best ship in the fleet

[heresyandlace]

Who: Anyone aboard the SS Pathstone!
Broadcast: Probably not
Action: Yes! Even if that action is mostly sleeping.
When: All month!

[watch, dear audience, as the intrepid crew of the SS Pathstone handles beaches, bugs, and storms!

with nothing but teamwork and sheer emotional maturity, they face each and every obstacle with dignity and grace.

there will never be a crew in the entire Fleet as stalwart and bonded in the eternal ties of friendship as the Pathstone.

watch, and be amazed.]

Comments

[onlyanapple]

[Of course Crowley comes back to the nest to sleep when the mood takes him. The fact he does it because Tek's there has nothing to do with the 'mood taking him'. That's what he'd say if questioned about it.

Crowley does have a tendency to lie. Especially to himself.

He largely ignores the storm, curling up next to Tek to settle in for a good long sleep. He's slept though a lot worse, after all.]

1/2

[heresyandlace]

[and the way Tek immediately gravitates toward a familiar presence in his sleep, curling up until the side of his face finds the demon's chest, certainly won't add to that 'mood' at all. no sir.

and perfectly platonic or not, at least it's peaceful and warm, while the storm rumbles and builds outside.]

[heresyandlace]

[it isn't until a particularly explosive crash of thunder rocks the little ship, shaking through the metal hull, that the peace is really disturbed.

and when it is, it's with Tek jumping in his sleep and slamming his head up into Crowley's chin.]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley wasn't expecting to be suddenly slammed into, and he wakes up with an annoyed snort. Ugh. This is less like coiling and more like cuddling for his liking. ]

What the bollocks was that?

[And yet, he doesn't move. ]

[heresyandlace]

[well, it's at least less like cuddling again as Tek continues the motion and sort of elbows himself up, halfway on Crowley's chest.

shaken awake, the dragon is not properly oriented yet in space and time. whatever the thunder had jolted him out of, he's still got one foot in. so, he's got none of his usual masks and pretenses up when he stares at Crowley with wide eyes, for one very confused and rattled moment.

it's a very rare day that the dragon is ever visibly afraid, so. congratulations, Crowley.]

[onlyanapple]

[Oh. Well, afraid isn't good. He's not sure what a startled dragon can do. Nothing good, probably.

...He tells himself that's the thing to be concerned about and not because he's actually concerned for Tek himself. ]

...Uh. It's just thunder so don't...eat my face or anything.

[heresyandlace]

[of course not. why would he ever be concerned about Tek?

and so, instead of some other more worrying reaction, Tek lets go of the breath he'd been holding in a rough sigh--all annoyance, and nothing more difficult to deal with.

he's awake now, and the only person here is the demon.

but then, another crash of thunder sounds down on the ship, and Tek isn't ready for it. he jolts and hunches his shoulder, instinctively ducking before he can catch himself.]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley watches his reactions, the sudden, almost-flinch. He exhales steadily, his tone light and airy. Uninterested. Though his tone doesn't offer comfort, his fingers move to the back of Tek's neck, threading through his hair soothingly.]

It's not even the smite-y sort of thunder. Just the boring sort, really.

[heresyandlace]

I know.

[he sounds annoyed--maybe at the storm, or maybe at the demon--growling a little into his words. but, if there is anything that has a hope of actually easing his high-strung nerves, it's fingers in his hair.

it's kind of a weak point of his.

the next breath is a little less tense, and he tries to flatten out his shrugged-up shoulders. settling down a little against Crowley's chest.

unfortunately, this is definitely more like cuddling and not so much like coiling at all.]

[onlyanapple]

[Ugh, cuddling. Crowley doesn't have the heart to push Tek off him, though, so he continues to thread his fingers through the dragon's hair, giving an annoyed huff to show how annoying this is to him.

So annoying. ]

Just thought I'd clear it up, what with the cowering and all.

