Playing Hookey

Posted on Mon Sep 1st, 2025 @ 1:46am by Lieutenant JG Kally Kellerman & Ensign Henry Taylor & Tessa di'Orion
Edited on on Mon Sep 1st, 2025 @ 2:10pm

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Henry's Quarters
Timeline: After King's Gambit/Just before It's the Ocean

o one ever thinks about how long it takes to get somewhere in space, even with warp drive. The time from Point A to Point B could be mind-numbingly dull if there's nothing to do. With a reduced crew complement, no major injuries since the first officer, and little else to do to fill her days, Kally was supremely glad she had a little protege to play with. Still, even that was starting to run its course and she was really needing a day to reconnect with...well whoever she could get her hands on.

When Tessa stepped inside bright and early, Kally had already lined up some entertainment and was touching up her light makeup. "Hey, you," she said. "Change of plans."

Tessa looked up from the medical exercise she was going over on the PADD, "What's up, Doc?" She'd been watching Looney Tunes here and there and loved Bugs Bunny.

Kally grinned at the reference. "So, you're doing great, but I kind of have a personal matter lined up and I'm giving you the day off. You're free to go have fun and do what you like," Kally said.

"This early?" Tessa glanced at the chrono on the corner of the PADD, "Cass won't be expecting me back at our quarters for another few hours and I really don't want to be stuck in there this soon.. I really don't know what I'm going to do if I leave early?" Something crossed her mind, but it would be risky, potentially, "Um... Do you know where Henry might be?"

Kally looked up slowly and gave Tessa a knowing smile. "Well, he actually has today off as well," she said. "So, knowing him, he's most likely in his quarters. Down the corridor to the left, eight sections down."

"Down the corridor," Tessa pointed towards the left, "Eight sections. Name on the door, right?" She smiled as she placed the PADD gently down on the table, "Thank you, Lad- Kally." She was starting to loosen up even here, but she paused, "Um... Is there something I can do to look extra nice for him?" She asked

Kally's eyebrows flew up. "Well, I think he'd consider it painting the peacock, but we could probably do a few things to sparkle you up."

She reached back into her drawer and pulled out her makeup bag. She had Tessa sit on her loveseat and touched up her lashes a bit, brushed a little bit of sparkle on her cheeks, and put a very subtle lipstick on. She brushed her hair and let it fall around her face a bit more naturally. In the end, it made her naturally glowing appearance look even more ethereal. Kally smiled, proud of her work and showed Tessa her reflection.

Tessa looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. "Thank you again, I owe you one!" There was a jump to her step as she made her way to the door and out.

Kally watched her skip out of the room and smirked. At least he was starting to loosen up. With a little luck, she'd turn him into a relaxed human being.

Tessa counted the sections after she'd turned to the left and kept an eye on the nameplates. Cass wouldn't be expecting her for several hours, the day really had just begun a couple hours before and she'd never have to know what was going on. She licked her lips slightly as she approached the last section, keeping her eye on the labels until she saw the one she was looking for then stopped and pressed the chime, waited a moment, then pressed it again twice in succession.

Being the head nurse carried one small perk: his own quarters near Sickbay. They were small and they weren't luxurious, but they were all his and he'd made them comfortable. He had a small bathroom, a small closet, a table to work at, a replicator, a dresser and a comfortable bed with a nightstand. He had family photos on the wall, his degree, and a few drawings from his niece. His guitar was in its case in the closet, and a small basket full of rubber ducks was sitting in the center of the table. On his nightstand was a picture of his whole family before his mom passed, and a picture of his sister and his niece.

He'd been lying in bed, relaxing in a tshirt and shorts from home, reading an old, leather-bound book with two intertwined snakes biting each other's tails when he heard the door chime insistently. He sighed and closed the book, setting it down carefully on the nightstand, wondering what medical issues were happening on his day off when it had been so slow the rest of the week. He walked to the door and opened it, his eyes going wide at his visitor. "Tessa?" he said. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, Kally said that we were really slow and that I should take the rest of the day off." She rocked back and forth on her feet and glanced off to the side to make sure no one was coming, "So I decided I didn't want to go back to my quarters and figured I'd come to see you."

