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clean up, aisle endeavor

The devil finds work for idle hands. It was a saying his own mother used to throw at him, one that had never ceased to haunt him. It had always rang true for him, finding focus, keeping things together. It's also what kept him busy. Although, in an attempt to keep busy, that also led Roman to things he shouldn't necessarily be doing. But this all has to measure up in trying to keep morale up, doesn't it? This was his line of thinking, regardless of how it turned out anyway.

There were some rags tucked into his belt, a bottle in one hand, wearing a pair of gloves, as he practically slid down the hall. His communicator playing an old song lightly playing. It was just enough for him to hear, and even attempt the to sing it without causing too much of a disturbance. At least until someone caught him turning to do a little spin in the process. However, much like anything else, the man got a little too into the moment, and closed his eyes as he did so. Nearly sliding into a body he wasn't aware was there.

"Ay mierda," he spoke before turning the communicator off a moment. "A clean ship is a happy ship," the words fell out almost immediately, as though he needed to explain himself. He was sure in that moment that his mother would be all too proud of him. Then again, if it weren't for those words, a number of things may not have happened in his own navy career. "You okay? Busy?"

The truth was, Astrid hadn't been sleeping well since the whole thing with the ship had happened. For the most part, she kept close to her post, not straying too far, only going away for a nap or two here and there. It wasn't healthy or good for her to do that, though, and after she had some reprieve, she went off on her own, to take a little walk around the ship and clear her head.

It was exactly what she needed, beside a good nights sleep, but that wouldn't come until they were safely back and out of the black hole. While the normal ship routines were happening, she did happen on Cortez and she smiled to herself as she watched him from a distance at first, laughing silently to herself. In the midst of all of the chaos, she didn't realize how badly she needed something like that until she saw it. "No, I'm good," she said with a smile, crossing her over her chest and leaning against the wall of the ship.

"I'm tired," she admitted and shrugged her shoulders. "The stress of the situation will do that to you, I guess. I think a lot of us have been through worse. No one's injured so that's comforting, at least." She didn't even want to say yet and jinx the entire mission. "How about you? You okay?"

For that brief moment, listening to Astrid's response, just taking everything in as it were, Cortez acted quite serious. Nodding, as though what had just been seen of him hadn't happened. A thoughtful look crossing his features, possibly too much so, as she turned the question on him. Clearing his throat, he haphazardly shrugged. Looking down both directions of the hall, he then leaned in and spoke quietly. "This is the first mission here that I haven't been shot at. I'm fantastic." Straightening himself up, he quietly mouthed 'It's true' before speaking up again and adding, "Tell no one. This conversation never happened. I don't need anyone thinking I don't love that." He only continued this feigned need for secrecy before smiling and even laughing.

"Don't get me wrong, I know we're not exactly on mission. I know we're all technically in danger. But I'd like to think this is the universe's way of saying here, have some free time away. We put our lives in each other's hand every time we step onto this ship. And I happen to know they are damn good hands." Roman said it with enough certainty that even he wondered if he hadn't said too much.

Grabbing hold of a rag from his belt and wiggling it in Astrid's direction. "Wanna help with some busy work? I'll even let you choose the song?" Only for the man to start a small dance. "Because I can't get NO satisfaction when there's dust bunnies haunting this place."

When he mentioned he hadn't been shot during this mission, Astrid wanted to make a witty little quip that it hadn't happened yet. But she didn't. Neither of them needed that sarcastic energy in their life at that moment. Instead, she leaned in and she whispered, "Your secret is safe with me," and threw in a thumbs up for good measure. It was nice for her to have a moment of levity in a moment where she was feeling like everything was out of control. Even in her attempt at positivity, she worried that she wasn't letting the gravity of the situation hit her in a way that was productive.

She took her position leaned against the wall again, this time resting her head against the wall while he spoke, not making any mention that they were in good hands because she felt like an utter failure in that moment and couldn't possibly acknowledge that she hadn't done something that had landed them in this hell in the first place. Instead, she took a deep breath and let herself swallow hard.

Thankfully, the pity party wouldn't last long when Roman was now dancing in front of her. She grabbed the rag mid-air and let out of a laugh. "Oh, we can keep these tunes on. I don't mind." She started cleaning opposite of where he was currently cleaning. "I mean, you saw what my karaoke song was so I can vibe to something like this." She said with a smile and she began her work while she spoke. "I do appreciate what you do to bring us together as a team. I think we need that, for moments like this, you know? It's good for morale."

