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[truth_is_cold]

[Spam] (Dated to the end of the Flood)

[Four days of kids and even a Nietzschean starts wearing out. Especially when the "Pride" consists of so few willing parents. He's dozed off on the couch, head resting on the back of it and his arm over something nice and warm and comfortable.

There were things that he knew had to be done, but he could afford a little drowsing, right?]

Comments

[no_exaggeration]

[Drowsing sounded really, really good. B'Elanna was tired; she felt like she'd been running around all day. Or for a few days. She felt like she'd been uncomfortable for days, and that feeling was finally slipping away.

She felt like she was laying on someone's shoulder. And she couldn't, for the life of her, think of who the hell that might be.

Abruptly jerking awake, B'Elanna opened her eyes and sat up rigidly straight, turning to stare at Rhade.]

What the hell just happened? [That was the first flood she'd really gone through.]

[truth_is_cold]

[Suddenly the warm thing went away, and when he woke he barely made out the words.] I'll do it in a minute.

[Wait, that was an adult female voice. And not one that he knows. He sat up with half closed eyes, and at this point even his mind was sort of scrambling to keep up with being awake.

Blink one. Blink two.]

That was a flood. Or do you mean falling asleep? [Some half-awake hint of Nietzschean vanity led him to make sure he didn't have a back-of-the-head cowlick thanks to the couch.]

[no_exaggeration]

[At least she's back in her uniform, thank God for that. She stands, hoping pretty desperately that the past few days were just a dream of some kind, but - no. She remembers deciding Rhade was okay. She almost remembered falling asleep on him. When she was twelve.

Oh, hell.]

I was a kid. [What.]

[truth_is_cold]

[He sort of gives her a bleary-eyed blink. He stares at her. Squints as he realizes she's actually pretty tall.] Yes.

[He pinches between his eyes attempting to gather himself.] I'm relatively new to floods but I realize that they can alter the physiology of [Yaaaaaaaaaawn.] whoever they effect.

[no_exaggeration]

[Oh God don't yawn, it's catching. She's hiding her mouth behind her hand.] Obviously, but - God. How long was that?

[truth_is_cold]

[Oh no. His foot's asleep and he has to keep his dignity.] Four days. I didn't know they could last that long.

[Then he jostles as he realizes that everyone would be back to normal. He doesn't really need to act like a father.

That's actually pretty disappointing.] Are you... feeling more like yourself? [Better, he means?]

[no_exaggeration]

[She's covering the fact that she isn't sure she's blushing by straightening and spreading her arms before letting them drop to her sides.] I actually remember how to use a hyperspanner, now, so I guess I'm doing just fine.

[And she is going to ignore any potential I miss my Daddy topics, for the love of God, he is still practically a stranger.]

[truth_is_cold]

[He stands up, foot mostly recovered now so he doesn't end up looking wobbly.] Everyone here has been a victim at some point. Anything unusual that might have happened will likely be disregarded as incidental. [He takes a look around the common room, and supposes that he should return to his own room rather than awkwardly take up more of her time.

But every parting word seems uncomfortably dry or too caring. Either from a now stranger or a worried Nietzschean.] You should check your room to make sure it's intact. [That... works?]

[no_exaggeration]

[It works well enough, and she's going to latch onto it, damn it.] Great. I'm going to go do that, and while I'm at it? I'm going to start pretending none of this ever happened.

[And she's giving him one more awkward look before turning to head for her room to find out how embarrassed she should be.]