Sharing bed

[sockandroll]

 

It's cozy, warm and very, very narrow; you're stuck sleeping in a single bed with someone else and have to endure/enjoy the situation until morning. Snuggle-time?

single-bed partnerships

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01) FRIENDS you know the other person well.
02) LOVERS is this really such a bad place to 'sleep' together?
03) ENEMIES try not to stab each other in the night.
04) STRANGERS super awkward or getting along like a house on fire.
05) AUTHORITY one of you has a higher/lower social status for some reason.

( by sockle )

Comments

Shiro | Voltron: LD

[headspacedad]

[ota for shenanigans, m/f for 2. Cross-canon/medium welcome as well as canon. Always open for AU]

o6; Wildcard/Familial

[worthit]

[ So finding out that the "world" was actually just a pretty small speck in a painting more massive in scope than her mind could comprehend came with some perks as well as some downfalls. On the one hand there wasn't just one world outside of her tower to explore, but an entire galaxy, an entire universe! The idea was as daunting as it was thrilling. The downside? Not everything was sunshine and rainbows. Heck, most of it wasn't, depending on one's outlook. Thinking too much about it leaves her feeling uneasy, and now, at least for tonight she doesn't want to sleep alone.

There's a soft knock at the door of Shiro's quarters as Rapunzel stands on the other side, waiting to see if he was awake or not. Not knowing yet if he's a light sleeper or not she tries to be mindful not to wake him if he IS still dozing, but on the off chance he's still awake at this hour (assuming he'd even be IN his quarters if that were the case, and not training)...

It's a concentrated effort not to fidget as she waits, glancing down the dimly lit hallway where her hair is still trailing quite a ways off into the dark, like some sort of golden carpet. She's listening for footsteps, Shiro's or otherwise, not really feeling up to having to explain why she's roaming in the middle of the night knocking at people's doors. The only one she really feels comfortable confiding in (who can talk back to her) IS Shiro, at least at the moment. All of this is still pretty new and daunting, but he'd been a reassuring presence from day one. ]

[headspacedad]

[He hadn't expected to start picking up people in their travels but, looking back at it, it only makes sense. The castle is huge, meant to hold so many more than their small group and the galaxy - the galaxy is full of homeless and displace people. It's only right that the two should start to fill each other. And Rapunzel... Rapunzel belongs in a traveling palace. Not a stationary tower but a protective place she can return to after each exploration outside. He just wishes the explorations outside didn't more often than not end up in sadness and what the Galra had had ten thousand years to make of things.

He doesn't sleep much. The Galra have left their impact on him too. So he's already up and awake when he hears the knock and that sound alone tells him a great deal about who's probably outside at this hour. He's dressed, if not in uniform and he simply marks his place in the book Koran lent him with a finger, still carrying it as he walks over to the door and palms it open.

It's awfully late for her to still be awake. People don't usually do that at this hour unless they're running from something or wrestling with it. He gives her a smile of welcome to show its all right and steps to the side to let her in.]

You're up late. Come on in. Want something warm to drink? I think I've finally got the food processor figured out.

[worthit]

[ How he does it she might never really be able to figure out, pinpoint, but he seems to immediately know something is up. Without making a big fuss over it or even asking her what's wrong Shiro has already managed to get the young woman to relax immensely from mere seconds before. As she feels the weight of her troubles melting from her shoulders Rapunzel takes the invitation and steps inside, casting him a grateful smile as she goes.

Once beyond the threshold of the door she turns and bends enough to begin gathering her hair up into her arms. Just because he'd let her inside didn't necessarily mean he wanted to leave his door open for just anyone else on the ship to wander in. The quicker she got the rest of her in the sooner he could shut the door again, but she does answer even as she works. ]

Sure. Thank you... You know, it really is kind of funny that you have just as much trouble with some of the creations in the castle as I do.

[ But it's said with a grin and a light tone, so hopefully it's clear that the comment isn't intended to mock. In truth much of the ship's technology is very intuitive, but it's still more than a little overwhelming for someone who comes from an era that hadn't even invented the light bulb yet. ]

I just... couldn't sleep. I guess I'm still getting used to some things.

[ She admits, finally, thinking about those "things", like the absolute silence aside from the gentle humming of the ship. The lack of noise is probably what's keeping her up the most. Forced, enchanted sleep aside she'd never gone a single night without the sounds of crickets, frogs, or other nocturnal animals, the elements such as the winds or the rain, the sounds of nature itself to lull her to sleep.

As the last of her hair slips through the door her green eyes drift from her completed task to the book in his hand and she realized that not only had he already been awake, maybe having trouble sleeping himself, but that she might have still managed to interrupt- however patient he was being about it. ]

I'm glad I didn't wake you, at least. Is it any good...?

[ The book, that is. "Good" could also just simply be interesting, in this case. She's been re-reading the same book about rocks for at least the past three years. ]

[headspacedad]

[He lets her talk, deciding what she wants to tell him and he lets her reel in her hair as well. He doesn't touch because her hair seems like a very personal thing and so he lets her take it, both the hair winding and the talking, at her own speed. Once her hair's inside though, he does let the door release to slide closed again. Shutting out the rest of the castle and its silent corridors and dark hallways so there's just the small warm square of his room instead. He moves over to a panel on the wall and palms it so that it slides open to reveal a small processor. At least he's figured out how to get something other than green mush out of it. Plenty of time and patience to experiment will do that. He keys in something that he thinks of as 'flower tea' even though he's sure that's not the real name, or ingredients, of it.]

There's a lot to get used to. Sometimes its all right to take a break from that. [He's speaking from experience and turns with a smile to offer her the first cup before turning back to make one for himself.] One of the reasons I asked Coran for a book. It's - interesting.

[He holds it up to look at the title again before taking his own tea and sitting down at the desk that's in the corner of the room, leaving her either the arm chair or the made bed.] It's Althean poetry. It takes a while to catch the pattern but its very lyrical. Sad too. A lot of its sad. Longing after old times and old memories. [He sets it aside and offers:] I bet we could ask Coran for some art books. If the castle and the lions are any indication, Althean art must have been beautiful.

[worthit]

[ It isn't like in those early days aboard the castle, when Rapunzel was wary of getting anywhere near anything (or anyone). Though, honestly, with so many automatic doors and retracting, collapsible surfaces that could probably have been excused she really had gotten much better about it. Now as Shiro brings her further inside she doesn't hesitate in finding a seat.

She opts to take the arm chair, for reasoning along the same sentiment as him avoiding touching and grabbing her hair. She might not have much experience dealing with others but she does know that she's intruding- even if allowed -on his personal space. It would be rude to take up his bed when the chair would do just fine.

Her eyes drift to the book again as he mentions it, curious still. Althean poetry, huh? During her time in the tower it was very rare for Gothel to bring back books about any forms of art that didn't serve a practical use. From cover to cover Rapunzel had read every book about various crafts and trades but only once every few years did Gothel bring her something purely for the joy of reading. Usually it was for a birthday or once just because she was in higher spirits than usual.

Listening to Shiro talk about it, though, not only made Rapunzel wonder if he'd always had an interest in poetry, but also what poetry was like on his world, in his time, and a dozen other things like if he had a favorite poem, author, or style. Did he read it often or was this the first time he'd sat down with such a book?

With rapt attention she focused on the mental picture he was painting, trying to imagine what poetry like that might sound like if read out loud. Longing after old times? It sounded like something she might be able to understand and relate to- something all of them could understand and relate to. Maybe she could ask him to read some for her a little later. ]

It sounds like it must be beautiful, though? Maybe in a sort of melancholy, bittersweet way, but still.

[ One of her elbows came to rest on her knee as she pillowed her own chin into her own palm. As she thought about both his words and suggestion her eyes, bright and focused on Shiro until that moment, did become just a little bit far away as if she were trying to picture some grand Althaen painting hanging just behind him. With a wistful little sigh her eyes once again refocused on her savior. Already he'd done a good deal to put her more at ease than she was when arriving, major improvement. In fact she may now have been getting TOO ahead of herself as she waited for her tea to cool a bit. She couldn't help it, though. For the first time in her entire LIFE she had people to make plans with- well right now there were only a few people on the ship she'd actually feel at ease enough with to do that, but Shiro was occupying the number one spot and that said a LOT about him in her eyes. ]

You think so, too? I'd love to see some... If there's any in the castle, maybe princess Allura would be able to tell us where? Or we could go exploring and looking for it together! Oh, um... when you're not busy with training of course. But... I think you're right. Just getting to talk to you like this is already helping a lot. I feel like I could talk to you about almost anything, poetry, art, crazy and futuristic inventions...

