Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eilah Fayth (Chief of Security) in Deck 8 - Ship’s Lounge

Posted by Lieutenant Ben Hudson (Chief Medical Officer) in Deck 8 - Ship’s Lounge

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eilah Fayth (Chief of Security) in Deck 8 - Ship’s Lounge
Posted by… suppressed (22) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<SNIP>

“I’d worry for the crew if you didn’t. I can’t prevent every injury.” Eilah replied with a nod. “I’ll get you a head start though, Science won’t give up their space. I’d like to see you ask, though.”

~ Fayth, COS

“So modest,” Ben said, taking this opportunity to banter Eilah. “And there was me hoping you would be my guardian angel.” he pretended to brush away a false tear.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“I never said I couldn’t prevent every injury to you. I said I couldn’t prevent every injury to everyone. I’d make a fantastic guardian angel, I think.” Eilah shot back with a grin. In fact, that was how he’d spent his childhood, protecting his sister.

~ Fayth, COS

“Oh well, in that case, maybe I should buy my guardian angel a drink,” he said, a little bit more coyly than he had previously been. He could tell that Eilah would be good fun to be around, but Ben started to wonder if he felt there was a little bit more to it than that. He chuckled to himself, as he stopped his mind from going off on a tangent; ‘well, at least I seem to have found a friend’ he thought to himself.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“Your guardian angel thinks that’s a good idea. As long as the drink comes in a virgin variety,” Eilah said and gave him a quick wink. If Eilah picked up on Ben’s feelings and thoughts (of course he did), he didn’t react to them, save for the smallest of smiles.

~ Fayth, COS

“Not even synthehol?” Ben asked, with a grin as they made their way toward the nearest turbolift.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“Not unless it’s a very special occasion,” Eilah replied, but he smiled. The turbolift took them swiftly to the right deck and the doors whooshed open. Eilah stepped off. “Lead the way, doc.”

~ Fayth, COS

Ben stepped out on to Deck 8 with Eilah. “And there was me thinking you were the one who knew the nooks and crannies of the ship, despite only having been here a week.” he joked. “Fortunately I’ve already scouted the lounge when I got here,” he said with a grin. “This way,” he nodded in the direction of the lounge.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“Workaholics gonna workaholic,” Eilah said with a shrug, following Ben towards the lounge. “The lounge wasn’t the first place I scouted out.” Inside the lounge, he let Ben pick a place to sit. Eilah wasn’t picky. Anywhere was good.

~ Fayth, COS

“Be careful, I have no objections to prescribing down-time,” Ben said. “I’m sure I could order you to spend more time in here.” he grinned, as they moved over to a relatively quiet spot of the lounge, next to the transparent aluminium ‘windows’ that stretched between the two decks. The stars could be clearly seen streaking past as the Manhattan warped through space.

He waited for Eilah to take a seat, as he motioned to one of the stewards who was serving the tables.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“The Security department’s been without a lead for a considerable amount of time. Ordering me on down time would spell bad things for my department,” Eilah complained. “On the other hand, point taken.” He took a seat and smiled. “Let’s see, what should I get?”

~ Fayth, COS

“Just… take it steady.” Ben said with a smile. “I’m sure the CO would you catching your breath for a day, than me having to lock you in your quarters for the week.” he said, slightly mischievously.

“Lock me in my quarters for a week? By myself?” Eilah mused mischievously.

Ben chuckled. “And don’t think your dodging ability is going to get you out of it… if you escape, I will look for you, and I will find you.” he said with a grin.

“Look for me? That sounds fun,” Eilah said and grinned. “In l seriousness though my sister is a CMO. If she caught wind I was defying medical orders…” He gave a fake shiver.

“As for a drink… I’m probably just going to go for an aromatic tonic water, seeing we’re trying to be good and avoid synthehol. I might also get some snacks too.”

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Eilah laughed. “Have what you want. My synthehol restrictions aren’t your synthehol restrictions. Snacks sound great though. You know what I might have? There’s a sort of non-alcoholic sangria that’s very good. Tastes like the real thing.”

