Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek: Home Again
Lael Rosek
((Shuttlebay 2))
::Lael picked up her luggage muttering a soft “Trankvila. Estu ankoraŭ. (Quiet. Be still.)” to Junu, who sounded like she was going to tear her carrier apart in her anxious fit. She made a mental note to do a bit more research on Katolupo to see if there was any way to train the creature so she at least wouldn’t be making daily requisition requests for the parts of her quarters Junu destroyed while she was away on duty.::
::She’d half considered suggesting to Chythar that their pets be playmates when they were on duty, but she had the feeling Junu would have Devlin cowering in a corner. The Captain and Mei’konda had already disembarked by the time she had the situation with Junu halfway under control, stepping off the shuttle beside Chythar.::
::The moment she stepped into view of the others, she wished she had timed it better. She’d seen Alex and Chythar engaged in an intimate embrace often enough, but it still often had her fighting not to blush bright red. Seeing a level of affection she wasn’t used to between the First Officer and the Vulcan had her diverting her gaze and shifting from one foot to the other.::
Delano: ::whispering:: Next time, I’m coming with.
Mei’konda: So… good to see you. I hope the dog’s been good.
Delano: Response
Mei’konda: Good, good. An uneventful few weeks, then, absoluutely.
::It wasn’t a surprise when Alex offered the same greeting to Chythar. This time, however, she just rolled her eyes, an affectionate smile crossing her lips. She was well used to it by now, even if Alex rarely ever kissed Chythar in a public setting. The smile faded as she thought of Jon back on Earth and Maddy now with Laman. It was back to just her.::
::Junu was good for snuggling, but couldn’t really talk back. She grimaced. It was going to be tough not to fall back on old habits. She sighed as an image of Toryn entered her mind. She’d had a lot of time to think on the ride back. What was it about the man that was so appealing? Was it because he was forbidden fruit so to speak?::
Blair: ::whispering:: You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.
Skyfire: :: whispering:: Oh yes ah do...Ah’ve missed you too.
Devlin: Raff! :: He tried to jump on Alex, but his master’s grip on his leash was not letting him. ::
Blair: Oh, didn’t see you there Lael. Welcome home.
Rosek: ::scoffs and playfully jabs him in the side with her elbow:: I see how it is. ::smirks:: You’re lucky I’m used to it. I know I’m bound to be invisible when your boyfriend is in the same room.
Rahman: Response
Delano: I did have a small welcome home party planned for all of you in the officer’s lounge, but we weren’t expecting you till tomorrow, so I suppose it’ll have to wait.
Blair: ::grinning:: No we can’t have that, everyone back on the shuttle. You can come back tomorrow in time for the party.
Mei’konda: Thaat’s all right. I think I’ll just get settled in our quarters for the night and see you all for duty in the morniing. It’s been a long daay.
Skyfire: Well, we could just go to our quarters and pretend we’re not here so we can arrive in time. Or the holodeck, ah suppose.
Rosek: ::scoffs:: I’ve been stuck on that miniaturized tin can long enough. Besides… ::lifts Junu’s carrier:: I think our newest crew member would pitch a fit the likes of which no one has ever seen.
Rahman: Response
Delano: I take it you’re our new helmsman?
::Lael turned, watching their newest ensign disembark.::
Valoru: Yes sir. :: He recognized the voice from coming in. :: Thank you for the warm comms.
::As Alex offered his hand for a handshake, Lael hid a grin, curious as to how the Andorian would react to the Human custom. Lael was well used to it having grown up on Earth.::
Blair: Welcome aboard. I’m Alex Blair, the Strategic Operations and Intelligence Officer.
Valoru: Ensign Valoru, sir. A pleasure for sure.
Delano: Well, welcome aboard. I’ve arranged officer’s quarters for you on Deck 4.
Valoru: Thank you, commander. I shall head there first.
Mei’konda: See you back in our quaarters, Evan? When you’re no longer Captain of a starship? ::nods at Rahman:: See you in the morning, Captain. Ensign Valoru - good flyiing through the Shoals. You’ll do well here.
Valoru: Thank you, sir. An honor to only shake us up a couple times.
(( Turbolift ))
::She was as eager to let Junu out as it seemed Junu was to be out. A part of her was worried that if Chythar and Alex went back to her quarters with her, that they’d both be visiting Sickbay as a result of Junu’s post-flight fit. Like most lifeforms on Leya-I, the creature had denser muscle fibers, meaning it was stronger than even most Humanoids. It had been a struggle to get the creature in its traveling crate. Alex, however, seemed more focused on Devlin, picking the dog.::
Blair: I missed you too little guy.
Devlin: Raff! :: and gave Alex’s face an enthusiastic licking. ::
Blair: ::sets Devlin down and wraps an arm around Chythar’s shoulders:: I can’t even start to tell you how much I’ve missed having you guys around. ::pause:: This place gets pretty quiet without you.
Skyfire: Oh, ah’m sure yeh’ve had a blast without us.
Rosek: ::arches an eyebrow:: Not sure how much you can really tell us anyway. I thought I heard Delano say something about redacted reports. I’m bummed I missed it.
Blair: Let’s make a deal right now, no one leaves for at least a month.
Skyfire: Ah promise ah’m nae goin’ anywhere, except on the occasional away mission.
::Lael sombered. Neither Alex nor Chythar knew the full details of the colony of Al-Leyan exiles. Despite the tension in her communications with Toryn, she knew that he and Rune were likely to be just as curious about this colony as she was. Given the circumstances, she really couldn’t make a promise like that. She had no idea when Rune and Toryn would get back to her nor when she might be asked to make contact with the colony.::
::Her father had hinted that someone might need to go in his place as an Al-Leyan of good standing couldn’t be seen approaching a group of outsiders. Lael wasn’t as well known and wouldn’t be under nearly as much scrutiny. Still...she’d likely insist on minor cosmetic surgery, dying her hair, and wearing colored contacts to disguise herself. Her blood would tell, but a heads up to the leaders of the exile colony regarding her reasons would likely prevent a diplomatic incident.::
::She shook her head. She was getting ahead of herself. There was a chance the Exiles wouldn’t welcome outsiders so easily even if she was, by blood, an exile herself. Hell, it might not even be her going. When her father had first brought it up, she’d had thoughts of her and Toryn approaching them together only to realize that was a fantasy that would never come to fruition. Why would Toryn risk his good standing with the Council for the sake of satisfying his curiosity?::
::She smiled wanly, but remained silent.::
Skyfire: If yer lookin’ for an excuse to throw a party, we still haven’t celebrated my promotion…
Rosek: ::pauses:: I wish, but I’m exhausted and I need to get Junu into my quarters before she loses it and I unwittingly set a wild beast loose on the ship.
Blair: Response
Skyfire: We can plan it later if yeh want t’ take a raincheck.
Rosek: ::grabs his hand and squeezes, then kisses his cheek:: We will soon. I promise. ::grins:: You worked very hard to get back to where you are and that deserves to be celebrated.
Skyfire/Blair: Response
::The turbolift stopped.::
Rosek: Well, this is me. See you both later?
Skyfire/Blair: Response
::Without another word, Lael stepped through the open doors and strode briskly toward her quarters.::