Well... That was Awkward

Posted on Thu Sep 3rd, 2026 @ 1:28am by Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker & Lieutenant Commander Elyse White & Lieutenant Tholos Th'Keal

1,797 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Blade of Deceit

ON:

Elyse had a lot to do, but she was determined to see Sabastian before the day was through. So, there she was, wandering into sickbay to see him. She wouldn't stay long, but long enough to say she cared. The first person also at Sabastian's bedside she saw was Poe. "Hi, just thought I'd--" she paused, seeing Thol also there, "oh, hello, Tholos."

Thol's back straightened. "Hi Elyse....Um...Hi."

Sabastian stared at the two of them. "Hello Elyse. Thol just got here too."

Thol grinned, "I wanted to avoid the nester."

Sabastian looked up at him. "The what?"

"The Nester of Engineering."

Sabastian looked at Elyse. "What is he talking about?"

It was awkward. Why was it awkward? Oh, right, Thol couldn't have run out of her place fast enough the other morning and now he just seemed to be avoiding her. Clearly their friendship was ruined. She blinked, suddenly realising that she'd been asked a question, "nester? Uhh, I do not have an answer for that one unless Tholos is referring to engineering's pet that has taken residency in engineering whilst you have been... Absent."

Tholos smiled. "Yes, that very same one." He pointed to the recovery room. "You just woke up so look around."

Sabastian did. There was a fuzzy space themed blanket draped over him, several plants and various hanging things. "Um....what is all this."

Thol smiled. "Poe, was nesting. He wanted to make sure things were not cold and sterile so he wanted to homy up the room."

Sabastian sighed. "Yeah..." He turned to Elyse. "Engineering's pet?"

"Poe has practically been living in engineering in your absence. The team have been making sure that he is fed, watered, bathed-- like looking after a stray puppy," Elyse shrugged, "it's blunt and not intended as an insult. Merely an observation. People grieve in different ways."

He sighed. "Ah." He was quiet and then wanting to move the focus off himself he asked, "So why are you two standing so far apart that the tractor beams in all Starfleet ships couldn't move you close?"

Elyse looked up from Sabastian and over at Thol. "Perhaps you will have two different opinions on one answer."

Thol flushed.

Sabastian smiled. "Oh boy. What happened?"

Elyse was silent for a moment, just watching Thol's reaction. "Clearly nothing," Elyse sighed and shook her head looking back at Sabastian, "nothing that was worth further conversation even after an agreement, clearly." It was clear that Elyse felt hurt over what had happened, but she put on a smile, "anyway, you should be proud of Tholos. He really stepped up in your absence. Definitely should commend him for a role of you still decide on leaving."

Sabastian sighed. "Tholos." The voice raise was subtle but enough.

Tholos sighed. "We um...were together...together."

Sabastian's eyebrows shot up. It appeared that he'd have to take on the role of counselor. "Ah...well that would make things...interesting. I take it that it was unplanned?" He looked to Elyse.

"Yes, unplanned. Although," she looked back at This, "Tholos, why don't you tell Sabastian, here, how you started it, only to practically run out of my room at your first opportunity the following morning? Didn't even stick around for breakfast or coffee, but did agree to remain friends and explore the concept of an 'us' further, yet has done nothing but avoid me like the plague." She looked back at Sabastian and waved him off, "sorry, not the time or place-- anyway, I'm glad you're ok. Once you're on your feet, I may channel my inner Baciami and kick your ass for not following direct orders. But until then, get well soon. Your team has missed you. Glad to have you back." Elyse bowed her head a little to Sabastian and turned to walk away.

Sabastian stared at Tholos. "Do you like her?"

"Yes," his voice was a bit weak.

"Then go after her. Make this right. Use your words."

Thol sighed and ran after her. "Elyse! Wait."

Elyse didn't stop, or look at him, but she did listen, "what is it, Tholos."

"Okay look," he said a bit frustrated. "We both, and I mean both, suck at this so we have two options. Continue being awkward like this or just bloody talk about it from A to Z and lay it out and then decide. Are we trying or are we just friends or what." He wasn't used to uncertainties and he didn't like games or mind confusion.

