Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Karilan’s Apartment- The Way You Know Me

Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in Karilan’s Apartment- The Way You Know Me

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Karilan’s Apartment- The Way You Know Me
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It was a heady combo of contentedness, excitement, and desire that fulled Eela as she left the club. Gan said nothing, made not even a comment, nor gave her even a look as she stepped out of the slider. She knew full well that not only was her protection detail discreet (nothing was shared outside of the team), Gan was quietly glad that Eela was doing something for herself. Eela could swear Gan almost approved of Eela’s unexpected plans. Anything was probably better than pacing her apartment worried about work or dealing with the bouts of insomnia that came and went lately. It wasn’t detrimental, but nor was it helping her situation.

Striding through the entrance courtyard, no one would suspect that she was in fact still quite tipsy. But this was not her first late night stroll.

Eela passed through the entrance with a little wave to the security after saying hello enough for them to know it was her. Given they didn’t bat an eye she suspected her team had already let them know she was on her way. Figures.

Up through the lift, Eela could feel her heart beating and smiled deeply to herself. There was something delicious about this sort of anticipation. It never got old. That it was Karilan wasn’t a surprise to her, but it wasn’t obvious that this next step would happen anytime soon. Though perhaps that was her being silly. Things had shifted dramatically between them since Cory’s intrusion. That Karilan had basically refused to leave her alone too long after Dash was actually the most comforting thing.

Comfort was not the thing on her mind tonight, oh no. When that illuminating thought (I wish Karilan was here) had traipsed through her mind up in the rooftop lounge, Eela had known on a deep level that things were far deeper between them than either of them were ready or understaood how to express. But as always, they knew that not everything needed saying, or labelling. That was the beauty of them, of their connection.

Tonight, right now, Eela also understood that certain things needed to be said, acted upon. If Karilan was ready. Though the Deltan was a little less than half her age, Eela never once thought it mattered. Eela had experience; Karilan had a newfound joy of self discovery that she found lovely and even intoxicating.

Opening the door and stepping in, her low strappy heels clicked on the stone floor. She moved through the small entry way and carefully down the three wide steps that led to an open living room. On one of the large couches she spied the person she was most looking forward to seeing just now.

Karilan sat on the couch in a set of Betazed silk pajamas, their legs up and tucked back behind their thighs. They looked up as the door opened and smiled, setting aside the book they had been reading. As Eela / Uvie came into the room, the smile on Karilan ‘s face crossed with slight confusion.

Eela all but sashayed into the living room towards the opposite couch and sank into it. The thigh high cut of her asymmetrical dress revealed more of her leg than eve the photo she had sent Karilan earlier. With the wig (complete with blunt cut bangs), she still embodied Uvie but was very much Eela in this moment. That was the beauty of taking on a personality that was a piece of yourself you couldn’t always let free. Tonight, Uvie got full reign to do as she pleased and Eela just went along with it.

Karilan made attempt to hide their look as the cut of Eela’s dress showed far more flesh than it did dress. “Well someone has had a good night, it seems…” they said with a soft laugh.

Her hazel eyes were all but backlit as she gazed at Karilan. Her eyes glanced at the tea and then back at the Deltan. “Lan, are you sure tea is what you’re in the mood for?” she said, quirking a brow as a playful smile traipsed across her lips.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Karilan u folder their legs to sit straight up. “Eela… exactly how drunk are you right now?” They asked with both a smile and a note of concern.

Karilan Massat, Owner - Quill and Parchment Bookstore

She let out a throaty chuckle. “Not as much as you might think,” Eela said. “I had a few drinks over the night, but Cort and I had some appetizers and I’ve been dancing a bit.”

She leaned back into the couch and tipped her head up, closing her eyes. “I danced. Not that way I truly wanted to, of course, but by inviting Uvie out tonight, she reminded me how much fun I used to have. I got to just be another person in the crowd soaking up the collective energy. No expectations, no worries about if I was making the right decisions, no processing things that take up so much energy. Just me. And them.” She brought her head down and her gaze level with Karilan’s, her smile deep and radiating from her eyes. “And all that was missing was you, Lan. I know we don’t have to label anything and that you understand my needs better than most, but I think I’ve been afraid, cowardly even, with my heart. It’s not a bad thing- it’s just where I’ve been. But I don’t want to keep repeating these same old tales with myself anymore. I’m done with it all. I don’t know exactly what it all means, or all that I want, but what I do know that I want is you. I hope your telling me to come over means you want me in the same way, but I also know that no matter what, we have something deep and inexplicable between us. And I want you to know from my own words just how extraordinary you are in my eyes. I know that I’m still not meant for monogamy, but I hope that doesn’t put you off of… whatever we might create for ourselves.” Life was so damn short and Dash’s death had shaken her out of her small bubble and reminded her that she wasn’t guaranteed time to figure it all out and that sometimes she was just going to have to take the risk and deal with the consequences. Her words flowed so easily because she meant them, but that didn’t mean that that saying them wasn’t just a little terrifying. Being open with Karilan didn’t scare her, but losing them did.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Bump

Karilan listened as Eela spoke, soaking in the words and feeling the genuine sincerity that echoed within them. After Eela had finished speaking, Karilan just looked at her for a few moments before they slowly stood up and walked around the low table and stood in front of Eela. ” Deltans didn’t have a word for monogamy until they encountered the Federation, so that is neither here nor there. But… and this is important… I will only give my heart to one person. I expect the same of that person. Anyone I choose to be with, I am the first in their heart as they are first in mine. Others may come and go, but if we are going to do this-” and they gestured back and forth between the two of them, “- then those are my rules.” They stepped back a half step and turned around and began walking down the hallway towards their bedroom. “If you agree, I will see you in here. If not, you can have the spare room for the night and we will have breakfast together in the morning as if this conversation never happened. It’s up to you.” They paused at the beginning of the hall and looked back. “No matter what, you are and will always be very special to me.” And with that, they turned and disappeared down the hall.

