Red Fishies

[mortalcoil]

Who: SS Red Fish crew and visitors
Broadcast: No
Action: Aboard the SS Red Fish
When: Around the drifting week (and probably a backtag party!)

[watch the newest episodes (and catch up on a few reruns) of your favorite dysfunctional fish in the fleet! what kind of drama will they create next? you can find out right here, right now!]

Comments

[child_of_bhaal]

[It surprises her, him pulling her in like that. The kiss is unexpected but not unwelcome. She makes a soft hum of pleasure as their lips meet. It's such a sweet, tender kiss but somehow more. It's a little overwhelming; she can sense there's something behind it, but she's not sure what.

When they part for breath, she looks up into his eyes. Her expression soft, a little dazed, but she's definitely present.]

Arthur? Is everything-?

[She trails off, because it's not the right question. Everything is more than all right. But she doesn't know what else to ask.]

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He pauses. He's worried he smells. He's weak from having a heavy weight on him. They're in a hallway, in a random part of the Red Fish.

It's so... not a perfect time to say he loves her.

And yet, it is. He nods, and then he takes her face in his hands, pushing his lips on hers. The kiss is passionate, pressing, pushing, a battle of lips and tongues and hearts. He stops to breathe, and he decides he needs to talk. Needs to tell her this.]

I wanted to tell you this in some romantic setting, but I can't imagine a better place than our home. The Red Fish is home now, and you're a huge part of that for me. Syeira... I love you.

[He's breathless, on the verge of choking on his own words. Those words have been lodged in his throat for a long time. He just didn't know quite how long, how much better it would feel to have them out there.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[The moment he starts talking, the world seems to shrink down, become pinpoint sharp, just on his face, his mouth as it moves. It's hard to rattle Syeira. Usually someone has to remind her of one of her big traumas, or kill someone she cares about.

Arthur is the exception. He seems to be able to start tremors in her world pretty much whenever he likes. And the Red Fish seems to be having an earthquake at the moment.]

.....S-say that again?

[Because well, clearly she wasn't hearing correctly.

Right?]

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He laughs, a little pained, a lot nervous. His eyes betray his concern, that he's maybe said this too early, not at the right time.]

I love you.

[His voice is softer but just as confident in what he's saying. He's sure about him; he's just not sure if he just made her uncomfortable.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[Well apparently she heard him fine. Still, his relating himself doesn't much alleviate her being stunned.

Then it comes in a rush. He loves her. A thing she'd thought out if her reach in life, was being placed directly into her hands. She feels everything all at once: joy, relief, humbleness, and a small taste of fear. It bubbles and boils over in her lightning quick, so she goes from statue still to flinging her arms around his neck in a blink.

She holds him tightly, a hand in his hair, holding a fistful of it, probably too tightly, the other gripping his shoulder, squeezing each fingertip into him, as if to test his realness.

She's too wrecked to cry, too swarmed with emotion. She just holds onto Arthur far too hard, as if he'll vanish if she lets go.]

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

Oof. [ - is the small noise he makes when she flings herself at him. His face melts to relief, because surely this is a good sign. He smiles and wraps his arms around her, letting her hug him as tight as she needs to.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[She holds on for probably longer than she should, but she needs it. Needs to hold him, tuck hey face against his neck, breathe him in, so she can believe that this is really happening.]

Thank you.

[The words are half muffled against his throat. And probably not the response he was expecting.]

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He raises his eyebrows.]

You don't - ...You don't have to thank me. That love is unconditional.

[He hugs her a little tighter, hoping she knows just how true that is.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[She shakes her head without lifting it. She does need to say it, to give voice to her gratitude. Because she is grateful to him, for him. He's a blessing she never expected.

She lifts her head at last, to kiss him. It's a clumsy, artless kiss, but full of her feelings.]

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He accepts the kiss with a small sound of surprise, but then he's melting into it, pulling her close and letting out a hum of approval.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[If they get any closer, they'll start fusing at this point. But it doesn't seem like either really care.

Syeira loses herself to kissing him. Arthur. Who loves her. He actually loves her. And it strikes her then that she never said it back.

She jerks back suddenly with a gasp, looking absolutely distressed.]

Oh! I didn't say it back!

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[His eyes widen in surprise when she gasps, and then he laughs, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead.]

It's okay. I mean, I'd love to hear it, but there's no pressure.

[child_of_bhaal]

I meant to though. I did!

[She's so fretful about this, pouting even as he kisses her forehead.]

Because I do, but if I say it now it'll sound like I'm doing it out of obligation.

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He shakes his head, his expression turning soft.] You wouldn't have hugged me so tight if you didn't love me. I know you do.

[child_of_bhaal]

I do.

[She nods to reiterate the fact. Still it seems not right to not have said it back.

She pulls him in again, once more just to hold onto him. Feel him, know he's solid and real. She'll say it, when it doesn't seem out of place, or obligatory.]

We should probably go move your things.

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He smiles and kisses her cheek.] You're going to hate me when you see how much I've collected.

[Only half teasing.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[She grins in return.]

I've seen your quarters. I know what I'm getting into.

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

Well, good. Wouldn't want you throwing me out.

[He takes her hand again, a pleased flush across his cheeks.]

We should celebrate soon. Hey, Halloween's coming up.

[child_of_bhaal]

[They must look a pair, both of them flushed and smiling like lovesick fools.]

What's- oh! Right, that's Zhas' birthday!

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

Oh, yeah! I think I heard someone saying that. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, but Halloween's pretty fun. More fun when you're a kid, though.

[child_of_bhaal]

Alright...

[She lifts her free hand to begin counting each question that surrounds from what he just said.]

What is Thanksgiving? Why is it your favorite? Why is Halloween more fun for children? Anger in any order you wish.

[Not from Earth, Arthur.]

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He grins sheepishly.] Sorry, I forget.

Thanksgiving is a holiday. The history behind it is complicated, but now, we use it as a time to gather with family, give thanks for all we have, and eat until we can't anymore. I like it because of the food, and I like that it's in fall, when the leaves are turning orange and yellow and red.

[His smile fades to a frown as he thinks.] What else did you ask? ...Oh! Halloween. Children can dress up in scary costumes and they go from door to door to collect candy. It's not as socially acceptable for adults to dress up and ask for candy, [he says with a smirk.]