Posted by Lieutenant Corinne Dalton (Scientist) in XO’s Quarters - Sleepover? Slumber Party? No Idea What To Call It

Posted by Lieutenant Corinne Dalton (Scientist) in XO’s Quarters - Sleepover? Slumber Party? No Idea What To Call It

Posted by Commander Dr. Royal Sinclair (Executive Officer) in XO’s Quarters - Sleepover? Slumber Party? No Idea What To Call It
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Royal adjusted into his pillow so they faced each other evenly. The bed wasn’t small, but he was large and she was not exactly tiny, so the distance between them was perhaps a hand’s breadth. “Tell me what you thought about when you were gone. I know it wasn’t pleasant… but did anything bring you joy? Did any thought make you happy… even for a second?”

Royal

She sucked in a breath. “That’s just it, Royal, I didn’t have thoughts. Unlike when the Douwd trapped me this time I didn’t have thoughts. I didn’t even know I was anywhere else. Those two years don’t even exist to me. I don’t know how but clearly that cube they put me in effectively put me into a coma.” Cori forced herself to take a breath. “When I appeared in Kane’s lab, all I knew was I was someone I didn’t recognize and it was so painful, like my limbs had been ripped off. We know now that it was likely the memory gaps from my extraction approximating the sensation, but in that moment I all I knew was that there was this man causing me pain and asking me relentless questions and treating me like I was a threat. I understood it from an intellectual perspective but it felt like the Saracen all over again, having to prove my existence.” In the low lighting her lips curled into a smile. “But then he started asking me questions about you after I mentioned your first name. The thought of you brought me the first moment of joy on this ship. Since we met you had always been my defender, my supporter. With so little knowledge about anything going on, all I could hope was the the two years after I was taken from the Saracen had been kind to you. You deserved that.”

~Corinne Dalton

His reached up and set his fingers on her cheek, his eyes staring straight into hers. “The past two years have moved me all over, helped my career, made me new friends… and they were empty because I couldn’t share any of that with you.” He took a deep breath and then said “I thought of you every day, Cori. And I wished…” and he squeezed his eyes shut, “… I wished so hard that I would find you.” His eyes opened and were shining with new tears held back by willpower alone. “I know that you suffered when you taken out of that box. And had I known… If i could have helped.” and he closed his eyes and shook his head before looking back at her. “I don’t know which was worse. Having your limbs ripped off once or my heart torn out just a little more every day.”

Royal

Her eyes mirrored his own and Cori sucked in a breath. How to express the words escaped her so she did the only thing that seemed reasonable in the moment: she drew herself forward and kissed him. It wasn’t desirous but it was filled with care and compassion. She pulled back a fraction to whisper. “We’ll heal together then.”

~Corinne Dalton

He smiled at her and said “It’s a deal.” and then he kissed her back. That particular kiss was desirous… but it was a desire for her. The entirety of her. He poured all of him into her and she could feel his heart hammer against her. He held her close to him for several long minutes before pulling back and smiling. “There have been so many times I have dreamt of that, you have no idea.”

Royal

It was so easy to get swept up in the moment and the Cori from several years ago would have tried to keep going. But between his words and the boundaries they crafted together, she was okay stopping there. It didn’t mean that she didn’t reciprocate that desire. Even in the dimer light her blue eyes were still bright as she smiled at him. “Yeah, I agree that I have no idea. I never let myself go that far, to let myself think if you, of us that. I was too scared to lose you as a friend to even acknowledge what was between us.” She drew in a deep breath. “It does make me sad that you were… as stuck as I was, in your own way, but I guess I’m also grateful because you were able to wait for me.”

~Corinne Dalton

Royal smiled and said “Able to? Naw, lass… it was never a question of ability. It was just a question of time. I knew you’d come back. I just did’nae know when. But I never doubted we’d see one another again. Not once.”

Royal

It was an uncomfortable reality that she could not say the same. She hadn’t even known she was ‘gone’. But when the Douwd had trapped her, Cori had been determined to get out, to free herself. She knew she would find a way, and she had.

