K-Drama & Ice-Cream

Posted on Mon Apr 27th, 2026 @ 12:09am by Lieutenant JG Aiden Poe & Lieutenant Commander Elyse White

943 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Forgotten Wounds
Location: Science Office | USS Arcadia
Timeline: One day after the death of Walker

ON:

Poe sat in the science office. It had been 24 hours since the loss of Commander Walker and Poe sat in his office having slept only an hour. He was sorting through all his data for the probes determined to get the department in order before he left. He'd submitted his transfer request to the new XO this morning and he wanted to make sure all was in order.

His dream ship had turned into a nightmare.

Elyse was exhausted. She felt oddly responsible for what happened with Walker. Could she have done something more? Nonetheless, she knew someone else would be hurting. She leaned on the office doorway and sighed, "I found this k-drama that may help dull the pain for a few hours."

Poe looked up. He shook his head. "Nothing can. Nothing but seeing that damned Captain in the brig. I told him. I told him about my dream, I told him about what I felt to not send him but he just told me he didn't do gut feelings." Tears sprang to his eyes.

Elyse shook her head, "it's not the captain's fault, Poe. And one cannot change plans based on dreams. But I agree with you-- guy feeling tend to be there for a reason. Even engineering 'knew'."

He sighed. "Yeah well all the good it did us." He sighed. "Don't worry though I'll get the department up to speed before my transfer." He looked up. "You did put that through right?"

"Actually, no, I didn't. I came here to talk with you first," Elyse commented, "I need you to hear me out first, alright?"

He looked up. "Okay. I'm not changing my mind but okay."

"I'm not asking you to," Elyse nodded her understanding, "my request is that you take a breath and see this mission through first. Please."

"It's done isn't it. We got the people, the mines were deactivated we just need to drop them off at a base."

"Yes and no," Elyse sat down in the seat opposite, "even after we get the people home, there's still a lot of paperwork-- dot the i's, cross the t's. There's more to a mission than just get people out."

"My paperwork will be done. I promise you that."

Elyse took a breath and nodded, "at least go to the counsellor, ok? I can only help by watching K-dramas and drinking with you. I mean, my opinion on the matter is not sadness, it's anger, but, you know."

"Anger?" He looked up.

"I'm not used to being an XO," she explained, "I gave Walker orders to not go through with it all and he... I was his XO and he ignored direct orders. I feel like--" Elyse sighed, "it's hard to explain."

"I get it." Poe said. "But those people on the shuttle would not have made it. He didn't do it as an insult he did it cause he knew that was the only option in the limited time. None of this is your fault. I hope you know that."

"I do know," Elyse nodded, "doesn't help, mind. Still, if by some miracle he actually survived like my dream said, then I'll kill him myself."

"I doubt anyone could make it out of there." He sighed. "He got under your skin that fast huh?" He smiled a little. "He got under mine too."

"He ignored orders. My first time being an XO and he was the first to truly be deserving of my wrath," she offered a small smile.

"Yeah. You should have seen him the night before. He was so flustered he ran out of my quarters."

Elyse chuckled softly, before looking serious again, "listen, this hurts right now, and if I was a normal human, maybe if offer you a hug, but the pain you're in right now, it will go in time. It's the memory that matters." She cleared her throat, "as your XO though, I need you to find a way of grieving in a more productive manner-- see the counsellor, have a shower, sleep, eat-- not necessarily in that order."

He looked up at her. "If I tell you something will you keep it a secret?"

"Depends on what it is," she replied, "if you tell me you don't own a shower for religious reasons, I will drag you to my quarters and bath you as I would a dog."

He laughed. "No, not that. I had a crush on the Commander."

She smiled, feeling proud of herself for making Poe laugh at a time like this, "can I tell you a secret?"

He gave a nod.

"I knew," Elyse chuckled shaking her head, "You have a terrible poker face and you let it slip a few times. Also, I know that the feeling was mutual."

He shook his head. "No no no! A man like him could not like someone like me. Plus he's still grieving his husband and he can do so much better."

"Oh Poe, so young, so dumb, so blind," Elyse chuckled, "he did. He was just not wanting to say anything for that reason."

"You are a very smart lady but not in this. People don't like freaks like me but I will enjoy the friendship..." His face fell and his eyes filled with tears. "No...I won't. He's gone."

"Find a Ouija board and I'll bet my career on it," Elyse smiled, but then he started crying again, "come on, Poe. Let's go back to mine, we'll watch some terrible K-Drama and eat ice-cream."

He gave a nod. "Okay." He sighed and stood to follow her. "Nothing romantic."

"Agreed," she nodded, leading the way.

OFF:

 

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