![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[After the Admiral's pairing announcement, Steve doesn't necessarily waste much time. Why should he? He's never really been one to squander an opportunity.]
Hey. We should talk, but if you'd prefer to do it in person, just name a time and place.
[He admittedly tends to prefer things in person, so maybe Tommy will, too. Technology is great, but it's no substitute for standing face to face. But it does make some things easier, too, and he'll understand if this is one of them.]
Hey. We should talk, but if you'd prefer to do it in person, just name a time and place.
[He admittedly tends to prefer things in person, so maybe Tommy will, too. Technology is great, but it's no substitute for standing face to face. But it does make some things easier, too, and he'll understand if this is one of them.]
[Tommy absolutely shares that sentiment. He didn't like it before, and he likes it even less these days.
He isn't terribly pleased about having another temporary warden, but as far as people go Steve's not a bad one. He'll be persistent, which might be annoying, but at least he'll understand things about Tommy that the previous two wouldn't have.]
You can come to my cabin, Captain. I'll be here for a few hours still.
He isn't terribly pleased about having another temporary warden, but as far as people go Steve's not a bad one. He'll be persistent, which might be annoying, but at least he'll understand things about Tommy that the previous two wouldn't have.]
You can come to my cabin, Captain. I'll be here for a few hours still.
He's still staying in the infirmary, where he can get food and water and stay up to date on what the Barge is doing without having to walk to and fro all the time. He's fraying around the edges by this time, beause staying in bed doesn't agree with him at all, and he won't be sticking around much longer.
He's surprised to see Lark. He'd expected him to either be licking his wounds or worse- stuck in his cabin, angry. Tommy knows that this wasn't his plan. That this must have gotten in the way of his plan in a big way, in fact.
He looks up from a book, raises an eyebrow, then jerks his head towards the partition. A little privacy.
He's surprised to see Lark. He'd expected him to either be licking his wounds or worse- stuck in his cabin, angry. Tommy knows that this wasn't his plan. That this must have gotten in the way of his plan in a big way, in fact.
He looks up from a book, raises an eyebrow, then jerks his head towards the partition. A little privacy.
Tommy. Hi. We've been paired up this month. I'd like to know if there's anything I can do--I know the past few weeks have been... interesting.
[Luke has mixed feelings about this assignment, though none of them are in any way negative towards Shelby himself. No, it's more that he's just not sure what he can do, but it doesn't mean he won't try.]
[Luke has mixed feelings about this assignment, though none of them are in any way negative towards Shelby himself. No, it's more that he's just not sure what he can do, but it doesn't mean he won't try.]
'Interesting.'
[Well, Tommy doesn't have grounds to complain. He did play a part in starting this whole chaos.]
I've just returned to my cabin. The Admiral isn't taking requests, so unless you have a spare packet of fags lying around I doubt there's anything you can do.
[Well, Tommy doesn't have grounds to complain. He did play a part in starting this whole chaos.]
I've just returned to my cabin. The Admiral isn't taking requests, so unless you have a spare packet of fags lying around I doubt there's anything you can do.
(continued from here)
She gets caught up in that kiss that's probably supposed to be just one more, turns it into two, and then steals a third, before she nods and urges him back, gets him to let her move away from the wall. She slips her hand into his because she wants the connection while they walk back to his room, but if he lets go she won't try to grab his hand back.
Somehow, they don't run into anyone on the way to his room, somehow they make it there without being stopped by more mistletoe, and while she waits for him to open the door all she wants is for him to get it open just a little faster so they can be locked in, have the rest of the ship locked out.
She gets caught up in that kiss that's probably supposed to be just one more, turns it into two, and then steals a third, before she nods and urges him back, gets him to let her move away from the wall. She slips her hand into his because she wants the connection while they walk back to his room, but if he lets go she won't try to grab his hand back.
Somehow, they don't run into anyone on the way to his room, somehow they make it there without being stopped by more mistletoe, and while she waits for him to open the door all she wants is for him to get it open just a little faster so they can be locked in, have the rest of the ship locked out.
The hand is-- a surprise. It's friendly, a lot more than the kiss had implied. He almost lets go of her, but whatever spell that had started to develop between might get broken, and he wants release badly.
