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Side sim - Hello, again (Sinclair)

Posted March 27, 2020, 8:50 p.m. by Lieutenant Ush'ast Rah-Triton (Security Officer) (Melissa Aragon)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Royal Sinclair (Chief of Security) in Side sim - Hello, again (Sinclair)

Posted by Lieutenant Ush’ast Rah-Triton (Security Officer) in Side sim - Hello, again (Sinclair)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Royal Sinclair (Chief of Security) in Side sim - Hello, again (Sinclair)
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Sha’s check in with the Captain had been relatively uneventful. It had gone a lot easier than she thought it would, all things considered. Now she stood outside Sinclair’s quarters with a bottle of white wine in her hand and wondering is she should go change back to her uniform. She had tried not to assume how the night would go, so her attire was relatively simple, yet flattering enough to show she had put some thought into it.

Her hair was loose down her back, drawn off the sides with a barrette that kept it out of her face, but allowed the length. She was wearing a soft blue tank style top that draped like a short sleeve on one side, yet left her left arm completely bare. The asymmetric ruffle detail flattered her figure without drawing undo attention to it (1). The matching leggings had an attached skirt and came down to her calves. Once more it left the impression she was dressing to impress, but also erring on the side of casual (2).

The Security Officer raised her hand and tapped the chime to announce her arrival. As she waited for the door to open, she tugged at her clothing again and smoothed her hair with nervousness. How was it that a man she had been comfortable around just a couple months ago, was once more an issue of anxiety for her? A lot had happened in the time she was gone. And while her long hair and sleeved arm covered the evidence of just how bad the mission had been, she still still felt as if she was going into a blind situation with no idea what the outcome would be… and it frightened the half Klingon far more than going into that last room had been a week ago. She took a deep breath and started to turn. She’d go put her uniform on. It was safer that way.

Ush’ast Triton
Security LT

(1) http://wheretoget.it/look/272071
(2) https://www.betabrand.com/skirt-pant-hybrid-womens?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwguzzBRBiEiwAgU0FT7qstKJdOZBacEwZ1UAcw4q2f0D3nUOrMkC_4q978RwQo0ZdFY-k8BoC1SwQAvD_BwE ((image same color as top))

As she turned, the door opened. The frame of the room’s occupant filled it as Royal looked down and smiled. “Heya. C’mon in.” he said nonchalantly, and turned and headed inside

Dressed in jeans with a loose fitting white peasant’s shirt and brown boots, he looked almost like he was getting ready to go work in the fields. Accompanying him was the aroma of… spices and roasted meat. And something more flowery, but still delicious.

The room, which Sha had seen before, hadn’t changed much. The models were still everywhere, but the room was a bit more… relaxed… than previous. The lights were low, and soft music played, but barely audible.

“Glad you came.” Royal said over his shoulder as he went to the desk, next to which stood a wheeled cart on which sat three silver domes of various sizes. “I hope you’re hungry. I made lots.” and he rolled the cart over to the other addition to the room: a small table draped in dark red linen with deep blue napkins folded next to the two place settings. “Care to take a seat? Or would you like a drink before dinner?” he asked as he looked at her, a grin playing across his features briefly.

Sinclair, CoS

Sha smiled brightly and turned like nothing was amiss. “Hi… ummmm thanks.” She followed him in and paused as the door behind her closed. “Finally got unpacked, huh?” She laughed softly as she started to relax. Last she had been in there he was still unpacking.

Get eyes drifted to the shelf where a hand made, old fashioned tall ship from the 19th century was sitting. A soft smile and blush touched her cheeks a half second remembering when she’d held it.

Turning back as he spoke of dinner and her appetite. “Actually, I don’t think I’ve eaten since breakfast, come to think of it. So I’ll do my best not to disappoint.”

Glancing at the bottle in her hand, she shook her head and held it towards him. “Sorry…I brought a dessert wine. I can fetch something different if you prefer a glass before dinner.” Sha was second guessing herself. Had she over dressed… brought the wrong drink… completely botched the evening?

