A tale as old as time
Posted on Thu Jun 26th, 2025 @ 8:43pm by Captain Elijah Rutherford & Ensign Pearl Bijoux & Lieutenant Johnathan "Jack" MacGyver
Mission:
A Day In The Life
Location: Holodeck 2/Jack's quarters
2917 words - 5.8 OF Standard Post Measure
On:
Standing in holodeck 2, Jack was writing a program for his date with Pearl. He’d left a note in their quarters for her to meet him down here for a surprise. It’d been too long since he’d taken her out for a dance. Happy with his preparations, Jack hopped outside and waited for Pearl to arrive.
Pearl was surprised to see a note waiting for her upon the table, it was from Jack. Curiously she opened it and her eyes widened. He was planning something and it excited her. She quickly got cleaned up and changed into a black dress with a v neck style, its skirt hitting just a couple of inches above her knees, a pair of black heels. Her hair was brushed to where it gleamed in the light. A light touch of color to her lips and she was ready. The skirt of the dress flowed around her legs, and when she arrived at the holodeck 2, she paused to just admire Jack.
"Hello handsome." Pearl said softly.
Adjusting his collar while he waited for Pearl, Jack turned to face her when she spoke and his jaw immediately dropped open, “oh wow, who are you and what have you done with my Pearl” he said, giving her a smile and holding out his hand. Jack had chosen to dress in a deep blue tailcoat with long black pants and a white shirt.
A soft chuckle, Jack certainly knew how to wow her, ever since she and he met. She walked over and took his hand, "It's me, a fairy godmother waved a wand and changed me into this." stepping close to give him a gentle kiss. "Mmmm delicious." another appreciative look at his attire. “Jack, you look absolutely amazing.”
Jack smiled, “oh this old thing? Just a little something I had laying around” he said with a smirk on his face as he brought her hand up to give the back of it a kiss. “Now my princess, I want you to close your eyes for me. Please.”
Pearl closed her eyes, as Jack requested. Wondering just what he had planned, behind the closed door of the holosuite. Her skin prickled up with goosebumps, and anticipation.
Gripping her hand tightly, Jack carefully pulled her into the holodeck. As the doors opened, the smell of old leather and paper filled the air. It quickly mixed with a slight scent of burning candles as they moved further into the room.
Pausing in the middle of the room, Jack gave a wide smile, “ok, open them now”. As she opened her eyes, she found herself standing in the middle of a massive library with bookshelves lining every wall from floor to ceiling. The tables had been moved to the edges of the room, creating an empty space in the middle.
"Oh Jack, this is beautiful. And this also reminds me of something. Our-first date." Pearl smiling, her eyes sparkling with the memory. "You have changed my life immensely, and in a good way." coming up close to Jack and giving him a heartfelt kiss.
Wrapping her arms around her, Jack held her close as the kiss lingered. Pulling back just enough to look into her sparkling eyes, Jack gave her a smile, "Well I figured with everything that's happened lately, all the moving around and such, a little time to ourselves was in order" he said as he took one of her hands in his, placed the other on her hip and started to slowly sway back and forward.
She may have gotten the nickname of Princess, given to her by Major David Scarlet, and that had given her trouble. Jack though he can get away with it. Pearl matched steps with Jack thankful that she had taken dancing lessons. She wanted to surprise him with the new skill she was acquiring. "I agree, it seems almost forever since we've done this, even if we are living in the same quarters." giving a chuckle.
"It's the simple things in life that we often forget, isn't it?" Jack asked, the smile on his face only becoming brighter and warmer as they danced. Every day that he woke up beside her, Jack felt like the luckiest man in the galaxy to have stumbles into that gym on that day. Feeling the small box in his coat pocket rub against his chest, Jack's smile faltered for barely a moment as a feeling of uncertainty crossed his mind. In his heart, he knew he wanted to spend his life with this woman, have a family, grow old and retire to some pleasure planet after watching their children grow up and leave on their own adventures, but for some reason he didn't want to admit to himself, Jack felt hesitant about asking Pearl the question.
As they danced, Pearl felt rather happy. "That is true, about the simple things that make life worthwhile. Jack, you coming into my life was a huge turning point for me. Besides Major Scarlet, you made me feel valued made me want to improve instead of allowing myself to sink into a dark place feeling like I didn't and wouldn't amount to much. I felt like I found a home and I still feel that way. You make me feel whole."
