Snagged shamelessly from Bakerstreet.

[terlibra]

Roommates meme!

SINGLE WHITE FEMALE - Wow, college is going to be so fun! My roommate and I get along really well, Mom, you should hear all about it! We like the same music and movies and celebrities and...well, she's a bit obsessive, she got her hair cut and dyed like mine and keeps going on and on about how she wants contacts the same color as my eyes, but she's really nice! She just got in, I'll call you later, bye Mom! (TL;DR - You have a roommate who wants to be you. Have fun)

I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOU THINK - He could not be more aggravating. Blaring music you think is shit, never taking out the trash, pissing on the floor when he's drunk and not even cleaning it up, bringing over people you can't stand at all hours of the day and night and now what? You cleaned all the dishes in the house and he had to have a bowl of cereal. A bowl he didn't even bother to rinse out. Time for some conflict of the YELLING REALLY LOUDLY!!!! kind.

STAR-CROSSED LOVERS - Obligatory sex option. You've been roommates for a while, but recently those furtive glances have been returned, they put their hand over yours when reaching for the coffee pot, and if something doesn't happen soon, you're going to end up a crying mess or flouncing out to get some poon elsewhere in frustration. Are you going to mesh well, or are you going to find out there's condoms in the house and have to make a trip to the gas station at two in the morning and deal with the worker staring at you as you buy XXLarge condoms?

BURY ME WITH IT - Your roommate is dying. Maybe they came home with a fatal diagnosis and can't help but spill. Maybe you watched them rescue a child from getting hit by a car and heard the thunk of their back breaking beneath ridiculously large tires. Console, comfort, hear their last words, tears and sorrow and a whole bucket load of angst.

HAN SOLO IS GAY - Technology is fun. You roommate takes it too far. Fight to the death. Offender may bring up that he wouldn't be able to do it if his roomie wasn't dumbass enough to leave his laptop laying around in the first place. Offender may have stolen it for the evulz. You never sent this text...

WILDCARD - seriously do whatever you want anon suggested it HERE IT IS

Post with character/universe and the person who replies to you is your new, exciting roommate! (With issues.)

Comments

[I don't have any zangyack!Joe icons D: this is a travesty]

[gibken]

I raise a slow eyebrow at his question. Honestly, I was watching his hands, never mind what he was doing with them. I don't think he's much of a fighter.

"No." I answer finally. "I'm Joe Gibken." There's a good place to start, a simple introduction.

[It is! D:]

[hakaseheart]

There we go. "Don Dogoier," I say, and even venture a small smile. Nothing too warm, I can tell this guy's the straightlaced type. I finish folding the last of my things and shut the drawer. Thank goodness I don't have any civilian clothes, they'd never fit.

I turn around to face him and climb backwards onto my own bed. "What's your assignment, then?" I'll see if he opens up by talking about work.

[gibken]

That's a name. No rank given, so either he's not the type to throw his weight around, or his rank is negligible.

I watch the way he moves with hardly disguised curiosity. It's not as though I've never shared quarters before, but it's usually been with other Special Officers, or at least other typically ground troops. I don't think this one fits either of those distinctions.

"I answer directly to the Commander." I offer, maybe with a hint of hesitation. I'm admitting to being little better than a glorified bodyguard. Not my usual role, to say the least.

[hakaseheart]

Ah, so he's one of those soldier boys. Nothing to be ashamed of, especially if he's still alive. "I'm an Elite Forces trainee," I say amiably, again with that same small smile. The Elite Forces aren't very large, after all, and I've even run into some soldiers who aren't aware of us. "This is theoretically my last tour before a planetside assignment."

Which probably will be dull and boring. But hey, it beats being a mindless grunt.

[gibken]

E.F. I actually manage a smirk at that. To most cadets, E.F. are a nebulous sort of thing, a shadowy group that no one's sure whether they want to join or not. To most ensigns, E.F. has become more of a sort of joke, supposedly someplace you're sent if you can't fight to save your teeth, much less an entire squad. By the time I'd made it to where I am now, poised on the knife edge of promotion to S.D.O., I wasn't even sure whether Elite Forces was even real, much less had I ever met anyone who claimed to be a part of them.

Still, I didn't get where I am by being complacent and incurious. Here's a perfect opportunity to learn something new. "Elite Forces, huh? What's that like?"

[hakaseheart]

I see the disbelief flash across his face before he shoves it aside and asks to know more. Not too shabby. "A little different from regular military life, I think. I only went through the standard basic training before I was tapped for the E.F., but I'd sort of expected as much."

It's true, too. If I hadn't been pulled out of the main military force, I probably would have killed myself out of boredom. "I guess, overall, there's a little less structure, and a little more politics. Definitely not for everyone."

Hopefully he doesn't take that as an insult. I'm just stating fact, after all.

[gibken]

I nod, understanding and silently thanking my lucky stars I never ended up where he is. Politics. Necessary, certainly, but not something I'd be able to stay sane dealing with day in and day out.

"Interesting." I allow softly. I'm not exactly what one would call a product of 'regular' military life either, if there even is such a thing, but my unique circumstances aren't something typically spoken of in... mixed company.