[heresyandlace]

[if it makes them feel any better, the dragon in annoyed too. the huff is answered with a growl--though the sound might be a little softened a little by the fingers still running through his hair. and the nice thing about having eyes that glow just a bit, is it makes a glare in the dark easy to see.]

I'm not cowering.

[and he makes the effort not to flinch with the next punch of thunder, only curling his fingers into an anxious fist instead.]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley continues to offer the small comfort he can, while not actively admitting that's what he's trying to do. ]

Ah. So what do you call it, then?

[heresyandlace]

It's annoying.

[only simple annoyance--nothing more, nothing less. just like the rest of this it.]

I can't sleep like this.

[...though, his blinking is beginning to slow. which might have something to do with someone continuing to pet his hair. not that something so simple could actually disarm him, of course.]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley has no plans to stop, it seems to be doing something, after all. ]

Well, what else are you going to do? Stalk about the ship growling at shadows?

[heresyandlace]

That's never failed me before.

[--at least he can attempt a bit of humor, even though his voice doesn't really change.

and the thunder continues to rage, rattling the hull. he's not flinching so much, now that he's all the way awake, but he does sullenly shuffle around until he's as close as he can get, finally settling all the way down on and around Crowley. he even bullies his face to the side with his own a little bit, so he can really get comfortable.

maybe if cuddling is being forced on him like this, it doesn't count.]

[onlyanapple]

Oh no, it's always been a winner for you.

[It totally doesn't count, not even a little bit. Crowley makes a disgruntled 'ugh' sound, but it's all the battle he gives. It's been a long time since he's had any cuddling, and a rebellious part of his brain tells him he's missed it.

He tries to snuff that out with a louder, more pointed 'UGH'. ]

[heresyandlace]

[unfortunately for Crowley, Tek is an excellent cuddling partner. he's loose-boned and an expert at lounging on things, he doesn't get sweaty or sticky or anything else that gross mammals do, and he just plain smells good.

and the demon is making it worse by petting his hair, slowly but surely easing Tek's nerves down until he relaxes.]

It gives me something to do while all the noise is going on.

[since it's clearly only the noise that is bothering him, and nothing beyond that.]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley arches an eyebrow, letting out a soft 'tch' of amusement.]

Right. The noise. The noise of the thunder you have no problem with, I take it?

[heresyandlace]

I have a problem with it because it's loud.

[and then he lifts his head just enough to smile near the demon's face. it is a very pointed look.]

Noisy things are annoying. [--gee, wonder what else in this room fits that description...]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley even manages to look a little affronted. ]

Well, if you don't like the noise, you can always get some earplugs.

[heresyandlace]

I'm not putting things in my ears.

[he's acting annoyed by the mere idea, playing it up all the way into his voice. the banter helps, it seems. he's still tensing when the thunder booms down over the ship, but between the distracting conversation and fingers in his hair, he's starting to feel better, bit by bit.

Crowley should be proud. he's helping.]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley is a little proud, but he would never admit it, in a million years. ]

Then you're just going to have to deal with the noise.

[heresyandlace]

Really? I never would have guessed on my own.

[the banter is nice because Crowley isn't asking questions, and the doting takes any edge off of the teasing. and that, more than anything, is reassuring. as antagonizing as the thunder is on its own, it's the feeling of being unarmored that really gets him. in light of that, Crowley is proving to be exceptionally harmless, and that puts him at ease.

so much so that, somewhere under the storm's clamor... he actually begins to purr. it's more the feel of it rumbling softly through his chest than actual sound, like an oversized feline.]

[onlyanapple]

[The purring is new, and gets a huff of amusement from the demon. Still he continues, if it clams Tek down, he'll happily continue. Not that he'd ever admit it was for Tek's ebenefit, of course. ]

I don't know, maybe you needed the little pointer.

[heresyandlace]

I guess so.

And, I suppose if I've managed to tolerate you, a little noise from a raging storm won't be so difficult.