"I'm glad that you can feel safe with me. It means more to me then you know to hear that from you." Jack said, noticing how well Pearl moved with him as they danced. His mind flashed back to their first date, the similar setting, the ball room, it was all so perfect. Even every time she stepped on his toes just added to the evening, even though he walked around with a limp for a week after, it was completely worth it. "I even wore a pair of steel capped shoes for the evening"
" I did warn you, about my dancing skills back then. Now though, I took some dancing lessons, taking pity on your toes." Pearl was able to follow his nudges and guidance as they moved around the room. "I uh am also learning how to cook. I've not dared serving you any of the dishes yet, as I've made a couple just a tad too sweet. One of them too salty." her eyes went round. "Oh crud that was supposed to be a surprise, of what I've been working on."
Jacks warm smile only grew as she spoke, “well I promise to act surprised if you ever cook something for us. Even if it’s overcooked and under seasoned” he said, holding her close, “computer, play my slow playlist.” He asked, looking up at the ceiling. After a tone of acknowledgment, the song ‘my heart will go on’ began to play.
Goosebumps ran up and down Pearl's arms, when Jack pulled her close to him, the notes that started playing. She found herself becoming lost in his crystal blue eyes, falling deeper in love with him. He was her all, she trusted him unconditionally. The words of the song sunk deeply into her heart.
Jacks smile seemed glued to his face as the evening went on. With his love in his arms slowly moving around the open space swaying in time with the music. Although his doubts about being in a committed relationship with Pearl was still there, every moment seemed to push that worry further and further into his subconscious. “You know, there’s been something I’ve been thinking about for a little while now” he said, as he pulls back from Pearl just enough for him to look down at her. “And I’d like to run it by you if you don’t mind”
"I don't mind at all." Pearl responded with a smile. "Even though I've not said it until now. You can talk to me about anything. Serious or otherwise."
Swallowing his nerves, Jack took a step back from Pearl and reached into his breast pocket, “Ms Pearl Bijoux, would you…..” he started as he moved to kneel on one knee.
Before he could continue, an authoritative male voice came through the intercom, interrupting the moment, “Lieutenant MacGyver, This is Captain Rutherford, can I see you in my ready room as soon as you’re available”
Giving a groan of irritation, Jack looked up at the ceiling, “on my way Captain” he said before standing back up again and took Pearls hands, giving her an apologetic smile, “well that kinda killed the mood didn’t it?”
Pearl's eyes went rather round when Jack knelt on the floor. She hadn't been anticipating anything like --wait, what was he doing? Was he going to ask her to marry him? She'd seen that happen before just-- "O-okay, um go ahead and see what the Captain wants. I'll be in our quarters" Mustering up a bewildered smile.
Jack brought Pearl’s hands up to his lips to give them a gentle kiss, “I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise” he said, taking hold of her chin, “chin up now, I’ll make it up to you, I swear” Jack leant in for a kiss before quickly walking out of the holodeck. He was going to have a few strong words for Elijah when he got up there.
"Okay uh. See you in a bit!" Pearl watching as Jack moved from the holo suite, the way he walked, she could tell he wasn't too happy about the call from Captain Rutherford. "Computer save program and close!" Pearl leaving to head for their quarters.
deck 1, Bridge
Stepping out of the turbolift, Jack marched down to the CO’s ready room and aggressively slapped the door chime. He hadn’t bothered changing out of his ball room costume as he wanted to get whatever this was over and done with so that he could get back to what was left of his planned date night.
Elijah had his back turned gazing out towards the stars when he heard the chime. "Enter!" the door opening to let Jack inside. He had some news for Jack.
Turning he looked towards Jack, "thank you for coming."
“This better be good Captain. You interrupted the perfect date I’d been setting up for almost a month now” Jack said in a rather gruff tone of voice as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Elijah raised an eyebrow at this, staring at Jack for a moment.He chose to ignore Jack's ire. "Well now, I think that you may like what I have to say. Its your choice to accept it. There has been a shifting of position assignments. You will be the Chief of Engineering now. We have a new chief of operations that has arrived. I've not met with her yet.Do you want the position?"
Jack froze as his brain short circuited, trying to process what Elijah had just said through his haze of irritation. Blinking in an effort to clear his mind, Jack stammered for a moment before finding his tongue again, “i…I’m sorry. I must have misheard you, did you just say that I’m Engineering Chief now?”
"Only if you want the position. I'm not going to force you to take the position. If you don't want it, I will have to look for another person." Elijah deadpanned. Elijah knew full well that He had boxed Jack into the Chief Operations position of which he was sad to do that to him.
Pausing for a moment, Jack took a quick breath in before releasing it in a sigh, “alright, let me get this straight, you interrupted my date to tell me this?” He said. Leaving a pause before continuing, “I’ll take it. Does it come with a promotion?” He asked, his earlier anger subsided and replaced with his usual casual attitude.