Henry lit up with a smile, then paled a bit. "Um...so Cass isn't...here?" he said, stepping from the doorway to glance up and down the corridor.

With half the doorway open, Tessa slipped into his quarters while he wasn't looking, "She's off doing her own thing, probably in one of the holodecks. You should have seen her face when she was told it could create just about anything, so she's probably enjoying some sort of Armageddon scenario she's wondering if she could fight her way out of. That would be typical of a war priest, especially if she could do all sorts of risky things she'd never dare try in real life, just to see if it works. She'll be occupied for hours, plus she thinks I'm in Sickbay." Her eyes were wide as she looked around the quarters, "Smaller than mine, but then again I've got one of the VIP suites, at Lady Skyie's command of course."

Henry did a triple take, spinning around seeing her inside. He quickly stepped back in so the doors would close, fearing he'd hear Cass charging down the corridor if he didn't. "Yeah, of course," he said, self consciously. His quarters were always clean, he prided himself on that, but he'd never had a princess in them, and he was suddenly very self-conscious of how modest his accommodations were.

He looked her over and suddenly realized she looked different. "Your hair looks great," he said. When she turned to him, batting her eyes, his eyes got wide. "Are you...is that makeup?" His cheeks flushed. "I mean...wow....I didn't think you could look more beautiful but you somehow did it...." He blushed harder at how corny that sounded, but he couldn't think of something better to say.

Tessa flushed a slight red as he noticed what Kally had done for her, "Well, yes, I convinced Kally to help spruce me up a bit, because I wasn't really dressed for a social occasion, really still not, but I'll make do I guess." She blinked at him, the muted eyeshadow complementing her eyes even though it was a much different color, "You really like it? I mean, I really was hoping to find something to do with my time and I really hope you don't mind that I came to bother you. I mean, if I am, I can let you enjoy your day off."

"No, no, no," Henry said. "You're always welcome to join me. And you look...you look absolutely angelic," he said, unable to look away. He suddenly realized they were both just standing in the middle of the room. "Can I...get you something to drink? And, please, feel free to sit down and get comfortable."

"I'm fine, all hydrated and everything, you know how Kally is about making sure we're in tip-top shape." She settled herself down on the edge of the chair, in a properly dignified manner, "So, what were you planning on doing today? If I'd had it scheduled off, I'm sure I'd be getting put through a real set of combat training, so I'm definitely not going to go find Cass because she'd have me join her. Maybe we could do something together?"

Henry's brain overloaded with possibilities. "I was just...kinda relaxing in today with a book," he said, sitting on the edge of his bed, watching her. "I didn't have any real plans."

"Honestly, that sounds like a winning plan." Tessa said with a sigh, "I don't have the luxury of just sitting around and reading, unless it's something I'm studying, which isn't really relaxing. Medical techniques aren't very conducive to relaxing. But if I'm interrupting a relaxing day for you, I can always leave and let you do that?" She had to make the offer though she desperately hoped that he'd decline it.

"No!" Henry said, a bit more excitedly than he'd meant to. "No, please stay. We could just relax together. Maybe talk more about our homeworlds, or.....or maybe read a book together." He was grasping at straws but it was had to focus when his brain was short-circuiting.

"Read a book together?" She looked around and didn't see anything beyond a small table and she was sitting in the only chair in the room. "How would we do that? I mean, I could tell you more about Tial and I'd love to hear about your own homeworld, Earth was it? I'm just curious, because I'm sure we read at different speeds and unless you'd have two copies of it..."

Henry looked around. The only furniture that would hold them both was the bed. He had a thought of her lying against him as he read to her and blushed hard. "It's Earth, yes," he said. "And I'm sure you read quickly, but...this kind of book, it needs to be read slowly. You need to give it time to let the pictures form in your imagination." He put his hand on the book next to him. "It's the kind of book you lie back comfortable and savor. That's what makes it such a good story." He smiled at her. "But we could absolutely sit and talk about Earth and Tial." He looked at her sitting on the edge of the chair. "Could I persuade you to swap seats? You'd be more comfortable on something softer, I'd imagine."

