Five Drabbles: Senses - PG

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Title: Senses
Rating: PG
Pairing: Rimmer/Lister
Disclaimer: I don't Red Dwarf or make any money.
Spoilers: Marooned, Legion, Rimmerworld
Notes: A bit clichéd perhaps, but this is a series of five drabbles based around the five senses. Just a few little bits of Rimmer at various points through the show.



Touch

The thing is, when Rimmer thought about it – really thought about it – he was hard pressed to name something he actually missed touching. Lister had been right. He'd never touched flowers or babies or even women very much.

He mentally listed the things he could remember touching. Clipboards. Pencils. Textbooks. Dice. Ingrid. McGruder. He shuddered at the thought now, for some reason. Surely there must be something he used to enjoy touching? Well, yes, apart from that.

At first he'd missed being warm. It wasn't that he was cold – more that he wasn't anything. Numb. He got used to it.

Taste

Rimmer never thought much about food when he was alive – it was an annoying necessity that got in the way of his revision schedule. He barely thought about it at all now, not until they were marooned on that smeg awful ice moon.

Lister had fallen asleep, his head slumped forward on his chest. Rimmer watched him numbly until he woke up, eyes still half-asleep as they met Rimmer's tight lips, his unreadable stare. Rimmer understood, then, that there were things he no longer needed. Warmth. Food. He watched Lister, weak and hungry in the firelight, and was thankful.

Sight

It's funny how you can get so used to the sight of something that used to disgust you. Like the morning Lister smiled his inane, obscenely chirpy grin as Rimmer entered the midsection and he almost started to smile back before catching himself.

Lister grinned so wide Rimmer was sure his gerbil-like cheeks were going to crack. “Did you just smile?”

“No. I was laughing to myself at your ridiculous attempts at optimism in a situation like this.” He gestured around the room.

Lister's eyes twinkled obnoxiously. He sat on the table beside Rimmer. “Whatever you say.” He winked.

Sound

It was too quiet. He used to hate the endless humming and clicking noises Lister made when they shared quarters, but since he'd been stuck in that cell for all those long years, nothing to keep him company but the neurotic prattle of his own thoughts... Rimmer gave up and snuck out into the corridor, finding his way to Lister's quarters. He paused outside. Lister was playing his guitar, loudly and very badly.

He leant against the wall and closed his eyes, listening to the familiar, off-key jangling from the room behind him until his mind was blank again.

Smell

Rimmer was learning things. Lister's skin smelled spicy. Even when he tumbled fresh from a shower into clothes Kryten had painstakingly cleaned, it couldn't be hidden. Rimmer caught the scent of cardamom and turmeric as he kissed him, thoroughly, and pressed him into the bunk with his hard light body. Lister squirmed. Rimmer licked his neck slowly, right behind his ear to his hair line. It made him gasp and laugh at the same time – the sound was very distracting. This was another thing Rimmer was learning.

Afterwards the smell of curry clung to his uniform, and his tongue burned.

Comments

[world-of-tights.livejournal.com]

I really, really likes these/this! You know Rimmer so well :)

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) I haven't written Rimmer in a little while, and I missed him.

[eviltigerlily.livejournal.com]

Ooh, very nice. I really liked the list of things Rimmer used to touch. And the almost smiling bit. Oh, and all of Smell.

I've been going over the comm and I really like your fics. You're a great writer and going through the fics in short period of time, I could see your writing develop and get even better. *looks back* I'm not sure that sentence made sense. Anyway, you write a great Rimmer.

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I love lists.

And yeah, back when I started I always felt like I'd never be any good at writing prose but it's really true that practice makes perfect. I think I've improved a lot since then, and I'm enjoying it more and more every time I write.

[kahvi.livejournal.com]

This is such the perfect medium for you, poet lady! Not that I don't enjoy your longer stories, but this is more familiar to you, isn't it? I can tell. It works really well. :)

What an amazing insight into Rimmer's mind! Not in terms of revelation (I've met him before), but in how it allows us to spend some time in there. This is one of those rare times when I realize what it must be like to be Rimmer. Oh dear. So alien!

Sight is so Lister that I'm sure he must have paid you a visit. And Smell? So, so lovely

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

You're right, of course, these do feel far more comfortable to write than longer stories. But I like the challenge of the longer stories too, so I'll keep on at them!

I've missed writing Rimmer recently. I must do it more, I really enjoy it.

Also, I'm so glad you thought Lister was in character in Sight, I worried about it.

[saywhat-now.livejournal.com]

Oh that was fantastic, I love the slow progression that you've blended so easily into Rimmer's character. It's completely in character and I could almost hear their voices, that's how good it was.

Well done.

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! That's such an amazing compliment. I always try my best to stay as in character as possible, I'm so glad it's working :)

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

Taste and Sound were lovely,in particular. I really enjoyed these.

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) I feel pretty much the same way Rimmer does about food. I'm glad you enjoyed them!

[queen-fiend.livejournal.com]

These are just lovely. I enjoyed all of them, but I'm especially in love with "Sight." So cute. :)

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

Awesomeness! Woohoo!

Touch and Sound are the best, IMO. So evocative.

[rimmerfic.livejournal.com]

I have only just realised how formulated some of my fic is, this has inspired me to venture some more in my own writing. Love it!