"Is he always like this?" Alma leaned over and looked at Daniels. She had moved around from her side to sit opposite to herself. David remained by Alma's side, refusing to want to leave. Though his eyes did flick over the fire and watch it burning, coiling and wrapping around the coals and wood within the pit. If anyone drew near, or passed, David did straighten up and watch them. His head would raise up and he'd watched them intently, as if they were not allowed to truly venture further into this establishment. Despite being welcomed to make this place as homely as possible for the time being, it seemed that that wasn't the whole feeling or meaning.

Alma's earlier words were directed towards Oram. The man in question continued to glance over and looking at her with hollowed dark eyes before turning away and pacing off. The man was on edge, frantic and desperate, looking for something which would give him answers and settle him down. She couldn't help but scoff, even she knew that was unlikely to be found here. She'd been awake for a short time, and already she knew this place was going to make those who had already suffered, feel worse.

She felt worse, and she'd not been through all too much recently. No, ten years of her life was spent asleep. Time passed without much care, things came and went and changed and she was none the wiser for it. David was though, forever watching, just like he was now as Lope seemed to have had enough and walked over to the Captain. There was quiet shared words before the older of the two walked off back to the roof, Oram glanced around, looking to the fire and those around it before walking off too.

"He recently lost his wife." Walter said, noticing how Daniels looked up with teary dark eyes.

"How unfortunate." David whispered quietly, both Walter and Daniels looked at him with slight shock. Not exactly the most sympathetic of words which could be shared. David just raised an eyebrow and fidgeted to sit cross legged. He placed his hands on his knees and just stared over the fire at the pair. "She was part of the crew, yes?" He asked, not really sounding like he truly cared for the answer or not.

"Yeah," Daniels said with a small nod. "She died on the lander."

"Along with two others." Walter said, watching as David just raised an eyebrow and looked to Alma. She looked more sympathetic over the plight of three people than what David did, but what else did he expect? She was human, and could truly understand the loss. No matter how he was, he still wouldn't be able to grasp the feeling completely. "One was married to our pilot, the other was in Lope's team."

David tilted his head, "Was, or is, everyone married or together?" He was curious as to that.

"Yes." Walter replied with narrowed eyes. He did not understand how that could be of any importance.

David just looked around with a quiet hum before smiling and looking up at Alma. "How charming."

"Do you think? I think it sounds like hell. Fancy if someone had an argument, and you'd be stuck in the middle? Bloody hell, no thanks." Alma scoffed and shuddered, "Even better, what if one person asked you to choose sides as to who was in the right? Them or the other? No. Just...no." Alma looked sadly back at the pair, "I am sorry. Our crew were...we were strange."

"Odd bunch." David said instead, finding that much better.

"Really odd, actually." Alma grew distant as she ventured off down memory lane.

David looked at her with wide worried eyes, he didn't enjoy it when she got reminiscent. He kicked his legs out and tucked them underneath himself, he knelt and placed his hands gently on her arms. Alma jumped from the contact and blinked wildly before looking around and up at him. She smiled and patted him on the hand, she was okay. As okay as possible. David didn't look bought yet he relaxed and tilted his head looking her over, as if he'd see something bothering her and he could help.

He couldn't help with troubling memories however. Even more so when they revolved around people they both knew, yet only one of them knew the true plight. David could sit and list the crew of the Prometheus off, and say how each and every one of them died.

"You're married? Or engaged?" Daniels, her voice cut the silence.

David and Alma looked over at her, David frowned and his mouth pressed into a thin line. His hands fisted in his lap as he just stared hard at her. Walter watched him curiously, he looked envious. If Walter didn't know any better, he would say that David was borderline furious over this being noticed. The little silver ring which was on Alma's finger was minimal. If it wasn't for the light of the fire filtering off from it, no one would be the wiser to it even being there. It wasn't like anyone specifically stared at her hands, who would even do that?

