THE FLOOR. THE FLOOR. THE FLOOR IS LAVA.

[mechromantic]

Just share the bed with me.


For whatever reason, the floor is unacceptable as a place to sleep. It's messy, the dog is there, THE FLOOR IS LAVA, or maybe there's flooding. Who cares why it's not acceptable, it just isn't! Normally, that's not an issue, but tonight you have a friend over. Maybe it's the safest place, maybe it's hurricane season and your house is the only one out of the path of the storm. Stop trying to figure out the details, just get over it and share the bed with that person! Sexy times are not required. Intimacy is not required. Just share the damn bed already.


Do you need options? Here! Have some options!

1. It's late. You're tired. Too tired to drive and THE FLOOR IS LAVA.
2. It's late. You're drunk. Too drunk. Honestly, how did you drink that much and not die? Should we take you to the hospital? Here, just stay in this bed with me. No, you can't sleep on the floor. THE FLOOR IS LAVA.
3. It's early. You thought you'd just come by and visit but you can barely function. The bed seems inviting. Guess what, you're invited into the bed! Yes. The bed. Not the floor. THE FLOOR IS LAVA.
4. DO YOU LIKE TO CUDDLE? CUDDLING IS OKAY. And yes, the floor is lava.
5. WILDCARD. Just figure out a reason why you need to share the bed. But don't forget: the floor is lava!
6. The Crack Fun Insane Option - Actually Play the Floor is Lava Game!! Move about the room without touching the floor... because the floor is lava.

Comments

joнn ѕнeppard • ѕтargaтe: aтlanтιѕ

[puddlejumped]

[skippedthatcourse]

[Evan doesn't know how it happens. There's no agreement, no secret notes, no plans. But somehow, whenever he spends the night, they both know. He'll come around, knowing that Sheppard is already waiting for him.

They don't talk about it. Talking about it would mean reality and responsibility. Right now it's unreal and irresponsible, lying here, one arm draped around his CO (in bed with his CO, just when exactly did his life become a space soap opera anyway).

It's early. Still night, really, but when he squints the first outlines of Sheppard's (not John's, never John's, not even now) room become visible.

He measures time by light and color. When the Davy's grey of the walls turns into the soft blue he'll have to leave. It's when the hallways are empty - he should know, he's the one who sets up the damn schedules. It's a dull ache in the back of his skull sometimes, the guilt. It's easy to ignore during the day. It's really loud in those first hours when he lies wide awake, thinking.

We gotta talk about it.

It's always the same conclusion, always the same resolve. He wakes up and decides that today, today he'll bring it up and they will finally get around and talk things through. And then in the end they don't. There are two cans of beer toppled over on the floor. Johnny Cash on the wall, staring down on him.

Today. Today we gotta talk about it.]

[puddlejumped]

[sheppard couldn't say when it started exactly, but he could say why. a mission not gone quite as it should have, or a tougher day or week than the usual they were used to dealing with out here in the pegasus galaxy. it had first started with an open invitation for a beer if ever lorne wanted one.

it had turned into---well, whatever this is now.

he knows they look at things differently. evan sees more the implications and problems of fraternization between higher and lower ranking officers. john doesn't quite see it as so severe. he's always been more keen to try and keep on the same level with the people he works with. he's never been comfortable with the distance you're taught to keep in a position of command. so he would crack a joke or shrug off the beers when he'd first come over and promise to kick him out or write him up when he didn't intend to at all.

things evolved quickly into what they have now. he feigns sleep most times when lorne slips out in the early morning light so he won't be caught by others in atlantis. he can't blame him for his caution---even he has to admit that what they're doing isn't in either of their best interests and would easily be a career-ender. even though he'd rather not think of it.

he's been awake for a while now, keeping his breathing even and his body relaxed, because he figures that this time, lorne's going to work up the nerve to call the both of them out on what they're doing. he's going to want to talk about it. name it.

he was never really good with this sort of thing. his previous marriage to nancy is evidence of that. it's easier to do this with lorne. he doesn't have to worry about secrets or anyone wondering where he is, what he's doing. he can feel lorne's arm around his waist, and his own crossing his chest to rest over the top of evan's arm. he breathes in a bit deeper, and speaks:]

You know, if you were any more tense, you'd snap in half.