Or at all, in some cases.

"What brings you to this ship, anyway?" Who knows how E.F. hands out assignments?

[hakaseheart]

I climb the rest of the way up on my bunk, wedging myself in the corner so I can lean back and stop putting all my effort into sitting up straight. "Last ship tour before my planetside assignment," I repeat. "I'll have a mix of duties around the ship until they find somewhere to place me for the next year or so. If I'm lucky I'll get something quick and easy, but..."

I've already got a good feeling I know where I'm going to end up, and it's not going to be quick and easy. They're not going to waste me on something too risky, and chance losing me before I'm at my full potential. "Well, it probably won't be." I give Joe a semi-confident grin and try to turn the conversation back around a bit. "So, what got you into the military? Standard pack-up-and-make-a-name-for-yourself story? Or something a bit more unique?"

[gibken]

He wiggles into the corner at the head of his bunk, and I follow his lead, pulling my legs up on my own bunk, crossing them and leaning back against the wall. If he's not going to expect perfect poise and control, then I'm not about to bother wasting the energy.

"Nothing's ever quick and easy." I smirk a little, and I think I could definitely get used to sharing quarters with him. At least until one of the two of us gets promoted or re-stationed. Seems inevitable, the way he's talking.

He brings it back to me, and I shrug. "Not exactly." I allow, carefully considering just how much I want him to know about me. He didn't react to my name, so I imagine E.F., or at least this particular member of E.F., didn't exactly keep up with the ins and outs of the Special Officer corps. "More like born into it." Seems safe enough, and true, for my early years. "I was born on a Sovereign moon. There aren't exactly a lot of other options."

[hakaseheart]

Sounds like we have a lot in common - I'm not used to that, when it comes to the fighting types. Usually they just want to throw their weight around. Rooming with this guy might be a breath of fresh air. "Same here, more or less. I ended up in an orphanage that funnels recruits to the Zangyack. I knew pretty early on this is where I'd end up eventually."

Not the best life, especially if you're not one for fighting. Thank goodness the E.F. taught me how. "You must be a good fighter, though, yeah?"

[gibken]

I raise my eyebrow at him again, but I pair it with a slight smile. Yes, I could definitely get used to having him around. "Sounds very familiar." I admit, crossing my arms over my chest comfortably.

I shrug one should. I'm not the type to brag, and I'm not sure I have that much to brag about in the first place. "I stay alive. Some of it's natural talent. A lot of it is good training. And a heavy dose of luck."

[hakaseheart]

I give him a smile, something a little closer to real this time. "We should go a round or two sometime," I say, trying to keep my tone jovial. "I could probably learn something from you."

Keep everyone close, friends and enemies. Learn from everyone. Who better to practice this on than my roommate?

"So are you headed somewhere after your tour here?" I know I am, but Joe might be here for a long while yet, or even indefinitely. I might just be the first roommate of a dozen for him...and depending on how things turn out, that might be a good thing.

[gibken]

I consider sparring with him for a moment. I've never (knowingly) sparred with a member of E.F. Could be a useful learning experience. "Maybe so." I wonder briefly how old he is. He doesn't seem any older than me, might even be younger. And the way he talks, it doesn't seem very likely he's seen a lot of active combat.

"Not sure. I never really know until my orders are handed down." I'm used to it. That's what being a Special Officer is like. "I'm near enough to a promotion. If that goes through, I'll most likely end up stationed with a forward fleet. Maybe even in the Emperor's Vanguard." I roll my eyes a bit. It's a feeble joke, but it's a joke nonetheless, at least among S.O.'s. A place in the Emperor's Vanguard is an easy ride, sure, but you're also never about to see active combat again.

Which is actually the last thing I want, ever.

[hakaseheart]

He's near a promotion, is he? That's something special. Something in the back of my head nags at me, and I begin to get the feeling I might have heard of this guy before. Pressing for details right now isn't likely to go over well, though. "Good luck on your promotion, then."

He rolls his eyes when he talks about where he might be stationed, and - not for the first time - I'm reminded of how different our responsibilities can be. "You wouldn't see much action there, would you?" I shake my head lightly and lean it against the wall, just right so the clips don't dig into my skull. "See, for the E.F., that's a high-class assignment. Something to shoot for."

[gibken]

I catch his eyes and hold his gaze for a moment, then smile when he wishes me luck. Must be an E.F. thing. Anyone sharing my rank would rather break my arm (if they even could) than see me get promoted over them.

Not to say I don't feel the same way about most of them. But I also know I'm more capable and infinitely more loyal than any of them.

"Bit of an understatement." I scoff a little. "A spot in the Vanguard is like... Like handing your sword over and getting a flag in return. It's all show. All style, no real substance." I stretch my legs out and cross my arms behind my head. "If I'm going to end up anywhere near Famille, I'd rather be on the ground, you know?" I consider the idea of actually taking the 'honor' of a place in the Vanguard at face value, but that's really not what I was groomed for.

[hakaseheart]

I can see it in his movements, his unease at the thought of not fighting. He's not in this for the glory, he's here because it's what he's good at. Suddenly I wonder, against all odds, if we were placed in the same room on purpose. If someone knew how similar we really are.

I stretch my legs out across the bed, rotating my feet at the ankles to get the cricks out. "I'm not too familiar with how things work on your side of things," I start slowly, the back of my head still nagging at me, "but it seems like if you ace your combat application regularly, but flub one or two significant political interactions, you'd probably still be ranked high, but passed over for the Vanguard."

They're not going to throw somebody who can't keep their tongue still on the emperor's ship, after all. There's something to be said about a little bit of well-applied disobedience.

[gibken]

I watch his legs stretch out, watch his feet turn. He's small, kind of scrawny almost, but there's something to be said for sinewy strength. I'm not exactly all brute force and no finesse myself.

I blink at his thoughts on the matter. I'd never really considered that. Not that I could apply anything he's implying. For me, messing about with, as he says, 'significant political interactions' could be a death sentence for me where it would simply keep someone, anyone else away from the Emperor.

Still, I find myself appreciating his words, his... attempt, such as it is. It's friendly. Not something you run into much in my circles. "I'll keep that in mind." I smirk. "You weren't lying, when you said E.F. was big on the politics."

[hakaseheart]

I grin - I can't help it this time, and it seems safe enough to be actually friendly instead of just faking it. "You have to be," I say as I pull my legs back in and fold them under me. "If you can't read between the lines, the E.F. has no use for you. And if you can't read between those lines and know when to keep your mouth shut, nobody will even notice you're missing."

It's a joke that's bandied about quite a bit, but that's mainly because we know it's true. I know Joe's department is a little less lethal, but that's mainly because they can always be demoted to canon fodder. In theory, at least.

[gibken]

His smile is genuine. I can't clearly remember the last time I saw a real smile like that.

Well, that's a lie. I could, theoretically, remember it perfectly. I choose not to, to keep my past cleanly divided from my present.

"You're spies, then." It's a gamble, being so blunt, but he seems to be alright with plain and straightforward talk.

"Definitely not the place for everyone."

I'm still a little surprised he doesn't automatically know who I am, or at least know of me in an existential sort of way. Unless he does, and he's just very crafty about not letting on. It occurs to me that we might be sharing quarters specifically because of his rank and position, and it's possible relation to my history.

Not that I care. I've left it behind.

[hakaseheart]

Ah, now I remember. His face hadn't been shared - he probably flies under the radar more than he thinks he does - but my memory's finally caught up and the nagging in the back of my head disappears.

I shrug a bit at his blatant labeling. "In a way, yes. I'd probably go as far as to say we're as much spies as you're mindless thugs." I give him a small wink to let him know I'm poking fun.

I'd brought it up before as a friendly gesture, but now I really am itching to go a round against him. I've been in plenty of combat simulations, and a few supervised incidents, but I'm curious to see how someone like me would actually fare against another Zangyack. You never know who you'll end up fighting in this job, after all.

[gibken]

I find myself watching his face more and more as he relaxes around me. It's... nice, though I'd never admit it aloud. Everyone ranked above me tends to look down on me, everyone below me is perpetually afraid for some reason. And, well, those who share my rank are as bloodthirsty a lot as Zangyack has to offer. That's why we've got as far as we have with our skins intact.

But this, this is entirely different. And I find I don't care a bit whether it's some kind of ridiculous test or something. If he can relax, I can relax too.

I answer his wink with an approving nod of my head. "That we are."

[hakaseheart]

I'm not even sure if he's joking or not, and I love it. A playful soldier, who ever would have guessed?

But even more so, I'm curious about him. My brain is digging through the scraps of his history I've retained, trying to sort them alongside this roommate I've suddenly found myself with. Somehow I figured he would have been a bit more straight-laced, or at the very least, angsty.

"My first teacher always taught us that nobody is who they look like at first sight," I say carefully, thinking back to the orphanage and the ex-soldier whose job it was to find potential Zangyack recruits. "I can't assume anything about anybody - that'll just get me killed, you know?"

[gibken]

I'm not dense enough not to notice that he's examining me as easily and carefully as I'm examining him.

Fair enough.

I chuckle softly. "It's good advice for anyone in Zangyack." I admit. Probably why I'd never bothered to put too much thought into E.F. "Too much guesswork isn't smart, after all."

[hakaseheart]

"Nope," I reply with a smile. Hrm. No reaction. Maybe I'll try a different angle.

"You don't get far in the E.F. without somebody showing you the ropes, though." Sure, we had basic training, and some group lessons, but nobody made it further without some one-on-one with someone who actually knew what they were doing. "Is it like that for you guys, too?"

[gibken]

Is he... toying with me?

I should have anticipated this. When have I ever been put in one-on-one situations where I wasn't expected to make some kind of show? Never, is the answer, but I'm fairly certain I'm not supposed to kill him. So I'm not sure what he wants from me.

Well, I can guess. But it's something I try not to talk about.

"You don't need someone, if that's what you mean. As long as you can keep yourself alive, you can maintain, sometimes even climb a few rungs, theoretically speaking." I smirk. I'm pretty sure now that he knows who I am, or at least a part of my story. "I had a superior who took me under his wing for a while. It... didn't work out."