David's eyes slid slowly to Alma, watching as she looked at her hand, her fingers twirling the ring around on her finger. He was all the happier to think of that, to think that they could be like that. But he knew they couldn't be. They were as together as possible, and that was it. "Ah, no...actually it's a present." Alma said, David's eyes slowly blinked. His tense disposition seemed to lessen and he looked at her curiously as she awkwardly, and sheepishly smiled. "David had never celebrated Christmas. He made it, yet, it was the only finger it fitted on!" Alma laughed, though that caused a few coughs to come from her. David instantly reached up and ran his hand up and down her back, whispering soothingly to her while doing so. She waved a hand at him and smiled thankfully, "It's okay! David, I'm okay, no need to fuss." She patted him on the hand, when it retracted from around her.

He just nodded and placed his hands back into his lap. He did smile lightly though, he was quite happy that she didn't lie. A part of him thought she might've. It may seem unusual that an android had given a human a present, but whatever, David didn't wholly care for opinions; he was sort of beyond caring what people thought by now, it seemed, at long last, that Alma too may have finally got to the point where she no longer cared what her fellow humans thought of them either.

Daniels frowned and looked to Walter before looking back again. The two were so similar yet so different. "Really?"

Alma nodded, honestly, she didn't think anyone needed to know that David put the ring on that finger specifically and refused to allow her to move it to another. "He's pretty good at drawing too." Alma said with a small nod, David just looked down, faux shyness which caused Alma to playfully nudge him. "Coyness doesn't suit you!" She laughed with a wide smile. David just looked back up with a small smile now on his face. She nodded and tiredly looked away. She covered her mouth and yawned quietly, "How can I sleep for ten years and be tired? How does that work?"

"You have been busy." David said, moving and fully prepared to bring her into his arms and carry her off.

Alma scoffed, "I've walked about, and I've talked...that's it! Not exactly running a marathon, is it?" She questioned while yawning again and rubbing at her eyes. She glared at the fire, she was blaming it and the warmth which was coming from it. "With the storm now passed, hopefully you'll have better luck getting through to your pilot." Alma looked at Daniels with an optimistic look. "Not that I'm eager to get off this planet, or anything." She laughed nervously.

Daniels merely smiled, "You're probably more eager than the rest of us." Maybe, Daniels was opting to miss out. Alma had seemingly lost her old crew, and her one surviving friend, but Daniels and her crew were still very much in the midst of disaster.

Alma just nodded slowly, she let out a startled noise though when she was picked up. "I can walk!" She despaired, "How am I meant to regain muscle strength if you do not let me walk about? Seriously..." Alma trailed off with a sigh as she hung her head. "When it is time to leave, please...please don't leave me." She looked down at Walter and Daniels, they exchanged a look and nodded. Neither wished to point out the blank but serious look which David was sending down to them. The bright fire just caused his eyes to look harder as he stared down at them. Like they would be able to leave her with him ever present.

The look suddenly disappeared and a smile took its place, "Until later then," he nodded his head, even bowed it a little before turning and commencing walking away. He blinked and flicked his eyes to the side to watch what remained of the crew down here pottering around. He frowned, none of them seemed to believe that they were temporarily safe here. Unless something got in. David straightened up as he ran easily up the stairs, Alma in his arms bouncing lightly and taking to clinging onto him to stop the horrid motion rocking her about.

"I really don't want to go to sleep, David." Alma looked up at him, David just sighed and walked into his room. He looked around the rustling papers on the wall before sitting down.

"You do not have to sleep yet." He commented while smiling down at her, he leaned back slightly, or as much as the backless seat would allow.

Alma rolled her eyes, "You wish to talk?"

David smiled, "I have missed your voice."

"Do you trust that crew?" Alma asked after a substantial amount of time passed in silence.

David frowned and looked around the dim room. "I am sceptical about their Captain."

"I am glad you said it and not me." Alma commented while crossing her arms and huffing quietly. Sighing, she shook her head and stood slowly. David seemed reluctant to let her go, yet he did and watched as she walked off slowly. She returned a moment later with a flute in her hands. David looked over the small wooden instrument before looking up at her. Alma just smiled, she rocked on her heels and David thought she was about to fall. She was still a little unsteady, but not like she was. He stood and grasped onto her hips, pulling her close as she suddenly crashed into him with a yelp. "David!"

"I thought you were falling." He said while looking down, her hands were crushed between them, flute still in her grasp as she looked up with a small frown. David let her go and stepped back, he plucked the instrument gently from her hands and gestured to the seat he was just in. David frowned when she shook her head, Alma walked past him and seemed to remember the way to her room. It seemed odd, her room. Or rather the room she awoke in.

