LtCmdr. Talos Dakora - Walk of Shame
Travis
((Old West Simulation - Quark’s Bar, Grill, Gaming House and Holo-Suite Arcade - Deep Space Nine))
Parked on a trio of logs surrounding a campfire in the old, American West somewhere, Talos had found himself under siege.
His drink-addled mind was having all four hells of a time trying to fend off their accusations and assumptions regarding his and Addison MacKenzie’s relationship–or lack thereof.
Adea: But no, like is this a crush, or is it something more serious?
Talos was vaguely aware of Hallia listing to one side like a ship going down in slow motion, all while Genkos stared him down adamantly.
Dakora: I don’t know. The two of us have been through a lot together. There were times when we had to– I don’t know– depend on each other. Real life and death stuff. It’s hard not to start thinking about the maybes and the what-ifs after stuff like that. You know?
Now nearly lying down, draped across her log, Hallia chimed in.
Yellir: It’s easy to bond over collective trauma. Might also be something strictly platonic. Platonic good-buddies never hurt anyone, did it?
Talos nodded uncertainly, which gave his vision another bout of the spinnies. Sure, platonic was fine. He was probably fine with that. Probably. Maybe.
Genkos seemed to open his mouth, but didn’t say anything, so his jaw just hung there for a moment.
He slowly tipped over onto his back, sprawled out across his log, staring up at the wide open night sky of wherever. That last drink seemed like it had done him in, as the stars left streaky trails every time he moved his head.
Dakora: What about you two!? ::He pointed to Genkos and slurred out a few more words:: I know YOU managed to bag a whole Commodore. How the heck did that happen?
Genkos recoiled slightly, which was a dangerous prospect when perched precariously on a log.
Adea: Kalianna and I… we… ::he paused:: we’re in love.
Talos gave an only slightly jealous eye roll and shifted his gaze to Hallia.
The concept of settling down into a real relationship was an idea he’d only recently begun to entertain after a lifetime of religiously avoiding commitment– a side effect of losing someone he cared about at an early age and his own father's disappointing track record.
That said, he had recently felt the beginning of that kind of spark– or at least, he’d thought– with an acquaintance over on Amity. But it hadn’t quite worked out.
Shaking his head as he warded off the ghost of Robin, he turned to the Chief Engineer who was sprawled out on another log across the campfire from him.
Dakora: And what about you Hallia? I feel like you’re being suspiciously quiet…
She placed a dramatic hand on her chest and she fixed him with a wobbly expression.
Yellir: Me? What? Quiet? No— Never! I’ve-I’ve been happily on my own for a very long time and I’m completely okay with that.
Adea: There’s a ::slurring:: Shakeschpeare quote that works here - me thinks the lady doth too much protest… or something.
Talos pointed to the Doc, like he’d just dropped an irrefutable logic bomb.
Dakora: I’m gonna have to side with Geckos- er, Genkos on this one.
Caught off-balance both literally and figuratively, Hallia seemed to stumble a bit in her response
Yellir: Hey— I’m allowed to window shop. But I have been far too busy to indulge in maintaining a relation—tionship like that. Also, I don’t think it would be appropriate for me as a Department Head.
Genkos fixed Talos with a bewildered gaze. Or maybe he needed to vom. The expressions really weren’t that far apart...
Adea: Like me and Talosh aren’t? He’s the FO by the four!
Grinning dumbly, he nodded. Starfleet had learned long ago not to out-and-out ban fraternization. It was unavoidable. There were guidelines to follow and certain provisions that could be put in place to avoid conflicts of interest, but…
Wait, what had Genkos said? It was getting harder to keep a hold of the conversation.
Dakora: If HE ::He swung his arm out to point at Genkos and very nearly upset his precarious position on the log.:: Can date a Commodore for YEARS, I think you can break a piece off for yourself here and there.
Yellir: Response?
Genkos shook his head vehemently which caused him to fall off the stump.
Adea: Ouch! Look, I think we can all agree that everyone ish entitled to love - even ush.
Talos chuckled goofily. Recalling all of his encounters of varying quality throughout the years. He wasn’t sure love was really the right descriptor, but the Doc’s heart was in the right place.
Dakora: Yeah! Chief Engineers and Chief Doctors and… whatever I am. ::He lost his train of thought for a second.:: All, um... secretly lovable.
Yellir: Response
Talos felt his eyes getting heavy, but when he closed his eyes he felt like he could feel the world spinning.
Dakora: Ugh. I’m tired. ::He lifted his head slightly.:: Did anyone see where the door went?
Adea/Yellir: Response?
He let his head fall back onto the log with a gentle thunk. A brilliant idea formed in his mind.
Dakora: Never mind, I’ve got this.
With that, he tapped his badge.
Dakora:=/\= Dakora to Artemis, I’ve got ::He counted on his fingers:: One, two, three for site-to-site transport. Uh, Please. Oh, and uh, thank you. =/\=
Adea/Yellir: Response?
Soon the familiar tingly feeling came over him and he closed his eyes as the Desert faded away. Distantly aware that he now had to do his best not to make a fool of himself as he made his way to his quarters to sleep this night off.
Either way, he had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last time he’d make that walk. XO’s deserved love and occasionally, they deserved to have fun.
END
LtCmdr. Talos Dakora
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0