Under The Arboretum Tree
Posted on Sun Jun 7th, 2026 @ 12:07am by Ensign Elira Vyn & Ensign Alecx Novis
Edited on on Sun Jun 7th, 2026 @ 12:08am
1,586 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2: Mine of Taurus
Location: USS Scharnhorst, Arboretum
Location: USS Scharnhorst, Arboretum
Elira was sitting underneath the tree, the main tree in the whole area. The Arboretum is very pretty looking room, and she found the most comfortable and perfect spot in order to practice a little meditation. She chose this room because usually at this time at night it is quiet. And she sat there with her eyes closed she could sense somebody coming, so could her symbiote Vyn. For the moment she tried to ignore it I hoping the person would just walk by and then just leave.
“You and your bloody late night walks.” A baritone voice muttered out of the moonlit darkness. The artificial moon was there for the ‘nighttime’ cycle so as to not give people an excuse to trip over things. It was unclear who the voice was talking to as there was just the one set of footsteps, but they clearly thought they were alone. “Val, talk to Reia and tell her that sleep is important as well. We ran an intense drill today and who knows what’s planned for tomorrow, plus with Kyra kicking my ass with the extra training…” the young man walked past the tree, his foot catching one of the roots and sending him tumbling face first into the ground. “Yeah, laugh it up ladies…” He grumbled before his peripheral vision caught sight of the figure under the tree and he froze, the blush on his face apparent even in the semi-dark.
Elira opened her eyes suddenly as she heard the commotion. She did not see the fall, but she could tell that he tripped and fell. "Are you trying to become one with the roots?" She asked, trying to be comical with a serious look on her face.
Had she heard him talking to himself? Shut up for a second! He shouted at the laughter in his brain from the past lives of his symbiont and there was quiet. "Well, the view down here is a fair sight better than up there." He said with a slight smile, returning the humour, "But perhaps I'd be better imitating them and burrowing underground rather than embarrassing myself in front of a pretty lady again." The laughter picked up again inside his head.
Elira was not sure what to think about his response. In one sense, his cheesy line was cute, and a nice way for him to save face. She grinned, as she motioned for him to join her. "Since you down here, why don't you join me." She asked with a warm smile on her face. She decided to accept his attempt at flirting. Mainly because she was amused at his attempt.
He grinned and scrabbled up to a seated position with her, "I won't complain, that's for sure." He extended a hand, "Ensign Alecx Novis, Security, I have this annoying habit of taking long walks late in the day, was never my idea in the first place, but well, what else can I do?"
"The quirks of a symbiont influence." Elira said, as she smiled as recognized he too had a symbiont. "Vyn, my symbiont , has influenced my rowdy nature, by bringing me balance to my rambunctious personality. It's why we are meditating under the Arboretum tree." Elira pointed out to him.
Why you little, manipulative... Alecx directed towards his passenger, "Which tells me why I was directed out this direction, then. Novis has had some... Interesting hosts, of which of the six prior to me, all but one was female, so they have a grand old time teasing me about all sorts of things. Plus, Reia, the host just previous to me, was actually only half-Trill, so I picked up the habit of talking out loud to Novis from her. There was a communications issue between the two of them. So I promise you, I'm really not crazy."
"I'm not convinced." Elira said with a playful grin on her face. She could tell that Alecx was still trying to fully integrate with his symbiont. She could understand his frustrations. The host and the symbiont become one. And all the memories to integrate can be a bit overwhelming. She debated about saying more, but for the moment she wanted to see how he handled her teasing.
"Then I'll have to find some way to convince you, won't I?" Alecx chuckled, putting a hand on his chin as if deep in thought, "What do you think? I could take you to dinner, but it would probably have to be the mess hall for the time being.. No starbase to provide a better restaurant and while Valerie was a good cook, I'm still a bit heavy-handed with the spices. Of course, in return I'd probably want to ask what your first name is." He batted his eyelashes without thinking, a habit from another of his hosts and he glanced down.
"The Captain's wife is a chef on this ship. I heard her food is pretty good." Elira suggested. She was not a fan of replicated food. Most mess halls did have a replicator attached. Not that she would use it. "It's going to take more than a dinner to convince me." She again said, with a playful grin on her face.
"Oof, more than dinner?" Alecx thought for a moment, "What sort of thing did you have in mind? I think I might do just about anything to reassure you."
"Hey I thought you were planning this? Am I becoming the guy in this relationship?" Elira pointed out to him. She was having way too much fun picking on him. She could tell that he liked her. And she liked him too. there's was definitely an instant spark between them. She gave him a warm loving smile.
Alecx blushed maroon, hoping it wasn’t visible in the semi-darkness. He could tell she was teasing him, that smile on her face made that perfectly clear to him, affirmed by decades upon decades of having done it in past lives. Still, it was all a part of the game and if he wanted to see more of her in the future, he had to play it. And he did want to see her again, not just if on-duty, “Then I suppose I’ll have to come up with something dramatic, won’t I? Say, by 1900 tomorrow evening when I pick you up at your quarters?”
"I don't need dramatic. I just need effort. 19:00 works for me." Elira suggested to him. But then she paused for a moment. "But that's tomorrow what are we going to do tonight I'm not tired yet." She said, throwing him a small bone, hoping that he picked up on the hint.
The look that flashed into his eyes was one of dumbfoundedness as his mind blanked. Put on the spot, with now no assistance from the past selves that he felt as if they were watching to see how he was going to put his foot in his mouth THIS time. He swallowed once and licked his lips to moisten them to buy himself a minute, certain he was looking like an idiot at this very moment. The KISS principle was in effect: Keep It Simple, Stupid. “How about we go for a walk? The moonlight’s rather pretty, not nearly as pretty as you are, though.” He scrambled to his feet and extended his hand to her, words coming out of his mouth that he’d only intended to think, “And maybe I won’t sound like the idiot I am!”
"You came out for a walk, correct?" Elira asked him, as she also stood up. She like herself down even though the artificial grass just an old habit. The turf grass wasn't real but it felt real enough.
“I did?” Alecx asked, then followed it up with an ‘I did.” Nerves, he hated them, “And there’s nothing like a stroll to get to know one another.” He glanced down towards her. She wasn’t that much shorter than him, coming up to roughly his nose and an unconscious thought came to him that it was the perfect height to be able to kiss her forehead, and if she wore heels ever? He almost had to shake his head to keep from getting ahead of himself. He’d only met her what? Three minutes ago Five? Couldn’t be more than ten since he’d stepped through the doors. He realized he was still holding her hand from when he helped her up, but didn’t release it. If and when she wanted to, she could take it back, but it was soft and warm in his and he enjoyed it.
"That sounds like a good idea to me." Elira said, and she also realized that his hand was still in hers as he helped her up. She then moved her hand onto his arm moving it to around his bicep area and then held on. "Just want to make sure you don't trip and fall again." She said playfully, but this particular cause wasn't really good for holding somebody up, but it was a cute little romantic gesture nonetheless. She wasn't ready to hold his hand just yet, but she wanted him to know that she was interested.
He smiled at her and they set off, clearly not trying to get anywhere in particular, just out for an amiable walk… And maybe to see if something could blossom, like a flower.
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