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

[heresyandlace]

[he must have been exhausted when he'd gone to sleep, because he appears to still be slumbering through the storm when Robin first arrives. he misses Robin's entrance entirely, remaining still and quiet until his nest is actually being invaded.

that's when the components all mix together in the right way. thunder shakes the hull of the ship, just as everything he's laying on dips to the side under someone else's weight.

he's suddenly fighting, flailing out in the dark--either fending something off or writhing hard to catch his imaginary balance--and that arm is heading right for Robin's face.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[oop--he flattens himself against the bed, narrowly avoiding getting punched in the head. he feels Tek's arm going past his hair. he's, um... well, it's one way to get into bed.

he'd really imagined it'd be a little more heartwarming than this. sure shows him.]

[heresyandlace]

[if it's any consolation, the violence ends after that one solid, startled thrash.

it leaves him following the motion and twisting up onto one elbow... because he's not quite yet oriented in space and time, and the face he's looking down at now doesn't make much sense in any of it. he's still someone else, somewhere else, and Robin is an anachronism to it.

it happens every time. for one tiny moment before he catches up with himself, he's see-through. there's no mask when he's still remembering where and who he is.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[when he feels the violence is over, he glances up--caught in a whole other surprise.

the man before him is beautiful. he forgets to breathe, staring into his eyes, open and raw in the face of a real feeling. there's not much to see, but he can see it clearly. of all the things Robin adores in people, honest weakness is what makes his heart skip beats.

but for all he normally wishes he could cut through the other man's mask and armor, this quickly strikes him as invasive and uncomfortable--he's an accidental voyeur and a sharp, ready blade all at once.

he drops his gaze, almost embarrassed, and quickly wedges himself in closer. they aren't supposed to look at that kind of thing. they don't trust each other that much. he presses face in against his shoulder with a short grunt of complaint, keeping his eyes shut.

come on, Tek. go back to sleep.]

[heresyandlace]

[whether or not he's remembering and catching back up as Robin ducks in closer, a second crash of thunder breaks over the hull and jolts Tek into reflexively following the motion. flinching and hunching up his shoulders against the sound, he automatically curls down around Robin.

and he growls--sharp and vexed--at either the sound itself, or his own reaction to it as he wakes up and catches himself.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[it's been a long time since that first night... a very long time. they were both different people, back then. he pushes those scattered memories away and slides an arm around his bedmate instead, running his fingers over the back of his neck and, soon, into his hair.

no questions, this time. no stories. he just wants Tek to feel better.]

[heresyandlace]

[and he turns his face toward him, holding tension in his chest like he's about to speak.

but what is he really going to say this time that Robin hasn't already heard? he's got that deep-seated urge to defend himself, but Robin already knows, and he's already shown that he's not going to do anything with it.

he wants to push back. it makes his skin crawl not to say anything. but what does it matter, really? and Robin isn't saying anything either, so...

he growls again--a low grumble that has just enough warning to it to make a point. it's just a formality. he's turning his face back into the crook of Robin's shoulder right after.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

I know.

[said not with kindness and patience, but with the empty, tired tone of someone who's been told this a hundred times already. he moves his hand just long enough to grope at the sheets and pull them closer, up around their shoulders. he keeps doting on him, after that.

he's such a pain... but he's glad he remembered. he's glad they can still nestle in each other like this. he will never say a word of this out loud.

maybe playing on the last wisps of those old, old thoughts of his, he smirks wide and presses an affectionate kiss just above his collarbone.]

Go back to sleep, hm?

[heresyandlace]

[even with all of the things that usually turn him into a lethargic pile of bliss, he's slow to calm down. despite Robin's doting, he's still more braced than lounging comfortably.]

I would love to.

[but the storm is too loud, and still increasing in violence.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Hm... [he keeps his mood and posture light, despite the circumstance, looking up at the side of Tek's face from where he's buried. what did he used to do with the children, when they were scared...? and what did they do last time, him and Tek? he can't really remember.]

I suppose I could tell you a story, or something.