Elijah rubbed his chin, as he thought about what Jack requested, he almost wanted to tease the man, he decided not too. "You certainly are sure of yourself." he deadpanned, "However, yes, you will be raised to Lieutenant Commander."
Again, Jack paused for a moment. He hadn’t expected the promotion at all, he was actually just joking around when he asked about it. Jack’s face went from amused, to confused to surprised in the span of a few moments. “Wait, seriously?”
"Yes, seriously, unless you don't want it?" Elijah having a twinkle in his eyes, but it could be seen he wasn't joking about the rank raise. He walked over to the replicator and requested the pips, which showed up, in a black velvet box. "Here you go, and don't you have someplace to be, Commander MaGyver?" handing the box to Jack.
Taking hold of the box, Jack opened it for a moment before his brain clicked back into gear. “Oh shit, you’re right. Excuse me Captain” he said before speed walking out of the ready room. He’d deal with any insubordination charges later, he had a beautiful woman to get back to and an evening to salvage.
Elijah chuckled as he watched Jack swiftly disappeared from the ready room. He wished Jack and Pearl the best.
Jack and Pearl’s Quarters, Deck 3
Half running his way back to his quarters, Jack paused for a moment to calm himself down and to catch his breath begore stepping inside, “Pearl, you here?”
Pearl was kneeling on the sofa, gazing out towards the stars. her forearms leaning on the sill. When she heard Jack call for her, she called out, "I'm over here gazing out at the stars. They seem particularly beautiful tonight." Glancing over her shoulder towards her beloved. "How did things go with the Captain?"
"good, I'll explain later, First I have to finish what I started earlier." Jack said, taking a moment to calm himself, before he knelt down right there in the middle of their quarters, "Peal Bijoux, would you do be the greatest honor of accepting this gift of my affection" he said, taking a small box out of his vest pocket and holding it up to her. In his rush, he'd accidentally grabbed the box with his new pip in it rather than the velvet box with the golden engagement ring in it. Holding the box up to her, he opened it and waited for her response.
Seeing Jack kneeling in the middle of their quarters, Pearl blinked for a moment, then moved towards him. Standing in front of him, Pearl looked at the open box, then gave a bit of a chuckle. "Jack my love, um... " accepting the box,"I really can't accept this." kneeling down in front of him. "I think this belongs to you." turning the box around to show Jack the pip.
Jack’s chest tightened as he went through a dozen emotions in just a few seconds, hope and fear from just asking the question, dread and confusion from Pearls first response and her saying that she couldn’t accept, and finally dawning realisation and a slight feeling of shame at his error when he looked up at his rank pip in Pearls hands instead of the carefully picked engagement ring. Giving a sigh, Jack begrudgingly reached back into his vest, retrieved the other box and swapped it with the box Pearl was holding, “ah, sorry. I meant to give you this one”
Inside was a thin gold ring with a jewelled flower on it. The flower petals were sparkling diamond chips all surrounding a deep green emerald in the centre.
"That is so beautiful!" Pearl was glad she was already kneeling on the floor in front of Jack. She was feeling a bit weak in the knees and maybe her head was in a whirl and she was feeling light as a feather. It would have been very embarrassing if she just crumpled to the floor with his lovely surprise.
The thought of that made Pearl give another chuckle. Not wanting Jack to take her small laugh as something else, Pearl quickly said, "Don't mind my laugh. I was just thinking on how I was glad to be already kneeling on the floor with you, 'cause my knees feel like jelly right now." her cheeks darkening with her blush. "My answer is yes, but what is the next step, do I hold out my hand or finger like in some of the romance movies I've watched?"
Giving a relieved sigh, Jack smiled at Pearl, “why don’t I simply take your hand and place the ring on the right finger” he said, taking the box back from Pearl, pulling the finger out and sliding it onto Pearl’s finger. “I’m sorry it’s not quite the romantic moment I had planned, but it seemed that the Captain wanted to give me a gift today as well” he said, nodding to the other box that now sat on the floor beside them. “I’m Engineering Chief now, and a Lt. Commander.”
"Wait what? That is incredible!" Pearl exclaimed literaly pouncing upon Jack and giving him a rather passionate kiss. "This is an incredible day for you-- and me!" giving a huge smile, stars in her eyes. "How can I be so lucky having someone like you in my life."
“I don’t know, but I’m grateful to whatever fate has lead us here” Jack said, holding Pearl close in a warm hug. For once, everything seemed to be going their way.
