LtJg Lera Michaels - Mostly Asleep is Slightly Awake

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Deck 14, Room 141. Ezra Zerva Quarters, USS Khitomer))

Ezra sat next to her holding a large bowl of popcorn which he placed on the table in front of them. Both he and Lera took some. Lera snuggled up against Ezra.

Zerva: Computer ::bloop:: Resume film.

At Ezra's command the display went black again and the only sound was someone, a child perhaps, coughing. A moment later the screen shifted to an astoundingly crude image of what appeared to be a baseball game.

Michaels: Pause the movie for a moment. :: the display froze:: that may be the most primitive game display I have ever seen. It looks like something out of Earth's nineteenth century. :: She turned to Ezra and briefly scowled at him. :: Hold it. What is this? Are you trying to trick me? Coughing and ancient video games?

Zerva: ::chuckles:: No. The kid is home sick entertaining themselves while they recover. My brother got me and my sister to watch it when we were kids on earth. ::yawns:: You are correct, it is from earth’s past, but it’s the late twentieth century. 1980’s to be more specific.

Michaels: Oh. I see. A sick child playing a video game.

Zerva: ::raises a questioning brow:: Are you going to make the computer stop the film every couple of minutes? ::yawns:: It’s a movie. Let’s enjoy it for what it is. If you have questions, I can answer them along the way.

Michaels: Very well. Less talking. More watching.

Lera reached over to take some popcorn. A moment later, it became clear where the movie was going. The grandfather had come to visit the sick child and read a book (Lera had some very old books at home in Marathon) entitled "The Princess Bride." The light comedy was clear from the beginning and the romance was obvious from the moment the video first introduced Buttercup and Wesley.

Lera turned slightly to glance at Ezra.

Michaels: If I said to you something like "Farm boy. Fetch me more popcorn," what would you do, Ezra? :: beat :: Ezra? :: Ezra's eyes were closed and his breath was smooth and even. :: Ezra?! Did you fall asleep already?"

Ezra responded as though startled awake.

Zerva: ::half awake:: You keep using my name… I do not think it means what you think it means... ::eyelids heavy:: I’m not asleep. I’m mostly awake, watching the film…

oO What was that all about? Is there some meaning to his name I should know? No. He was asleep and dreaming. Who knows about what. Oo

Lera was well aware of one key difference between her physiology and that of Humans. Unlike them, she could easily go a week without sleep. This experience with Ezra seemed to indicate that a Trill's sleep requirements were close to those of Humans. She smiled. It did not matter. She had lived with Humans long enough to have become accustomed to their sleep patterns.

Michaels: Yes. That's it. Just resting your eyes. I have lost count of how many times my father said that. He would start start snoring right after he said "Just resting my eyes." We can quit if you want to go to sleep.

Zerva: ::barely awake:: Stop saying that… ::snoozing::

Foxy Lady jumped up onto first Lera's lap and then Ezra's. She looked at Ezra and Lera whining.

Michaels: You are such a good girl, Foxy. Leave Farm Boy alone. He is too tired to play.

Zerva: ::eyes opening a bit:: Foxy. Over here. ::to Lera:: Sorry…

Foxy decided to snuggle next to Lera on the other side instead of next to her papa who was now beginning to snore. Foxy made a point to cuddle right up on the opposite side of where Lera sat snuggled against Ezra, who’s head was resting upon her shoulder. Lera was pinned between the two of them. His breathing switched between gentle breaths and snoring. He was out like a light.

Michaels: This is awkward. ::She gently pushed Ezra away so that his head did not weigh on her shoulder. :: Should I stay or should I go?

On the movie, Buttercup had stopped her horse in the woods near three badly mismatched individuals; a short human with little hair, an average size human with long hair and another individual who was so large that Lera was uncertain if he was human or not. The short man seemed to be the trio's spokesman.

Vizzini: We are but poor, lost circus performers. Is there a village nearby?

Buttercup: There is nothing nearby: not for miles.

Vizzini: Then there will be no one to hear you scream...

As the giant reached up to grab the Buttercup, Lera was hooked. She could have easily stayed awake to watch the rest of the movie. But she sighed as she glanced at the oblivious Ezra. Sure, she could stay, spend the rest of the night and, perhaps, have to explain to someone, Amelia in particular, that despite the fact she was wearing one of his shirts, nothing more risqué than sitting next to each other had happened. But, despite the upside of seeing the movie and provoking Amelia, it seemed like it would defeat the purpose of "movie night" with Ezra.

Lera started to stand but plopped back down. Watching a bit more would not hurt anything.

Sometime later, she decided that she would have to quit or she would end up watching to the very end. She arose, eased Ezra down into what she would undoubtedly be a more comfortable position. Lera retrieved a blanket from his sleeping area and covered him with it. Ezra stirred but he did not wake up. Foxy did stir to watch her as she retrieved her tunic.

Michaels: Go back to sleep, Foxy. Farm Boy needs you.

A pat on Foxy's head and a quick rub under her chin and Foxy laid her head back down. Lera stood contemplating Ezra as he slept. She had tried twice during the day to steal a kiss with Ezra and here was an opportunity. She kneeled next to where he was on the sofa and ran her fingers through his hair.

Michaels: Rest well and dream of ... :: the word in the movie was "large" but that just felt wrong:: and dream of Vulcan women. Preferably one Vulcan woman.

She brushed her lips against his. It was sweet amd Lera felt a tingle. But it didn't really count as a kiss. It was the closest she had come. She sighed, stood and walked to the door. As it opened, she stopped and looked back at Ezra, snoring lightly on the sofa.

Michaels: Well Ezra. At least you haven't forgotten how to show a lady a good time.

The End.

——— ○● ———

LtJg Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2