"I'm perfectly comfortable right here, besides, it's your place, I wouldn't want to put you out at all." Tessa was all politeness, but curiosity won out, "What's the book about?"

"As your host, it's my job to see to your comfort," Henry said. "It's a human custom. So please, don't hesitate." He picked up the book and smiled at it, showing her the title: The Neverending Story. "It's about a young boy who finds a magic book and has to save all the inhabitants of a magical land made of stories within the book. It's...captivating and mysterious and exciting. Adventure, magic, love, danger, everything you could want in a tale."

Her eyes widened at the description, "That sounds absolutely amazing!" She held her hands out as if asking to hold it and he placed it in her hands. She carefully opened the cover of the book and flipped through a few pages until she reached the first chapter page and and marveled at the illustration of the letter 'A', then slowly closed the book and handed it back to him, "I think if I had my choice, I'd prefer to read with you? And you were saying about lying back and savoring it, but if there are illustrations in there, we'd have to be right next to each other, wouldn't we?"

Henry was terrified he'd never turn back to a normal shade again. He coughed and nodded. "You, um, yeah we...we would. That's why I usually read in bed. But we don't have to do that, I understand why you wouldn't want to do that," he assured her. He put the book aside. "So, Tial..." he tried to come up with a question but his brain was refusing to focus.

Her eyes showed some distress as he put the book away, it seemed to have so much potential to it and she was someone who loved a good storyline. Now that she wasn't stuck with the limited authorship from her own homeworld and the limitations that their lack of technology placed on the creativity of the writers. The movies and documentaries that she'd watched so far had only shown the opening potential of what the Federation could put together. "I um... Really would rather read with you? It's not that I'm not wanting to talk more about Home or to hear about yours, but I, I really like the thought of an adventure like this. But I'd really want to change into something more comfortable, work clothes just don't seem right for this."

Henry's eyes lit up. "Well then...of course, absolutely," he said, nodding. "Like I said, comfort's important. Take some time to change and I would be honored to read to you." He was trying to figure out how they could sit on the bed comfortably as he read, and he was debating about replicating more pillows.

Tessa went over to the replicator on the wall and keyed in a query, already rubbing at the short sleeves of the actual uniform she wore when she was working in sickbay. It was a standard Starfleet medical uniform, but with no insignia on it at all. Practical, yes, but not very comfortable. She replicated a set of light pajamas, the feel of which she enjoyed each night already. "I'll be right back." She smiled at him and stepped into his bathroom, closing the door behind her. It was only a couple of minutes before she came back out in a set of pink pajama shorts and a top that ended in spaghetti straps, but barefoot now that she'd taken off her sandals. She dropped the uniform on the chair, knowing she'd have to change back into it before she left, but that was to be expected. "So, have you decided where we're going to be?" She asked, searching the bed as it was the only logical place.

A small, small, selfish part of Henry felt a pang of disappointment when she stepped into the bathroom, but he quashed that fast. He cared for her too much for that thought to be worthy of him. When she stepped back out, however, he shut down. His jaw dropped, and he stared openly. Just when he thought she couldn't have gotten cuter, she proved him wrong again. This cannot be real....I have to be dreaming, he thought.

That thought was disproven when she approached him and he could smell the scent of her soap and feel the warmth of her body radiating at him. He felt something stirring within him. He didn't know what to call it yet, but it made his chest tighten, and something within him physically ache. He suddenly realized something without him was stirring as well, and he quickly crossed his legs, trying to look casual as he was quickly brought back to reality. He quickly put his few pillows behind him and sat back against his headboard, moving against the wall to make room for her. "Here," he said, adjusting things to be as comfortable as possible, in every sense. "You can sit here next to me and relax."

Tessa crawled up onto the bed next to him, being very careful not to be too close to him to make him uncomfortable with her presence, but ended up with her shoulder tucked up under an arm and one leg touching his as well, "I hope this is all right? I really want to see the illustrations as we read, or you read to me?" She looked up at him, blue eyes meeting his briefly, then giggled, "I could only imagine what Cass would say if she saw this!"

