trans_9 | Cranston For Hire [Open!]

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Cranston For Hire [Open!]

It was once again time for Billy to assess the progress being made in this seemingly endless war with tasks and deadlines. So far, reorganization of the Engineering department was about 25% complete. Not terrible for a day's work, but he could certainly do better. Several projects were stalled pending discussion from the involved parties. His social time and interactions with the Rangers had taken a hit due to all of this.

Though he was following his orders to take more resting time during the day and having fun with Ronnae on many of the nights, nothing stopped him from taking on more than enough work to fill the compressed schedule.

Today's work: Supervising the new structure and performing odd jobs around the ship. Repairs were going well in the hangar, Neuropathy needed to be left alone, infrastructure was busy in the City. He visited wherever he could and lent a hand to each, struggling to find time for what he wanted to do in secret: move his personal belongings to his girlfriend's house.

As Billy wandered back and forth throughout the day, a stuffed backpack always accompanied him. Throughout the day, the loaded-down teenager made trips between a number of places on the upper levels and a particular house in the City. Distracted as he was with the constant juggling of omnicom, comm ring, tools, and items, he eventually wore himself out.

Where he ended up shouldn't be a surprise: in the city park, fast asleep, sprawled across an assortment of odd items. Somehow, he'd note when he woke up, he doubted this was what had been meant by the recommendation for 'personal time'.

((ooc: The two location tags basically mean you can catch him anywhere: asleep with shiny stuff to steal or rushing back and forth between the different areas of the ship. Just make a note of where you found him.))

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She arched her back slightly and leaned her head back comically trying to look back at Katara, making her long single ponytail dangle low, right below her rear. "Oh sure! I really love cocoa, it's really fun to drink with friends... if that makes any sense." She added with a shy laugh before leaning back up to work on the stuff.

She smiled, trying to mimic Ronnae, and was totally trying to make an apology that would at least be worthy of the girl. She cared about Ronnae quite a bit, and wanted to make sure she made her feel a bit at ease.

"It does," she said. "You're really good at calming us down."

She smiled, it was a bit of a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless. "I had to learn how to pretty quickly... morale means a lot on the field and..." She fidgeted uncomfortable, visibly shuddering. "I learned quickly different ways to soothe or calm our troops.... other than getting 'offered' as entertainment." She continued to make the hot cocoa, her eyes a bit unfocused as her mind drifted to less pleasant times. "So it really helped. They sure enjoyed it. And it made us come back with less casualties since there was comradery."

"Morale does mean a lot, I'll admit that," Katara said. "but that doesn't mean you should be made to feel uncomfortable for that sake. I...I don't know what you mean by being 'offered' as entertainment, but I have a feelings its why you're the way you are now. I just wanted you to know, no matter what, your feelings, your impressions, they matter. Billy always will think that, and so will I. I'm sorry I talk so casually abut your body and all, but truthfully?: I am a little jealous. You really do look amazing, and I know Billy will always think that, no matter what."

It ached, remembering when she thought there was someone who looked at her that way, but that was all right. She could keep that selfishness to herself.

She smiled appreciatively. "Th-thanks. But really, it's not you, or anyone else making me feel as such. I've been told I do look amazing, or pretty, or whatever else. Its just... " She stopped and started finishing up the cocoa.

"It's just that it triggers something... I can't help it and I've tried overcoming it... but there hasn't been anything that's worked ever... I've been through so much because of my body that it's hard to let go of my fears. I'd say maybe at one time, I would have been able to overcome it.... Until..." She shook her head, and it was visibly clear that her whole body was trembling. She let go of her spoon and held herself tightly, closing her eyes trying to control herself.

Katara watched quietly as Ronnae made the cocoa. She knew there had been something that made the half orc/elf apprehensive about how she looked, and while she wasn't going to push anything, she'd still listen.

"Hey, if its hurt too much to talk about you don't have to. Painful memories can be hard to get over, even I had to struggle with one back in my world. I just want you to feel comfortable around us."

She was curious, but that didn't mean she would press the matter.