[skippedthatcourse]

[And he's awake. Of course he is.]

Charming. [Evan sighs good-humoredly and forces himself to relax, lowering his head to rest his forehead on Sheppard's shoulder. That's nice.

And that's the whole problem, isn't it? In between Wraith feeding and mind probing and skin crawling Pegasus diseases and war, this is just really nice. He can hear the ocean outside and Sheppard's deep breaths, calm and very different from what they usually sound like when they're marching or running on hostile terrain.]

Good morning to you, too.

[puddlejumped]

[he doubts he's really all that surprised.]

Good morning. [he says it with a soft chuckle, and turns his head to rest his cheek on the top of his head, where his hair brushes against his cheek. his hand squeezes evan's arm gently, and he breathes a bit more deeply as he settles in once again.

he's not ready for the conversation. he's not ready for this to end.]

Something on your mind?

[skippedthatcourse]

[Yes. No.

Yes.]

Nah. [Christ, what is he, fifteen?]

Just stuff. Y'know.

[It's so lame he visibly cringes against the warm shoulder. He's not fooling anyone here, is he. It's a harmless enough question but it'd be stupid to think Sheppard asked it out of the blue.]

[puddlejumped]

Stuff? Stuff is pretty heavy.

[his thumb brushes along his arm from where he holds onto it in a comforting gesture at the wince. he doesn't comment on it though.]

[skippedthatcourse]

Guess it is.

[He exhales, trying to muster up enough courage to get this conversation going. They don't have much time. Pretty soon it will be bright enough to make out each other's faces and if it's hard now it'll be downright impossible then.

And once they've started Evan really doesn't want having to interrupt the talk because it's Blue 'o clock and time to go.]

Look. [There, that's a start, isn't it?] I was just thinking that maybe we should at some point-- [His voice trails off for a moment.] I just really think we should talk. About this.

[puddlejumped]

[sheppard keeps his breathing even and relaxed, even as lorne goes through whatever internal debate he's having while he works up the nerve to open up his mouth. considering the fact that they're talking and not dealing with either a loud argument or deafening silence, he figures it must be going pretty well so far.

at the end of everything, despite their hellish arguments, nancy wouldn't even look at him in the end, much less talk to him.]

Talk about what's going on between us? [beat] Okay, we can do that.

[skippedthatcourse]

Yeah. [A beat as well.] Okay.

[So Sheppard's willing to talk. It doesn't make things easier but it's encouraging. Evan doesn't think he's going to be kicked out the room or exiled for a month or two of diplomatic missions but... it's a sensitive subject and it could just as well have been that his CO expected a silent understanding of not bringing it up.

He hopes it's the right thing to bring it up.]

What is going on between us?

[puddlejumped]

[he waits, feigning patience he really doesn't feel at the moment. his gut is curling in ugly, nervous knots, and it's becoming more and more difficult for him to actually remain under the guise of being calm. part of him wants to crack a joke, but he resists. he figures it'd be pretty shitty timing.

when evan brings up the question about what exactly it is that they're doing, he bites his bottom lip, an unfortunate nervous tick when he's really not sure what to think about a situation, or he's concerned about his end of the answer.]

Honestly? I haven't got a real good clue what to call it. Despite my track record with Wraith and alien tech, I'm not really the best at naming things.

[a little humor can't hurt, right?]

I've been told it isn't my best attribute in a relationship. And---well, I'm pretty sure we can at least say that we've moved out of the realm of normal, professional working relationship. [he squeezes lorne's arm gently in emphasis.]

[skippedthatcourse]

Go figure. [It's the usual quick and dry remark to Sheppard's antics, simple and unflappable, but he's not minding their little banter routine right now. He even flashes a quick smile at the squeeze.]

What do you want it to be? I just... [He pauses, taking his time for the right words.] I'm not saying I don't like it. That'd be stupid. But I don't like flying blind.

[He sighs, his free hand drawing an unidentified gesture into the air.] I mean, what we're doing here has quite a range, y'know? If you just want the nights that's cool. [Is it strictly physical? He doesn't really expect to be anywhere near a relationship stage at this point but some boundaries, some expectaitions, some orientation would be nice.] And if not we should probably get used to the whole talking thing real fast.