2022-12-27: Powerful Gestures
- Cast: Anita Rosetta, Rena Lancaster
- Where: Ra Mari
- Date: U.C. 0096 12 27
- Summary: Life on the Ra Mari has been busy, but Rena and Anita sneak in a little time to themselves.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
Everyone has returned to the Ra Mari...
...which has a flurry of activity. For one thing, a number of the crew are at Denver Colony -- so people on the ship have to work a little harder. Anita had to get reports from the REA; Rena had to write a stack of reports and make some decisions for Eight while she was handling things at Denver.
This isn't quite a date, but they're off duty. Rena got it in her head to do so something with Anita. She could offer all sorts of reasons why, but she just wants to. It's new enough that she still feels a little giddy about it. Which sometimes feels strange, given that it's Annie. She has known her forever.
So when Anita comes into the hallway leading to the mess hall -- off whatever duty she'd had to pick up -- Rena is standing there. She has a handheld white plastic basket, with several tupperware containers inside, and a bottle of a craft cream soda that isn't wine but almost looks like it.
Rena smiles, ear-to-ear, but still sheepish. "...H-Hi," she says. She was waiting for Anita. "...Surprise dinner on the observation deck maybe?"
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Anita was gone for most of yesterday! It was meant to be a quick there-and-back sort of thing, but due to an Incident, she was gone all day. She's glad to help out where she can to help fill in for the crew who are busy with other tasks now that she's back... but, her energy levels - which are already rarely very high - still haven't quite returned.
...Which means, that when Rena intercepts her at the hallway leading the mess hall, she actually manages to catch her by surprise!
"Oh, hey, Rena." Anita says. A smile crosses over her face as she spots the look on Rena's own. She's still figuring some things out, herself. She's seen Rena's smile countless times... but it feels different now, directed at her like that. In a good way. It helps restore a little of her energy. She straightens up, just a little. "Oh yeah? That'd be great, actually..."
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"I thought you might want a break. Yesterday seemed like... a lot," Rena says, with a smile. She doesn't know the details; she knows that Anita got held up in China for much, much longer than expected.
She smiles at Anita for a second more, then she nods, and steps back. That holds the door open -- though, in this case, that's because Rena stands in front of the sensor so the automatic door doesn't close.
"Right this way, then!" she says, cheerfully.
It's just a short walk, then an elevator ride to the observation deck that's on the very top deck of the Ra Mari. It's fairly small and fairly cozy.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
"Yyyeah, I could definitely used one. I met someone nice? Someone... like me. But it turned out she's a part of Captain Dis- Kafim's squad," Anita explains, beginning to follow Rena. "And she was there too, so I got stuck having to chat with her. ...I got a good jab in, at least, but because of that the paperwork I was waiting on took a lot longer to process..."
Soon enough, they reach the observation deck. Small and cozy, just the way Anita likes it... And, it's even better when you're with someone else...
"I'll never get tired of this place. It's a good place to just get away for a while... and the view is nice, too." Anita comments.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Someone like you?" Rena asks, tilting her head to the side. She blinks her eyes -- and it takes her a second to get what Anita might mean. But she is curious, despite everything. Though at the rest of what Anita tells her...
She frowns. "That's rotten. I'm glad you got a few jabs in," she says. "Are you okay? I know, um... she's gotten into my head before."
When they get up there, though, she sighs happily.
It's a half-dome, looking out on a view of the Earth, with space and the stars all around. Rena walks over to one of the benches -- it's a little cozy -- and puts the basket down on the floor.
"Yeah," she says. "This is one of my favorite places. Is this one of those places you take a nap at, sometimes?"
She remembers Anita's list of good napping places. It brings a smile to her face to think about.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
"Yeah, I'm okay. It was kind of nerve-wracking in the moment, but..." Anita assures, then shakes her head. "She tried to get me to question you and Eight, commenting on how it seemed like I let you two make all my decisions for me."
