Lt. Cmdr. Lhandon Nilsen - Our Promise Of Duty
Lhandon Nilsen
((The Celestial Temple Pub, Deep Space 14))
Lhandon had shared what he'd been up to at Amity, hints at the Interlink investigation, being Ambassador Turnbull's aide, and there hadn't been enough time to talk about that Federation spy and the Klingon diplomatic incident. Lhandon wanted to know what was going on with Eli's life, how he'd been keeping. What he didn't tell was that he already knew Eli's big news, and he had big news of his own.
Nilsen: Yeah, I'd normally have said it a hundred times. I guess that time away helped make me a little less neurotic. So erm...What's new in your life?
Kovacs: I’ve accepted a transfer to the Thor.
He was happy for Eli; his response was almost a burst of nervous syllables
Nilsen: I know. I’m really happy for you.
He cleared his throat, the sound just a little too loud. He would explain that he knew already, but he was also pretty sure he knew what else this meant, and they were both dancing around the elephant in the room somewhat. He fidgeted with the bottom of the pint glass, both thumbs and forefinger gripping the base of the glass.
Kovacs: You knew?!
He nodded.
Nilsen: I erm…I've been looking through the crew manifest because we're losing some really awesome crew members, and saw your transfer. When do they want you?
The moment he had read that report, he knew that there was a conversation to be had, one he had rehearsed again and again in his mind. How would he say it? The thoughts in his mind were interrupted by the petals they had ordered, which were set down between them. They paused their conversation for just a moment. The petals, in a form Lhandon didn't understand, and if his mind hadn't been racing, he would have been interested to learn more about them and even more so as they started to rise and fall and dance around as if they were begging to be picked.
Kovacs: Officially, next week. But they’ve indicated that they needed more help than they expected, so they’re trying to advance the date or at least split my time until then.
Nilsen: That will…make us long distance…so, what do you want to do?
Lhandon was the first to ask the question. He was always the first in the relationship, the driving force behind every decision. He was the one who approached Eli, the one who set up the dates, the one who invited him to stay over and later to move in. He had asked the question, but he already knew his own answer.
Kovacs: Response
Nilsen: I love you so much, you know I do. I was so close to asking to transfer with you, but…
And then his voice dropped to a whisper as he admitted,
Nilsen:…then the second officer role was offered to me.
Kovacs: Response
And that was another little snag in the plan. It would have been easier if he hadn't been offered a position; he'd just move his department over to the Thor, learn about the political layout of a whole new region of space, create a new rolodex of contacts and start again… And the more he thought about that option, the more he didn't like it, something he'd never say to Eli.
Nilsen: It's like you said, and the promise we made to each other. Duty first. I said yes.
Kovacs: Response
It had surprised Lhandon to say that somewhat, just as it had also surprised him that he was enjoying, for once, having a place to call his own. The OEB had given him a second home in space, one that had his friends, his brother from another mother, and one that used to have his boyfriend.
He struggled for the word for a moment. He was keeping his promise, but his mouth was dry as he tried to speak. He knew he couldn't do it; long distance was not something he thought he could be capable of, not after they finally talked about how they receive and give love. Lhandon needs to be with his partner almost all the time; he needs that touch and that affection, and he needs it every day.
Nilsen: I don't think I can. Maybe it's better if we erm…Maybe…erm…We park it?
Kovacs: Response
Maybe they needed that distance from each other while Lhandon was away on Amity. Perhaps that made this just a little bit easier.
Tags/TBC
Lieutenant Commander Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Second Officer & Senior Diplomatic Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)