Even without any sarcastic remarks, Roman was still expecting to get shot. It hadn't happened yet, but it was still worth it's own minor celebration. Living up the good while it lasted, before that other boot dropped. Whether it be some accident set off, maybe a bolt that just found itself buckling and being set out to all too literally bite him in the ass. Or his own relivable nightmare of someone trying to take the ship. But these were all thoughts he had purposely left behind, in his own bunk. With a lot of little notes based on what tactical advantages they may have here. Her ease only added to his own demeanor as he smiled widely, lifting his own thumbs up to match her own.

As she shifted, taking a deep breath, he regarded her a little differently. Almost as though he were the one trying to read her mind, and coming up nil. That didn't stop him from going on though, especially for one good point. Especially given the perfectionistic tendencies he had found in the crew. "You know, you count in that too. If it weren't for you, we really might not have made it through still breathing on this side of whatever was out there." Between whatever accident or chance occurrence that happened, the outcome was what mattered the most where he stood. Not everything could truly be prepared for, known, or understood. That's why they were out here anyway, letting nerds be nerds. "You deserve some time off."

With a happy groan, Roman's thoughts were easily steered back to karaoke. Pointing a finger at her, he had to give her props. "Look. 10 out of 10, would listen again. You knocked that out of the park." Roman gave far too matter-of-factly, only to turn and begin to get cleaning again as well. The words though, he hadn't been expecting not only gave him pause but also grinning. "How dare you figure me out like that. Everyone's supposed to just see me as..." he looked up at the wall a moment before finally coming up with the words he was looking for, "an eccentric kiss ass." Breaking into a small bit of laughter though, he shook his head. "But really, thank you." The thanks spoken with him looking at Astrid, but with little pause as he moved back to cleaning. "None of you are built to be machines, while forever facing the unknown. High stress, shit pay, for a thankless job with what return? You deserve to know your worth outside of your name, rank, and serial number. You deserve opportunities to not be dragged down by shit you met out here."

Astrid couldn't take a compliment, even when one was directly given to her face. She was always striving to do better, to be better, and she couldn't accept anything that she deemed less than perfect. It was a damn high bar and, while she appreciated the words that Roman was saying to her, she couldn't acknowledge them with anything more than a shrug. "After all of this," she started, an amused look on her face, "We all deserve some time off." Astrid figured that would be the case - they were always pretty good about getting time off in between missions to rest and recuperate but this was a little more mentally taxing than most missions were.

She rolled her eyes at Roman giving her another compliment but this one she could laugh off more, since it was in regards to her karaoke skills. "Oh thanks. Any time anyone here needs a little song to cheer them up... I'm your girl." She half pointed to herself but rolled her eyes even at the thought of saying that out loud. She continued to clean a little, since that was the whole reason that she was there. "I mean, this isn't so bad." Astrid said, as she looked at Roman. "It's high stress but it's not as bad as something else."

She thought back to her time in the war and how stressful that was. This felt like a cake walk in comparison. "I mean, when I was in the war and flying all the time? That seemed like nothing else could get more stressful." Her voice got a little quiet and she smiled to herself to not get down about anything. "If I could make it through all of that I feel like I can make it through anything."

He had heard those words so many times, even spoken them, but when it came down to it he only really viewed it outwardly. Roman taking any time for himself always had a sort of feeling he didn't like to reminisce on. The kind where all hell would break loose, finding a vacation he needed one from. Time away was far too rarely a positive experience. The more time spent, the worse it seemed to be. Not for lack of trying, but perhaps it was a good time to take up believing in luck. Perhaps he had broken a metaphorical mirror years ago and still found himself in the cruel abyss that drew him to whatever gremlin that held tight to him.

The idea of a little song for cheering up, he couldn't do anything less than look over at Astrid and smile. "Then you're always my girl, because if you haven't noticed, I can't handle a certain kind of silence. I talk far too much, and can barely sit still." It wasn't a way that he had always been, but it had always seemed to have a hold on him. The need to move, to do something. The thoughts that lie ahead of him, calling for a shift in what he could attempt and what reality told him. But her next words gave him pause. Listening a bit more intently, as he wondered where she was leading.

It didn't take long to figure that out, as he gave a knowing nod, even flashing a smile as he paused his own work. "During the war, I was always on the move, locked away in engineering." Too bad on a few of those circumstances, it was far too literally. Memories he would never shake, but also never regret. Even if at one point he was held prisoner and treated in a way that still made his skin crawl. "I like the way you see it. Although, I think mine was more if I could survive post-war, I could survive anything." Roman gave a small chuckle. "The way that people treat each other, no matter the cause, well. Being on this ship? Traveling between, this is where I feel most myself. I'll fully admit, I have no idea what I'm doing on station, but at least the orders are clear cut when on mission. Even if we're dodging death." Cortez tried to keep his tone lighthearted, even for the sentiment placed there.