commanderforehead | continued from bakerstreet due to captcha

What? You like the shirt?

[ yeah, don't worry. akmazian is 100% aware of how red ryan's face is, and it's taking pretty much everything he has not to laugh out loud. "snappy zinger" ryan is always way more fun to deal with than "huffy offended" ryan, okay.

he glances over at him, eyebrows up, his expression the perfect picture of fake innocence. ]

Maybe we could go shoppin' together. Get some matching outfits, you know.

[Of course Akmazian would consider it a compliment. Ryan glares at him. You aren't fooling anyone, Alliance spy. Ryan might not know you but he knows you.]

What, like 'I went to Thetis Prime and all I got was this lousy t-shirt', or 'I'm with stupid'?

[ he just sort of shrugs one shoulder, affecting an air of uncertainty. ]

Not a clue. Guess we'll just have to see what they got.

[ but he falls briefly silent while he navigates the actual landing, finally beginning the shut-down procedure for the ship when things are settled. ]

Should be pretty close to one of the sites. Drop our stuff off and check it out?

Yeah.

[Now QUITE SELF-CONSCIOUS about his pants, Ryan stands once they've safely landed and fetches his bags, slinging them over his shoulder and checking the directions. If this is the worst it gets, he'll be thankful.]

One of the hotels is right on the way, we can see if they still have any availability.

[ the real question is whether the fact that akmazian deliberately tries to walk just a little bit behind him makes him more or less self-conscious. ]

Think they're serving dinner? [ he's starving... ]

[More. Definitely more. He tries to console himself with the idea that at least the pants ... do their job, so to speak. This is, somehow, Jane's fault.]

One can hope. It isn't that late local time...

[They still have lights on and people milling around in any case, though the hotel is a small one-floor deal. Akmazian is in luck, the dinner 'buffet' is still going on, from the smell of things. Looks like it's right next to the main lobby. Ryan heads up to the receptionist first, putting on his bedside-manner-voice-and-smile combo.]

Hi, I'm Ryan, I called earlier asking about availability. I don't suppose you still have any rooms?

[The receptionist happily tells him that they have two! One that faces the trail that heads to the historic ruins, another that faces towards the quaint town center.

Both with a single queen sized bed. She asks if that will be fine for Ryan and his (with a glance at Akmazian) husband? She's so terribly sincere.

Just.

Give Ryan.

A second here.

~~THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS.~~]

[ akmazian glances at ryan, his expression thoughtful and equally sincere, before he smiles winningly at the receptionist and drops his arm around the doctor's shoulders. he gives them a little squeeze, leaning in toward the desk. ]

Well, aren't you perceptive, darlin'.

[ honestly, he can't be blamed for milking this. ]

So close. Just recently engaged. Is it that obvious?

[The receptionist gives a pleased titter, the multicolor frills around her face giving little ripples along with the sound, and she tells Akmazian that she can always tell, clearly delighted at being right again.

Ryan just produces the credits he brought with in anticipation of needing a room.

Calm, even breaths.]

The one facing the trail please. My fiance is a hobby archaeologist. Are the ruins still open for visitation today or will we need to wait for tomorrow?

[She goes about booking their room and lets them know they ARE still open but only for another hour. In no time at all they're given their room key (an actual key, how old fashioned), several pamphlets with all the information on the ruins as well as one about local sights around town (Local color!) and a little laminated sheet of meal times, check in and check out times, and the rest.

Really, it's not so bad as far as hotels go. It's clean, there's no leaking pipes or anything, the food is probably well tasting enough if the total amount of caloric intake you need in a week every single meal... It's just very ... quaint and cozy. And you wouldn't lose money betting on how thin the walls were.

When they have everything, Ryan gives her another smile, grabbing Akmazian's arm to lead him towards where their room should be. Mayyyybe a little harder than necessary.]

Come on, dear.

[ akmazian drops the receptionist a playful, cheeky wink when she fills the two of them in. he does a pretty good job of pretending to be a slightly awed tourist, glancing around, smiling at some of the other folks staying in the hotel.

he resists when ryan starts to pull at his arm, pressing a lighthearted kiss against the side of his head. ]

You go get settled in, darlin'. I'll get some food and bring it to the room.

[ oh, he's eating this up. ]

[He cannot shove the medical scanner down Akmazian's throat. There are witnesses. If only Jane were here, she'd know a way to make it work in spite of that.]

Here I thought it was something else you were hungry for with your earlier comment... alright, just don't be too long, or I'm using all the hot water in the shower by myself.

[It's not quite as playful as Akmazian manages - Ryan's got good bedside manner, but as he said before he's not the spy. He hopefully covers for it by giving Akmazian a similar kiss on the cheek before grabbing his bag to take to the room too.

Jackass.]

[ akmazian makes a show of wincing at ryan's words, rubbing the back of his neck as the other man picks up his bag to take. ]

Aw, hon, I'll just be a few minutes...

[ he glances at the receptionist with a sort of 'what are you going to do' look on his face, before stage whispering: ] Don't worry. I'll butter him back up.

[ he'll be at the room in a few minutes, two heaping plates of food in hand. ]

[Congratulations, Akmazian. You now have one (1) receptionist totally in your corner. Go get 'em, tiger.