Trying to relax and ignore the itching in her mind, she stepped towards him so he could take the offered bottle.

Sha

Royal reached for the bottle and took a look at the label. “Nice choice. It will go nicely with dessert.” and he glanced up at her. “But I have a little something that may wet our palates. Hang on a sec.” and he went behind the desk and into a low cabinet. Retrieving a bottle and a corkscrew, he handed both to Sha and said “Care to do the honors? I need to makes sure the side dish set up right.”

Royal was calm and relaxed, but he knew Sha. And he knew she was overthinking their current situation. As he went over to the cart, he stopped just next to her and looked down and spent a long moment letting his eyes wander over her outfit. Then, looking straight into her eyes, he said “You look amazing.” and gave her a wink.

Sinclair

She took the bottle and screw and noticed it was a nice full bodied wine the would not only go with dinner, she was sure, but also not taint their palettes for the lighter version she had brought along.

As Sinclair moved nearer to Sha, she felt the heat rise in her body. While she may be worried her mind wasn’t sure what it wanted, her body fully remembered as his scent filled her nose. When he complimented her, that was all it took. The last bit of tension left her body and she shifted the corkscrew to the hand holding the bottle. With her now empty hand, she reached out to touch his chest and take a step closer. Not close enough to completely close the gap, but enough to let him know she was going to be all right this evening.

Smiling, she nodded to his own attire. “And you always look good.” The words sounded awkward, but the meaning was there. She dropped her hand and moved closer to the table to set the bottle down to brace it for opening.

Sha

“I know. It’s a curse, but one I’ve learned to live with.” he replied and laughed. He then moved past her, just close enough the back of his hand glided ever so lightly across her lower back. He moved himself opposite her on the other side of the table, and lifted the largest dome. Underneath were porterhouse steaks, medium rare, with herbed butter melting on top of them. The char marks meant they definately didnt come from the replicator. Next to each on their plates were mashed potatoes… but they were ever so slightly darker than just regular potatoes.

Next he lifted the second largest dome, under which was a single bowl of salad, and the source of the flowery smell. “Mixed greens and melon with rose water and honey dressing. My Granddad’s recipe. Never fails to impress.” and he grinned at her again. “But… the meat needs to rest, so we have a few minutes. Want to sit on the couch after you get that bottle open?”

Sinclair

“I’m sure it’s a burden,” Sha laughed at him. Her eyes closed slightly as he caressed her back. Partly because it pleased her, partly because she worried he’d feel the scars. When he moved around to show the dinner fare, she laughed once more. “Steak and salad and you worry you did wrong. It’s perfect.” When he suggested sitting down for a bit before eating, she nodded and popped the cork on the wine. “Should probably let that rest a moment as well, don’t you think?”

“It hasn’t breathed in fifty years, so why start now? Pour the wine.” and he chuckled while handing her two glasses.

She moved towards the couch and sat down. She didn’t sit close enough to the edge to suggest seperation, but not close enough to the middle to force him to sit close. “You managed to unpack everything, I see. I’m glad you are settling in. My place needs a good dusting. The ship filters kept it down, but for three months you can’t keep everything medical bay sterile.” She leaned back and enjoyed watching him move around the room.

Sha

Sinclair sat near one end, but turned slightly so he was facing her. Lifting his glass to her, his brogue softened slightly as did his look. “Welcome home, lass. You were missed.”

Sinclair

Sha poured the glasses and when he made a toast, she was ready to do the same. “It’s good to be here…” she smiled a bit softer. “You were missed as well.” Taking a sip, she leaned back against the couch and relaxed. “So tell me, Doc… how did you end up with a phaser on your hip instead off your padd? Decided shooting was easier than talking when it comes to us crazies?” She laughed and wondered why NE Lt JG Harrison hadn’t ended up as CoS. He had been her suggestion upon departure.

