Keeping Company With Shadows

Posted on Tue Oct 19th, 2010 @ 8:23am by Lieutenant JG Hannah Andeti & Commander Earlond

Mission: Episode 1.2 - "A House Divided"
Location: Chief Counselor's Quarters
Timeline: Backpost: "A House Divided", MD 18, 2000

ON: [[Backpost: "A House Divided", MD18, 2000]]

Andeti sighed as the doors to her quarters slipped open. It had been a long day, one in a string of many, and the crew's emotion strain was beginning to wear on her. Well, 'beginning' didn't seem to be the appropriate word . . . it felt as though it had been wearing on her for months and it astounded her that it was only now that she was coming to realize it. The doors let out their usual hiss and the light from the corridor was blocked out, but the counselor didn't call for lights. She had gotten to know the room well since their transfer, despite the small amount of time that she actually seemed to spend here and actually enjoyed the darkness as she moved towards her bedroom.

The jacket of her uniform was already unzipped and it made a small 'fwunk' as it draped over the edge of her bed. She felt her eyes dwell there fore a minute, the thought of sleep an all too tempting one, but she had far too much work to do to give into that particular temptation. Each boot thunked against the carpetted floor and she ran a hand over her shoulder to ease some of the tension there.

Just as she felt the tendons easing, there was a sound, not loud, but definitely unnatural behind her and the counselor turned on the spot. She relaxed at once as her eyes fell on Scruffy, scrabbling, once again out of his aquarium and doing his best to bolt for the freedom of the now closed door. She smiled and leaned down to pick him up. "Hey, where do you think you're going?" He eyed her with what seemed to be either intense disinterest or intense annoyance and the counselor was really too tired to care as she lifted the blue form and lay him back in his aquarium.

"You'd better watch out or I'll have Mr. Bish sodder you in there." She threatened with a grin and the turtle moved his front legs slowly -- futilely -- against the aquarium glass.

As she straightened she felt the telltale mental rumblings that told her she wasn't alone here. It was a moment too late and the arm that came around her neck startled her. She had been trained well, however, and pushed back hard on her attacker. She felt the impact of the wall reverberate through them, but the arm only tightened further.

"You've practiced," a voice whispered in her ear. "Yet you're still no match for me." The arm was holding her immobile, making it almost impossible for her to turn and see her assailant.

The counselor grinned, recognizing the voice at once and hooking one foot around his shin she unbalanced him enough to slip out of his grip. However before she could turn his fingers circled one wrist, holding her place against him. "What I'd really like to know is how you managed to get into my quarters? Again."

"You already know all that you need to," he replied, keeping his grip secure. "As I said before, the same way I always do. From there, it should be easy to figure out how I get in."

The counselor smirked and with a sharp thrust jabbed her elbow into his solar plexus, loosing his grip only enough to turn and pin one of his arms behind him against the wall. However he had at the same time pinned her own loose wrist in his fist. "Did you ever wonder if I simply let you break in?"

"I can't imagine why," he replied softly, pulling her close and leaning down towards her. Their lips met in a kiss, and he held it, savoring the moment.

Hannah felt herself relax into it and knew, seconds later that it had been a mistake as he regained the upperhand and the counselor found herself immobilized on the ground, face centimetres from Scruffy's aquarium. She laughed. "I guess there aren't too many people who that works on." She grinned, eyes sparkling.

"To be honest, it's not a technique I use often," he told her, smiling and releasing his hold on her, helping her to her feet. "Only on you, in fact." He watched her cautiously, just in case she tried anything else.

The counselor felt his skeptical gaze and moved slightly toward him, as though trying to casually better position herself. She didn't attack and grinned instead. "Glad to hear it." She moved closer and then quickly moved in to kiss him again, expecting his counter attack to stop her but trying nonetheless.

To his own surprise, he let her kiss him. He was still getting used to this, and wasn't quite sure he was comfortable with the notion of letting his guard down. Still, if this was going to work, he knew he would have to make compromises.

Hannah was equally surprised to find that she was immobilized on the floor and took the opportunity to enjoy it. At last she pulled back and smiled. "You're learning."

"Am I?" he asked, watching her. "It doesn't seem like I'm very good at it." In fact, the longer he stood this close to her, the more his instincts were tempted to follow their reflex and attack her.

The counselor felt his muscles tensing and stepped back, as little as she wanted to do so, maintaining enough of a proximity to let him know that she wasn't going anywhere quite yet. "Well, you haven't killed me yet, I think that's something." She smiled, eyes glinting in the low light.

"That is something," he agreed, forcing his trained muscles to disobey their training. "Now, I know you have work to do, but I'm going to have to recommend you relax. Perhaps we should enjoy a quiet meal? Computer, lights, 50%." As the glow in the room rose slightly, it illuminated the table set for two that had previously been hidden by the darkness. He didn't have much practice with this, but he knew that a nice dinner after a long day would certainly help ease her tensions.

"I hope you don't mind if I took the liberty of preparing one before I heard your answer," he added.

She answered with a grin and resisted her urge to kiss him again. As much as she enjoyed that she was still trying to work out how to handle his training. Instead she cocked an eyebrow at him. "And if this is one order that I decide to disobey?"

"I would hate for this all to go to waste," he said, glancing at the table. "But remember, it's only a recommendation. You don't have to take me up on the offer. I'll just lock you out of the computer database so you can't do your work."

"Gee what a decision? Are you always this strict with your overworked counselors or am I just lucky?" She laughed and followed him to the table.

"I'd say you're just lucky," he said with a smile, taking his seat and watching her. "Though you might disagree after you've sampled my food, I'll admit."

She watched him sit before sinking into her own seat with a grin. "Commander Earlond preparing dinner for someone that doesn't involve one of their own bodyparts, who would have thought?"

OFF

A Post By:

Commander Earlond
XO, USS Pandora

AND

Lieutenant JG Hannah Andeti
Chief Counselor, USS Pandora