He doesn't even pretend to show her his impersonal, sad cabin (with cigarettes, empty bottles and dirty glasses littered around the various floral surfaces). The moment the door is closed he pushes her back up against it and leans back in to kiss her hungrily.
He doesn't even pretend to show her his impersonal, sad cabin (with cigarettes, empty bottles and dirty glasses littered around the various floral surfaces). The moment the door is closed he pushes her back up against it and leans back in to kiss her hungrily.
Mr. Shelby, I have to apologize for my absence. I know you don't need me, but I never intended to neglect you. I'm awake now, however, if there is anything you need.
I was wondering when you'd wake up, Skywalker.
I did manage during your little nap, but if the Admiral is taking requests again I'd like some new cigarettes. [Never mind that he has very much stocked up in port.]
I did manage during your little nap, but if the Admiral is taking requests again I'd like some new cigarettes. [Never mind that he has very much stocked up in port.]
If there's one thing Rey is not, it's being likely to show up at Tommy's doorstep after the New Year party just a little too tipsy on champagne, with a bottle of it in her hand and thoughts of how she appreciates the idea of New Year kisses, but wouldn't more than that be nice?
And yet that's what happens, somehow, when she attends the party and allows herself to enjoy the company of other people for once, to have a few drinks in a party setting and realize how different it is when you're drinking to celebrate and not just socially.
And it's possible Annie helped her along, urged her on after she'd accepted the first glass of champagne, but that's neither here nor there.
What matters is that she's knocking on Tommy's door with a very specific goal in mind just after midnight.
And yet that's what happens, somehow, when she attends the party and allows herself to enjoy the company of other people for once, to have a few drinks in a party setting and realize how different it is when you're drinking to celebrate and not just socially.
And it's possible Annie helped her along, urged her on after she'd accepted the first glass of champagne, but that's neither here nor there.
What matters is that she's knocking on Tommy's door with a very specific goal in mind just after midnight.
Tommy did very much not attend the New Year's party. He doesn't exactly feel like the last year was worth celebrating, what with the skull fracture and the dead wife and the dying and all. Besides, it feels trivial to celebrate a turning point when time on the Barge feels made-up.
All the same, there's a knock on his door, and when he opens it to see Rey he knows right away she didn't have the same hang-ups.
"You're drunk," he tells her, and there's a very small twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
All the same, there's a knock on his door, and when he opens it to see Rey he knows right away she didn't have the same hang-ups.
"You're drunk," he tells her, and there's a very small twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
His warden's either in a coma, dead, or a massive prick. So that's one idea not happening.
Or a combination of the above. Fine.
So we round up some other people with good powers.
So we round up some other people with good powers.
It's long after she's been let out, after making sure Elizabeth is safe in the Infirmary and taking a few long, long moments to center herself, try to calm her rage at losing again, before she finally takes herself to Tommy's door. She could tell him over the network that she's out now, she has her things back, but it's late, she wants to see him, and she thinks after how he'd been with her while she was in her cell that he'd want to see her too.
So she's there, and she knocks, and she calls out, "It's me, Tommy."
So she's there, and she knocks, and she calls out, "It's me, Tommy."
He's been in his room most of the time, still, but there's an energy in him now that's fueled by a particular sort of anger. He's off his feet in a second and pulling open the door when he recognizes her voice.
"Rey," he says, eyes wide, and then he looks over her shoulder to see if it's safe.
"You're out."
"Rey," he says, eyes wide, and then he looks over her shoulder to see if it's safe.
"You're out."
Rosethorn comes to Tommy's door some time that evening, head high, a smile on her lips, and a spark in her eyes. They'd done it. And although she's known Dean was on his way to graduation for a while now, everything feels that much lighter now that he is, finally, officially graduated.
Besides, she has a promise to keep.
Besides, she has a promise to keep.
Tommy's seen it. He's been by Dean's cabin to say goodbye to the man, for some reason he couldn't really fathom himself-- perhaps because he feels indebted to him now. Now, he's just sitting at his little table, looking out of the dark window, and her knock startles him a little.
When he gets up and sees her, he knows why she's there. "Come in," he says, immediately, opening the door wider.
When he gets up and sees her, he knows why she's there. "Come in," he says, immediately, opening the door wider.
