After The Pomp And Ceremony

Posted on Thu Oct 8th, 2020 @ 7:55pm by Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri (*) & Chief Helmsman Eden Bowers

Mission: Cosmos
Location: Starbase 621 - VIP Quarters
Timeline: 2296
1862 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

It was not often that Ledeya used the bath in her quarters but that night after playing the good hostess to a bunch of Luxor dignitaries who just wanted to discuss the Robot attack and following investigation it left her feeling empty and cold. She lay there surrounded by bubbles, her favourite wine and a holo film playing that she did not hear the chime or the voice calling out to find where she was in the suite.

"Hello! I'm not a serial killer or rapist or anything like that. Please don't shoot me!" Lake said as he entered the bedroom of her quarters. The doors had opened for him when he'd pressed the chime so he invited himself right inside and not seeing her but hearing sounds, he'd approached the bathroom, not wanting to frighten her.

Ledeya was under the surface of the water as she saw the figure in her bathroom and sat up properly. She had no shame or anything to hide but was relieved to see that it was Lake and not anyone else. "So the computer finally got the hint." She commented with a grin. It was about time her setting changes worked.

"Oh good, you actually set it that way then?" He stared for a moment then averted his eyes. He knew she wouldn't care, but it still didn't seem right to him. "Didn't mean to interrupt bath time."

"Been trying to sort it for days but the computer would not accept it but it seems that your transfer had gone through and you are all mine." She grinned leaning over to grab her glass of wine. "You have not interrupted." She assured taking a sip of the wine. She was relaxed and happy but she noticed him looking away.

"Ahh, fighting over me ladies? It was bound to happen eventually," he dropped his head and began to rub the back of his neck. "Any objection to me staying here tonight? I'd love the warmth, and you seem to really relax me. I feel like I've been climbing around in Jefferies tubes all day."

"Well, I do have all this space." It was the best perk about being Commodore getting the nice quarters on the ship and getting VIP quarters on a base. "No, I have no objections." She promised holding out a hand to him. Maybe she could tempt him into joining her or at least looking a little less awkward. "What have you been up too?"

"Helping with some new isolinear circuitry because it needed to be calibrated just right to take a look at this nebula cluster." Lake yawned. "Good thanks, I sleep so much better curled up with you. Have you eaten? I could make us some dinner?"

Ledeya let her hand drop to the side of the tub and frowned a little. "Well, Lieutenant Karis is very particular." She mused thinking on her chief scientist. She was very young and not someone she would have picked for a flagship but the woman was a genius and she came with Ryon which she wanted desperately on board so she was slowly becoming accustomed to her ways. "I would love something greasy after all the little bits from the event with the Luxor dignitaries or you could join me?" She teased.

"For a moment I thought you said peculiar. Which she is, kind of. Not her fault though. It needed doing and I look quite a big like a guinea pig you must admit." Lake seemed to think about that for a moment. "Extremely tempting . . . . but I'm hungry and isn't the way to a man's heart through his stomach? I'll make something, you enjoy your bath."

"I have many ways to a man's heart. I won't be long behind you." She grinned disappearing under the surface of the water to wash out the soap from her hair. She was disappointed but maybe it was the booze talking that made her want to try and tempt him. She watched him leave under the water trying to work out where they were going.

"That you do," he said quietly watching her sink into the water. Then he left the room to prepare the meal. Perhaps some steak and shrimp with a light salad and some fresh bread? He mulled over the ideas as he stood in front of the replicator. One of these days he was going to have to make her a fresh homemade meal if he could find the ingredients of course. Lake had fond thoughts of stealing her away for a week or two and living on a farm or some other nice quiet place where it would be just the two of them, endless night skies and plenty of snuggling to keep them warm.

Ledeya took her time finishing up with her bath and quietly came out towel wrapped around her hair and a tee and shorts on. "So what are we having then?" She wondered from the doorway. It was nice to spend nights like this learning about him rather than him being just a booty call as her ex used to call her life style.

"Traditional Earth celebratory dinner, at least where I come from." It wasn't quite ready yet though and as he looked at her he came up with an idea and nearly blushed at the thought. "Do you want me to do your hair for you? I'm pretty good at braiding."