Karilan Massat, Owner - Quill and Parchment Bookstore

Their retreating footsteps echoed her heart beat and Eela sat there momentarily stilled. She understood, of course she did. And Karilan had every right to lay out boundaries just as she did. For some, it would be an easy decision, one way or the other. But not her. Not after everything she’d been through.

The truth was that in allowing herself to be more open with her heart and reclaim how she had always felt most at ease going through life, Eela had found a bit of healing. It had started that first unexpected night with Roger, then Kenzo, then Dash. Hell, if she were truly honest, there had been that R&R in 2390 where she had spent a several days in the arms of a wonderful woman by the name of Satrise. It had been then that the seeds of pondering her marriage had really begun. She had had intimate times with others over the years, as per her and Cory’s agreement, but it wasn’t until those days with Satrise that she realized she had been hiding. She hand’t even told Roger about her and that made her wonder why.

The answer was easy. She hadn’t been ready to end her marriage and find a new path that was kinder and more compassionate towards herself. She didn’t know how. But here she was, on Oed, knowing exactly what that path could look like. Knowing that she had the capacity to love many in many ways, but that she was still always a fiercely loyal person.

Karilan wasn’t asking her to give up anything, nor asking for her to compromise her values or needs in any way. That conversation with Kenzo over lunch where he so astutely commented on her feelings for Roger had made her really start to think about what she wanted. She loved Roger, she did. But was it romantic? Not precisely. There was an companionable ease with him borne of being someone’s confidant for decades. She knew he’d ask for more if he thought she was open to it, but she also knew that they both were happy with things as they were. Yes, they could take the risk, and yes, maybe even there could be times where they sought that intimate comfort from each other as she had that night she left Cory.

But Karilan was different. Could she precisely explain it? Perhaps not. But that moment in her bedroom after the Kuskaartiz had been a revelation that she had only just fully processed tonight, when she realized that Karilan Massat was someone she craved sharing the kanaar with. It was almost as much a need as the desire she was feeling tonight. Karilan had offered to help make it less traumatic, let it once again become something joyful. She wanted that.

With her answer announcing itself in her mind and her heart, Eela Dasca rose from the sofa, her brace whirring. She strolled barefoot down the hallway, past the guest room and came to stand in Karilan’s doorway. Her heart chose.

Karilan was seated at the foot of their oversized bed. The pajamas they had previously worn had been replaced with a pale blue robe that was closed and tied at the waist. They were leaned back, supporting themselves with their hands as their arms angled out behind them.

Bracing her arm on the doorframe, her hand slid up so that her body leaned against the doorframe. Hip jutting out, the slit of her dress revealed a swath of thigh. She also still had the wig of light brown straight hair covering her own hair, the blunt cut bangs obscuring her eyebrow ridges and bulges. “My heart is yours, and so am I.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Karilan smiled and said “That is the answer that I was hoping for.” They sat up straight and beckoned Eela forward with a single finger.

Karilan Massat, Owner - Quill and Parchment Bookstore

The anticipation of moments like these never get old. In fact, Eela cherished them deeply. It was one of the many reminders that she was alive. Certainly one of the more pleasant ones.

Pushing herself off the door frame, she reached up and carefully pulled off the wig. She loved the facet of herself that was Uvie. She glittered and radiated confidence. She was unabashedly herself and had no issues with flings and temporary respites in another’s bed.

Karilan was not a fling, nor a respite, even if she found great sanctuary in their presence. This moment had been building for some time and it demanded all of Eela’s presence, not a small piece of herself. Karilan deserved the best of herself that she could give, especially as they had been privy to her darker pieces.

Tossing the wig to the side, Eela stepped forward, her heart beating fast and a coy smile shaping her mouth.

She stepped right up to Karilan so that her legs touched theirs. Reaching her hands out , she brushed her fingertips along their bald head, drawing them down so she was cupping their face. The exquisite truth of them together was that Eela didn’t need to explain the precautions with her back once the brace was turned off and removed. It was all understood and factored in. And Karilan already knew Eela was an adventurous lover as evidenced by their conversation about bodice ripper novels and boxes under beds during the sorting of her books.

Used to always being in charge (and in one necessary time more recently taking the lead to learn to trust her own body again), Eela was more than ready to follow. It was the joke she had made after she had woken up from the risky solution to the Kuskaaritz.

Her smile touched her hazel eyes as she reached her thoughts out to Karilan. I’ll go where you take us.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Karilan slowly stood up and faced Eela directly. We go where we want to go… together. They leaned in slowly and their lips met Eela ‘s. But the physical contact was just a part of what they were starting to share. Far deeper than any touch or kiss, deeper than any telepathic link… the energy between them was a fundamental part of each of them. And it began to meld and shift into a single force… a singular drive to know one another. And it was into that drive that Karilan fell into with Eela right next to them.

Karilan Massat, Owner - Quill and Parchment Bookstore