It took a moment to shake it off. After a bit she opened her eyes just in time to notice the cocoa was going to be ruined if she didn't hurry. "Oh no!" She moved it off the runed stove and set it aside. She let out a long sigh and looked back to Katara with an embarrassed expression. "S-sorry... I'll.... I'll be fine." She turned back with a pained smile to the cocoa and made three large mugs for them.

"I am comfortable, well, as comfortable as I could be. It's not easy for me to get close to someone. You guys are the first I've been able to unwind with outside of my family and friends. So that says something, and it definitely means you're important to me."

She leaned up trying to reach the top shelf, usually she wouldn't have been cooking when trying to get snacks. So that, coupled with her mental distress at the moment caused her to brace herself on the rune she forgot to disable. A sizzling sound and a meek yelp as she pulled her hand back. She held it in her other hand as she bit her lip hard to try and divert the pain. "S-so stupid... " It was a quick burn, and it seemed to be going away fairly fast as it healed up. She muttered something in thalassian and the rune went cold. She hopped up and grabbed the glass container with what appeared to be cookies. She gave a glossy eyed smile to Katara before handing her the cookie jar and one of the mugs.

"Th-thanks for talking to me tho. You don't know how much I appreciate your friendship Katara." She blushed slightly before waiting for Katara to head out with her.

Katara laughed lightly. If anything she thought she was the last person anyone should be apologizing to these days but it was god to just talk with Ronnae right now. That, and at least now she understood what it took to make cocoa.

"I'm really glad to hear that," Katara said. "I had a feeling that after we talked the last time, we would be seeing more of each other, and when I heard about you working with Billy, I knew it for sure. Just so you know, I'm thrilled that of all the people Billy chose to be with, you were the one that he saw and cared about. If you'd been out to hurt him or something, you would have had me to deal with."

It was a joke, but mostly true: she had gotten very protective of Billy, more so after Renne was podded.

She took the mugs and the jar. "Of course I'll talk to you. I wanted to make sure you're ok. You're a friend of mine too, and I'd like us to hang out more when we get the chance."

She blushed and offered a shy smile. "I'd like that." And with that the girls went back to the living room. Ronnie gave a mug timidly to Billy, smiling shyly at him before settling down on the couch in front of him, holding the cocoa to her face and blowing on it. It's odd, how this young girl can be so incredibly powerful, and yet so fragile and vulnerable.

The girls had been gone so long that Billy had started to worry. He had spent the break pacing around that little couch, worry a constant in his mind. About what had happened to Ronnie to provoke that response, what Katara was saying, if they were okay...

Thankfully there were no disastrous interventions this time. Instead, he leapt from behind the couch to land awkwardly on it when their footsteps sounded again. It took some scrambling to sit upright before Ronnie came upon him, but he managed to accomplish it and accept the mug gratefully.

"Thanks. Hey, is everything okay?"

Katara smiled. "Everything is fine Billy. I'll just have to make an effort not to be stupid and open doors when people are showering. But we're both all right. Have some cocoa."

And she had some herself, being pretty fond of the drink actually. Strangely, she felt a lot better than she had several mi8nutes ago: if anything,s eh felt cozy, relaxed with these two.

"Mhm, we're good. Besides, lots better cause cocoa makes everything better! And cookies, can't forget cookies." She said in her cheery mood, grabbing a cookie and taking a small bite out of it happily.

"Just needs blankets and a fireplace," Billy added nostalgically, leaning back onto the couch and taking a sip. She was excellent at this.

"It's a fine selection of comfort foods. I haven't had these for a long time," he smiled, chewing a cookie oh so slowly. The next one wouldn't be coming for a long time, so it was best to savor it while it lasted.

"Cookie?" Katara went into the jar and pulled out one of these cookies that these guys were talking about. It looked harmless enough, though it reminded her a little of that horrible doughy thing they had to eat on Avatar day.

She chewed thoughtfully, then smiled. "Hey, this is delicious! Thanks Ronnae, its definitely a treat!" Who knew when they'd be able to have comfort food again? "Blankets are easy enough, but I'd definitely help with building a fireplace. We could get a few people over to help even!"

