Setting the date

Posted on Sun Feb 13th, 2022 @ 5:21am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Season 5: Interlude: Darkness Abounds
Location: Deck Ten; Promenade
Timeline: MD01- 1130 Hours
1301 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Entering her office, Naxea's eyes instantly locked onto her vase with flowers in it. "What the hell?" she asked as she approached her desk, delicately touching the flowers. They were beautiful but far from appropriate for the office of a Marine Detachment Commander. Letting out a sigh, she had a good idea as to whom brought the flowers. "S'hib, you ass," she murmured. She picked up the vase and after hesitating a moment, she placed the flowers on a shelf behind her desk, realizing that she would hurt S'hib's feelings if she tossed the flowers.

"Computer, locate Lieutenant Commander S'hib," she demanded.

"Lieutenant Commander S'hib is located on Deck Ten, Section Nine-Delta," came the computer's feminine reply.

Turning, she exited her office and made her way to S'hib's location.

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S'hib meanwhile was simply strolling through the promenade, a sturdy white paper bag hanging gently from his left hand, the brightly coloured material inside teasing to spill out as he absentmindedly clicked about, licking an apple-sized pink salt rock, unaware Naxea was moving towards him despite towering over the crowd that surrounded him.

Naxea made her way through the crowds of people, she still had a hard time believing that so many civilians were on the ship as they mixed in with off duty Starfleet Personnel. She spotted her fiance easily from his height as she came up behind him. "Enjoying yorself?" she called out.

"Naxea?" S'hib said as he turned around, an ear already facing her direction the moment she called out. "I thought you were on duty?" He asked curiously while embracing her into a truly all-encompassing hug.

"I am. Care to explain the flowers on my desk?" she asked. "I can't imagine anyone else giving me flowers."

"Oh, well..." He started as he stood back slightly, awkwardly holding the small shopping bag in front of his legs. "The smaller white flowers and the taller pink ones are from Bajor, I don't really remember their names but they weren't too difficult to grow..." S'hib continued, not entirely understanding the question.

"Um, the other ones, the ones with the big petals... they're from Sequella, cus' you know, getting married and all I figured it be nice... to mix them together." He finished, smiling but starting to realise he was in trouble as his ears folded back against his head.

"How about next time, you ask me if it's ok if you just drop flowers off in my office. Last thing I need is the Captain or having a meeting with a big vase of flowers taking up space on my desk." She paused, taking a breath. "However, they are very beautiful."

"If I asked you would have said no..." S'hib said sheepishly, looking down at the floor somewhat.

"So you take a bigger risk of pissing me off by doing it anyway," she replied. "I kept the flowers but placed them on the shelf behind my desk. Next time, just ask, ok?" she looked up at him, taking his arm around hers.

S'hib let out an exhausted whinny, tugging her closer as she wrapped her arms around his arm. "Ok, but if you say no... I might still do it anyway... And before you say anything!" He continued, talking quickly and somewhat louder once her posture started to change. "That's a joke, kind of..."

"It better be a joke," she replied firmly. "Anyways, is there anything in particular, you're shopping for?"

"Clothes," S'hib remarked excitedly, lifting the bag somewhat. "Well, the fabric to make them anyway..." He continued, opening the bag slightly to reveal the bundled lengths of colour cloth. "I need to show the Ambassador what I wear when I'm not in uniform, get them comfortable with the idea as they have been characteristically stubborn about doing so..." He sighed, dreading the conversation with the High Priestess.

Naxea chuckled at the rumors Security has had with the two new Sequus staying clothed aboard the ship as she looked at the clothes within the bag. "Anyways, we've been needing to talk. If we're getting married, we need to iron out some details."

"We do?" S'hib asked, unsure of his next words. "Have I... uh, is there... a problem?" He mumbled, tripping over his own tongue.

Naxea raised an eyebrow at S'hib. Was he joking? "Well first off, there is the matter of making a guest list, getting the details of the weddings ironed down, and getting the location of the reception afterwards reserved. Then we need to decide where to go afterwards for some down time. Humans call it a honeymoon, I think.

"We have to invite people?" He said in a hushed tone as people walked by, his ears folding back as he leaned forward to whisper. "If it's important, wouldn't they just come anyway?"

Chuckling, Naxea shook her head. "We can't just have anyone who feels like it, show up at the wedding. Normally, you're supposed to invite your friends and family to the event and let them know what date it is supposed to take place. Also, there is the matter of whether or not to have a Bajoran or Sequus wedding."

"Nax... there are no Sequus weddings, this is all alien to me..." He replied, sounding defeated. "I'm trying my best here, but I really don't know what I'm supposed to be doing... these traditions, the rules... I just, it makes you happy so I'm doing it."

"Ok, hold up," Naxea said, stopping and turning to face S'hib. "What rules are you referring to?" She didn't want S'hib to feel unhappy or alienated.

"Well... I have to wear a suit, don't I? It's going to make me look stupid." He frowned, having grown a newfound hatred for clothing while trudging through the sands of the Red sea in his uniform for days on end.

Naxea bit her lip to keep from laughing as she pictured S'hib in a suit. "No, you don't have to wear a suit. Maybe just a nice looking wrap as being nude might put some people off. We can incorporate a mix of Bajoran and Sequus traditions. Mostly, I want you to be happy."

"Oh, I'm more aware of that than I ever have been," S'hib sighed, shaking his head while slowly blinking. "What with all the complaints sitting on my desk now we have two more of my kind strutting around the ship." He added, rolling his tongue across his teeth in annoyance.

"But... that aside," S'hib continued, returning his gaze to Naxea and placing his hands on each of her shoulders, admiring her eyes for a brief moment while stroking a stubby sequus thumb over her uniform. "I am happy, I have you... I don't care how different we are, or... how confusing some things might be at times."

One last look at her eyes was all he needed before he leaned his long neck forward, lowering his head and resting the long ridge of his equine skull against her forehead. "Because I love you."

"I love you too, S'hib," she replied, grinning at his touch as she stroked his neck. "Alright, let's get to work on setting a date," she took a step back to look at him. "When would be good for you?"

"Well, I was going to say tomorrow, but I figured you'd just hit me if I did..." S'hib grinned. "You pick, you know far more about this than I do."

"We need to give people time, so let's say two weeks then?" she offered.

"Two weeks it is, but we should talk more about it tonight over dinner... no replicator, we're gonna cook." He said stubbornly, not taking no for an answer.

"Sure, as long as you don't set the quarters on fire," she teased as they continued to walk through the Promenade.