The mention of her protector and his inevitable demise quickly put an end to any stray thoughts Henry was having. Nonetheless, he could tell she wasn't comfortable squished like that, and neither was he. He let out a small sigh and stretched his arm, putting it around her and pulling her against him, letting her lean back against him to use him as a pillow.

Tessa wiggled around a bit so that she was encased in his arm, her head resting on his chest as she set the book up, her arms were in front of her, hands resting on his upper leg.

He set the book in front of them against his knee, rested his cheek on the top of her head, and began to read.

"rednaeroC darnoC lraC skooB dlO. This inscription could be seen on the glass door of a small shop, but naturally this
was only the way it looked if you were inside the dimly lit shop, looking out at the street through the plate-glass door," he said softly.

He hadn't been lying when he said this was his favorite book. His mother had read it to him as a child, and after she passed, his sister had read it to him when he was sad. He knew every line, every dramatic moment to gasp or pause for effect. He even did the same voices his mother had done for him, bringing the characters to life for her. Every chapter he'd paused while she marveled at the artwork on the chapter page, smiling at her appreciation of it and noticing details he'd never realized were there.

He was several chapters in, Atreyu having just spoken to the Southern Oracle, when he felt Tessa shift under him. He looked down as her head fell against his chest, her eyes closed and her breathing deep. He immediately began to try and extricate himself from her so she could sleep while he sat in his chair, but she frowned in her sleep and turned over, grabbing him and holding him there. He froze and instead moved down, lying next to her and letting her snuggle against him, his one arm still wrapped around her, gently stroking her back.

He reached down for a blanket by their feet and pulled it over her, both to keep her warm and preserve some modesty for her. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her against him, imagining how it would feel to fall asleep with her next to him, to wake up that way. Then, his eyes snapped open. "Precious...and important," Cass's voice said in his head. He realized he couldn't sleep. Someone had to be awake, to keep watch over her, to make sure she was protected. He knew Cass would say protected from him, but he pushed that thought away. He would stay awake, and make sure she was safe and slept soundly. He propped his book back up with one hand and returned to his story.

He followed the hero through his adventures, hoping Tessa had good dreams from what she heard in her sleep. Finally, he reached the end.

" "Bastian Balthazar Bux," he grumbled. "If I'm not mistaken, you will show many others the way to Fantastica, and they will bring us the Water of Life."

Mr. Coreander was not mistaken.

But that's another story and shall be told another time." Henry closed the book and rested it on his chest, sighing.

"And hopefully that story won't be too far off in the telling?" Tessa was looking up at him, having woken up maybe a minute or two previously, "Your voice has a wonderful melody...Sorry I fell asleep, how long was I out for?"

Henry looked down into Tessa's eyes and smiled. "Hey, Angel," he said, then blushed. He hadn't meant to use such a familiar pet name like that, but his brain wasn't obeying with proper words. "Only about an hour or so."

"Angel..." Tessa let the word roll off of her tongue as she repeated what he'd said, "I like the sound of that, makes me feel special." She rubbed his stomach gently before realizing that she'd wrapped herself around him apparently and froze, "I um... I..." She realized that he wasn't complaining at all, but it was still... Protocol, use protocol, "I hope I wasn't making you uncomfortable by... This?" She used to indicate the position she was in.

Henry had long ago surrendered to the situation and sighed contentedly, kissing her forehead. "I am in no way uncomfortable," he said calmly. "I could stay like this forever." He looked at her again. "And you are, indeed, very special."

She blushed at the compliment and then did something that she would be murdered by her own bodyguard for. She leaned up and very deliberately kissed him. It was a rather chaste kiss, but even still it sent butterflies loose in her stomach.

A similar entomological effect was happening to Henry as she moved up and he immediately shifted to meet her. He returned the kiss with a bit more feeling, resting a hand on her cheek, his other hand still on the small of her back. When they finally broke apart, albeit reluctantly on his part, he opened his eyes and realized he had forgotten to breathe. He quickly inhaled deeply and sighed, feeling lightheaded as his pulse raced. "That was....you are a great kisser, Angel," he said, quietly, unable to do much more than smile drunkenly.