Sha

Royal took a sip and looked at her for a long moment in silence. Finally, he said “Captain asked. I agreed. Simple as that.” and he took another sip. “So now it’s my turn to ask you a question.” and he set the glass aside and leaned back, setting one massive arm on the back of the couch and one on the arm rest. “What are we gonna do now? Or rather… what do you think we should do now? Our situation has changed a bit. And while I know nothing ever actually was discussed or transpired… and unless I am the worst at reading people and situations… I, at least, think we were on our way to.... well… spending time together in a non- work related manner? Is that right, or am I as big a fool as I could be?”

His face wasnt stern, but there was a bit of… something… in his tone. Apprehension, maybe?

Sinclair

Asked and answered… something told Sha there was more to it than that. But she let it go. Just like her own history, some things weren’t meant for small talk.

When he tossed the ball into her court about where they stood, she sensed something in him. She wasn’t sure, but she wondered if that’s how she seemed when she came in. Apprehensive and nervous.

She shifted position so her own arm could rest on the back of the couch and her hand lightly brushed his arm. “You aren’t wrong. I would like that very much. I know we didn’t say it before, and on my side, I am sorry for that. The whole time I was gone I realized it was a mistake. I want you to know, Sinclair, you grew to mean a lot to me. I wanted to say it now, before anything else happened.” She lost her nerve, then. Her eyes went down to the half glass of wine in her hand and she wondered if she had said too much. The whole time she was gone she wished she had said something. If the mission had gone wrong, he would never have known. But she was back. And she wanted him to know how she felt, regardless of the outcome.

Sha

Royal watched her again for few long moments and then said “I appreciate that, Sha. And I feel the same. But…” and he picked up the glass and took a slow drink, knowing her brain would go into warp trying to figure out what was coming. For some reason, he really enjoyed getting her flustered. Probably because he had never seen her flustered by anyone or anything.

“You didnt answer my question. What do you want to happen now? What do you see happening between us? And what do you want to happen?”

Sinclair

That ‘had’ been the question… hadn’t it. She took a deep breath and looked up at him. Her hand moving to rest on his. “I ‘want’ us to see where this goes. I can see us being happy together, Sinclair. Can you? You ask what I ‘want’ to happen, and I will tell you. I want to kiss you because ‘you’ want to.”

This was a boldness Sinclair probably wasn’t used to seeing in her in her personal life. It had never been a strong point in her personal life. But whatever else this mission had done to her, she had grown bolder. She looked at him now, with nearly the same look of curiousness and apprehension that he had.

Sha

“Royal. Sinclair is for work. And I’m really happy to hear you say that, for a multitude of reasons. Ok, I am about to really piss ya off, lady. But know I have good reason to.” and with that he slid his hand from under hers to the sill below the window behind the couch and there was a small ‘click’ , and he picked up a small recording device.

“So. Two things. First. As I am officially your boss, I wanted to protect you and I from any stupidity that may arise from.. whatever we decide this is or will be. Now, no one can say that you are using me to get promoted or any other random crap that is libel to spew forth from the unwashed masses. Two…” and he grinned “I have it on file that you like me.” and his characteristic childish grin came to the fore. “You really, really like me. NO TAKE BACKS!”

Sinclair

The ‘click’ made her bristle. And seeing the recording device, her first instinct was to toss the glass in his face and storm out. How DARE he record them!

Sha managed to control herself but the tenseness in her body made her look like a creature about to pounce. Sliding her arm off the back of the couch, the woman managed to set the glass on the table before she broke it in her hand. She grit her teeth and rose to walk away from him as he tried to explain himself. Looking out the window would have put her closer to him so she took a few steps and wound up facing the shelf with the ship on it.

He was protecting them both. That’s what he was saying. The ‘no take backs’ comment was momentarily ignored. His humor wasn’t going to work this time. She was livid. Her hands were clenched at her side. But when the pain of her nails, cutting into the flesh of her palms, reached her mind, she flexed them and crossed her arms instead. She stared at the ship in silence for a long moment. When the half Klingon spoke a moment later, it was low and soft and had an edge of a growl to it. “You should have told me....” she then turned to look at him. The same cold look was still on her face, but there was also a look of pain and betrayal. “Didn’t you trust me to understand your reasons? I’m no child, Sinclair.” She purposely used his last name. This wasn’t a moment of intimacy anymore.

