Centering and Rebalancing

Posted on Tue Apr 15th, 2025 @ 12:34pm by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece]

Mission: Season 6 - 5.5 - Day to Day
Location: USS Elysium, Lalor-Richardson family quarters
Timeline: MD 2 / 2106 hours
1214 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Two days since escaping the station, the crew was still picking themselves up. Mattias, for one, was still recovering from having his memory affected by the creature that had been hunting everyone on the station. Currently, he was trying to center and focus his core as he worked on making a late dinner for he and Phoenix. She has been very busy , understandably, and she had been pulling long shifts the last several days. He was putting the finishing touches on her favorite meal, as she entered their home.

Phoenix sniffed the air. "Hmmm smells good," she said as she moved into the small kitchen area. She had pulled her hair from its normal braid and it flowed down her back. As she stepped up to him she looked around. "Twins in bed?" she asked curiously. "Tristi?"

Mattias paused in his movements long enough to lean in and give Phoenix a quick, but loving kiss of greeting. "They are," he then replied as he turned back to the stove. "They fell asleep about forty minutes ago. As for Tristi," he paused as he turned to grab a couple plates, then placed them on the counter next to the stove. "She's out with a couple friends. One of them, Sarah Demetrius, is having a sleepover, and invited Tristi over. Sarah's mom is Lieutenant Margo Demetrius, from Operations."

As he finished speaking, he started to serve out their dinners onto the two plates, then carried them over to the table. "Would you grab that bottle of wine and the glasses, sweetheart?" He tilted his head towards the indicated bottle as he moved towards the table.

Phee nodded. She picked up the wine and glasses. "Nice to hear she is making friends."

Mattias nodded in agreement. "Things have certainly started to quiet down for her, in regards to the teasing from some of the other teens." His face grew bit darker as he muttered, "Only took us getting thrown to another galaxy, lose a third of the ship's compliment, that nearly took our own lives as well, but hey, progress is progress right?" It was clear to anyone who knew him, that he was dangerously protective of his family.

Phoenix smiled as she poured their drinks. "Sometimes it takes bit of perspective. " She replied as she handed him his drink. "That and the current situation. Its not ideal to be sure."

Mattias took the glass and mellowed slightly when he saw his beautiful wife smile at him. "You always know how to calm my inner demons, my Queen." He leaned in and gave her a tender kiss on her lips.

"Likewise, my king," she whispered back against his lips. "So shall we eat?"

Mattias stared into Phoenix's hypnotic silvery-blue eyes for a moment. Those eyes had locked onto his soul the first time he had seen them, across a courtyard, all those years ago. There was nothing he wouldn't do for this woman, his wife, partner, closest friend, and one day hopefully, the mother of their children. Even after all the time they have known each other, he still hungered for her, and her alone.

A knowing smirk started to fill his features. "Dinner now...dessert after." His voice was low, predatory, and hungry.

Phoenix laughed and flipped her hair at him and headed for the table. "We shall see" She teased him lightly.

They sat down and began to eat.

"So," Mattias asked as they were enjoying their meal. "How was your day, sweetheart?" He picked up the wine bottle and topped up both of their glasses as he listened to her reply.

"Hmm busy. The mystery still continues and crew burn out is real. I am trying to find a way to mitigate that."

Mattias nodded as he listened. "Too bad we can't find another of those beach paradise worlds again," he half joked. "Of course, if we were to keep finding them, I wouldn't be surprised if people start thinking about setting down roots." He reached out and put a caring hand atop of his wife's, as he continued to speak. "I know you're doing everything you can, sweetheart. No matter what happens, I am always going to be on your side."

"I know and I appreciate it" she smiled. "I am sure though that we will find our way home sooner rather than later."

Mattias grinned. "Of that, I have no doubt, sweetheart. You brought this ship home from more than one disaster. I know you'll do so again."

Sometimes she wished she had his full confidence. "And what if we do not make it, in this lifetime?" She asked curiously. "If our children grow up here and die in this galaxy?"

He thought about that option, then shrugged slightly as he replied. "At the end of the day, we are explorers. It wouldn't be the first time those that began a trip were not the ones to finish it." He reached out and took her hands into his. "If the Elysium is to become a generational ship, I can think of no one better to lead us on the first leg of her long journey."

Phoenix smiled and squeezed his hands. "Well I just hope everyone agrees with that."

Mattias grinned and shrugged playfully as he replied, "if they don't, replicate them a shuttle and send em on their way." He pulled her hands to his face and gently kissed her knuckles. "All hail the Queen," he said with a grin.

His wife gave a soft laugh. "Well my king, we need to clean up and get settled for the night. And lock the main door."

He smiled again as he responded to what she had just said. "Avalon, lock main cabin door, place a do not disturb notice on the door panel. Next, execute Richardson Cleanup Protocol One.

There was an audible click at the door, then the dishes and scraps of their dinner vanished in quick flashes of blue energy, as the Elysium's AI reclaimed the items and waste back into the ship's replication matrix.

Once that was done, Mattias stood and offered his hand to his wife. "Do you want to go relax in front of the fireplace, or go to bed?" His tone indicated that he would be happy with either choice.

Phoenix considered it carefully and weighed the options. "Hmm better safe than sorry. Our bed."

Mattias gave Phoenix a gr8n that expressed his renewed hunger, and he took her hand and led her upstairs to their bedroom. As they passed the nursery, he double checked that the twins were sleeping peacefully, then scooped Phoenix up in his arms and carried her to their bed.

Phoenix laughed softly as he scooped her up and snuggled close. "My hero" she teased in his ear.

"Until my dying breath, my Queen," he smiled as he replied. Once they entered their bedroom, he gently set her back down on her feet. As he held her in his arms, he gazed down into her silvery-blue eyes. "I love you, Phee."

Smiling she slid her arms around his neck. "I love you Matt" she whispered back.

They kissed, then made their way to their bed, falling together as they spent the rest of the evening bringing pleasure to each other.

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