Elyse stopped in her tracks and looked around at him. "We? We both suck at this? No. No-no-no, Tholos." Elyse looked around, thankfully the hall was empty, but regardless, she kept her voice down, "no 'we' don't. Let me tell you exactly what happened from my perspective, and you tell me if it's still 'we' screwing this up. You kissed me. You made the first move. You were the one than couldn't wait to leave the following morning. You were the one that agreed to not let things get awkward. And yet... You have been the one avoiding me. You are the one who is barely talking to me. You are the one that can barely look at me. What did I do? Was I that bad? Did you just need an outlet so bad and thought 'she'll be easy enough'. Because I wanted to be friends. I had a crush, Thol. I like you, ok? And yet when I, quite literally, laid myself out for you, you can't even say two words to me, or want to work on our friendship since neither of us are apparently ready for a relationship. I agreed with you because I didn't want to look like a fool." Elyse didn't cry, she never cried publicly, yet this hurt and it was clear that she was fighting to not cry with frustration, "why didn't you check in? Ask me to coffee? Something. I feel used, Tholos."

Tholos sighed. "Fine, I will grant you some of those. Yes I did kiss you and we both went down a road that we both said we were not ready. I didn't run from you in morning for any other reason then I felt embarrassed and angry at myself for messing up a good friendship. Yes I do want to work on our friendship but honestly I don't know how to. I've never ... been with a friend and I don't know the protocol or how to act like things didn't happen or that I don't like you. I don't know how to do any of this. In my book, I like someone, I ask them out, they say yes or no we move on. I don't do well with unclear instructions Elyse. We are otherwise going to start a relationship slowly or just a friendship."

Elyse looked away from him and swallowed hard. She needed composure. After a few breaths, she shook her head, "you think I know? I don't. And why must we pretend like it didn't happen? It did happen and I don't regret it. It was nice to feel wanted for a change, let alone a few other things that I haven't had in a long while. But, Thol, if in your book you like someone so you ask them out, why not ask me? Or is this really something that doesn't even deserve a slow burn-- just a friendship?"

He studied her. "I do want you but ... I want you to be sure and as far as taking it slow I'm all for that. I want to ask you out but I want to make sure you are ready. It's not just about taking things slow, that's the easy part." He paused. "I'll tell you what. I am asking you out to dinner Elyse but before you answer think on this. Are you prepared to open your heart, even to a slow romance?"

Elyse's face seemed to falter and soften. She was silent for a moment, just staring into his eyes as if searching for something, "my last relationship broke me. It broke me because not only did I give up on what I wanted for someone else, but because my family assumed that I couldn't do better than someone who didn't even know how to put in a maintenance report for our own place, or made me buy my own birthday card and gifts, or his mum mother's day flowers because he 'forgot'. I lost everything for someone that didn't even say goodbye when I walked out the door. If anything, he helped me pack. The only time that he ever helped me with anything and did something for me. So, believe me when I say that I am desperate to open my heart again, what I lack is the confidence to trust someone with it. What I lack is my confidence in someone actually being a partner. What I lack is my belief in there being someone out there who won't 'forget' or 'run' or leave me to fight battles by myself." She sighed and shook her head, "I know that you had a rough time with your ex. I don't know what happened, but what I do know is that when we got together, it was the first time in a long time that either of us actually felt wanted and seen. I want that. And I would prefer we take it slow. So, yes, give me a time and day."

He smiled. "We're both learning to open up again. Part of that will be communication. That's not on you but on me. I'm the one who has to communicate better. Okay. How about a dinner date tomorrow after shift?"

"Tholos, I don't break easily. Just be blunt and honest with me and I will do the same with you," Elyse encouraged, putting her hand on his arm softly and briefly. She then took a step back, "I'll see you for dinner tomorrow." Elyse smiled sweetly, "I'll look forward to it."

"Me too." He paused. "I'm so sorry for making you feel bad Elyse. I never wanted to do that."

Elyse looked away and nodded, "it really hurt. And I know you didn't mean to hurt me. But--" she shrugged, "What's done is done. Just-- for the sake of my heart-- please, just don't do it again."

"Never." He sighed. "Well I should get back in there. Bring the Chief up to speed."

Elyse nodded, "yeah, go. I've just finished my shift, so I'm going to face plant my bed."

OFF:

Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker
First Officer/ Chief Engineering Officer

&

Lieutenant Commander Elyse White
Chief Communications Officer

&

Lieutenant Tholos Th'Keal
Engineering Officer

 

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