Why do I get the impression that Kylo Ren turning up dead and you asking me not to visit have something to do with each other?
They don't.
This time.
There are a lot of people who hate him.
This time.
There are a lot of people who hate him.
Tommy isn't the client Rey's had the longest, or the one that sees her the most often, or even the most prestigious. In truth, it's been a little over a year of visits once a month, more if he can manage, and there are a plethora of ways he's just an ordinary, run of the mill Alliance officer.
But he isn't, to Rey. Not anymore, not after all this time of learning the things that make him who he is, learning his fears, his hopes and dreams, what happened in his past and the things he's lost. She knows him, she's come to care for him, and that's starting to bleed over into every part of her life. She picks him every time when there are new requests for her time, picks him over people who are more powerful, who would advance her status more.
She picks him because she wants him, and she doesn't take many new clients anymore, she's phasing out some of the old ones. Deep down, in a place she keeps tucked away even from herself sometimes, she knows she's in love with him. She wouldn't be engineering his escape from the life that's pulling him down if she didn't.
And now, riding him slow and easy while he grips her hips, while they both tremble and shake through their orgasms, his coming just a few seconds after her own, all she feels is warm, loved, perfectly content. She looks down at him, the way he looks so perfect in her bed, and she smiles breathlessly and reaches down to cup his cheek.
"Tommy," she murmurs his name so softly, and it's so filled with affection that she might as well have said I love you.
But he isn't, to Rey. Not anymore, not after all this time of learning the things that make him who he is, learning his fears, his hopes and dreams, what happened in his past and the things he's lost. She knows him, she's come to care for him, and that's starting to bleed over into every part of her life. She picks him every time when there are new requests for her time, picks him over people who are more powerful, who would advance her status more.
She picks him because she wants him, and she doesn't take many new clients anymore, she's phasing out some of the old ones. Deep down, in a place she keeps tucked away even from herself sometimes, she knows she's in love with him. She wouldn't be engineering his escape from the life that's pulling him down if she didn't.
And now, riding him slow and easy while he grips her hips, while they both tremble and shake through their orgasms, his coming just a few seconds after her own, all she feels is warm, loved, perfectly content. She looks down at him, the way he looks so perfect in her bed, and she smiles breathlessly and reaches down to cup his cheek.
"Tommy," she murmurs his name so softly, and it's so filled with affection that she might as well have said I love you.
He looks scared, for a split-second. Just a second and it's gone, but the idea that she could feel so strongly about him makes his breath still in his throat. He reaches up, strokes her jaw, and pulls her down on top of him.
"Hello," he murmurs, pushing his nose against her cheek, affectionately.
"Hello," he murmurs, pushing his nose against her cheek, affectionately.
To her surprise, Tommy's visits become more common than she'd expect after the first one. Not to the point where she expects him, where she could guess when the next time he stops by might be, but at least to the point where when there's someone at the door, she's not as surprised to find him there.
More pleased than she should be, probably, but that's something that she's given up feeling guilty about. Her feelings are her own, she's never stopped enjoying Tommy's company even now, when he's less easy to understand than he was before, so why shouldn't she be happy to see someone she likes?
She's not expecting him when he comes today, but when she's in the middle of working on the engine of the Falcon and there's a knock on the door, when it's Tommy on the other side, she isn't surprised. She just lets him in, closes the door behind her, and nods for him to go ahead of her.
"I'm in the engine room today," she tells him. "You could give me a hand if you're feeling bored."
More pleased than she should be, probably, but that's something that she's given up feeling guilty about. Her feelings are her own, she's never stopped enjoying Tommy's company even now, when he's less easy to understand than he was before, so why shouldn't she be happy to see someone she likes?
She's not expecting him when he comes today, but when she's in the middle of working on the engine of the Falcon and there's a knock on the door, when it's Tommy on the other side, she isn't surprised. She just lets him in, closes the door behind her, and nods for him to go ahead of her.
"I'm in the engine room today," she tells him. "You could give me a hand if you're feeling bored."
"I'm never bored," says the man who starts plotting destruction at the least hint of boredom, and he's plotting something right now. He knows a pattern in himself, so he just goes over to the engine room, to keep his hands busy.
I have something but it only stuns. I think I could use something more.
Page 2 of 2