Anita doesn't seem to believe it herself, at least, from the way she speaks of it.
She settles in, then, taking her seat next to Rena on the bench. She looks out at the stars, and at Earth, then back at Rena with a smile.
"I'm not surprised." She replies, then nods. "Yeah. There's just... something about taking a nap in full view of everything like this. Kinda helps make all your problems feel small, even for just a moment."
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Ah... jeez." Rena scratches behind the back of her head, before she glances at Anita. She doesn't seem to believe it. "I definitely don't want to make your decisions for you. But... it doesn't sound like you believe that?"
Then she reaches down, opening up the basket.
When Rena implied she made a little something -- well, in true Rena fashion, she exaggerated.
There are two toasted sandwiches with lightly peppered chicken breast, lettuce, pickles, and a mustard. She has two small side salads to go with them. Then, finally, a little carton of homemade cookies. She lays them out, cheerfully, on a blanket she brought.
It's actually a textured blanket, meant to hold them down in the lower gravity of the ship. Rena then pulls out the bottom of soda -- and starts pouring glasses.
"That sounds nice," she says, as she pours. "I should try that. I think... I tend to just fall asleep somewhere after overworking. Or crash out in my room, once I get back there. I'm better about it than I used to be, though! R-Really!"
Convincing?
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
"That's right. Let's see... I'll tell you what I told her." Anita replies with a nod, then 'hm's to herself for a moment. "I follow the two of you 'cause I trust you. 'Cause I know you'll make the right choice."
She offers Rena a smile.
"If I didn't think that, I'd say somethin', or I wouldn't be here. Simple as that." She concludes... and then goes quiet as Rena presents the meal. It's a little surprising! It's clear that a lot of love and care went into its preparation.
"Wow, you really went all out... How long did it take you to put this all together?" Anita asks, chuckling sheepishly and massaging the back of her neck. "You're the best. Thanks, Rena."
Rena comments on her napping habits... and Anita smirks, just slightly.
"Uh-huh. I'll believe it when I see it." She teases gently. "But yeah, you should, definitely. There's something about it that makes you kind of just - drift off, you know?"
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"A-Annie..." Rena says, with a smile spreading across her face. She hesitates for only a second, before she leans over her. She rests her head on her shoulder -- for just a second -- and then she straightens back up.
"I'm glad you do. And... I don't ever want to break that trust," she says. A beat. "E-Especially now, with us--um. You know."
She blushes, her cheeks getting a light pink tinge to them.
Then she hands Anita her sandwich, her eyes on her for a second. "It took a little bit. But... it's worth it. I wanted to do something nice," she says. "For us. Since it's been busy, the last couple of days, but I... wanted us to have some nice time."
She glances to the side, blushing a little more. "Together! L-Like, a girlfriend... thing! Um. Drifting off, right, that's fun! I-I like drifting! Yes!"
Oh, she might have short-circuited a little.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Rena leans onto her, for just a moment. It's enough - Anita's glad that her response resonated with her so strongly.
"I don't think we have to worry about that. I believe in both of you." Anita replies... and then chuckles, as Rena starts to get flustered. "Yeah, that too."
But Rena hands her her sandwich and Anita accepts it, offering her a grateful smile.
"Well... I appreciate it, honestly. Especially after yesterday. It's good to be able to just... do something nice with you after all of that." She replies. But... uh-oh. It looks like Rena's getting redder and redder. Anita smirks again. It's not like she can blame her, really...
"It's a great girlfriend thing." Anita assures. ...It's nice that she can say that with confidence now. But, she sees her chance to make things better(or worse, depending on how you look at it), and shifts the plate holding her sandwich over to her other hand to carefully snake the other arm around Rena's shoulders and gently teasing, "Careful, Rena. I think you're overheating."
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
Rena keeps smiling at Anita -- and she nods her head once. She starts to unwrap her sandwich -- she actually wrapped each in white wax paper, too, to keep them hot and fresh -- and she looks down.
