Lt JG Taj'el - Friend!
Taj'el
((Lumina Coves Ecological Retreat, Lolagi IV))
Taj’el: Is this acceptable? Should I reciprocate the gesture?
Shortrith: I'm not worried if you don't, but it would be nice if you do.
Taj’el: Okay… I will.
Taking a moment to consider, they raised their arms and placed them gently at the other’s sides. Holding on lightly, they allowed themself to relax into the moment. It was… pleasant. Their eyes closed as they became aware of the steady rhythm of breathing, the movement of air around them, and the emerging sense of a “safe place.” It was a state in which one could lower their guard without immediate concern for potential outcomes.
Shortrith: This is nice.
Taj’el: It is acceptable.
The tone came out a little clinical and dry, though when the other doctor looked down at the smaller Vulcan, they remained relaxed against them, eyes closed. They appeared peaceful, quietly content in a way that didn’t quite match the earlier formality of their words.
Shortrith: Shall we stay down here for a bit, and then head back to the Ronin?
Taj’el: May we remain here a little longer?
Shortrith: All good, my friend. Stay here as long as you wish.
Oh! They had been called a friend.
The realization settled in gently, and Taj’el’s expression shifted into the faintest suggestion of a smile—small, but genuine. They felt a quiet sense of accomplishment, as though something significant had been achieved through simple presence rather than effort or logic.
They enjoyed the other’s company more than they had anticipated. It was… good that they had taken the time to be here.
Taj’el: Thank you… friend.
As the moment passed and the other doctor departed with a wave, Taj’el remained still for a few seconds longer, allowing themself to experience something they rarely paused to acknowledge, feeling.
There was pride there. A quiet satisfaction. Not just that the interaction had gone well, but that they had connected with someone in a way that did not feel forced or purely procedural. They had always assumed this kind of ease was difficult for them, yet the Klingon had accepted their subdued, analytical manner without resistance.
After a time, they let the moment settle into memory rather than immediate analysis.
Only then did they turn back toward their duties, intent on documenting the encounter thoroughly. The details mattered, not just for record-keeping, but because this was something worth understanding.
