snippity snippity

“What sort of life would make you happiest?”

Elyss pressed her lips together while she thought about the question. What would make her the happiest? “First of all, your father doesn’t sound like what I had in mind for you before you talked about him. He sounds patient and grounded, not one who is quick to anger.”

She cleaned the last few bites from her plate and washed them down with another sip of wine which emptied her glass. Raising her arm to catch the server’s attention, she pointed to their drinks and ordered another round. A little more wine might help to loosen her up before they parted ways with whatever that entailed. The fresh drinks were set on the table and the dinner dishes removed. Elyss found herself reaching out for his hand across the table.

“Five years from now? I would like to have a partner and maybe a child or two. No one gets any younger, you know. I would also like to continue my career with Star Fleet. Maybe become a CSO on a ship where my partner and kids could travel with me. Does that sound silly?”

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack

Thalos accepted the fresh glass of brandy with a grateful nod to the server before his attention returned to Elyss.

When she reached across the table and took his hand, he instinctively turned his own slightly so that their fingers rested comfortably together.

He listened without interruption.

Not once did his eyes leave hers.

When she had finished, a gentle smile slowly appeared.

“No.”

His answer came without hesitation.

“It does not sound silly.”

His thumb absently brushed against the back of her hand.

“I think…”

He paused, searching for the right words.

”…it sounds wonderfully ordinary.”

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

“Considering the lives we have chosen, that may be one of the rarest ambitions of all.”

His expression softened.

“I have spent most of my adult life thinking about duty. The next assignment. The next patrol. The next crisis requiring my attention.”

He glanced briefly at their joined hands before looking back into her blue eyes.

“I do not think I ever allowed myself to think much beyond that.”

A thoughtful silence lingered.

“But if I were to answer the same question now…”

His antennae lifted ever so slightly.

“I believe I would hope for something remarkably similar.”

The admission was made simply, without embarrassment.

“A home that feels lived in rather than merely occupied.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Someone with whom silence is comfortable.”

His eyes remained on hers.

“And perhaps…”

He gave the smallest shrug.

”…a child who inherits enough curiosity to climb communications towers…”

A playful glimmer appeared.

”…but enough sense to tell their parents first.”

He laughed softly at himself before taking a measured sip of his brandy.

Setting the glass back onto the table, he looked at Elyss with quiet sincerity.

“I find it reassuring that your dreams are not centred on rank or recognition.”

His smile warmed.

“They are centred on people.”

Another brief pause followed.

“I think that says rather a lot about the kind of woman you are.”

He gave her hand the gentlest squeeze.

“And…”

A hint of amusement returned to his voice.

“I suspect any children fortunate enough to call you ‘Mother’ would grow up believing they could accomplish absolutely anything.”

His smile lingered, genuine and unhurried, content simply to remain in the moment with her.

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

Elyss squeezed his hand. “You know, I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has every said to me.” For a moment, she indulged in a mental image of her future daughter reaching for her hand while they walked along a lake front. “You’ll be a good father, I’m sure of it. It sounds like your father taught you patience and that your training taught you responsibility and duty. How can you not succeed with those habits?”

As she looked across the table at Thalos, the thought that he was Andorian didn’t figure into her musings. In her mind, he’d gone from being an alien species to just being a man and she hadn’t caught the difference until just then. Thinking of him as a man was an adjustment. They were from two different worlds, but that didn’t seem to matter anymore. Elyss looked at him and saw a possible future.

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack

For a long moment, Thalos simply looked at her.

He had been complimented on his tactical judgement.

His professionalism.

His leadership.

His discipline.

No one had ever looked at him and spoken about the kind of father they believed he might become.

He felt her hand still resting in his own and found himself smiling in a way that was entirely unguarded.

“Thank you…”

His voice was quieter than before.

“I do not think anyone has ever said that to me.”

His silver eyes drifted briefly toward the viewport before returning to hers.

“My father always believed that the measure of a person was not how well they commanded others…”

He smiled faintly.

”…but how well they cared for those who depended upon them.”

He paused.

“I did not truly understand what he meant when I was younger.”

A soft chuckle escaped him.

“I was convinced he was simply finding new ways to keep me out of trouble.”

His expression grew thoughtful.

“Perhaps I understand a little better now.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“If I were fortunate enough to become a father one day…”

His antennae lifted slightly.

“I would hope my children remember me with the same affection that I remember my parents.”

A comfortable silence settled between them for a few moments before he spoke again.

“You know…”

A warm smile crossed his face.

“When I invited you to dinner…”

He shook his head gently.

“I imagined an enjoyable evening.”

His eyes met hers.

“I did not expect to leave knowing someone understood me better than they had a few hours before.”

There was no awkwardness in his tone.

Only quiet honesty.

“I am very glad you accepted my invitation, Elyss.”

His thumb absently traced the back of her hand.

“I have enjoyed every moment of this evening.”

He smiled warmly.

“And…”

A hint of his dry humour returned.

“I suspect we may have thoroughly confused the server.”

His eyes flicked briefly toward the now-cleared dinner plates.

“We appear to have spent considerably more time talking than eating.”

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

OOC: Repost to keep it on the first page

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

Even though it was difficult to believe no one had ever gotten really personal with the Andorian before, Elyss was quick to assure him that what she’d observed was absolutely true in her eyes. She watched the man across the table with a new understanding. He appeared genuinely surprised by her observations about him.

“I don’t think our server has an opinion about us at all. I’m sure people come in here all the time and don’t finish their orders. We aren’t the main players in his life–just in our own. No reason for him to pay attention to us at all.”

She squeezed his hand to underline her words. “So, now that we’ve had our dinner, what would you like to do now? Is it time for us to return to our quarters or did you have something else in mind?” Thalos’ options were endless now.

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack