Joint Log - Captain Ivanova, Commander Dahe'el - "To Sleep, Perchance To Dream"

Posted on Sun Aug 17th, 2014 @ 9:35pm by Admiral Rochelle Ivanova

2,945 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: In the Dark

The party had started to wind down, the festivities no longer racing a breakneck pace as everyone rejoiced their successes and regrouping with the Fleet -- the knowledge they weren't alone in space, that shore leave still lingered close. They also knew, however, that war loomed on the horizon and these drinks and dances may very well be their last if fortune failed to favor them. Rochelle was no stranger to that knowledge or the feeling of strained worry that walked hand in hand with it -- at least for her.

She'd parted from the last of her dances that evening, parted from those who came to speak with her and invite them to their personal after parties, to say good evening to Pond and past the Cardassian. Her hand had skimmed along his arm from elbow to palm as she did so, tugging on his hand gently in a silent way of notifying him that she was ready and for him to follow. There was no sense in making a big spectacle of it, to incite further mistrust of him or rumors a romance, and as such she sought to protect him and spared him those awkward moments.

Her quarters were cold as she let herself in, bringing the lights up to an acceptable level. She knew he'd be right behind her, could hear his footfalls, the quiet sound of his breathing. Things she'd begun to tune into since she'd been held in the mines. "I know it's chilly for you," Rochelle said with her back to him, pausing to step out of her heels, "You can set the temperature to whatever you're comfortable with." the plush sheepskin rug she'd placed under her coffee table felt like heaven to her tired feet and her gown sighed as it brushed across it when she walked, suddenly dragging now that the added height of her shoes was no longer a factor in its fit.

Having followed the redhead back to her quarters, the Cardassian stepped in through the door and gave a slight smile at the concern she showed for his well being, even though the purpose of the visit was hers and hers alone, "It is quite comfortable," Almar replied as he stepped just inside the door and let it close behind him, "Your comfort is the important thing tonight Rochelle."

"I can't have you freezing to death on my behalf." She managed a small smile, glancing over her bare shoulder at him. "The replicator should answer your codes so you can find something more comfortable to wear. Dress whites are never comfortable."

"It is hardly freezing," the Cardassian replied with a light chuckle as he stepped up to the replicator and tapped a few buttons that caused the device to buzz into life, an engineers duty uniform materialized and was closely followed by the work jacket that fit over the top, "How are you feeling after your little episode in the brig the other day? Any stronger?"

Rochelle snorted softly, tilting her head to remove her earrings and setting them in a small silver box atop a table. "I'm perfectly fine." She replied with her usual canned response, reaching to struggle with the clasp of her necklace.

Placing his clothes down, Almar stepped up behind Rochelle and with an unusually gentle touch, moved her hand to the side and released the clasp for her, reaching around and handing her the two ends of the chain, "You always say you are fine, but if you were, I wouldn't be here," he responded softly.

The petite woman shiver as his fingers brushed along the nape of her neck, but reached and took the danging chain from him. "Touche." She responded, setting the necklace with it's earrings, blinking away the tingle of his touch. "For the most part I am." Rochelle's fingers unlocked the catch of her bracelet, removing the last piece of her jewelry aside from the jewel encrusted pin that held her hair up, "I'm breathing, aren't I?"

"This is very true," the Cardassian replied as he took a few steps backwards and retrieved the pile of clothes, unfolding the duty jacket and undershirt and laying them over the back of a chair, "Hopefully we'll be able to get you sleeping comfortably tonight."

"Hopefully." She responded, releasing a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding at his nearness while reaching up to release her hair. The light caught each crimson spiral created by the tight roll of the twist, sending it down as an array of flame until it reached the middle of her back and rested there, guarding the lacing of her gown until she moved to bring the lot of it over her right shoulder, discarding the pin in the same silver box. "The key is you being comfortable as well, Almar, or I won't be able to sleep." Rochelle said, crossing the living area towards her bedroom and paused, her fingers fumbling at the lace of her gown's corset bodice laces. "Would you...?" She asked, looking over towards where he stood organizing his effects.

"You have but to ask," Almar replied as he put down the trousers he had unfolded, he moved back to her and laid a hand on her shoulder, "Hold still for a second," he uttered as his his hands found the laces and began loosening them for her.

"Thank you," She offered, crossing her arms over her chest to keep the loosed gown from falling as the modesty panel slipped, exposing most of her back as he worked down the length of the bodice, "I don't know why I choose dresses like this, they require acrobatics to get into and out of." Rochelle said, almost sheepishly as she watched him from over the shoulder not occupied by hair.

"I have to admit, the dress for male officer is much less... complicated, even if it is uncomfortable, but it is also much less beautiful," the Cardassian responded as he finished with the laces and took a step back again.

"A bit." She nodded and excused herself to her bedroom, her cheeks taking color at the awkward position the gown had put them both in. Behind closed doors, she was quick to step away from the elegant black gown, lifting it to rest over the foot of her bed. Her pajamas were much safer and more comfortable -- she sighed as her night shirt slipped over the contours of her body and she stepped into the extra large, extra soft, pants.

"Can I get you anything?" Rochelle asked, appearing a short time later makeup free with her hair tamed back in a quick ponytail. Without the proverbial warpaint her youth shone through, displaying the bounty of her freckles as they lay smattered across her nose and cheeks. Even her lips hadn't gone without being touched by several pinpoints of extra color. She could feel the tension as she crossed to the replicator, knew that this wasn't something either one had thought through.

Almar had taken the brief time she was in her bedroom to change himself, he was now in a duty uniform and his dress whites lay neatly folded in a pile, his medals lying on top of them alongside his rank pips and comm badge, "I normally drink tea before bed."

"Tea." She nodded and stepped away from the replicator, "Lucky for you I have stocks in the good stuff." The art of tea was something she found elaborate and soothing, heating water became a priority, opening the tin of ripe smelling ginger and high grade black tea became heaven. She'd have to thank Pond later. Turning, she hoisted her frame up onto the counter top along side the burner, close enough to warm herself, but far enough away not to burn -- and she watched him. "I'm afraid I'm not very good at this... Pajama parties... Allowing people close." A sigh tried to explain everything.

Joining her a moment later, the Cardassian stood alongside the counter and cocked his head to the side slightly, a slight chuckle emanating from his lips as he considered her words, "You'll find that I am just as inept," he replied before running his hand back over his hair and smoothing it down, "You don't owe me an explanation."

"Sure I do. You're putting yourself in this position because of me." Rochelle's eyes rolled more at herself than him. In more ways than one she felt like a teenager fumbling in the dark. "And my inability to sleep." She allowed herself to touch him, placing her hand over his.

"I'm putting myself in this position because I care about you Rochelle," Almar replied with a slight smile as her touch warmed his hand and sent a tingling sensation up his arm and down his spine, "It's the same reason I fought so hard to bring you back, you're not just one of the command staff to me, you're a friend, which in my life, is a rarity to be cherished."

"In mine too." She smiled wryly, realizing how true a statement it really was. Long ago she'd come to understand that being career oriented meant likely being shut off from everyone and everything based on friendship and love. It was that reasoning that made her wonder whether continuing to try was even worth it. "More than you know." Part of her longed to tell him how relieved she'd been that death was right there on the horizon - the end of the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance and the guilt and pain surrounding the Whydah incident and now Notura and Landon.

"Either way, you're back and we're here to get you sleeping again, hopefully sleeping comfortably." Almar replied as he brushed his hair back against his head again.

Reaching up, she smoothed hair away from his cheek. "We'll see. I make no promises." She hummed, letting her thumb rub along his temple. The kettle squealed, the sudden noise causing her to jump and suck in a quick breath, her heart leaping into her throat. The hand that had been used to touch the Cardassian quickly moved away to move the pot and she wiggled from the counter top, sliding to floor. "Someday, things like that won't have so much power." She muttered, squeaking past him with the tin of tea blossoms and heading for the couches and coffee table.

"Someday," he replied as he let her pass and then followed her, his stride carrying him across the room much quicker than hers, the height difference quite obvious now that she was out of the high heels, "You're bound to be a little jumpy at the moment."

"A little?" She asked as she poured the water and a the tea bundle into a clear diffuser, the blossom beginning to bloom and release it's color and flavor. Picking herself up from the floor where she'd knelt to start the tea, she replanted herself on the couch and motioned for him to take a seat while it steeped.

"Ok, very jumpy," the Cardassian replied as he took a seat on the couch and sat forward, on the edge of the seat, "For many different reasons, we are quite similar yet forever... not,"

Rochelle curled into her favored corner, tucking her legs up under her as they spoke. "I feel like a jack rabbit." She started, leaning her head back against the cushions and realizing the Cardassian had likely not ever heard of one, "Earth creature, high strung, easily startled by everything including its own shadow." She explained, stifling a yawn.

"I can see the resemblance," Almar replied with a light chuckle as he sat back on the couch, "I've always been considered quite quiet, a gentle giant, I think is the right phrase?"

Peering at him lazily, Rochelle narrowed her eyes, "You're not supposed to agree with me, you know. Correct answer would have been 'No Rochelle, you're not a rabbit! You're the big bad coyote that eats rabbits!' or something of the sort." She teased, doing her best to mimic the bass of his voice. The smile was genuine, tired, but genuine as she turned slightly to be able to face him, still using the couch back as a pillow. "You are." The woman admonished, tugging a throw around her, "I don't think I've ever seen you blow up for any reason. I admire that and wish I could emulate. Sometimes it's no picnic being an emotional creature, taking leaps of faith instead of thinking and relying on logic." She said, allowing her eyes to close as she spoke.

"I'm fully emotional and there have been times where I have blown up, always with good reason though," the Cardassian replied quickly, "It is just that I have always had to protect myself, so it has given my personality a veneer of cool and calm, but there have been times where I have been pushed to the point of an extreme emotional response."

"You? Emotional?" A lazy smile and snort heralded her response, gently teasing. "I've always known you to be the rock, you know, the pillar of strength." Her rock, most recently, she thought. The tiny fire-kissed woman nosed deeper into the softness of the cushion as she mulled over his words and their meanings. Without him there had been many times where she'd have been truly lost, where his stalwart and steadfast nature had soothed over the violent conflagration that was her own. Temperance. Almar Dahe`el had given her the gift of temperance.

"Because that is how I have always presented myself," Almar replied with a light chuckle, "You know as well as I do that we try our best not to let people see us when we are weak, when we are vulnerable, you only trust a small number on this ship to see you in that condition, as do I."

Allowing her eyes close once more Rochelle nodded in agreement, "Touche. Only the very best are allowed into my circle." She breathed, feeling herself starting to fade and not having the will power to stop it for once knowing he was there to champion against her nightmares. "Tea should be ready..." She mumbled, her fingers gesturing in the general direction of the diffuser.

"I think we should get you into a more comfortable position, if you fall asleep like that you will be quite sore when you wake," the Cardassian replied as he ignored the tea for now, instead moving to sit next to her on the edge of the sofa, "Now, are you going to go to bed on your own, or do I have to take you."

"You wouldn't." Rochelle murmured, followed by some incoherent babble that was likely a feigned and cheeky threat lost in the ether as the sandman had his way with her. She felt him shift and the heat of him move closer to her, a stark reminder that he was there as her protector, chasing away the demons of the night as they crept and lurked within the shadows of her consciousness.

"Wrong," Almar replied as he stood and scooped the redhead up in his arms, supporting her with his large arms, one under her knees and one behind her back and began moving towards the bedroom, "I'll still be here when you wake up, so don't worry about me disappearing."

The sensation of being carried was one the young Commander would never soon be used to. It left her feeling helpless and comforted all at the same time, giving her no choice but to rescind and allow the carrier to manipulate her delicate form unless she wanted to do harm to them both in an attempt to escape. In truth, she didn't want to escape him. Her nose came to rest against the crook of his neck where the ridges and scales met the top of his shoulders and her eyes refused to open no matter how hard she tried to rebel against the sleep that was quickly overtaking her. "Stay?" She asked, her arms looping around his shoulders loosely.

"If you want me to stay closer, I will," the Cardassian responded as he lay her gently down onto the mattress, placing her sitting up at the head of the bed.

Rochelle's eyes finally re-opened, veiled under her thick lashes, as he placed her down on the softness of her bed. Taking in the image of the Cardassian's tenderness, she used that position to tug her blankets loose and drape them around her legs in preparation for the deep dive into sleep. "Please?" Her voice seemed so small, almost childlike as she asked him not to leave.

His answer was the zip on his jacket being undone and it being folded and placed down on the bedside table, his boots were soon to follow and found a space next to the bed as the Cardassian swung his legs up and propped himself up against the headboard.

His answer quieted whatever worry remained, whatever doubts still clawed at the back of her mind. Rochelle smiled softly as she watched him settle into bed, his well built frame coming to reside beside the frailty of her own. It had been nearly four years since she'd felt the warmth of another body in her bed, purely by choice, and where the initial idea had felt so alien - the follow through felt so very right. Wordlessly, she allowed her weary head to find purchase against his chest, sighing quietly as the sound of his heartbeat began its lullaby.

---

Captain Rochelle Ivanova
Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR

Commander Almar Dahe'el
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Vindicator

 

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