"For that being my second kiss in my life, I'll take that as a compliment." She rested her head on his arm to keep looking at him, her eyes not having closed during the kiss. "The first was that one at my suite. I got told off by Cass for that one, but I told her it was my idea, not yours; I know you were as surprised as she was. Besides, I kind of like this. It's different and... I don't really know how to describe it."

Henry was trying to wrap his brain around him being her first kiss. She wasn't his first, but she was close. She was undoubtedly his best kiss, however. "So long as it's a good feeling, we'll work on descriptions later," he said, grinning. He leaned in and gave her another soft kiss. "It is, without a doubt, the best kiss I've ever had. And to say I was surprised the first time....that doesn't begin to describe it."

He ran his thumb gently over her cheek. "There is one small problem with having let me kiss you, though," he said, quietly.

"And what would that be?" She asked, smiling up at him.

"I don't want to stop," he said, smiling and kissing her again.

Tessa giggled as she watched him, "Who said you had to stop? I mean, we have to breathe and watch the time, but I wouldn't complain if I got more practice. I just don't know how I'd explain this to Cass."

Henry winced at the thought. "Terrifying prospect," he said. He kissed the tip of her nose, then her forehead, holding her tight. "I just want you feeling happy and safe and protected. I know Cass wants that too. We just have different definitions of what that is."

“I know she does and I’m doing my best to uphold what she wants, but part of the reason I was sent out from Tial was to see what things were like out in the galaxy. To see how they differ and yes, I’ve been a slave, though that’s not what they called it, and I’ve been rescued and I’ve been shown more kindness on board this starship than anyone has a right to be shown.” Tessa wore her heart on her sleeve, “And I can’t tell you how different this place is from my home world, but Cass is of the ‘old’ ways, she sees only danger, not the wonders that everyone here are trying to show us. It’s because of who she is, but my mother sees the changes coming, because as soon as we set up any sort of diplomatic relations with someone else? It will change our whole society. Cass’e’Indira doesn’t like change, so everything is a threat.”

The girl was surprised at how much came out from what was planned to be said, but it didn’t make things any less true. “I know what my duty is and I know that won’t, can’t change, but maybe I’d like to take back some things that I've learned from my time away from home.”

Henry held her tight, blinking back some tears. A reminder that she was going to go home soon wasn't what he needed in that moment. He didn't want to think about losing her right after finding her. "Change is hard for everyone," he said, diplomatically. "Hopefully your planet will see how much you've changed for the better. "He kissed her ear and her jawline gently, moving back in front of her and kissing her lips. "God knows, you've changed me for the better," he said, kissing her again.

“I’m not allowed to say I’ve changed.” Tessa said very carefully, after they had to break for air again, noticing that some of her lipstick had smeared onto his lips. Of course, she too was of the old ways, but young enough to adapt, so she believed, “But I am almost certainly going to be escalated to Third Class Priestess of Urd once I meet with the Elders and explain some of the medical techniques I’ve learned in the past month. Depending on how much more I can pack in, they may even skip me to Fourth Class. I think that’s a major change for the better, and I have you and Lady Kellerman to thank for that.” Even though that would be cause for excitement, it just sounded hollow to her so she snuggled her face back into his chest, so he couldn’t see that something bothered her, “But I like what I’ve seen out here, no matter the trials. Do you think I can convince the Captain to change course?”

Absolutely, Henry's mind said. I'll contact her immediately, demand she marry us, and we'll turn tail and run for Earth. "I don't know," he said honestly. "Somehow, I doubt it...but I would be willing to try." He wrapped his arms tightly around her as if she could be snatched away at any moment. "At least we have this time together." He stroked her hair and kissed her the top of her head, hoping to offer some comfort.

Except even as she’d suggested it, Tessa knew she couldn’t do it. It wasn’t for her personal stake, it was because going Home was the Right Thing for Tial. This Federation would make a valued ally, or at least a good first real contact for her people. She’d seen them take apart a small fleet with just one vessel, seen the technology difference to the point where it was definitely centuries more advanced than the best her people had. No, she had to go home, there was no way around it. She laid there still as tears came unbidden, confusing her even more than she already was. “No, I can’t.” She finally said, “I want to, but.. This is too important to my people. It’s more than just… Me.”

Henry nodded and gritted his teeth, hearing Cass's accusatory tone in his head. She'd warned him. She'd told him it would all end badly, and here they were, watching that impending doom approach, feeling her cry into his tshirt. He moved back down to face her and wiped her tears away gently. "Then we're going to make the most of the time we have," he said, kissing her once more.

“There won’t be a lot of time for that, we only have a few more days I think, at the most. And then we’ve got work to do in medical, I’m still studying and as I’m sure you’re seeing, Lady Kellerman is letting me handle patients myself, with her supervision of course.” Tessa complained, “There isn’t really any time we can be alone.”

"Well, Starfleet regulations say we have two mandatory short breaks per shift. We use them to get coffee or simply rest," he said. "I will gladly spend my breaks sitting with you. And we get a whole hour for lunch together." He smiled at her. "And I will take your hand every time we pass each other in Sickbay for just a moment to be with you. Every minute I can spare belongs to you." He kissed her again.

Tessa shifted slightly, but very slightly, “Every minute Cass isn’t around.” She had to correct, “Because we don’t want to antagonize her. Of course, I have to practice the return ceremony at least once, because appearances are important after all.”

"Of course," Henry agreed. "We have to keep up....appearances..." He got a faraway look, then grinned at her. "Do you think Cass would approve of a cultural exchange centered around strategy and outthinking an opponent?"

“Quite possibly, she’s always on me about thinking several steps ahead of a combatant in our training, says it gives me multiple chances ‘To win now and win in the future’, so she says.” Tessa smiled, remembering how Cass kept reinforcing the lessons, in her own way.

Henry threw back the blanket, kissed her happily and jumped over her and out of bed, rushing to his replicator. He called up a padd and began typing quickly, downloading informaiton.

The Tialan let herself sit up in the bed now, tucking a pillow behind her as she did so, bare feet dangling off the edge as she watched him happily downloading something to a PADD for her. “

"Here," Henry said, handing it to her. "All the rules of chess. A wonderful game. I'm your new tutor." He grinned proudly. "Lessons start in the evening an hour after shift any night you're free. We can talk, play and have a bit more time."

“Beware, she’s going to want to learn as well, especially if it has military applications.” Tessa giggled, “But that could be for the better, you show her that you have some tactical or strategic ability, and she gets to keep an eye on me to make sure that we don’t do anything she wouldn’t approve of… Like kissing.”

Henry grinned, leaning down and taking her face in his hands. "At least that way she and I will be able to combat safely," he said, kissing her tenderly. As they pulled apart, his hands went down her neck to her shoulders, and down her arms to her hands. "You know," he said, a devilish lilt in his voice as he kissed his way to her neck and down to her shoulder, "in my research on your physiology, there is one thing I wasn't able to determine." His hands moved from hers down her thighs and along her calves.

Tessa has kissed him back, then Allowed him access to her neck almost by instinct, shivering as his hands ran down her legs, “And what is that?”

He pulled back and looked her in the eye with a wicked grin. "Are Tialans ticklish?" he said, his fingers attacking the soles of her feet.

For a half a moment her face strained as if it seemed it would burst and then she squealed as her valiant attempt to resist failed miserably and she kicked her feet to relieve the tickle attack. When that didn’t help she grabbed one arm and tugged him back up towards her and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down on top of her for another kiss to stymie the attack, “Yes, we are.” She murmured, “Now stop!”

"If you insist," Henry said, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her passionately.

Their last couple of hours went by far too fast for Henry's taste, but in the end, he laid on his bed, Tessa's pajamas where she had left them. He stared at the ceiling, enjoying her scent still on his pillow and reveled in the fact that he had experienced the greatest day of his life.

At least, until a far greater day arrived.

But that's another story and shall be told another time.