Lieutenant Carter Greyson & Lieutenant Anjar Thoran: I Didn't Come Here For This, Part II

[Chythar Skyfire]

((Officer’s Lounge, USS Montreal))

{{Time Index: 2016 hours}} 

::Anjar chuckled, fairly sure Carter got immense pleasure out of poking fun at him. He sighed, eyeing the replicator. He was a bit hungry, but was too exhausted to ponder what sounded appetizing. He hadn’t slept well last night and the day had seemed to drag by because of it.::

Thoran: ::murmurs:: Keep this between us, but I hear they’re working on a Warp XV project at Utopia Planetia. An engineering buddy of mine said they’re looking for propulsion specialists to help work out the kinks before it gets fitted to the fleet as a whole.

:: Carter had heard the same, as his correspondence with Cadfael had gleaned that much of information. While it did take a few weeks for communiques to reach him, it was something that he was envious of his former boss for getting a chance to participate in. ::

Greyson: Don’t worry. I won’t say a word. I’m actually kind of jealous of Cadfael right now. He’s got front row seats, and is probably working on it.

Thoran: ::smirks:: Maybe I’ll look him up if I head over that way.

Greyson: If you do decide to get out of dodge while you can, is that where you’re thinking of going to protect yourself from the exploding thing with Miskre?

Thoran: ::sombers:: It’s seriously tempting. ::grimaces and runs a hand through his hair:: Damn, I just need to man up and end it with her, don’t I? 

::He’d never been a coward. This was an entirely new experience for him. Why was he so hesitant to break it off with her when it clearly didn’t have a shot in hell of working out? He was well aware of his own flaws. His preconceptions about himself and about relationships meant he tended to miss what was right in front of him. A gorgeous woman had deigned him worthy of her attention, even if it was only in the moment, and he’d latched on like the lust-struck fool he was.::

Greyson: Probably. If you don’t want it to get more out of hand than it has already, you should do it if only for the sake of your sanity and file in your transfer now. I’m sure that Mei’konda will approve, since you’re better with components than people. 

Thoran: ::arches an eyebrow:: Did they have a course at the Academy that I missed about backhanded compliments?

:: Carter winced as he realized the faux-paus. Once he finished his mouthful of pie, he shrugged slightly. ::

Greyson: They might’ve during my years. Then again, I picked up a few social inadequacies from Cadfael when we served aboard Ops.

::Anjar grinned. He was used to Carter’s bluntness by now, even if it did smart his ego from time to time. The man had a way of keeping him in check and he’d certainly miss the interesting working relationship they had. Now if only Anjar could find a way to gain better control over his emotional states. You’d think being half Betazoid, he’d manage it better than he was. Likely he was such a wreck because of how complicated his personal life was. It impacted his work more than he liked to admit.::

Thoran: ::shrugs:: I’m used to it. ::smirks:: But don’t think that means I won’t deck you if you hit the wrong button.

:: Carter’s muscles tensed for only a moment at the threat, then quickly relaxed. Anjar might’ve been bluffing, but then again they’d served together for a while now and it was difficult to get a read on him. Still, they were off duty and had a unique working relationship that would be missed in the event of a transfer. Then the thought of who’d take over as chief crossed his mind, and he quickly suppressed the thought. He felt he was ready, even if it was only temporary. :: 

Greyson: I don’t play with buttons. Every time I do something bad happens.

Thoran: ::chuckles:: I’m messing with you, Carter. Relax.

Greyson: Easy like pie, chief. Speaking of which, this is delicious.

Thoran: ::grins:: I’ll keep that in mind for when I get my appetite back. ::sighs and runs his hands through his hair:: This whole mess has me so damn confused.

:: Carter nodded slowly. He understood the confusion, and had dealt with similar after his stint in the academy with Kala, his subsequent break-up with Ris. How confused he felt at falling for Chythar (or at least thinking he did), and then Kaansi. Now, he suspected he was doomed to the life of a bachelor but didn’t see himself making any immediate changes. ::

Thoran: ::shakes his head and sighs:: As much as I hate to put Liara through another move, it might be for the best. I think Elora is still on Earth. She’d probably be thrilled to see Lia. And who knows. Maybe it’ll give me some time to get over both Miskre and Lael.

Greyson: I’m not ready to leave just yet.

