We'll keep our clothes on this time?

Posted on 10 Mar 2020 @ 7:35pm by Commander Amelia Fox & Lieutenant Syvar MD

Mission: Mission 3 - Whom gods destroy ...
Location: The arboretum, Deck 17
Timeline: MD6 1330
1660 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Amelia had arranged to meet Syavr again following their last encounter. While she was looking forward to it there was a small voice at the back of her mind telling her he was only interested in her because of her mirror counterpart. Because of what she had done.

She needed to know how he really felt.

Dressed in a light-coloured summer dress, she was sat on a bench admiring the flowers, waiting for him to arrive.

Knowing the arboretum to be a moderate temperature, Syvar had opted for shorts and a T-shirt. It made him look even more boyish than before. He was carrying a small basket with some edibles and drinks and he smiled as he approached her. "Hi..." He greeted, almost shyly now.

Her smile grew as he approached. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and tilted her head coyly. "Hi yourself." She spotted the basket he was carrying "Awwww. That's awfully sweet of you."

She realised she was acting like a schoolgirl around a star football player, but she couldn't help herself. She had actually been worried he might now turn up and now he was here, she was happy. Really happy.

The small voice of doubt has become a lot quieter, but it was still there. Lingering.

She patted the space next to her on the bench. "Join me. So.. How's your day going?"

"It has just started," Syvar confessed as he sat down next to her, placing the basket at his feet, "I decided to catch up on sleep as I haven't had a whole lot of that in the past days." He cast her a sheepish smile as he raked his fingers through his hair. "I literally woke up fifteen minutes ago." Reaching, his gloved hand touched hers. "How about you?"

"My day has been fairly routine but it 's getting better by the minute." She slid closer to him and interlocked her fingers with his. She then slipped her hand free and gently pulled at the glove on his hand. "May I? Please?"

Looking down, then back up at her, he gave a hesitant nod. "You may," he consented, more curious than anything else. "I've brought a few sandwiches and a thermos of tea," he continued, watching her as he pulled his glove off. He gasped as she touched his hand and almost on instinct he brushed his fingers against the palm of her hand. "Do you want to sit on the grass? Perhaps under a tree?"

His touch was electric, like touching an open plasma relay. She shivered slightly as her heart fluttered. "That sounds wonderful. You really thought of everything. I know this apple tree nearby."

She took him by the hand and led him over to a small grassy hill with a lone apple tree providing just the right amount of shade.

Syvar followed her, allowing himself to be gently pulled along.

Once they were sat, she once again moved closer to him resting against him and the tree, intertwining her fingers with his. "I wanted to talk to you about something." She started and paused, biting her lower lip.

"You know I'm not one for regret. Once I'm made my decision I stand by it for better or worse but I also know that I've sacrificed a lot for my career, including at times, my relationships. I've only had one or two serious relationships but I know... I feel ... what you and I have right now... what I want it to blossom into... is special to me, it means a great deal. I feel it inside. I don't want to let go of it. " She took another breath "But part of me is.... afraid." She looked into his eyes, showing her vulnerable side, which was rarely seen by anyone.

"Afraid of what?" Syvar asked carefully, his gentle hold on her hand tightening just a little. "I would never hurt you," he promised, "even if I feel nothing for your counterpart...you have made me feel different. I'd never been with anyone before, never even had a proper date. You changed all that." He paused. "Though I wish the circumstances had been different, I do feel what we have is special.

"Oh Syvar." She placed her other hand on his face "I know you would never hurt me, I was worried that what she had done would always colour what you thought of me. You say you feel nothing for her yet you were still compelled to try and get to her until I stopped you. Does she still have some hold over you? This is a first for me too. What I feel for you goes deeper. I know it's silly, but it's like this small voice a the back of my mind. Please don't think less of me."

"I've told you several times now that you're not her. I can't hold what she did to me against her." He shook his head. "No I don't think she has any further hold over me....her device has been removed from my body." He paused, studying her, very conscious of her hand on his cheek. Closing his eyes a moment, savouring the gentle touch, he gave her a small smile. "Why would I think less of you, because you think something is silly? Isn't that a Human thing?"

She giggled "It's probably one of the most human things." She then sighed "I'm sorry Syvar, I know she's not me but she looks exactly like me. My face, my body, my voice. And I know what she did to you... She leaned over and kissed him before adding "You know I'll never let her hurt you again."

"Don't make promises you might not be able to keep," Syvar answered dryly, "if she wants to hurt me, she'll find a way because that's who she is." He wrapped his arm around her, drawing her to him. "She doesn't look exactly like you, there are small differences," he added after a moment of thought. "Her pleasantries are a farçe, her smile is different and it doesn't reach her eyes." He touched her hand, turning it over within his. "Her touch is different."

She stiffened slightly and "Her touch different? How? Not more pleasant? Not more gentle? Just different?" she shook her head trying to dispell these thoughts of him comparing the two of them. Was she overthinking things? Was he comparing her in other... activities aswell? No. He had told her he didn't have feelings for her and she believed him. She did believe him...

He studied her again, not quite sure how to explain this. "Less gentle," he said, "she wasn't gentle at all..." He wished she could see for herself what her counterpart had caused, beyond what he had already told and shown her. He could sense that she was troubled in some way, so he reached up and gently cupped her cheek in his hand, making her look up at him. "She isn't you," he repeated, "I would not choose her over you. How can I make you see?"

She thought for a moment. She looked him in the eye. "I don't want to ruin our relationship with doubts so I want to be totally honest with you. Always." She sat up and turned her face slightly to the side. "Share my thoughts and my feeling. All of them. I want you to know all of me. I also want to give you the choice of what you share with me. You also have the choice to say no..."

"I'm not saying no," he answered slowly, "but I'm afraid that if we do this, I might connect us permanently. I don't have the control most Vulcans do. Are you willing to take that risk?"

She answered him clearly, simply and honestly. "Yes."

Since the arboretum was quiet, and they seemed to be in a fairly secluded spot, Syvar shifted so he was facing her. "Relax," he told her, briefly kissing her lips as he positioned his fingers against her face, "this will feel more intrusive than before as I will be in your mind this time, though I know you will see my past too." Letting another kiss linger, he initiated mental contact, using his other arm to brace her against him.

Amelia took a deep breath. Suddenly there was a whole new world inside her mind. His. His thoughts, memories, feelings. It was wonderful. Tears were running down her face but they were tears of joy.

It seemed like eternity, but in reality the connection lasted only seconds. Syvar broke the meld when he felt it might go too far. He was breathing fast as he studied her, slowly lowering his hand to just holding her to him. "How do you feel?" he asked slowly, though his emotions were clearly audible in his voice. "Do you still have any doubts about my feelings, or yours?"

"Does this answer your question?" She asked before she lent forward and kissed him passionately yet tenderly pouring all her heart and soul into one action, her arm now wrapping around him. The afterglow of the meld still
running through her.

Pulling her up into his lap, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face against her hair. "Yes," he whispered happily. "Thank you, for making me feel this way. I've never felt like this before." He held her close, almost unwilling to let her go. "How long do we have until your shift starts?"

"Only another hour, so let's not waste a moment of it." She replied, feeling safe in his arms. Not wanting to let go of him either.

Perfectly content with just holding her against him, and the food completely forgotten, Syvar leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes.

OFF:

●● Lieutenant Amelia Fox
Executive Officer
USS Andromeda


Ensign Syvar
Acting CMO
pnppc Aidan