"I-I'm glad," she says. "And I like... getting to do nice things for you. It makes me feel good, and um--"
Oh, no, she keeps turning redder.
And moreso, when Anita says it's a great girlfriend thing. And then she slides her arm around her shoulders. Rena even made sure to sit on Anita's right side for such a thing.
"ANNIIIIIE," Rena whines. "Y-You're already teasing me! I wasn't the cool one with more experience for--" A beat. "Is this a date? I think this counts as a date?"
Then, back to wailing: "For two dates, Annie! Two dates! I was only cool for two dates!!"
But after a second more of wailing, Rena's face twitches. She bites her lip -- her eyebrows screw up -- and then she starts to giggle.
And she leans back into Anita; she stays there, then, still laughing.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Anita definitely appreciates the care Rena took to make sure everything was just right. It shows just how much she cares, too.
"Aww. That's really sweet." Anita says, genuinely, as Rena says she likes getting to do nice things for her... and keeps getting redder and redder.
Ah. There we go. Rena has reached critical mass.
Rena whines and Anita's grin just gets wider.
"I think it counts as one now." She points out... and then, she chuckles. "It's okay, Rena, I like you this way."
Rena's face starts twitching, and then - Rena actually giggles. A surprised look crosses Anita's face - but Rena's laughter is infectious, so when she leans into her and starts laughing Anita starts laughing too, leaning into her as well.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
Rena keeps laughing, her head leaning against Anita's shoulder. Having Anita laughing too only makes her laugh all the more. It takes her a second, and she pulls back just enough to look up at Anita. Her head is tilted to the side.
"W-Well, I'm glad it's a date." She looks at Anita, head tilted, and smiling. She wipes at one of her eyes. (She was laughing pretty hard.)
"And I'm glad you like me this way, too." Her smile widens. And she finds herself still looking up at Anita's eyes. They're really blue, some part of her brain says, and she gets a little lost. "I really like you, too."
A couple of seconds go by.
Rena is still blushing. And still looking at her. "H-Hey, Annie, um." She hesitates. "Wanna, um. Kiss? I-I mean. I know asking isn't romantic, but... I didn't wanna presume, either, just in case. Oh, maybe I shouldn't have put it like that, ah--"
Oh no. She might be overheating again.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
"Me too. Just sitting here with a cute girl and a great meal, with this gorgeous view out in front of us, that's a perfect date to me." Anita replies with a smile. ...The way she stares into her eyes, though... the fact that Rena can appreciate them, even though they're artificial, because they're a part of her... Anita goes just a little red, too. "I'm glad."
There's some silence. Rena is still blushing... and then, she makes an offer. Anita goes red, just briefly... but then, her smile softens, and she very gently rests her forehead against Rena's own.
"Rena. It's okay." She says. She's not teasing her, this time - she's being genuine. "I appreciate you asking. It's important to make sure we're both comfortable with the pace, right? That's romantic enough to me."
She lets that settle for a moment, before admitting...
"...But, y'know... I wouldn't mind that, either."
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"A-a cute girl?" Rena asks, with a stammer and a fluster. She is still blushing -- and a line like that certainly keeps her blushing. She stares up into her eyes, both of them blinking a couple of times. Artificial or no, they're Annie's eyes. She could look at them all day.
Notably, Rena doesn't question the great meal. She is quite proud of that.
She keeps smiling, as Anita rests her forehead against hers. Her eyelids lower a little, and she smiles -- but then she nods just a little. Anita can feel it more than see it. "I'm glad," she says, her voice very soft.
Then, a couple heartbeats later, Rena leans forward.
She kisses Anita, and her brown eyes close after a second. She brings a hand up, resting it on Anita's shoulder.