Ledeya could feel her stomach growling at the mention of earth food. It was a guilty pleasure as they had so many carbohydrates. It was yummy and going to the academy there had been torture. She smiled at his suggestion. "Sure." It was simple and she enjoyed people playing with her hair.

He grinned back. "Sit here then." He put a pillow on the floor and went into her bathroom to get a comb. "I confess I learned how to do this to impress a girl I liked when I was 13. She had really long shiny black hair." he chuckled. "And she never let me touch it. Go figure. Any requests?"

Ledeya was surprised about his quickness of setting her down on the pillow, disappearing off and then coming back. It was a speed that she did not associate with him at all. “I want to laugh but that sounds pitiful.” She teased shaking her head at his offer. She had not done anything like that since before the occupation.

"Yes, I have quite the pitiful back story. I'll save you the details though, you carry enough of your baggage without adding mine to it." He grinned down at her as he settled behind her and reached for her hair. It was slightly damp from the bath but he could feel how soft it was. He spent a minute just running a comb and his fingers through it and seeing if that relaxed her at all.

The Task Group Commander was relaxing with the fingers through her hair. She had already let on that it was a weakness that she loved how it comforted her. "I would love to hear the details. You know all about me. Seems like it is fair." Ledeya said thinking it was only fair of her. The relationship was meant to work both ways and directions.

"All right," he shrugged. "Well my mom died when I was just a kid so it was mostly my dad and I. And a name like Lakeland didn't make me any points with the other kids. I had to rely on my charming personality," he grinned at her.

“Well it got to me.” She pointed out smiling over her shoulder at him wishing she was closer to kiss him. “I am sorry about your mom.” She said the world mom coming out all wrong in her accent making her frown a little but what could she do.

"Thanks, I survived alright. Dad is a good person. Always had food and love from him. Just had terrible luck with women but now that I think about it he did too. Kinda funny. He always said it was love at first sight with her. She walked into a banquet hall and his heart dropped out of his chest. That didn't happen with you though. I mean of course I was attracted to you but it wasn't until we were locked in sickbay that I decided I loved you. The morning we woke up and things were flying around above our heads."

Ledeya smiled and turned wrapping his hand in her hair trapping herself in front of him in the process. Food and love for a Betazoid was all that matter to her. “That bad before you met me?” She wondered softly.

"Eh, I often got friendzoned, I'm cute and sweet apparently." he shrugged. He wasn't really doing much with her hair except running his fingers through it. But he understood that she wanted him to continue. The poor woman did a lot for other people, it was the least he could do for her.

“Mmmhmm.” She mused a little looking at him grinning as thought back to four months back when she had woken up with her abilities free for the first time in a long time.

HE moved, leaning over her a little bit so that his mouth was closer to her ear. "Dinner could wait a little bit if you want a nap?" Why the woman wouldn't take care of herself was beyond him. She always seemed tired and then he had to come in and make her eat and sleep.

"If we wait for dinner it will be even later and I have to be up early." She mused slowly moving back to stand up. It was the right thing to do. Food and then maybe she would settle to sleep properly. She really did need a shore leave to reset.

"Alright," Lake smiled, quickly braiding her hair he managed to get out from behind her without disturbing her too much and went to the replicator, programmed the meal and set it all out on the table. "Dinner is served." There was lasagna, fresh garlic bread, salad and some kind of little dessert tarts that looked like they possibly had apricot jam in them.

The meal was mostly silent with Ledeya using the time to think deeply and to just enjoy the human food. It was not something she had often but she really could not fault the lasagna or garlic bread it was perfect for the alcohol that she had, had whilst entertaining and the salad just freshened everything up. "Add that to our favourites." She grinned.

"Deal. And now, bed?" He got up and offered her his hand.

Ledeya nodded and took the offered hand. She wanted her bed if she was honest. She ached from the dress and shoes the bath had done nothing to help there at all.

He wasn't telepathic at all but he could just tell that what she needed was for someone to wrap their arms around her as they curled against her back while she slept. Luckily he was willing and able to provide that.