LTJG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen - I Got A Gift Too
Lhandon Nilsen
OOC: This chronologically happens after the JOPA sims that will come out soon. :)
((Various Locations, USS Octavia E Bulter))
Lhandon had had a couple of things to do before that evening. The first was to ensure everything was in order in the Operations Center. Even though he'd booked a few days off, starting from that day, he still wanted to make sure nothing would come up as a surprise and distract him. He had cleared his usual list and thought ahead to all the needs of Operations and the ship.
It wasn't that he didn't trust the ops team, far from it. Rather, he really wanted to ensure that he truly wouldn't be needed over the next few days. He had left a message for Arlil.
All duties fulfilled, OC in order, nothing to report, daily reports on desk, going offline tonight, got date.
Then he went to the gym. He wanted to get that pump going. The swelling of muscles during weight training had occurred. The increased blood flow had made his muscles look bigger and feel tighter. A few flexes in the mirror later and he was satisfied. After all, he had wanted to look his very best for that evening.
When he returned to his quarters, he had taken a sonic shower, shaved, and prepared for the evening. The big question was what to wear. He didn't want to appear as though he was trying too hard, but at the same time, he didn't want to look sloppy.
He had dismissed the dress uniform; it wouldn't have worked here. He wasn't exactly getting married, that was moving WAY too fast. The suit he never wore was also out. That seemed too much. He was left with one choice.
From seven lumberjack shirts to choose from, he hadn't realized he was representing his department colours in his personal wardrobe when he picked out his favourite yellow one. The shirt was worn over a plain white T-shirt and paired with dark blue denim jeans and brown boots.
It felt like him, this was comfortable, and he thought he looked alright in it.
He looked in the mirror,
The bruise on his face was healing nicely. He wondered what to do with his hair. It was naturally curly, and almost impossible to maintain. After trying more products than he knew what to do with over the years, he eventually found that the best method was to let it do its own thing. He had run a little water through it to tame the worst of the frizz, then ran his fingers through it to give it some semblance of order. It had refused to lay completely flat, but it gave him a somewhat rugged look that he didn't mind.
After all, it was part of who he was. He just wanted to make sure he was put the best parts of himself forward.
Then came go time.
He breathed in.
o0 you got this Lhando 0o
He nearly forgot to breathe out
Lhandon had done a final check, his quarters were spotless. Everything was where it should be and the mess from the JOPA meeting was cleared up. He just remembered to grab the gift he had gotten for Eli before he made his way to deck 6 and rang the door chime.
((Eli Kovacs' Quarters, Deck 6, USS Octavia E. Butler))
Eli had answered almost immediately, and Lhandon had had the biggest smile on his face.
Nilsen: Hey Eli
Kovacs: Hi, Lhandon. Come in.
Nilsen: ::very nervously:: t-thanks, thank you. I've erm been looking forward to this.
He had almost forgotten to step inside, but eventually, his brain moved him over the threshold, and the door hissed shut behind him.
Kovacs: ::nervously:: I, uh, hope you like Betazoid fire lilies. They’re supposed to be lucky.
Lhandon eyes lit up like a Christmas tree
Nilsen: They’re beautiful.
He hadn't been able to hide his smile. Eli had obviously known that he came from a farming background. They had talked about it over previous meetings and, at that moment, he had thought it was the most wonderful thought ever.
His chest seemed to beat faster.
Kovacs: Response
Nislen: Yes yes erm…::nervous laugh:: I had to erm…I had the stupid idea…and I got rid of this idea to say the window overlooking the shuttlebay…but…erm..not everys idea of is good time is watching a bunch of type 14s fly off
He hid with laughter, and his usual patter was now replaced by nervousness. He had negotiated with the UDP, escaped a slave mine, and acted as a bridge for non-corporeal people to facilitate communication. Yet, this, getting a simple sentence out, seemed to be his hardest challenge so far.
Kovacs: Response
Nilsen: I'd like that. The arboretum sounds awesome, yes. I mean I don't even know what I was thinking earlier ::very nervous laugh::
He hadn't known what to do next. He had wanted to avoid how everything had been at warp 9 with his ex. That was partly why Lhandon hadn't minded too much that he and Kovacs had been taking it slow, getting to know each other, and keeping it all low-key and mostly private over the past few months.
Kovacs: Response
Nilsen: ::taking a deep breath:: I, um, brought my own gift. Erm..for you. something for us to share later ::He showed a bottle of wine:: It's the one I used for that stifado… I hope you like it…I mean I know you do but erm.
Kovacs: Response
Nilsen: I…I mean it was that or if I were traditional, a basket of bread but erm I yeah people don't know what to do with that Gault thing erm…shall we head erm out? I'll leave this here for you.
His usual cheeky charm hadn't helped him there. The irony of an officer, whose duties included communication, being unable to get his words out, hadn't been lost on him. He had attempted to gesture to Eli to take his hand.
Kovacs: Response
Lhandon had hoped he could have been the charming one, fully in control of himself, with suave lines, like Eli's Prince Charming, taking him by the hand and all that jazz.
Instead, he felt like he was giving village idiot.
Tags/TBC
Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
HCO & Acting Asst. Chief
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)