Drop

Posted on Sun Nov 25th, 2018 @ 1:11am by

Mission: Run Afoul
Location: Holodeck 2/ Beata's Quarters
Timeline: Following "Drip"
1023 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Beata met his lips. A giddiness flooded through her. She felt the band give on her hair and it came cascading down past her shoulders and she didn't mind at all that Stef's hands were deeply entwined in it. She broke away though after a while, wanting to slow things down, both her his sake and hers. Beata smiled broadly at him though, to let him know she was not upset with the way things had turned out. "Let's get out of here."

"And go where?" He blinked in surprise. "Like this?"

Beata laughed, "Well I figured we'd dry off first and get dressed. Then maybe we can go back to my quarters. Just to talk."

"That is acceptable," Stef acknowledged, taking her hand as he started to wade back the way they'd come. "What would you like to talk about?" It was simple curiosity.

"Us?" It was both a statement and a question. "I'm sure we'll figure out something. We've had no trouble so far." She fought the urge to yawn eventhough she really hadn't gotten any swimming done. Beata grinned thinking about why. She hadn't been this happy in many years.

"Are you sure?" Stef asked earnestly, watching her stiffle a yawn "It seems to me you need a nap..." He got out of the water and started to dry himself off, awkwardly keeping the towel around his waist as he attempted to change.

"I'm sure," Beata dried herself off as well as she could then slipped on a loose dress over the top. She could change once she got back to her quarters. "I didn't sleep well last night but it's all right."

"Any particular reason?" Finishing getting dressed he slung the damp towel over his shoulder. "I mean, any reason you are not sleeping well?"

"I had a nightmare and I couldn't go back to sleep afterwards. I get them once in a while, no idea why. No one else seems to know why either though I had a counselor once who thought that they might be my body's way of responding to a repressed memory."

"That is possible," the teenager mused, recalling his own sleepless nights. "Perhaps we can explore your dreams? He held out his hand to her, finding it oddly comfortable to have her close. "You are human, are you not?" He asked carefully.

"Yes, There was some discussion among my parents that my grandmother had something else in her. But I don't know what, nor do I know why I remember that of all things. Doctor has never told me I was anything but human." She squeezed his hand as they began to walk.

"Perhaps because you consider it important?" Stef ventured, "have you considered asking Doctor Anderson to do more thorough scans? Or asking your grandmother directly?"

"I can't, she's dead. At least I think she is. I never met her, and no one ever came for me in the orphanage." Beata led him towards her quarters, the conversation waning in favor of just holding hands. She ran her thumb over the back of his hand absentmindedly. "Make yourself at home," she said as she walked toward the bedroom to change.

"I am sorry..." He glanced down at his hand as she let it go, the sensation of her touch lingering. He walked over to a couch and sat himself down. He waited patiently for her to return. "Have you ever tried tracing your lineage?" He asked as he waited for her to come back into the room. "You know who your parents and who your grandmother is, perhaps you can trace it further back?"

"I haven't," she called from the bedroom. "I guess I was always afraid of what I might find. Maybe that's something we can do together?" She came out dressed in a simple two piece lounge outfit. "Would you like something to drink or eat?"

"I will have a vegetarian version of whatever you are having," he answered her, " and I am certain we can do that.if you like. Perhaps we can enlist some help too...as I already suggested, perhaps the doctor can help us." He gave her a once-over and smiled in appreciation. She did look good.

"Hmm . . ." Well Beata thought she would just start with something to drink, she wasn't really hungry so she choose a sparkling water that was flavored with raspberries. She handed one to Stef upon returning to the sofa and sitting down next to him. "I'll look into it," she promised. "But in the meantime," she raised her glass towards his and lightly tapped them together. "To us," she grinned.

Stef raised his glass in return. "To us," he echoed, taking a small sip. "What do you usually do, when you are at home?"

"Not much, I'm hardly ever home. I usually just eat a meal and sleep by the time i get done with my shift. What about you?"

"I am hardly ever home. I prefer to sleep in the arboretum, if I am honest, because then I am on hand if animals need attention. From my home, I do administrative work as necessary."

"You sleep with your chickens?" Beata grinned at him. "I guess I better try and conquer that particular fear of mine or i might not ever see you unless it's there in the arboretum." She yawned again. "Sorry."

"I do sleep in my quarters...but I prefer the arboretum. It is quiet there at night." He smiled, setting his glass down as drawing her close to him. "Tired?"

"Yeah, do you mind if I close my eyes for a few minutes?" Beata grabbed a throw on the back of the couch an pulled it down over her before he'd even answered.

"Not at all," he said with a smile.

Beata smiled back, cuddled against him and was sleep before her head came to a complete rest on him.

Pulling up the throw, Stef leaned back, keeping an arm around her. Soon enough, he allowed himself to drift off too.

Ensign Beata Lauryl (PNCP by Saulitis)
Operations Officer
USS Majestic

Crewman Apprentice Stef
Yeoman/animal caretaker
Pnpc lhaes