<span style="font-weight: bold">â€œCome on. We will be prunes if we stay in there much longer. I am already going to have stretch marks, I would rather maintain my amazing figure and appearance while I canâ€ she gave him a wink before she disappeared around the corner and exited the bathroom. </span><br/><br/>Jared smiles at her words (and the view a little) but does not follow. "I'll be out in a bit, I still need to actually wash myself off," He says with a smile, playfully shooing her out before closing the shower door again and actually setting about cleaning himself off. About halfway through a major headache started slamming at the interior of his skull causing Jared to lean against the wall again. He was starting to get them frequently, stress headaches from keeping (or attempting to) his strong and sometimes conflicting animal instincts in check.<br/><br/>He had been trying to blame the strain on the lack of downtime and the constant battles but in truth he could tell something was wrong. It was getting harder by the week, sometimes it felt like it was by the day but so far he was maintaining control. It was easier when Veronica was around, he clung on for her and her presence just seemed to soothe the beasts enough to make it bearable.<br/><br/>He knew something was wrong, and the looks he was getting lately from those who were/are in the loop on the project that made him just reinforced the idea. Unfortunately there was nothing he could do about it, if he gave up his wings for piece and quiet he would become antsy and unable to sit still with every attack. He could not retire or request a transfer back to the moon either to try and be put back to his original human DNA; they were too far out and were under attack much to frequently. If he tried to go back with Veronica the shuttle would most likely be attacked and they are not designed as sturdy as the Elyandra... He could not leave Veronica behind either, he was sure he would not keep his sanity for the trip back without her... His only option was to stay here with her and fight to protect her... to protect their life together.<br/><br/>Veronica's call to him from there bedroom helped put his head back on straight a bit and stuck his head out of the shower long enough to shout back. "I was thinking we could eat in... A lot less noise, and nobody to ask the million questions we will probably be asked everyday." He calls out with a slight chuckle at the end before stepping back in and quickly finishing up. He towels off enough so he will not drip water across their new quarters and before coming out he quickly pops a few pills for his headache.<br/><br/>Jared heads to the bedroom with towel wrapped around his waist and finds his wife to be looking at herself in the mirror with her hands running over stomach. He comes up behind her and kisses her on the neck, half hugging her with an arm as he looked at her through the reflection. "... You know... I'm realizing one more advantage of eating in. We get to decide the dress code," He teasingly jokes before given her a slight squeeze with the hug and stepping away to head for his dresser.<br/><br/>His upper body displaying the scars from his battles, all familiar to Veronica but once he turns his back one part draws attention: the back of his neck. The off color connection port for his mech, the discolored scar tissue from the burns and replacement surgery from his accident marked the site as if it was a bull's eye to draw the eye in. Just before reaching his dresser though, Jared took his towel and put it about the back of his neck, half taking a moment to make sure his hair and port were dry before contemplatively opening drawers in his half naked state. "What were you thinking? Formal, Casual, Informal?" Jared half joked as he tried to decide on how much he wanted to get dressed up for their dinner together... as well as biting back the urge to add 'Birthday Suits' to the list of wears.