ext_73765 ([identity profile] ellieet.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] reddwarfslash2005-11-04 08:07 pm

In A Name (R/L)

Title: In A Name
Summary: Rimmer questions something regarding his relationship with Lister.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: If I owned the show, Kochanski wouldn’t be there.

Help, the Lister/Rimmer bunny has got me! (Attempts to fight it off) Dedicated to Kirke Novak, who gave me the inspiration for this ficlet and who always gives such marvelous reviews! Oh, and the other reason it’s written is to celebrate the fact that it’s Friday night.



“Little confusing, really, isn’t it?” Rimmer turned his head to glance at Lister, cuddled up next to him, dreadlocks spread over the pillow. The human gave him a perplexed frown.

“Eh? What’s confusing?”

The hologram rolled his eyes slightly, smiling at Lister’s somewhat admittedly appealing ignorance. “You, me.”

Lister shrugged slightly. “What’s got your mind so boggled? It’s – it’s us, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Rimmer nodded absent-mindedly as he stared at the ceiling. “That’s the problem – it’s us. It’s the way we are – how we act.”

The human shifted closer, hesitantly placing one hand on the hologram’s chest. “What are you trying to say to me, Rimmer?”

“That.” Rimmer nodded at him. “We’ve known each other by our surnames for years – haven’t you noticed?”

Lister shrugged again. “Well – that’s what we’ve been calling each other since we met…”

Rimmer voiced what his lover couldn’t admit. “When we didn’t get on.” He smiled somewhat sadly as Lister nodded and then with a look of caution, rested his head on Rimmer’s shoulder, staring at him with eyes that seemed to glaze over with an icy sheen of wariness. Rimmer rolled his eyes.

“Look, it’s not a big deal, it’s just that I’ve never really called you Dave. Unless you count the times I reported you to Hollister.”

He heard Lister chuckle and gave an inward sigh of relief as the human voiced his mind.

“I can’t honestly see myself calling you Arnold – it doesn’t sound right.”

“Likewise – I can’t quite see myself calling you Dave.” Rimmer took an interest in the fingernails on his left hand, glancing at the human briefly. “It just doesn’t sound like the way we do things, does it?”

“Guess it doesn’t, Arn.”

“I agree, Dave.”

They stared at each other for a moment. Rimmer watched as Lister’s slightly startled look gradually gave way to a smile, which became a grin, which broadened as he lowered his head and giggled into Rimmer’s shoulder. Rimmer found himself shaking his head slightly, but the tiniest of smirks tugged at his lips. As Lister’s laughter subsided, the human gazed back at him with a genuine smile, running his hand over Rimmer’s chest.

“Doesn’t matter really though, does it?” he asked, his other hand drifting across Rimmer’s cheek. “As long as we’re OK with what we call each other, that’s the only thing we really need to worry about.”

Rimmer shrugged as Lister kissed him softly. “I’m not worried, Listy.”

The human beamed. “See? That, and Lister, are the only two names you should ever call me.”

The hologram looked somewhat disappointed. “So I can’t refer you to your other names like ‘Curry-breath’ or ‘Goit’?”

The human glared, annoyed. “Oi! I thought we both knew the score here – ‘Smeghead.’”

Rimmer frowned, then raised his eyes to the ceiling. “Alright, Listy, now we’re even. So you can now mess up my hair all you like, and kiss my lips until they’re swollen, and I won’t even complain.”

Lister nodded slightly. “Only if you do, Rimsy, okay?”

“I promise.”

And as he kissed Lister deeply, feeling Lister’s fingers run through his hair, Rimmer vaguely remembered the conversation that they had just been having for only a moment – and then decided it wasn’t important at all.

Fin.

[identity profile] fiareynne.livejournal.com 2005-11-05 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
Ooh, plying the mod with chocolate is always recommended!

[identity profile] kirke-novak.livejournal.com 2005-11-04 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Disclaimer: If I owned the show, Kochanski wouldn’t be there.

Amen, sister!

Help, the Lister/Rimmer bunny has got me!

Worse than a bird flue, isn’t it? MWAHAHAHAHAHA!! It gnaws into you and digs into your brain and before you know... you writte L/R! *calls the evil!plotbunny and gives him something* Just like we said, 10 carrots. Keep up the good work *veg*

Dedicated to Kirke Novak, who gave me the inspiration for this ficlet and who always gives such marvelous reviews!

*blushes furiously* Well, I only give wonderful reviews if the fic deserves it :D

The fic – my thoughts exactly! I’ve always wondered why they call each other ‘Rimmer’ and ‘Lister’ if they know each other for some long. Blame it at my upbringing, in Poland, calling someone in their face just their last name is highly insulting (that’s why my boys always call each other their first names :D ) but I think you’ve grasped the concept perfectly!!!

And “So I can’t refer you to your other names like ‘Curry-breath’ or ‘Goit’?” *veg* *lol* Purrfect!

[identity profile] fiareynne.livejournal.com 2005-11-04 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
That is an awesome icon.

[identity profile] kirke-novak.livejournal.com 2005-11-04 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I wish I could have a credit for it but it belongs to spacemonkeyluvn, I've simply stole borrowed it :D

[identity profile] kirke-novak.livejournal.com 2005-11-04 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
*Has pictures of the secret rendezvous* Hmmm... that might fit into this somewhere... ^_^

Whaaa? Plotbunny? What plotbunny?! *hides the bunny behind her back* No idea what you're talking 'bout!

So t'ankees much, my friend!

No problem, you owe me 5.50 :)

Only problem now is that Cat won't speak to me...

And what problem is that? Tell him that he's pretty, buy him something shiny, feed some fish and he'll be on his back mewing 'rub my tummy' faster than you know! :D

[identity profile] dracothelizard.livejournal.com 2005-11-04 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww! Like Lister would ever call Rimmer Iron Balls or something.

[identity profile] beetle-breath.livejournal.com 2005-11-04 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay, fic! =D

[identity profile] roxulasbride.livejournal.com 2005-11-05 09:08 am (UTC)(link)
Oh that was wonderful!!!!!!!! Now my series 7 dvd has just arrived and I'm off to watch *wants the kiss scene*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I might have to print this one off and reread later...

[identity profile] roxulasbride.livejournal.com 2005-11-06 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
It was hilarious and I love the extended kiss scene in the docu!!! *giggles*

[identity profile] kahvi.livejournal.com 2005-11-08 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! So true. It's like they say - it wouldn't feel right. Doesn't sound right to me either. Yay happy!Lister and Rimmer!