Posted by Civilian Elijah Mercer (Professor / Scientific Advisor) in An evenings delight: A dash of style, sips and friendship (Tag Jason)

Posted by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Asst. Chief Medical Officer) in An evenings delight: A dash of style, sips and friendship (Tag Jason)

Posted by Civilian Jason Reilly (Assistant Director - Colonial Intelligence Agency) in An evenings delight: A dash of style, sips and friendship (Tag Jason)
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Eli, standing in the lobby, wore a navy-blue button-down shirt paired with well-fitted khaki trousers. The shirt’s sleeves were neatly rolled up, giving off a relaxed yet put-together vibe. His choice of a brown leather belt and matching loafers added a touch of sophistication to the ensemble. A silver wristwatch adorned his left wrist, subtly catching the light as he checked the time.

His neatly combed chestnut hair and well-groomed beard, and a faint hint of a refreshing cologne lingered in the air as he awaited the arrival of Jason and his fiancée. The overall appearance exuded a blend of professionalism and approachability, signaling both a readiness for a formal gathering and a genuine desire for a pleasant evening.

In his hands, Eli held a thoughtfully chosen bottle of local OED wine. The label indicated it was a rich red blend named “Stellar Harmony,” The deep burgundy hues of the wine echoed the warm tones of Eli’s attire, completing the ensemble for the evening.

Doctor Elijah Mercer
Professor / Scientific Advisor
Oed V

On the top floor of the building, Jason was standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up to see if Hannah was ready. He was dressed in navy blue slacks with a dark gray, button down collared shirt with abalone buttons. Dark brown shoes and matching belt showcased a comfortable yet sophisticated look. He smiled as he waited, until he finally walked up the stairs and to the open door into the bedroom. He leaned against the door frame and smiled as he caught her attention. Ready, love? We’re almost late. he signed.

Jason

Hannah turned as she caught movement in her peripheral vision. She smiled at him. Sorry, it took longer to scrub the day off than normal. Hannah had been working at a clinic at one of the mines, and there had been an accident. She’d come home covered in debris, dirt, and Blood- not her own.

She was wearing a midthigh length dress in a pale sage green with a matching floral paisley pattern. The bottom was trimmed in geometric stripes with a splas of colorful flora above that. It had cold shoulder sleeves that tied back together just above her elbows. She stepped into open toed flats and grabbed a small bag that held her combadge. Her long blonde hair was down around her shoulders and brushed until it curled.

She walked towards him, Ready. She stopped right in front of him and kissed him. “You look devastating.”

They left their apartment and took the express lift down to the lobby, exciting and moving toward the front. Hannah hadn’t met Mercer yet, but it was a goof bet the man waiting and looking about with a bottle in his hands was their guest and they moved toward him.

Hannah

Jason smiled at Elijah as they approached. “Mister Mercer, may I introduce Lieutenant Hannah Asimina… my fiancé. Hannah, Elijah Mercer.” He signed the letters of Elijah’s name as he spoke. Jason knew Mercer was a Doctor… and retired Captain and Professor… but Mercer himself had never told him that, and Jason wasn’t going to revel he had researh3d the new neighbor fully; as he did to everyone who moved into the building.

Jason

Elijah’s smile radiated warmth as he was approached by Jason and his fiancée, Hannah. “It’s good to see you again Jason.” In a moment of genuine curiosity and a desire to connect, he decided to learn a a small amount of Sign Language before the dinner. He had picked up the signs for ‘hello’ and ‘it’s nice to meet you.’ As he extended a friendly welcome to Hannah, Elijah placed the bottle of wine on the edge of a near by table and, with the motion of someone not practiced signed “Hello” by bringing his hand up to his forehead and then extending it outward. For “it’s nice to meet you,” he gently touched his fingers to his chest, then made a circular motion with his hand. He spoke the words as he usually would as to include Jason.

Hannah smiled, and it seemed she did a lot of that. It came easy and was welcoming. Mercer was using a different ‘dialect’ than what she used, but she knew it and followed easily enough. Thank you, she touched her finger tips to her chin and extended them outwards. When she spoke her voice had a thick accent that made it deeper and less enunciated than what would be expected. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mercer.”

“Thank you both for allowing me to intrude Into what I would guess have been a quiet night” he added finally.

