Posted Sept. 13, 2020, 4:47 a.m. by Lieutenant Revna Edman (Counselor) (Jennifer Ward)
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Ethan Nash (Chief Tactical Officer) in Nash’s Quarters, Late Night Talks
After dinner Revna headed back to her quarters, which, luckily for her, were just down the corridor. She entered and sat down at her desk and leaned back. She breathed slowly forcing the air. Her hands were cold, but not tingling yet. But her chest was tight and the sensation made her feel like she couldn’t breath as deep as she really could. She checked the time, and she should have left dinner much earlier, at least for a few minutes, to do this. Rather than lean forward, she swiveled her chair so she could reach the small medical box on her desk. She placed it in her lap and opened it. She pulled out the hypospray the doctor had given her. She did another evaluation of the amount of pain and difficulty she was having, adjusted the dosage according the doctor’s instructions. She unbuttoned the top of her collar and pressing the hypo to the side of her neck, hit the button to administer the medicine. She replaced the hypo to the box and put it back on her desk. She closed her eyes as she waited for the medicine to start working. That was the beauty of hyposprays, they worked fast. It would only take a moment, and not minutes.
Now to decide if she was going back out. Of course if she asked Runa, Runa would send her to bed like a sick child. She smiled, it was a blessing to have her here, but really, it was curse too. Runa was bossy and nosy. Well, if Revna was honest, so was she when it came to her sister. While she waited for the medicine to kick in, Revna let the tighter braids out of her hair and wove them again into loser holds, simply to give herself something to do while she thought. Well the invitation was one she didn’t want to turn down, so now that the medicine was working, “Computer, Where is Lt. Cmdr. Nash?”
LT. CMDR. NASH IS IN HIS QUARTERS. Revna got the location and then headed out of her quarters, down the corridor and got on the turbolift. Once it stopped at the designated deck, she stepped out and down to her destination. She pressed the chime. When the door opened, with a michevious glint to her copper colored eyes, and half grin, “You said something about talking?”
Lt. Edman, Counselor“I lied,” Nash admitted, but he smiled. Not a smirk or a grin, but a small, genuine smile. “I hate talking, but come in and take a seat. I’ll get you a drink, you look like you could use something mellow.”
“Of course you did,” she tossed over her shoulder with a small smile as she walked into his quarters. “If you give me more cookie dough ice cream, I’ll forgive you.” It was a half hearted attempt at banter, something was on her mind, or bothering her. She took in the wide open windows, it making the room feel bigger than it was. She moved around to the couch to sit, leaning back into the corner taking in the room. Something mellow. That was accurate. So either she was wearing her thoughts on her sleeve, which she rarely did, or he was very good at reading people, or maybe just her.
He turned for a cabinet that was off to one side, an old thing with wooden doors framed by glass that opened to reveal a selection of real alcohol from across the galaxy, and a number of tumblers and glasses of various shapes and sizes to go with them. It showed a person with an eye for detail, rather than someone who simply drank for the sake of drinking. A purpose to what he did that showed thought rather than reaction. “I’m glad you accepted my invite though,” Nash told her, “I enjoyed our short stint in the nebula. Is there anything you fancy to drink in particular?”
Lt Cmdr Nash, CTO
She watched him open the cabinet and whistled short and low in appreciation of the contents. “That is a cabinet worth plundering, Nash.” She contemplated the question. She usually had a strict two drink limit, which she hit during dinner, but they weren’t particularly strong drinks, and Revna could drink most people under the table. Well she did before, anyway. “Something smooth with a subtle kick, or,” she shrugged not really having a preference. She smiled though, “I will never look at a nebula the same way again.” She glanced out the window remembering the colors dancing around the inside of the unique shuttle. “I’m glad you offered the invite,” she remarked turning her gaze back to him. “So if you don’t talk, what are going to do other than drink?”
Lt. Edman, Counselor
Nash laughed, a short and quiet sound as he took two glass tumblers from the cabinet and placed them on a small shelf that he had pulled out once the doors were opened. They were cold, the shelf they were kept on chilled with cool air from a small fan he had fitted into the cabinet. “That makes it sound like there is something else worth doing other than drinking. There usually isn’t,” he glanced at Revna, and his eyes spoke of the humor in his words. “Something smooth with a subtle kick, an after dinner drink that I can do.” He took a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream from the shelf and poured a measure into each glass, those measures being at least a finger more than what was considered correct. He was practical at least, and the Baileys substituted well for Ice Cream in his opinion.
Picking up both glasses, Nash turned back to Revna and the couch. “Computer, play some music, quietly,” he said, and walked over to join her as words started to gently sound from the sound system in his room. There were words only, and the voice was female and in the quiet, sounded haunting. The effect larger because of the low lighting that Nash kept in his room naturally.
They came for him, one winter’s night. Arrested he was bound.
They said there’d been a robbery, his pistol had been found.Handing the cool tumbler to Revna, Nash sat down beside her. He was close to her, he made no effort to sit at the other end of the couch and he sat back and visibly relaxed while music began to join the woman’s words. The sound wasn’t a common one and it was an instrument that wouldn’t be placed by a casual listener but sounded exotic, invoking the feeling of times long past. “Does the light bother you?” Nash asked, meaning the lack of bright light in his room and the view of the stars unimpeded by curtains in his quarters. “I keep it low, it suits me better but I can make it brighter if you like.”
Lt Cmdr Nash, CTO
Revna smiled softly, so not only did Nash smile, he laughed too. “If drinking is the only activity then there are two ways to do it. Knock back shots, or savor the finer choices.” She glanced at the cabinet, and then back at his eyes, “Savoring a collection like that, could take all night.” Obviously what he had was not for getting stupid. Many people often expected Revna to sip wine or even tea, but this, well not Bailey’s exactly, type of drink that Revna grew up with. “I could kick the Solo habit for this.”
She took the glass from him as he sat down next to her and sipped it. Bailey’s was one of her favorite’s if she was having something more desert oriented. “Almost as good as cookie dough ice cream,” she joked unknowingly reflecting his thoughts. The smooth drink was what she’d wanted, and she also knew she’d better sip slowly too. The kick of Bailey’s could sneak up on you. “No, low lights don’t bother me. The lights are fine.” The only time her own lights were every bright was when she was working. Not usually this low, but lower. “I prefer natural light, don’t get a lot of that on a space ship. Unless you know someone who can get a ship maneuvered to take advantage of a passing nebula.” The gold in her eyes danced in amusement. She still didn’t know how he’d managed that.
They marched to the station house, He waited for the dawn
And as they led him to the dock, He knew that he’d been wronged
“You stand accused of robbery,” He heard the bailiff say
He knew without an alibi, Tomorrow’s light would mourn his freedom
She took another sip listening to the music. A flash of recognition went across her face. She rested the chilled glass on the arm of the couch, her fingers on her empty hand began to tap out the rhythm before the instrument began to play. As the chorus began, Revna began to sing very softly. Her voice obviously had a similar haunting quality as the singer. But it neither had the volume or strength it used to.
Over the hills and far away, For ten long years he’ll count the days
Over the mountains and blue seas, A prisoner’s life for him there’ll be
She stopped mid-word. She just couldn’t manage it yet. She took a sip of her drink again. It was obvious she used to sing a lot. “A Hurdy Gurdy. Music from my homeland.” She shook her head, staring into the glass a moment. Nash was full of surprises.
Lt Edman, Counselor
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