Lt JG Taj'el - Swords play
Taj'el
(( Hallway/Holodeck, Deck 4, USS Thor ))
Taj’el felt socially drained. This shoreleave had been markedly different from their previous ones, far more interaction, far more speaking, far more sustained engagement with others than they were accustomed to. Still, they believed Doctor Saa would understand if they chose to withdraw briefly and focus on their personal research.
That thought shifted, however, when Meris responded to their request to meet. The effect was immediate; their energy lifted noticeably. They found genuine comfort in Meris’s presence, something steady, uncomplicated, and easy in a way Taj’el rarely experienced. With them, there was no need to carefully calibrate every word or gesture. The absence of pressure to “perform correctly” in social terms was relieving.
They also found Meris aesthetically pleasing, though they dismissed the thought just as quickly. It was not relevant.
When preparing to meet them, Taj’el decided to change out of uniform for once. The last time they had met, Meris had been in casual attire, so Taj’el chose to mirror that approach. They wore a tank top beneath a jacket, paired with shorts and a half-skirt overlay, simple, practical, and less formal than standard duty wear.
As they arrived at the holodeck corridor, they paused briefly, confirming the location. Any holodeck would suffice, just not Holodeck 2. That one remained firmly associated in their mind with the culinary incident, and they had no intention of revisiting it for the time being.
Taj’el: Meris, hello. Thank you for taking time to meet with me.
Meris: response
Taj’el’s expression softened noticeably as they arrived and saw Meris already there. It was the closest thing to a smile a Vulcan might allow themselves, subtle, restrained, but undeniably present.
They lingered on the thought for a moment. Meris had a way of expressing themselves that seemed both quiet and emotionally legible, measured, but not absent. Taj’el found themself wondering if that was something they could learn as well. Not to abandon restraint, but to understand how to convey more without becoming overwhelmed by it.
Taj’el: I had been wanting to follow up with you since our last mission, primarily to thank you for your assistance during it. You also mentioned that you would show me your fencing technique.
Meris: response
They had intended to ask something else, but decided this was the more appropriate approach. It also aligned with genuine interest; Meris had spoken of fencing in a way that made it sound almost… elegant. Taj’el was curious to see it firsthand.
It was not entirely irrelevant either. They had, in recent training, spent more time on defensive hand techniques than expected, and the idea of observing a more refined application of similar principles held a certain appeal.
Taj’el: I was uncertain whether the holodeck or the gymnasium would be more appropriate for this. You may lead, and I will follow.
Meris: response