It's not her first kiss, but it's a first kiss. And she finds herself surprised by how it can sweep her off her feet.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
"That's right." Anita confirms with a grin. As Rena stares into her eyes, she looks into hers. Then their foreheads meet, and she can feel that nod. There's a moment of quiet, anticipation, and Rena leans forward...
Anita is surprised - but okay with it, and as Rena rests a hand on her shoulder Anita brings her in a little closer with the arm around Rena's shoulder.
It isn't Rena's first kiss, but it is Anita's. It... kind of shows a little - but that's okay. It's a genuine feeling, and that's what's important.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Mm..."
Rena pulls back after a moment, a little hesitant. Her eyes open again. Maybe it was Anita's first kiss, but it still has her heart aflutter. She blinks her eyes, staring up at her -- but she smiles a moment later. Her hand stays on Anita's shoulder, and she sighs happily.
"I... I think I could get used to that," she says, with a smile.
Then she leans her forehead back against Anita's, and squeezes her shoulder gently.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Anita is - a little nervous, admittedly, but when they pull away and Rena seems happy, she's relieved. The relief might show on her face, briefly.
"...Y-yeah, me too." She agrees with a slight chuckle. Rena leans her forehead against her own once more and Anita shuts her own. Satisfied, in the moment.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"It's new, isn't it?" Rena says after a moment, her voice a little quiet. Quiet, but warm. "This kind of thing, with you. Or... um. You, with me. After we've known each other for years. But..."
She opens her eyes again, looking at Anita. "...I'm glad," she says, quietly. "That we are. Even when the world's like this... especially when the world's like this. I'm glad we can be together, Annie."
Her hand drops from Anita's shoulder, and her fingers slide between Anita's.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
"...Yeah. It is." Anita replies with a nod. "It's... new, and different, but... not in a bad way."
She goes quiet for a moment, thinking.
"...I never thought I'd be able to have a moment like this. It's nice to be wrong." She murmurs.
She looks back up at Rena, meeting her eyes. Even when the world's like this - especially when the world's like this...
"...I'm glad, too." Anita murmurs. Rena removes her hand from her shoulder, and her fingers slide between her own. Anita returns the gesture, closing Rena's hand in her own in a gentle squeeze.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
It's a little bit of a surprise to hear that sort of vulnerability from Anita. Rena blinks her eyes, but then she smiles. Her fingers squeeze Anita's hand again, and then she leans forward. The second kiss is briefer than the first.
She could tell her she was wrong with words -- and she could ask -- but Rena can guess why she might have thought that. She makes a note to ask later, but for now, she'd rather try to be reassuring.
"I'm happy it's with you, Annie," she says. And there's a moment's hesitation -- thought, rather than reluctance -- before her other hand takes Anita's other hand. Maybe her cybernetics can't feel Rena's fingers curl around hers, but it's not really the point of the gesture.
She smiles again, keeping her forehead against Anita's. It occurs to her that they should get to her food...
...but it can wait for a second.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Rena squeezes her hand, and leans forward with a second, briefer kiss. Anita smiles, when Rena says that she's happy it's with her - and takes note of that pause. Anita goes quiet - and, there's a hint of surprise when Rena goes for her other hand, closing around metal fingers.
Her breath is caught in her throat briefly and she tears up, just a little. She can't feel it - not really, in the same way flesh and blood can, at any rate - but it is a powerful gesture of reassurance nonetheless. Perhaps even moreso, for it.
She sinks into Rena for just a moment, and feels very glad she decided to say 'yes', when she felt so unsure at first.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
Rena feels a little surprise when she sees tears in Anita's eyes. But it's easy to see that it was the right thing to do. She makes a little surprised -- but not unhappy -- noise when Anita sinks into her like that, and after a moment, she shifts her arms to wrap around Anita in a tight hug.
She smiles, leaning her head down against Anita's. She closes her eyes for a second. Her food can definitely wait.
She doesn't say anything else -- just keeping her arms around Anita, holding her, and being grateful she worked up the nerve to ask.