Dropping her arms, she closed the distance between them a bit. “I’m no Academy freshman, or first assignment Ensign with no idea. I would have understood. I would probably have even agreed.” She glanced from him to the device and turned back to look at the shelf. Why was her eye always drawn to the ship? He had stood behind her, arms around her, helping her gently hold the model the last time she had been in here. It had felt good, feeling his chest against her back. There weren’t many humans who could make her feel slight, but he had that ability. But instead of intimidating her, it had been her feel warm… safe…

He always made her feel that way. Like he was protecting her, somehow.

Sha inhaled deeply and then exhaled. He was protecting her again, and she was mad. Typical her… typical Sha…

She shook her head slightly, eyes closing as she crossed her arms once more. “I’m sorry…” was all she managed before falling silent.

Sha

Royal didnt movement except to put his hands in his lap and lean forward. “I could have told you, yes. I could have asked we have this conversation in the office, too, but that would have been equally foolish. We, you and I, need something tangible to show that one; you arent trying to seduce me for your own personal gain. And two, that I wasnt coercing you into this for my own gratification.” He stood and walked over to the window, putting a few more feet between them, and looked out as the stars streaked by.

“You are important to me. Honestly, I dunnae know how deep I feel about all this. But I do know that what we are on the brink of is either going to be absolutely fantastic or absolutely horrendous. I can deal with the latter happening as long as I know I did everything I could to protect your career. Because if we were to try and make a thing out of this… which I think is what we both want… then we have to make sure we are looking out for each other. Personally… and professionally. That’s the only way we can see how far this -” and he motioned back and forth between the two of them, “- will take us.” and he leaned and put his arms against the window.

“If you want to leave, I understand. It’s a lot to process. And it was a crappy thing to do to you on our first date, I know. Lord, how I know. But it had to happen at some point. Better now than further down the road when damage was done and we try to mitigate it. This way, we can either start off knowing we have solid evidence that this is real… or at least could be real. Or we can call it off before we get too deep. I wont make that choice for you, lass. Just know that I really do want to. But the choice is yours.”

Royal Sinclair

Her back was to him as he explained. It made sense to Sha, but she didn’t have to like it. There were plenty of ways, at least in her mind right now, that she thought this could have been handled. But it was passed…

Her brows furrowed as said he wanted her as much as she wanted him. As she processed that, her calmer, human half, told her to shut up and let it go. It wasn’t out of maliciousness or meanness. He had done it, like everything else he did as a Councilor, to look after her well being. When Sha turned back to face him, she looked at him with eyes that refused to cry, but a grit to her teeth saying it was a bit of a chore.

“I want to be mad. You ‘should’ have told me. I wouldn’t have minded… at least I don’t think I would have. I like to think I wouldn’t have. I want you just as much, Royal.” His first name fell from her lips for the first time as if she had always called him that. “I don’t know what to do. Part of me wants to storm out and be mad. But you did it to protect me. To protect us. So I can’t be mad. At least, not reasonably.” She dropped her arms to her side, moved back to the couch and half sat, half collapsed. “I don’t know what to do from here…”

Part of her wanted to lunge at him, kiss him and and assure him everything was fine. The old her, the Klingon half, wanted to shove him against the wall and make him swear he’d never try subterfuge on her again… then kiss him. She sighed and took a long draw of her wine as she sat there.

Sha

Royal didn’t move, didn’t speak. He just stood and looked at the stars. For a few long moments he just stood, as if lost in the view. Finally, he took a deep breath and turned. He walked slowly to the table where the food sat and grasped the corners of the table cloth and, in one swift motion, scooped the entirety of the contents up in a makeshift sack, and in two long strides put himself in front of the recycler and tossed the contents in. “Dinner is over.” he said as he turned around and looked at her.

Royal

His reaction startled her. She had said something wrong. Sha knew she had once more blown it. Nodding in resignation, she slowly stood up and moved to place the nearly empty goblet in the same place. She looked up at him with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Sinclair…” She turned to head for the door wondering how they would recover from this.

Sha


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