Thoran: ::grins:: If you ever need a break from this place, mom loves company and Antosia is beautiful this time of year.

::Anjar felt a bit awkward inviting Carter to his childhood home, but he thought of the man as a close friend. They got along on a level that Anjar didn’t with most people. Maybe it was Carter’s laid back personality or maybe it was the man’s dry, deadpan sense of humor. Anjar was just more grounded and calm when Carter was around. They were a good team.::

::He tried not to overanalyze the pang of anxiety that slammed into his gut at the thought of not having the other man around. Clearly, he was going to miss Carter more than he was willing to admit. What was going through his mind was beyond confusing. He couldn’t deny there was a connection with Carter, but whether that went beyond friendship...just the thought scared Anjar and had him fighting the urge to bolt.::

::He’d come to Carter for advice, not for this. His gaze met the other man’s and the churning in his stomach intensified. He had an urge to do something stupid that would likely only serve to make any days he had left aboard the Montreal extremely uncomfortable. He’d been rejected so many times by this point that he’d gotten used to the feelings that followed. But something about the thought of being rejected by Carter had him paralyzed with anxiety.::

::Was this strange new perspective driven by the heat of the moment? It was possible he was so desperately looking for a way to detach from Lael and Miskre that he was talking himself into something that wasn’t really there and would fade the moment he made a damned decision already to end it with Miskre and to move on from Lael. He’d always been adamant with anyone who dared suggest it that he wasn’t attracted to men. But Carter had been an exception in so many other ways...why not this one?::

Thoran: ::pauses:: Carter, I-- 

::How did he say it without sounding like an idiot? How could Carter take him seriously when he didn’t even understand himself what he was feeling and why? No. He couldn’t say anything yet. He needed time to think. He offered a silent prayer to the gods that if this was meant to be, him taking time to seriously consider this wouldn’t result in him losing his chance if this really was something he wanted.::

Greyson: Yeah, chief?

::It was a figurative bucket of ice water. Even if he stayed aboard, broke up with Miskre, and gave up the Chief spot, there would always be that barrier between them. What had he been thinking? He grimaced, running his hands nervously through his hair. He’d lost his nerve and he hated himself for it. He’d been so damn close to saying something.::

Thoran: Carter. We’re off duty.

Greyson: Sorry. Habit. :: He paused for a moment to have another bite of pie. :: Do continue.

Thoran: ::shakes his head:: Don’t worry about it.

:: A concerned eyebrow raised in the chief’s direction. Something seemed to be seriously on his mind, given by the abrupt sentence starter and how quickly the conversation seemed to shift. What was bothering the chief so much that he couldn’t finish a statement? ::

Greyson: Out with it, Anjar. What’s eating you? 

::Anjar felt his temper flare and had to force himself to really think about why he felt like punching something right now. Carter wasn’t typically so persistent and Anjar had hoped the other man would let it go. But it was looking more and more like that wasn’t going to happen. The words were sticking in his throat and he couldn’t seem to shake them loose no matter how hard he tried.::

Thoran: ::murmurs:: It’s stupid.

Greyson: Only if you don’t tell me what it is. Can’t be an advice broker if my friend doesn’t finish asking the question.

Thoran: ::pauses:: Can we talk somewhere more private?

::If Anjar was really going to do this, he wasn’t going to risk rejection in front of everyone.::

:: Carter nodded and finished the last few bites of his pie before grabbing his dishes and heading for the reclimator on his way out of the room. The thought of a private conversation led the younger engineer to believe there was something more to it, but at the same time he learned long ago that he wasn’t any good with reading people as well as he thought. Hell, he thought he had Luna pegged a while back, but every time he thought he did, she turned around and surprised him in a way he wasn’t expecting. So he just gave up trying to predict people’s motivations. ::

Greyson: Did you have anywhere in mind?

Thoran: ::pauses:: My quarters?

 

:: That triggered a raised eyebrow. The only thing that came into Carter’s mind was that it was a conversation of a personal nature, but specifically what it was, he couldn’t guess. ::

Greyson: Sure.

---

PNPC Lieutenant Anjar Thoran

Acting Chief Engineer

USS Montreal, NCC-64927

I238110RH0

&

Lieutenant Carter Greyson

Acting Assistant Chief Engineer

USS Montreal, NCC-64927

O239002CS0