Posted by Lieutenant Elyss Zavey (Chief Science Officer) in Leaving the Fantail Lounge and heading for the observation deck - Thalos and Elyss date

Posted by Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik (Chief Of Security) in Leaving the Fantail Lounge and heading for the observation deck - Thalos and Elyss date

Posted by Lieutenant Elyss Zavey (Chief Science Officer) in Leaving the Fantail Lounge and heading for the observation deck - Thalos and Elyss date
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
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

Thalos listened to her, his expression softening as she squeezed his hand.

For a moment he simply looked at her, considering the question.

There was an obvious answer. They could return to their quarters, and the evening would end pleasantly enough.

But he found that he wasn’t quite ready for it to end.

“Well…”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“I had intended for dinner to be the evening’s entertainment.”

His thumb gently brushed across the back of her hand.

“It seems I may have underestimated how much I would enjoy your company.”

He glanced toward the viewport, where the stars continued their silent passage beyond the lounge.

“I don’t particularly want to return to my quarters just yet.”

His attention returned to Elyss.

“If you would like, we could take a walk.”

He paused, a slightly amused expression crossing his face.

“Perhaps somewhere quieter than this. We could find a viewport and watch the stars for a while.”

His antennae shifted subtly.

“Or, if you have something else in mind, I am willing to be persuaded.”

There was a hint of playful challenge in his voice now.

“After all, you did ask what I wanted to do.”

His smile widened slightly.

“I suppose it is only fair that I allow you the opportunity to discover whether I have any imagination beyond dinner.”

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

“I’m up for a walk or watching the stars.” She finished the last of the wine in her glass and blotted her mouth on the napkin. “Lead the way.” A contented smile settled on her face as she rose from the chair. The flash of a thought crossed her mind. What would other crew members do when they saw the Andorian holding hands with her as they walked the corridors? When she’d first noticed Thalos, she was impressed by his ability to stay calm and unflappable, his focus no matter the situation and his ability to listen closely enough to hear what she was actually saying, not putting his own stamp on her words.

As he rose to stand next to Elyss, she slipped her hand into his and gave him a nod. She was ready to follow him wherever he wanted. “The night is still young.”

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack

Thalos rose from his seat, a genuine smile appearing as Elyss slipped her hand into his. Her final words earned a subtle lift of his antennae.

“The night is still young.”

He repeated the words thoughtfully, as though considering them.

“I believe I like the sound of that.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before turning toward the lounge exit, making no attempt to hide the fact that he was quite happy to be seen walking beside her.

As they stepped into the corridor, Thalos glanced down at their joined hands before looking toward Elyss.

“I was thinking somewhere on the observation deck.”

His voice was quieter now that they had left the lounge behind.

“Somewhere we can enjoy the stars without having to compete with the music and conversation.”

He walked at an unhurried pace, allowing her to set the rhythm beside him.

After a moment, a faintly mischievous smile crossed his features.

“And I should warn you…”

His antennae angled slightly toward her.

“I may have a tendency to point out the constellations as we pass them.”

A brief pause.

“Although I suspect your knowledge of astronomy is considerably better than mine.”

His smile widened.

“So perhaps you can tell me which stars I am looking at, rather than the other way around.”

He continued down the corridor with her hand comfortably held in his.

For perhaps the first time that evening, Thalos wasn’t thinking about his duties, his next shift, or the responsibilities waiting for him aboard the Merrimack.

He was simply enjoying walking beside Elyss.

And he had no particular desire for the night to end yet.

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

Elyss fell easily into step beside him. She had expected him to release her hand once they entered the corridor. He didn’t. The realization came gradually, somewhere between the lounge doors closing behind them and the first junction in the corridor. His fingers remained comfortably intertwined with hers. No hesitation. No awkward glance around to see who might be watching. Something about that pleased her far more than it probably should have.

A pair of junior officers approached from the opposite direction, deep in conversation. Elyss felt herself become suddenly conscious of Thalos’ hand around hers. She wondered if he would notice them. Of course he noticed them. Thalos noticed everything. But his hand remained exactly where it was. The officers gave them polite nods as they passed.