~ Fayth, COS

“Well, I don’t make a habit of drinking on my own… and besides, I can’t let you feel virtuous and not be able to myself.” he laughed. “That sangria sounds nice, but I do enjoy a good tonic. And the Angostura Bitters gives it a nice sharp kick.”

Ben flicked through a menu on the PaDD. The concept of a menu was pretty nugatory, given that he could pretty much order whatever he wanted, but he found it a helpful prompt to make a choice.

“How do you feel about Padron peppers?” he asked.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“I’ve not heard of those. Are they spicy?” He asked, guessing by them being called peppers.

~ Fayth, COS

“They’re usually rather mild,” Ben replied, “although occasionally you can get one that gives you a proper kick… that’s part of the fun!” he grinned. “They’re usually charred or seared on a pan, and served with olive oil and some coarse salt.”

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Eilah gave him a look, and then grinned. “I’m gonna be adventurous today. Let’s try them. But…” Eilah’s look turned mischievous, “That means you have to try something I know of.”

~ Fayth, COS

“Oh, and what would that be?” Ben replied, playfully. “I’m quite the foodie, so will always give things a go at least once… I’ve even eaten ‘escargot’”, he said, recalling the time he had eaten snails.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“Betazoid oysters, then. They’re a delicacy. Considered quite a nice dish.” Eilah said without hesitation. “Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, oskoid frond salad.” He grinned and winked.

~ Fayth, COS

“I haven’t had either,” he said, “although I am quite fond of Earth oysters. I’m assuming the common translation means they’re not all that dissimilar?” He asked, with a smile.

“They’re a mollusk, like Earth oysters but I wouldn’t call them similar exactly… Well, you’ll see.” Eilah responded, returning the smile.

“But I’m not one to miss out on an adventure, so let’s do both,” he suggested.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Eilah grinned a huge, amused grin. “Let’s just say oskoid fronds are best enjoyed in private.”

~ Fayth, COS

A slight blush appeared across Ben’s face. Whilst he knew there had been a bit of friendly repartee between the two of them, Eilah’s last comment was the most suggestive that evening. Ben took a moment to calm his nerves, whilst simultaneously enjoying the slight feeling of giddiness. He decided to play it cool.

“Well, let’s start with the peppers and oysters to begin with, and then perhaps move on to the oskoid fronds… later?” He suggested, with a slightly shy, but obvious smile.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Giddy, a little nervous. But not a negative reaction. Eilah had been a tiny bit worried that. He was glad he hadn’t taken things too far and made Ben uncomfortable. “Order the oysters. You’ll like ‘em.” He said and smiled confidently.

~ Fayth, COS

Ben nodded, returning the smile, as he placed the PADD down on the table and stood up. “So, one non-alcoholic sangria, one aromatic tonic water, some Padron peppers, some Betazoid oysters, and the fronds come later?” he said looking down at Eilah, giving him a slight wink.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Eilah smiled and nodded. “Sounds like an excellent plan.” He said. “Let’s order. I really think you’ll like those oysters. The ‘seafood’ taste on Betazoid is very different from Earth seafood. I’ve tried both.”

~ Fayth, COS

Ben nodded, before heading across to one of the replicators. He used the time to take a couple of deep breaths to clear his head. He had sensed a bit of a connection with Eilah when he had come in for his physical, but at the time he just chalked it up to two new officers on a ship, with the common cause of making friends as they settled in. But his time having some friendly banter with Eilah on the lower decks and the rapport, verging on outright flirting, they had struck up in the lounge, made Ben think about the possibility of where this was going.

He chuckled to himself as the sense of giddiness washed over him again, as he tapped the commands into the replicator. However that moment was short lived, as another thought enter his mind… what if he had read this entirely wrong? What if Eilah was just being a decent person? It was times like this he wished he was telepathic; it would certainly make things easier. ‘But not as much fun!’ he thought to himself, trying to make a positive out of it.

Picking up the drinks and food, he went back across to the table where Eilah was sitting, his emotions a bit erratic but with an undertone of worry. However, seeing the short Betazoid sat there, with his slightly wavy dark hair and black eyes, and the soft freckles on his nose and cheeks, made that sense of worry give way to Ben being happy in the moment.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer