Beautiful Below Decks

Posted on Mon Aug 19th, 2019 @ 9:42am by Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Mission 2: Heaven On Earth
Location: Holodeck 2
Timeline: During R&R
1048 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

"By the way, no disrespect, sir, but Gallia was right, you really are beautiful."

Upon hearing the compliment from Liorga, S’hib damn near fell off the ropes as he tried to compose himself. “Thank you, thats really kind of you to say.” He whined, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He had never been good with compliments from other humanoids, It was so difficult to judge how they felt towards him with out the subtle signs a fellow Sequus would make with body language.

"I didn't have a great early life." Liorga continued as she helped him get his balance back, "In fact, the first fifteen years were pretty much the shits. Then my dad and other crew from the Grotton rescued me from the dirtbag who was keeping me captive, brought me home. My uncle Terry, he had horses, family had a huge farm in Tennessee, he taught me how to ride and just appreciate the beauty of the species, I fell in love hard with them. Whenever things got too much for me, I would beam to Uncle Terry's place and his mom and dad would be waiting there with my saddle, sometimes they'd ride with me, sometimes they wouldn't, but I always left feeling better. Far as I'm concerned any horse or anyone who looks like one is in my good books from day one."

"Well I can't exactly put a saddle on my back for you but If you ever need any company Id be more than welcome." S'hib said looking down with a smile. "We could all do with more friends." He added.

"So rides are saved for little blue girls, huh?" Liorga laughed, "Yeah, Gallia told us the story. You've earned special treatment when it comes to needing things from engineering."

"I never said that." S'hib said with a flick of his head. "Just that people might get the wrong idea." He added in a very innocent sounding tone.

"Yeah, chief amongst them my girlfriend." Liorga laughed as she continued her ascent, "Trust me, a surgeon is the last person you want hacked off at you because you don't know what will get hacked off of you."

"Trust me... between the Romulans and all the women on board, I'm staying on my best behavior." S'hib said rolling his eyes and continuing to climb.

"Somehow I figured you'd be popular with the ladies." Liorga replied, legit shocked. It wasn't like interspecies relationships were this big taboo anymore.

"Only ones I seem to be popular with are small and blue." S'hib shrugged, In truth, he was just terrible at reading humanoids romantically. If anyone was interested in him, He'd never really know unless they told him.

"To be honest, I think I just scare people off." He added as he reached the top, putting an arm over the edge of the platform and pulling himself up. "Or maybe it has something to do with being three foot taller than everyone else and looking like a horse."

"I think you're probably overthinking it, my friend." Liorga smiled as she reached the top, "Besides, you're still very young, things will fall into place in time."

“Oh I’m in no rush.” S’hib said, sat with his hooves sticking out over the edge of the wooden platform. “Just be nice to have some company I guess.” He said looking down at the rest of the crew yet to start the course.

“My people are quite relaxed compared to humans when it comes to relationships.” S’hib said looking over at Liorga. “Monogamy was a strange concept to wrap our heads around.” He added with a sheepish grin.

"Yeah, well, Deltans aren't famous for our monogamy skill, either." She laughed, "In fact, I might hold the record for our species."

"You'd fit in nicely on Sequella then." S'hib said with a happy but gruff snort. "Though the lack of clothing does usually surprise off worlders." He added with a small grin, standing up and examing the rest of the course.

"You'll find I'm harder to shock." Liorga laughed, she was legit having a great time, "It saves my sanity being in a relationship with Estelle Hertz."

"It's nice to have someone in your life that can ground you, doesn't fight against you but works with your quirks." He said as he examined the rope bridge before him, Noticing that they didn't exactly design it for hooves. "Though the odd curveball now and then can be exciting." He added, unsteadily placing his hoof onto the slender rope before him.

"Oh, Estelle is the queen of odd curveballs." Liorga said, "I never know what to expect with her." She helped him with his balance, "How much do you weigh? I mean, in case I need to carry you across this bridge?"

"Carry me, you are joking right?" S'hib whined, the thought of being teased by his colleagues about being carried making his ears flatten.

"Little known fact about Deltans is that we're much stronger than we look." Liorga informed him, "I mean, we might look like delicate flowers, but we're stout."

"Oh I don't doubt your abilities." S'hib said as he unsteadily walked across the rope bridge with Liorga behind him, steadying him. "I just don't think I'd ever live it down If everyone saw me on your back." He said with a slight chuckle, putting one hoof nervously down at a time.

"Tell them the horse uprising has begun and now you're going to be riding us." Liorga shrugged, "Then tell them to be afraid, be very afraid."

Stopping briefly to compose himself S'hib glanced slightly behind at Liorga. "I am very conflicted right now." He said trying to continue to walk and stop himself from giggling.

"I'm always very conflicted." She laughed, "The secret is finding your balance. On the ropes and in the world. And never stop chasing what makes you happy, no matter where it takes you. And, right now, what would make me happy.." Liorga said as she cautiously traversed the ropes, "Would be a pair of super grippy shoes."

"Pick me up a pair as well." S'hib said cheerfully, a happy smile across his face as he enjoyed the company despite being on what could only be described as a bridge in name only.

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