Lt. Commander Ross - Breathless
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Hannah S
Mar 18, 2026, 5:09:23 PM (6 days ago) Mar 18
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((Evan Ross’s Quarters, Upper Habitat Section, Starbase 118))
Socks under the bed. Dirty plates into the replicator. The books on the bed shoved aside. Hair fixed. Shirt put on. Out of breath. A little shaky.
Socks under the bed. Dirty plates into the replicator. The books on the bed shoved aside. Hair fixed. Shirt put on. Out of breath. A little shaky.
You just had to love spontaneous visits.
When the bell of his apartment chimed, Ross threw one last look around his room before he took two very relaxed steps towards the door.
Voss: Hey there!
He smiled. Although he did not know the reason for Lyra's visit, he was pleased to have her over again - they hadn't seen each other during or after the mission.
Ross: Good to see you! Please, come in ::he waved her in:: - I'm afraid there's no Pasta catastrophe for you to solve this time.
She took a few steps into the apartment, but didn’t stray too far from the door - it seemed she wasn’t planning to stay long. Ross didn't know whether he was disappointed or relieved.
Voss: Oh I don’t want to disrupt your plans or anything - I just wanted to drop something off. ::that much was obvious from the package in her hands:: It’s nothing too… I just thought… we went kind of directly into a crisis after the last awards ceremony, and it was a rough one, so this is a little late, but I wanted to… to get you something. To celebrate your promotion.
She handed over the gift in its dark purple wrapping paper. It was a mostly flat rectangle, maybe 20-ish by 30-ish centimeters.
Ross: To... what?
Voss: Hey there!
He smiled. Although he did not know the reason for Lyra's visit, he was pleased to have her over again - they hadn't seen each other during or after the mission.
Ross: Good to see you! Please, come in ::he waved her in:: - I'm afraid there's no Pasta catastrophe for you to solve this time.
She took a few steps into the apartment, but didn’t stray too far from the door - it seemed she wasn’t planning to stay long. Ross didn't know whether he was disappointed or relieved.
Voss: Oh I don’t want to disrupt your plans or anything - I just wanted to drop something off. ::that much was obvious from the package in her hands:: It’s nothing too… I just thought… we went kind of directly into a crisis after the last awards ceremony, and it was a rough one, so this is a little late, but I wanted to… to get you something. To celebrate your promotion.
She handed over the gift in its dark purple wrapping paper. It was a mostly flat rectangle, maybe 20-ish by 30-ish centimeters.
Ross: To... what?
He stared at the gift for a few seconds, unable to process what she had just said - a gift? For his promotion? Despite the fact they barely knew each other for a few weeks?
Nobody else had gotten him something. He hadn't even thought about this being a gift-worthy occasion.
Lyra was unable to stop herself from doing that thing people sometimes do when they give a gift - immediately start trying to downplay it as the recipient opens it.
Voss: It’s not… I mean, I just thought it would be funny. Just something small. Lt. Commander is a big deal, so…
He tore off the paper to find… a clipboard. But for a clipboard, a pretty fancy one. Brushed stainless steel, with Ops’ logo inlaid in gold on the front, and “Lt. Commander Evan K. Ross” and the award ceremony date engraved in small, neat letters near the bottom of the back.
He couldn't help but gasp - and within seconds, his shocked expression turned into a bright, excited smile.
Ross: You... oh my, you didn't!
Lyra was unable to stop herself from doing that thing people sometimes do when they give a gift - immediately start trying to downplay it as the recipient opens it.
Voss: It’s not… I mean, I just thought it would be funny. Just something small. Lt. Commander is a big deal, so…
He tore off the paper to find… a clipboard. But for a clipboard, a pretty fancy one. Brushed stainless steel, with Ops’ logo inlaid in gold on the front, and “Lt. Commander Evan K. Ross” and the award ceremony date engraved in small, neat letters near the bottom of the back.
He couldn't help but gasp - and within seconds, his shocked expression turned into a bright, excited smile.
Ross: You... oh my, you didn't!
Clearly, she did.
She grinned.
Voss: I mean, you said you loved clipboards, so I kinda had to. You may be shocked to hear that the replicator doesn’t have many pre-existing patterns for “fancy clipboard” ::she shrugged:: but after some trial and error, I think it eventually came out all right.
That made him laugh. For a moment he couldn't believe she remembered that part of their very first conversation - he turned the clipboard in his hand, marvelling at the details. When his gaze snapped back at her, he couldn't hide how flustered he was.
Ross: That's... wow. Thank you so much. That's very thoughtful.
Voss: Well anyway, that’s all I… I have to get back to packing, but I didn’t want to forget to actually give that to you before I head out. Are you doing anything fun for shore leave?
It took him a second to process her words. He was still too moved by the gesture - maybe even a little shaken.
Ross: Uh... - oh, Shore Leave? No, not really. I thought I might follow the invitation to Raskor II eventually. Is that what you're packing for?
She grinned.
Voss: I mean, you said you loved clipboards, so I kinda had to. You may be shocked to hear that the replicator doesn’t have many pre-existing patterns for “fancy clipboard” ::she shrugged:: but after some trial and error, I think it eventually came out all right.
That made him laugh. For a moment he couldn't believe she remembered that part of their very first conversation - he turned the clipboard in his hand, marvelling at the details. When his gaze snapped back at her, he couldn't hide how flustered he was.
Ross: That's... wow. Thank you so much. That's very thoughtful.
Voss: Well anyway, that’s all I… I have to get back to packing, but I didn’t want to forget to actually give that to you before I head out. Are you doing anything fun for shore leave?
It took him a second to process her words. He was still too moved by the gesture - maybe even a little shaken.
Ross: Uh... - oh, Shore Leave? No, not really. I thought I might follow the invitation to Raskor II eventually. Is that what you're packing for?
Voss: ?
He nodded, awkwardly shuffling from one foot to the other - should he invite her in for a drink? But she had made it more than clear that she was on the go. So he went for the standing smalltalk - the one you used when guests had claimed they were leaving now for the third time and still you didn't really want to let go of the night yet.
Ross: Oh, that's lovely! Are you excited to see your family?
Voss: ?
He smiled.
Ross: So who's lucky enough to get the private Betazed-tour?
Voss: ?
***
Lt. Commander Evan Ross
Intelligence Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240009ER2
Lt. Commander Evan Ross
Intelligence Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240009ER2
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