“Lieutenant.”

“Doctor.”

Elyss returned the greeting, managing to keep her expression perfectly composed until they were several meters farther down the corridor. Then she glanced sideways at him. There was no reaction. Apparently walking through the Merrimack holding hands with her was not something Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik considered worthy of tactical reassessment. She bit back a smile. She liked that. More than liked it, if she was being truthful. She had spent part of dinner wondering what this was becoming. Now, walking beside him, she realized she wasn’t particularly interested in defining it. Not tonight. Tonight she simply wanted to experience it.

His hand was warm around hers. His stride was naturally longer, but he’d shortened it without comment to match her pace. Every so often his shoulder came close to hers as they walked, and she became ridiculously aware of those few inches separating them. She stole another glance upward. He really was an attractive man. That thought had become increasingly difficult to pretend she wasn’t having. The antennae were still fascinating, though not in the detached, scientific way they once had been. She was beginning to recognize some of their movements now—the slight inclination toward her when she spoke, the lift that accompanied amusement. She wondered what else they revealed. And whether someday she might understand him well enough to read them before he said a word. That thought was unexpectedly intimate.

Elyss looked ahead before he could catch her staring. “Constellations?” she said, amusement creeping into her voice. “You realize you’ve just made a rather dangerous offer.” She squeezed his hand. “Because if you point at something and confidently identify the wrong star, I’m going to have to correct you.” She looked up at him again, blue eyes sparkling. “And then your reputation as the calm, knowledgeable Chief of Security will be permanently damaged.” A beat passed. “At least with me.” Her smile softened. She realized suddenly that she wanted that. Not to damage his reputation. To know the man nobody else saw. The boy who climbed towers. The son who still spoke of his father with affection. The man who wanted a home and comfortable silences and perhaps, someday, a curious child.

And the Andorian walking beside her now, holding her hand as though he had absolutely no intention of letting go. Elyss moved a fraction closer to him. “Come on, Lieutenant.” Her voice became quieter. “Show me your stars.”

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack

Thalos glanced down at her as she moved a little closer, a quiet smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

“That sounds remarkably like a challenge, Lieutenant.”

His antennae lifted slightly, amusement evident in their movement.

“I should perhaps warn you that I have been known to defend my opinions with considerable stubbornness.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“Although…”

His expression softened.

“I suspect I would be willing to accept correction from you.”

They continued toward the observation deck, his pace still deliberately matched to hers.

When the doors opened, the vast expanse of space unfolded before them.

Stars stretched endlessly beyond the transparent viewport, scattered across the darkness in patterns that had remained unchanged for countless generations.

Thalos slowed as they reached the glass.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

He simply stood beside her, still holding her hand, allowing the silence of the observation deck to settle around them.

Then he lifted his free hand toward the stars.

“That one there.”

He indicated a small cluster of stars some distance from the ship.

“That is the first one I remember learning.”

His voice became quieter.

“On Andor, my father would take me outside at night when the skies were clear.”

A faint smile appeared.

“He taught me that our ancestors used the stars for navigation long before we developed the technology to cross between them.”

His eyes remained on the distant cluster.

“He told me that no matter how far we travelled, there would always be something familiar waiting above us.”

He turned his head slightly toward Elyss.

“I didn’t understand the significance of that when I was a child.”

A quiet breath escaped him.

“I think I do now.”

His gaze returned to the stars.

“Perhaps that is why I still find them comforting.”

He paused before adding, with the faintest hint of mischief:

“And for the record, I am reasonably certain I have identified that one correctly.”

His antennae angled toward her.

“But if you wish to challenge my reputation as a knowledgeable security officer…”

A small smile appeared.

”…I suppose I shall have to give you the opportunity.”

He looked at her for a moment longer than necessary.

“Though I should warn you.”

His voice softened.

“I suspect I might enjoy having someone who knows enough about the stars to correct me.”

He turned back toward the viewport, but his hand remained firmly intertwined with hers.

“Perhaps you can show me yours.”

A beat passed.

“Not the stars.”

His eyes met hers again.

“The ones that mean something to you.”