Doctor Elijah Mercer
Professor / Scientific Advisor
Oed V

“No intrusion. Oed is a very beautiful place. We enjoy seeing it.” Hannah signed as she spoke. To most it simply looked like she was one of those that ‘talked with her hands’, and most didn’t realize it was it’s own beautiful language.

Lt Asimina, SFAMO

“Indeed it is, and we are looking forward to showing you some of it this evening.” Jason said. He looked at the bottle and said “Is that traveling with us? Or should we have the front desk hold onto it until we return?”

Jason

Apologies for the confusion. Let’s adjust that:

Elijah admired the seamless coordination of verbal and physical cues in Hannah’s communication, not wanting to stare, he casually picked up the bottle. “A small token of my thanks for firstly welcoming me to OED and secondly for this evening,” he expressed, offering the bottle to them.

With a lighthearted chuckle, he continued, “So, I do not know the local food choices, so I am completely at your mercy.”

Doctor Elijah Mercer
Professor / Scientific Advisor
Oed V

Hannah didn’t mind the stares, she was used to it from the curious. The ones who noticed. She found it polite rather than off putting. “Jason has excellent taste and knows all the best places. He has saved me from from the horrors of eating at the officers’ mess and the hospital cafeteria.”

Lt Asimina, SFAMO

“Well, Jason, it seems that you are the man in the know, so I think we should take your lead?” Elijah offered politely, not knowing enough about OED to select a place, and wondering if Jason had prepared somewhere with a reservation.

“I have just the place in mind.” Jason said with a grin. He led them outside to a waiting slider and held the door for Hannah. Once inside, they began to move through the city.

Hannah slid into the back of the slider. She greeted the driver warmly. She never used the car service unless she was with Jason, but Hannah noticed people, and no one was beneath or above her notice, and everyone deserved to be treated kindly. She slid across the seat and then settled into Jason’s side as the two men got in.

As they set off, he added, “So, Hannah, Jason explained to me that you’re in Starfleet medical? Do you enjoy it?” Elijah steered clear of the usual questions, opting for more trivial conversation.

Doctor Elijah Mercer
Professor / Scientific Advisor
Oed V

Jason

Hannah had a direct way of looking at people when they spoke, seeing more than just the person that was there. It was an adaptation, lip reading and body language, to help her pick up what sound couldn’t tell her. “I love my work. I won’t bore you with the gory details, but it’s very satisfying. I’m very lucky to have a career that allows me to pay forward my own good fortune. What do you do Mr. Mercer?”

Lt Asimina, SFAMO

Elijah engaged attentively. “Half the battle lies in discovering work that brings genuine fulfillment,” he remarked. “Presently, I serve as the Science Advisor to the government, and I also hold a teaching position at the local university. There’s a unique satisfaction in imparting my experiences and knowledge to the next generation of Federation minds,” he shared, maintaining the conversation while Jason continued to lead them through the bustling but navigable streets.

“So tell me, how did your paths meet? The exploration of the stars is only second to the exploration of love” he expressed.

Doctor Elijah Mercer
Professor / Scientific Advisor
Oed V

Jason grinned and said “We met on the sidewalk by a Cafe a few blocks from the apartment building. I chanced upon her, introduced myself, and the rest as they say us history.”

Jason

Hannah grinned as she glanced at Jason. She clearly adored him. “I didn’t realize I had dropped one of my implants, and he was chivalrous enough to return it to me. It was my first time out exploring Oed. I got lucky.” Even as she held Jason’s hand she continued to sign with the other. “What do you teach?”

Lt Asimina, SFAMO

Engaged in the flowing conversation, Elijah observed the genuine affection between the two individuals. When his turn came to contribute, he welcomed the opportunity to shift away from a subject where he lacked expertise. “I’ve yet to be formally integrated into the faculty, but my interests lie in social science—specifically, xeno-relations, political science, and anthropology. I’ve actually penned a paper or two about the Long-term Impact of First Contact Events on Indigenous Societies and Bridging the Gap Between Science and Diplomacy in Interstellar Relations. Though my primary focus is in social science, I do have some experience in xenobiology and a few other areas,” he explained, his voice demonstrating a clear passion for science.

Doctor Elijah Mercer
Professor / Scientific Advisor
Oed V

“That is quite a range. Do you have any prior experience teaching?” Hannah asked, genuinely interested in the answer.

Lt Asimina, SFAMO