She hopped up and laid down, David just shook his head. "What? Only because I am laying, does not mean I will sleep." She said shortly with a pout, David walked over and jumped to sit cross legged at the end of the hypersleep chamber. He got comfortable before commencing playing, he looked at her as he did so. Alma just smiled, "I never even knew...endless surprises aren't you?" She asked while his fingers continued to skim over the holes and played a slow calming tone. When he finished, Alma clapped happily. "You're brilliant!"

David just smiled humbly, taking the attention and the gratitude for what it was, she sounded honest, she wasn't humouring him or anything. David sighed when after clapping was done with, she just lifted her arms up. Leaning down to place the flute gently on the floor, he pushed his legs underneath himself and moved forwards. Alma's arms slipped over his shoulders when he hovered his body above hers. David looked at her unhappily when she ruffled her hands through his hair. She couldn't help it, it was still so soft, yet the shortness of it...

"I don't think they are wholly trusting of us though." David said quietly, he leaned against his forearms and stroked hair out of her face. She frowned at that, like the thought hadn't ever crossed her mind. He twirled a piece of hair around his fingers and just watched as the hair limply curled around his digit before he let it go.

"You do have a suspicious face."

David double took and looked offended, only for her to laugh and cover her mouth. "I don't even know what to say to you."

"You know I love you really though. I am sorry," she patted his shoulders gently before tracing her fingers along his jaw. David just smirked and tilted his head, he narrowed his eyes playfully, Alma rolled her eyes. She could see the silent coaxing to continue in his expression. She never knew David had an ego really. "Can we forget I said something?"

"Well..."

"Please?" Alma pouted and leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "Can you stay? Just until I sleep? I don't want to be alone, David. What if one of them wanders in here or something?" She looked worriedly to the door, David frowned deeply over that contemplation. No, none of them were going to venture in here. For the most part they seemed to keep together and go to the roof, at a stretch. That was it. So far none had gone off on an explore and left the main hall.

David just nodded, Alma shuffled over a bit and he laid by her side. She turned and huddled against him, David just wrapped her up in the cover and in his arms. Kissing her on the forehead, he just looked to the door. None of them better come here. It wasn't like he was going to go walking into their private rooms. Hearing Alma sigh heavily and nestle more against him, he just held onto her tighter. "Stars shining bright above you. Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you'. Birds singing in the sycamore trees. Dream a little dream of me. Say nighty-night and kiss me. Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me. While I'm alone and blue as can be. Dream a little dream of me." David whispered, keeping to the tune of the song quietly as he rubbed his hand up and down her back.

Alma let out a quiet laugh, she couldn't help it. Out of all songs to try and get her to sleep to, it had to be the one he sung to her before she went to sleep all those years ago? With a sigh she listened to his heart beating away under her ear before burying her face against his chest. "Stars fading but I linger on dear. Still craving your kiss. I'm longing to linger till dawn dear. Just saying this; sweet dreams till sunbeams find you. Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you. But in your dreams whatever they be. Dream a little dream of me." She was only able to croak out the first few words last time. "I am not as good at singing as you are."

David smiled down at her, not that she could see the expression. "Nonsense," he replied while he could feel her shake her head, disagreeing completely it seemed. He smoothed his hand over her hair and listened to her laugh quietly again before just huddling cosily up against him and going silent.

David laid and listened to her breathing level out and drift off to sleep. He shut his eyes and held onto her for a few more moments, just making sure she was definitely asleep before moving away. Alma frowned in her sleep, yet just curled up fully. David looked at her, watched her for a couple of seconds before turning and exiting the room. He'd like nothing more than to lay with her. But something...wasn't right, and David couldn't quite grasp onto what exactly, he didn't know what could be setting off this feeling, until he paused and tilted his head; he watched as a near white silhouette darted along a dark corridor, the low light reflecting off pale skin as the creature continued to scamper and kick off against the wall to turn and climb around the corner. The corner of David's mouth turned up slowly into a smile, they were not alone. His bare feet padded silently forwards, following this creature, he wanted to meet it, but to meet it he had to find it first.

——

(Edited: 5/March/2021)