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

Elyss had expected the stars to hold her attention. They didn’t. Thalos did. She tried to follow whatever he was pointing out beyond the viewport, but her gaze kept drifting back to him—the silver of his eyes, the strong line of his face, the subtle movements of his antennae. She’d known she found him attractive. Standing this close to him made her realize she’d considerably underestimated how much. Their shoulders brushed, and the tiny contact sent an unexpected warmth through her.
Her eyes dropped briefly to his mouth. What would it be like to kiss him? The thought came far too easily.

She looked back at the stars and discovered she hadn’t heard a word he’d said. A quiet laugh escaped her. “Thalos?” She waited until he looked at her. “I have a confession.” Her blue eyes met his. “You’ve been talking about the stars for several minutes…” She moved a little closer, a teasing smile appearing. “…and I haven’t heard a word.” Her gaze lingered openly on him. “I’m finding the astronomer considerably more interesting than the astronomy.”

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack

For several seconds, Thalos simply looked at her.

His antennae had already betrayed him, angling subtly toward her as he took in the meaning behind her words. A faint smile touched his lips, slow and unmistakably pleased.

“Well,” he said quietly, “that is a rather serious criticism of my teaching.”

There was a trace of amusement in his voice, but his gaze remained on hers. He glanced briefly toward the stars beyond the viewport, then back to her.

“I had been under the impression that I was making a reasonably convincing case for Andorian astronomy.”

His smile deepened slightly.

“Clearly, I have misjudged my audience.”

He let the silence settle for a moment. Standing this close, there was little need to fill it.

“And here I was,” he continued, his voice softer now, “thinking I was showing you something I loved.”

His eyes searched hers, his expression becoming more thoughtful.

“Perhaps I should have realized that I was standing beside something considerably more distracting.”

The words were delivered without bravado. For once, the usually composed Chief of Security seemed perfectly content to let the meaning speak for itself.

His gaze dropped briefly toward her lips before returning to her eyes.

“Although,” he added, a hint of that familiar dry humor returning, “I should warn you, Elyss. If you continue looking at me like that, I may begin to suspect the stars have very little chance of getting your attention back.”

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

Elyss caught it. That brief drop of his eyes to her lips. Her breath caught, and suddenly the warmth spreading through her had very little to do with embarrassment. So she hadn’t imagined this. Whatever was happening between them, Thalos felt it too. Her eyes stayed on his.

“I’m afraid the stars lost that competition some time ago.” There was teasing in her voice, but the look she gave him was anything but casual. She stepped closer. Near enough now that she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his eyes. “And for the record…” Her gaze deliberately dropped to his mouth before slowly returning to those silver eyes. “…you’re not the only one who’s been caught looking.”

Her heart was beating much too quickly. She wondered whether he could tell. She suspected his antennae weren’t the only things capable of giving someone away. Elyss smiled, softer this time. “So what happens now, Lieutenant?” She let the question linger between them. “Do you keep trying to teach me astronomy…” Her fingers tightened gently around his. “…or do we finally admit neither one of us is thinking about the stars anymore?”

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack

OOC: I almost missed this, the tag was removed.

Thalos held her gaze.

For once, he had no immediate reply.

His antennae angled toward her, betraying the composure he otherwise maintained so carefully. Her words had left very little room for misunderstanding, and the warmth in his expression made it clear he understood exactly what she was asking.

His eyes flicked briefly toward the stars beyond the viewport.

Then back to her.

“I believe,” he said quietly, “that continuing the lesson would be rather pointless.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“Although I must admit, I had prepared several more constellations.”

There was a hint of dry amusement in his voice, but it faded as his attention settled fully on her again.

He stepped closer, closing the small remaining distance between them.

“I think,” he continued, softer now, “we’ve both been remarkably patient.”

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips once more before returning to her eyes.

“So perhaps we should stop pretending this evening is about the stars.”

His hand tightened gently around hers.

Thalos paused there, close enough that neither of them needed to wonder what he meant, but he didn’t rush the moment.

“Unless,” he added with the faintest hint of a smile, “you’d prefer I find another constellation to distract you with.”

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack