[ ] Resolve the problem with a weird workaround, you're good enough
I can feel the J6/Amani shippers of the world crow through my very soul, and I am not even one of them! I can only imagine how bad it would be in a theoretical Petals of Titanium anime where we wouldn't know the pairings were the result of democratic votings.She looks at you for a further moment. "Even if they are, I'm... glad for you, Ensign North."
"Glad for me?"
"I'm glad you talk to me. I'm glad you're..."
"Your friend?" you offer, smiling a little tentatively.
She nods as she considers the word. "Yes," she decides. "I'm glad for that."
I can feel the Owusu/Amani shippers crow through my very soul! Which is not particularly surprising, since I might literally be biggest and/or only Owusu/Amani shipper in the world, but still! This was a good scene and Omegahugger is happy."Please try to stay safe, sir."
"Well, if you're worried about that promotion of yours, I did send the recommendation ahead. So even if I do die, as long as we stop Titan from being glassed, you'll likely still receive recognition."
For a moment, you can't even properly process the insinuation. When you can, you find yourself incensed. "Permission to speak freely, sir?" you ask. The anger seems to make the slight throbbing of your head increase, blood pounding in your ears and tightening the invisible vice around your skull just a few more millimeters.
He looks at you, slightly amused. "That should be interesting."
"You're an ass."
He blinks, not having expected that, whatever he had been expecting. Then he bursts into laughter. It has the slightly hysterical feeling of tension being released more than genuine mirth, but to your annoyance, you can't help but note that he does have a nice laugh. For all his cool detachment from the prospect of his own death, he seems to have needed this enough that you find it hard to begrudge him.
... That being said: Owusu, my man, we need to talk about this deathflag problem you have. You can't just go around picking up every flag you find lying around just because you think someone else will die if you don't. Your survival is very important and I do not want to read about how you died valiently taking a blow that was meant for Lori! In fact, you don't have permission to die before you get back here and introduce us to your boyfriend! Do you know how much easier this would be for me if I had a different pairing I could lob my feelings at?"I'd miss you if you did," he reminds you.
"When you say that, sir, it feels like you're jinxing me." Although, privately, you do appreciate the sentiment, if not the continued focus on the probability of your horrible death in space.
He smiles. "If one of us dies, you have my permission to say I told you so."
And we can't forget about the actual best pairing here. Watching these two goopers try and fail to keep up a professional act under immense pressure is just incredbly human. And it's nice to see even if it's technically "wrong" from a procedural perspective."It's alright," you whisper back. "I know." You exchange a quiet moment, her blue eyes looking into your own dark ones. It's not a long moment, but you see some of the tension finally go out of her face. Slowly, she pulls her hand away, and you can't help but feel a pang.
"I'm going to feel like a complete hypocrite the next time I reprimand someone for lack of decorum," Lori says, indulging in a tiny sigh..
"I'm sure you'll rise to the occasion anyway, ma'am," you reply.
She quirks a smile, but with the title, the wall of professionalism slides back into place between you nonetheless. "I suppose I will have to, North."
I can only imagine how bad it would be in a theoretical Petals of Titanium anime where we wouldn't know the pairings were the result of democratic votings.