Chocolate-flavored Dessert Cream on the House

[thespaceopera]

[The bunks are filling up, but the new faces just keep appearing!

Are you a travel-weary passenger having trouble keeping your crew roster straight? Perhaps you are a fresh new recruit, finding themselves dumped into a new (and much less shiny) home. Or, maybe you've been around for a little bit and just haven't bothered meeting the other weirdos on this ship yet--what is their problem, anyway?

Well, this is the place for you!

All new passengers from the last few Shuffles, especially those who haven't met their crews yet, are welcome to post starter-comments here to invite those living on and visiting your ship to come and interact. Newbies could be just arriving on the ship, busying around where others can find them, or you can offering multiple options for interaction--however you'd like to set up your thread is fine. Just make sure to include the name of your ship in the header, so your crewmates can easily find you!

Everyone else-- go meet those newbies! Whether they are new to your own crew, or on ships you frequently visit, now is a great time to bump into them.]

Comments

[nulliverse]

They're places, at least in the Bible. Cities that were the target of severe fire and brimstone treatment for indulging in far too much unrepentant sin. I don't believe in all that, but my mum's Catholic, so I do know enough to be getting on.

[Almost in spite of herself, she nuzzles her face into his hair. She really doesn't know a thing about him, but if this is all he asks, it could easily become a regular arrangement; it really is far more comforting than it has any right to be.]

[pneumo]

Oh...its a religion thing. That's cool. [ He says, not really one way or the other about it. Unlike the stereotypical vampire published in media, the kind that actually exist aren't bothered by the 'divine'. A cross isn't anything more than that, so Sascha's rather ambivalent to its existence.

He's happier enjoying the way she actually nuzzles into him, and if he were younger he'd be brimming with pleasure. Possibly squirming. But he's too tired for that right now so he just soaks up the attention instead, delighted. ]

[nulliverse]

It's something, anyway. [She cares just about as much as him, and there's an audible shrug in her voice. After laying in companionable silence for a moment, she speaks up on a different topic:]

What's really got you climbing into strangers' beds? Are you lonely or something?

[There's no sting in the question, either of accusation or mockery. She's terribly lonely, after all.]

[pneumo]

Mmm...that's what Sasuke says, [ he hums, sighing peacefully. ] I think sleeping with someone is much nicer than being alone though.

[nulliverse]

It is. [That much she's got to admit.] I didn't do it often at all, until... well, until the city I lived in just before this. I got quite used to it there.

[Her voice tightens a bit.]

I wake up reaching for him sometimes. I hadn't thought it was long enough to get that used to it.

[pneumo]

Reaching for who...? [ He opens his eyes a little, but doesn't lift his head. ] A boyfriend?

[nulliverse]

[Another stretch of silence, and she lets out a soft sigh.]

Yes, a boyfriend. My first boyfriend. By choice, mind you, he was the first that ever...

[Well. A lot of things. Her past attractions had obstacles galore, but he was definitely the first to make himself so worth it that she fought through every single one instead of running or hiding.]

... we're not split up. It's just going to be a long time until we can see each other again.

[pneumo]

That's so sweet... I'm jealous.

[ No really, he is. Sascha would love to have...well, love. In general. At least he sounds earnest? ]

[nulliverse]

There's not a lot to be jealous of right now. It's a wrench, being without him.

[She sounds sad, though, not sharp. After a little pause, she adjusts her head so that she can look at him more closely.]

Have you ever had a - boyfriend, girlfriend, whatever. A partner?

[pneumo]

[ And he looks back a little, the side of his head resting on her shoulder. ]

Not as far as I know...nope. [ Or at least not since becoming a vampire. ] I'd like to though, love sounds nice.

[nulliverse]

As far as you know? [She's squinting at him now, wondering what sort of situation this is, since she's come across a few different ones which could result in that sort of answer.] Are there periods in your life you can't account for, or have you just had a lot of very ill-defined friendships?

[pneumo]

Both, actually. [ He returns her looks with a smile at that's at ease and not in the least bothered. After all, he's used to it by now. ]

[nulliverse]

Well. That's rotten luck all around. [If he's not fussed, she certainly won't do it for him, settling her head back onto her pillow.] Love's complicated, though, it's not all the good bits. It can tear you to pieces if it goes wrong, and it can go horribly wrong.

[pneumo]

...Has it ever gonna horribly wrong for you? [ Not to pry into the specifics; he's just genuinely curious because he has no idea if he's ever experienced anything like that before. ]

[nulliverse]

Oh, yes. [It comes out so strongly that she tries to defuse the force with a chuckle.] Or maybe not, maybe I've just gotten it horribly wrong. I've done that with a lot in my life.

Regardless, it's easy to do, and it hurts either way.

[pneumo]

[ Celeste only half-succeeds in her endeavour. Sascha's giving her a slight look in the wake of all that...before he reaches up and pats her head, gently. ]

[nulliverse]

[Did he just -

- that makes her laugh, in spite of all the painful memories their conversation has brought up. A bright, cheerful laugh, loud enough that she claps a hand over her mouth when she remembers all the people sleeping around them.]

You're really very odd. You're just lucky you've found another of the odd ones.

[pneumo]

Hehe♥ [ He's not at all bothered by that title whatsoever. Not if it makes her laugh like that. It's a sweet sound he can't help but enjoy, nuzzling in closer. ]

Odd is good.

[nulliverse]

It is, absolutely. The closer you are to anything that can be called normal, the more likely you are to be terribly boring.

[That nuzzle gets a pleased little hum out of her. This - really is nice, when she puts aside how much she wishes it were someone else. Considering he just snuck into her bed, she hasn't ended up with bad company in Sascha.]

You can come back, you know. Whenever you like. But if I call you Caleb again, do wake me up, I'd hate to do something to make it weird.

[pneumo]

--You don't mind?? [ That he's surprised by the offer shows easily on his face as he blinks at her. Sascha only sounds a little incredulous, but taking her up on that offer? Is something he will most certainly do if she lets him. ]

[nulliverse]

[She can't help it. That disbelief makes her smirk broadly.]

Are you planning to take advantage of my kindness to do something untoward?

[pneumo]

I'll behave, promise! [ He swears he sweeeears. No biting whatsoever. Licking is harder to promise. ] No untoward things.

[nulliverse]

For a nighttime bed creeper, you're really quite chivalrous.

[She can't help laughing, either. She really can't. Nor can she get any kind of read on this bloke, other than the fact that she believes him when he says he's not a threat.]

Then it's fine, you're invited any time you like. Lights out really is the most horribly lonely time here, so I'll be glad of the company.

[pneumo]

Okay! [ And he looks genuinely, truly happy for this permission. Sascha would glow with it if he weren't so comfortably settled right now, so instead he just gives her a very warm nuzzle. ]

I'm aaaalways up at night.

[nulliverse]

[It's nice, being able to make someone so cheerful with so little. Granted, she can imagine that he must've been quite literally kicked out of several beds with this sort of behaviour, but she doesn't mind a bit.]

Are you actually nocturnal, or just a night owl?