Back in the room Ryan's looked around it. Small, the bed, a little desk with a chair, and a bathroom and closet and that's basically it. Nice view out the window though.

Ryan really was considering taking a shower and using up all the hot water. He opens the door for Akmazian, takes one of the plates, and closes the door securely once Akmazian's inside.]

Thanks for grabbing me a plate, sweetie.

[ akmazian is grinning when he shuts the door behind him, leaning in when ryan takes the plate. he leans in close, basically getting up in his face to whisper: ]

Guess I could've just told her we were brothers, huh.

[ his shoulders are shaking with barely contained laughter. ]

[Ryan briefly freezes when Akamazian leans in close. What with the kiss on the cheek earlier, yes, he's wondering if Akamazian is actually going to go for it... does he pull away, does he wait for it, does he-

You complete jackass, Akamazian.]

No, this is totally fine. I can cry on cue if I need so I'll pass as a perfect grieving widow when they find your body tomorrow morning. No one will suspect a thing.

[He goes to eat at the desk and get some personal space back.]

Oh, shush up. It's a good cover, regardless.

[ and - honestly? he'd been tempted. he'd been so goddamn tempted, but he had the feeling that it would've made things this weekend so much worse. he was hoping to actually get to sleep in the bed instead of being stuck on the floor, after all.

so he takes a seat on the edge of it, as if claiming his spot. ]

We should go before it opens in the morning.

Now while it's open or after it closes? It'd be tresspassing, but we wouldn't have to worry about other tourists.

[Ryan did bring a criminal, sure, but he'd like to break as few laws as possible here. This food is going to sit like a brick in his stomach, Ryan didn't know it was possible to cook with this much grease.

And when they get back they're going to have to figure out sleeping arrangements. There's no real way for them to both take the bed and not hit a secure cuddling risk.]

After it closes. Or just before it opens in the morning. Bound to be less people around before sunrise than there is right after dark.

[ akmazian, meanwhile, is fucking loving this food, and he scoots back onto the bed, crossing his legs in front of him -- boots still on. he clearly has no qualms about lawbreaking himself. ]

Right. Don't want bystanders that could get hurt in the way. Or possible accomplices for whoever is behind this.

[Ryan stands, going over to the bed where he set their bags down, going through his to take out what he intends to bring. Not the whole kit, but the portable dermal regenerator is small enough to fit in his pocket.]

Come on. Feet off the bed unless you're going to take your shoes off, I have to sleep in it too. [Sigh. Mostly under his breath as he goes through his bag,] Not like anyone would believe we were brothers anyway.

What? I could totally sell the 'brothers' story.

[ akmazian looks reluctantly at his feet, though, before he puts his plate aside and starts to remove his boots. he's going to pretend that he didn't hear ryan's little comment, there: the 'i have to sleep in it too,' implying that they'll both be occupying it tonight.

neat. ]

You do have get this air of... how to say it. Total exasperation about you when it comes to me.

[Ryan is all for crossing that bridge when they get to it and not a moment before. At least out of all the people he could be forced to share a bed with, Akmazian is on the list of 'probably it won't be terrible'.

At least.

Maybe Akmazian talks in his sleep, or sprawls around like a starfish or kicks his legs. It could be terrible. Absence of proof is not proof of absence.]

And you don't understand where my eyes are enough that 'brothers' would just prompt more questions in almost every sentient species in the Alliance.

Oh, come on, doc. Just because I choose not to behave doesn't mean that I can't.

[ nah, he's a pretty quiet sleeper. ryan probably has to worry more about what he's going to do before they actually fall asleep. he stretches, then, groaning a little. ]

Bed is comfortable, though.

[ definitely the most comfortable thing he's slept in in a long time. ]

[Ryan will believe Akmazian can behave when he sees proof of it. He glances up at the groan but quickly back down at the bags. Nope, not filing that sound away or anything...

He'd feel bad about switching so quick between hot and cold on Akmazian, but that's what happens when you choose to flirt with a guy who made it past thirty before he ever considered that he maybe wasn't as exclusively heterosexual as he'd been assuming.]

Do you even have a bed in the cargo bay or do you sleep on your ship? I could put in a request for a spare cot but knowing the Quartermaster you'll have your name cleared long before that gets approved.

Sleep in the ship, mostly. I don't really mind the rats most of the time, but some of 'em try to get a little cuddly if you try to actually sleep where they can get to ya.

[ and because sleeping in the ship is way more secure than sleeping in the bay; if he needs to make a quick exit, he doesn't want to have to worry about cleaning up his shit before he bails. ]

Don't worry about it, doc. This'll hold me through the next couple of months, at least.

[ he's partially just playing it up, but at the same time - with his "escape" from the trial, the alliance is redoubling their efforts in finding him. his face is all over the place again; doing things like 'staying in hotels' is riskier than it used to be.

he leans to put his plate onto the bedside table, rolling over onto his stomach and pressing his face into the pillow with a throaty little hum of content. like a puppy rolling around on a brand new dog bed, really. ]

You still callin' first shower?

Yep. Think you owe me that one, 'darling'.

[He looks at the clock, out the window to the trail that's supposed to head where they need to go.]

Think I should get that done now or wait until we get back?

Whatever you say, sweetheart.

[ this is still the funniest thing that's happened to him in ages. ]

Go ahead and do it now. I need a few minutes to recover from that food.

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