It felt like Danse was avoiding her, but maybe that was the disappointment clouding her mind more than anything. She couldn't truthfully say that she wasn't avoiding him at least a little bit either, but in that respect she felt justified. Paula didn't tend to hang around the Prydwen for long stretches, at least, citing a fear of heights every time she departed the ship, and that was some consolation. Watching her flounce around the ship in her vault suit, which she was still allowed to wear instead of the standard Brotherhood fatigues for some reason, was enough to set Vi's teeth on edge. Every once in awhile the thought would cross her that she was being unfair to the woman, having never given any indication herself that she was interested in Danse, but her anger quickly stubbed out that line of thought as soon as it began.
Another matter weighed heavily on her mind as well, and that was Maxson's parting words to her on that fateful morning. She'd turned it over and over in her head during a few sleepless nights, and still wasn't sure of his intentions behind it. Thankfully her bunk mates had been quiet so far, which allowed for better thinking, but alas it was of no help. Vi wondered why she was feeling nervous about the prospect of meeting Arthur again at his request. For all she knew, he just wanted to go over a new assignment with her. Perhaps it was important and he wanted to be sure she got all the details correct. Now that was something Vi could sink her teeth into. Suddenly she was feeling quite important, thinking of the interesting missions she could be sent on. That was something Paula hadn't gotten yet, she thought smugly.
Feeling energized, she rolled out of bed and dug around under the covers for her bandanna that'd been lost in the night. Her head was showing the first signs of a dark brown stubble, but it still was a bit too thin to cover the scars well.
It was early enough that the ship was still mostly still, only staffed by the barebones night crew, but she knew Maxson would be awake. It seemed like he never really slept, no matter what time of day or night he could be seen about the ship or heart pacing around in his quarters. It made the girl tired to think about; she quite liked sleep. Although now, despite the early hour, her heart was racing with excitement at the prospect of having something to do and all thoughts of her slumber were gone.
The lights were on behind Maxson's closed door, though no sound could be heard. She thought of knocking but then remembered that he had been the one to invite her here, and instead chose to just try the handle. It wasn't locked.
"Ah, hello?" She said gently before actually stepping through the threshold. Once she peeked around the door, she found Maxson to be at his usual spot behind his desk with stacks of papers and books and maps all around, though he looked a little more weary than she could remember seeing him. With a start, she noticed something else. He had no shirt.
A thick black crop of hair grew all across his torso with no rhyme or reason to its pattern, stopping just short of his collarbone and traveling all the way down his belly. At least she assumed it did, since the lower half of him was hidden. For being half naked, he didn't seem surprised to have been barged in on at all. Instead of any exclamation of shock or horror or a reprimand to get the hell out, he just flicked his eyes upward to meet hers. Straight faced, serious looking and with dark bags under his eyes, but otherwise without emotion.
"S-sorry. I can come back another time," She said, cheeks and neck flushing hotly. Vi had no real reference for this kind of thing, but she felt as if she should be embarrassed for him, if he wasn't inclined to feel that way himself.
"No, please. I'm glad you decided to come," He said, drawing out his words as if he wasn't sure he wanted to say them, "I won't waste your time, Vi. I wanted to ask you, uh, on a date." He still held his pen in one hand, still sat in his same spot, still looked noncommittal. Vi's mouth opened and closed like a dying fish and she felt the blush creep up her face and onto her scalp, though the dusty green bandana covered it.
She tried to find an answer for him, but her tongue didn't seem to be connected to her brain anymore.
"Truthfully, I had thought that you and the Paladin were, uh, involved. So I was surprised to hear otherwise. And pleased, mind you. I've been wanting to get to know you since you arrived on this ship and I had hoped now was my opportunity. I apologize if this is unwanted, and if you are not interested I assure you there will be no retaliation on my part."
He was waiting for her to say something, but she felt a little sick to her stomach. Hadn't this been what she wanted? In some way, yes. But it still felt a little bit like a betrayal to Danse. In fact, the more she framed it that way the more she grew to like the idea. Being vengeful was normally too much work to be worth the reward, but this time it felt...good. She didn't feel good about it, but it felt good when the smile crept across her face and she nodded at her superior.
"Where would you like to go?"
