King's Gambit Pt 2

Posted on Sat Aug 30th, 2025 @ 10:50pm by Ensign Henry Taylor & Cass'e'Indira & Tessa di'Orion
Edited on on Sat Aug 30th, 2025 @ 10:50pm

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: A few days before In the Ocean

Henry turned back without another word to the replicator and entered the item he'd programmed for dessert, a round, brown and white cylinder on a plate appearing with candles shaped like a 17 on top. He pulled a small device out of his pocket and flicked his thumb, a flame appearing and lighting the candles. He didn't look at Cass as he walked over and back towards their table putting a smile on his face.

It would have been absolutely out of place for Cass if she'd put on the same smile he had, but she followed him nonetheless, not sure how she'd explain what they'd talked about.

"Happy Birthday to you," Henry sang. "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, dear Tessa. Happy Birthday to you." He set the plate between them and smiled. "It's an apple-caramel cheesecake. Something my sister was very fond of." He resisted the urge to look at Cass.

"It sounds delicious and looks even better!" Tessa half-squealed, already having fork in hand and reaching out for the cake with it.

"Wait!" Henry said, his hand shooting out to block the cake. He looked as Tessa's fork stopped mere millimeters from his hand. "Tradition two: You need to close your eyes, think of a wish, and blow out the candles. And don't tell us what the wish is, or it won't come true."

"Nev-" Cass started, but stopped as she caught herself, "Never say a wish won't come true, because they always can."

Tessa gave Cass a strange look, "I didn't know you were superstitious, in fact I know you aren't." Still, she leaned forward, having withdrawn the fork hesitantly, took a deep breath and closed her eyes, then with a long blow, blew out the candles shaped in the forms of a 1 and a 7, "I really can't tell you two what I wished for?" She got a shake of the head, "All right, fine."

Henry smiled softly. "Now, by all means, dig in."

Tessa reached out and tugged the cheesecake plate over towards her with her fork, then took a big bite of it and looked up with wide eyes, "Your sister was a genius! Super sweet! And creamy, and.." She shut her own self up with another bite.

Cass chuckled, "You might want to help her, Milord, or else she will eat the whole thing. And isn't it bad luck if she does?"

Henry glanced at Cass, but this time with less irritation in his look. "Happily," he said, reaching over and taking a forkful from his side, savoring the bite. They ate together silently for a few minutes, well silent except for Tessa's sounds of enjoyment, each one putting a bigger smile on Henry's face.

By the time the plate was cleared, Henry wasn't sure whose smile was bigger, but he was glad hers was so evident.

"All right, tradition three: A birthday gift," Henry said.

Cass's eyes opened in alarm, this was not part of the plan and depending on what it was could be very awkward. Tessa's eyes opened as well, but in excitement, "You've already all but made dinner for me, at least, treated me to it, you really don't need to give me a gift or anything!"

"Humans say it's the thought that counts," he said. "But I wanted to get you something...well, it's not a traditional human gift, but it's a tradition in my family." He reached under the table and pulled out a gold box with a yellow bow on top the color of her hair. He moved the empty dessert plate to the side and placed the box in front of her. "Happy Birthday, Tessa," he said, simply.

Slowly, Tessa reached out and tugged on the ribbon, undoing the bow and smoothing it out onto the table as if it were a ceremony in it's own right, then lifted the top of the box and looked inside. Her eyes lit up as she saw the three rubber ducks, the beaks of two of them touching while the third, with hair dark as midnight, was virtually glued to the blonde one's side. She picked up the one with darkest hair and held it up to Cass, "It's like you! And this one looks like me, and that one looks like you, Henry! They're adorable!"

"They're human children's toys," Henry explained. "Kids use them to play with while taking a bath. My mother had gotten ones for me and my siblings when we were little, each one personal for us. And then she got some for a Christmas gift and one time for Easter and it just kind of became a thing. We've all got a few of them now. And now, you do too. Something for your shelf as a memory."

"As a memory?" Tessa asked, finally reminded that they were rapidly approaching Tial and home and everything that would go along with it. "I'm going to treasure these, Henry, thank you." She got up from the table and took the steps around to his side, then leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek at which Cass stiffened slightly, "No really, I know it doesn't seem like much to you, but to me? Treasures."

Henry's breathing stopped. He looked at Tessa and in his mind wondered what it would be like to just grab her and kiss her properly. He imagined how her lips would feel, how she would taste like the dessert they just shared, how her skin would be warm to his touch, how his ribs would shatter as Cass shoved her knife straight into his heart....

He suddenly inhaled and exhaled a few seconds later. "They're...treasures to my family too," he said. "I'm glad you like them." He stood up, his knees almost betraying him. "I hope your birthday dinner has been an enjoyable experience and you've had a wonderful time," he said, sensing the end coming.

"I really have, Henry." Tessa smiled shyly, gathering her rubber ducks in her arms, "Would you escort me to my quarters?" She offered one elbow to him, oblivious to Cass shaking her head slowly at him from where Tessa couldn't see him.

Henry looked at Cass, then back at Tessa, and realized he was in an impossible position, but had no options. "I cannot refuse Her Grace's request," he said, solemnly. "I would be honored to escort you to your door and say goodnight." He said, praying Cass would accept his willingness to leave it at the door as a sign to not fly off the handle.

He offered his arm and as she threaded hers around his, he walked her out of the mess hall, avoiding any stares, and into the corridor towards her quarters. He kept glancing down at her, trying not to see the darkening storm behind them, but focus on her smile. Once they arrived at her quarters, he reluctantly let her arm go. "Have a wonderful night," he said, bowing slightly. "And, again, Happy Birthday, Tessa." He prayed she wouldn't offer whatever her people did for a nightcap. He knew it would only lead to trouble, and Cass would probably go berserk.

Cass had done her normal thing by entering the quarters first, in case someone had sneaked in and was lying in wait, but Tessa had stopped as he released her and turned to face him, "Thank you, Henry, it was one that I will remember, always." She leaned up on the tips of her toes as he looked down at her and ever so gently placed a kiss on his lips, barely able to reach them, then stepped back into the quarters, the doors closing as Cass'e'Indira's eyes opened wide in horror.

Henry watched the doors close, a look of shock on his own face. He stumbled a few steps down the corridor until he'd rounded the corner and sank into a turbolift vestibule, trying to commit everything he'd just experienced to memory. He'd never expected a kiss, and he hadn't ever thought it would happen but...there it was.

And Cass was absolutely going to murder him.