She smiled happily as all three enjoyed their snacks. She was really happy that her damage control skills hadn't rusted. She took a nice low sip of her cocoa, closing her eyes as she remembered how one of her mothers would teach her how to cook when she came home crying or upset.

She never asked questions and always told her she could talk when she was ready. Instead she'd teach her a new dish each day... She regrets not being ready ever to talk... It was too much. But her mom always made her feel so much better. She smiled into the last bit of the sip she was taking and lowered it, taking another small bite of the cookie instead.

"It would be nice to have a hang out spot, speaking of which. You know Katara, there's plenty of abandoned houses on this street. When I first discovered this house with Billy, we thought it would be amazing if a small community grew here. With people claiming a different house and such."

Billy nodded. "Yeah, that was when I believed we'd be living in separate houses and remaining friends," he added with a wink. "But that just leaves more housing space available for everyone else, right?"

When the snacks were done, he leaned down and rummaged through the bags he'd been bringing all day. Aha! Blankets. He tossed one to the girls, tucking the other around himself.

"This feels like a place for storytelling." Odd comment, maybe, but...it was true. Cozy and comfortable.

Katara fidgeted a little. A room at the Outsider's hotel was one thing: it was small, quiet, enough for her. But being in a house by herself was a little too much for her to think about. She would have liked to suggest it to Sokka, but she felt a little estranged from him, that she had invited discord with her brother. Why should he want to room with her?

Why would anyone?

She wiped her eyes. "It would be nice," she said, talking the opposite of how she felt. "Just have people who are friends helping each other out. I'd like that. I just...sort of don;t know where I'd fit in. It might be better for me to stay at the hotel. The room is small, adequate enough."

It didn't feel as empty as a house would.

Ronnae frowned slightly looking at her curiously. "I'm sorry... I mean you could take the house next to mine and Kosi's if you felt you'd be alone. We'd be a shout away... But maybe I'm off base here. You might want your privacy! Errr.... Ummm I am totally off base here aren't I?" She hid under her covers feeling so dumb. Her face burned at her embarrassment.

Billy sighed. They still had issues to work through, it seemed, but they would accomplish this somehow.

"I understand if you feel better staying there," Billy said slowly, "and I'm definitely not pushing you to move. I want you to find the place where you're happiest. We might even be able to build it if it doesn't already exist."

After a moments' thought, he stood and walked behind the other couch, squeezing Katara's shoulder.

Katara sighed, smiling. "I don't mean to get you guys down. I'd love to be around you, to hang out when we could, talk about things. It's just...the idea of sleeping in an empty house when I shared it with my brother or with the people I traveled with would be torture. It really is a wonderful idea. I'd love to be around the both of you."

She hadn't met Kosi, so who knew?

"Privacy? No, that wouldn't be a problem. Aside from bathing or dressing, I don't really have a need for privacy."

And she stayed hidden, nodding her head under the covers. "Understandable." Yup, she was safe. It was her blanket armor! Fear it! FEAR IT!

Billy nodded, giving Katara a brief hug around the shoulders. "I think I understand. It's all right, Katara."

He shuffled over to Ronnie's position then, eying the moving blanket armor with some amused suspicion. "Something wrong, Miss Blanket?"

She hugged Billy back. "I knew you would," she said softly. "Thank you."

She laughed lightly. Ronnae was definitely strong in her own way, but sometimes she had this really timid way that she (and she was sure Billy did too) found so endearing. She kissed Ronnae lightly on top of her head.

"Yeah. Face it: I love you guys, both of you."

"Miss blanket cannot be bothered at the moment. She's too busy being dumb. Please come back when the world needs a ditz, thank you!" She couldn't help but giggle under the blanket. She loved playing around. Shove acting your age! Her siblings always told her to act how she pleased as long as it made her happy. And right now she just felt playful.

After turning to squeeze Katara warmly, Billy performed his couch-leaping maneuver again, sitting beside the blanket. This called for a drastic measure. If she was so absorbed in that state that Katara's kiss wasn't even a blip on the radar, maybe he could help.

He slid closer, wrapping his arm around the blanket's shoulders. "Alright, I'll leave this message for Miss Blanket: she's a wonderful woman, certainly not dumb, and loved by both of us."

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