She smiled at him. “You know, had I been aware that something was going on, I do know that I would have done anything I could to get out, to be in the world again. And I’m so sorry that my absence caused you so much pain. It’s not my fault or anything I could have done something about, but in the end we’re here now.” She was still determined to figure out who gave Kane the cube. He seemed to brush it off but her instincts said to dig deeper. Cori wanted answers and was determined to find them.

~Corinne Dalton

Royal slid his arm and put the other over her, pulling her to him in a gentle but insistent way that conveyed a far deeper yearning than just a physical one. “Cori, I-…” and his voice cracked and he shook his head. “Any pain I had is gone. And it’s a small price to pay have you here… now.” He stared at her for a long moment and then kissed her softly. “I fell for ya back then. And that hasn’t changed since.” he whispered.

Royal

Lips warm from his kiss, Cori didn’t have a response at first other than to snuggle in closer and nestle her head in the crook of his arm. “I’m glad for that,” she whispered back. Yes, she would eventually want to roll over and hve her own space, but right now she was content in his arms.

~Corinne Dalton

Royal stayed silent for a long time, simply feeling her against him. It was like he had dreamed of so often that it made it easy for his mind to shift into sleep mode after a while and he drifted off… Cori still held close to him.

Royal

Cori did eventually roll away from him, but only so far as to create some space between them. His hand still rested on her body for as long as he was facing in her direction.

When morning came, Cori was half on her side, half on her stomach, with one knee bent and and the opposite arm above her head. Like many mornings she awoke with a small start. Her heart raced a little faster, as it did ever since that first morning she awoke after the transference. It took her an extra moment to realize that this was not her space and where she was. She rolled over onto her back to see if Royal was still in bed.

~Corinne Dalton

Royal was laying on his side facing her. His eyes were closed and his breathing steady. But his hand was on hers, his fingers interlaced in hers.

Royal

She watched him, taking in the shape of his face and how his features looked at rest. The warmth of his hand steadied her, calming her heart rate as she also took deep breaths. Cori debated whether to say anything or just let him sleep- a debate that lasted a couple minutes before she squeezed his hand, letting him know she was there.

~Corinne Dalton

Blue eyes snapped open and his pupils constricted as they adjusted quickly to the light. He didn’t twitch, start, or give any indication that he had woken up. Even his breathing remained the same. But then he grinned. “Good morning. How did you sleep?” he asked as if they had simply paused their conversation form the previous night.

Royal

“Pretty well, actually,” she said with a soft smile. “I wasn’t sure how it would be having someone else here, but either I’m not as picky as I expected to be, or I just like you enough.” Even in the soft light her eyes were lit up with amusement.”

“Well I hope it’s the latter. I’m pullin’ out all the stops here.” he said with a grin.

“The data is looking favourably towards you.”

“How about you? How did you sleep?” She realized her hand was still in his and she was okay with this fact.

~Corinne Dalton

“Good. Really well, actually. Best night I’ve had in… well… two years and some change.” and he grinned and gave her a wink.

Royal

Cori flushed through her grin and finally (and reluctantly) pulled her hand out of his and pushed herself to a sitting position. “When do you have to be on shift?” She was still shadowing people and though she typically tried to be in the various labs by 0900, he other appointments made this time float. Besides, she wasn’t on duty yet.

~Corinne Dalton

Royal laid back and groaned. “Do I have to go to work today?” he said and smiled. “0800 I have a comm with Command. Then I’ll be on the bridge until 1600 when I come off duty. What does your day look like? And yes, I am asking because I want to see you again tonight.” he added with a chuckle.

Royal

Heat touched her cheeks and for a moment Cori was simultaneously amused and baffled by her reaction. She could flirt with the best of them, but something about his sincere attention made her stomach twist in the best possible way. “I’m shadowing in the labs while I’m waiting to be cleared for duty. Lieutenant Petrakos is happy to have me in the department and so I’m dipping my toes back in and learning what everyone is working on around here.”

“What did you have in mind for tonight? Or is it my turn to plan something?”

~Corinne Dalton

bump

Royal looked at her for a moment and then said “Well… if we are taking turns… then that means you are up.” with a smile. “But I’m warning you… I’m not a cheap date. You gotta really work at it for all ‘a this.” and he waved his hand in front of his face and chest. He then laughed and said “But I trust you. Date number two is up to you.”

Royal