramatic bow that he did. One that left his horse literally falling down to his knees and Roman trying to pretend that he just lost his pants. Right before he finally stepped out of them, anyway.

Even now, there she was with her hand against her mouth, shaking her head, even closing her eyes and bowing her head. He would miss that flush that flooded her cheeks. The way it lingered there, or maybe it was just the way time stopped for it. Incompacitated by a color of real emotion. All the things that he felt that color stood for. Even her own snorts of laughter, they were like extra prizes that would ring through his mind beyond this. And then, there she was again, replacing his hat back onto his own head, running a thumb over his bottom lip. "I believe for the entertainment factor alone, not even adding a hell of a kiss, I should buy you a drink."

Wadding the costume up in his hands, she quickly captured his attention again, with such a simple movement. There was an intent with his own gaze as he not only heard but watched the words slide from her lips. Leaning in ever so slightly, he quietly admitted, "I'd have to be a fool to say no." A short pause, as his own smile grew back into place. "And I'm not that kind of fool. Only dressed for the proper occasion." he joked again, looking down at himself and wondering if this was what a stripper felt like in public.

"Better put a shirt on or I might have to act like a jealous fool myself to keep all others away today," she snickered. The closeness only held him in place, with this feeling of being not only drawn in but ensnared. It wasn't a feeling he fought, but pulled himself deeper into. His attention hyperfocused on her and the feel of her hands moving, even as he did hear her words. Grinning, he barely shook his head. "I came here for you. You don't have to act, unless you want to." Caught in another kiss, he was too happy to let her lead. To give him a sense of direction. To not let go.

not so tall tales

Lightweight. It was what he had deemed her from that first night. One of uncertainty and an attempt to slow things down, to talk instead of where it led. But he bent in ways he shouldn't have. It was difficult to think like that when there was a moment like this. One where he could feel her shift in bed. Awake enough and asking for story. He was thankful that it wasn't some alert to some new attack of rats, plants, or something new. Without a single groan, he only pulled her closer. As though it were some acceptance of this early morning fate. "What kind of story you want, princess?" The question only led to shared smiles and laughter. She didn't care about the kind of story, only that he would. "Tell me more about wrestling with pigs or about that wooden spoon…"

Shifting a bit, for the sake of comfort and this long haul. Who knew what she would remember of this, but that wasn't going to stop him from giving her what she asked for. Fingertips brushed up and down against her spine languidly in thought. Shaking his head, "No, those pigs saved me from the spoon many times." he offered with a fondness, as if the pigs were the hero to this story. Still waking up a bit amused by her wording and her teeth, he leaned in closer to whisper, "I think you know lil' Roman well." Righting himself, he continued on the first thought. "IF it wouldn't sound wrong, I'd call those pigs my first love. But it wasn't like that. Once I had a bigger Common vocabulary than to call them all Pee-pee, I named them all. And it stuck, even if they weren't going to all be there too long. But that's no way to start a story."

While one hand brushed against her back, his free hand moved through her hair, pulling it away from her face even when it wasn't. "The ground was always fresh, overturned, with a sweet scent of it's own. If you can imagine it. With clean water passing over everything in a loving drizzle, as if whispering for what lie below to grow. For as long as I can remember, I was taught it was okay to stick your hands in that, to feel the life, to read it there and behind closed doors. But nobody cared for how that turned out in the mud pie pile because that meant stains on good clothes when you were supposed to go to church or family dinners. The pigs, they have their own place to be. They need the water, the food, the mud. But they get overlooked as far as attention. Because at some point, they are going to get sold or they need to become the ham and bacon. The very actual short child lil Roman didn't think that was the way to live. He loved the noises they made from the start." The words start slow but easily picked up, even as he became more awake at the memory that nearly felt like a dream it was so far away.

"The snorts, I'd mimic since diapers against them and they would try to talk to me. My mom would claim it was like the first time my heart really went out to something and it annoyed her to no end because she was worried I'd get stomped on, and again, the stains." he laughed. "If I was having a bad day, for the longest time that's where I'd be or where I'd end up. It was where I felt cheered up. Even if I didn't understand, I'd listen and they would sit there on the other side of the pen having these long conversations. The day I released Sue, was the first time she went for the spoon. Mom stood there like a woman actually on fire. Scorching the ground she stood on yelling at me. But I sat there in the mud, and they all just covered me. My brother would call me what translates to pig skin, and maybe that was part of it, but she couldn't find me and went searching elsewhere."

"How long were you hiding and why didn't you brothers tell your mom?"

While her lips brushed his, he made a point of kissing her back, almost reflexively. At least before he laughed again, lightly. "So there's a few things you should know our lovely villainess of this story." Roman paused, looking at her a moment, finding the words. "Mom comes from a different type of family. Not far off, but she is a soil researcher, right? Her family speaks old Italian and French, behind closed doors. Not made of money or anything, maybe somewhere in the middle? But they expected great things out of her going to school. She's the smartest they had. My dad's mom always called her clever, but no one understood why we would have clothes to get dirty in and why we should have good clothes? And she wasn't one for handling the animals, she claimed we were enough. I've heard stories of her first times feeding chickens. And what I put her through while in diapers. So my mom comes at me with a spoon? And someone pipes up? They are being sent in there to get me. And if they fail? They get the spoon." His hand moves up in the air as if to present some imaginary spoon, which he whacks the air with.

"My grandma always called me her little tree trunk. I was the shorter one back then, but thicker than twiggy asses, and the better fighter...mostly because I didn't mind getting as dirty." There was a look on his face, much like his favorite parts of films or shows, where he knew the fight was coming. An almost glossy effect to his eyes as he stared at the ceiling in thought, recalling it all. "Ever hold someone's head under water?" he mused, before turning back to her. "They were both swimmers. They should thank me for it too. That ability to hold their breath." His hand dropped to brush a finger across her cheek as he spoke. "There's a specific consistency in the way the mud should be for the pigs. All for the sake of regulating body temperature. It can't be like a bath, it needs to be thicker. It keeps things slippery, but only when moving too fast. All it takes is one good knock down and someone's floundering face first in mud. Leaving mom to relinquish some of that anger on someone else before she gets to me...so it's dad that always ends up who's called out or later finds me if I didn't run into a field. By sunset, he'd always get me." Another long exhale. "Like a man walking the green mile."

Between her laughter, that smile, and hassling him teasingly, he knew that was the reason he never failed to give in. He doubted that she recognized that, no matter what he said. If anything, he was sure she rarely believed him. Except maybe in moments like this.

"Your poor father. Having to go after you and then deal with your mother too? You never did get any better. You're still that rebellious hardass. Maybe we really should bring that spoon around. Get you to straighten up."

The poking of his hip, only caused the fingers rubbing her back to move up to her neck. Running circles there, to her shoulder blades, and back. Feigning shock that she would ever take his father's side on the subject, he started with an elongated, "That poor man? Would lift me up by the back of my pants carrying me. And got mad that I pretended to fly. So he dropped me." The thought was funny now, just as it had been then for him. Albeit a little painful, but could anyone have expected any less from him, even then? Doubtful.

Laughing again at her calling him a rebellious hardass, he shook his head. Rules in certain areas held true for most of his life, especially in the navy. There was a great respect for the ones he had seen used, that held for times of life and death, and meeting the needs of the many and not just the few. But as far as committing to certain ones, or how to go about them, he was a lot more lax about. Much like if he were given the chance, the man would have been blasting music throughout the ship and acting goofy for the sake of easing tension on the way to or from the mission. Not his own tension, at that. Much like he had when heading departments or crews on other ships. Working under worry and trepidation was not how he saw a positive use of crews before things needed to get serious. Their current position holding no need to bring that up, as he turned into her. A finger moving for her chin to lift her face to his. "Isn't that what this little spoon does? Straightens me right up." Roman pointed out before kissing her.

shoot first, questions later

Roman had been waiting ever so patiently for her to show up. Not because it was taking her so long either. For the simple fact that this was a set up. No, he wasn't in the buff, but here he was with a little project he had set up since his last major run in with the plant population. The gadget itself resembled something akin to a well put together pump-action squirt gun. Except it was made out of an alloy, due to the items he had pulled together in order to make it. Squatting down near his couch, with full firing aim set, he waited for her to come through the door, which was open as he said. The little weapon filled with what he deemed plant sludge, or at least the contents he had cleaned off himself when he came home that evening. Nothing he believed would do harm, except in the case of creating a mess on clothes. Once the door opened, he heard her speak his name as she poked her head in the door.

Regardless of how this all went, he wasn't about change his mind on this little prank. Not just yet. A full smile grew into his features at the sight of her, but that wasn't irregular on it's own. Only now amusement was filling him from shooting what he believed looked like fresh aloe vera at her. Encouraging her to join in for payback, Roman slid a similar weapon across the floor to her. He asked her if she was her or some plant replicated version, trying to be as serious as he could in the moment but it was fleeting. "Is this what premature ejaculation is supposed to feel like?" He asked before trying to take another shot at her.

"What the-?" she started, as she raised a hand to touch what had made contact with her shirt. Tucking and rolling, she went for the weapon, "I'll show you ejaculation," she called, firing back.

Taking the hit in the shoulder, he played it off over dramatically, as if actually wounded. Cradling it, as he jumped from the couch and into the next room, trying to use the wall nearest the door there as cover. More amused than anything by her choice of words, he barely held back his own laughter. "Oh, ho, ho. That is what she said." he threw back. A few peeks taken in her direction before shots were fired again. "I knew I could get you to squirt. I knew it." Poking at his own shoulder, and the ever lovely substance there, he laughed again. "And the pop shots. How long have you been waiting on this day?" he only teased.

She seemed so happy in the moment, hiding around and hopping over furniture. Finding a type of ease as she moved through the small apartment exchanging shots in more than one way. Huffing at him, and laughing, even as she went red in the face. "Not yet you haven't." Finally rounding about on him and shooting him in the face. "Too long. I've been waiting too long."

Eyes wide, even in his amusement as she rounded the corner, nothing dropped the smile that held there. Not even as she shot him in the face. However, as she did, he made sure to shoot her with what little he had left in his own gun. It hadn't reached her face, but just above the shot he got her with before on her stomach. Dropping the little weapon after, his hands lifted to clean off his face. Wiping it off in a scoop of his hands. "Are you telling me that counts then?" he tried back, pushing away from the wall and moving to close the distance. "What else have you waited too long to do?" But stalking towards her, his hands were still covered in what was mostly off his face now. Looking to add to her collection of it.

"I'm telling you it doesn't count," she replied absently. "Do you really want to know?" Her voice breathy as she played coy with him.

There was a thoughtful look that melted into his features, only to shake his head lightly. "I don't know, I'm hearing it does count." He was having far too much fun with this to care what she was planning. It was only about what he was going for here that counted. One good, slow look over of her form, Roman smirked and nodded. "Yes, yes I do really want to know." One arm swooped around her, pulling her as close as he could. That hand slipping down to smack the sludge onto her one left cheek. His other hand going to her cup her face, slopping some onto her backside. "Hit me with your best shot, Killer." he practically sang happily, as he tried to mash the sap in.

"Ugh, you are so-" she broke off on a strangled noise and rolled her eyes. Going quiet as he pulled her close, but laughing at the feel of this plant goo. "If this is that stuff that was at Cosmo's and we're going to be stuck together, I'm going to have to kick your ass. Once we're unstuck, of course." As she spoke, she used the closeness to her advantage. Dropping her gun, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressing her covered hands over every inch she could reach, even moving into his hair.

"As much as I would love to be stuck to you that way, I'm not about it being like that." he mused. More distracted by her mouth, the feel of the sap hitting his neck was not what he expected. Instead, it sent a bit of a shiver down his spine. The feeling alone, causing him to press her into him that much more, deepening the kiss. His own hand moving down from her check and mimicking the motion she held on his neck. Fingers slipping into her hair, as he shifted his weight, turning to put her back against the wall. None of this had been part of his initial thoughts when he first asked her over, to pull this little prank and surprise game. But it was a turn he wasn't against. "Strained the plant guts that I was swamped in. You're welcome for not opting to just show up at your door and hug you." Because it had been a thought. He only opted out of. Kissing her again, his still slightly covered hands slipped under the hem of her shirt. "I think you need a shower."