[ The last bit she trailed off with a playful mumble not quite fully under her breath and punctuated it with a chuckle at her own silly joke. Both hands returned to the mug now, one thumb absently brushing up and down the smooth height of the surface. ]

Have you always enjoyed poetry, Shiro? Or do you think that you will after reading this?

[ She gestured towards the book he'd set aside then. ]

[headspacedad]

[Beautiful and wistful and bittersweet was right and the poetry has made him homesick for all he refused to let that really burrow too deep under him. He was glad for her company though. It wrenched his head out of the past and kept him focused on the present. He needed that and - he needed her bright enthusiasm and distracting ideas about things to do as well. It had him relaxing, smiling a little, as he took a sip of his own tea and let himself recenter.]

We can ask Allura. I haven't been in many but I can't imagine a castle that doesn't have art work in it. Coran might be able to find us some books too, with pictures of paintings or sculptures in them.

[Something familiar and interesting for her. He was always looking for new things to find for her, things to help her expand her horizons or interest her or give her new ideas for her painting. It was important - and she deserved it after a lifetime of being trapped in a single room.

It also felt good, knowing that she was comfortable talking to him. That he could make a difference for her. Her question though -

He paused, lifted up the book for a moment as if he might find something in its pages but took something from his own memory instead.]

Petals floating by
Drift through my woman's hands as
She remembers me...

[The smile was a little sad itself after he finished but it was still a smile and a good one.]

My grandfather was a poet. A living National Treasure. He could compose one in a moment. It used to be a game he'd play with me when I was a kid. I got my love of reading from my father but - it was my mother's father that taught me to love words.

[worthit]

[ If she knew her company helped provide him some relief he'd be glad for it. There were times when he didn't seem to realize anyone else was looking that he had a faraway look on his face. Everyone had moments like that, but seeing it on any of her new family, especially Shiro, broke a little bit of her heart every time. After everything they'd been through it wasn't difficult for Rapunzel to imagine they probably had a few ghosts in their closets, maybe Shiro more than any of them. He'd been a prisoner of the Galra and they'd taken his arm. While his replacement did give him another weapon to fight back with she'd have given just about anything to be able to help ease some of the pain she thought she saw in him.

Kind of like just now, though she could tell it was a happy memory.

But for now they're talking about poetry, about reading, and art. The Galra, at least for tonight don't have to be an immediate concern.

Her smile shifts and softens out, something full of admiration and awe. She's never heard poetry like it before, the style more jilted than anything she's accustomed to, and there's no rhyme to it, but it paints a romantic image in only a handful of words. ]

That was beautiful, Shiro. I wish I could have met him, but he left you something really special, then.

[ She means it genuinely, even as it strikes a sad chord within her, too. She gets up then and stops next to him, just for a hug. Maybe- probably she should have asked first, but the moment had hit her before she knew it and Rapunzel was nothing if not a creature of impulse. The hug is meant for him but again, it stirs an echo inside of her, his pain resonating with some of her own. As long as she doesn't think about it too much she should be able to hold it together. ]

[headspacedad]

[There was a saying that you borrowed your name from your ancestors and they expected you to give it back to them intact and clean. Shiro thought it was more than that though. You borrowed pieces from others to make yourself into the person you wanted to be, adding them like layers of silk clothes, or armor, to who you were from birth. His family had all given him pieces of their hearts and he still carried them, whether that family member was around to see it anymore or not. He'd admired his grandfather more than almost any man he knew, a tie between him and his own father. And Rapunzel was right. His grandfather had given him something very special before he'd left. He'd learned that words could carry a whole heart in them and it had been a heart he'd heard often.

When she stands he glances over - but then she's hugging him and his smile is losing its content loneliness to soften. Sitting down he can't hug her fully, but he wraps first one arm around her and after setting aside his tea, the other as well. With him in the chair, they're much closer in height than standing and he twists himself just a little bit to make the hug easier for both of them.]

I have some of his books. Back home, on Earth. But I've got most of his poems inside my head. He was a big fan of memorizing of poems from the past. When you paint it reminds me of the way he used to chose just the right word to create something more than just the pieces of it.